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United Shapes
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michaelangelo
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- Joined: Thu Jun 02, 2022 3:04 pm
Re: United Shapes
Man I regret not buying one when half off at erik’s
Re: United Shapes
The struggle is real...
Re: United Shapes
So I'm aiming at taking the Horizon out for the first time this weekend. First ride for the season at a small resort.
Mercury or Flux XF?
Mercury or Flux XF?
Re: United Shapes
Maybe get a better feel for the board with XF, as long as the snow is not too hard. I was at Isaberg last weekend and it was bulletproof after this cold snap. I imagine up your way its even colder.
Looking forward to hear your thoughts on it, you got the 159?
Re: United Shapes
Review from the French site Snowsurf which is pretty solid:
UNITED SHAPES CADET
RANGE: Freeride
LEVEL: Advanced, Expert
SIZE TESTED 158
AVAILABLE SIZES 150, 154, 158, 162
OUR TEST
The United Shapes Cadet is a board that is not there to compromise. In the current trend where almost every board should be an all mountain, we are here on a program that we would describe as a directional board, with a somewhat old-fashioned shape, mixing carving and freeride with the wish to have an astonishing fluidity in large curves and at high speed. If we qualify it as a freeride board, you will still have to shift your bindings to the rear on days of heavy snowfall and there are also 2 inserts a little more offset at the rear to really go a lot decenter when necessary. We have excellent hold on the edge, in large curves and at high speed we tend to forget the board under our feet, as it is so stable and secure. However, it remains a physical board, you must not let yourself get carried away as soon as the terrain becomes more turbulent, you must then be more attentive and vigilant, you sometimes have the impression of having a fighter plane under the feet. On the other hand, we lose liveliness in small turns, the torsional deformation is low and it is better to be physically strong to get it to play on shorter and sharper curves. A very successful board in its program, for those who want to focus on high speed behaviour, large curves, stability and edge hold. A board that we recommend to experienced to expert riders, rather strong or athletic.
Flex: rather rigid
Torsional deformation: nickel
Stability: ★★★★☆
Maneuverability: ★★★☆☆
Responsiveness, pop: ★★★★☆
Hook: ★★★★☆
Lift: ★★★★☆
Tolerance: ★★★☆☆
Ollie: ★★★☆☆
Behavior at high speed: ★★★★☆
Pros: very good hold on the edge, behaviour at high speed, fluidity in large curves
Cons: rather difficult to deform in torsion
UNITED SHAPES CADET
RANGE: Freeride
LEVEL: Advanced, Expert
SIZE TESTED 158
AVAILABLE SIZES 150, 154, 158, 162
OUR TEST
The United Shapes Cadet is a board that is not there to compromise. In the current trend where almost every board should be an all mountain, we are here on a program that we would describe as a directional board, with a somewhat old-fashioned shape, mixing carving and freeride with the wish to have an astonishing fluidity in large curves and at high speed. If we qualify it as a freeride board, you will still have to shift your bindings to the rear on days of heavy snowfall and there are also 2 inserts a little more offset at the rear to really go a lot decenter when necessary. We have excellent hold on the edge, in large curves and at high speed we tend to forget the board under our feet, as it is so stable and secure. However, it remains a physical board, you must not let yourself get carried away as soon as the terrain becomes more turbulent, you must then be more attentive and vigilant, you sometimes have the impression of having a fighter plane under the feet. On the other hand, we lose liveliness in small turns, the torsional deformation is low and it is better to be physically strong to get it to play on shorter and sharper curves. A very successful board in its program, for those who want to focus on high speed behaviour, large curves, stability and edge hold. A board that we recommend to experienced to expert riders, rather strong or athletic.
Flex: rather rigid
Torsional deformation: nickel
Stability: ★★★★☆
Maneuverability: ★★★☆☆
Responsiveness, pop: ★★★★☆
Hook: ★★★★☆
Lift: ★★★★☆
Tolerance: ★★★☆☆
Ollie: ★★★☆☆
Behavior at high speed: ★★★★☆
Pros: very good hold on the edge, behaviour at high speed, fluidity in large curves
Cons: rather difficult to deform in torsion
Re: United Shapes
And the Horizon:
RANGE: All Mountain Freestyle
LEVEL: Intermediate
SIZE TESTED155
AVAILABLE SIZES143, 147, 151, 155, 159
OUR TEST
The United Shape Horizon is the brand's all mountain freestyle board. If its colleague the Cadet seemed much more specific to us with its rather rigid carving and freeride behaviour, this Horizon seems much more versatile and easy to access. Its handling seemed obvious to us, we immediately felt at ease, we were able to both ride coolly but also by pressing hard. The tail was really appreciated, “it’s great!” ”, and the pop is very good. In terms of curves, we really appreciated its versatility and its ease of linking turns by alternating small and large curves, the grip on hard terrain is very effective, the feel of the snow is very good, we feel a fluidity in the ride that the we don't find that often. We recommend it for intermediate to expert level riders who like to try freestyle with a board that remains versatile. You could choose it a little smaller than its usual size (for example 5 cm less). A great success that we really enjoyed riding.
Flex: rather rigid
Torsional deformation: nickel
Stability: ★★★★★
Maneuverability: ★★★★★
Responsiveness, pop: ★★★★☆
Hook: ★★★★☆
Lift: ★★★★☆
Tolerance: ★★★☆☆
Ollie: ★★★★☆
Behavior at high speed: ★★★★☆
Pros: Obvious grip, very good riding feeling, stability and grip, pop
Cons: somewhat lacks tolerance for lighter and less athletic riders
RANGE: All Mountain Freestyle
LEVEL: Intermediate
SIZE TESTED155
AVAILABLE SIZES143, 147, 151, 155, 159
OUR TEST
The United Shape Horizon is the brand's all mountain freestyle board. If its colleague the Cadet seemed much more specific to us with its rather rigid carving and freeride behaviour, this Horizon seems much more versatile and easy to access. Its handling seemed obvious to us, we immediately felt at ease, we were able to both ride coolly but also by pressing hard. The tail was really appreciated, “it’s great!” ”, and the pop is very good. In terms of curves, we really appreciated its versatility and its ease of linking turns by alternating small and large curves, the grip on hard terrain is very effective, the feel of the snow is very good, we feel a fluidity in the ride that the we don't find that often. We recommend it for intermediate to expert level riders who like to try freestyle with a board that remains versatile. You could choose it a little smaller than its usual size (for example 5 cm less). A great success that we really enjoyed riding.
Flex: rather rigid
Torsional deformation: nickel
Stability: ★★★★★
Maneuverability: ★★★★★
Responsiveness, pop: ★★★★☆
Hook: ★★★★☆
Lift: ★★★★☆
Tolerance: ★★★☆☆
Ollie: ★★★★☆
Behavior at high speed: ★★★★☆
Pros: Obvious grip, very good riding feeling, stability and grip, pop
Cons: somewhat lacks tolerance for lighter and less athletic riders
Re: United Shapes
Yes, I got the 159. I'm currently at 105 kg and bought it to use as a cruiser at the smaller resorts in Sweden. The Pluv is fine but the stiff nose on it makes it less fun to turn at slower speeds.Kevington wrote: ↑Wed Jan 10, 2024 2:33 pmMaybe get a better feel for the board with XF, as long as the snow is not too hard. I was at Isaberg last weekend and it was bulletproof after this cold snap. I imagine up your way its even colder.
Looking forward to hear your thoughts on it, you got the 159?
I really like the XF better than the Mercury so I guess I'll give those a try.
Re: United Shapes
Debating riding my OG Cadet 162 this Friday with thin snow pack and new terrain opening.
I benched this thing a couple years ago after ~50 days when I was flexing it at home and heard a pop. Saw a crease on the topsheet that bubbles when flexed. Shop tech told me I snapped fiberglass and it was only a matter of time before the whole thing delams and snaps.
If I was normal I’d probably just run it as a rock board to bash on sharks, but given my track record, I’m hesitant to run a deck that might snap on a high consequence line. I’d also like to preserve this as a future wall hanger, I had a lot of good days on this thing and learned a ton about what I want of boards. But maybe it deserves to ride into Snowboard Valhalla in a blaze of glory.
I benched this thing a couple years ago after ~50 days when I was flexing it at home and heard a pop. Saw a crease on the topsheet that bubbles when flexed. Shop tech told me I snapped fiberglass and it was only a matter of time before the whole thing delams and snaps.
If I was normal I’d probably just run it as a rock board to bash on sharks, but given my track record, I’m hesitant to run a deck that might snap on a high consequence line. I’d also like to preserve this as a future wall hanger, I had a lot of good days on this thing and learned a ton about what I want of boards. But maybe it deserves to ride into Snowboard Valhalla in a blaze of glory.
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