Summary
Welcome to an old but still relevant review of the Gentemstick XY Snowboard from an average rider with extensive gear knowledge. Make sure to check the written review where I elaborate on the XY based on the experience I've accrued since I reviewed this.Where To Buy
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Riding Style | Alternative Freeride |
Riding Level | Advanced - Expert |
Fits Boot size (US) | 8-10, 10-12 |
Manufactured in | China |
Shape | Tapered Directional |
Camber Profile | Directional Camber |
Stance | Setback over 20mm |
Approx. Weight | Feels Normal |
Split | No |
On Snow Feel | |
Turn Initiation | |
Skidded Turns |
Flex | |
Buttering | |
Edge Hold |
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Gentemstick XY Table Video and Written Review Review by The Good Ride
The Gentemstick Yodder XY has a top half similar to the Stingray/Mantaray, but the bottom half has a tail that feels like it has a little of the Chaser/Hornet mixed in. What that means is it looks like it will ride like the Mantaray/Stingray on paper but on snow, it has its own unique turn to it.
We learned on the follow-up review that, unlike the Stingray/Mantaray, it needs a pretty posi/directional stance angles and a lot of front foot weight to keep the edge in play throughout the turn on groomers. If you don’t ride that way, then the tail can be very washy, and there is not much edge hold. If you do ride the front foot heavily, the turns are much more fun.
It also has a much easier float than most of the Rays it sits next to on the Gentemstick website. This is also one of the only boards in Gentemstick’s line that has a wider range of stance options similar to many boards in the US, which is great. So, if the style of riding we described appeals to you, then this could be a fun choice.
Update 2024: The XY has not changed so this older review still stands. They did add a 153, for riders with smaller feet and at a lighter weight.
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Size: 157
Days: 3+
Conditions: Everything from a little powder to great groomers with only minimal hard patches here and there.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Grant (Size 11 6’ 160lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Burton SLX,
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles, Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Union Atlas, Burton Genesis, Burton Genesis X,
Set Up: 22” on reference and set all the way back on the back foot and one up on the front foot, 18 front -3 back.
Approximate Weight
It feels like it is on the light side of normal.
Flex/Buttering
Pretty medium in flex and not quite the flex I thought it would be. I thought it would be medium/stiff to stiff but it has a softer flex closer to the Giant Mantaray.
Sizing
The 157 felt right for my feet and my size 9’s with my 185lbs and 5’10” frame had no issues making this board turn when and how I wanted it to. It worked fine for Grant too.
On Snow Feel
Felt pretty washy in the tail and the Gentemstick XY needed a lot of weight on the back foot to keep the tail in line when making turns. It has a stable feel flat basing and one footing though. The camber from the tail to a little past the front foot gives it a stable ride without being catchy. It
Edge Hold
Not much grip there. We aren’t sure if it was the demo model or just a characteristic in line with the Gentemstick XY. I thought the edges could use a tune so I took it in to have a good tuner sharpen them up as much as possible. After that, there still wasn’t much grip so I’m starting to think that this is a characteristic of the XY that is unique compared to other Gentemstick boards. Maybe the edges were so bad when I got them that there was no saving them. Hard to say.
Turn Initiation
Very quick edge to edge for this waist width but the taper of 23mm down to a normal size tail seems to make it turn quickly for even my boots and even quicker for Grant’s 11’s.
Turning Experience
You had to slow it down and keep more weight on your back foot than most boards with this much taper. With the Stingray and Mantaray, you can put some good weight on your back foot and just jam down the hill but with this, all my turns felt tentative unless I was in powder.
Carving
Same thing as the turning experience. The Gentemstick XY seemed like it wanted to wash out no matter how strongly you weighted the back foot and I couldn’t really get a strong carve out of it. Maybe it was the edge hold so not 100% sure if this isn’t a strong carver or if it was just specific to the demo model we tried.
Skidded Turns
Pretty easy to skid turns for directional hybrid camber and usually it is a little more locked in/catchy. Still, it feels like it wants an advanced to expert rider on it.
Speed
Not a bomber but capable of pretty fast speed on bigger mountains.
Base Glide
Noone does it like Gentemstick. This base has exceptional glide. Especially mid-winter and in powder.
Uneven Terrain
It was a little bucky underfoot but you can ride uneven snow pretty well.
Powder
We had a little powder and this is where the Yoder Gentemstick XY really came to life. The deeper the snow, the better it rode which is super weird because the Ray models in Gentemsticks line really shined on groomers as well as powder. With a 21.25″ stance width you can get 4.375″ back from center board which is pretty far. That, combined with the massive amount of taper, the big volume nose, and the rocker after the front binding there is a lot of very competent directional float going on.
Switch
pretty lopsided.
Jumps
Good pop off the tail and you can get air with this. I just wouldn’t go super big due to the more medium flex out of the tail.
Pipe
Didn’t feel confident with the edge hold as it was but it could for sure slash a pipe wall if need be. Maybe if the production model has edge hold similar to other Gentemstick rides it would be a fun directional pipe board.
So, all in all, the Gentemstick XY is a beautiful board that has great US stance width options, fits our specs really well, and does a really good job in powder. We aren’t sure that the demo model we had will be like the production model, but if it has a better grip off the back foot, it could be a fun groomer ride. As it stands now it’s best to just keep this board in powder.
Here is our initial take before we learned how to front foot weight throughout the turn and make this shine on groomers.
Gentemstick XY Specs
Gentemstick XY Images
Gentemstick XY User Reviews
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