Hello and welcome to my Slash Happy Place snowboard review.
In this review I will take a look at the Happy Place as a Freestyle snowboard.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I will give the Happy Place a score out of 100 (based on several factors) and see how it compares with other Freestyle snowboards.
Overall Rating
Board: Slash Happy Place
Price: $399 (USD recommended retail)
Style: Freestyle
FlexRating: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Flex Feel on Snow: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Rating Score: 85.9/100
Compared to other Men’s Freestyle Boards
Out of the 36 Men’s Freestyle snowboards that I rated:
Overview of the Happy Place’s Specs
Check out the tables for the Happy Place’s specs and available sizes.
Specs
Style: | Freestyle |
Price: | $399 - BUYING OPTIONS |
Ability Level: |  |
Flex: |  |
Feel: |  |
Turn Initiation: | Fast |
Edge-hold: |  |
Camber Profile: | Hybrid Camber Camrock 4-3-4 |
Shape: | |
Setback Stance: | Centered |
Base: | Sintered |
Weight: | Normal |
Sizing
LENGTH (cm) | Waist Width (mm) | Rec Rider Weight (lb) | Rec Rider Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
135 | 238 | not available | n/a |
142 | 243 | n/a | n/a |
146 | 245 | 100-140 | 45-63 |
148 | 247 | n/a | n/a |
150 | 249 | n/a | n/a |
152 | 250 | 125-165 | 57-75 |
154 | 251 | 130-170 | 59-77 |
155W | 258 | 135-175 | 61-79 |
156 | 253 | 135-175 | 61-79 |
158 | 255 | 145-185+ | 66-84+ |
159W | 263 | 145-185+ | 66-84+ |
163W | 265 | n/a | n/a |
Who is the Happy Place Most Suited To?
The Happy Place is great for anyone looking for a softer flexing snowboard that they want to use mostly in the park but also to do freestyle-esque things over the rest of the mountain.
If you’re looking for a playful freestyle board that’s great for ground tricks, spins, jumps in the park, side-hits, riding switch and jibbing – then the Happy Place is a great choice.
It’s also a great board for beginners just learning snowboarding or for those who have been riding for a while but want to start doing more freestyle type riding. But it’s also awesome for advanced freestyle riders if you want something on the more playful side (without being a complete noodle).
Not a hard charger for steeps, backcountry etc – definitely a freestyle/park board.
The Happy Place in More Detail
O.k. let’s take a more detailed look at what the Happy Place is capable of.
Demo Info
Board: Slash Happy Place 2020, 155Wcm (257mm waist width)
Date: April 13, 2019
Conditions: Snowing! A little dust on crust off piste in places but some really good fresh powder spots in other spots. On groomer good, getting a little cruddy later in the day.
Cold for mid-April. Around 20°F (-7°C), with wind chill. Visibility not perfect but not terrible either.
Bindings angles: +15/-15
Stance width: 560mm (22″)
Stance Setback: Centered
Width at Inserts: 267mm (10.51")
Rider Height: 6'0"
Rider Weight: 185lbs
Rider Boot Size: US10 Vans Aura
Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M
Powder
Certainly not an out and out powder board for really deep days but really good for a twin. There's enough rocker in the tip and tail to help that. If you set it back when it's deep, you'd likely have a good time, but still going to be a bit of an effort when it's really deep. Good option if you're wanting to ride switch in pow though.
Carving & Turning
It's not one that can get really deep into a carve on, but it's a really fun board to turn. When you do carve on it, it certainly encourages quick, tight, snappy carves.
It's super nimble at slow speeds. Edge-to-edge is just easy, fast and snappy. And really easy to skid turns on.
Speed
It can handle a bit of speed, but can get a bit wobbly when you really start to open it out. But not surprising on the type of board that it is.
Uneven Terrain
Nice and nimble for winding through bumpy stuff - and decent going over top. Decent in crud too - not too demanding.
Jumps
All round a super fun board to jump with suited mostly to small to medium jumps.
Pop: Good amount of pop without being insane and that pop is super easy to access.
Approach: All good for small to medium. Can get the wobbles a little at speed, so not as good for larger jumps.
Landing: Solid but a bit of forgiveness there - so again, best for small to medium.
Side-hits: Awesome for side hits - nimble, easy access pop, great spinner.
Switch
Pretty much as good as it gets.
Spins
Easy to get the spin around and it's great for landing and taking off switch. That plus good easy access pop makes it a great spinner. Less suited to big air tricks.
Jibbing
A great little jibber. Had heaps of confidence jibbing on this from the approach to the job to the dismount.
Butters
Nice and buttery. I would have given it 5/5 probably except that I rode the Never Summer Dipstick just before it and that was even more buttery.
Score Breakdown and Final Verdict
Check out the breakdown of the score in the table below.
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
JUMPS | 4.0 | 16/20 |
JIBBING | 4.0 | 16/20 |
SPINS | 4.0 | 12/15 |
SWITCH | 4.5 | 9/10 |
BUTTERING | 4.5 | 9/10 |
UNEVEN TERRAIN | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
POWDER | 3.0 | 3/5 |
SPEED | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
CARVING | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TURNS/SLASHING | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 85.9/100 |
Overall, the Happy Place is an awesome freestyle machine. Great for anyone who wants to ride the mountain like a playful park or ride the park, be it the jump line or jib-line. It's fast and snappy edge-to-edge and really easy going. Also great for beginners.
And, as a bonus, it's really reasonably priced too.
More Info, Current Prices and Where to Buy Online
If you want to learn more about the Happy Place, or if you are ready to buy, or if you just want to research prices and availability, check out the links below.
If you want to check out some other freestyle snowboard options, or if you want to compare how the Happy Place compares to other freestyle snowboards, then check out the next link.
Hello and welcome to my Slash Happy Place snowboard review.
Hi Nate.
I bought last year the YES Dicey 156cm and i found it too stiff for me that i am an intermediate snowboarder that tries to elevate my freestyle moves. I found it difficult to butter and do my olies properly.
I am thinking of Happy Place as it is good for freestyle beginners and can be ridden around the mountain without problems.
What do you think.
I am 84kg and 180cm height with 43 EU boot size. Should i go for 154 ot 156?
Thx alot!
Hi George
Thanks for your message.
If you were using it as your do-it-all board then I would go 156. I would put your “typical all-mtn length” at around 160, but sizing down for a freestyle board makes sense, particularly given you want it to be better for butters, ollies, etc. But note that while this board does OK around the rest of the mountain, don’t expect it to be super stable at high speeds or holding on to high speed carves or that kind of thing. Not great in powder either.
If it was going to be your dedicated freestyle board and you wanted to optimize for butters, etc, then I think the 154 would be your better bet, particularly if you found the 156 Dicey stiff. But if you could also let me know your boot size, that would be great.
If you wanted to go even easier/softer for buttering, you could look at something like the Bataleon Disaster.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate
Thx for the immediate answer.
As i mentioned i want a softer and more playful board than dicey because i struggle with doing good butters and ollies now that o am at my start in the freestyle zone.
I won’t keep two boards, one all mountain and one freestyle, because i only spend ten days per year at the mountain.
So i want a playful soft board to treat the whole mountain like a park but at the same time to be able to go a little bit on powder mode. High speeds is not my thing.
I checked the bataleon disaster also. Super nice board but i thought that happy place is a little bit better in the rest of the mountain apart from thr park. What do you think?
My boot size is 10 in US charting and 43 in EU charting.
King regards George
Dear Nate thx for the answer!
I spend every year 10 days on the mountain that is why there is no sense in using two boards.
I am an intermediate all around rider. I like going freeride in some powders and entering for a few jumps in the park. I dont like so much excess speed. I want to move around the mountain and the things i miss is doing some ollies and tricks
However i am struggling with my basic freestyle moves. That is why i found a little stiff the dicey. I think i need a more playful board that will help me to master the basics and move on.
I thought of happy place because although a freestyle board it can handle ok the rest of the mountain.
I checked also bataleon disaster. Its an amazing freestyle board. I like it. It was my second choice but i preferred happy place because it has more all mountain characteristics than disaster.
My boot size is 10 in US chart and 43 in EU chart. And i am 179 and 83kg to be more precise.
What do you think about the board would happy place be the one? Or disaster will fit better? 154 or 156?
If you think something else please let me know.
Thx alot
George
Hi George
Given you need it to be your do-it-all board, I would be leaning Happy Place over Disaster, and 156. My only hesitation is that I found the Dicey to be a similar flex. That said, the Dicey in 156 is bigger than the Happy Place in 156. I last rode the Happy Place in a 155W, which is more the equivalent of the 156 Dicey (which is wider than it looks, despite it’s waist width), so even though I think the 156 was the right size for you in the Dicey as a do it all board, given that you’re not really riding fast and want to it to be more on the playful side, it might feel a bit big for what you’re looking for. Because of that size difference, the 156 Happy Place should feel more playful than the 156 Dicey. By how much you feel that it’s hard to say.
Yeah, if you want do-it-all, the Disaster is a bit too soft, I think. You could look at the Bataleon Evil Twin though. Or the Disaster Plus (we haven’t tested it but supposed to be a little stiffer than the regular Disaster).
Hi Nate. Thank you so much.
Valuable feedback.
After what you told me, i started to think that happy place maybe will feel like the Dicey and maybe i dont want to take the risk to buy something similar.
I started thinking about Disaster. Do you think that Disaster will be a nightmare in a do-it-all mode?
And the Disaster Plus maybe is a good option. A little bit stiffer that the regular disaster but more soft than happy place.
About the Evil Twin you mentioned, is softer than Happy Place? Should i consider it also?
What is the proper sizing for me in Bataleon board? Because it comes only in 154, 156W and 157.
Regards George
Hi George
Yeah, I would be leaning Disaster Plus. We haven’t tested it so couldn’t say for sure, but based on the difference between the other “Plus” boards in their lineup, I imagine that the Disaster Plus will be stiffer than the Disaster but softer than the Happy Place. I would say that the Evil Twin is a similar flex to the Happy Place.
I’m an intermediate all mountain snowboarder looking to get into freestyle/park. I’m 6’1 and 165-170lbs, and size 11 US boot. I’m considering the happy place vs never summer proto slinger. Whats you opinion on the difference between the two boards?
I’m looking mostly to use the board to learn side hits, small-medium jumps, turns in the air, and riding switch and buttering. Not so much for learning jibbing.
Which board would you recommend and which size board? Many thanks!
Sizes considering: Proto Slinger (156, 154X, 157X) and Happy Place (155W, 156, 158)
Hi Alex
Thanks for your message.
Both would work really well for what you’re wanting them for, IMO, so you can’t make a wrong choice between them, IMO. But here are some things to consider between the 2 of them.
– I found the Proto Slinger had a little more pop
– Proto Slinger a little better when riding at speed and a little better on a carve
Those are the main things, IMO – some other small differences, but yeah, both really well suited to what you’re describing.
Width-wise, with 11s, I would go wide. You might get away with regular, if you’re not doing any deep carves on the board, but I’d be leaning wide anyway. Given how you’ll be using the board (assuming you have another board for other things), I would be erring smaller – so I’d go 154X for the Slinger and 155W for the Happy Place – though if you want it to be more of an all-rounder the 157X Slinger would certainly work too.
Hope this helps
Thanks so much for your advice and super helpful input and suggestions! Yes, I do have another board, GNU Gremlin 155, that I use for powder days, hard snow/icy conditions, and more aggressive carving.
Hi Alex
Apologies for the slow reply. Have had some personal things to sort out.
Yeah, given that you’ve got the Gremlin 155 for other things, I think 154X for slinger or 155W for Happy Place.
Hey, I’ve decided to buy my first board and i’m leaning towards the Happy Place. Im around 5’9, 5’10, weigh about 220 lbs with a size 11 boot. Is this a good board for me who wants to get into park, and what kind of bindings mesh well with the board ?
Hi Vernard
Thanks for your message.
If you’re wanting to get into park and this is going to be your predominantly park focused board, then I think it’s a good choice.
If this is going to be your do-it-all daily driver, then it would depend on a couple of things.
a. Your ability level. If you’re like a high-end beginner/low-end intermediate, then this could work as a do-it-all board
b. How you like to ride. If you like to ride fast, really bomb, and carve trenches, then this probably isn’t going to be the board for you. But if you’re riding style is more casual and you don’t typically ride at break neck speeds, then it could work as a daily driver.
Size-wise, I think the 159W would be your best bet.
In terms of bindings, something like the Union Contact Pro would be a really good match. Though for your specs you could also go with something a little stiffer. Something like the Burton Malavita would be a good bet – or Burton Mission if you wanted to save some money. Also check out:
>>Top 5 All Freestyle Bindings
>>Top 5 All Mountain Bindings
Hope this helps with your decision
Thanks for the quick reply! I’m kinda leaning towards a quiver of two. I thinking I want a true twin to work on the switch and for messing around with the kids. Is there any disadvantage of the basic compared to the happy place? If not I think I am leaning towards the basic because of the extra grip on hard snow/ice. As for pow and speed in the mountains I am thinking either an Optimistic or Warpig. Do you have an opinion on this quiver of two I’m thinking about? I greatly appreciate your help!
Justin
Hi Justin
The Basic would be a good option for what you’re describing in a two board quiver, as well as the Happy Place. The Basic is maybe not quite as playful as the Happy Place, but very close and still very playful. And yeah, better grip for hard/icy snow.
The Optimistic would be a good compliment to both the Happy Place and Basic. It’s a much stiffer board and set back, tapered, directional, pretty much all camber, and much more precise and not really playful at all – so would be very different.
The Warpig is still quite different to the Happy Place and Basic, but it’s not as different. More of a medium flex (vs stiff flex on the Optimistic). So still a little stiffer than the HP & Basic, but not by nearly as much. It’s also got a slightly more playful feel vs the Optimstic. Again, not as playful as the HP & Basic, but not precise to the same level as the Optimistic. It has a flat to rocker profile, which is pretty mellow. The Optimistic, IMO, beats the Warpig for speed, carving and powder and in terms of a fast precise ride. But if you’re looking for a more surfy kind of pow ride and are willing to sacrifice a little in terms of stability at speed and hard carves, for a more surfy, more forgiving ride, then it’s certainly an option and is certainly different enough to be part of quiver with on of the HP or Basic.
Hope this helps with your decision
Hi Nate,
I’m 5ft 10 , weigh 102kg(224Ibs) , Size 10(uk) Thirty two tm2 boots. Intermediate all mountain rider with beginner freestyle skillset.
keen on the Slash happy place for progressing freestyle (press, bigger Ollies, Jumps, spins) all mountain groomers & off piste not so much powder as have another board that can take care of.
My Binding stance 15/15 sometimes 18/12 on directional boards ride reference point or just move 1 insert outside of reference point.
Would you suggest 158 or 159. Or both if 1 for park/indoor snow dome and the other – 159 for all mountain?
I have also a capita outer space living (2018/19) 160cm.
I also deliberating the lib tech terrain wrecker 160 which is all mountain stiffer flex, ok for freestyle.
Currently good sales on at the moment.
Thanks in advance
Jason
Hi Jason
Thanks for your message.
If you’re looking to use it predominantly for freestyle riding, then I think the Happy Place is a good choice. It’s more freestyle and a little softer flexing than the Outerspace Living (which i would call all-mountain-freestyle).
The Terrain Wrecker is more all-mountain as you say. This will be better for carving up the groomers, but won’t be as easy for progressing freestyle-wise. Certainly something that can be ridden freestyle (I would say – but haven’t ridden it). But for faster/easier progression freestyle-wise, the Happy Place would be the better choice.
Size-wise, I would go 159W for you. The 158 you might be able to squeeze on width-wise with UK10, but the 159W would give you more leeway, and would also give you a wider platform, which can be nice for more stable landings. And the 159W isn’t going to be overly wide – a good width for your boots. I ride US10s (UK9s) – and I find anything with around 260mm to 265mm at the inserts is a really good width for me. For you that would translate to around 270 to 275. I would predict the Happy Place to be around 271mm at the inserts. The 158 more like 264mm at the inserts. The 160 OSL I would say is around 266mm at the inserts (based on measuring a different size). With +15/-15 angles, and given you haven’t had any width issues with the OSL, you’d prob be fine on the 158, but I like the 159W more for you.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Thank you for your concise and clear explanation of waist width at the inserts and also providing the OSl inserts approx, greatly appreciated in my decision to go for the 159w.
Good am looking forward to the slash happy place then. Definately agree that the OSL in the 160 for me also felt more All-mountain-Freestyle.
Always value your objective opinions and has been the final decision from past to present before purchasing.
All the best (Guru Nate)
Regards
Jason
You’re very welcome Jason. Hope you enjoy your new setup!
Hey,
I’m considering the happy place as a board. I mostly ride very small hill that is primarily hard snow and a trip or two to the mountains every year. I’m an middle intermediate rider, but not great at switch. I’m an old guy and mostly chase the kids around the hill, but want to improve my freestyle and switch skills in order to enjoy the short runs and jumps around the resort more. Is this a good choice? I won’t see much powder unless I’m in the mountains and while I enjoy high speed I will have to save that for the mountains too. I’m considering happy place, brainstorm and the yes basic? What do you think? Any other suggestions? Also I’m 5’9″ 190lbs and wear 10.5 K2 Carlos and Formula bindings. What’s size board should I consider? I was thinking a 157, I know that my boot size may be to big for a regular board, but I would be willing to go to a reduced footprint boot if it would help. Thanks, and please let me know what you think!
Justin
Hi Justin
Thanks for your message.
For improving your freestyle skills and switch riding, and for chasing your kids around, the Happy Place would be a good option – or the Basic, IMO. But if you’re looking to have something that will handle powder and speed a little better when you get out to bigger resorts, then the Brainstorm would be the better choice. Also, the Brainstorm is quite a playful all-mountain board, and something that you can definitely ride freestyle and something that you can slow down and play around with with your kids. You could definitely ride it on a smaller hill too. Though not as good for switch/freestyle as the Happy Place/Basic, it’s still OK in those areas.
Length-wise, something around 157 is a good bet. For the Happy Place, I’d say 156 or 158 and for the Basic the 155 or 158. For the Brainstorm the 157.
Width-wise, with 10.5s, you’re kind of on the cuff. If you ride with a reasonable amount of angle on the back foot (i.e. +15/-15 angles), then I would say you should be fine on any of those lengths mentioned above width-wise (unless you’re getting down doing eurocarves or something like that). But if you ride with a straighter back binding, then I think you would be risking it, in terms of boot drag. In that case I would either go for a wide-size or get a more low profile boot. If going wide – the 155W Happy Place, 159W Brainstorm or 156W Basic would all be good options, depending on the board you go for. None of which are hugely wide either. The 159W might be getting on the big side, when combining both length and width, so if going Brainstorm, would be preferable to get on the 157 if you can.
One more thing – the Basic will have the best edge-hold in hard/icy conditions of the 3, IMO.
Hope this helps with your decision
Do u think this board is better than the gnu headspace
Hi Tristan
As per my previous reply on the other post, I haven’t ridden the Headspace – so I can’t compare. But the Headspace is likely to have a more aggressive personality based on the C3 Camber it has now – still soft flexing but that C3 camber will make it likely more aggressive than the Happy Place.
Hi Nate
I have a 157 Slash Brainstorm which you expertly recommended earlier in the year. It is an awesome ride and I absolutely love it – thoroughly tested for a week in Austria.
I ride each week at an indoor snow slope and have started to get into some freestyle so I’m considering getting a separate freestyle board for using in the snow dome and keeping the Brainstorm for when I hit the real mountains.
What do you think to the Happy Place for indoor freestyle duties? And go for the 156?
I weigh in at around 78KG and am about 5ft 8in with size 7.5 UK boots.
Cheers!
Tom
Hi Tom
Glad you’re loving the Brainstorm – awesome deck!
Yeah, I think the Happy Place would do a great job for your freestyle board. I haven’t actually ridden indoors before – but I imagine the conditions to be quite firm? If so, then the Happy Place should go well as it’s good in firm conditions.
In terms of size, I think the 156 would be a good size for you. But you could also consider the 154 as well. That would give you that extra bit of contrast to your 157 Brainstorm. Because it will be your dedicated freestyle board you can go shorter with it if you want. So I think the 156 and the 154 would both work. If it was me, but with your specs, I would go for 154 in the Happy Place.
Hope this helps with your decision