Lib Tech T.Rice Orca II 2027 Snowboard

The Lib Tech T.Rice Orca II 2027 Snowboard is Travis Rice’s volume-shifted directional all-mountain board, built to turn quickly, float hard and stay confident in consequential terrain. It has a specific job rather than a vague promise to do everything. The outline, stance and contact points determine where the board wants pressure and how it releases from a turn, so the official geometry below is part of the description, not an afterthought.

Shape and ride are closely connected. A long floaty nose, compact seven-metre sidecut, wide platform and short Whale Tail create the familiar Orca balance of surface area and manoeuvrability. Lib Tech recommends riding it three to six centimetres shorter than a conventional board because width and outline replace some of that length. The C2x profile places mild rocker between the feet with camber zones extending toward the contacts. In the Behind The Pines guide this maps to Hybrid Rocker: easier pivot and float through the centre, with energetic, controlled sections under each foot. This tells you more than a one-word profile label: it explains where the board stores energy, where it pivots and why the nose or tail behaves differently in soft and firm conditions.

Construction supports that ride character. HPONH construction uses a 60% Makah hemlock / 40% paulownia core, triaxial and biaxial glass, an ocean-bound recycled PBT eco topsheet, UHMW sidewalls and a sintered knife-cut base. Magne-Traction adds serrated edge contact for firm or variable snow. These materials are not listed as decoration. Core blend, glass orientation, carbon where present, sidewall material and base type all affect response, weight, repairability and the amount of care the board rewards through a season.

Who it is for is equally clear. A consistent flex 7 gives the Orca drive and stability rather than a loose beginner feel. It suits advanced all-mountain riders who mix trees, powder, steeps and carved resort lines. The shorter sizing advice is part of the design; buying your normal length would add considerably more board than the shape intends. Use the full official table to compare contact length, waist, stance and rider-weight guidance across every size. Availability can change, but the table remains complete so you can understand how the model scales before choosing the size currently in stock.

Key details

• Travis Rice volume-shifted directional shape
• Ride 3–6 cm shorter than conventional length
• C2x hybrid rocker profile
• 60% Makah hemlock / 40% paulownia core
• Magne-Traction edges
• Sintered knife-cut base; flex 7

The profile explains much of the board’s character, but shape, width and flex complete the picture. A directional outline moves support and surface area to where they are most useful, while edge geometry determines how confidently the board settles into a turn. Flex is size-specific where the official chart says so, and rider weight is a recommendation rather than a substitute for experience, boot size and preferred terrain. Choose the size that supports how you actually ride, not only the number printed on your previous board.

A board like this rewards a clean setup. Centre the boots over the waist, check toe and heel clearance, and use the reference stance as a starting point rather than a rule. A more forward, powerful rider may prefer the extra platform of a longer size; a rider prioritising quicker direction changes may lean shorter within the recommended range. Keep the base clean and waxed, inspect the edges after hard or rocky days and allow the board to dry before storage. Those basics preserve the intended glide and handling through the season.

Snowboard profile: Hybrid Rocker

Read our snowboard profile guide

Official dimensions