Hello and welcome to my Ride Warpig review.
I don’t usually test short/wide boards (just because I don’t have time to test boards in every category), but I was convinced by a Ride rep at a demo day to test the Warpig, so I thought I’d put up my thoughts here.
It’s going to be different to my usual reviews as I won’t be giving it an overall score or comparing it to others, as I haven’t devised a system for scoring this type of board.
NOTE: This review hasn’t been updated since the 2018 model
Overall Rating
Board: Ride Warpig
Price: $459 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Short-Wide/Powder/freestyle/uncategorizable?
Flex Rating: Medium
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium (5/10)
Rating Score: n/a
Overview of the Warpig’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Warpig’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style | Short/Wide Powder Freestyle | Flex | Medium |
Ability Level | Intermediate to Advanced | Feel | Stable |
Weight | Felt normal | Turn Initiation | Medium |
Camber Profile | Flat-to-Rocker | Shape | Tapered Directional |
Stance Setback | Centered | Edge-hold | Good on medium-firm snow. OK on hard snow. |
Price | $459 (USD) | Base | Sintered |
Sizing
Size (Length) | 142 | 148 | 151 | 154 | 158 |
Waist Width (mm) | 250 | 260 | 265 | 270 | 277 |
Weight Range (lbs) | 60-130 | 100-175 | 130-190 | 140-200 | 170-220+ |
Weight Range (kgs) | 27-59 | 45-79 | 59-86 | 64-91 | 77-100+ |
Who is the Warpig Most Suited to?
The Warpig is best suited to anyone who spends a lot of time in powder and likes the feel of a shorter board. And if you like to get a little freestyle in powder, then it’s a good board for spinning and with a solid base for landing on.
Whilst it’s touted to be great in all conditions/terrain, and I’ve heard a lot of others agree with this, I didn’t feel it performed as well out of powder.
Not for the beginner – it’s not overly aggressive but still slightly stiffer than ideal and not super easy to skid turns on. But definitely intermediate and up.
The Warpig in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Warpig is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Ride Warpig 2018, 154 (270mm waist)
Date: March 4, 2017
Conditions: Plenty of fresh powder around. Had been puking for a good few days leading up. Still bumpy and chundery in places as it was a Saturday but mostly soft good conditions on the groomers and plenty of powder off.
Bindings angles: +18/-6
Powder
This is the Warpig’s territory, IMO. It floated very well, especially given I was on a 154.
The 154 is supposed to have the surface area of a traditionally shaped 160 – and you could certainly feel that where powder is concerned. And although this board has a centred stance along the effective edge, it does have a significant taper and the nose is a good bit longer than the tail.
All of that plus a good bit of rocker makes this board a good floater.
Powder Rating: 4/5
Carving & Turning
I didn’t find it to be a great carver. And no real surprise given the flat-to-rocker profile. To be fair, I haven’t found a board without camber that carves really well. Though there are some that carve better than this, that are without camber.
It’s ok for skidding turns – it forgives you for most. Not super forgiving of skidded turns but pretty good.
Edge-to-edge I found it lagging a little bit. Which is what I typically find with a wide board. Usually going shorter makes up for that, at least to some degree. I found it pretty slow for initiating turns. But maybe the 151 would have been the better size for me (which they now have in the 2019 model, but the next size down in the 2018 model was a 148). The rep said, “why do you need edge to edge speed, it’s not like you racing the slalom”. True but I like my board to turn relatively effortlessly, I felt I got fatigued very quickly on this board…. and also TREES – if you’re needing to slalom trees, then edge-to-edge speed is pretty darn nice to have!
Carving/Turn Rating: 2.5/5
Speed
Not bad at speed actually, despite it’s length. Felt pretty damp and relatively stable at high speeds. Still not a speed demon by any means but given that it’s a flat to rocker profile was better than I thought it would be.
Speed Rating: 3/5
Uneven Terrain
Didn’t really enjoy riding this in the chopped up Saturday afternoon resort snow. Felt like I got bucked around quite a bit and I was fatiguing quite quickly.
Uneven Terrain Rating: 3/5
Jumps
Not enough pop there for my liking, but I did really enjoy landings on this board – at least landing in my regular stance – not so much landing switch. Despite being centered, it’s also got a shorter/narrower tail which just felt a bit off landing backwards.
Jumps Rating: 3/5
Switch
Like the comment above, just felt a bit off riding/landing backwards, as I would have expected, but doable.
Switch Rating: 3/5
Jibbing
OK on jibs. Not amazing but not bad either.
Jib Rating: 3/5
Final Verdict
I’m going to be in the minority when I say this, but I wasn’t that impressed with this board. Don’t get me wrong it was fun but it didn’t excite me the way it seems to excite others. But, of course, mine is just one opinion, and in this case a lot of people rave about this board, but I didn’t get that same feel from it.
Great in powder, and definitely a fun ride there, but outside of powder I didn’t get the same enjoyment as others have from this board.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Warpig, are ready to buy or want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
Chris says
Hey Nate. I sadly lost my new standard recently (long story), thank goodness for insurance. I went straight out and bought another 156. Second to last in NZ this winter.
Your review is on the money. Its such a good ride. Im 74kg, 177cm and 9.5us ions. 156 feels perfect for turning and still plenty of edge hold. Plus good volume for powder. I was wondering why the 2018 powder review gave it 4/5 and the 2021 3.5/5.
Im still to try it in anything over 6 inches. Dustin Cravens instagram clips show it surfs deep pow beautifully.
Nate says
Hi Chris
Thanks for your message.
The Standard hasn’t really changed since the 2018 model, so the change in rating was just a tweak in ratings – and in terms of the Standard the 4/5 for the 2018 model was more of an assumption of how it would feel in the slam back stance.
The Standard can handle most powder conditions really well. But in terms of getting in like waist deep powder, it’s not going to surf quite as well as some more powder specific boards. And it’s a rating in comparison to the best powder boards being a 5/5 – and those are deisgned to be very powder specific – e.g. tiny tail, big nose, big taper, massive setback – and often some kind of spoon base – and a lot of rocker in the nose. So 3.5/5 is still better than average in powder – and any board is fun in powder really! Just some are more of an effort in terms of keeping the nose above deep snow – and how much your back leg has to burn to achieve it. The Standard is good in powder, but not at the same level of effortless in powder as more powder specific boards. But if someone was to give me a Standard to take out on a powder day, I wouldn’t complain. And for most powder days that aren’t super deep, it’s perfectly good. If you get a lot of really deep powder days though, then I think it’s worth getting a separate specialist powder board for the best possible experience. But the Standard will handle it just fine.
Chris says
Great answer, again.
Cheers mate, Chris.
Nate says
You’re very welcome Chris. Hope the NZ winter is treating you to some good snow!
Hunter says
This short fatty category is peaking my interest as someone with big feet who’s always been on big camber boards around 168w… I’ve heard good things about the gremlin & Marhar Lumberjack. I really want to test one out… you think it’s nuts to get on a 158cm as someone that’s 6’4″ 220lbs / 12boot / 24.25 stance width? Seems like especially the lumberjack could be a ripper…
Nate says
Hi Hunter
Thanks for your message.
For a volume shifter board like that, that’s designed to be ridden shorter, I don’t think 158 is too crazy. I don’t know that I’d have it as a one board quiver for your specs. But as part of your quiver to include something like that, particularly if you’re wanting to get it in the trees, I think it would make a good addition.
Mitchell Wright says
Nate – I bought the Warpig based off reviews and I have the exact sentiment as you with this board… does not excite me! EVERYONE i have spoken to who has ridden one, or tried mine really enjoys it and I just don’t get it.
So I’d like to know what comparable board DOES excite you? I need to look at a replacement fun all-mountain board.
Nate says
Hi Mitchell
Thanks for your message.
I’m the same – most people I’ve spoken too enjoy it, but didn’t hit the spot for me either.
For some great all-mountain rides, check out:
>>My Top 10 All Mountain Snowboards
If you’re particularly looking for a shorter/wider option, then I would particularly look at the YES Standard. It’s not short/wide to the same extent as the Warpig, but it’s slightly wider, and a good idea to slightly size down. For a more traditional widthed option, the West is a great option, but anything on that list are good all-mountain choices, IMO. That post has the links to the full reviews of each board on that list too.
Going a little more freeride, but in a semi-short/wide (and more on the all-mountain end of the freeride spectrum, if that makes sense) the YES Hybrid (which is a new 2020 YES model) also really excited me. One of the 2020 models I demoed in the winter that excited me the most.
Hope this helps