- Price: £414 / €460
- Lengths: 145, 148, 151, 155
- Flex: 5.5-6.5
- Profile: Combo
- Shape: Directional
- gnu.com
The last Olympics feels like a long time ago, but for Kaitlyn Farringdon it must feel like a lifetime ago. In Sochi she was the surprise winner in the halfpipe, and had the snowboarding world at her feet, only for a post-fall checkup the following year to reveal a dangerous spine condition that spelled the end of her competitive career.
“Essentially the Gnu Klassy is a freerider at heart, but one that doesn’t need to wait for a storm to have fun”
Down but not out, she shifted her focus to the backcountry and worked with her board sponsor to design this, the Gnu Klassy women’s snowboard. Its directional shape is perfect for making the most of pow lines, with a little help from the rocker section between the feet. There’s still enough tail to get some pop should you wish to air off a natural feature, but if you just want to sink it and let the extended nose lead you to pastures new, that’s fine too.
It’s not just for pow days; the wavy Magne-Traction edges improve the Gnu Klassy’s grip on piste, aided by the camber sections directly under the bindings. The shape lends itself to really cranking out the carves, but its mid-flex allows you to shift between hammering the turns one minute and taking things easy the next.
Essentially the Gnu Klassy is a freerider at heart, but one that doesn’t need to wait for a storm to have fun. If you’d describe yourself in similar terms, then this could be your ideal whip.
