Arbor Terrapin Snowboard Review- How it rides and who it is for Review by The Good Ride

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Arbor Terrapin Written Snowboard Review

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How This Review Happened: We borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: 145
Days: 2
Conditions: Thigh high good early spring powder with the help of our Drift Boards. Without these Drift Boards this review wouldn’t have happened due to Covid-19
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-190lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles, F.I.T. Gamechangers, F.I.T. Gameghangers LP
Bindings: Union Strata

Similar Boards (but not the same):
Capita Spring Break 158 Powder Glider, Capita Spring Break 161 Tree Hunter, Jones Mind Expander, Yes 420,

Set-Up: Approximately 21”” Wide. 27 front +3 back.

Sizing

The 145 is the only size and it seemed to be fine for our weight and boot size.

Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

The Arbor Terrapin has a very loose forgiving short wide and very tapered back foot oriented ride. Even though it is super forgiving it is so small, stiff and short that we don’t feel comfortable recommending this to intermediates. It is the kind of board you ride a few times a year when you get it really deep. Even in the thigh high powder we were riding in you could feel how loose and back foot oriented this wide tapered ride is.

Flex/Pop/Buttering

Incredibly stiff and not easy to butter or pop at all. There is so much rocker though that when you rock back on the tail for more directional float the Arbor Terrapin still obliges you and the nose rocks up. Neither Peter or I could really access any extra ollie power on this like we can with almost all other continuous/parabolic rocker snowboards from Arbor.

Speed

Not a board for speed. It is about nice quick slashy turns in deep powder. If you like to point it in powder look somewhere else.

Uneven Terrain

Like so many really short and wide rides, the Arbor Terrapin just handle uneven snow well. Any bumps or shallow spots will buck and bounce you around. It makes you loose your speed and it knocks you off your game. Again this is a deep snow slasher and not for hammering through tracked snow at a resort to find some powder stashes.

Edge Hold

I like that there is one Grip Tech extension on the back foot in case you have to drop in through a hard to icy patch to get to the good stuff. We didn’t need it but its nice to know its there if you do.

Turn Initiation

The Arbor Terrapin is Fast. Very fast. Almost too fast for our personal tastes. I have never surfed a small single fin (only 6′ plus boards) but this is kind of what I would imagine a really short single fin would be if you were surfing. Just super loose and wherever you want it.

Powder

The Arbor Terrapin is all about deep powder and any time we hit some shallower spots you could feel that tail hit the firmer snow below like you were surfing on a long single fin in really small waves and it dragged a bit on a bottom turn. When it is smooth and deep the Terrapin feels at home.  If you want more of an easy resort rider the Cosanostra is for sure the call.

Conclusion

So get the Arbor Terrapin for a Heli or Cat trip if you want something really unique and off the beaten path. Or if you can’t afford those kind of trips, like us, you can take Drift Boards out before the lifts open and this will be an easy board on the back on the way up.