This review was done through Board Insiders and will be featured on their site as a review with video of me explaining the board and riding it. I’ll update this link to that when it goes live.
Location: Stevens Pass, WA
Snow Conditions: Snowing with powder on runs, some groomed areas.
Setup: I rode the Arbor Cadence with Union Forces and my Rome Vamps size 8.
First Impression: This is my kind of women’s board for the entire mountain
Size: 155cm
Weight: average
Flex: The cadence was a medium stiffness board, a good middle of the road between soft and stiffness. As an all mountain board it was riding on the stiffer side of that. The nose was a bit softer but a stiffer tail allowed it to handle powder turns with my weight in the rear. Between the bindings it was torsionally softer, easy to initiate the board into turns and get quick response.
Turning: The cadence has a tri-radial sidecut which I found great once on groomers for easy carving and turn initiation. I could make really quick short radius turns without worrying about the board not handling them. I thought it handled best for carving and freeriding, definitely a versatile board that can ride the entire mountain.
Stable: I felt really comfortable on it when riding within the trees and heavier powder, never worried about the board not holding it’s own on the mountain. When it came to speed, that was not an issue with the cadence being great for bombing runs and the base held wax good, never encountered any drag on the board or feeling like it wouldn’t keep up with the other riders.
Pop: The day was spent freeriding enjoying powder so I didn’t play with the pop of the board.
Switch: It has a directional twin shape worked for the entire mountain, I just played with it on a couple turns switch but didn’t encounter any issues with how it handled.
Overall Impression: Definitely a solid board for the mountain as your playground, outside of the park. I spent the day with it in heavier powder and crust underneath the powder, where it held an edge through the rougher spots and still floated well in the powder. I can’t imagine taking it in the park except for jumps or halfpipe where the medium stiffness would be suitable, it didn’t seem as soft as I’d prefer for a park specific board but for making the mountain your park it was golden.
Shay’s Honesty Box: This is the type of board that the women who ride it will probably not care about the graphics because it’ll be covered up in snow most of the time but I still think the chick graphic on the board is a bit scary. I have seen the footage of me riding the cadence and definitely a board I would ride again for the entire mountain.
August 21st, 2009 at 7:30 am
could just be the way it looks in their catalog, but the transfer from the sidecut to the nose/tails looks really abrupt, like they jut out – did it ever feel like it was snagging when really railing or trying initiate turns from the nose? (could also just be an optical illusion and/or hangover w/o enough coffee yet this AM…)
August 21st, 2009 at 8:17 am
It does look abrupt but I didn’t notice that when riding. I try not to judge the catalog images too much since seeing it in person gives the better idea than a drawing of it. I have seen video of me riding the cadence and carving with it, there’s definitely not a snagging point when I was riding it carving. Eventually when that video goes live, I’ll link to it from here as well.
August 21st, 2009 at 3:40 pm
right on, figured it was just an optical illusion
August 21st, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Wow, that is a ballsy graphic for a female board. I dealt with a lot of chicks who didn’t want to ride pretty pink snowboards, but that’s shifting waaaay over to the opposite extreme. Creepy. I guess you’re right in that the type of rider who’d jump on this board probably wouldn’t care that much, though.
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:24 am
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August 22nd, 2009 at 11:34 pm
The graphic looks like a bad imitation of old Kiss’ drummer Peter Criss. Just google him. But since it’s an Arbor I believe it’s a great ride. Dig Arbor boards.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:11 am
I have been an “Arborist” since I first bought one 10 years ago, I love the way these boards perform and since then, it’s all I ride.
Additionally, while not performance critical, the powerful aesthetic statement Arbor boards make, is nonetheless relevant in the selection process (just being honest here), the busy or flashy graphics of most other manufacturers often annoy me…
Now, I’m looking at Arbor for a new board this year and when I saw the 09/10 Cadence, I felt an immediate affinity. If I do the jump to a graphics board it will be for la muerta!
December 21st, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I own this board and I gotta say, I really like the graphic. It’s not so scary when you realize it’s from Dia de los muertos (mexican day of the dead), where they celebrate the people they have lost. Not the best art from the holiday but still pretty cool. I also love the board as far as riding goes but I have only been snowboarding for one season so I don’t really know much.
February 28th, 2010 at 7:54 pm
hey shay,
i’m looking to buy a new board and was wondering if you might be able to suggest a couple. i am 5″7″”, 140lbs have been riding a 156 ride profile for the past 6 seasons. i’m an aggressive rider and love steeps, trees and powder so i’m mostly interested in an all mountain sort of board. however, the past couple seasons i have started playing around more with spins and tricks but mostly off natural features. i’ve never been much of a park rat but might play around a little bit with rails this season. i was thinking of trying out a women’s specific board and have been looking at the arbor cadence or the rome blue. if there are any others that come to mind i would love to hear your thoughts. thanks!
March 10th, 2010 at 7:38 am
What kind of bindings would go well with the Arbor Cadence? I’m torn between Burton’s Lexa and Escapade (09/10 models). I tend to ride the mountain more but I’m open to trying rails. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.