Who rides a Korua?
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I've got a couple of days on it now but the conditions were very icy so I'm reserving judgement.
I've got another 4 day trip towards the end of the month, the snow should be much better by then.
Just spent two weeks at Hintertux Glacier in Austria. Drove by Korua HQ in Brannenburg on the way there and they showed me around and loaned me some demo boards. They are very nice people and have a sweet set up for head office and warehouse/distribution in a train station building. Its a really small organisation, just three guys there and two in Laax.
I rode: Otto57, TF54, Pencil59 and Dart56. It was really a treat to ride them back to back and feel the similarities and differences. One thing that is similar across them all is the sidecut. Its a smaller radius in the front and longer at the back which is different from most other boards. You really need to get your weight forward to make aggressive tight carves.
Otto was great but not really what I'd call a freestyle board. Stable and fast and can ride switch OK. Stiffer than I imagined it would be. Feels a bit strange to have all that width but no taper. Would be a perfect all mountain charger for someone with big feet or anyone wanting to carve with no drag but doesn't want a super directional shape.
TF was really fun and turny, got lots of air and did some 360s and signpost jibs, it was the only one I could really butter. Got pushed around by the uneven slush more than the others but its smaller and softer so..
Made me ride like I was 15 years younger. Really made me get low and dynamic and work every little bit of snow. Its in the name I guess.
Dart is very wide. Would be insane in deep pow obviously and I guess would be a blast to carve on perfect pistes. I didn't have either of those conditions so it was a bit niche for me. Don't think I could ever buy a board that cant ride switch AT ALL.
Pencil was amazing. So fast and stable but still slashy and fun. The most enjoyable to carve for sure. Actually getting air between carves accidentally. Perfect combination of sidecut and taper for me. If the shape was a bit more 'normal' I could ride it every day and be happy. Getting one of these for sure.
The conundrum now is what other board to get for more all mountain/freestyle? TF54 or maybe something from Vimana? They're made in the same factory as Korua and have similarly non-existent graphics.
I rode: Otto57, TF54, Pencil59 and Dart56. It was really a treat to ride them back to back and feel the similarities and differences. One thing that is similar across them all is the sidecut. Its a smaller radius in the front and longer at the back which is different from most other boards. You really need to get your weight forward to make aggressive tight carves.
Otto was great but not really what I'd call a freestyle board. Stable and fast and can ride switch OK. Stiffer than I imagined it would be. Feels a bit strange to have all that width but no taper. Would be a perfect all mountain charger for someone with big feet or anyone wanting to carve with no drag but doesn't want a super directional shape.
TF was really fun and turny, got lots of air and did some 360s and signpost jibs, it was the only one I could really butter. Got pushed around by the uneven slush more than the others but its smaller and softer so..
Made me ride like I was 15 years younger. Really made me get low and dynamic and work every little bit of snow. Its in the name I guess.
Dart is very wide. Would be insane in deep pow obviously and I guess would be a blast to carve on perfect pistes. I didn't have either of those conditions so it was a bit niche for me. Don't think I could ever buy a board that cant ride switch AT ALL.
Pencil was amazing. So fast and stable but still slashy and fun. The most enjoyable to carve for sure. Actually getting air between carves accidentally. Perfect combination of sidecut and taper for me. If the shape was a bit more 'normal' I could ride it every day and be happy. Getting one of these for sure.
The conundrum now is what other board to get for more all mountain/freestyle? TF54 or maybe something from Vimana? They're made in the same factory as Korua and have similarly non-existent graphics.
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Can't wait to get on my 59 Pencil this coming winter (hoping all is well/safe enough to have a season here). Previously owned the 57 Otto & 54 T.Finder and agree with your thoughts, as well. Have my 57 T.Finder+ that I'm looking to get more days on next winter, also.
Fingers crossed its all ok for next season. The Pencil 59 was such a blast, a great all round freeride board for me. Would be sick in deep snow I'm sure, carves amazing and was really fun just goofing around the resort jumping off things and slashing the side of the piste. One thing I must say is they are easy boards to ride. Sure, they are mid-stiff and require some technique to get the most out of but they are not unforgiving at all. All four I rode have a big rocker in the nose but also a good bit in the tail too. Its not mentioned on their site but its unmistakable when you see or ride them.
Would like to try the plus versions and also TF57 which both the guys at Korua said was better suited for my specs than the 54. Not sure I want that kind of width tho but I suppose you get used to it.
How come you went down in size on the Pencil?
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I’m also surprised you guys sized down to 159 Pencil. I have Cafe Racer 159 (so Pencil 164) and fighting the urge to buy 164 CR to test it because the CR 59 is for me what you say about 159 Pencil. What boot sizes do you have? It might be that you prefer normal width boards or just less taper.
I'm a EU 42.5/US9.5. Above a certain width it just becomes a novelty board for me and I don't have a big enough quiver or live close enough to the mountains to really justify one : (
I'm not very heavy or strong so its a lot of effort to change edges on a wide board. Even the nose on the TF54 felt crazy wide to me. I think I've just spent too long on camber twinish boards around 25cm waist width. I would definitely try the bigger Pencil and TF next time but I think that extra width just narrows the scope of what is enjoyable terrain and conditions. I want the manouverability and lightness of a normal sized board most of the time. The Pencil59, Otto57 and TF54 I could ride on any mountain in any conditions and they would work well. I would guess the big guns need deep pow or quiet, well groomed pistes for someone of my puny strength to make them work.
Hasn’t there been talk of a 164 Dart?
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I don’t think so. It would make sense if they followed the regular manufacturer sizing and scaling progression. Dart 164 would be like 28,2 ~ cm at the back foot if we keep the typical Korua ‚weird scaling’ thing that still makes the next size up much wider. That’s not a big market imo.
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