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A directional twin with C2X from Mervin master Jeff "Hendo" Henderson – one board for park, piste and deep snow. The more affordable take on the Golden Orca for a mature rider.
GNU Upgrade is the project of Jeff "Hendo" Henderson - 30 years a craftsman at the Mervin factory. Five years of prototypes are gathered in one board - a directional twin, about which Hendo himself says "One board to rule them all".
According to Doychin, Upgrade is one of the underrated boards in the range - at first glance "just white", but with a very beautiful base and one small secret: in character it is a slightly more budget-friendly take on the Golden Orca. And even a touch friendlier to being your only snowboard for everything.
The C2X profile here is directional: a short rocker between the feet, a tighter camber under the back foot and a longer camber toward the nose, with a slight early rise (the nose and tail lift earlier). The sidecut has three curves - a soft entry, a light middle, a more aggressive tail. Magne-Traction has three zones of serrations around the toes and between the feet, the nose is stiffer for soft snow, the tail softer. On top - 0.75" setback and carbon for pop.
This is a board for a mature rider who is more confident in one direction than in both, and wants one board for park, groomers and deep snow.
Technical highlights: Jeff Henderson; directional twin; directional C2X; 0.75" setback; triple sidecut; directional triple Magne-Traction; G Lite 2 with Aspen / Paulownia; Carbon Power Bands; sintered base (faster, holds wax) Eco Sublimated; flex around 7-7.5; all-mountain / freestyle / deep snow.
Review of a similar model on the blog: Lib Tech Golden Orca review: Travis Rice’s Orca for every day
| Size | Contact length | Waist | Sidecut radius | Stance (min-max / setback) | Flex (1–10) | Rider weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 151 cm | 110 cm | 25.1 cm | 7.2/7.3/7.1 m | 47-67.5 / 1.90 cm | 7 | from 45 kg |
| 156 cm | 114 cm | 25.5 cm | 7.6/7.7/7.5 m | 47-67.5 / 1.90 cm | 7.5 | from 50 kg |
| 157W | 114 cm | 26 cm | 7.6/7.7/7.5 m | 47-67.5 / 1.90 cm | 7.5 | from 55 kg |
| 159 cm | 116 cm | 25.7 cm | 7.8/7.9/7.7 m | 47-67.5 / 1.90 cm | 7.5 | from 55 kg |
| 160W | 116 cm | 26.5 cm | 7.8/7.9/7.7 m | 47-67.5 / 1.90 cm | 7.5 | from 60 kg |
Size is not chosen by length alone. Weight, surface area, waist width, profile and the effective edge (the part of the edge that cuts into the snow) together decide how a board rides. The table shows the minimum rider weight Mervin gives for each size. A shorter board turns faster and is more playful; a longer one brings more stability and float. The waist should fit the boot: at about 24-25 cm, boots are usually up to size 42-43 (EU), at 25-26 cm up to 44-45, and the W versions are for bigger feet, so toes and heel don't drag when carving.
Not sure which size? Write to us or stop by our shop in Golo Bardo, Sofia - we have been riding this stuff since 1997.
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