Positives

  • Absolutely Bombs Runs
  • Very Stiff and Fast

Negatives

  • Mainly For Going Straight

Summary

The Ride Commissioner brings back the stiff and damp that used to be their signature in the 00’s. If you like to straight line all the time this could work.

The 2024 Ride Commissioner has not changed much or at all since I reviewed it.

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Riding Style Freeride
Riding Level Advanced - Expert
Fits Boot size (US) 8-10, 10-12
Manufactured in China
Shape Tapered Directional
Camber Profile Hybrid Camber
Stance Setback over 20mm
Approx. Weight Feels Normal
Split No
Powder Good
Base Glide Great
Carving Great
Speed Excellent
Uneven Terrain Average
Switch Average
Jumps Good
Jibbing Poor
Pipe Average
On Snow Feel

Stable

Turn Initiation

Medium

Skidded Turns

Moderate

Flex

Stiff

Buttering

Hard

Edge Hold

Hard Snow

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Ride Commissioner Written Review Review by The Good Ride

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews and this is our unfiltered opinion. We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

Ride Commissioner Snowboard Review- How it rides and who it is for

Ride Commissioner Review

How This Review Happened:

Borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: 158
Days:2
Conditions: Mostly good spring snow. Only a little hard snow.
Riders:
 James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers, F.I.T. Gameghangers LP
Bindings: Union Atlas
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom TDF Infuse 3L Gore-Tex Jacket,
Pant:, Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Swash Pant, Burton Gore-Tex Ballast Pant
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Tech Glove, CG Habitats Glove, CG Habitats Work Glove,

Similar Boards (but not the same): Jones Flagship, Cardiff Bonsai, Arbor A-Frame, Burton Leaderboard

Set-Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +18/+3,. Close to Reference.

How It Was Tested

Pretty much rode this and the Smokescreen.

Approximate Weight

The Ride Commissioner didn’t feel super light for all the carbon in it. It is more on the medium to medium light side of the weight spectrum.

(We don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores there is no consistency in a boards weight)

Sizing

I felt like the 158 was all I needed. If you are similar in specs to me and you really wanted to point it the 162 could work too. However I felt like this was already a super bomber but I had more control with the 158.

Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards. You can of course go bigger or smaller but these work best for not turning the board slower than it should be and not having the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag.
153: 7-8
155: 8-9
158: 9-10
162- 9.5-10.5
165: 10.5-11.5
157w- 10.5-11.5

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

Ride Commissioner Camber Profile

There is a decent amount of taper but not too much for you to have to commit too much back foot weight. Then you have a mellowish hybrid camber and thank god for that because this is one super stiff/aggressive ride. If this was full camber it would be too much for most. The early rise in the nose and tail make this forgiving enough for average riders that like to bomb.

Flex Personality

Incredibly stiff. Almost unflexable. The Ride Commissioner has a lot of carbon but it’s no ultralight ride that chatters. This is damp and mean but it isn’t the board I want to ride in uneven snow. I would love powering over tracked snow with this on a pow day though.

Speed

The Base glide is pretty good but what makes this a bomber is the ultra-stiff flex. It just wants to go as fast as your abilities or insurance policy will allow.

Edge Hold

I didn’t get a lot of hard to icy snow when I tested it but the Ride Commissioner did well when I did hit some hard areas in the morning. Not amazing for snowment to ice but very doable. Especially if you don’t like disrupted sidecuts.

Turning Experience/Carving

So this sidecut is not about being a turny ride. It is about pointing it but it doesn’t feel as hard as you would think for a 10 meter radius but it is not a circle carver. It’s all about high speed longer drawn out S-Turns just shy of a straight line.

Powder

I didn’t get the Ride Commissioner in pow but I wouldn’t mind with the taper, big nose and decent set back on board of -3” at a 22.75” stance width as long as it wasn’t super deep.

Conclusion

So the Ride Commissioner is a pretty specialized board and it’s not for everyone. That being said if you want something that bombs but is pretty forgiving for it’s flex then this could work.

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Ride Commissioner Specs

 
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2022

Ride Commissioner User Reviews

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