The 2014 Arbor Paparazzi is the female counterpart to the men’s Formula. So what does that mean? Is this a board for just a beginner or can anyone ride it? Here’s what Zara had to say about it.
Board: Arbor Paparazzi
Size: 148
Camber Option: Full Reverse
Bindings: Salomon Absolute Pure
Stance: 21 inches wide 15 negative 15 regular
Boots: Salomon Kianna size 6
My Weight: 148
Resort: Breck
Conditions: Grey-bird with flurries relegating me to riding crisp morning groomers.
Flex: This board is stiffer than an entry level board but softer than a middle of the road board.
Stability: For being a little softer this board actually is stable when playing around on groomers.
Ollies: You have to work just a tad to get the tail to snap.
Pop On Jumps: I wouldn’t call this board a jump deck by any means. It does get the job done without much excitement.
Butterability: The profile allows for ease of buttering of the nose and tail without much effort. So if you want to get up on the tips and spin around go for it, the reverse camber really helps as well.
Jibbing: The softer flex allows it to be used on jibs fairly easy, just don’t expect it to be mind blowing.
Carving: This is the board that can do a little bit of everything. Holds well for a reverse profile even at higher speeds. You can lay a turn down with some effort but the board might wash out if you get too aggressive.
Rider in Mind: All mountain freestyle. Not the stiffest board I’ve ridden this year, but by far the not the softest. This board is for the early intermediate girl who wants to experience a little bit of everything on the mountain, and has some goals in mind.
Personal Thoughts: This board was fun, but truthfully didn’t wow me, but that is just me. This would be the board I’d be happy to give to a friend who is just getting excited on the steeper areas, but still wants to try and hit a box or two and then drop trees. This board would be a great introduction into the world beyond the beginner board.
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Disclaimer: This board was loaned to us for review from the Arbor Snowboards marketing department.
Note: This board was built in the Elan factory, production will be in SWS in Dubai.
4 Comments
My wife is already an excellent skier who is interested in learning to snowboard. I imagine she’ll learn pretty quickly so I’d like to find something for her that she’d be able to progress on for a few seasons instead of the typical learner/rental plank. Something more groomer and powder-friendly than park oriented. Sounds like the Poparazzi would be a good choice, but I can’t find one in her size- she’s 5′ 2″ and 110 lbs so I think 139-143 cm would be about right. I’m wondering if Zara or Avran could recommend any other decks out there that might also work for her? Thanks for any advice!
I would probably look at something slightly stiffer than this deck if she’s looking for something to progress with. Maybe the LoFi rocker from Rome.
Thanks for the tip, I must have missed the LoFi review earlier this year, it sounds like a good match. BTW, any thoughts on the K2 Bright Lite? It seems to be marketed as the female version of the Raygun and is a bit easier to find than the LoFi.
I don’t think we reviewed that one. But that could be another choice.