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Gnu Riders Choice 2020-2021 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £520
  • Category: All-Mountain
  • Ability Level: Intermediate, Advanced
  • Size: 151.5, 154.5, 155W, 157.5, 158W, 161.5, 162W, 166W
  • Flex: 5.5-7/10
  • Shape: Asym Twin
  • Profile: Hybrid
  • Base: Sintered

If you’re looking for a one board quiver the Riders Choice has got to be right up there. Like right up there. Looking down on pretty much every other all-mountain freestyle snowboard. Although Gnu have given this one a freestyle twin shape, the asymmetric outline and hybrid camber mean it can handle piste and pow as well as park laps.

Gnu and their riders have carefully chosen design features that you’ll feel the benefits of on every corner of the mountain. The asym sidecut, softer flex, and shorter contact length edge on the heelside make carves super precise and nimble and also keep things manoeuvrable enough when setting up for features in the park.

“Gnu and their riders have carefully chosen design features that you’ll feel the benefits of on every corner of the mountain”

The sustainably harvested paulownia, balsa and aspen woodcore is light for float, strong for impact and poppy for rebounding out of turns or going full send mode of the lip. A slightly wider waist width, while not ideal for the tiny trottered amongst us, is great for staying on top of the pow as well as railing turns and stomping landings with reassurance.

The Riders Choice has the C2x Hybrid Profile that features rocker between the feet to give you a fun surfy feel and parabolic camber under each foot for grip and power when you need it. Whichever part of the hill this board ends up on, pesky ice patches won’t worry it, as it’s wavy Magne-Traction edges are designed to cut into harder snow and keep you from slipping out.

Its medium flex may not be to the taste of those who spend most of their time charging but there has to be some compromise in an all-mountain board. As you would expect with a high-end board like the Riders Choice, Gnu have given it a tough and fast sintered base that holds wax so you can spend more time on the hill and less time servicing.

There are four different environmentally friendly Bio Bean top sheet designs for the Riders Choice, depending on the size, to give you a personalized feel about your board or make you wish you were a little bit taller.

Tester’s Verdict 2019/20

Jon Bird LD Mountain Centre

The Gnu Riders Choice Snowboard is a an all mountain freestyle aysmm twin. As Mervin say in their catalogs blurb built by rides for riders. Mervin team riders have had a real input in this everyday freestyle stick, that reflects in the ride. 

“Ample pop and flex for spring park laps and powerful laid out carves on the groomers with less effort thanks to the asymmetric shape”

I thought last winter’s riders choice was a bit steady and lacking that bit of spice I expected from a Gnu Choice. No such story this winter Mervin and Gnu team riders have built an all mountain one board quiver, ideal for a seasonaires daily driver. With the C2 hybrid profile giving great feel and float on a first lift powder day ,with ample pop and flex for spring park laps and powerful laid out carves on the groomers with less effort thanks to the asymmetric shape. 

The Gnu Riders Choice is the perfect choice for a seasonaires board bags this winter. A fun versatile all mountain freestyle board you can ride all day, everyday of your winter no matter the conditions or terrain.

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Dan Wilsonsnowfit.co.uk

“All Mountain? Freestyle? This is very much both, and offers something for everyone.

My first run was in some hard-pack conditions with a wave of people descending around me, but the amount of fun the board generated put all that mayhem to bed. I was quickly dropping my shoulder and going to warp 10, looking for the nearest side hits to go boosting for days!

“Everywhere I went I would get a positive response”

Its asymmetric construction lets you lay down carves and get more power in your turns with minimal effort, and the Magne-traction edges grip and hold in all conditions. You could really feel the technology in the board feeding back with everything you wanted to do. It was super responsive and lively.

There wasn’t any powder, but I can’t imagine that being an issue. Everywhere I went I would get a positive response. Even at slower speeds you could really play with the flex and create some buttery goodness, offering what I felt was the most versatile board in the Gnu line.

The Riders Choice is a very wise choice indeed.”

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Jon Birdldmountaincentre.com

“The Gnu Riders Choice is one those ‘go anywhere, do anything’ peak-to-park all-mountain freestyle snowboards.

You can feel the power and pop of the camber on the side hits and while carving on the groomers. It also floats well in the deeper snow, and with the asymmetrical shape makes those heel side turns easier.

“You can feel the power and pop of the camber on the side hits and while carving on the groomers”

Although I did feel Riders Choice was a steady solid board at times it did feel a little dull despite the Cali sun graphic.

The Gnu Riders Choice is a one board quiver of a snowboard for a the rider looking to progress with confidence offered by the magnetraction ensuring that extra grip when needed. A solid, steady, safe choice.”

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