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Snowboards

Korua Apollo 2017-2018 Snowboard Review

  • Price: €399
  • Sizes: 152, 156
  • Flex: 7
  • Profile: Setback Camber
  • Shape: Directional
  • koruashapes.com

The Korua crew have never hidden the fact that their directional pow-and-carve-friendly snowboards are heavily influenced by the world of surfing. The Korua Apollo is a case in point, recommended for anyone wanting “the feel of riding a shortboard in small clean waves”.

“The swallow tail makes it easy to execute tight turns in the pow”

Indeed, the two available sizes of the Korua Apollo are both on the small side, and the swallow tail makes it easy to execute tight turns in the pow. If you’re want something that allows you to negotiate a tree run with as much spontaneity and flow as possible, this what you’re after.

Look closely (well, not that closely) and you’ll notice that the tail is asymmetrical in nature. This balances out the different forces that are generated on the two edges, giving your toeside turns a bit more oomph. It’s something that you get used to almost immediately, with instant benefits. Take note that you need to buy either a regular or goofy version depending on your stance.

The shape of the Korua Apollo’s nose combines with the profile – a setback camber that extends out into a long spoon-esque front end – to give you great float in the powder, despite the limited end-to-end length. When you take it onto the groomers, the camber offers plenty of bite and edge hold, so you can carve away to your heart’s content. There’s plenty of sidecut going, allowing you to ride this more aggressively than you’d probably think.

“The Apollo offers a riding experience like no other, even amongst the rest of the brand’s formidable line”

Freestyle fans need to manage their expectations here. Switch riding is out, obviously, but there’s enough give there to whip round a nose butter between turns. You can also get airborne off natural features and side hits, but there’s only so much tail off which to launch. For best results, stay at ground level.

The Korua Apollo offers a riding experience like no other, even amongst the rest of the brand’s formidable line. Prepare to become a red-and-white blur amongst snow-covered branches, picking out lines you never thought you could.

Tester’s Verdict

Emily WIlliams

“Riding this board was a whole lot of fun! Whilst conditions were not powdery fresh, cruising around the spring slush on the Korua Apollo I felt like an absolute boss.

“Although I was riding a board much longer than what I’m used to, the early rise in the nose and shorter contact points meant it didn’t feel that way”

It felt great when carving around. The set-back stance and big nose means there’s no need to tire out your back leg through the slush, and although I was riding a board much longer than what I’m used to, the early rise in the nose and shorter contact points meant it didn’t feel that way. To begin with riding switch felt pretty weird; I’m sure with time it’s something you’d adjust to, but coming from riding a true twin there were several times I caught myself out.

To top it off, these boards look rad. Getting rid of any unimaginative, gender-specific colours or patterns, Korua take it back to basics. White on top, Red underneath. What’s not to love?

Overall this board made for a super fun day ripping around both on piste and in the spring slush, and if I had a chance to ride it in powder, my bet is it would be a floaty dream.”

Trade Secrets

Nicholas Wolken – Co-owner, Korua

The Apollo has become something of a classic in the Korua line, and is one of our most popular boards. The swallow offers more torsional flex so it feels more playful towards your back foot, and you can easily flex the board to pull a tighter, more radical radius towards the end of the turn.

The asymmetrical formed tail, available for goofy and regular riders, evens out the power distribution difference between heel and toe side. It actually makes the board feel more symmetrical.

In powder, the deep swallowtail allows quick, snappy off-the-lip layback maneuvers and gives it a looser feel. Rather than throwing a packed spray when snap-slashing a pocket of pow, it will create a nicely formed rooster tail as soon as you draw and drive longer speedier turns.

Short but still offering a lot of float in powder, a smooth nose rocker makes it a very fast board and keeps you going even in the flatspots when the snow is really deep. It also gives you some extra nose lift, while still providing a long edge to carve on slopes.

On hard-pack groomers, the width demands some leg power to set it on its edge for a full day. That’s because it is a wide board, but if you do set an edge there is no limit in carving hard because your feet don’t touch the snow, no matter how low you go.

Personally I love riding it all over small, wavy-terrained local resorts, snapping off of banks and driving and pumping it along the catrack, as if you were riding down the face of a frozen wave.

The Korua Apollo boasts hands down the most interesting tail shape we've seen for years.
Graceful lines abound in the minimalist Korua Apollo...

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