T.Rice Orca II

I purchased the this board a lil late in the season and have only had the opportunity to ride it on SoCal spring conditions (hard pack choppy groomers mostly with afternoon slush) so far but IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!!! I haven't purchased a new board in 10 years and was very overwhelmed by all the new tech so when a friend suggested this volume shifted directional board I was a lil thrown off. I am 6'4 260lbs and have a 12-13 boot so I was really wanting to get the new 162 but my buddy rides a 159 at similar dimensions. The ORCA handled all of it and more. I could charge icy steeps with no problem and had fun just cruising around making tight carves and taking side hits. I LOVE IT and can't wait to surf some pow when it returns. And any big guys out there looking for review... here you go!

After riding this board pretty much everywhere this season I can confidently say that I will continue to buy these every time I need a new board until they are discontinued. From the ice in the east to the Midwest moguls to the steep and deep of places I'd rather not give away, this board has been great in every condition. This isn't a powder board that works for all mountain, it's a one board quiver that works great in everything. I'm 6'3" 195lbs and went with the 159 and feel like its the appropriate size. The only drawback to owning this board is running into 10 people a day on the same one.

This board changed my life! I’ve been riding for 20 years and didn’t realize that snowboards could be this good. It actually helps your riding. The tail is short, but the whale-tail tech provides the stability you need. Whether it’s landing that cliffs drop that’s just a little too big, or railing that turn that’s just a little too deep, the Orca can help snap you back on your feet. It obviously feels GREAT in the pow, but it also handles ANY mountain conditions good or bad. If I’m riding at Mt. Baker, I always grab my Orca.

Got her the 144 for deep west coast pow- we couldn't be happier!

At first I was a little nervous about the massive amounts of praise for this board, worried that people were getting caught up in the hype. After spending time on it in a variety of conditions, I can confirm how versatile and fun it is. I agonized over picking a length; I'm a 6', 175lb advanced rider and ending up going with the 153 on the advice of a Lib Tech dude, and Jeremy Jone's comment that if you can't decide between 2 lengths, determine if you need to be the first guy to the bottom, or enjoy every little hit along the way. I'm in the 2nd camp, and the 53 has proven to be just right. Where this board shined for me is tight trees and deeper snow... the flotation is incredible.. but it even made groomers fun again, it really rails.