Ice.  I immensely dislike snowboarding on ice.  I traveled all the way to New Zealand last year and the first thing on my list to do upon arrival was snowboard.  I paid to rent gear, and as I am totally spoiled on my gear from working in board shops for the last 6 years, this was extremely painful.  Yes, I ended up with slightly soggy boots, that no matter how small you go down in size are STILL somehow too big, bindings from 1987, and a board that is cap construction.  Then I headed to the front desk of my hostel and spent almost $200 on a lift ticket.  I gritted my teeth and tried to look at the big picture: snowboarding in New Zealand!  I geared up and headed to the hill.  When I got there I was blown away by the lack of lines and amazing facilities, but there was sooooo much ice.

This, at home, would be no problem seeing as I have a Gnu board with the Magne-Traction that cuts through ice like nobody’s business.  In Oregon ice is everywhere, but I have overcome it by riding my Gnu.  It grips and holds turns in conditions that even the Titanic would go under in.  Unfortunately for me this was NOT the board I had.  I took 5 runs with no problems, but on my 6th run I took a turn on some of that dang ice stuff and my board flew out from under me.  Don’t worry; I caught myself, with the back of my head.  After cleaning up my yard sale and taking a couple more runs with a headache, I retired to the lodge for some delicious Chai.  If you want a board that will help you perform in adverse conditions I highly suggest the Gnu B-Nice with Magne-Traction to kill the threat of ice and Banana Action for floating through pow; it really is a very diverse board.  It’s great for an all-mountain rider, a park rat, and even a lady just starting to get her mountain legs under her.  Gnu also makes all their boards in the U.S.A. So tell Jack Frost to get bent and ride a Gnu board, or bag it and hang out in the lodge, because New Zealand has the BEST Chai of any place I have been thus far.