Burton Hometown Hero 2020: Ultimate Review & Rider Guide
Alright, fellow shredders, let's talk about a board that's been making some serious waves in the freeride world: the Burton Family Tree Hometown Hero 2020. If you're someone who lives for those deep powder days, charges down untouched lines, and loves to feel every nuance of the mountain, then you've probably heard whispers about this beast. The Hometown Hero 2020 isn't just another snowboard; it's a statement, a meticulously crafted tool designed by guys who truly understand what it means to push the boundaries of freeriding. Born from Burton's innovative Family Tree lineup, this board is all about embracing the wild side of winter, offering an unparalleled experience for intermediate to advanced riders looking to conquer everything from steep, powdery bowls to technical tree runs and even lay down some mean carves on fresh corduroy. We're talking about a directional, cambered masterpiece that delivers a super stable, surfy, and incredibly responsive ride. From its unique shape that screams 'float,' to its high-end construction that promises durability and lightning-fast speed, every element of the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 has been thoughtfully engineered to elevate your ride. It’s for those days when the snow is fresh, the stoke is high, and you want a board that won’t just keep up, but will empower you to find your own hero lines. So, if you're curious about what makes this all-mountain freeride snowboard a true standout in the 2020 lineup, stick around, because we're about to dive deep into every glorious detail and help you decide if this is the ultimate weapon for your winter adventures.
What Makes the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 Stand Out?
So, what's the big deal with the Burton Hometown Hero 2020, you ask? Well, it's not just a pretty face in the Burton lineup; it's a testament to thoughtful design and relentless pursuit of performance, especially for those of us who prioritize big mountain charging and chasing after the best snow. The Burton Family Tree collection, from which the Hometown Hero hails, is renowned for being a laboratory of sorts—where Burton's designers and riders experiment with shapes, profiles, and technologies to create highly specialized, often unique, boards. The Hometown Hero 2020 perfectly embodies this philosophy, bringing together a blend of features that make it truly exceptional. It’s built for the rider who sees the entire mountain as their playground, but particularly thrives in natural terrain, off-piste adventures, and, let’s be honest, deep, glorious powder. This board isn't designed to be a jack-of-all-trades that compromises everywhere; instead, it's a master of specific, thrilling domains, yet still surprisingly versatile. Its magic lies in its ability to offer an incredibly stable platform at high speeds, while simultaneously providing that elusive, surfy feel in deep snow. This combination of stability and float is a tricky balance to strike, but the Hometown Hero 2020 pulls it off with aplomb, making it an all-mountain freeride snowboard that truly lives up to its name. It encourages you to be the hero of your own mountain, finding those epic lines and making them your own, all while feeling confidently connected to your board. Let's break down the individual components that make this specific model so special and why it quickly became a favorite among advanced riders.
Design & Shape: Unpacking the Directional Power
The design and shape of the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 are where its freeride DNA truly shines through, guys. This isn't your average twin board; it's a masterclass in directional snowboard geometry, purpose-built to tackle challenging terrain and provide incredible float in powder. When you first lay eyes on it, you’ll notice that distinctive, elongated nose and a slightly shorter, more tapered tail – that's the magic right there. This directional shape is critical for several reasons. Firstly, the tapered tail (often around 12mm) allows the tail to sink just enough in deep snow, naturally lifting the nose above the white stuff. This effortless float saves your back leg from burning out and makes riding through bottomless powder feel less like work and more like surfing. It's a game-changer for those legendary storm days. Secondly, the stance is set back on the board, further contributing to that effortless lift and enhancing stability at speed. This means less effort to keep the nose up and more energy to focus on your line. Beyond powder, this directional design also plays a huge role in its carving prowess. The longer effective edge on the front side, combined with the setback, allows for powerful, smooth turn initiation and exit. You can really lean into those carves and feel the board bite into the snow, giving you an impressive amount of control and responsiveness on groomers. The slight increase in width, especially in the larger sizes, further contributes to its stability, allowing you to charge harder and faster without feeling squirrely. This meticulously crafted shape is what gives the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 its unique feel – powerful and aggressive when you need it, yet playful and maneuverable in the right conditions. It's a board that truly inspires confidence, letting you push your limits without fear. You’ll appreciate how easily it transitions from deep stashes to hardpack, always feeling like it’s exactly where you want it to be, a true testament to its all-mountain performance capabilities derived from this intelligent shaping.
Camber Profile: A Blend of Control and Float
Moving on to the heart of its ride feel, let's talk about the camber profile of the Burton Hometown Hero 2020. This board utilizes a Directional Camber which, simply put, means you get a healthy dose of traditional camber underfoot, extending through most of the board, but it smoothly transitions into rocker in the nose. This isn't just some random design choice; it's a deliberate engineering decision that provides the best of both worlds for freeride enthusiasts. The camber underfoot is the backbone of this board’s performance. It provides that powerful pop, intense edge hold, and incredible response that advanced riders crave. When you load up the board into a turn, that camber springs back, giving you energy and momentum out of the carve, making groomer laps surprisingly fun and engaging. It’s what allows you to really dig in and feel confident gripping on icy patches or firm snow. This traditional camber element also contributes significantly to the board's stability at speed, ensuring you feel planted and in control even when you’re absolutely ripping down an open face. But wait, there’s more! The magic truly happens where the camber gives way to the rocker in the nose. This rocker section is crucial for its unparalleled powder performance. It acts like a boat's hull, effortlessly lifting the nose above the deep snow, creating that blissful, surfy sensation we all chase on a powder day. This design minimizes the effort required to keep the nose afloat, allowing you to relax, enjoy the ride, and navigate through deep stashes with ease. It effectively marries the precision and power of camber with the playful, forgiving nature of rocker where it matters most for freeriding. This strategic camber profile is why the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 can transition so seamlessly from laying down trenches on hardpack to gliding through waist-deep snow, offering a consistent and exhilarating ride across diverse conditions. It’s a versatile setup that truly defines the board's all-mountain, freeride character.
Construction & Tech: Built for the Mountain
When we talk about what goes into making the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 such a formidable force on the mountain, we can’t overlook its premium construction and the cutting-edge tech packed inside. Burton doesn’t skimp on their Family Tree line, and the Hometown Hero 2020 is a shining example of this commitment to quality and performance. At its core, you'll find the Dragonfly™ 600G Core with Multizone EGD™. This isn't just any wood core; it's a super lightweight yet incredibly strong core featuring end-grain wood in impact zones for enhanced edge hold and durability. The combination of lighter wood species and the Multizone EGD (Engineered Grain Direction) ensures that the board has optimal strength, responsiveness, and reduced swing weight, making it feel lively and easy to maneuver despite its size. This core construction is vital for the board's snappiness and ability to absorb chatter, providing a smooth ride even through choppy conditions. Surrounding this sophisticated core is a layer of Triax™ Fiberglass with Carbon Highlights. This specific fiberglass layup provides a versatile flex and response, strong enough for aggressive riding without feeling overly stiff or unforgiving. The Carbon Highlights are the secret sauce here, adding an extra layer of longitudinal and torsional stiffness, giving the board incredible pop and precise edge control. This carbon integration also helps in dampening vibrations, resulting in a more stable and controlled ride at high speeds. Finally, the board is finished with a Sintered WFO Base. This isn’t just any base, guys; “WFO” stands for “Wide F***ing Open,” and it lives up to its name. It’s an ultra-absorbent, high-density sintered base that’s infused with a specially formulated wax, making it incredibly fast and requiring less frequent waxing than typical sintered bases. This means less friction, more glide, and more speed to leave your buddies in the dust. The combination of these top-tier materials and construction techniques results in a board that is not only incredibly durable but also offers an unmatched blend of lightweight agility, powerful response, and blistering speed. The Burton Hometown Hero 2020 is truly engineered to perform at the highest level, making it a reliable companion for any demanding rider. It’s these thoughtful details that elevate it beyond just a piece of wood and fiberglass into a high-performance instrument for conquering the mountain.
On-Snow Performance: Where the Burton Hometown Hero Shines
Alright, enough with the tech specs, let's get to the fun part: how does the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 actually perform on the mountain? This is where the rubber meets the road, or rather, where the base meets the snow, and let me tell you, this board is an absolute joy. Its all-mountain versatility is truly impressive, far exceeding what some might expect from a board so clearly geared towards freeride. While its heart undoubtedly beats strongest in deep snow, it’s remarkably capable across a wide range of conditions, making it a fantastic daily driver for adventurous riders. On groomers, the Hometown Hero 2020 absolutely rails. The directional camber and stiff flex combine to provide incredible edge hold and stability. You can lay down deep, powerful carves with confidence, feeling every inch of the edge bite into the snow. It’s surprisingly nimble for a board of its stature, allowing for quick edge-to-edge transitions and responsive turning. High-speed runs feel incredibly stable, with minimal chatter, thanks to its robust construction. When you venture off-piste, into the trees, or through moguls, the board maintains a fantastic balance of control and maneuverability. The tapered tail helps pivot turns through tight spots, and the slight rocker in the nose makes it easier to navigate variable snow and absorb bumps. But let’s be real, where this board truly transforms into something special is in the powder. This is its natural habitat, its reason for being. The effortless float, the surfy feel, the stability—it all comes together to create an unforgettable experience. Whether you’re dropping into a steep, untouched bowl or slaloming through powder-filled glades, the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 makes it feel like you’re gliding on air. It’s not just about staying afloat; it’s about feeling truly connected to the snow, allowing you to ride intuitively and with incredible flow. This board truly empowers you to explore and dominate the entire mountain, from the fast groomers to the most demanding backcountry terrain, solidifying its reputation as a premier freeride snowboard and an all-mountain ripper.
Crushing the Powder
When the snow gods deliver, and you find yourself staring down a field of untouched, fresh powder, this is where the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 truly earns its stripes and then some. Guys, this board is a bona fide powder snowboard dream machine. Every aspect of its design, from its shape to its profile, culminates in an experience that is nothing short of euphoric in deep snow. The elongated, rockered nose acts like a natural lift, effortlessly keeping your tip above the white stuff without you having to lean back aggressively and burn out your back leg. That distinctive tapered tail does its job perfectly, allowing the tail to sink just enough to further elevate the nose, providing an incredibly surfy, floaty sensation that makes you feel like you're gliding on water, not snow. This natural float means you can conserve energy, ride longer, and truly enjoy the sensation of effortlessly flying through bottomless stashes. The stability in powder is also outstanding. Even through inconsistent snow or when hitting little drops, the Hometown Hero 2020 remains composed and predictable. You can lean into big, open turns with confidence, spraying plumes of snow behind you, or navigate tight tree runs with surprising agility. The board’s powerful core and fiberglass layup give it enough stiffness to prevent it from feeling noodle-y in deeper, heavier snow, ensuring you maintain control and responsiveness. This isn't just a board that can ride powder; it's a board that excels at it, designed from the ground up to make those legendary powder days unforgettable. It encourages you to seek out the deepest stashes, drop into challenging lines, and truly embrace the pure joy of freeride snowboarding in its natural element. If chasing fresh snow is your ultimate goal, then the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 is an absolute must-have in your quiver; it’s a board that turns epic conditions into legendary memories.
Carving Up Groomers
Now, you might think a board built for powder and freeride would be a bit sluggish or uninspiring on groomers, right? Wrong! The Burton Hometown Hero 2020 actually delivers a remarkably impressive performance when it comes to carving up groomers. Thanks to its powerful directional camber profile and robust construction, this board holds an edge like a champ. When you engage that camber underfoot, you feel a significant amount of pop and rebound out of your turns, allowing you to lay down deep, arcing carves with an exhilarating sense of control and power. The board's stiffness and the Triax Fiberglass with Carbon Highlights translate into excellent torsional rigidity, meaning it doesn't wash out easily, even when you're really leaning into a turn at high speeds. You can confidently commit to your edges, feeling the board bite securely into the snow. This makes it incredibly fun for just cruising around on fresh corduroy or for really pushing your carving technique. Furthermore, the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 exhibits fantastic stability at speed. Whether you're blasting down wide-open runs or straight-lining a steep pitch, the board remains composed and damp, soaking up vibrations and chatter. This stability instills a huge amount of confidence, allowing you to push your limits and ride faster than you might on a softer, more playful board. It’s genuinely surprising how well this all-mountain snowboard performs on hardpack, shattering the stereotype that dedicated powder boards are only good for one thing. So, while its heart yearns for fresh snow, don't hesitate to take the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 out for some serious fun on the groomers; it's more than capable of delivering a thrilling and rewarding carving experience that will leave a huge smile on your face and empower you to truly master every inch of the resort terrain. It’s a testament to its versatile design that it can handle such contrasting conditions with grace and power.
Tree Runs and Technical Terrain
For those of us who love to dart through the trees, navigate challenging chutes, or pick our way through variable, technical terrain, the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 truly shines as a nimble and capable companion. While it might look like a big, burly freeride board, its design incorporates crucial elements that make it surprisingly agile in tighter spots. The tapered tail isn't just for powder float; it significantly aids in quick, pivotal turns. When you need to rapidly change direction to avoid an obstacle or snake through a dense glade, that shorter, narrower tail allows the board to release from a turn with less effort. This makes it much easier to initiate quick, responsive slashes and pivots, which are essential for navigating intricate tree lines. Furthermore, the combination of its directional camber with a touch of rocker in the nose helps with maneuverability in variable snow conditions that you frequently encounter in the trees. The rocker helps the nose ride over slush, crud, and uneven snow, preventing unexpected hang-ups, while the camber underfoot ensures you still have plenty of power and edge control when you need to dig in or hold a line on a tricky traverse. The board's inherent stability also pays dividends here. When you’re dealing with unexpected drops, sudden changes in snow quality, or dodging obstacles, the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 remains composed and predictable. It absorbs bumps and chatter well, giving you the confidence to maintain your speed and line through challenging environments. This allows you to focus on the terrain ahead, rather than battling your board. It's truly a board that inspires confidence, allowing you to push into more aggressive lines and discover new zones within the resort or even in the backcountry. For any rider who spends a significant amount of time exploring the nooks and crannies of the mountain, the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 proves to be an exceptional tool for conquering technical terrain and making those tight tree runs feel flowy and fun. It provides that perfect blend of control, float, and agility that turns daunting challenges into exhilarating triumphs.
Who is the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 For?
So, after all this talk about its prowess, who exactly is the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 designed for? Let’s be clear, guys, this isn't a board for absolute beginners or someone who spends 100% of their time in the terrain park. This is a board for the intermediate to advanced rider who craves freeride snowboarding and all-mountain exploration. If your idea of a perfect day involves hunting for fresh snow, dropping into steep bowls, slaloming through powder-filled trees, and linking powerful carves on untouched corduroy, then this board should definitely be on your radar. It's for the rider who values stability at speed, effortless float in powder, and precise control across varied terrain. You're someone who wants a board that will not only keep up with your aggressive riding but actively enhance it, allowing you to push your limits and discover new lines. It excels for those who primarily ride resort freeride or dabble in backcountry touring (though it's not a splitboard, it's great for sidecountry access). If you're looking for a super soft, playful board for buttering and jibbing, this might not be your first choice. However, if you want a powerful, directional weapon that can handle anything the mountain throws at it with grace and confidence, then the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 is an incredibly strong contender for your next ride. It truly lives up to its name, empowering you to be the hero of your own mountain adventures. It’s a board that truly rewards an engaged and experienced rider, unlocking new levels of performance and fun in a wide range of snow conditions.
Final Verdict: Is the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 Your Next Ride?
Alright, guys, let's wrap this up. The Burton Hometown Hero 2020 is, without a doubt, a standout all-mountain freeride snowboard that truly delivers on its promise of big mountain performance. It successfully blends powerful carving capabilities on hardpack with an almost magical, effortless float in deep powder, making it a incredibly versatile and exhilarating ride. Its meticulously designed directional shape, combined with the responsive directional camber and premium construction, creates a board that feels both stable at speed and surprisingly nimble in tight situations. This isn't just another board; it's a testament to Burton's commitment to innovation within their Family Tree line, offering a specialized tool for riders who demand the best from their equipment. If you're an intermediate to advanced rider who loves chasing storms, exploring every nook and cranny of the resort, and values a board that provides confidence-inspiring stability and an incredibly fun, surfy feel in deep snow, then the Burton Hometown Hero 2020 should absolutely be at the top of your list. It's a board that will empower you to tackle challenging terrain with ease, lay down powerful carves, and experience the sheer joy of floating through fresh powder. While it might not be the playful park board for every rider, for those seeking a high-performance, directional shred stick that excels in natural terrain and variable conditions, this Burton snowboard is a true winner. So, if you're ready to elevate your freeride game and become the hero of your local mountain, go find a Burton Hometown Hero 2020 and prepare for an unforgettable season. You won't regret it!
