The GNU One thing GNU is at its finest when there’s powder and when it will get itself into bushes and different tight conditions.
For many this will likely be a board that compliments their quiver, moderately than a one-quiver board, however would work rather well as your powder/tree board. That mentioned, it is nice for low-effort cruising on groomers too.Â
On this evaluation, I’ll check out the One thing GNU as a mellow freeride snowboard.
As per custom right here at SnowboardingProfiles.com I’ll give the One thing GNU a rating out of 100 (based mostly on a number of elements) and see the way it compares with different mellow freeride snowboards.
General Ranking
Board: GNU One thing GNU 2026
Value:Â $629
Model: Mellow Freeride
Flex Ranking: Mid-Stiff
Flex Really feel on Snow: Medium (6/10)
Ranking Rating:Â 85.0/100
In comparison with different Males’s Mellow Freeride Boards
Overview of the One thing GNU’S Specs
Try the tables for the One thing GNU’s specs and accessible sizes.
Who’s the One thing GNU Most Suited To?
The One thing GNU is finest suited to those that search powder and need one thing they’ll experience all day when the snow is deep and never must burn out their again leg to do it. If bushes are inclined to characteristic so much in your day, then it turns into much more appropriate.Â
For many this will likely be a part of a quiver, moderately than a one-quiver board. It could be the board to carry out on deep days and fogged-in days when the bushes provide the very best visibility. It could match nicely with a freestyle/park board and/or all-mountain board, relying on what you love to do when there is not any powder.Â
Not for novices, although it’s a fairly straightforward going experience, so lower-end intermediate riders (and up) should not have any points controlling this board.Â
O.ok. let’s take a extra detailed take a look at what the One thing GNU is able to.
Demo Data
Board: GNU One thing GNU, 161cm (261mm waist width)
Date: February 27, 2025
Carving
I discovered the GNU One thing GNU to be first rate on a carve, however not one thing I’d attain for if laying trenches was my prime precedence. It held an edge nicely sufficient, however the total form and fairly aggressive taper made it really feel prefer it needed to launch the tail sooner than ultimate.
At reasonable speeds, I might get a satisfying arc going, however after I tried to essentially drive it tougher and push increased speeds, it didn’t really feel tremendous locked in. It wasn’t dangerous by any means. I’d say it sat someplace in that common vary for carving, with moments of enjoyable however not a ton of confidence when actually pushing it.
Turning
Ease of Turning/Slashing: This was one of many higher facets of the One thing GNU. From my first few turns, it felt fast and simple to provoke. For a 161 (which is longer than I sometimes experience), it shocked me with how agile it felt edge-to-edge. Slashing the tail was easy, to the purpose the place it inspired a extra playful, surfy type of driving moderately than something too aggressive.
Maneuverability at gradual speeds: I actually loved the way it behaved at slower speeds. It felt nimble and responsive while not having a lot enter. I might make fast changes to my line with out considering an excessive amount of about it, which made it a great board for weaving via tighter terrain or simply cruising casually.
Catchiness: General, it was fairly forgiving. I solely actually observed any catchiness in softer, slushier situations, which is pretty regular. Outdoors of that, it felt clean and predictable, and I didn’t really feel prefer it was punishing me for small errors.
Pace
At velocity, the GNU One thing GNU was superb, however not one thing I’d describe as tremendous confidence-inspiring. It held issues collectively moderately nicely as much as reasonably quick speeds. However after I began actually opening it out, it felt a bit much less steady than I might have favored. Not overly chattery, however not extremely damp both—sort of sitting in that center floor.
I by no means felt fully uncontrolled, however I additionally didn’t really feel like I might simply bomb with out serious about it. It leaned extra towards managed cruising than flat-out charging.
Uneven Terrain
Crud/Chunder: In messy snow, it held its personal pretty nicely. It wasn’t smashing via crud like a tank, however that large nostril helped for positive – it tended to experience up and over uneven patches moderately than plowing via them. Once I did get knocked off line, it was straightforward to recuperate. Dampness felt about common – some chatter, however nothing extreme.
Timber/Bumps: This was the place I had essentially the most enjoyable with the One thing GNU. Its agility actually shined in tighter areas. It felt fast, straightforward to pivot, and tremendous maneuverable for its measurement. I might see this being an absolute weapon within the bushes, particularly on a powder day.
Even with out deep snow, it was gratifying weaving via bumps and tighter strains, and I by no means felt like I used to be preventing it. The 156 would have been much more agile, although the 161 did have the benefit of extra floor space for deeper powder days.
Powder
Talking of powder.
This felt just like the board’s true calling. Though I didn’t get it in tremendous deep situations, every little thing about it urged it will thrive there. The lengthy nostril, directional form, and taper all labored collectively to maintain it floating effortlessly. Within the softer snow I did experience, it felt clean, surfy, and pure – prefer it needed to remain on prime with none effort from me. I’d be very shocked if this wasn’t a top-tier powder performer in deeper situations.
Jumps
General, jumps weren’t actually its factor. It was rideable, however not notably inspiring.
Pop: The pop was fascinating – it was pretty straightforward to entry, however there simply wasn’t a ton of complete energy there. I might load it up with out an excessive amount of effort, nevertheless it didn’t give an enormous increase in return.
Strategy: Approaches have been superb at reasonable speeds. It felt steady sufficient for smaller options, and I might make changes simply. However for greater jumps or sooner approaches, it didn’t really feel fairly stable sufficient to present full confidence.
Touchdown: Landings have been a little bit of a weak level, particularly when touchdown tail-heavy. That smaller tail didn’t provide a number of help, and it confirmed. It was forgiving sufficient on smaller jumps, however something greater and there wasn’t as a lot stability as I’d need.
Change
As anticipated, driving change wasn’t nice. The directional form and that noticeable distinction between nostril and tail made it really feel fairly awkward going tail first. It was doable for brief intervals or fast transitions, however I wouldn’t wish to spend a lot time driving change on this. Transitions themselves have been clean sufficient, although, and I didn’t really feel prefer it was overly catchy when swapping instructions.
Spins
Spins have been a little bit of a combined bag. On one hand, it didn’t really feel catchy on takeoff or touchdown, which was good. However alternatively, the general form, size, and smaller tail made issues really feel a bit awkward – particularly when establishing or touchdown change. I observed a slight tendency to over-rotate at instances, nevertheless it wasn’t too pronounced. General, it was manageable, however positively not a board I’d decide if spinning was a precedence.
Jibbing
Not likely its scene. I might take it via some primary jib options, nevertheless it didn’t really feel notably snug or confidence-inspiring. Between the form and flex, it simply wasn’t designed for that sort of driving. It wasn’t horrible, nevertheless it wasn’t one thing I’d sit up for both.
Butters
Buttering was additionally a bit difficult. The flex itself wasn’t overly stiff, so in idea it ought to have been approachable – however the form made issues harder. The lengthy nostril and smaller tail created an imbalance that took some getting used to. However even individually the nostril and tail have been a bit awkward to press, given the tail didn’t have a lot floor space to stability on and the nostril was too lengthy to really feel correctly answerable for.
I might get presses going, nevertheless it didn’t really feel pure.
Rating Breakdown and Ultimate Verdict
Try the breakdown of the rating within the desk under.
| FACTOR | Ranking (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Powder | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Turns | 4 | 12/15 |
| Carving | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Timber | 4.5 | 13.5/15 |
| Crud | 4 | 8/10 |
| Pace | 3 | 6/10 |
| Jumps | 2 | 2/5 |
| Change | 1 | 1/5 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 85/100 |
Coming away from the GNU One thing GNU, I felt prefer it was a stable mellow freeride board with a transparent power in powder and tight terrain. It didn’t actually excel in freestyle areas like jumps, jibs, or change driving – however that wasn’t actually what it was constructed for. Carving was first rate as much as reasonable speeds, however wasn’t a standout characteristic both.
The place it did shine was in its straightforward turning, nimble really feel, and clear powder bias. It felt like a board I might take out on a relaxed day, cruise round, dip into the bushes, and actually take pleasure in softer snow situations. It didn’t blow me away total, however I might positively see its enchantment—particularly as a devoted powder or freeride complement to a extra all-mountain or freestyle-focused board.
If I had one in my quiver, I’d be saving it for these deep days, or when the fog was heavy and the bushes have been calling.
