GNU Banked Country: Full Breakdown
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The quick verdict: A superb US-made carving and freeride board, and the most demanding thing in our beginner guide by a wide margin. Treat it as the board you graduate onto, not the one you learn on. ~$530-630 list, sales near ~$441
Overview
Designed with Temple and Cannon Cummins, the Banked Country is GNU's camber-dominant directional freeride deck: C3 profile, Progressive Magne-Traction serrated edges, a tapered shape with a floaty nose, and carbon power bands over an aspen and paulownia Mervin core built in the USA. The Good Ride rates it best for advanced to expert riders and warns that intermediates will most likely catch an edge, because a board this cambered is hard to skid. GNU rates the flex 6.5-7 out of 10, firmly medium-stiff. What you get in exchange is exceptional carving across turn shapes, remarkable grip on hard and icy snow, and stability at speed that soft learner boards cannot approach.
Where It Shines
- Exceptional carving with quick edge-to-edge response
- Outstanding grip on hard and icy snow thanks to Magne-Traction and C3 camber
- Strong pop and real stability at speed in rough conditions
- Versatile advanced daily driver that still floats decently in powder
Tradeoffs to Know
- Punishing for beginners and most intermediates; skidded turns are hard on this much camber
- The sintered base runs dry quickly and wants frequent waxing
- Modest deep-powder float versus dedicated freeride shapes
Who It’s For
Advanced and expert riders who carve hard and ride all conditions. If you are still building fundamentals, learn on the Burton Cultivator or Rossignol Evader and come back for this one; GNU's own friendlier options are the GNU Money and the GNU Riders Choice.
How It Compares
The Banked Country has moved out of our beginner lineup; its slot in the Complete Beginner's Guide to Snowboarding Gear now belongs to the friendlier GNU Money. Think of this board as the graduation prize. Related: GNU Riders Choice.