EzLounging

Again, that's a big part of what I like about it. It has a pretty calm entry that requires some input & drive - but because of that, it remains calm at speed, and is a pretty diverse turner for a freerider. However, if you like a board to react quickly, or to "hook" into turns with less input, it may not be the right temperament for you.

I think this aspect of the new cadet is actually the same thing I'm not a huge fan of on the deep reach. Its larger radius, increased width requiring more leverage, paired with that same mellow entry/contact point can leave it feeling fairly unreactive and "straightliney." For a bomber day or big lines, this is great, but I think I would have more fun on it on a daily basis if it had a more energetic nature to its turn initiation – like, say, the orbit.

Different strokes I guess. I don't feel like I have to force the Cadet to make a tight turn at all. It does have a pretty neutral turn entry, but I love making making tight turns and I feel like with the Cadet all you need to do is set your edge and then get the board into a high edge angle, then it rips right around without much more input. I have other boards with more open sidecuts that take way more work to get them to make tight turns, so I guess it just all comes down to the rider and personal preference I suppose. In fact, the way the Cadet turns and the different turn shapes it makes may be my favorite thing about it.

I actually don't like boards that are hooky or just turn. I just feel that the cadet fights me more than most boards. Maybe I need to try the 154 but I have a feeling it's just not the right board for be and that's fine!

If anyone needs a 158 cadet, hit me up. I only rode it a few days.

If you have a 154 and want to swap, I may be down for that too!

@jsil I don't know your specs but I think the 154 might be a very different animal for you than the 158. I'm 5'10" 190 and the 158 is perfect for me in every way. I don't want to speak for Benjinyc but I think he's 20 pounds or so lighter, and he's previously said that the 154 is the right size for him. My guess is that the Cadet rides very differently between sizes, depending on your body type. The terrain you typcially ride is probably a factor as well, I'd probably have the next size up if I lived out west.

SJF_NH wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 10:32 pm @jsil I don't know your specs but I think the 154 might be a very different animal for you than the 158. I'm 5'10" 190 and the 158 is perfect for me in every way. I don't want to speak for Benjinyc but I think he's 20 pounds or so lighter, and he's previously said that the 154 is the right size for him. My guess is that the Cadet rides very differently between sizes, depending on your body type. The terrain you typcially ride is probably a factor as well, I'd probably have the next size up if I lived out west.

I mostly ride the lesser side of the Wasatch at PCMR.

I'm 5'9" 155lbs 8.5 boots. I'm usually fine on boards 154 to 164 depending on the board.

cadet isn't hooky at all .................

SJF_NH wrote: Fri Apr 04, 2025 10:32 pm @jsil I don't know your specs but I think the 154 might be a very different animal for you than the 158. I'm 5'10" 190 and the 158 is perfect for me in every way. I don't want to speak for Benjinyc but I think he's 20 pounds or so lighter, and he's previously said that the 154 is the right size for him. My guess is that the Cadet rides very differently between sizes, depending on your body type. The terrain you typcially ride is probably a factor as well, I'd probably have the next size up if I lived out west.

154 Cadet works great for me out east (NY/VT) and west (snowbird, Jackson Hole), why my 158 is still in plastic unopened. It's def not a quick turner (get the horizon if you want that) — but it's so stable at speed. The only place I dont like my cadet is in the glades, something softer with a tighter sidecut (like the horizon) is way better. I ride reference and +18 +6 ish, size 8 and about 165-170lbs. IMO, it's one of those boards that goes from great to meh if you ride duck, my Korua CR is in that category too