Tue, 03/02/2010 - 10:07pmNext year's kit given a run for its money

Endeavor Live and SP Brotherhood Fastec bindings under the spotlight

James Bryant's been in Bormio where he had this to say on next year's Endeavor and SP kit:

"I've been razzing the Endeavor Live around Bormio in Italy for the last two days, doing my best to give it a run for its money. I've also been checking out some of SP's quick release bindings which actually work really well – I wouldn't normally go in for more than a traditional two-strap but SP have done a great job to create a binding that is quick and easy to put on, weighs less than some more traditional bindings and still offers a snug fit. Not bad.

The way they work is you pre-set the size you want the binding to be with your boot in it, and after that it's just a dead easy highback catch and an ankle strap catch to get up to speed. It's is definitely a way easier system than standard ratchets, suffers less from jamming in the snow and slipping ratchets but the only annoying thing is forgetting to put the highback over the board when you're scooting around – I took some pretty lame bales in and around lift queues catching my foot on the open highback – you lot would probably have that under control though.

The Live is an all mountain freestyle offering, a directional twin with a sintered base, easy sidecut and medium flex. I thought it was wicked and more than held up to the Bormio's steep and rolling pistes. It's got good pop, is flexible enough in the nose and tail to butter and jib around – even in the 159cm that I rode it was pretty easy throwing 3s on the piste. It handled the jumps really well and obviously flew seeing as it was straight out of the wrapper. It handled the Men's downhill really well, and didn't feel flaky - although that may have been more by virtue of its length than its strength as it's a pretty cruisy board to ride.

I'm a big fan of traditional camber snowboards so this was a perfect fit for me, the only thing I'd perhaps look for was a 157 as I'd probably use this as a piste and park shredder.

If you're lining up next year's quiver already then the Live will set you back £349 and the Brotherhood bindings, £199."

Related stories:

• Next winter's gear: snowboards, boots and bindings
• ENDEAVOR LIVE SERIES 2009/2010
• SP BROTHERHOOD FAST TEC 2009/2010