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KORUA Shapes

Our pick of this season's best KORUA Shapes snowboard gear

KORUA Shapes has come a long way in a short time. Launched in 2014 – a full couple of decades after most of the competition – Nicholas and his riding buddy-turned-business partner Stephan Maurer sold around 15 snowboards in that first season (“mostly to friends,” he admits). Today, it’s firmly established as one of the coolest board builders in the business.

The name KORUA brings images of tropical islands and palm trees to mind, but it was the snowy Japanese hills that truly inspired the birth of the brand. Nicholas had been on a trip to Japan and had seen snowboarding in a different light, one that prioritised carving, freeriding and snow surfing instead of the triple corks and behemoth kickers that dominated much of Europe and North America.

KORUA Shapes was born with its focus solely on turning and along with their Yearning For Turning video series helped to boost the profile. As of 2022, carving is very much back in fashion. The art of the turn has seen a huge resurgence in popularity, and KORUA Shapes were in prime position to take advantage of this surge in demand for snowboards that excelled on their edges.

As of today, KORUA have one of the most exciting and innovative product lines in snowboarding. You’ll see experimental shapes like the Pocket Rocket rubbing shoulders with tried and trusted classics like the Dart. Every new KORUA video gets a Whitelines office-wide premiere, but one that genuinely stopped us in our tracks was rider footage of the new Nose Rider. Just go watch it, trust us.

Fully content to let the boards do the talking, KORUA are known for their understated graphics and product carryover. By using the same subtle colour palette for each of their snowboards, they don’t subscribe to the yearly rat race product drop. The idea came from a sustainability point of view, as well as a way to guard the time and resources they had.

KORUA may not be the only brand on the market to cater to carving, but they are undisputedly one of the best. “My favourite shape is always the one that’s not yet out there. That’s what keeps us going.” – Nicholas Wolken

SHOP ALL SNOWBOARDS ON

Scroll down or select from the links below to check out our reviews of this season’s best KORUA Shapes snowboard gear.

Snowboards | Splitboards

Snowboards

KORUA Otto Plus Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: €749 / $849

Faced with so many weird and wonderful shapes in the KORUA line, it might seem odd that we’ve selected their most normal-looking silhouette for an award. But the Otto Plus proves you don’t need to wave goodbye to the park if you’re serious about your turns; it’s a carving machine at heart, with enough tail to switch things up at the drop of a hat, blurring creative lines across the mountain. A quiver killer with a difference, then.

Who Is The KORUA Otto Plus For?

Enjoyed those Yearning For Turning edits but not sure you’re quite ready to ditch your trusty twin for a board that looks like a pencil (and might even be called a pencil, too)? The Otto Plus is your gateway drug.

MORE INFO:
KORUASHAPES.COM

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 KORUA Otto Plus here

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Splitboards

KORUA Shapes Transition Finder Splitboard 2022-2023

PRICE: €449 / $549

One of our pet peeves is when a brand takes a board from its solids line, cuts it in half, and then gives it a different name along the lines of ‘Powhunter Deluxe’. The guys at KORUA have a bit more respect for us consumers, offering up a splitboard range consisting of one purpose-built shape (the Escalator) and three others borne from their main line.

Who Is The KORUA Shapes Transition Finder Split For?

KORUA boards on the whole are still all about carving, but this one doesn’t require as much proficiency in that area as some of the other shapes. If you’re still sussing out – or reconsidering – what kind of riding you want to do, but know it involves the backcountry, the Transition Finder’s relative accessibility leaves lots of options open for you.

MORE INFO:
KORUASNOWBOARDS.COM

 

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 KORUA Shapes Transition Finder Split

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KORUA Escalator Split Plus Splitboard 2022-2023

PRICE: €1099

Serious backcountry adventurers will want a high-performance stick that glides uphill easily, whilst being sturdy enough to charge hard and fast down steeps. The Escalator Split Plus certainly meets this job description. The guys at Korua Shapes have thought of everything to make your mission hassle-free – from the skinny deck that fits into narrow skin tracks to the hook system that allows you to leave the skin on when assembling the board. Plus it’s super lightweight, a key bonus that’ll allow you to save energy on the way up. Yes, it’s pricey but ideal for long missions into high alpine terrain.

MORE INFO:
KORUASNOWBOARDS.COM

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KORUA Shapes Dart Splitboard 2022-2023

PRICE: €749

Carve soul turns all over the mountain with this classic splitboard from Korua. It’s designed for serious float in deep powder, thanks to the wide scooped nose and tapered tail. Yes, it boasts the same cam-rock profile as their other splitties, but with the added addition of the stand-out swallowtail, made for playful antics in the sidecountry. They’ve also designed it with the Voile insert pattern, which basically means it’ll fit with pretty much any split bindings out there. Definitely worth a close look if you’re keen to add a serious dose of style to your descents.

MORE INFO:
KORUASNOWBOARDS.COM

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KORUA Shapes Pencil Splitboard 2022-2023

PRICE: €749

Just starting out in splitboarding? Or only plan on an occasional day trip into the sidecountry? Then the Pencil Split is right up your street. It’s the most versatile in the Korua range, crafted for short to medium hikes, plus longer missions if that takes your fancy. The float camber profile gives you shed loads of stability underfoot, ideal for hiking up and riding in crusty conditions, whilst the rockered nose lifts the board in deep powder. It might look like a stiff deck but you’ll find it’s more responsive than it appears. Smaller, lighter riders will appreciate that this deck comes in 147cm, as well as longer lengths too.

MORE INFO:
KORUASNOWBOARDS.COM

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