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Gnu Carbon Credit & Carbon Credit Wide Snowboard review

Snowboards - Snowboard Reviews

 
User rating
 
 4.0 (1)

Gnu Carbon Credit MTX and BTX Snowboard Review

1-Good-Ride-Favorite-2

carbon_credit_series11-2

 
$399
Beginner to Advanced All Mountain Freestyle Twin
Continuous Rocker Twin Shape
Good for a beginner or intermediate freestyle rider looking to get to the next level.
2011 Good Wood Award Winner! Future Top 10 under $400 board Award Winner. A Good Ride Favorite. Great Board for almost any level. Good Wood Under $400 award winner! The Gnu Carbon Credit has been around for a long time and is known for being a great entry level board that will take you to that "get the fu@$!! out of my way" level. If you don't know if you are going to become a park rat or live the balanced life this is your board.  The reason the Carbon Credit is more expensive than other entry level boards is because even expert riders still appreciate many qualities the Carbon Credit has.  So it's more than just an entry level board.  We'd love to see the Carbon Credit add C2 BTX to give it more of a carvy all mountain ride but it's still a great snowboard. Very little has changed from 2011 to 2012 in terms of design. It's still the same BTX Twin shape that they have had for a few years now.  We'd like to see Gnu upgrade the Carbon Credit to C2 BTX but it's still a good board  See the detailed review below. 

How It Rides
Groomers Good
Speed Average
Flex Med/Soft
Rails/
Jibbing		 Good
Powder Good
Weight Medium
Carving
Average
Pipe Good
Turn Initiation
 Super Easy
Edge Hold Good
Switch Excellent
Jumps Good

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The Good Ride Take

Gnu Carbon Credit BTX All Mountain Freestyle Snowboard Review

Days on this board- 50+
Board- 159 MTX and 159 BTX
Bindings Used- Burton Cartels, Burton Co2's,  Gnu,  Union Contact
Rider's on this board- 5 of all sizes and shapes

How it breaks down:
There are allot of intangibles that are hard to include in each category that make this board such a pleasure to ride. Like getting off a chair on to an icy patch with one foot is so much easier with MTX. The feeling of stability with this board makes it a perfect beginner to intermediate/advanced board. It's more forgiving than a priest at confession. 

A quick look at the 2012 Gnu Carbon Credit

          


Groomers- Super fun regular or switch and is fun almost any way you want to ride a groomer. . Its not exceptional at high speeds but holds better than it should for its stiffness.
Powder- Its very good in powder until it gets pretty deep. It's more on the average side of Good but it's still great for a twin. If you want to take a freestyle approach with switch riding the BTX will make this a lot easier to float.
Speed- Their are definitely other boards out there that are much more speedy but they don't have the all around riding qualities built in as well. Its base is great. You can really neglect the base of wax and it will still ride very well.  The one drawback from BTX is it isn't as stable as their C2 BTX or C2 Power BTX
Weight- Its not the board that makes you forget its on but you'll never complain about it on a chair or if you decide to hike some where.
Turning - The turn initiation is the best in the business and turns on a dime. It has a very skate like feel which can take some of the fun out of carving turns because you can't get that normal lean in. This makes it amazing in the park though. Its a pretty wide park shaped board but it can turn really well. It doesn't turn like the dark series or Altered Genetics but if you need to be somewhere quickly in the steep stuff it will do its job.
Edge Hold- This was one of this boards draw backs before Magnetraction. Magnetraction took this board from a 3.5 to a 4.75. Before you would cringe if you saw a long patch of ice but now don't even think about it. The edge will hold. The same thing goes for this model now that it is BTX
Stiffness- Its right in the middle. Soft enough or Stiff enough do do just about anything!
Switch- If you want to learn how to ride switch its perfect. Center this board out and close your eyes and you won't know the difference between the nose or tail.....no wait don't close your eyes!!!!! but you know what I mean.
Pipe- Great in the pipe! Holds well thanks to magnetraction.
Jibbing- Just the right consistent flex for anything a jib park has to offer.
Rails & Boxes- So good to go!
Jumps- This board doesn't spring off the jumps like others can but its very predictable and forgiving when it comes to landing a small to medium sized kicker.

BTX is a different kind of ride and is even different than other rockered boards. The MTX in the center part of this board really changes the ride. It will hold an edge in almost any situation and also turn different than any type of board out there.  Many people instantly fall in love with this and some still prefer a traditional shaped board.  It's up to you to decide but we strongly suggest you try it if you can.  Out of all the rockered boards Gnu and Mervin (same company) are really pushing snowboard technology to the next level.

How The Old MTX Gnu Carbon Credit Rides

How It Rides
Groomers Good
Speed Good
Flex Med/Soft
Rails/
Jibbing		 Good
Powder Average
Weight Medium
Carving
Good
Pipe Good
Turn Initiation
 Excellent
Edge Hold Excellent
Switch Excellent
Jumps Good

Overall the old MTX board was more stable, had better edge hold and was better with speed.  However it wasn't anywhere as catch free or as fun in the park as the BTX.  The biggest thing with the new BTX is the powder riding over the MTX.  The MTX just can't even compare to the BTX when it comes to easy powder riding.  It's a lot of work to stay afloat.

 

The Good Ride Take on Continuous Rocker
This is where it all started or re-started in the Mid 2000’s. In the beginning Continuous Rocker was mainly for park and powder. Today it's still pretty much made for the same 2 functions. There are a few boards that are made for all mountain to freeride use but most of those have migrated to hybrid shapes.  Continuous Rocker helps you maintain a catch free forgiving ride which is excellent for beginner riders or those who ride at slower playful speeds through the park.  Almost every one we have tried has to be on edge or it will wander giving you that squirrely feeling like a skateboard with loose trucks.  The biggest issue is it isn't very stable flat basing or one footing in firmer snow.  Continuous rocker is for the most part really poppy and helps you generate your own air.  There are many styles of this shape so this could be a good choice for beginners, park rats and people who only ride powder.

reverse-free


Company Information

Carbon Credit Series BTX 2012

Banana Magne-Traction! Award winning technology, handmade in the USA by snowboarders at Mervin Manufacturing, proven sandwich construction, aspen core, twin geometries and a great price. Banana Technology is easy to ride, rips the hardpack, kills the jibs, floats powder unbelievably. The Magne-Traction serrated edges give you awesome control and edgehold even on ice. All terrain freestyle performance for new traditionalists of all ability levels….. a Carbon Credit is all you need to go from beginner to pro. Also available in wides. Bananas are fun and easy to ride! 2011 TWSNOW Good Wood Winner!

MSRP: $399.95 USD

??147 Purple, 150 Orange, 153 Red, 156 Blue, 159 Green, 162 Red
Wides: 156 Red, 159 Blue, 162 Orange, 165 Green

Graphic by gnu art director Tim “Pinski” Karpinski. Living in Portland, Oregon, he spends his days running his art gallery - Together Gallery - and designing all things Gnu in his studio. His turn ons include: sailboats, kittens and flowers. Find more of his work at togethergallery.com

 

Carbon Credit Series BTX 2011

Description:

All Terrain Freestyle Fun Banana!

Now in Banana Magne-Traction!. Award winning technology, handmade in the USA by snowboarders at Mervin Manufacturing, proven sandwich construction, aspen core, twin geometries and a great price. Banana Technology is easy to ride, rips the hardpack, kills the jibs, floats powder unbelievably. The Magne-Traction serrated edges give you awesome control and edgehold even on ice. All terrain freestyle performance for new traditionalists of all ability levels... a Carbon Credit is all you need to go from beginner to pro. Also available in wides. Bananas are fun and easy to ride! TWSNOW Good Wood Winner!

Sizes: 147 Blue, 150 Green, 153 Orange, 156 White, 159 Red

Wides: 156 White, 159 Red, 162 Blue, 165 Orange

About the Art:

Graphic By Gnu art director Tim Karpinski. Pinski Lives in Portland Oregon and besides making art and design projects he is a diligent collector. He searches the city for little owl figurines, cats, gnomes, typewriters and old shanty wood. For this graphic he dipped into his woodpile in the backyard. Timothykarpinski.com!

Construction:

Banana  Magne-Traction Shred Technology - Sandwich construction

Double sintered UHMW sidewalls / Bi-axial Glass  - EISS 5 sidewalls

Mervin A.5 Eco farmed wood core  - CX 2500 base

Dirty Pillow BTX

Description:

Twin Pow Terrain Banana!

 

2010 Carbon Credit BTX

Now in Banana Mag...award winning technology handmade in the USA by snowboarders at Mervin Manufacturing. Proven sandwich construction, aspen core, twin geometries and a great price. All terrain freestyle performance for new traditionalists of all ability levels...a Carbon Credit is all you need to go from beginner to pro.

  • Banana Mag shred tech
  • Sandwich construction
  • True twin shape
  • Double sintered UHMW sidewalls
  • Bi-Axial glass
  • Mervin A.5 Eco farmed wood core
  • CX 2500 base
  • Art by Seth Neefus and Tim Karpinski

Specs

Carbon Credit BTX 2012

Model Contact
Length		 Side
Cut		 Nose
Width		 Waist
Width		 Tail
Width		 Stance
Min-Max/BOC		 Board
CAT.		 Const.
Type		 Flex
1=soft		 Weight Range
(lbs)
CCS 147 111 cm 8 27.8 24.2 27.8 18.75?-23.5?/ 0? True Twin BTX 4 80-150
CCS 150 114 cm 8.1 28.3 24.5 28.3 19.24?-24?/ 0? True Twin BTX 4.5 90-160
CCS 153 116 cm 8.2 28.8 24.7 28.8 20.25?-25? / 0? True Twin BTX 5 100-180
CCS 156 119 cm 8.3 29.4 25.2 29.4 20.25?-25? / 0? True Twin BTX 6 110-210
CCS 159 121 cm 8.4 29.8 25.5 29.8 20.25?-25? / 0? True Twin BTX 6.5 130-240
CCS 162 123 cm 8.4 30 25.8 30 20.25?-25? / 0? True Twin BTX 7 140-260
CCS Wide 156 119 cm 8.3 30.6 26.7 30.6 20.25?-25? / 0? True Twin BTX 6 110-220
CCS Wide 159 121 cm 8.4 30.7 26.7 30.7 20.25?-25? / 0? True Twin BTX 6 130-250
CCS Wide 162 123 cm 8.4 30.8 26.7 30.8 20.25?-25? / 0? True Twin BTX 6.5 140-260
CCS Wide 165 125 cm 8.5 30.9 26.7 30.9 20.25?-25? / 0? True Twin BTX 7 150-270

Carbon Credit BTX 2011

MODEL CONTACT SIDE NOSE WAIST TAIL STANCE Flex Board Contruction
NAME LENGTH CUT WIDTH WIDTH WIDTH Min-Max/BOC 1=soft 10=firm Category Type
CCS 147 BTX 111 cm 8.0 BTX 27.8 24.2 27.8 18.75"-23.5"/ 0" 4 True Twin BTX
CCS 150 BTX 114 cm 8.1 BTX 28.3 24.5 28.3 19.24"-24"/ 0" 4.5 True Twin BTX
CCS 153 BTX 116 cm 8.2 BTX 28.8 24.7 28.8 20.25"-25" / 0" 5 True Twin BTX
CCS 156 BTX 119 cm 8.3 BTX 29.4 25.2 29.4 20.25"-25" / 0" 6 True Twin BTX
CCS 159 BTX 121 cm 8.4 BTX 29.8 25.5 29.8 20.25"-25" / 0" 6.5 True Twin BTX
CCS Wide 156 BTX 119 cm 8.3 BTX 30.6 26.7 30.6 20.25"-25" / 0" 6 True Twin BTX
CCS Wide 159 BTX 121 cm 8.4 BTX 30.7 26.7 30.7 20.25"-25" / 0" 6 True Twin BTX
CCS Wide 162 BTX 123 cm 8.4 BTX 30.8 26.7 30.8 20.25"-25" / 0" 6.5 True Twin BTX
CCS Wide 165 BTX 125 cm 8.5 BTX 30.9 26.7 30.9 20.25"-25" / 0" 7 True Twin BTX

2010 Carbon Credit BTX

Size Waist Stance / Set Back Flex
150 BTX 24.5 19.24"-24" / 0" 4.5
153 BTX 24.7 20.25"-25" / 0" 5
156 BTX 25.2 20.25"-25" / 0" 6
157 BTX 25.5 20.25"-25" / 0" 6.5

Wides

Size Waist Stance / Set Back Flex
156W BTX 26.7 20.25"-25" / 0" 6
159W BTX 26.7 20.25"-25" / 0" 6
162W BTX 26.7 20.25"-25" / 0" 6.5
165W BTX 26.7 20.25"-25" / 0" 7

Pictures

Gnu Carbon Credit 2012

Gnu Carbon Credit 2011

Gnu Carbon Credit 2010



Other Reviews

User reviews

Average user rating from: 1 user(s)

 
Overall Rating:
 
 4.0
 
 

Great Board - Especially for Beginners

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Thought I would support this site and add a review.

I'm 5'10" 65kg (without gear) and I got a 153 2010-2011 model. I'm an advance beginner (is there such a thing?) and this was my first board.

I found the flex to be good, not too soft and not too stiff. The board turns easily and goes edge to edge well and in general is very easy to ride - very user-friendly. It's good in powder but it does have it's limits... be careful in anything over knee-deep cuz there's a good chance you'll get stuck.

The magnetraction I have mixed feelings about. I liked the grip on spring ice but in powder, I feel that it causes drag and slows the board down. It really depends on what conditions you ride in. The board is not particularly fast to begin with but is stable at the speeds that you can hit on it.

This brings me to the next point - whether you like the banana rocker (BTX) or not. The BTX probably contributes to the board's easy nature but it also has its drawbacks. When flat-basing at higher speeds, the board will feel a bit sketchy, like it wants to rotate around the center of the board. Picture the rotor blade motion of a helicopter and you'll get the idea. Also, the tail of the board tends to wash out if you try to hold a longer carve.

I realise I tended to focus on the negatives on the above review, but don't get me wrong, this is a great board. It's fun and easy to ride and I would recommend it to anyone.
Overall Rating:
 
 4.0
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Reviewed by HKRider
January 11, 2012