While this design is popular for all but extinct carving boards that require hard boots to ride, there’s been a renewed interest in asymmetrical designs, with Gnu leading the charge. Their 2016 line includes asymmetrical boards like the Space Case, Eco Impossible, and Riders Choice Aspen. The Zoid model in the Gnu lineup has different versions for goofy and regular stances. The Gnu Zoid has a hybrid camber profile—which the company calls EC2 BTW—that has rocker between the feet and camber at the tip in tail. This mix makes it more playful and less responsive than a cambered board and more aggressive than a board that’s full rocker.

On mountain it’s quick to get into turns and lock into them. And the board’s serrated edges, known as Magne-Traction, helps with edge-hold on ice.  

HANDLING
One of the coolest trends to emerge over the last twelve months, is an emphasis on the carve. Even pros are producing amazing edits where they lay down simple turns that are beautiful to watch. The Zoid makes you want to hop on the carving bandwagon. As far as laying down deep carves on the corduroy, nothing comes close to the Zoid.

POP + ENERGY
On the stiffness scale of 1 to 10, the Gnu Zoid is about a 7.5. Stiff enough to be very stable at speed; it can also handle choppy snow. The hybrid camber is fun for boosting off small lips. Once testers got used to the unique design of this board, they liked loading up the edges to get lower and lower into their turns.

FLOAT
Although it’s narrower than most boards in the all-mountain line up, the unique asymmetrical tail design lets the rider lean way back to point the nose upward for plowing through the fresh.

VERSATILITY
This board is built for turning, not spinning or jibbing or playing in the terrain park. But, just looking at it, you know that. 

EDGE HOLD
Magne-traction, the wavy edges designed to bite into snow and ice, do their job. Thanks to the stance specific design, this board probably has the best edge hold of any board on the market today. 

SUSTAINABILITY/CRAFTSMANSHIP
Gnu’s parent company, Mervin Manufacturing, is based Washington and all of their boards are made in the U.S. by, they joke, “snowboarders with jobs.” Handbuilt, Mervin decks have a strong track record of durability. And since they don’t have to be shipped from Europe or the Far East, their carbon footprint is lighter than the majority of snowboards on the market.