- Price: £409 / €449 / $522
- Category: All-Mountain
- Ability Level: Beginner, Intermediate
- Size: 146, 150, 153
- Flex: 4.5/10
- Shape: True Twin
- Profile: Flat Rocker
- Base: Sintered
- New for 2020/21
- BUY DIRECT FROM BOREALIS
It was only a matter of time before Borealis took their skimboard inspired Origins and scaled a version for the female shredders out there. The Botanica a carbon copy of its big bro and is best suited to snowboarders looking for an easy-going ride that still packs a superlight and performance-driven core under the hood.
Positive cambers have the downside of being quite aggressive or unforgiving for riders who aren’t completely on their game for every turn. Rocker profiles tend to feel a little flappy at speed and, although they deliver a really playful ride, won’t inspire confidence to push your speed or riding intensity on the mountain.
“The profile is predominantly flat, which makes it which is manoeuvrable and catch-free, while still delivering on grip and stability”
Borealis’s Skim Rocker cuts right through the debate. The profile is predominantly flat, which makes it which is manoeuvrable and catch-free, while still delivering on grip and stability. The added rocker sections in the nose and tail help with finding some float in the deep stuff (especially considering the Botanica’s true twin shape), but also keep the ends of the board a lot more pressable and catch-free – something that’s ideal to push your freestyle riding with.
Any concerns about this kind of profile lacking in pop or stability at either end will be quashed with the duo of carbon charged additives. Carbon Power Beams are configured in two “V” shaped formations from near the centre of the Botanica out towards the widest part of the tip and tail and keep the snowboard spring-loaded for when it’s time to pop.
Lastly, the Powder Paw combination of carbon and Kevlar runs the entire length of the snowboard, through the centre, to avoid interfering with the torsional flex too much. This acts as end-to-end dampening and prevents the Botanica from flapping around underfoot. This means the edge remains engaged and driving, so you can stay focused on the run into the jump or holding a straight line to clear the flats on a pesky cat-track run.
“The edge remains engaged and driving, so you can stay focused on the run into the jump or holding a straight line to clear the flats on a pesky cat-track run”
The Botanica will suit intermediates looking to progress everywhere on the mountain this season, but more experienced riders who want a snowboard that’s still packed with ultralight, responsive tech while retaining its playful, forgiving nature could easily find what they’re looking for here.
