Be mindful of camber, or it may just bite back.. Mike Hardaker Test Riding at Copper Mountain } Photo Jim Swanson Mountain Weekly News
First Impression
The first thing you notice about the Half Cap is the graphic. Lib Tech graphics are always on point but the artwork on this board is exceptional. Jamie Lynn himself reworked his original alien self-portrait for the bottom of the board.
Another thing you’ll immediately notice about the Half Cap is its camber profile. It’s definitely a throwback-style snowboard. In fact, it’s meant to be built exactly like Jamie Lynn’s favorite snowboard from the 1990’s.
So if you’re not looking for straight-up dominant camber, the Lib Tech Half Cap is probably not for you. On the other hand, if you love that old-school camber those snowboarders from the 90’s shredded on, then this board is definitely for you.
On Snow Notes
An all mountain snowboard, the Lib Tech Half Cap is as fast and powerful as any I’ve ridden. It excels at the park, in the backcountry, on manicured groomers – you name it. It’s designed for aggressive riders that want to go hard without stopping.
To start with, the Half Cap is stinking stiff. I haven’t ridden a snowboard this stiff in a long time. But the stiffness proved to provide stability in choppy terrain and on big takeoffs. It also contributed nicely to the board’s responsiveness, especially in powder. Sure, the Half Cap’s stiffness (Lib rates it at a Flex 7) was a little hard to get used to, but after the initial adjustment period, its benefits start shining through.
The Lib Tech Half Cap also provides a near perfect combination of a fast as hell ride with a whole lot of control. I like to haul ass but I don’t like to haul ass if it means handing over control to the snowboarding gods. On the Half Cap, you can bomb groomers at top speed and still be the one in charge.
I haven’t been out on the Half Cap on any super powdery days yet (its been a mediocre, at best, year where I live), but I have taken it out in a few fresh inches. In these conditions, the snowboard excels, its slightly longer nose than tail giving it plenty of float. From what I experienced, I assume these same characteristics help this baby blast through the deep stuff that perfect powder days are made of.
Lastly, comes the Half Cap’s board profile. The twin shape equates to plenty of freestyle and freeride fun. It’s just about as comfortable to ride switch as it is regular. And then there is the camber, the key element to this snowboard, the thing that sets the Half Cap apart. The edge control is, well, out of control, and the pop and energy of the board cannot be beat.
Tomahawk Technology
At the heart of the Lib Tech Half Cap is its camber profile, or Tomahawk Technology. Originally just called camber, the setup is know called camber-flat-camber by Lib. It’s a traditional setup with arches between the feet, the least pressure in between the bindings and the most pressure on the tip and tail.
Tomahawk Technology gives the snowboard a completely unique feel for anyone that hasn’t ridden a board before the very early 2000s. It’s definitely a throwback style board profile that reaches maximum nostalgia levels. The original camber profile is to thank for most of the positive quirks of the board I touched on above, especially its speed, power, and pop.
Lib Tech Sustainability
Lauded as the world’s most environmental snowboard company, Lib Tech constantly one-ups themselves with new environmentally sustainable innovations. The Half Cap incorporates these technologies with water-based graphics, a non-petroleum-based bio-plastic topsheet, organic compound resins, renewable wood core, and basalt fiber rather than fiberglass. In addition to their environmental benefits, these materials also lead to an incredible strength-to-rate ratio, one of the highest in the industry.
Oh yeah, did we mention Lib Tech boards are also made in the good old USA? In Sequim, Washington, to be exact.
Lib Tech Half Cap Jamie Lynn Tomahawk Tech Snowboard Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Fast and powerful all-mountain snowboard
- Stable in choppy terrain and responsive
- Perfect combination of speed and control
Cons:
- Stiffness may be difficult to get used to
- Not ideal for those who dislike dominant camber
- May not suit riders who prefer softer boards
Overall Impression
The 2015 Lib Tech Half Cap Snowboard is a unique snowboard that probably only suits certain riders. If you’re an aggressive old dude or a skilled shredder that loves straight-up camber, you’ll be completely at home on the Half Cap. Awesome artwork and the overall thumbs up from Jamie Lynn make the board even better.
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