The Bataleon Push Up Snowboard Review
As the lines between freestyle and freeride continue to blur, we’re treated to an ever-growing class of snowboards that refuses to pigeonhole themselves by categorising as either. The Push Up is Bataleon’s Women’s specific all-terrain vehicle, purpose-built for ripping anything and everything in its path. A favourite among the Bataleon pro team, with legions of loyal fans across the globe, the Push Up takes many of its design notes from the best-selling Goliath. But why exactly is the Push Up so popular? And who is it for?
Price: £460
Flex: 4/10
Sizes: 138, 140, 143, 146, 149, 152
Many snowboards lay claim to the ‘quiver killer’ moniker, but when put to the test across a variety of conditions and terrain they fall short. Not so with the Bataleon Push Up. The all-mountain versatility on offer here is next level and a great deal of this comes from Bataleon’s patented Triple Base Technology. A game-changing 3D base profile that’s slowly but surely permeated the fabric of snowboarding and inspired a slew of copycat ideas from every major brand in the industry.
3BT divides the base in the nose and tail of the board into three sections, the outer zones are then pre-curved upwards to create a ‘hull-like’ shape. The benefits of 3BT can’t be understated, whether you’re riding park, piste or powder you’ll reap the rewards so pick your poison and get stuck in. In deeper snow, this 3D base helps to funnel snow out the sides, giving unmatched float and a nose that almost refuses to sink. On the hardpack, 3BT allows for incredibly smooth turn initiation and edge hold, the base is shaped in a way that mimics the way a board would behave when pressure is applied for increased stability. Progression is king and having the ‘get out of jail free’ card of 3BT when dialling in new tricks is a godsend. The massive reduction in unintentional edge catches gives you the opportunity and confidence to push yourself and up your game in the park.
Conditions can be unpredictable, especially if you’re booking a holiday months in advance and praying that the snow gods come through for you. Most of us aren’t lucky enough to have a fleet of snowboards we can peruse and choose from depending on the weather, so having one board that can do it all and do it well is ideal.
For 23/24 Bataleon has updated the Push Up’s shape to an advanced directional twin outline that's equally as comfortable whatever way you decide to ride it. The easygoing flex is ideal for mellow laps, but when you want to open the throttle response is boosted through the use of Dual Super Tubes (DST). These are two hollow carbon rods that sit in milled-out channels on the underside of the wood core and work to enhance the natural pop of the camber profile and increase the dynamic feel underfoot.
While it feels like a slight cop-out to say the Push Up is for everyone, in our book, there aren’t many riders who wouldn’t get on with a Push Up and that’s why you’d be hard-pressed to visit any resort across Europe and not see a bunch of women strapped into one. Newer riders looking to build confidence will appreciate the forgiving nature of the Push Up, whilst those with more experience will enjoy the upgraded performance and versatility across a huge range of conditions and terrain.
