Curated Experts Everett Pelkey and Mike Leighton got their hands on the 2023 Ride Warpig and put it to the test at Powder Mountain in Utah this spring. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, but don’t forget, every rider is unique; if you have any questions on the Warpig or would like recommendations on what board would be ideal for your needs, reach out to a Snowboard Expert here on Curated.

Before we jump in, a quick note that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands, all of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

What does Ride claim about this board? [Mike] The Warpig is one of the boards that kind of started it all with the Ride Pig series. The weight range starts at 60 pounds and goes up to 220 plus pounds for their largest size. The Warpig is the smallest size in that line. It features a tapered directional shape with a zero camber profile. So basically, that means that there's no camber for a large portion of the board and a little bit of rocker in the tip and the tail. It is actually centered on the board, so there is no setback despite being a tapered, directional shape. So that means if you do end up switch, it's still going to be okay. It's going to feel a little different. It's not going to ride like a true twin. But this board can ride switch.

Overall Impressions

What's your overall impression of the board? [Everett] This is a wide board, but it does not feel that way. You can totally put the bigger rider on this board and they can have fun all day. But for someone my size, who's much shorter and has probably the world's smallest feet, I had no problem having a blast on this board. This thing will lay trenches, it'll play around the entire mountain, and for a freestyle aspect, you could honestly even rip this thing in the park. It is just pure fun everywhere you go.

[Mike] It's a great option for guys with bigger feet or short, bigger guys because they can ride a much smaller board. That said, I do notice how wide the waist width is. Not necessarily when I’m carving, but I think that's due to the rocker profile because it just eases into that turn. I was not that comfortable going through rollers.

Carving

How does it turn? [Everett] So carving was one of its top aspects that I didn't see coming. Its quadratic side cut is going to make sure you really can initiate a turn much quicker than you expect, but hold it all the way through so it's a fluid motion from start to stop.

[Mike] So the Ride Warpig’s carving is awesome. The tapered directional shape kind of feels like a rocket ship. There's zero camber. Normally with a board this wide, if you had a camber, you would have to put a lot of energy into the board to make a turn. But with zero camber, it is really nimble edge-to-edge.

How is its edge hold? [Everett] You're able to really get up a high angle on edge—though it's not the sharpest and quickest of turns—but it's all about fluidity. This board will make sure you are locked and loaded the whole way through.

[Mike] Once you get it up on edge, it really holds a really nice, clean edge. Carve turns are so much fun with how wide and stable it is. It just wants to go faster and faster.

How is stability in turns? [Mike] This was actually one of our boards of choice for follow-cam filming. Just because it's so stable, it can turn really quickly. That said, where this board really shines is in the world of freeride. You get the playful feel, but then somehow the stability of camber also feels like it's there.

Freestyle

How is its pop? [Mike] Overall, it's got a ton of pop. It is fun to get up in the air. With the smaller shape, it is going to spin faster, too.

How is it riding switch? [Mike] There's no setback on this board. So when you end up switch, or you want to take off switch, you can. So that makes this a kind of a freestyle, all-mountain snowboard. It's going to thrive in those three-yard conditions, but you can also ride it switch. It's not going to ride quite as well in the fresh snow switch, but if you want to land switch, you're going to be just fine.

How is it for buttering? [Everett] With the centered stance and rockered features, that’s going to make it buttery, playful, maneuverable, and initiate those spins. It is so easy to do and confidence-inspiring.

[Mike] With the more traditional sidecut, when you want to lock into a press or a butter, it does it really well.

How is the board on jumps and how is its stability on landings? [Everett] The surprising fact is this is technically a rocker board with zero camber through the middle, but it feels and gets the benefit of a camber board. So you're locked and loaded everywhere you go and extremely stable. But you want to press, you want to get a little bit more into it. Heck, even take this on a rail, you will be more than fine. You will be able to slide right through this, boost your biggest airs, and really tweak out those extra grabs you're trying to lock in there. So this is super fun. I love this style of board. It really suits the type of rider that I am, and really opens up a world of pure enjoyment.

[Mike] This is a great option if you ride a little bit of park and you're just looking to hit jumps or make the most of hitting those side hits or dropping cliffs into some pow.

Freeride

How would it be in powder? [Everett] Its directional shape but centered stance makes sure you are right in the middle of the board so it's not feeling too heavy in either the nose or tail. And you can still get tons of float on it. Its width makes sure it'll just go for days in some of the deepest conditions.

[Mike] The wider platform and little bit of this scoop in the nose means that when the snow is fresh, it's going to float.

How is it riding in the trees? How is its maneuverability? [Everett] This thing can still flow through the trees or really tighter areas. I wouldn't push it the hardest through those areas, though, because it does take a second for those turns to come around.

[Mike] With the zero camber, it is quick edge-to-edge. So when it gets a little bit tighter, you're still going to feel comfortable and in control.

What terrain should riders avoid with it? [Everett] This board does not want to be on very flat terrain. It is not the most fun in that terrain and is slightly unstable.

[Mike] I'd say the only place that it doesn't excel would be once conditions get a little bit choppier. When it’s a little bit more tundra, I do get bounced around a lot. That’s when there is a bit of underfoot chatter. And this board is more at home in those conditions while straight lining than while turning.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this board to? [Everett] A mature rider who just loves the park and is ready to take on the rest of the mountain. This is a board for someone who wants to have pure fun but doesn't need to be hitting park features every single day. The Warpig helps you see the rest of the mountain for the fun it is.

[Mike] I would specifically recommend this board to intermediate and up riders who have bigger feet. The wider platform really makes it approachable, so you don't have to worry about toe drag. It comes in a ton of sizes, too, so riders from 60 pounds and up can ride it. Even though it's much wider, with that zero camber between the feet and that rocker and the tip and the tail, it's quick edge to edge, it's really forgiving, and at the same time, it turns really well.

Who should avoid this board, there are better options for them out there? [Everett] I would definitely not recommend this for the beginner rider. It is very catchy at slow speeds. But that's not who it's built for.

[Mike] I wouldn't recommend this board to a true beginner, but that's about it. If you're a much smaller rider, Ride also makes the Psychocandy, which is a little bit softer, and very similar to the Warpig. Also, if you're riding a lot of switch and are looking for more of that focused feel, they also make the Twinpig. Lastly, if you’re mostly focused on the park, Ride makes a ton on other park-focused boards, happy to help advise on which one would be best for you.

Snowboards work differently for different types of riders. If you want help finding the right board for you, reach out to Everett, Mike, or any other Snowboard Expert here on Curated for free, personalized recommendations.