Summary

The Gnu Carbon Credit tweaked their BTX profile a little bit in 2014 and kept it the same in 2015 and 2016.  It's pretty similar to the older BTX profile but it has a little bit more stability between the feet thanks to a flat to a slight camber after the rocker. It gives you a little more stability but it's not close to C2 BTX or other hybrid rocker profiles that Mervin makes. It's still at the bottom of the stability chart but the bottom just got moved up a little bit. The 2013 models and below are still really good boards but the 2014 and 2015 Gnu Carbon Credit is the call.

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Riding Style Freestyle
Riding Level Beginner - Advanced
Fits Boot size (US) 8-10, > 12
Manufactured in USA by Mervin
Shape True Twin
Camber Profile Continuous Rocker
Stance Centered
Approx. Weight Feels Heavy
Split No
Powder Average
Base Glide Average
Carving Average
Speed Average
Uneven Terrain Great
Switch Great
Jumps Good
Jibbing Good
Pipe Good
On Snow Feel

Loose

Turn Initiation

Fast

Skidded Turns

Easy

Flex

Medium/Soft

Buttering

Easy

Edge Hold

Icy Snow

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Gnu Carbon Credit 2016 - 2010 Review by The Good Ride

Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews.  We do make money from the “Where To Buy” links, but this is our best attempt at an honest and objective review from an average riders’ perspective.

Gnu Carbon Credit Series BTX 2016-2014 Review

Size: 156
Days:  2
Conditions: Mostly hard snow one day and then softer good sierra snow the other day.
Riders: James
Boots: Burton ImperialBurton Hail
Bindings: Burton Cartel LimitedBurton Genesis
Set Up: Centered about 23″ wide 15 front -15 back.

Iv’e been riding the Carbon Credit forever and it was one of the first boards I rode when I started getting addicted to this sport. It was the Carbon High Beam back then and it was a camber board (no mtx) and it had a setback. Things have changed a lot since then and it’s morphed over the years into much more of a freestyle board.  It’s got a soft spot in my heart but I often see it over recommend for people looking for an all mountain board. Yeah, it works as an all mountain board but it’s best for riders that are looking to learn about the park more than the mountain. It’s not the board I beat the shit out of years ago on the mountain and if you want that you might be better off with other models like the Metal Gnuru.

On Snow Feel: The 2014 made this a little more stable and the alteration to the BTX camber profile almost is to the point where we could no longer classify this continuous rocker. It’s so mellow that we still are but there are some subtle difference between the 2013 and 2014 Gnu Carbon Credit in terms of stability and general ride.  It’s just a little more stable and more on the bottom end of semi-stable. In softer conditions, it doesn’t feel as loose but in harder conditions, it still feels loose.  It’s better than the old BTX but it’s an improvement for sure.

Powder: Same great easy float for a twin. The board still wants to float and it’s great for those that want to ride powder with a centered stance.  If you like to set the board back it will be ok but you would be better off looking for a different board then.  This is for a freestyle approach to powder riding and not an all mountain set back surfy kind of ride.

Speed:  There is a tad more stability but it’s still the same ride.

Uneven Terrain: Same great ride in uneven terrain.  If you see the groomers that get unclean midway through the day you will like this board and maybe even use it to find a more creative way to ride in slower speeds.

Approximate Weight: Feels pretty heavy but sturdy and well made

Turn Initiation and Carving: Now the general ride is the same but there are some subtle differences.

Edge Hold: Same excellent edge hold.  It can be overly grippy and it’s not quite the best ride for those that see soft snow often but it is amazing for those who ride in harder to icy conditions.

Flex: Same medium/soft flex as before and it’s a very easy board to butter and play around with.

Switch: Perfect either way

Pipe: Great edge hold and the little extra stability from the new btx makes it a little better but it’s not going to be as good as other C2 boards out there. It’s a good board to learn the pipe with but as you get better you will want something with more drive wall to wall.

Jibbing- Very fun easy board to jib with.

Jumps:  There is good pop between the feet.  It’s not easy to generate pop from the tip/tail but if you put your energy between the feet it will pop.

The Carbon Credit often gets overprescribed for beginner riders as an all mountain do anything solution.  It’s not that board but if you are leaning to the freestyle side of the snowboard world then you could be pretty happy with this board.

 
Gnu Carbon Credit Past Reviews

The Gnu Carbon Credit 2013-2010 is a more than just an entry level board. It can be an entry level all mountain freestyle board as well as a freestyle board for all levels.  The Carbon credit offers up a good all condition ride for a wide spectrum of freesyle riders.

2011 Good Wood Award Winner! Future Top 10 under $400 board Award Winner.

Size 156 & 159

Days on this board- 50+
Riders: Mostly James and a few beginner to intermediate friends not on the site.
Conditions: Everything from ice to 3 foot plus thick powder.
Bindings Used- Burton Cartel, Flux SE30, Union Contact and Union Contact Pro.
Boots: Burton IonBurton SLXBurton ImperialBurton Ruler

Very little has changed from the 2011 -2013 Carbon Credit in terms of design. It’s still the same BTX Twin shape that they have had for a few years now.

On Snow Feel: There is a loose feeling between the feet in almost all conditions of snow.  In harder snow its pretty loose but you still get a loose feel in softer snow as well.  It’s more stable than some continuous rocker boards but it still takes getting use to when it comes to one footing and flat basing.  It’s much more comfortable on edge. This gives the board a very playful freestyle approach to the mountain and is most at home learning to explore the park. The 2014 made this a little more stable but the same general personality still remains.

Powder: So if you ride in light fluffy powder it will be pretty amazing but it’s not going to keep up with a set back shape for directional powder riding in deep thick powder you can experience in the west of the US.  For a freestyle approach to powder it’s a great board that will provide an easy float for it’s centered twin design.

Speed: Their are definitely other boards out there that are much more speedy but they don’t have the all around riding qualities built in as well. You can really neglect the base of wax and it will still ride very well.  The one drawback from BTX is it isn’t as stable as their C2 shapes when it comes to speed.  It can be a little squirrely between the feet when picking up real speed on the mountain and a bit chattery but in most places in the park it’s fine.

Uneven Terrain: The Carbon Credit handles bumpy end of the day snow very well.

Approximate Weight: Its not the kind of board that makes you forget its on.  There is some weight behind it.

Turn Initiation and Carving – The turn initiation is incredibly easy when it comes to the BTX models. It has a very skate like feel which can make for a great park ride. Edge to edge transitioning is incredibly easy which is great for entry level riders.  If you like to work a bit for your turns then stay away.  When it comes to carving the Carbon Credit is not going to be that good.  The more you commit to a carve the more washy it becomes. It doesn’t have that spring out of the turn feel either but that is a common problem with all continuous rocker boards. The Carbon Credit is more of a freestyle board these days so if your priority is learning to carve we suggest looking somewhere else.

Edge Hold: This was one of the Carbon Credit’s draw backs before MTX and BTX. Magnetraction took this board from a score of Good to Excellent. Before you would cringe if you saw a long patch of ice but now don’t even think about it. The edge will hold.

Flex: Its right in the middle but it’s easy to butter and press

Switch: If you want to learn how to ride switch its perfect. Center this board out and close your eyes and you won’t know the difference between the nose or tail…..no wait don’t close your eyes!!!!! but you know what I mean.

Pipe: Great in the pipe! Holds well thanks to magnetraction.

Jibbing- Not the best out there but pretty good for learning most of the jib’s a mid level rider would want to take on.  If you  want to go bigger there are more jib/rail specific boards that will perform better but the Carbon Credit holds it’s own for a do everything board.

Jumps: The Carbon Credit doesn’t handle jumps like others can but its very predictable and forgiving when it comes to landing a small to medium sized kicker. It’s still pretty poppy if you want to create your own air off little jumps around the mountain. It’s a very between the feet kind of ollie.  As you get to the larger 30 feet kickers there are many better boards out there but it still does ok.

 

How The Old Gnu Carbon Credit MTX Rides

How It Rides
Groomers Good Speed Good Flex Med/Soft Rails/
Jibbing
Good
Powder Average Weight Medium Carving
Good Pipe Good
Turn Initiation Excellent Edge Hold Excellent Switch Excellent Jumps Good

Overall the old MTX board was more stable, had better edge hold and was better with speed.  However it wasn’t anywhere as catch free or as fun in the park as the BTX.  The biggest thing with the new BTX is the powder riding over the MTX.  The MTX just can’t even compare to the BTX when it comes to easy powder riding.  It’s a lot of work to stay afloat.

 
Gnu Carbon Credit Specs

 
Gnu Carbon Credit Images

We try to get as many images of the Gnu Carbon Credit, but forgive us if they're not all there.

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

Gnu Carbon Credit User Reviews

Gnu Carbon Credit 2010-2016 Snowboard Review SKU UPC Model

Freeride

Apr 24, 2014 by Christian
Ability Level: Beginner / Intermediate • 
Riding Style: Freeride • 
Days You Ride A Year: 20 

I went from struggling in the slope with a GNU Riders Choice 10/11 158 cm wide edition to cruising the hill with a GNU Carbon Credit 13/14 156 cm.

The CC was not the board I went to the shop to buy, as I am not that fan of the graphic, but it is the board that I am glad I bought! It is my first proper banana profile, and even though it felt loose under feet on the first run compared to the RC, the CC outperformed my expectations. I feel like I was surfing on top of the snow, and the board went where I wanted it to though making small adjustments.

The length is on the lower side of what I can ride, but I had no problem carving down black slopes. The board can get a bit lively in the tail when the speed gets high and the surface gets choppy, but I never felt that I went beyond the comfort sone when it came to thrusting the boards abilities, even though it came close. It is not a true breed carving board, but in the short icy slopes I run it will do the job!

I had a lot of fun with the CC, and felt that I could go anywhere in the slopes. I have yet to hit the big jumps so I can't say anything about that, but the board got good pop so it should preform well enough.

The CC is a good all rounded board that I recommend, even though the graphics could be better ;)


4.0 4.0 1 1 I went from struggling in the slope with a GNU Riders Choice 10/11 158 cm wide edition to cruising the hill with a GNU Carbon Credit 13/14 156 cm. The CC was not the board I we Gnu Carbon Credit 2010-2016 Snowboard Review

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