Korua Shapes Transition Finder Splitboard Overview

My first day driving the Korua Shapes Transition Finder splitboard was in a spot that we name the Honey Gap. It has dependable protection and predictable avalanche situations, making it our go-to spot for early-season excursions. The most effective half about this zone is that it’s riddled with small rollers, gullies, and options that invite you to take a playful method to your driving. This turned out to be the right spot for the Transition Finder. 

I’ve ridden this zone dozens of instances on quite a few completely different splitboards — however that first day on the Transition Finder made me really feel like I used to be driving the zone for the primary time. This board made me wish to pop, slash, and float my means by means of the terrain.

I had an enormous smile on my face on the backside of the primary lap — I used to be experiencing this go-to zone with contemporary eyes — one lap shortly was three. (I might need missed one or two Zoom calls that day, however when terrain, situations, and tools align this effectively — you gotta do what you gotta do.)

In brief: After a season of testing, the Korua Shapes Transition Finder Splitboard ($799) is a confidence-inspiring board that’s extraordinarily playful. In truth, it was the one splitboard I saved after testing a dozen boards final season. Not solely is the tip consequence an exceptional piece of apparatus, however it’s reasonably priced, too: priced $100-300 decrease in comparison with many choices from opponents. And the extensive width retains guys like me — with measurement 12 boots — from catching an edge.

Learn our full overview under or our GearJunkie Finest Splitboard Purchaser’s Information to see how the Korua Shapes Transition Finder Splitboard stacks up.

Korua Shapes Transition Finder Splitboard Overview

Korua Shapes was began just a little over 10 years in the past, and ever since then, it has been craving for turning. Korua Shapes claims, “On the core of each KORUA board, is a sidecut that lets you carve like no others on exhausting groomers, and a form that allows you to float by means of powder with ease. They honestly are nice all-round snowboards.”

And, for as soon as, this isn’t simply advertising fluff. The Transition Finder can maintain an edge and float like a real powder board: It’s a unicorn throughout situations. 

Lately, the most important change that Korua made to the Transition Finder was to barely scale back the taper. This replace offers the board a greater really feel within the pores and skin monitor and makes driving change a bit simpler, too.

Nonetheless, it nonetheless has 15 mm of taper, so it excels in powder. The extensive nostril and torsionally stiff tail present a tremendous platform for inventive backcountry driving in deep snow. 

One among my favourite issues about Korua is that it doesn’t replace board graphics yearly. All its boards have a purple base and a white or black high sheet. They stand out in an trade that’s continually upselling the newest and best. Korua builds boards which might be constructed to final, priced competitively, and designed that can assist you pursue the enjoyment of the flip for years, not only one season. 

How I Examined & Testing Grounds

I examined this board in myriad situations for a full season. I rode it in all the things from excellent mid-winter powder to sketchy sun-cups on the finish of a spring excursions. 

The take a look at board I acquired was beforehand used on a demo circuit at numerous splitboarding occasions. Although it was beforehand beloved, I used to be instantly struck by the great thing about this board. Merely put, it seems to be unbelievable. The shiny all-white high sheet, the contrasting vivid purple base — it’s a clear and timeless look. 

Once I take a look at boards, I typically rotate boards out the identical day, or at the least each different day within the backcountry, so I can type out what’s working for me and what’s not. I do that so I can spend sufficient time with a board to know the way it performs throughout a variety of situations, days, and circumstances. In the event you get sooner or later on a board in blower pow, you’re going to love it. 

However how is it doing within the spring if you’re making an attempt to exit a line by means of mashed potatoes or up excessive after a wind occasion on bulletproof ice? After spending sufficient time with a board, I then attempt to isolate the “why” — I like nerding out on all the things from specs, to supplies, to design ethos and intention (and we’ll get into all of this).

However on the finish of the day as a snowboarder, I’m leaning into what feels proper, for me. The most effective query to ask is all the time: What board will I’ve probably the most enjoyable on? 

Supplies & Design

Sturdiness is baked in: As I discussed, this board was used once I received it, and after dozens of days of driving, it’s nonetheless in phenomenal form. And this features a few hundred miles of it being strapped on the again of my motorbike, too.

The wooden poplar core supplies a middle-of-the-road flex sample that has unbelievable pop due to its progressive flex: stiff within the tail, softening out towards the extensive nostril (309 mm in measurement 157).

There’s additionally a biaxal fiberglass topsheet that ensures the board has a quick however forgiving really feel. The board is stout within the tail, which pays dividends on backseat landings and supplies a dependable flex level for deep turns.

The reasonable 8.2m radius sidecut falls within the Goldilocks zone, discovering a pleasant stability that excels at tight turns in timber and lengthy, drawn-out activates open faces, too. 

On the uphill, the board feels mild, sheds snow effectively, and has a wholesome dose of camber underfoot to offer you confidence on the sketchiest of sidehills. 

As I shared, the primary time I took this splitboard out, I had by no means popped and buttered off as many options on different rides — it was a transformational expertise for me. In my expertise, this board epitomizes enjoyable — pure and easy.

Dependable Efficiency Throughout Circumstances 

If situations are lower than supreme — suppose a steep, agency, and wind-affected drop-in — this board’s substantial camber underfoot supplies confidence-inspiring edge maintain if you want it.

I weigh 180 kilos and have a measurement 12 boot, so I profit from the 264mm waist width. There’s no concern of toe or heel drag in steep terrain. The slight volume-shifted design of this board supplies ample floor space when issues get tremendous deep, too. 

When the season is coming to an in depth, and your exits from huge spring strains turn out to be lower than supreme — we’re speaking mashed potatoes or solar cups — the progressive and forgiving flex of this board permits for straightforward navigation by means of obstacles.

That is particularly useful on the finish of an extended day when all you possibly can take into consideration is that celebratory parking zone beer: The very last thing you need is an ultra-stiff board bucking you about when your legs are jello.

Qualms

One among my few qualms with this board is the Union hooks that come put in at tip and tail. I’m an enormous believer in Union, so I used to be stunned by seeing a design flaw, particularly because the Union clips outdoors of the bindings are my favourite design for splitboard attachment {hardware} in that location.

Sadly, the hooks at tip and tail don’t perform as flawlessly and infrequently turn out to be unlatched whereas descending. It is a easy improve if it turns into an excessive amount of of a problem, however an unlucky oversight nonetheless.

Secondly, there are notches within the tail of the board the place Korua’s custom-fit skins connect. The metallic fringe of the board doesn’t proceed on this notch — so that you’re continually loading the bottom and edge materials beneath rigidity with a metallic hook. I’m involved concerning the long-term sturdiness of this design. To be honest, except for the highest sheet materials exhibiting a bit of wear and tear, it hasn’t been a problem after 50+ days of driving.

Lastly, the Transition Finder Splitboard is simply obtainable in two sizes: 150 and 157. I’d like to see a 153 or 154 obtainable for people who fall in the course of that measurement vary.

Conclusion: Who Ought to Purchase? 

The Transition Finder is an extremely versatile and succesful board. It’s a dependable companion whether or not you’re hammering a pre-work daybreak patrol lap otherwise you’re on a multi-month expedition within the Karakoram Vary.

From first-season splitboarders, to veterans who’ve earned their turns for years, the Korua Shapes Transition Finder Splitboard is a good possibility for individuals who prioritize enjoyable and circulate. 

That is particularly an awesome possibility for larger-footed riders who’ve been trying to find a board that’ll cowl the bottom of their boots and forestall catching an edge.

For these prioritizing huge mountain efficiency and high-consequence strains, maybe the Weston Ridgeline could be a greater possibility. For these trying to prioritize uphill efficiency and premium supplies, the Stranda Descender Fjaderlatt Splitboard could be price , too. 

However if you’re on the lookout for a board that excels in all situations — stiff sufficient to cost, flexy sufficient to pop off of something — then I might take a tough take a look at the Transition Finder Splitboard. You’d be hard-pressed to discover a board that’s this succesful at this worth level. 

I’m beginning my second season on mine, and it’s nonetheless the primary board I attain for when heading out into the backcountry.