Arbor Cask 145 Snowboard Review 2018-2019

TESTER: Olaus Linn

BOARD: Arbor Cask 145

OVERALL IMPRESSION FROM  1 TO 7:  6

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS BOARD?: Super tight turns and a lot of zip and zing.

WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS BOARD?: It was a little too small for me (which I figured it would be) but the tune was also wonky, which took away some of the power from the edges. Tended to wash out.

OVERALL COMMENTS: I ride the Arbor Shreddy Kruger every day (which I hear is Rob Kingwill’s, like, fav board ever) and so I was really psyched to try the Cask. The Shreddy Kruger is super interesting to use day in and day out and it’s constantly surprising me in good ways. I was prepared to love the Cask even more, maybe even enough to plonk down for one. In the end, though I did find it to be super fun overall, it wasn’t enough to make me want to switch: a little too small and not quite stable enough.

RATE THE SHAPE FROM 1 TO 7:  6

SHAPE COMMENT: FUN TO LOOK AT

ADDITIONAL SHAPE COMMENTS:  I was really drawn to the shape – big, wide shovel nose, medium sidecut but with a long effective edge, and a round tail. The overall size was predictably a little too small for me but still a great shape overall.

RATE THE FLEX FROM 1 TO 7:   RADICAL

FLEX COMMENT:  JUST RIGHT

ADDITIONAL FLEX COMMENT:  I thought the flex was rad and I enjoyed the bite from that wide nose when initiating turns.

RATE STABILITY THROUGH TURNS FROM 1 TO 7:   5

STABILITY COMMENT: OK

ADDITIONAL STABILITY COMMENTS: The combo of the size being small plus the odd tune left it feel a little unstable and flighty. I also think the inserts are centered too much. I rode it with my bindings as far back as I could get them and it was still too far forward. I also think a touch more width would help a person rail turns without washing out.

RATE THE POP/ PLAYFULNESS FROM 1 TO 7:  RADICAL

COMMENT ON PLAYFULNESS:

ADDITIONAL COMMENT ON PLAYFULNESS:  Had a lot of fun jumping around on this board.

RATE FLOAT IN POW FROM 1 TO 7:    5

COMMENT ON FLOAT IN POW: EASY TO STAY UP

ADDITIONAL COMMENT ON FLOAT IN POW: Certainly not a bad pow board and I think if it was slightly bigger and had a little less tail it could be totally rad.

RATE THE GRAPHICS FROM 1 TO 7:  RADICAL

GRAPHICS COMMENT: AESTHETIC AND INSPIRING

ADDITIONAL GRAPHICS COMMENTS: I find Arbor snowboards to be incredibly beautiful and the Cask is no exception: I love the wood grain and the tan nose to brown tail fade with the pastel rainbow bars in the middle. The design work on the board nameplate is also super sharp.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY: I’d really like to try a 150ish version of this deck with a perfect tune on it and see how my experience changes with it.