GNU Upgrade – Freestyle all-mountain snowboard

Jeff “Hendo” Henderson’s freestyle/all-mountain directional twin

The signature project of Jeff “Hendo” Henderson, a Mervin craftsman for 30 years, the GNU Upgrade is the result of six years of prototyping and refinement. This freestyle/all-mountain directional twin snowboard harmonizes profile, geometry, and technologies to offer, according to Hendo, “the perfect balance between playfulness and stability.”

Directional C2X profile

Its directional C2X hybrid profile combines a short rocker between the feet, a tighter and more dynamic camber under the back foot, and a longer camber toward the nose, softened by a slight early rise. The ride feel is close to a classic camber, but more versatile.

Highlights

• Directional triple-serrated Magne-Traction® edges: control is concentrated at the toes and between the feet, while the nose and tail remain clean and snag-free.
• Directional triple-curve base: medium entry, soft center, and deeper, more aggressive tail for grip on demand.
• Directional G LITE 2 core: FSC-certified tremble and paulownia, lightweight, strong, and dynamic, with a stiffened nose for power in soft snow and a softer tail for control and carving.
• Carbon fiber layup: Tri-Ax/Bi-Ax carbon and fiber strips for more pop.
• Setback position: freestyle balance on groomed snow and float in soft snow.
• Micro-rollover from the nose to the contact points: snag-free freestyle.
• Sustainable materials: eco-sublimated polyethylene topsheet, fast eco-sublimated sintered base that retains wax well, and UHMW sidewalls and noses.

Specifications

• Shape: directional twin
• Program: freestyle / all-mountain
• Flex: 7.5/10
• Stance: 47 to 67.5 cm, 1.90 cm setback
• 156 cm size: 25.5 cm waist width, 29.8 cm nose/tail, 7.6/7.7/7.5 m radius, 114 cm contact length, for riders weighing 50 kg and up
• 159 cm size: 25.7 cm waist width, 30.0 cm nose/tail, 7.8/7.9/7.7 m radius, 116 cm contact length, for riders weighing 55 kg and up