GNU Banked Country Review

Board: GNU Banked Country 2024

Price: $629 (USD recommended retail)

Style: Freeride

Flex Rating: Mid-Stiff (7/10)

Flex Feel: Mid-Stiff (6.5/10)

Rating Score: 87.5/100

Compared to other Men’s Freeride Boards

Overview of the Banked Country’s Specs

Check out the tables for the Banked Country’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Who is the Banked Country Most Suited To?

The Banked Country is best suited to anyone who wants a board that can rip groomers on hard park and even icy days, but then when the snow falls, it can handle powder. Even better suited to someone who wants all that but also wants to hit jumps, side-hits, cliff drops etc. 

It's versatile enough that you could quite easily classify this as an all-mountain board too. We felt it's directional enough to have in this category, but if you wanted to call it an all-mountain board, that wouldn't be wrong either. 

Not for beginners and lower intermediate riders would likely find it a bit much board too, but solid intermediate riders (and up of course) should have no trouble with this board. It's mellowed out vs what it used to be. 

THE Banked Country IN MORE DETAIL

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance width: 22″ (560mm)

Stance Setback: Setback 1.5" (38mm)

Width at Inserts: 10.4" (264mm) at front insert and 10.3" (262mm) at back insert.   

Rider Height: 6'0"

Rider Weight: 180lbs

Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Response ADV

Bindings Used: Burton Malavita, M

Weight: 6lbs 8oz (2960grams) 

Weight per cm: 18.62 grams/cm

Average Weight per cm: 18.71 grams/cm*

*based on a sample size of around 250 models that I’ve weighed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 models. The Banked Country was pretty much bang on average weight on the scales and on snow it felt normal weight-wise. 

Changes for the 2024 model

New shape (on visual inspection the tail is more blunted and less pointy, nose looks same). This appears to be the only change though as the specs don't seem to have changed at all - all dimensions still the same according to catalog.

However, after testing it, it felt like it had changed quite a bit compared to the old Banked Country. It felt a little softer flexing and a little more snappy. I really liked the change. If you're more into a stiffer damper board, you may not like the change as much, but I had a great time on this board - and I liked the old model, just like this one even more! 

It doesn't quite have the same stability at speed, but I felt I could still carve just as hard, but when it came to slashed turns and maneuverability at slower speeds, it was much improved. On top of that riding switch felt a little better and felt better hitting jumps and side-hits too. 

Powder

Nothing to test in on the day, but based on specs, past experience of the board in powder and feel, it should do well in powder. 

It's tapered and has a healthy 1.5" setback. It also technically has rocker in the profile (between the feet) but it is really subtle.  

Carving

This board can still rip a carve and it's really fun to lay carves on. 

Turning

Ease of Turns/Slashing: Compared to older models, it felt really nice and easy to imitate turns on. It's not beginner level easy, but much easier than it used to be. 

Maneuverability at slow speeds (nimbleness): Decently quick edge-to-edge at slower speeds.

Catchiness: Despite being predominantly camber, I didn't find the Banked Country catchy. Sure, probably a little more so than a soft rockered board, but for what it is, very little catchiness. 

Speed

While not as stable as it used to be at speed, it's still really decent. I also rode the new Lib Tech E Jack Knife the same day, and it wasn't as stable as that at speed. In some ways it felt like the EJack Knife and Banked Country have swapped places compared to what they used to be. 

Uneven Terrain

Crud: Not ultra damp, so there was some chatter when navigating crud/chunder, but still decent at smashing through it at remaining stable. 

Trees/Bumps: Enjoyed taking this board through the trees. Real decent edge-to-edge and would be decent with powder in the trees too. 

Jumps

This is one area where I feel the Banked Country got quite a bit better. It was good in older models too, but I felt it got that much better. And also important to note, got easier to jump with. And more fun for ollies, rollers side-hits etc. 

Pop: Real easy to access the Banked Countries pop, and then you get more again, when you wind it up. 

Approach: A good mix of stability but still good ease of adjustment and speed checking. 

Landing: Solid on landings and quite forgiving of less-than-perfect landings too.  

Side-hits: Really liked this board on side-hits. And definitely more so than the last model I rode. 

Small jumps/Big jumps: Really good for anything. Can handle and does well at all size of jumps. 

Switch

Felt decent riding switch. It's taper is quite subtle and whilst it's setback quite a long way, it still felt pretty good. Transitions were good too. 

Butters

That softer feel also helped with making presses easier. It's not like a soft freestyle board or anything, but it doesn't take too much effort. 

I had a blast on the Banked Country and wanted more! This board rips carves and is stable at speed, but it's something that doesn't become a chore when you're cruising and riding slower or just looking to slash around. 

It floats well in powder and is good on jumps too. You could classify this board as all-mountain, given it's versatility and you wouldn't be wrong. It excels at speed, powder an carving, but it doesn't really have any weaknesses outside of those areas either.