Formally known as the JH PowWow the Jackson Hole Shaper Summit founded by Rob Kingwill is an annual snowboard test that focuses on riding powderboards and freeride snowboard shapes. The valuable and honest feedback the testers known as Mountain Warriors give is in turn shared with the boards designers and brands.
What happens when you combine 6 feet of snow in 5 days at a place as legendary as Jackson Hole, with a bunch of ripping snowboarders and a tent full of snowboards to try? The Jackson Hole Shaper Summit is just that sort of event.
Rossignol Sashimi LG Light – ($599.95)
Winterstick Rob Kingwill ARK – ($1,099)
Rob’s Winterstick Pro Model Snowboard was my personal favorite riding the mountain top to bottom
Telos Back Slash Snowboard – ($595.95)
Cardiff Snowcraft Swell
The only hiccup with testing boards in a format like this is Jackson Hole Mountain Resort is a burly mountain. When the snow’s super deep and untracked you can get away with riding a board with a huge tail or some funky surf-inspired shape.
Never Summer Dipstick – ($539.99)
Notice Smash Ghost Snowboard – ($850)
Why did I ride these boards? When the snow starts to gets tracked it’s much easier and safer to pick a snowboard that will offer a more familiar feel. In my case, that’s more of a twin tip, directional board to be able to handle riding Jackson Hole Mountain Resort from the top to bottom across a variety of terrain and snow conditions.
Notice Custom Snowboard Shape
Wondering what powder boards made the Mountain Weekly News best-of list this year? Check out this piece we did on the best 2020 powder boards.
Shaper Summit Jackson Hole Photos
starship customs is on facebook… https://www.facebook.com/StarshipCustoms aloha snow surferz
Great write up as always! How was the Telos in the deep conditions? Did you have opportunity to ride Cardiff’s Powgoda as well? Great event!
Justin, Looks like we have a Cardiff Powgoda Splitboard heading our way for testing. Super pumped. The solid version was hands down one of the most popular snowboards at the event. These boards have a really unique look, design and feel I ended up on their Swell instead. The Telos boards were fun, a little wide underfoot on the size I took but blasted through powder with ease. And they got some darn fine looking splits as well. I will post a link up to the review when they go live on the shaper site. Thanks for the comment.
Hey Mike,
The Powgoda solid was popular last year too!
Thanks for the feedback!
Look forward to hearing thoughts on the split
Hi Mike,
Is that Telos Back Slash marketed as a pow board? Does it float better than some of the bigger pow shapes you tested? Looking for a board for Japan
Justin,
The Telos indeed is for smashing powder. Would work great in JP. 148 and 153 sizes seem small, but the board rides big.
Thanks for the feedback. On initial appearance it looks like it would ride pow well but not superbly. Obviously it’s design in the specs makes it a Powder warrior