Korua Pencil Review: Not Your Typical Snowboard

Features

• Directional freeride shape
• Float Camber profile (camber underfoot, rocker in nose)
• Tapered tail for float and turn release
• Medium-stiff flex (around 7/10)
• Designed for carving and powder performance
• Find the Pencil here.

What Snowboarder Says

I tested two boards from the lineup: the Korua Dart and the Korua Pencil. Both are directional freeride boards built for carving and powder riding, with long noses, tapered tails, and Korua’s Float Camber profile.

First, I tried the Dart in a 152. That’s bigger than what I typically ride (usually in the high 140s), but I was told it rides shorter due to the swallowtail and setback stance.

I took it out for a few days and quickly noticed how much board there was out in front of me. The massive nose and deep swallowtail facilitate float, but as a 120-pound rider, the platform felt big. On groomers, I felt like I was steering a boat. It wasn’t unrideable, but it took more effort than I wanted just cruising around the resort.

I switched to the Pencil in a 147, the smallest size in the lineup. The Pencil has a narrower nose and a more subtle tail shape than the Dart, making it feel more balanced underfoot and easier to manage. The slimmer profile and more centered ride made it easier to maneuver on groomers while still keeping the float I wanted in softer snow.

Although both boards share a similar design philosophy, they ride differently. The Dart leans more toward surfy powder performance, while the Pencil feels slightly more versatile freeride board that still floats extremely well.

Who Is The Korua Pencil For?

The Pencil is best suited for riders who like driving turns from the front foot and laying down long, drawn-out carves. It isn’t really designed for back-foot slashing or freestyle riding, but if you like carving trenches and flowing through powder, the shape starts to make a lot of sense after a few laps.

Like most Korua boards, it has a fairly damp, solid feel.

While Korua markets the Pencil as an all-mountain board, it clearly shines in powder. I only rode it in wet, heavy powder this season, but even in those conditions it floated easily. It likes speed and rewards confident carving, which makes it fun to ride even when the powder isn’t fresh.

For my personal quiver, I will use my Pencil as a powder board rather than my everyday deck. But for riders who want a carving-focused shape that still floats effortlessly when storms roll through, the Pencil makes a strong case for being the one board that can do a little bit of everything.