By: Tommy Kelly, IT Support Technician | Last Updated: July 24th, 2023
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.
Shop the Bataleon Beyond Medals SnowboardSizes (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) |
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.
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.
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.
Shop the Bataleon Beyond Medals SnowboardName: 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.