GNU Rider’s Choice Review: Asymmetric Twin for Both Ways
The GNU Rider’s Choice is an asymmetric twin (identical nose and tail, but different edges on the heel side and the toe side) for riders who want to ride equally hard in both directions: on piste, in the park and in deep snow. The asymmetric geometry evens out the toe-side and heel-side turn, and the C2X profile and huge pop make it one of the liveliest freestyle boards from Mervin. Here is everything we know about it, from the shop, from Doychin's video and from GNU.
-20%- Delivery in up to 2 days
- Shop at 6A Golo Bardo St., Sofia - since 1997
- Size advice:
+359 887 800 575
The human body does not turn the same both ways, which is why the Rider’s Choice is asymmetric
The GNU Rider’s Choice is one of Mervin's most technological and longest-running models. The idea behind it is simple and very honest: a snowboarder stands sideways, and the heel-side turn is never the same as the toe-side turn. GNU turns that asymmetry of the body into an asymmetry of the board.
The heel side has a more deeply cut edge with a smaller sidecut radius; in the table you see it as two radii, for example 7.7 / 8.1 m on the 154.5. That makes the heel-side carve easier to start, and paradoxically the result is one of the most symmetrical feelings in riding. Doychin says it in the video: the whole idea of Mervin's engineers is for the two turns to even out.
The board says "HS here", meaning "heels here". Whether you ride with your left or right foot forward, your heels need to be on that side. The nose is wherever you put it, because the shape is twin, but the asymmetry only works if the mounting is correct.
C2X: rocker between the feet and pronounced camber toward the nose and tail
C2X: rocker between the feet and pronounced, longer camber zones toward the nose and tail.
Doychin's text says "C2/C2X depending on the generation". We checked: since 2023/24 GNU describes the Rider’s Choice as a C2 hybrid profile in the text, but in the technical panel, for all three seasons (2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26), the profile is C2X, the more aggressive version of C2. The two boards we have in the shop are C2X.
The rocker between the feet gives an intuitive, quick turn and forgives when the edge catches wrong. The camber zones toward the nose and tail bring back the spring, the stability at speed and the pop. This is exactly where one of the model's most characteristic traits is: the huge pop. Under your feet the Rider’s Choice is alive and springy, a board on which aggressive freestyle riding is a pleasure.
Our own technical observation: on the heel side the Magne-Traction relief is shallower, but the effect is no smaller. In its older materials Mervin also noted it as "0.5". The reason: the heel side takes more load anyway, and if the waves were equally deep on both sides, the board could bite too sharply.
Snowboard Science ep. 3: C2 hybrid profile - camber, rocker, camber, explained simply
The 3-D Delightwood Asym Chip makes the power under your feet direct
For 2023/24 GNU rebuilt the Rider’s Choice and built a 3-D Delightwood Asym Chip into the top layer of the board under each foot: asymmetric power plates. Doychin shows them in the video: the plates give more stability, more control and a much more direct transfer of every effort to the terrain. They are asymmetric by the same logic as the sidecut radius: they distribute force so that the feel on the toe side and the heel side evens out even more.
Underneath is a G Lite 3 wooden core of Aspen and Paulownia, triaxial and biaxial fiberglass, Carbon Power Bands and a sintered Knife Cut base. The stance is centered, with zero setback. The artwork is different each season: 2024/25 is by Eric Kenney, 2025/26 by Trevor Yardley-Jones.
In the park, at speed and even in deep snow, the board is for riders who believe in themselves
The Rider’s Choice is made to be ridden in both directions with an almost symmetrical mounting. People who ride switch will feel very confident at high speed and in big spins: in jumps, in the park, with nollies and ollies. This is a freestyle concept: every board that goes through the idea of a true twin (identical nose and tail, so it rides the same in both directions) is designed more for jumps and tricks.
But the camber zones at the nose and tail and the rocker between the feet allow something you rarely expect from a twin. With a very modest setback you can have a great day in deep snow and ride in both directions, with sharp 180° spins in the deep. Doychin says in the video that he has seen friends of his do it.
Who it is not for: if you are only starting out, a better choice is a board with Original Banana or BTX. The Rider’s Choice is forgiving, but it wants a rider who already has a style and is looking for pop, speed and even turns. In the video Doychin calls it perhaps the best board for people who truly believe in themselves.
- C2X
- asymmetric twin
- zero setback
- asymmetric sidecut radius
- 3-D Delightwood Asym Chip
- Magne-Traction, less pronounced on the heel side
- G Lite 3, Aspen/Paulownia
- Carbon Power Bands
- sintered Knife Cut base
- flex 5.5-7
- park / freestyle / all-mountain
Size: chosen by weight and boot, and the two radii do not change the math
The Rider’s Choice has zero setback and a twin shape, so it is chosen like a classic freestyle board: a shorter size for park and riding switch, a longer one for speed and deep snow. Flex grows with size, from 5.5 on the 154.5 to 7 on the 161.5. The sizes in 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 are the same; we have the 154.5 in the 2024/25 generation. Enter your weight and boot size and we will show you which of the available sizes fits.
| Size | Contact length | Waist | Sidecut radius | Flex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 154.5 | 116 cm | 25.2 cm | 7.7 / 8.1 m | 5.5 |
| 157.5 | 119 cm | 25.5 cm | 7.8 / 8.2 m | 6 |
| 159.5 | 120 cm | 25.6 cm | 7.9 / 8 m | 6 |
| 161.5 | 122 cm | 25.8 cm | 8 / 8.4 m | 7 |
-20%- Delivery in up to 2 days
- Shop at 6A Golo Bardo St., Sofia - since 1997
- Size advice:
+359 887 800 575
Rider’s Choice versus its relatives: T.Rice Pro, RC C3 and Ladies Choice
Doychin calls the Rider’s Choice the little brother of the Lib Tech T.Rice Pro: the same idea of a twin board for everything, but the T.Rice Pro is symmetric, with C2, HP construction and a slightly stiffer flex. The GNU RC C3 is the camber version of the Rider’s Choice: the same asymmetric twin geometry and Asym Chip, but with C3, more direct and for a rider who already knows what he wants from camber. The GNU Ladies Choice is the little sister: an asymmetric twin and C2X by Jamie Anderson, with flex and sizes for the lighter weight of women.
| Rider’s Choice | T.Rice Pro | RC C3 | Ladies Choice | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Profile | C2X | C2 | C3 | C2X |
| Shape | asymmetric twin | twin | asymmetric twin | women's asymmetric twin |
| Flex | 5.5-7 | 6-7 | around 6 | 4-5.5 |
| Who it is for | a confident rider in both directions | one board for everything | camber, park and halfpipe | advanced women, freestyle |
| Terrain | park / freestyle / all-mountain | park / piste / deep snow | park / halfpipe / all-mountain | park / freestyle / all-mountain |
-20%Frequently asked questions
What does asymmetric twin mean?
The board is a twin by shape, but the heel side has a more deeply cut edge with a smaller sidecut radius. That way the heel-side turn, which the body makes with more difficulty, evens out with the toe-side turn.
Does it matter which side I mount the bindings on?
Yes. The board says "HS here": the heels need to be on that side, whether you ride with your left or right foot forward. If you reverse them, the asymmetry works against you.
Is the Rider’s Choice suitable for beginners?
It is not our first choice. It is forgiving, but it is lively and springy and gives the most to a rider who already rides confidently and wants pop and switch riding. For a first board we recommend Original Banana or BTX.
Is the Rider’s Choice C2 or C2X?
For the 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons the GNU technical panel says C2X, the more aggressive version of the C2 hybrid profile. Our boards are C2X.
Is it good in deep snow?
Yes, if you move the mounting back just a little. The rocker between the feet and the camber zones in the nose and tail keep the board on top, and the twin shape allows 180° spins in the deep as well.
How to choose and where to try it
If you ride both ways, love jumps, speed and the park, and want your heel-side turn to be as clean as your toe-side turn, the Rider’s Choice is the board. If you want more camber, the RC C3. If you are a woman, the Ladies Choice. If you want a symmetric twin for everything, the T.Rice Pro. Come to the shop at Golo Bardo 6A in Sofia or call us at +359 887 800 575 and we will show you the board in person, pick the size and mount the bindings on the right side. We have been riding this stuff since 1997.
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