Lib Tech Glider Review: The Women's Skate Banana
Lib Tech Glider is the women's Skate Banana: the board a woman can count on as one snowboard for everything: Original Banana, a true twin and Magne-Traction. Who it is for: a woman who wants easy, enjoyable all-day riding without fighting the board, from the first day to confident riding in the park and deep snow. Here is how it rides, which size to take and how it compares to the Skate Banana, Gloss and No.43.
-20%- Delivery in up to 2 days
- Shop at 6A Golo Bardo St., Sofia - since 1997
- Size advice:
+359 887 800 575
Snowboard Science ep. 2: Banana Rocker - the revolution that changed snowboarding
The Glider is the Skate Banana sized for a woman: the same profile, a narrower waist, a softer flex
When Lib Tech released the Skate Banana in 2007, the Banana profile changed how the industry thinks about board shape. The Glider carries the same idea into women's sizes. The profile is the same Original Banana, the shape is the same true twin, and Magne-Traction is in place. The difference is in the sizing: a narrower waist for a smaller foot and a softer flex for lower weight. That way the Banana feel works under a lighter woman, not just a heavy man. For details on the Skate Banana, see our Lib Tech Skate Banana review.
Lib Tech describes the Glider as a "fun, easy-riding dream board for everything that lives up to its name": a board that really glides. The brand recommends it "from your first ride to riding all the time," from the first ride to a woman who is on the mountain every weekend. Since 2023/24 the sizes are also slightly wider, to fit more boots without drag.
Original Banana: rocker between the feet for an easy turn, small camber zones for control
Original Banana / BTX: rocker between the feet and small camber zones toward the nose and tail.
Original Banana has rocker between the feet and small, soft camber zones toward the nose and tail. The rocker lifts the edges toward the ends, so the board does not catch the snow on a mistake and the turn starts almost on its own. The camber zones bring back a little spring and control in carving. Lib Tech calls this profile "the best profile to learn on" and describes it in three words: easy, playful on features, floaty.
On hard and icy snow, Magne-Traction does what the rocker cannot do alone. The waves along the edge bite into hard snow like a serrated knife, so the Glider stays easy but does not slide uncontrollably on an icy morning piste. That is why we call it forgiving but controlled.
Snowboard Science ep. 5: Magne-Traction - the edge that bites into ice
On piste, in the park and in deep snow, the Glider is easy and playful all day
The Glider is a board for a woman who wants easy, enjoyable all-day riding without overthinking. On piste it turns quickly with little effort, so your legs are not tired at the end of the day. In the park the true twin shape and a setback of 0 make riding switch natural, and the soft flex forgives the landings of your first jumps and boxes.
In deep snow the rocker makes the nose float up on its own, and you do not need to stand far back to keep it from diving. In Lib Tech's words, Original Banana gives flotation (in fluffy snow), carving and an easy path to freestyle, and the Glider does exactly that. It is not a board for maximum speed on a steep, hard piste. There the directional Dynamiss is more suitable.
Suitable for beginners, but stays interesting after your technique develops
The Glider is forgiving but controlled. A woman riding for the first time gets a board that does not punish mistakes and gives progress in the first days. But it has enough technology to stay interesting after your technique develops: Magne-Traction, a twin for riding switch, Banana for deep snow. This is not a learner board you will have to replace after a season.
The construction is OP: a wood core of 75% aspen and 25% paulownia, triaxial/biaxial fiberglass and an Eco Sublimated TNT base (the sliding surface), which is fast and does not need much maintenance. The artwork on the 2023/24 and 2025/26 is by Gianna Andrews: mountains and lakes that look good on the wall too.
- Original Banana
- freestyle / all-mountain, true twin
- setback 0
- Magne-Traction
- OP construction
- 75% aspen / 25% paulownia
- triaxial/biaxial fiberglass
- TNT base
- flex about 4-5
- Gianna Andrews artwork
Size: shorter for park and progression, longer for deep snow and stability
The Glider rides more freely than a camber board of the same length, so you can take a size in the middle or slightly below the usual one for your weight. We have the 147 (from 35 kg, 24.3 cm waist) and the 151 (from 40 kg, 24.8 cm waist). We have the 147 as the Lib Tech Glider 147 2024. Enter your weight and boot size and we will show you which of the available sizes fits.
| Size | Contact length | Waist | Sidecut | Flex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 147 | 111 cm | 24.3 cm | 8 m | 5 |
| 151 | 114 cm | 24.8 cm | 8 m | 5 |
-20%- Delivery in up to 2 days
- Shop at 6A Golo Bardo St., Sofia - since 1997
- Size advice:
+359 887 800 575
Glider vs. Skate Banana, Gloss and No.43: which one for whom
Lib Tech Skate Banana is the original: the same profile in bigger sizes and a stiffer flex, for taller and heavier riders. GNU Gloss is Mervin's other easy women's true twin: a C2 hybrid profile with more camber under the feet, livelier in the park and with sizes down to 136. Lib Tech No.43 is the next step: C2X and HP construction for a woman who already rides hard and wants a high-level twin.
| Glider | Skate Banana | Gloss | No.43 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profile | Original Banana | Original Banana | C2 hybrid / C2e | C2X |
| Shape | true twin | true twin | true twin | true twin |
| Flex | 4-5 | 5-6 | 4-5 | 5 |
| Who it is for | women, from day one to confident riding | from beginner to advanced | women and lighter riders, park | strong women riders, high-level freestyle |
| Terrain | freestyle / all-mountain / deep snow | all-mountain / freestyle / deep snow | park / freestyle / all-mountain | freestyle / all-mountain |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lib Tech Glider suitable for beginners?
Yes. Original Banana does not catch the snow on a mistake and the turn starts almost on its own. Lib Tech calls it "the best profile to learn on," and the board stays interesting after the first season.
What is the difference between the Glider and the Skate Banana?
The Glider is the women's Skate Banana: the same Original Banana profile, true twin and Magne-Traction, but with a narrower waist and a softer flex for lower weight and a smaller foot.
Is the Glider good in deep snow?
Yes. The rocker makes the nose float up on its own without you having to stay back all the time. For deep snow, take the longer size.
Glider or Gloss?
The Glider is easier and looser, with more rocker and flotation. The Gloss has more camber under the feet and is livelier in the park. Both are excellent first boards for a woman.
Which size should I get?
In the middle or slightly below the usual size for your weight, because a Banana rides looser than camber. If you are not sure, write to us.
How to choose, and where to try it
If you are a woman and want one board that will teach you to ride and stay with you in the park, on the piste and in deep snow, the Glider is the choice. If you want more spring in the park, get the Gloss. If you already ride hard, get the No.43. Come to our shop at 6A Golo Bardo St. in Sofia or call us at +359 887 800 575 and we will show you the board in person and pick the size together.
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