Snowboard Review: 08-09 Unity ULS

Location: Loveland, Colorado

Snow Conditions: Snowing with hard groomed groomers, some icy spots.

Setup: I rode the Unity ULS with Union Force SL bindings and my Vans Omni Focus boots size 8.

First Impression: Easily the lightest board I rode out of all the demos at Loveland over a period of two days.

Size: 155cm

Weight: Super light

Flex: Definitely a stiffer all mountain freestyle board, stiffer beneath the bindings and softer nose than tail. I didn’t watch the nose when riding to see if it was too soft, but it was fun to nose butter than doing a tail butter. Directional board so I had fun just freeriding with it, didn’t mess around too much with tricks.

Turning: Quick and responsive from edge to edge, I had no problems with coming out from one turn and edging into another. Very smooth on the transitions. I liked the longer effective edge, S turns were easy to hold and ride out, stayed very stable in each turn. I didn’t have any complaints on the turning, held an edge in the hard snowpack and was stable in each turn. I never felt it want to wash out or not make a smooth carve.

Stable: On the hardpacked groomed runs, it was stable. When I took the ULS into some more choppy terrain that was the only time I felt bounced around and had to watch my riding a bit more. It’s a fast board and liked charging with it. I had to keep up with Gary and he was bombing runs so this held up on the fast riding.

Pop: I took the board of a roller and liked the pop, quick and snappy letting you roll back and ollie easily.

Switch: I didn’t ride much switch with it to be able to comment on the switch riding.

Overall Impression: The ULS is based off the pride board which I had a lot of fun on in 07-08. The Pride handled better in the bumps and chop than the ULS, but the ULS with the lightweight and smooth ride offered up a good ride without any heavy lifting.

It was a fun ride, definitely a carve and still be able to do freestyle board. I liked how the Pride rode and now how the ULS rode.

Shay’s Honesty Box: I was bummed this is the one board of demos that I forgot to take the photo of it on my feet, but my friend Gary rode with me while I rode it so he can vouche that I did ride it. It is a bit limited on the stance options, 23 inches is max and I’m at 22inches width.

I can’t believe the $799.00 price tag on it…that’s a bummer and I guess the price you pay for a lightweight board from Unity.

Unity ULS Description
For more information on the Unity ULS go to Unity’s website.