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2024 Bataleon Beyond Medals Snowboard Review


By: Tommy Kelly, IT Support Technician  |  Last Updated: July 24th, 2023

2024 Bataleon BYND MDLS Snowboard Review

The Lowdown

The 2024 Bataleon Beyond Medals Snowboard is a true collaboration between two brands — Bataleon and Beyond Metals — that like to push the needle when it comes to traditional snowboarding. Revamped for the 2023/2024 season, this board boasts a number of high-quality materials built around Bataleon's triple base technology (3BT™). This beast of a board bridges the gap in Bataleon’s directional twin arsenal, combining the Goliath and the Whatever. The directional twin shape paired with plenty of binding mount options allow for a customized experience for any condition you find yourself digging into. Beyond Metals brings a sleek top sheet and a beautiful base design, and it’s clear that the input of their team helped push for this board to be produced without cutting any corners. A true Swiss army knife of a board that handles conditions changing throughout the day and won’t confine you to one specific style or area of the mountain.

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Technical Details

The board is a Directional Twin, with a pointed nose and a positive medium camber, and a tail shape similar to the Bataleon Whatever board. The recommended stance features an inch or so setback, with additional backseat binding inserts for a super setback placement when you want to get real surfy. A 6000-grade sintered base allows you to rip around, and although it’s not the fastest base on the Bataleon line up, it’s nothing to scoff at. This board still rides fast and durable, soaking up wax really well when you are tuning it. Bataleon’s Sidekick™ lifts the contact points on the nose and tail of the board which, in addition to 3BT™ throughout the entire board, reduces edge-catch and increases turn initiation. These specs are adjusted for each Bataleon board, with the BYLD MDLS showcasing a nice mellow low rise on the tail and a slightly higher medium rise on the nose. Running through the board is Bataleon’s Super Tubes™, carbon cylinders installed into the core to reinforce the camber. These carbon tubes help reduce weight and greatly increase pop throughout. The board itself is made with a blend of paulownia & poplar blend core, making it super lightweight and responsive. The top sheet features a Bi-Ax Lamination, a two-way fiberglass weave that is light, strong and playful. This allows for the board to stay quick and snappy, without making it too stiff in the process.
Sizes (cm)  151, 154, 156, [158W], 159, 161W, 164W
Shape Directional Twin
Dimensions (Tip, Waist, Tail - mm) 302 - 264 - 302
Sidecut Radius (m) 8.1 @ 158W
Rocker/Camber Profile Medium Camber with 3BT™ + SideKick™
Flex Rating (1 Soft - 10 Stiff) 7
Core 70/30 Paulownia & Poplar
Laminates Bi-Ax + Dual Super Tubes + Carbon Stringers
Binding Compatibility 2 x 4 Insert Pattern (+ Two Backseat Inserts)

Ride Impressions

I think this was a good reminder about how important it is to get a board that fits you properly. I rode the 158 Wide which, although manageable, took away from my experience considering my weight and shoe size compared to the waist width of the board (approximately 270mm). On the other hand, I had an awesome time floating around in powder and was able to get really low when carving super wide. This was my first time riding a Bataleon snowboard and I was excited to get to try out the 3BT™, which is probably the first thing you might notice when you first pick up one of their boards. In this model, the 3D base bevel that is most prominent on the sides of the nose/tail is a lot more mellow compared to some of their powder specific models like the Party Wave, making it more tailored for an all-mountain rider. This board is a true master of all - I took it everywhere from groomers to the side-country to the park, having a great time in each. The directional shape is supported by the backset binding inserts, making the nose a little longer than the tail. I set up the bindings on the extra “Backseat” inserts to give the board a surfy and laid back feel, which didn’t take away from riding switch at all. In addition, when I set the board up with the bindings centered, I didn’t notice the directional set back very much. The flex of the board was about a 7/10, with the nose and tail being playful for pops and butters, allowing you to really sink backwards on the board when you swing through the deep stuff.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

Pros

  • Smooth transition from edge to edge thanks to the 3BT base.
  • Playful and fun flex without being a complete wet noodle.
  • Plenty of binding positioning adjustments that allow you to set it up for a strictly directional feel, or change it up to have your feet more centered on the board for an all-mountain twin feel.
  • Sturdy and high quality materials used in the board made it feel light and smooth when riding.

Cons

  • When you really start to pick up speed, switching to edge can feel a little washed out and not under the full control you might feel with a stiffer all-mountain/freeride board.
  • The 158W was the wrong size for me and my riding style.

Who Is It For?

This would be a great fit for someone who finds themselves struggling to find a high-quality board that isn’t as stiff as a 2x4 and has a dynamic personality for different riding styles depending on the day. Maybe you are the type of person who doesn’t want to check the forecast days before going up to ensure they are going to have a good time, or someone who spends equal parts of the day ducking through trees, hiking a couple lines, and rocking some rails all in one run. The wide variant specifically is a great fit for someone who has larger feet (10.5US M+), as the main difference of a wide model compared to a standard model snowboard is about 10mm added to the waist width (the distance from toe edge to heel edge). The 3BT™ on the BYND MDLS is super mellow, so if you’re worried about how that might change your riding, this board is a perfect introduction on what you can expect with boards from Bataleon, Lobster, Jones, and other boards that advertise this spoon/3D shape to their base.

The Bottom Line

Although it didn’t fit me perfectly, the Bataleon Beyond Medals board did not disappoint. This board felt like nothing I have ridden before, and I found myself smiling ear to ear at the bottom of every run. Messing around with the binding placement made it feel like a different board each time, where a small adjustment brought out different aspects of the design.

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Bataleon BYND Medals Snowboard Review Author

About the Reviewer

Name: Tommy Kelly
Age: 27
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 155 lbs
Size Reviewed: 158W
Location(s) & Conditions: Stevens Pass, WA - Heavy and fluffy / Snoqualmie Pass, WA - Sunny and slushy.
Bindings: Union Strata
Boots: thirtytwo TM-Two (Size 8.5)
Riding Style & Ability Level: My mom says I'm the best snowboarder she knows.