2013 Arbor Formula Used and Reviewed

Tuesday, June 5th, 2012

Sometimes it’s a lot of fun to take it back to basics and ride an entry level deck. It can remind you of where you’ve come from or just be a humbling experience to know what someone is dealing with while just starting out. I’ve ridden the Formula numerous times and it’s consistently one of the best entry level decks out there because in my opinion it doesn’t hold you back.

Board: Arbor Formula

Size: 155

Camber Option: All Mountain System. Center reverse with griptech.

Bindings: Raiden Phantoms

Stance: 22.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy

Boots: K2 UFO Size 10

My Weight: 165

Resort: Keystone

Conditions: Spring sludge in the sun with temps reaching into the 60′s.

Flex: Somewhere between soft jib noodle and mid flex park deck with a fair amount of give in the tips and a lot of torsional flex.

Stability: It’s got some stability at mid level speeds but taking it to the danger zone you might be scared for your life as the tips start to flap like a bird.

Ollies: When initiating the pop the reverse camber and softer flex makes you roll into it thus initiating the snap. It’s lackadaisical really and not something you should expect amazing quick snap from. Knowing that it’s about average for a deck of this caliber.

Pop On Jumps: It’s there but once again for this type of board it’s not something that stands out.

Butterability: Think about how soft this board is and then think about this attribute. Yeah it’s going to slay it on the playing in the snow at both fast and slow speeds.

Jibbing: Just like buttering but on plastic and metal. The tips lock in for presses so easily you don’t have to put your weight over them to make it look like a super press. Sliding on features not an issue either.

Carving: That’s what stands out for this as a beginner board. The sidecut is deep enough to rail a hard turn and the Griptech really digs into the snow.

Rider in Mind: Progressing beginner that doesn’t want to out grow their first or second board.

Personal Thoughts: This board hasn’t let me down. Sure it’s labeled a beginner to low level intermediate rider but it stands out as a jack of all trades not capped by level ability. It’s often hard to find a beginner board with a bit more of an aggressive sidecut that will let you lay a trench.

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