About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard, which I purchased with my own money in November of 2021.

My take

The Arbor Cadence Rocker Women's Snowboard is a fun board that can handle jibs around the park, cruisers with friends, and the deepest of pow. It’s not ideal for beginners, but great for the intermediate to advanced rider who is looking to have a more playful experience around the mountain.

About the snowboard I own

• Model: 2022 Arbor Cadence Rocker
• Size: 145cm

About me

• Height: 5’4”
• Weight: 131lbs
• Experience: 15 years of snowboarding

Test conditions

• When I bought this: November 2021
• Days tested: 62
• Mount position: Goofy, centered, 12 and -12
• Boots: Burton Limelight Speed Zone 2022
• Boot Size: 8.5 women’s
• Bindings: Flux PR Binding 2022
• Where I’ve used it: Beech Mountain Resort in North Carolina and Big Bear Mountain Resort in California
• Terrain: Park, powder, icy

How it performs

What I was looking for

I was looking for a rocker-profile snowboard that would be super flexible and playful in the park.

Why I chose this gear

I decided to buy this board based on its flex rating and the fact that it is a true twin. It really helped me take my game in the park to the next level. I was considering a Bataleon Distortia, but ended up going with the Cadence for the fact that it is a little more versatile than the Distortia.

What I love about it

• Turns: I really love how this board initiates turns. It can pop up on edge so easily due to the rocker profile.
• Groomers: Groomers are a blast on the Arbor Cadence. Due to its playful flex, I can get super creative all over the low-angle groomers. The only issue I found is getting a lot of chatter when picking up speed on the steeps.
• Powder: This board floats extremely well in powder conditions. I only had the opportunity to test it out in these conditions a couple of times, but I could still float and maintain a ton of control with it out there. Still, a more powder-focused board would be better for those deep pow days.
• Trees: This board is great for trees. Due to the quick turn initiation, it can weave through trees easily.
• Park: Due to this board being extremely flexible and having a rocker profile, it is extremely easy and forgiving for throwing tricks and spins in the park. The rocker profile means less overall edge contact, which is great for hitting terrain park features without worrying about catching an edge. It also means that initiating spins is very easy. This board is also pretty soft and playful, which I found very helpful for popping into butters.
• Durability: This board is incredibly durable. It’s held up well despite all the hits, knicks, and scrapes I’ve added.
• Weight: The paulownia wood core in this makes for an extremely lightweight board, making it even easier to maneuver in the snow. I notice this the most while riding in deep powder; I can cut through easily and shimmy myself out.
• Switch riding: The true twin shape allows for easy switch riding. While I don’t ride switch pretty often, the times I did, I felt no difference in my riding style on the board. This is really great for coming out of park features and still being able to ride out or ride into the next feature.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Speed: Due to this board being a rocker and not having as many points of contact with the snow as a traditional camber profile, it does not hold speed as well as its counterparts. I get a lot of chatter when coming to a stop at higher speeds. I wouldn’t say this is a deal breaker, though, as long as the rider can keep their center of gravity low enough.
• Edge hold: Due to this being a rocker board, it does not hold edges as well as a traditional camber. I found this an issue when trying to link turns at higher speeds. I definitely had to give it a little more leg power for those strong carves.
• Backcountry: I haven’t had too many opportunities to take this board into the backcountry, but riders might run into some issues with it if they hit deep powder bowls. While the rocker profile adds a riser to the nose of the board, which helps the board float in powder pretty well, it won’t do as well as a more powder-focused board.
• Stability: The stability of this board is not super damp. I got a lot of underfoot chatter riding uneven terrain or packed-out groomers. It can make small stops pretty well, but any high-speed stop will come with a lot of skidding and chatter.

Favorite moment with this gear

I was able to expand my park-riding ability so much with this board. I went from barely being able to butter on my Gnu B-nice by always catching an edge with the hybrid camber profile to hitting spins on pipes consistently.

Value for the money vs. other options

I think this board is at the perfect price point for what it is. It falls right in the middle compared to other full-rocker snowboards like the higher-priced K2 Instrument and the Head Transit. I would definitely choose this board over other ones for beginner or intermediate riders who are just getting into the sport because of the price and quality of materials that Arbor uses.

Final verdict

This is a great board for riders anywhere from beginner to advanced that are looking to have a more playful ride all over the mountain. It is perfect for advancing skills in every aspect, but it really shines in the park.