A Detailed Breakdown Of How The Gnu RC C3 Rides And Who It Is For Review by The Good Ride

• User Reviews
• Past Reviews
• Product Specs
• Product Images
• Questions?

Gnu RC C3 Written Review

How It Was Tested

I got to ride the Gnu RC C3 at the demos, but I did spend a good amount of time on the previous model, which was only missing the asym riser plates.
Filmed With the Insta 360 One X3
Starting to film with the Insta 360 One X4
Size: 157.5
Days: 1
Conditions: Firm and kind of uneven older snow. 
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10”, 185-190lbs)
Boots: Vans Verse
Insoles: F.I.T. Gamechangers
Bindings: Union Atlas
Redundancy: Strapins in case boots or bindings break.
Jacket: Jones Mtn Surf Anorak
Pant: Jones Mountain Surf Bib
Helmet: Smith Maze
Goggle: Smith 4D Mag
Gloves: Burton AK Clutch Mitt

Similar Boards We Like (but not the same): Never Summer Photosynthesis, Yes Greats, Stone Message, Lib Tech Box Knife, Yes Basic, Ride TwinPig, Lib Tech TRS

James’s Set Up: 21.5” Wide. Sance Angles +15/-15. Close to Reference

Ethics Statement: This review has zero brand oversight. We don’t get paid by the manufacturer to write these reviews. This is our best effort at an honest, objective review to help you, the consumer. If this review helped, we’d appreciate it if you:

• Buy Through our Where To Buy Links- we get paid a small commission if you do.
• Become a Patron and get early access to reviews well before publication.  https://www.patreon.com/thegoodride
• Donate to https://venmo.com/TheGoodRide (@TheGoodRide) or https://paypal.me/thegoodride
• Follow Us: https://www.instagram.com/thegoodride​
• Like & Subscribe on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thegoodridesnow

Approximate Weight

The Gnu RC C3 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

This 157.5 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 3^rd. 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.
154.5: 8-9
157.5: 8.5-9.5
159.5: 9-10
158w: 11-12
159w: 11-12

Gnu is pretty liberal in terms of recommended weight, and I agree with their recommendations. They are open to all different types of sizing preferences.

Shape

The Gnu RC C3 has a centered stance, asym twin shape with asym magnetraction. It’s about as asymmetrical as it gets and more true than a true twin.

Camber/On Snow Feel/Ability Level

Like the TRS, the Gnu RC C3 has a mellow but full C3 camber from tip to tail. There is little to no early rise before the tip/tail. You have a passive bend in the middle, but it doesn’t touch the snow, so consider this mellow, full camber. It’s more forgiving than traditional camber, but only by a little. If you are a beginner, intermediate, or just like a more forgiving/chill ride, go with the C2. Or if you are a harder-charging intermediate and up, go C3, as it does have some consequences.

Flex Personality

There is a pretty medium mountain-friendly flex with the Gnu RC C3. It butters pretty well and pops well for having such a mellow camber. However, coming off boards like the Gnu Antigravity and Dynamo (much more directional rides, though) with a higher C3 camber profile, you definitely feel the reduction in pop. In comparison to really camber-rich boards like the Nidecker Gamma and Gamma APX, they pop way more, but the spoon nose is much harder to butter with.

Uneven Snow

The Gnu RC C3 has a pretty good all-day ride, and it won’t shit the bed on you when the snow gets uneven.

Edge Hold

The Asymmetrical Magnetraction is very unique and in firm to hard snow it feels really great. On the older model I felt it grab a little more on the heel side in softer snow which isn’t a great feel. It is something you can get used to pretty easy though.

Speed

I liked the TRS a little better for going fast but the Gnu RC C3 has pretty comfortable mountain speed for sure.

Base Glide

The base glide isn’t that great. It doesn’t have super-low lows, but the highs never get that high.

Turning Experience/Carving

Very quick edge-to-edge, and when you get the Gnu RC C3’s edge committed, it has a pretty balanced turning experience. Coming out of a harder carve isn’t amazing, but it’s pretty fun, especially if you want to carve in harder snow.

Powder

No thanks. I’ve ridden enough camber twins to know this isn’t what I want in pow. My 2000s full-camber twin cartwheeling days are over.

Switch/Freestyle/Park

This is truly special riding switch like all Asym boards if you set them up centered and perfectly duck. Super fun in pipe like the TRS. Jumps are great too. It tracks well into jumps for being a little on the turny side. Jibs are doable for sure but there are better boards out there for that.

Final Thoughts

So I really liked this Asym Twin, but there are a lot of great asym twins out there. Excellent shorter/wider rides like the YES Greats and Ride Twin PIg and more poppy rides like the Nidecker Gamma’s, but this has its own stand-out qualities as well. Many people, especially those who see a lot of hard snow and want a more traditional width/length ride will like this.