Snowboard Review

REVIEW

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Mid-season 2005/2006, when the chance to 'try before buy' came up for one of the mythical new, not yet available 06/07 Tanker 200's, I had to jump on it! My friend Sandy, a hardcore Tanker200 rider/collector had several early production units and let me try one for the day. The forecast was stormy and marginal at best but we headed to Stevens Pass with powder on our minds. None of us knew the place very well so we bounced all over. The conditions were pretty terrible. The wind was gusting 40-50+ all over western Washington and Stevens Pass was no different. It was also dumping snow(sideways) and the vis was from so so in the trees to non-existent on the groomers or open pow fields. It was your basic frickin' blizzard.

For the people that know Stevens Pass Washington, we spent most of our morning going up the Skyline quad then up 7th Heaven double. From there we went both straight back down the chutes under the lift and to the trees skiers right. The wind and snow were filling in the tracks so these were some sweet, steep pow runs but too short. We also hit the runs off the back of the 7th Heaven chair and one trip over to the backside which was like I said above, a frickin blizzard. I thought I was going to get lost in the middle of a groomed blue run...

I liked the Tanker from the first run. We did one warmup and then went right up 7th Heaven. This was the 'Bobby Chute' a very steep tight double black that I mentioned above. The top of that run was pretty sketchy but the big Tanker was surprisingly easy to swing around. On the lower angle stuff, it's like riding a dream but that's a given with a Tanker 200. Next time up we went off in the other direction which was still (nominally) double black but much more open and less technical. The Tanker just keeps whispering in your ear, 'faster, faster, faster...' but the vis was nil and I kep doing unintendo-airs when I'd hit big bumps or drops that I couldn't see. So I had neither the vis or the nutz to really put the board though it's paces. It's not very likely that I could ride it to its potential on the best of days.

I ducked into the trees here and there looking for pow and the Tanker busted it all. It's especially cool cruising by people stuck and wallowing in low angle pow fields but I do always ask if they are OK... I took one very, narrow, banked trail maybe 5 meters wide (on the backside, near Corona bowl) to get out of the wind and as soon I came round a bend I found it choked with women skiers having a leisurely chat. "Oh fluck" I thought but again it was very easy to move the board around the pink and baby blue clad pylons duscussing their babysitters or somesuch.

All in all, a killer ride. It is very light, much lighter than the 01/02 Tanker 200 I used to have and even felt lighter than my Dupraz 178. It rides a bit different than the old Tanker, easier to turn, maybe even more floaty. Lots of pop. However, the older model was more confidence inspiring on the groomers, that thing would rail. The newer one didn't feel quite as stable, maybe due to the different weight and shape, maybe the schitty conditions, probably a little of both. Note - this is a bit of a quibble, it still rails just not the same feel as the older model.

Downsides - It rides like a pig when going slow. Duh, it's 200 cm long... It's not one you want to ride all the way into a populated lift line while unstrappping! You definitely don't want to fart around and not pay attention to what you are doing becuase you've got a helluva lot of edge sticking out there waiting to catch something or someone you should have seen but didn't because you are acting the jackass. Skating around, getting off sketchy lifts and similar stuff was a little nervy. The steep tight stuff was doable but a lot of work for me. Sandy handled all of this no sweat but he's a better much better rider than me and knows the Tankers inside and out. I rode the same steep chutes under 7th Heaven after lunch on my LibTech Snow Mullet (fish shape) and it was much easier for me. However, the first turn on the Snow Mullet, I buried the nose and did my best impression of a flying starfish. As a rider, you instinctively get used to having and using that loooong nose out front. It requires a very conscious shift in mechanics to switch back to a normal board. Also, with the Mullet I didn't have the float on the low angle runout and it was my turn to wallow on the flats...

I liked it so much I bought it! Since then I've used it on little green runs at my local hill, steep powfields, icy hardpack, etc, etc. However, I'll admit the Tanker has one problem. Just like the Dupraz D1, everyone wants to stop and talk to you about it. You get a little tired of saying, "yes, it's a 200...".

Rating: 9/10

Final verdict is hells yes! it's a fine board. If you've got access to a decent amount of pow, especially places you can really let it go ballsout, then you need to try a Tanker 200, especially one of the new breed. It's a better version of an already great ride. Caveat - unless you're really committed to learning to handle one in all conditions, I don't think it's a quiver killer. It might be pretty expensive on a per-ride basis if you can only ride it on your one/twice annual trip. Then again, it may be the board that makes your heli/cat-boarding trip fun. I think it's the perfect addition to a shorter Tanker or Dupraz to cover everything. Throw a Fish/Khyber/Mullet in there too and your only problem would be deciding what to ride on a powder day.