Snowboard Review: 09-10 Unity Reverse

Location: Keystone, BC

Snow Conditions: Overcast with hardpacked groomers.

Setup: I rode the Unity Reverse with Union Forces and my Rome Vamps size 8.

First Impression: Unity put out a board that handles the mountain and has a little rocker on nose and tail.

Size: 155cm

Weight: average

Flex:  The origin was one of the stiffer freestyle boards in my opinion and the reverse takes from it but with the rocker in the nose and tail, gives it a softer easy lifting flex there and between the bindings a stiffer flex, torsionally.  

Turning:  The reverse held turns really well, I didn’t notice any problems with how Unitys rocker rode when it came to turning and it felt more like a cambered board when turning, held an edge and an arc of each turn and initiated turns with ease.  The stiffer torsional flex made the sharper short radius turns more of an effort and the longer turns were perfect on it.  

Stable:  The reverse is definitely one of the harder charging boards I rode during the demos, the flatness between the bindings and then rise on the tip and tail allow it to be stable, without feeling like the rocker is too much.  It actually felt better when it was just on the nose and tail, harder to catch when riding but you could still ride fast with and it wouldn’t throw you off.  Rode just as hard as some cambered boards.

Pop:  Even with a stiffer flex overall, there was still a lot of play to the nose and tail of the reverse, it was pressable and good pop when going off rollers, not insanely poppy.  

Switch: I didn’t encounter any differences when riding switch.  It’s set up as a true twin with the same ammount of mm rocker in the nose and tail.

Overall Impression:  What I liked best about the reverse is it’s not insanely rocker, it’s Unity take to rocker giving it enough to help when you need it but still being a Unity snowboard, charge the mountain kind of board.  It handled well, on icy spots and freeriding, it didn’t need any adjustment because the rocker was so minimal but it’s also not a just take it to the park kind of board.  

Shay’s Honesty Box:  The reverse is based off the Unity Origin which I’ve ridden in the past, definitely a stiffer freestyle board by Unity but I like it a lot better with the rocker, it’s barely noticeable and when you need it, it gives you the fun, lift that reverse offers for park or pow.  I can see people liking this board because it’s not an insane difference or adjustment from camber but still give the perks that come in handy.  

*This Review was done in February 2009, please be aware that products may change.

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the 2011 version of the Unity Reverse or shop their full line of Unity snowboards