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Snowboards

Gnu Riders Choice 2017-2018 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £504 / €560
  • Sizes: 151.5, 154.5, 157.5, 158W, 161.5, 162W, 166W
  • Flex: 6-7.5 (depending on length)
  • Profile: Combo
  • Shape: Asymmetric Twin
  • gnu.com

If you’re going to give a snowboard as bold a name as the ‘Riders Choice’, it has to be able to live up to it. Fortunately our testers were left in no doubt of this stick’s prowess.

The Gnu Riders Choice is an asymmetrical twin board that certainly leans towards freestyle, but doesn’t rule out all-mountain exploration. Its shape and mid-range flex allow you to throw down in the park to your heart’s content, and the catch-free nature of the profile – rocker between the feet, camber at each end – makes rails and boxes a breeze.

“Magne-Traction increases the Riders Choice’s edge hold when on firmer terrain”

When you want to grip-and-rip, it’ll do both thanks to the sidecut that’s slightly deeper and shorter on the heel side. Plus both edges feature wavy ‘Magne-Traction’ tech that creates multiple bite points, increasing the Gnu Riders Choice’s edge hold when on firmer terrain.

What about powder, we hear you ask? Well, the rocker section of the profile makes this float better than your average twin board, so you can venture into the deep without working too hard. If you’re more of a speed freak in the pow, then this probably isn’t what you’re looking for. If, on the other hand, you like to trick off every natural feature in sight, then the Gnu Riders Choice is definitely a board worth considering.

“If you like to trick off every natural feature in sight, the Gnu Riders Choice is definitely a board worth considering”

Tech-wise, there’s a lot of clever stuff at play. The combination of biax and triax fibreglass walks the line between jibby and responsive, while the sintered base fairly whips you along too. The topsheet is made from beans, giving it eco cred that doesn’t compromise performance, and the sidewalls are made from recycled material.

Even in a world where specialist shapes are all the rage, the biggest market is still for the all-rounders that can turn their hand to any terrain. The Gnu Riders Choice certainly fits into that category, so seek this one out if you’re looking for a one-board quiver.

Tester’s Verdict

Tom Copseyonboardmag.com

“It’s sometimes easy to overlook the good old fashioned popsicle stick-shaped deck, but the Gnu Riders Choice is an excellent example of why you shouldn’t. It is, frankly, a fantastic snowboard for riding the whole mountain.

“Could it be the perfect all-mountain board?”

The first-run thought? So much fun! It uses Gnu’s blend of asym sidecut with Magne-Traction (geometries that would have made the board look weird a few years ago before the trend of more experimental designs) which means it locks into turns like it’s on rails – you can really feel the extra toe and heel control from the different sidecuts. It’s super lively, too, firing you out of turns and giving heaps of pop when you’re maching it, but when cruising it’s still utterly buttery fun.

I rode it mostly on hard-pack and playing with side hits, where it was smooth, stable and chatter-free, but I can imagine in pow it would work great – not as good as a fish, but then a fish wouldn’t be anywhere near as excellent for park as this. Could it be the perfect all-mountain board?”

Trade Secrets

Trevor Phillips – Director, Gnu

Anxious to skip town and get into the mountains? Screw the shred buds, no time to check the weather, just gotta go?! When that happens, grab the board that takes the place of your entire quiver!

The Asymmetric ATV C2 Riders Choice is the dream board for any condition. It’s got the perfect contours for bold park prowess, Magne-Traction makes it a groomer delight, and you get built-in anatomical intuition with asymmetric advanced geometries. The choice is clear.

Magne-Traction edges act like a serrated knife, providing increased purchase on icy sections.
The asymmetric twin shape of the Gnu Rider's Choice means your heels must go on the designated side; the nose and tail of the board can therefore be different depending if you're regular or goofy.

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