In the world of snowboarding, the Jones Stratos Snowboard and the Burton Flight Attendant Snowboard are two top contenders for the 2024 season. Both boards are designed for advanced riders and offer a blend of freeride and freestyle capabilities. The Jones Stratos is praised for its excellent edge control, smooth carving, and freestyle heart, while the Burton Flight Attendant is lauded for its speed, stability, and versatility in off-piste and powder conditions. However, the Stratos requires more effort and skill from the rider, making it less suitable for beginners. On the other hand, the Flight Attendant is not ideal for park addicts or superpipe enthusiasts. In the end, the choice between these two boards comes down to personal preference and riding style.

Jones Stratos Snowboard · 2024 summary

The Jones Stratos Snowboard is a freeride board with a freestyle heart. It has a locked-in feel while carving and freeriding, making it a smooth ride on the mountain. The board's wide nose and awesome-looking tail are inviting, and it's clear that this board, which may look like just a freeride board, definitely has a freestyle heart and is very fun.

The Stratos is one of the smoother boards, especially while riding edge to edge. It has a great locked-in feel when carving some of the tighter sections through the trees and ravines. This board held up and was very inviting in terms of play. It had a ton of pop despite being the biggest board ridden. It felt like it was the most effortless in terms of leaving the ground or just dropping back down onto an edge and continuing ripping down the mountain.

The board has a contour shape as well as Jones’ Traction Tech, which allows for smooth edge transitions and is very much at home setting up for nice carves or awesome jump lines. It also has a great locked-in feeling between the feet. It doesn't wash out at all. This is a great option for jumps, half pipe riding, and dabbling in the park while riding a snowboard that is still very capable all over the rest of the mountain.

Burton Flight Attendant Snowboard · 2024 summary

The Burton Flight Attendant Snowboard is a board renowned for its ability to carve and find time in the air. It has a bit of metal in there, a WFO base, and a 6 out of 10 flex, making it a bit on the more aggressive, stiffer side, but it’s not also going to try and kill you.

The Flight Attendant is awesome for going all over the mountain. It has a slight setback on the insert, which places the rider directly centered over the predominantly camber section on the board. So, we’ve got a bit of rocker in the nose and then mostly camber with a bit of a shorter tail. This was something that we straightlined and felt super stable. It’s a great all-around board.

The board has a wider nose and a shorter tail, which helps to initiate turns, and then you’re centered over that full camber. One thing to note is to double-check the waist width on it. Make sure you’re on the right size width-wise because this board will hold on as high an edge angle as you want to get it.

Similarities

Both the Jones Stratos and the Burton Flight Attendant are designed for advanced riders who love to explore the whole mountain. They both have a freeride body with a freestyle spirit, giving them a playful feel. Both boards have a great locked-in feel when carving and offer excellent edge control. They are both built to handle deep powder and hard pack with ease, and they both have a sintered base for a speedy on-snow feel. Both boards also have a similar flex rating, with the Stratos at a 7 out of 10 and the Flight Attendant at a 6 out of 10.

Differences and Who They're Good For

While both boards are designed for advanced riders, the Jones Stratos requires more effort and skill from the rider, making it less suitable for beginners. It's a board that truly reaps the benefits of higher speed and technical riding and movements. On the other hand, the Burton Flight Attendant is not ideal for park addicts or superpipe enthusiasts. It's more directional and cruisey, making it a great board for those who love to carve and catch air.

The Jones Stratos is perfect for riders who love to carve and freeride but also want a board with a freestyle heart. It's great for jumps, half pipe riding, and dabbling in the park. The Burton Flight Attendant, on the other hand, is perfect for riders who love to go fast and excel in off-piste and powder conditions. It's a great all-around board that can handle a variety of terrain conditions.

Analysis on Who’s the Winner

When it comes to carving, both boards perform exceptionally well, but the Jones Stratos might have a slight edge due to its Traction Tech, which allows for smooth edge transitions.

In terms of freestyle capabilities, the Jones Stratos takes the lead with its freestyle heart and great locked-in feeling between the feet. It's a great option for jumps, half pipe riding, and dabbling in the park.

For freeriding, the Burton Flight Attendant shines with its ability to handle deep powder and hard pack with ease. Its tapered shape and directional camber make it perfect for off-piste and powder conditions.

In terms of speed, the Burton Flight Attendant is the clear winner. Its ultra-fast sintered base and stability at high speeds make it a rocket ship on the slopes.

Conclusions

In conclusion, both the Jones Stratos and the Burton Flight Attendant are excellent choices for advanced riders who love to explore the whole mountain. The Jones Stratos stands out for its excellent edge control and freestyle heart, making it a great choice for riders who love to carve and freeride but also want a board with a freestyle twist. The Burton Flight Attendant, on the other hand, shines in its speed and versatility in off-piste and powder conditions, making it a great all-around board for those who love to go fast and excel in a variety of terrain conditions. Ultimately, the choice between these two boards comes down to personal preference and riding style. So, whether you're a carving enthusiast or a speed demon, there's a board out there for you. Happy shredding!