Share

Snowboards

KORUA Shapes Dart 2018-2019 Snowboard Review

  • Sizes: 152, 156, 160
  • Flex: 7
  • Profile: Setback Camber
  • Shape: Directional
  • Price: €449

The red-and-white aesthetic may be constant, and many of the boards have been around since the beginning, but the KORUA crew aren’t about to let things get stale. This winter we say goodbye to the Apollo, the Puzzle and the Asytoni, and instead welcome in – among others – the KORUA Dart.

It’s come right out of the blocks in three available sizes, which is more choice that you get with most KORUAs. You don’t have the option of which way to point it, though; that is one serious swallowtail, so switch riding is out.

“Like its namesake, the Korua Dart is all about pointing it, and fast”

Not that you should care – like its namesake, the KORUA Dart snowboard is all about pointing it, and fast. Ideally you should be getting it into the powder, where the shape will deliver a surfy ride and nimble handling through narrow trees. That wide, rockered nose plays its part too.

It wouldn’t be a KORUA if it couldn’t also hold its own on piste, and while it may lack the power of some of its stablemates, it’s still fit for purpose. The biax fibreglass means that it’s not too hard to manipulate it through the waist, which is just as well as it’s pretty wide (a hefty 27.8cm in the biggest size).

Time will tell if the KORUA Dart has the longevity of the Pencil or the Tranny Finder, but on this evidence we wouldn’t bet against it.

Tester’s Verdict

Tom Copseyonboardmag.com

“This is a quick-turning, nimble little arrow of a board. Edge-to-edge it was rapid, and with a mellow flex you can tell that this is built for old school snow surfing in powder or on hardpack.

As you’d expect, given its stubby, deep swallow tail, there’s not a ton of pop in the Dart, but if you’re considering this board then that shouldn’t be your prime concern anyway – it’s built for riders who want to chuck buckets and throw shakas.

“It carved well and felt stable at most speeds – only becoming a bit too loose when you tried to dig the edge in at full pelt”

I took the shortest version out for a summer day lapping Les Deux Alpes and it was super fun. It carved well and felt stable at most speeds – only becoming a bit too loose when you tried to dig the edge in at full pelt. It was certainly too short, but even if I’d had the 160 there are certainly harder carvers and harder chargers out there from KORUA themselves, not to mention other brands.

But if you’re just after a board that will bring the mellow goodtimes to trees, pow, hardpack and slush, this would be an excellent – and eye-catching – choice. I’d love to take tree laps on this thing.”

Share

Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.

production