I demoed the Arbor Woodie and the Arbor Heritage in different lengths after my trusty Salomon FR500 was stolen (@#$% creeps). The Woodie is advertised as "all-mountain" and the Heritage is softer-flexing for a more freestyle feel. Shortly thereafter I purchased the Woodie 162. The Koa topsheet is what I noticed first on the Woodie; it is quite the old school dazzler, and practically oozes surfboard mojo. Next I noticed the lightness of the board, then the firm but springy flex, and the deep side-cut (my size ten boots just fit on the waist at my usual low stance angle). What a nice feeling then to get on top of this pleasure-rocket and experience a ride that consistently gives me the biggest grin on the mountain. This board does it all easily: it surfs the soft snow and carves the New England hardpack well, turns on a dime in the glades and moguls, airs and lands with authority, spins and rides fakie easily. It doesn't carve and charge through the chop as ferociously as the FR500 did, but I was looking for a play-mate, not a race-horse this time around. It remains to be seen how the clear top coating holds up, but with a little TLC and know-how I'm not too worried about being able to maintain it. Hat's off to Arbor for making a fun and classy rig.

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