Stranda Snowboards Review #1: Biru vs. Descender

Summary

In this video, Channel L hman compares two Stranda snowboards—the Buru and the Descender—highlighting their unique features. The Buru is a freestyle-inspired, volume-shifted board, offering explosive pop, tight turns, and great maneuverability, making it ideal for those seeking agility and responsiveness. The Descender, a freeride board, provides stability at high speeds with a larger turning radius, camber underfoot, and early rise in the tips, making it perfect for aggressive lines and challenging terrain. Both are versatile, but cater to different riding styles: the Buru for playful, dynamic riders and the Descender for those who prefer powerful, stable freeride performance.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Biru and the Descender are both all-mountain boards but cater to different types of riders: freestyle vs freeride.
• 😀 The Biru has a volume-shifted design (shorter length, wider width) that makes it nimble in powder, while the Descender focuses on high-speed stability.
• 😀 The Biru is highly responsive with explosive pop and a tight turning radius, making it ideal for quick turns and agility.
• 😀 The Descender is designed for freeriders and excels in rough, variable snow conditions with its large turning radius (9.1m) and smooth, controlled ride.
• 😀 Both boards use a wood core of Poplar, Palonia, and Ashwood, offering durability, flex retention, and reduced wear around the binding inserts.
• 😀 The Biru is great for advanced riders who want a quick-turning, poppy board for freestyle and all-mountain use, while the Descender suits advanced freeriders looking for stability at high speeds.
• 😀 The Biru features almost full camber, which provides a lot of pop but requires more control and isn’t suitable for beginners.
• 😀 The Descender has a camber profile that offers a balance of grip and pop, with early rise in the tip and tail for improved flotation and safety in freeride terrain.
• 😀 The Biru is described as a party board due to its pop and agility, whereas the Descender is described as having no speed limit, making it more reliable in challenging terrain.
• 😀 Both boards are equipped with early rise in the tip and tail, which not only improves flotation in powder but also prevents tip hooks, especially useful in technical freeride conditions.
• 😀 The choice between the Biru and the Descender comes down to the rider's preference for agility and explosiveness (Biru) vs. stability and control at high speeds (Descender).

Q & A

What is the primary difference between the Biru and Descender snowboards?

The main difference between the Biru and the Descender lies in their design and intended use. The Biru is more freestyle-oriented, featuring a tight turning radius and explosive pop for agility and quick maneuvers. The Descender, on the other hand, is freeride-focused, designed for high-speed stability and performance in rough or deep snow, with a larger turning radius and early rise in the tips for floatation.

What does 'volume shifted' mean in the context of the Biru snowboard?

'Volume shifted' refers to a snowboard design where the length of the board is shortened, but its width is increased to maintain surface area for float in powder. This makes the Biru more agile and maneuverable while still providing adequate float in deep snow.

Why is Ashwood used in the construction of Stranda snowboards?

Ashwood is used in Stranda snowboards for its high density, tensile strength, and excellent flex retention. It is placed along the inserts to provide a bulletproof connection for the bindings and prevent damage to the board, such as dimples around the mounting points. Ashwood also contributes to the board's overall durability and dampening properties.

What is the riding style best suited for the Biru snowboard?

The Biru is best suited for **freestyle-inspired all-mountain riders**. It’s a highly responsive and agile board with a tight turning radius, powerful pop, and explosive camber. It’s ideal for quick turns, side hits, and playful maneuvers, making it perfect for intermediate to advanced riders who want a versatile, fun ride.

What makes the Descender more suitable for freeride than the Biru?

The Descender is designed for freeride terrain with a larger turning radius, offering high-speed stability and smooth carving. Its early rise tips prevent hooking in deep snow and rough conditions, and its parabolic camber provides added grip and suspension. This makes it more stable and safer in challenging freeride conditions compared to the more maneuverable Biru.

How does the camber profile of the Biru differ from that of the Descender?

The Biru has almost full camber across the board, providing a snappy, explosive ride with great pop and quick turns. In contrast, the Descender has a parabolic camber, with a high camber section underfoot for stability and pop, and a softer tail with early rise for easier pivoting and better float in powder. The Descender’s camber profile is more forgiving for freeride conditions.

What advantages does the Descender’s early rise tips provide for freeride riders?

The early rise in the tips of the Descender helps prevent the board from catching on snow when turning or pivoting, especially in high-consequence freeride terrain. It also enhances floatation in deep snow, making it easier to maneuver and providing added safety when riding through rough or powdery conditions.

Why does the Biru have a more aggressive, responsive feel compared to the Descender?

The Biru’s aggressive, responsive feel comes from its high camber, tight turning radius, and overall more rigid design. These features make it highly maneuverable, snappy, and great for quick turns and pop. However, this also means it’s less stable at high speeds compared to the more stable Descender.

Can the Biru and Descender both serve as a one-board quiver?

Yes, both the Biru and the Descender can technically serve as a one-board quiver for all-mountain riders, but they cater to different styles. The Biru is better for riders who prioritize freestyle, agility, and quick maneuvers, while the Descender is better for those who focus on stability, high-speed performance, and freeride conditions.

How does the construction of Stranda snowboards impact their durability and performance?

Stranda snowboards are built with high-quality wood cores, including Poplar, Palonia, and Ash, with no finger joints in the wood. This construction ensures excellent flex retention, durability, and stability over time. The use of Ashwood in the inserts provides added strength, preventing binding damage and maintaining performance even after years of use.