GNU · Banked Country
Banked Country
25/26 season
Colour
Color makeup
Multicolour
Design
Illustration
Expert reviews 2
An all-conditions carving board for technical riders. Carving, pop and hardpack grip are excellent and the build quality is good, but a base that needs daily waxing and low forgiveness form a barrier to entry.
Base shape (camber)
Hybrid camber
A camber-dominant construction with only a very mellow passive bend at the centre. It adds modern correction to an old-school feel. Aspen and paulownia cores with carbon, plus UHMW sidewalls wrapping to the tip and tail.
StiffnessHigher means stiffer
A medium-stiff flex at 7 out of 10. It produces top-tier pop without excessive chatter.
Where it shines
Who it suits
For advanced to expert riders. Skidded turns aren't easy, so it's too much for intermediates who want a forgiving board.
Good
- ✓Outstanding carving performance at every turn radius
- ✓Strong edge grip on hardpack
- ✓Responsive turns with good spring and excellent pop
- ✓Stable across varied conditions with no chatter
- ✓Good build quality with eco-friendly materials
Not so good
- —The base loses wax very quickly and needs daily waxing
- —No forgiveness, so the penalty for mistakes is large
- —Unremarkable powder performance compared with competitors with more setback
- —The feel underfoot is technical for an average rider
A technical, aggressive board built on old-school full camber, delivering hard-snow grip, excellent pop and outstanding performance in carving and on steeps. Its biggest drawback is the Sintered Knife Cut base's poor wax retention, requiring frequent waxing. If you're an advanced rider who enjoys hardpack-focused all-mountain riding, it's a board to strongly recommend.
Base shape (camber)
Hybrid camber
Nearly complete full camber from tip to tail, with only a very fine passive bend at the centre. With no early rise or lifted sides, it's close to old-school traditional camber.
StiffnessHigher means stiffer
A dynamic, pop-rich flex providing stable riding without chatter even on firm and bumpy snow. Ollie pop performance is top-tier, while buttering is only accessible to technical riders.
Where it shines
Who it suits
Full camber demands technical, aggressive riding, and reaching the tip and tail takes strength and skill. For beginners and intermediates the injury risk is high and a more forgiving board is advisable; it's optimised for advanced to expert riders.
Good
- ✓Excellent edge grip and stable performance on hard and icy snow
- ✓Excellent pop and ollie performance, outstanding for off-piste airs and steep terrain
- ✓Responsive turns in carving and tree riding
- ✓Respectable powder float for a full camber board
Not so good
- —The Sintered Knife Cut base doesn't absorb wax well, requiring frequent waxing and a heavy maintenance burden
- —Full camber makes it unsuitable for beginners and intermediates, with a high barrier to entry
- —Switch riding performance is relatively limited
