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Snowboards

Gnu Head Space 2020-2021 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £445 / $500
  • Category: Park/Jib, All-Mountain
  • Ability Level: Intermediate, Advanced
  • Size: 149, 152, 152W, 155, 155W, 158
  • Flex: 4.5-6/10
  • Shape: Asym Twin
  • Profile: Hybrid
  • Base: Sintered

The Head Space has the fingerprints of GNU team stalwart Forrest Bailey all over it. From the artwork on the top sheet to the tech chosen to go in it, Bailey has created a freestyle snowboard that reflects his riding style and personality.

Assuming we don’t just buy our snowboards for the topsheet (come on now, be honest), one of the most notable strings to the Head Case’s bow is hidden away in its asymmetric sidecut. This simple but effective design is compensates for for the biomechanical inefficiencies of turning on the heelside edge by shortening the sidecut radius on that side to deliver perfectly even and flowing carves whichever way you’re leaning.

“They even use renewable energy to power the factory they’re made in, putting them in Greta’s good books”

Granted, other than setting up for a FS spin, the merits of this won’t be massively felt in the park. Get it trench digging on the morning groomers, however, and you’ll see where this freestyle focussed board picks up a great big barreload of all-mountain versatility. The same goes for the Magne Traction edges that give you increased grip on even the iciest end of day home run sidehits.

The C3 camber profile gives the Head Space a bit of extra pop and hold compared with the rocker dominant profiles that can sometimes feel a bit washy on harder snow. There’s traditional camber running for the full length of the snowboard with a touch of rocker at the midpoint of the profile. The flipside to more grip is that you loose some forgiveness, which is why the Head Space is aimed at more experienced freestyle riders, ones who want the reassurance of precision on big take-offs and landings.

GNU have also made some environmentally focused design decisions across their rage and for the Head Space that involves using eco-friendly processes to bond the tri-ax and bi-ax laminates to the paulownia and aspen wood core and sintered base. They even use renewable energy to power the factory they’re made in, putting them in Greta’s good books.

Tester’s Verdict 2019/20

Dan Wilsonsnowfit.co.uk

“Designed (and decorated) by pro rider Forest Bailey, the Head Space is a board that not only looks fantastic, but feels great to ride too. This is definitely up there as one of my boards of choice, and it never fails to bring a smile to my face.

“I had a fairly mixed bag of conditions when taking out Head Space and it didn’t let up in any situation”

Featuring an asymmetrical construction, Magne-traction edges, and the GNU take on positive camber, the Head Space will hold a solid edge and carve like crazy while still being soft and playful when you want it to be. This is a jib-focused all-terrain board that boosts progression, in and out of the park.

I had a fairly mixed bag of conditions when taking out Head Space and it didn’t let up in any situation. I could happily carve the groomers in the morning and then head to the park in the afternoon for some serious fun laps.

The Head Space was just urging me to try more and more and turned every run into a level of SSX Tricky. You could butter for days, launch side hits for weeks, and jib your way through a season easily.

Then when you’re done you have some sweet Forest Bailey artwork – what more do you need?”

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