Korua Transition Finder Plus Snowboard Review

Updade 2023: The Transition Finder Plus (no longer called the Tranny Finder) Changed in 2022-2023 so this review is only applicable to fall of 2021. By mid-winder 2022 they had updated this model to have less taper. 

The Korua Tranny Finder Plus is a light version of the Tranny Finder with a faster base, unique ultralight top sheet, and a much more lively poppy feel underfoot.  You trade weight for dampness and durability with all ultra-light boards and the Korua Tranny Finder Plus is no exception.  However, if it’s worth the sacrifices (for some it certainly is) then this well-made ride could work for you.  It can drive a turn well off the front foot as well as off the back.

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 this for an extended demo and then returned it.
Size: 157
Days: 5+
Conditions:  Good groomers, some messy groomers, some powder and some early morning slackcountry time with Drift Boards in some waist deep powder.
Riders: James (Size 9, 5’10” 185-195lbs), Peter (Size 8, 5’11” 185lbs),Grant (Size 11 6’ 160lbs)
Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV
Insoles: Sandsole Custom Insoles,  Footprint Insole Technology Gameghangers Low Profile
Bindings: Union Atlas, Union Strata, Union Falcor
Set Up: 22” wide 27 front +6 back, 21.5″ wide 30 front +9 back,  22” wide 21 front -6 back.  Close to reference stance and set all the way back.

Approximate Weight: The Korua Tranny Finder Plus is a really light board.  What they are doing tech wise here really does lighten up the board. It really is a night and day difference when compared to the Tranny Finder.

Flex/Buttering: The flex with the Korua Tranny Finder Plus feels a little softer flexing it in a shop as well as on snow compared to the Tranny Finder.  It has a more dynamic flex to it and you can feel there is more energy underfoot that’s easier to tap into compared to the regular Tranny Finder.  We could butter off the tail pretty easy compared to the Tranny Finder as well.

Sizing: Just like the Tranny Finder it fits a lot more boot sizes than you would expect for its specs.  You would think it works with Grant’s size 11’s but you wouldn’t think it would work just as well with Peter’s size 8.5 and my size 9’s. Same goes for almost all of the Korua boards we tried.  It doesn’t handle the heavier guy as well but that’s expected with an ultralight board like this.

On Snow Feel: The Korua Tranny Finder Plus has that same camber profile and shape as the Tranny Finder so it has that same advanced to expert rider style going for it.  However, it’s ultralight personality just makes it feel different underfoot. It favors a more directional stance that has a positive angle for the back foot (like 27 front +6 back) but it also can deal with a slightly negative stance angle in the back like (18 front -3 back) or something like that. Some Korua boards like the Pencil and Dart, in our opinion, seem to ride better with a positive stance angle on the back foot and a more directional angle on the front but this can work both ways. It leans a little more on the side of a more common freeride board that you see with most companies out there but still has a massive taper and a more slashy/surfy/on the back foot kind of ride to it that lives on the alternative freeride side of things.

Skidded Turns:  Not super easy to skid a turn with and the camber from the tail to a bit past the front binding makes it semi-catchy/semi-locked in.

Edge Hold: Pretty strong edge hold similar to what we found in the Korua line but we felt the Tranny Finder held a little better edge as the terrain became more uneven.

Turn Initiation: Much faster than you would think for a board of this type. Peter and I were turning this pretty quick and you wouldn’t think that if you looked at the waist width and tip width.  However, it must be the massive taper and sidecut that makes it turn as quick as it does for our 8.5 and 9 boots. Its lighter weight feels like it’s a little tiny bit faster than the Korua Tranny Finder but they are pretty close.

Turning Experience/Carving: All Korua boards, including the Korua Tranny Finder Plus, are all about making fun turns and carves.  This is no exception.  There is a good spring out of the turn and it’s a lot of fun.

Powder: We had a good amount of time on this in some deep powder.  Here is our long post powder discussion over some libations and a bit of Shepards Pie.

To elaborate a little more the Korua Tranny Finder Plus has a lot of setback on board in comparison to the setback on sidecut. There is a 10.5-inch difference between nose/tail making it 5.25 inches back from the center of the board when setting it all the way back at a 22″ stance width. Take the almost 3cm of taper, the big nose and the early rise before it you have a great board for powder float. It’s not quite as good as the Stealth, Dart, Pencil and others like it with more set back on board but it’s the best for those that want more tail for air and still floats like a champ. If you see a ton of deep powder maybe the Pencil Plus will be the better call but this can for sure stay afloat in the deepest of deep.

Speed: If you want speed and powerful turns at higher speeds or you like to hit pretty big kickers we all would prefer the Tranny Finder over the Tranny Finder Plus.  However, the base is faster and has better glide through long flat runs and we found it kept its speed better.  It was really apparent to us in deeper in powder and this could get us a little further out of a flat area than the Tranny Finder.  That could mean the difference between walking out or riding out.

Uneven Terrain: For most of us, this was the deal breaker in comparison to the regular Tranny Finder.  It’s a common problem with all ultralight boards, and that’s the extra chatter you get from reducing the weight.  It’s not ideal for those that see a lot of uneven snow.

Switch: Doable for those that want to ride or land switch on occasion and it offers up a better fakie ride than almost every Korua board except for the Otto.

Jumps: Same thing goes here with the Tranny Finder Plus as it does with Switch.  The Otto is the best for all kinds of jumping but the Tranny Finder Plus and Tranny Finder give you a lot more tail than the rest of the line so you have a much more stable air experience and an easier landing. The spring out of the Tranny Finder Plus is also pretty special compared to the Tranny Finder.  It’s softer in flex but has more energy when it pops…well as long as you aren’t a heavier guy. The more weight you have the less the Tranny Finder Plus will be able to pop though.

Jibbing: nah….

Pipe: Very doable and a fun board for mostly directional pipe riding. Really drives well from wall to wall.

So, all in all, the Korua Tranny Finder Plus offers up a fast base, super light ride, and all around good time for those that like that very tapered directional feel but still want some tail for air.  If you don’t ride in uneven terrain this could for sure work but if you do, you might like the Tranny Finder better.

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