Gentemstick Mermaid 151 Snowboard Review 2018-2019

TESTER: Ana Van Pelt

BOARD: Gentemstick Mermaid 151

OVERALL IMPRESSION FROM  1 TO 7:  6

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS BOARD?: Fluidity

WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS BOARD?: The kick out of the back end of turns on an average groomer were kind of unpredictable and aggressive, but I can see where being able to do hairpin turns on a shape like this would come in handy.

OVERALL COMMENTS: So this board is WAY longer than I would usually ride, but it was super fun, and wasn’t cumbersome or clunky edge to edge. Turns felt extremely fluid and surfy when I was able to lay them out – especially the initiation. I’m not sure what the specs of the sidecut were, but it felt like it would kick me out of the end of my turns before they were fully completed sometimes, but I still was having a blast on it. Just very different! I imagine those hairpin turns would come in SUPER handy in tight trees! This board was incredibly stable, and just made me feel like I was surfing the Earth in a different way than I ever have. Radically different experience, but sooo much fun. Would love to have more time on this and to try it in a broader variety of terrain!

RATE THE SHAPE FROM 1 TO 7:  6

SHAPE COMMENT: AT THING OF BEAUTY

ADDITIONAL SHAPE COMMENTS:  The shape is obviously rad to look down at. Unique and lovely.

RATE THE FLEX FROM 1 TO 7:   RADICAL

FLEX COMMENT:  JUST RIGHT

ADDITIONAL FLEX COMMENT: 

RATE STABILITY THROUGH TURNS FROM 1 TO 7:   RADICAL

STABILITY COMMENT: ROCK SOLID- AS GOOD AS IT GETS

ADDITIONAL STABILITY COMMENTS: Super stable in all the variable snow conditions I was able to run it through! Never felt like I was going to die even when pointing at full speed, though the edge hold could be sliiiightly improved on icier terrain.

RATE THE POP/ PLAYFULNESS FROM 1 TO 7:  5

COMMENT ON PLAYFULNESS:

ADDITIONAL COMMENT ON PLAYFULNESS:  Didn’t get to test pop out a TON, but the little side hits we did roll through were fun and this was easy to load up off of! Felt pretty springy.

RATE FLOAT IN POW FROM 1 TO 7:   

COMMENT ON FLOAT IN POW:

ADDITIONAL COMMENT ON FLOAT IN POW:

RATE THE GRAPHICS FROM 1 TO 7:  6

GRAPHICS COMMENT: AESTHETIC AND INSPIRING

ADDITIONAL GRAPHICS COMMENTS: Clean, sharp, fitting for the brand, shape and style of rider. Not original, but still timeless, with a nice color way.

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SAY: Impressed by how much fun I was able to have on such a big board! Having wanted to try a Gentem board for a long time, this did not disappoint and is one of the most interesting boards I’ve had the pleasure of riding.