GNU Something Review: A Swallowtail for Deep Snow and Carving

The GNU Something is a directional deep snow board with a swallowtail that cuts packed hard snow like a carving board: directional C2, a 4" setback (stance moved toward the tail), a tapered shape (nose wider than the tail), a progressive turn radius and Magne-Traction. Ours is from the model's first year, 2024/25, in 156 and 161. Who it is for: a rider who wants deep snow in the trees and deep carving turns on hardpack, with one board that has a lot of history in it.

Snowboard Science ep. 3: C2 hybrid profile - rocker between the feet, camber under them

The Something is a return to Mike Olson's finless boards of the early 80s

The name does not lie: the GNU Something really is something, and a very interesting something. It is a clearly directional freeride board that points strongly back to GNU's early history and Mike Olson's ideas. GNU writes that the Something draws its inspiration from Mike's early finless designs from the start of the 80s and adds everything the brand has learned in 40 years of making boards. The creative vision is by Pete Saari.

The history matters here. According to GNU, TWS magazine named them the first brand to bring deep turn radii for carving on hard-packed pistes to market. That is the moment when snowboarding stopped being only a board with fins for off-piste deep snow riding and became a board for all groomed terrain. The Something is exactly that step, taken today: an old-school deep snow shape that cuts like a modern carving board.

Directional C2, a 4" setback and a swallowtail all say one thing: deep snow

A directional C2, a long nose with a gradual entry, a swallowtail, a tapered shape and a 4" setback all mean one thing: deep snow. The rocker between the feet lifts the nose, and the camber under the feet protects the edge. According to GNU, the short, tight camber toward the tail adds grip at the back for strong carving on groomed terrain.

With the swallowtail the back end sinks more easily, the nose comes up and the rider stands more naturally, without constantly pressing on the back foot. The nose and tail are 31.8 and 30.5 cm on the 161, and the taper helps the tail sink into the snow.

• directional C2
• long nose with a gradual entry
• swallowtail
• tapered
• 4" setback
• progressive turn radius 6.66 / 6 m
• Magne-Traction
• G Lite 3 (aspen/paulownia)
• Carbon Power Bands
• Knife-Cut sintered base
• flex 6.5
• creative vision by Pete Saari

But it is not only a deep snow toy: the progressive turn radius cuts hard snow and ice

But the Something is not only a deep snow toy. On packed hard snow and in a carve it is very capable thanks to the progressive turn radius and Magne-Traction: a historic idea built with modern technology. The turn radius is progressive, 6.66 / 6 m. GNU writes that it gives a forgiving turn entry and fin-like grip in the tail, for deep, powerful carving on hardpack and ice.

GNU puts it in its own way: "boards that slide are not tasty". And also: "business in the front, party in the back". Underneath is a G Lite 3 wood core of aspen and paulownia, Carbon Power Bands for spring and a Knife-Cut sintered base (faster, holds wax) for speed.

Snowboard Science ep. 5: Magne-Traction - the edge that bites into ice

For a rider who knows their lead foot and goes looking for snow

The Something is for a confident rider who rides mostly in one direction and wants a board for deep snow days, the trees and deep carving turns on the hard piste. A flex (how soft or stiff the board is) of 6.5 makes it more approachable than most freeride boards, but the 4" setback and the swallowtail close it off for park and riding switch (riding with the other foot forward). If you want a true twin (identical nose and tail, rides the same in both directions) for everything, this is not it.

In our view the Something is one of those boards you buy partly for the history: the first year of a model that brings back Mike Olson's ideas for finless boards. Things like that become collectible over the years.

Size: 156 or 161, by weight and boot

At our shop the Something comes in 156 and 161. GNU gives the 156 from 50 kg and the 161 from 65 kg and up. The difference is not only length: the 161 has a 26.1 cm waist and the 156 a 25.3 cm one, so with a bigger boot the wider 161 is the safer choice. Enter your weight and boot size and we will show you which of the two sizes fits.

Something vs Hyper, MC Wayfinder II and Cold Brew

GNU Hyper is GNU's classic directional board for more settled riders: a floating nose, a tapered tail and a 1.5" setback, calmer freeride. Lib Tech MC Wayfinder II is Matt Cummins' surf-style deep snow board: the same 4" setback and directional C2, but with a bigger nose and more area. Lib Tech Cold Brew is the more versatile choice: a directional C2 with a 1.5" setback for the piste and off it, every day.

Frequently asked questions

How to choose and where to see it

If you want one directional board for every day, take the Cold Brew. If you want a bigger nose and more area for big snow, the MC Wayfinder II. And if you want a deep snow board with a swallowtail that cuts packed hard snow and carries GNU's early history in it, the Something. Come to our shop at Golo Bardo 6A in Sofia or call us at +359 887 800 575 and we will show you the board in person and pick the size together. We have been riding this stuff since 1997.