GNU Money: Full Breakdown
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The quick verdict: US-made quality, Magne-Traction ice grip, and a forgiving twin at a budget price. The Good Ride calls it a low-budget one-board quiver that shines in hard snow, which is exactly what most learners ride. MSRP ~$450, typically ~$315 on sale
Overview
The Money (sold as the Money C2E) is GNU's value board, and it replaces the expert-leaning Banked Country in our beginner lineup because it delivers the same Mervin virtues in a package learners can actually enjoy. The C2E contour puts mild rocker between the feet with camber toward the tips, a forgiving shape that still holds a line, and GNU's Magne-Traction serrated edges give it grip on hard and icy snow that soft learner boards cannot touch. The flex is a friendly medium, the shape is a true twin for switch riding, and like every Mervin board it is handbuilt in Washington State. At its typical sale price it is one of the best value boards anywhere.
Where It Shines
- Magne-Traction edge hold on hard and icy snow, rare at this price
- Forgiving C2E profile with fast, easy turn initiation
- True twin shape makes learning switch natural
- US-made build quality at a budget price, and frequently on deep sale
Tradeoffs to Know
- The extruded base is slower than sintered and the board is only moderate in powder
- The hybrid rocker feels looser than full camber once you chase high-speed carves
- Pure never-evers should pick the softest sizes or start on the Burton Cultivator
Who It’s For
Beginner-to-intermediate riders who ride hardpack and ice, want to learn switch, and value American build quality on a budget. If your hills are soft and your goal is maximum day-one forgiveness, the Rossignol Evader is gentler still.
How It Compares
See the full lineup in our Complete Beginner's Guide to Snowboarding Gear. Other boards from that guide: Burton Cultivator · Rossignol Evader · K2 Gateway · Ride Compact. When you outgrow it, GNU's Riders Choice and Banked Country are the step-up path.