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Arbor Poparazzi
- ArborPoparazzBestValue2012AllMountainSnowboards
What It Is
Redesigned in 2012, the Arbor Poparazzi is a women’s-specific snowboard meant for everything from powder to park laps. It is a twin with a rockered profile and an extra inch of rocker in one direction for deep days.
Retail Price: $300
83
- 95-100 Extremely high recommendation.
- 90-94 Enthusiastically recommended. Exceptional.
- 80-89 Highly recommended - few reservations.
- 70-79 Recommended. Standard performance.
- 60-69 Fair. Recommended for certain uses.
- 50-59 Poor. Not recommended in general.
The Good |
The Bad |
The Verdict |
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Less noodly and narrow than past Arbor women's boards, the Poparazzi is ideal for intermediate riders who like to cruise the mellow ungroomed, floss trees, explore steeps, and play in the bumps. Advanced riders felt it lacked the chutzpah to go mach speed, and if you're mostly riding the icy East Coast, opt for something more damp—the Poparazzi chatters. |
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Handling/Responsiveness
Testers found the Poparazzi hopped to attention on steeps, floated dreamily on powder, and turned quickly in the trees—all showcasing its quick handling on edge. That said, the mixed-wood core could use more response—riders were left wanting when it came to popping off rollers. And testers wanted more contact on hardpack—the board got squirrelly at times.
Park/Pop
Our petite testers had a blast lapping the park on the Poparazzi, but the rest found it lacked the enthusiasm they wanted when launching off a lip. It's so lightweight, however, it was a cinch to spin.
Versatility In All Types of Snow
Powder? Please. Ungroomed in the trees? Check. Corduroy? Bring it on. But the Poparazzi loses its composure as soon as it hits icy hardpack.
Stiffness
Because the Poparazzi was torsionally more stiff than their women's boards in the past, our female testers were reporting that this was the best Arbor board they’d ridden. In the past, Arbor's female boards were noodly—best for park or beginner riders. The new added stiffness invited the Poparazzi to hold its own on steeps, maneuver and respond through mellow bumps and still be playful in the trees—it got rave reviews on all three.
Value
At $300, the Poparazzi is at least $100 less than most women's boards but hits the sweet spot between a playful-yet-serious level of flex, stability you can count on, and precise edge-to-edge response.
How We Tested It
In March 2012, Arbor’s Poparazzi was put to the test by upwards of 20 female testers—of all shapes, sizes and riding preferences—in the gamut of snow conditions at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Colorado.
The products featured in this test have been loaned to the Gear Institute. For more on our policies regarding editorial objectivity and sample returns, see here.
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Ratings
Handling/Responsiveness
7
10
Pop & Energy
5
10
Float
7
10
Versatility
7
10
Stiffness
8
10
Value
9
10
Gear Institute Rating (Total Score)
83
100
Specs
- Length(s): 145, 149, 153
- Gender: Women's
- Available in Stores: Fall/Winter 2012-13: Redesigned
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