Curated Snowboard Expert Everett Pelkey got his hands on the 2023 Bataleon Party Wave this spring and put it to the test at Powder Mountain in Utah. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, but consider the fact that each and every rider is different; if you have any questions about the Party Wave or need recommendations on which board would be best for you, reach out to a Snowboard Expert here on Curated.

Before we get started, it's worth noting that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands. All of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does Bataleon claim about this board? Bataleon claims this board is the fun slash-slinging powder hound, just do-it-all fun time board. There's a reason it's called the Party Wave. You're riding the waves in the mountain and having a great time while you're doing it.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of this board? It is just an exciting fun board in a unique, short, wide shape. The triple-base technology makes it easy to get edge to edge and just cruise around, but you can still manipulate this thing and push it to its limits so that it does it all in a really fun, unique way.

Carving

How does it turn? Carving was great due to it being super wide, I was able to easily still get onto my edge. It takes a second from initiation, but it can cruise back and forth. You can definitely go at higher speeds on this board with how big and heavy it is.

Is it stable? It's not actually a light board, but it feels super stable when I say heavy. That feeling, that I'm confident while I'm on the ground, laying in turns, but even slashing in short little ones, it's still able to handle that. It's got that surfy feel so you can party the whole way down.

What about dampness? Any chatter in the board? I'd say it's pretty damp compared to some of the other boards in Bataleon's line, but it definitely was not the smoothest when it came to uneven terrain. It's able to kind of push itself through it, but it's nothing too crazy I would take as a freeride board.

Freestyle

Could you speak about playfulness and pop? In its own sense, I would not call this a total freestyle board, but man, did I like to freestyle while on it. I could play, twist, turn, manipulate it, ride, switch, like kind of just messing around in a more simplistic way. I wouldn't generally take this through a park.

Freeride

What kind of terrain would it perform well on? It rips. I totally wouldn't take this board through the park, but it's still a fun freestyle playful board. It's got the aspect of just having fun, no matter what terrain you're on, it's just there for you to just mess around all day long, but still have that stability. So when you just want to cruise, you can cruise, you can change it up. It's a party on your own schedule, this board. It can't go into the tightest of trees. Can't hit the best bumps, but being on the more damp side, it was good for that. I could kind of crush through things as I was getting to it. But those spring fun laps of super slushy days are where this board is really going to excel and bring out the best party you've ever seen.

Is there any location you'd pack this board for? What more is there to say when you're on a Party Wave? You're there to have fun riding the mountains, surf it all up all day, every day. Wait till those conditions are really not the best, but you want to have the best time whip this bad boy out and you're going to enjoy your day.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this board to? I would recommend this to those looking for a playful, fun board. This board has its own little niche that will bring out the fun in anyone who hops on it.

Who should avoid this board, are there better options for them out? I wouldn't recommend this for any beginners. This definitely is a more intermediate to advanced board. Not saying it's too technical, but just find where you can open up and see what a board can do, having those extra skills and techniques will make this board even more fun.

I would not put someone who's a really freestyle specific rider or someone who's a very heavy, aggressive, freerider. This is more for the intermediate playful, fun-loving board rider.

There are hundreds of boards out there in many different variations. To find the right board that's set up for you, reach out to Everett or another Snowboard Expert here on Curated for free, personalized recommendations.