Gnu

Danny Kass XC2-BTX Snowboard

Best known for his high-flying pipe antics, Danny Kass has recently taken his deep bag of tricks into the backcountry, sending gigantic booters and launching cliffs into fresh, untracked snow. His tool of choice for these missions? Of course, he rides the Gnu Danny Kass XC2-BTX Snowboard, whether he's launching park jumps at Mammoth or sending a freshly sculpted powder kicker into uncharted territory.

Catering to Danny's aggressive riding style, this slightly directional freestyle board uses Gnu's XC2-BTX profile for added drive and response, as well as a bit more stiffness in the tip and tail for sticking huge landings. This profile blends a shorter, tight-radius rocker between the feet, allowing you to effortlessly float through powder, as well as adding a bit of play between the bindings for buttering and jibbing. Just after the tight-radius rocker, the board has aggressive radial camber that runs from underfoot to the contact points. This radial camber delivers the added punch needed for powerful edge transitions, as demanded by Danny's riding.

Because the board is set-back half an inch, it easily floats through deep powder, especially when you consider the tight-radius rocker helps you keep the nose from planing below the snow. Throw in the board's mid-wide waist and you have even better stability through deep snow, as the added width increases the board's surface area for extra float. However, don't let the thought of this board being pow-friendly dissuade you from riding this deck in the park. This directional twin is highly capable of riding and landing switch, as its slightly set-back stance doesn't hamper the board's switch riding, especially because the nose and tail are symmetric in shape.

Inside the board, you'll find a core that consists of crisp, poppy Aspen and snappy Colombian Gold wood. It's beefed-up with Liquid Crystal Polymer to reduce high-speed chatter and impact from big hits, thanks to its energy-absorbing fibers that are ten times stronger than titanium. Add in mellow Magne-Traction edges for tons of bite on hardpack and a lightning-fast sintered base for a board that's ready for hard-charging freestyle domination.