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Korua Otto Classic 2023 - 2018 Review by The Good Ride

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Korua Otto 2018-2023 Snowboard Video and Written Review

You have arrived at the Snowboard Review from an average rider with an exceptionally objective perspective.

Update 2023:The Korua Otto hasn’t changed over the years and this review still stands. 

The Korua Otto is the only double ender in their line and it’s a very good one board quiver/all mountain solution for those that love to carve but also want to do a little bit of everything else..well except jibbing. The only real issue with this board is it only comes in one size. The 2020 Korua Otto is the same ride as the 2019 model we own and the 2018 model we tried.  However, it now comes in a 153, 157 and 161 instead of just a 157. 

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.

How This Review Happened:  We borrowed the 2018 model for an extended demo and then returned it.  I liked it so much that when I had the budget I bought a 2019.  
Size: 157 from 2018 and from 2019
Days:  15+
Conditions:  Mainly spring conditions with hard snow, super soft snow and everything in-between
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV, Adidas Acerra,
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles,  Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Union Atlas, Burton Genesis X
Set Up: 21.75″ to 22″ to 22.5” wide. Close to reference stance to set all the way back. 18 front -9 back, 15 front and -15 back and 12 front -12 back.

Approximate Weight: Feels on the heavy side of normal

Flex: Medium stiff but the softest flex I’ve seen with Korua.

Sizing: So on paper, this would appear to be a mid/wide and depending on boot footprint size, it does work for boots up to 11 but I felt this was just fine for my size 9’s and not too much board which is weird at a 26cm waist.  It was fun to have some extra board width to avoid toe/heel drag no matter how hard I laid it out.

On Snow Feel: This is an aggressive mountain ride for sure and it’s not for someone who isn’t a very competent, technical turner. If you get off your game it’s going to be pretty unforgiving.  It’s unforgiving like camber boards in the tail and a little less unforgiving in the nose thanks to the early rise. It one-foots and flat bases really well.  Like all Korua it’s for turning and carving first but it’s also pretty well rounded for other endeavors on the mountain. It’s the kind of ride that’s pretty locked in but also has a nice stable platform underfoot that feels great underfoot.  You can really feel that big bow of camber.

Edge Hold: Very solid edge hold for a standard sidecut and it can for sure hang in hard snow as long as you dial back your lean into turns.

Turn Initiation:  Not super quick but not as slow as I would have thought for the Korua Otto’s waist width.  It’s quick enough to not be a problem in most situations but it’s not something I’m sure I’d be comfortable in a line of moguls or a tight tree run.  There is a little time from edge to edge but because of all that camber, there is a little extra spring that hurries up the transfer from edge to edge taking it from something that is medium/slow to more like a medium.

Turning Experience: If you like to turn on good groomers then this is the part of the Korua Otto that really shines.  The spring that comes out of each turn is really dynamic and feel underfoot is taint tickling good times.  Short radius, medium radius, and wide radius turns all had the same energetic springy feel that made any kind of turn memorable.  I wanted to turn more than I usually do.

Carving:  Super fun to carve and I really like the feel of this double ender for carving.  You can drive off your front foot, keep the weight centered or lean back and it won’t wash out.  Compared to the other Korua boards the Otto really has an aggressive all mountain carve going for it that I couldn’t’ get enough of.

Skidded Turns: Not what you should buy if you even remotely skid your turns. This is for people who can keep it on a rail the whole time they ride.

Speed: This board can bomb and it’s got a stable platform underfoot that likes speed.  If you like to point it as much as you like to carve then here is another good choice for ya.

Uneven Terrain: So the Korua Otto can hammer through uneven tracked snow and just take it so your body doesn’t. Where I didn’t like it was weaving in and out of larger bumps. It felt a little slow and it was more work than many other narrower/quicker turning boards in its peer group.

Powder:  No powder to speak of but with the early rise before the super long nose, and about 3.375″ inches set back from center of board with a 22″ stance width I’m pretty sure it’s going to float better than most all-mountain boards out there.

Buttering: I could barely butter off the tail but it was doable on the nose….not easy but doable.

Switch:  The long nose makes riding switch seem a bit more off than you would think for the Korua Otto but it’s very doable and it’s the easiest board I’ve tried in Korua’s line for this.

Jumps: Amazing pop off the tail and the stable platform underfoot makes take off’s feel more stable.  You can land switch with this easy on groomers.

Jibbing: No thanks…

Pipe: For me, this was a bit too wide to really enjoy in the pipe but depending on your boot size you might have a good time.

So all in all the spring out of the turn, stable feel underfoot and the float I’m pretty sure this board will have makes it very recommendable for any technical or straight up aggressive all mountain rider.

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