J.P. Giudici Taking a Break While Testing the Arbor Satori Short Wide Splitboard on Berthoud Pass, Colorado | Photo Molly Parker Mountain Weekly News
The Arbor Satori Splitboard is perfect for the all-mountain rider who’s looking to have some fun in the pow with stability at high speeds and solid engaging turns. It was designed by snowboarding legend Bryan Iguchi, and I was stoked to test it out.
The Satori Splitboard is made with a real bamboo Powerply topsheet which not only helps with performance and durability, but the woodgrain style reminded me of my old logging days in Colorado.
Touring on the Arbor Satori Splitboard
I’ve been riding Arbor splitboards for several years, and the Satori board is definitely a serious upgrade from prior models. It charged up the track with ease, and the edges engaged in the skin track with zero slipping. Also, for the size, I rode a 157 Arbor Satori Splitboard, it was very easy to skin up.
The transition of the Arbor Satori Camber Splitboard is one of the easiest I’ve ever worked with. The Karakoram UltraClips are a nice upgrade and hold the board in place very well.
The Burton x G3 skins held up perfectly with multiple transitions We didn’t get skins from Arbor for this test so we paired them with a pair of Burton’s more on that at the end of this article.
How Does the Arbor Satori Splitboard Ride?
The Arbor Satori Splitboard shreds in every condition. The parabolic camber profile helps this board ride ultra-smooth with minimal edge catch. I had an epic day at Brighton Resort in Utah cruising around on groomers and floating through powder in the trees.
I also did over a dozen backcountry tours on this board in varying conditions – from deep pow to corn snow – and it was a high performer all around.
This board has incredibly responsive turn initiation where you feel like it’s on autopilot. The Arbor Grip Tech really kills it for edge control, and a medium flex allows for amazing float in low angle deep pow and crushes big mountain lines. While the waist of the Arbor Satori Splitboard is wider and it’s directional, I had no issues riding switch.
Arbor Satori Splitboard Sizes
The directional Arbor Satori Splitboard is available in sizes 151cm, 154cm, and 157cm. I would recommend a bigger board for big mountain riding and would size down if you plan to ride mainly low angle terrain.
Burton x G3 High Traction Skins
For the tour, I paired the Arbor Satori Splitboard with Burton x G3 High Traction Skins ($229.95). They stick to the board really well without leaving any glue residue. They’re also easy to put on and take off, which is helpful when transitioning. I’ve used heavy glued skins in the past that were hard to pull off, so these were really nice.
The clips on these skins were perfect for this board. They kept the skins in place, and I had no issues with them coming loose.
Arbor Satori Splitboard Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Perfect for all-mountain riding
- Designed by snowboarding legend Bryan Iguchi
- Easier transitions with Karakoram UltraClips
Cons:
- Not recommended for beginner snowboarders
- May be on the pricier side
Overall Impression
The Arbor Satori Splitboard ($849.95) is a versatile all-mountain board perfect for intermediate to advanced snowboarders who want to take their backcountry riding to the next level. It’s also designed by snowboarding icon Bryan Iguchi, who I’ve looked up to since the early 90s. It’s awesome to be able to support Bryan and the Arbor brand as they continue efforts towards a more sustainable future.
I also really liked the cool graphics on this board and the fact that it’s manufactured with 100% solar energy. Win win for another green Arbor Collective board featuring bio resin..
Related Splitboards
I like the way this review is written technical stuff inter- mingled with personal stories and pictures
Of course i am biased being his dad and having gone through some of his incredible experiences ,injuries and rehabs, he loves snowboarding and it shows.
Roney,
It’s full circle for me the founder of the website as I looked up to J.P. when I first moved to Beaver Creek, Colorado many moons ago. He was such a talented jibber on the logs and rail. And he still continues to this day to be a great human being and best of all to see his love of splitboarding really taking hold make me smile even more. He’s a lifer for sure!
-Mike