Curated Snowboarding Expert Matthew Kaminski got his hands on the 2024 Bataleon Beyond Medals this spring. 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 Beyond Medals or need recommendations on which board would be best for you, reach out to a Snowboarding 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? [Matthew] Bataleon claims this is a completely new shape for their class designed for any condition, whether you are looking for a quiver killer or just a fun board to add to your quiver.

Overall Impressions

What is your overall impression of this board? [Matthew] My overall impression of this board is that it’s a great quiver killer. If you want something that could do it all, you’d grab this board. It’s also great if you like something that’s going to be playful, really fun to ride, and, overall, put a smile on your face. That’s what happened to me on my first run. When I got on this board, we had a foot of fresh snow in front of us. I went down the mountain. It felt great. It just felt fun. It felt right. It felt like it was the board that I wanted to be riding on a powder day. One thing that’s sweet about this board is you have the rear inserts that allow the board to be ridden as a very, very directional snowboard, giving you all the powder play that you want, giving this board an extra little kick up, keeping the nose ahead, keeping it in the top.

Carving

How does it turn? [Matthew] Edge to edge, this board rode great. I think it was awesome because of the 3D profile. It just allows the board to float and rock easily. It also features Triple Base Technology, which makes the board respond better and do everything better.

What is the edge hold like? [Matthew] This board held up great. It was able to carve. It was able to hold that edge. It could dig into the deep snow, through the harder snow, pretty much anything I threw it at today. It showed its true colors and performed well.

How damp is the board? Do you feel any underfoot chatter? [Matthew] I definitely felt a little bit of chatter underfoot. I felt this board flop around and I really think it's due to its defined upper nose section. It may be a bit floppy, but overall, it is fun and playful.

How is its energy/acceleration? [Matthew] It actually surprised me how much this board would load up when I pressed on the nose. I was trying to do some butters here and there, a couple of nose presses, and it absolutely hooked me around.

Freestyle

How is it for freestyle snowboarding? [Matthew] This board would be great if you’re looking for a complete quiver killer and if you only want one board you can trust to ride on the powder, ride the fun stuff, maybe do a little park.

Could you speak about playfulness and pop? [Matthew] It just allows you to kick out and get the board floating in the powder. It makes it playful. It makes it fun.

Is it good for riding switch? [Matthew] Switch riding felt a little bit awkward on this board. It definitely has a bigger nose and a shorter tail. You’re going to have no true feeling. I was able to carve. I was able to actually do a few little maneuvers riding switch, but it felt awkward. It didn’t feel natural like some of the true twins or even some of the directional twins that I get on.

How is it on jumps? [Matthew] I think I did a cork on accident. I really wasn't trying to do it, but I ended up getting inverted and it just hooked me completely around.

Freeride

How is it for freeride snowboarding? [Matthew] The best thing about this Beyond Medal board is that it's designed to ride just about anything you throw at it.

How is it in powder? [Matthew] I only got to try this board out in some powder, so I know how it performs there. I’m impressed with how it handled in the powder. It held up great in some looser snow, which is what I'm looking for. I want to be able to trust the board to actually go where I want it to and not feel like it’s just cutting through the snow.

What terrain is this board good for? [Matthew] It would be able to ride a lot of different types of terrain.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this board to? [Matthew] This board is perfect for any of those intermediate to advanced riders. But if you’re a beginner rider who thinks you’re ready for the intermediate level, don’t hesitate to try this board out. If you feel you want to progress to intermediate, I wouldn’t be afraid to jump in on this board. It’s user-friendly. It’s fun to ride. It’ll actually make you a better rider down the road. It will give you those skills, tools, and some of the shapes that a lot more beginner boards won’t give you.

Who should avoid this board, are there other better options out there for them? [Matthew] You might not want to try this board if you’re a complete beginner. There’s definitely better options from Bataleon that will be more forgiving.

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