2009 Good Wood: Gnu Riders Choice BTX
Chris Wellhausen
- September 17 2008
- 6,450 views
- 24 comments
Photo: Nick Hamilton
This deck could be considered the Swiss Army knife of snowboards. The Banana technology lets it float through pow fields or park slush, while the Magne-Traction edges will have you carving off lips or up the QP with ease.
Tester feedback:
“Such a playful board. If you like to do presses or blocks, this board is basically what you’re looking for.”
“I couldn’t believe how much easier it made snowboarding. Good on everything!”
Available sizes: 151.5, 154.5, 157.5, 158W, 161.5, 162W, 166W
$519
[matid]goodwood_2009_31[/matid]
»
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:54 am
Has anyone compared this board to a Skate Banana? I have a 159 skate and wish it was just a bit stiffer so that it doesn’t chatter at high speeds. I was wondering if this one was stiffer?
September 22nd, 2008 at 6:02 pm
i have this deck from two seasons ago and i hardly think that mervin will change up the flex. the flex is hella dope though dude. it doesn’t shake / chatter for my ass when i’m hauling mad ass so don’t worry about it. just get it, you know you want to.
September 22nd, 2008 at 8:46 pm
how does this board compare to a lib-tech trs, they seem pretty much the same now that gnu has btx?
September 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 pm
thanks for the total lack of relevant info tws.
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:23 pm
This board is a little stiffer than the Lib SB, but you can still butter around on it. It’s fairly similar to the TRS, but built a touch more for the park rather than all mountain. You can definately crush all mountain with this thing though…sick board
September 23rd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
word. thanks, that’s helpful.
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:27 pm
thanx dude, that helped-unlike these transworld descriptions and quotes.
September 24th, 2008 at 10:07 am
ya as far as stiffness it has a slightly stiffer tip and tail than the banana, but not quite as stiff as the TRS. I rode the limited late edition of this last year and it was incredible.
September 24th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
has anyone gotten on a wide yet? mervin is running 26.8 waists on all their wide boards. seems a little too beefy, but maybe not with the magnetraction?
November 7th, 2008 at 11:20 pm
I just go the Rider’s Choice BTX today. I have a size 11 foot/boot and there is no serious overhang with my bindings. I am stoked to hit the mountain!
November 29th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I am looking to buy a new board and I find these “reviews” utterly lacking information. The website’s navigation sucks and so do the reviews.
December 11th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Anyone know what size was tested? and are you supposed to ride shorter?
December 21st, 2008 at 5:25 pm
I just got this board this year! it was my second time snowboardin and i got a rental the first time. this board made learning so much easier!
December 30th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
As a snowboard instructor, I have ridden a ton of boards. I have always ridden boards in the 155-163 range. My last board, before the Rider’s Choice BTX was a Ride Kink 159 wide, which I thought was awesome. Through I lucky find on e-bay, I found a 151.5 GNU Rider’s Choice BTX ‘09 and purchased it, thinking that if I didn’t like it I would sell it for profit in my mountain town.
Needless to say, I tried the GNU, and fell in love with it. It out performed my stiff 159 in the pow and has more pop than any board I’ve ridden with camber. It is super light (thanks in part to my Union Contact Binders) and spins like a dream. The only thing it was missing is the 85a slimewalls (to bad Ride has them patented, oh well). Like the review in Transworld, the Rider’s Choice makes snowboarding so much easier and more fun.
Another thing I love is the way the edges are designed. The go farther up the nose and tail than a regular board, which makes it feel like you are riding a normal size board even though this one is way to small (I am 6′ / 170) and still rides awesome. There are no metal edges around the actual nose and tail, so I can press and tweak out on log slides with ease (I ride at Beaver Creek and there are tons of secret log runs). The magne-traction holds an edge even on ice even though I de-tuned my entire board.
Overall, this board is the best board I have ever ridden and is 3cm shorter than any board I have ridden. The reverse camber allows me to butter in deep (we have gotten 11′ so far this year) powder with ease. This board blows the Ride Dose, Burton Custom, Burton Hero, Burton UnInc, Skate Banana, any Option, Technine, Stepchild or Rome board off the mountain. Do your self a favor and get this board. Trust Mervin Manufacturing.
December 30th, 2008 at 8:45 pm
I also ride size 11 boots (21* / -9*)and there is no overhang off the board. Hope this review is more helpful.
January 15th, 2009 at 8:27 am
Hey guys… I am 6 feet tall and 166 pounds ( naked
)
I am shreding on Santa cruz 168 board… Next season i am planing to improve my park skills so i will buy shorter one.. Is GNU riders choice in 154 to short for me? i need one all around bord but more freestyle oriented… What do you sugest? Thank you
January 15th, 2009 at 8:27 am
sorry… 158 not 168
January 27th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I rode a 153 Danny Kass, and I’m 6′3 180lbs. That board was awesome, I was so surprised it fit me. I had to ride way hard on my back leg in powder, but everywhere else I rode normally. If you’re 166lbs, for sure 154 would fit you. The BTX lets you go smaller.
February 16th, 2009 at 11:06 pm
Hi I am a guy blow and I need some advice. thanks guys
March 15th, 2009 at 12:06 am
im after one if these in a 158w but cant find one anywhere online…where can i get it from?????
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:47 pm
i have the riders choice 166 wide im 6 feet tall and it rides like my 158 i can throw it around no problem and the girthy waist finally keeps my big ass feet out of the snow
March 23rd, 2009 at 7:50 pm
you are supposed to down size a size or two or let me re phrase you can down size a size or two IF you got a banana
May 8th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
http://cgi.ebay.ca/GNU-Riders-Choice-BTX-New-09-Snowboard-Size-158-Wide_W0QQitemZ310138701545QQcmdZViewItemQQptZSnowboarding?hash=item310138701545&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116
June 27th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
what bindings would be best fit for this board? because i have a ride and i busted my bindings last season, so im looking for a new package all together. any suggestions.