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Positives
- Excellent Float With The Set Back Inserts
- Improved Pop With 2024+ Models
- Super Fun Groomer Carver
- Solid Grip
- Slashy & Forgiving
Negatives
- New Construction Bucks More In Uneven Snow
- Not For Center or Front Foot Weighted Carvers
Summary
The Cardiff Powgoda's construction changed significantly in 2024 compared to the 2021-2023 model we tried. Its new construction trades pop for uneven snow performance. The 2025 model has the same construction as the 2024 but added setback inserts for powder.Where To Buy
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Riding Style | Alternative Freeride |
Riding Level | Intermediate - Expert |
Fits Boot size (US) | < 8, 8-10, 10-12 |
Manufactured in | China |
Shape | Tapered Directional |
Camber Profile | Directional Camber |
Stance | Setback -5mm |
Approx. Weight | Feels Light |
Split | Comes in split |
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On Snow Feel | |
Turn Initiation | |
Skidded Turns |
Flex | |
Buttering | |
Edge Hold |
Where To Buy
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A Detailed Breakdown of How the Cardiff Powgoda rides and who it is for Review by The Good Ride
Cardiff Powgoda 2025 Written Review
![Cardiff Powgoda Snowboard Review - The Good Ride](https://thegoodride.com/assets/Cardiff-Powgoda-Snowboard-Review-The-Good-Ride-1-300x169.jpg)
How the Cardiff Powgoda Was Tested:
I borrowed the Cardiff Powgoda for an extended demo and sent it back, but I would like to own one.
Size: 155 and 158
Days: 10+ and more on the older model.
Conditions: Uneven varied spring snow, good mid-winter groomers, and ok to great pow. Even some early morning slackountry time with Drift Boards & Union Rovers
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10”, 185-190lbs)
Boots: Ride Torrent, Ride Fuse, Ride Deadbolt, Bataleon Acid BOA
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Force
Redundancy: Strapins in case boots or bindings break.
Jacket: Jones Mtn Surf Anorak, Skyline Fuse Jacket,
Pant: Jones Mountain Surf Bib, Jones Shralpinist Stretch Bib, Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant
Helmet: Smith Method, Smith Scout, Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove, Drop Tahoma Mitt,
James’s Set Up: 21.5” Wide. Stance Angles +18/-3, +18/+3, +24/+6, +27/+9. Close to Reference on groomers and Set all the way back in powder.
Similar Boards to the Cardiff Powgoda We Like (but not the same):
Gentemstick Mantaray 156, Rome Stale Fish, YES PYL Uninc, Weston Backwoods, Jones Mind Expander
Approximate Weight
(We don’t put in the exact weight because with wood cores, there is no consistency in a board’s weight)
Sizing
Sizing is all about balancing what fits your boot size and your weight for how you like to ride. If your boot is too wide, you can’t turn it; if it’s too narrow, you get the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag. Your weight is a close second to boot size because it determines how the board will feel under your foot. Height comes in a distant 3rd. Some prefer control, so matching the boot size is the priority. Others prefer dampness over control and like to size up.
Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards.
148: 7-8
152: 8-9
155: 8.5-9.5
158: 9-10
162: 10-11
Cardiff doesn’t seem to have recommended weight ranges, but I would keep it to 200 and below at 162 and then keep going down from there. The new construction favors a lighter rider. For example, if you are a 9-boot size and 5’10” like me but 170lbs instead of 185-190lbs, the 158 would be a much better fit.
Shape
The Cardiff Powgoda has only a 5mm setback on the sidecut, but everything else about this ride is very tapered, set back on the board, and directional. It rides more than the tail than most Freeride boards but still doesn’t have that full-on snow-surf feel or short/wide feel, either.
Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level
The camber is set back and starts at about the reference stance on the front foot and goes almost all the way back to the tail. Combining the pretty tapered directional shape with the camber makes for a very backseat ride. It’s very stable, though, and tracks just like forgiving full camber. You don’t get that loose/auto-spinny feel as some directional hybrid rocker/rocker dominant boards can have. It tracks super well, and it’s easy to skid a turn if you get off your game.
Flex Personality
Overall, the Cardiff Powgoda feels more medium than medium/stiff, but there is improved pop off the tail and more overall energy underfoot. It’s still easy to butter underfoot. I really felt the improved pop, and it’s good to have it.
Uneven Snow
I like the Cardiff Powgoda’s improved pop, but the uneven snow performance is right at the border of what I can tolerate. I got bucked around more in soft, even snow on this than I did on similar boards in same-day tests. Hard, uneven snow is fine, though; although it has more chatter than before, it’s better than soft, uneven snow. I would like to see some inexpensive dampening added to the core to compensate for the missing lacquer in the much thinner top sheet.
Edge Hold
Like all Cardiffs, the Cardiff Powda grips hard snow like a champ. It’s hard to see, but the sidecut near the bindings has a very subtle but effective disruption. It grips better than many more accentuated disrupted sidecuts. It’s almost a competent icy snow ride and a very competent hard snow ride.
Speed
This isn’t really for those who like to point it, but it can go straight without the sidecut fighting you.
Base Glide
The Cardiff Powgoda has near excellent base glide. It will help you get through long traverses, and there aren’t many boards out there that are better than this.
Turning Experience/Carving
The turn initiation is super fast, and it’s the kind of board that’s great for tight tree lines. I never felt the tail was getting in the way on a pow day like I have with some boards in the past. When you get it on edge and commit to a turn, the Cardiff Powgoda doesn’t slow down, so you can take a hard left or hard right right after you initiate the turn. It’s a little slower on the set-back inserts, but that’s fine because it’s still fast, and you are probably in deep powder. It turns fast in deep pow.
If you like to make it across the groomer to circle carves, the Powgoda is a great call, especially if you are okay driving the turn more off the back foot. If you center or front foot weight your carves, you won’t find it fun, and it can wash on you. I found that when set up really positively, like +27/+9, it had a little more down-the-line turn and needed a little less backfoot weight but still was very back-footed.
Powder
The added setback inserts really step this up a notch when it comes to pow float, and it competes with many dedicated pow boards now. It was near excellent before, but now that you are riding more near the tail, it’s even easier, especially for low-angle pow riders.
With the new setback inserts, you can now get 6″ back from the center of the board at a 22″ stance width. That is almost up there with snowsurfers, dedicated pow boards, and way more than most freeride boards. The taper, lots of early rise before the big nose, and set back on board really make this a special ride in deep low to medium/steep pow.
Jumps and Steeper Terrain in Pow
With the set-back inserts, you lose a lot of landing gear for getting air, but if you ride closer to the reference stance, it’s not bad for steep terrain riding.
Final Thoughts
So I do wish there was less of a bucky feel in soft, uneven snow, but the addition of the extra float of the set-back inserts and the added pop was pretty enjoyable. If they could dampen this up a little more
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Cardiff Powgoda Past Reviews
2021-2023 Cardiff Powgoda Review
The Cardiff Powgoda is almost there with some of our favorite powder boards, but it is a competent groomer ride when the pow is gone.
One interesting thing. Cardiff puts a 3M protective film over the top sheet to give it a little longer life span. That is why our demo board looked like it was delaminating near the binding inserts. This is a great idea and something pretty unique to the industry.
Ethics Statement: We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews, which is our unfiltered opinion. 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 rider’s perspective.
How This Review Happened:
We borrowed this for an extended demo and sent it back.
Size: 158
Days: 8+
Conditions: Hard but edgeable snow, excellent groomers, a little pow, more pow, and then pretty deep pow, along with some early morning slackountry time with Drift Boards.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10”, 185-190lbs)
Boots: Burton Kendo, Burton Tourist,
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles, F.I.T. Gamechangers, F.I.T. Gameghangers LP
Bindings: Union Atlas
Jacket: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Tusk Jacket, Volcom TDF Infuse 3L Gore-Tex Jacket, Burton Banshee Jkt.
Pant: Burton AK Gore-Tex Pro 3L Hover Pant, Burton AK Gore-Tex 2L Swash Pant, Burton Gore-Tex Ballast Pant
Helmet: Smith Maze, Smith Vantage
Goggle: Smith IO Mag, Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Guide Glove, Burton AK Clutch Mitt, Burton AK Clutch Glove, Burton AK Tech Leather Glove, Burton AK Tech Glove, CG Habitats Glove, CG Habitats Work Glove, Drop Tahoma Mitt, Drop Cascade Glove, Drop Web Glove,
Similar Boards (but not the same):
Capita Spring Break 158 Powder Glider, Jones Mind Expander, Gentemstick Mantaray 156, Burton Showstopper, Jones Ultra Mind Expander, Gentemstick Giant Mantaray,
Set-Up: 21.5” Wide.18 front -6 back, 21 front -3 back, 21 front +3 back, 24 Front +6 back. Close to Reference on groomers and Set all the way back in pow. All stance angles felt good with the Cardiff Powgoda, and it doesn’t favor one stance angle over another.
Approximate Weight:
Feels pretty normal. (We don’t put in the exact weight because, with wood cores, there is no consistency in a board’s weight)
Sizing
Here are some ideal US boot sizes for these boards. You can, of course, go bigger or smaller, but these work best for not turning the board slower than it should be and not having the dreaded Toe & Heel Drag.
152: 7-8
155: 8-9
158: 9-10
162: 10-11
Shape/Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level
The shape of the Cardiff Powgoda is pretty directional but not super directional. There is a big ass nose going down to a pretty small tail. There is a good bit of taper, and you feel it, especially with the set-back camber. It really is a back-footed ride, but it isn’t technical or catchy. It is very forgiving and easy to skid a turn.
Flex/Pop/Buttering
The Cardiff Powgoda has a medium/stiff flex, but the tip and tail are much easier to butter than you would think for its flex. The pop is really good off the tail, and there is a nice balance between feeling damp and poppy.
Speed
The base of the Cardiff Powgoda is super fast. It has a really easy glide, and it is up there with the best of the best. If you want to bomb, get the Bonsai, but this isn’t going to fall apart if you point it now and then.
Uneven Terrain
The Cardiff Powgoda is a great board for all-day resort riding. I was most comfortable turning around bumps and slowing down in messy snow, but it powered over uneven snow pretty well at moderate speeds. Micro bumpy snow was handled with no problem as well. It isn’t ultra damp or rubbery but also never uncomfortable in any condition I tried it in.
Edge Hold
It has a pretty solid grip in medium/hard snow for a board without any disruption in the sidecut. It’s not an icy snow specialist, but it doesn’t grab at all in softer snow.
Turn Initiation
The Cardiff Powgoda has a smooth but medium/fast turn to it. I never felt like I needed more in tight spots.
Turning Experience/Carving
I love the camber in the tail, and it makes the Cardiff Powgoda so much more than a pow board. You can make these quick slashy turns, and it springs pretty hard. If you lean back into the camber, it is a much more rewarding carve than you would think. It has a pretty rewarding and springy circle carved into it.
Powder
So the Cardiff Powgoda didn’t quite float as well as the Capita Spring Break Powder Glider, but it is pretty close. It might not float as well as some of my pure powder favorites, but I love the pop off the tail and would be happy to ride it when it’s deep. The split 158 is wider than the solid, and I felt that extra width helped it float closer to my favorite solid powder boards. It is one super fun split as well.
There is a good bit of setback on board. With a 22” stance width at what I think is the reference stance, there is a 3.375” setback on board. Set all the way back at 22”, you can get 4.375” back from the center of the board. Combine that with all that rocker from the front foot to the big shovel nose and the small tapered tail, and you have a very easy floater.
Conclusion
The Cardiff Powgoda can float, but the surprise is how much fun it is to turn on groomers. It was a lot of fun to get to know this board last season, and it’s one I would love to have in my quiver. This was one of my biggest surprises during this season, and it is a very recommendable ride.
Cardiff Powgoda Specs
Cardiff Powgoda Images
Cardiff Powgoda User Reviews
Where To Buy
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