Snowboard Tested and Rider Specs:
- Cosa Nostra Size: 162cm
- MSRP: $579
- Bindings: Union Falcor
- Boots: Vans Infuse
- Stance: 22.5″ +15 Front & -15 back
- Rider Height: 6’0″
- Rider Weight: 195
- Conditions/Terrain Tested: groomers, powder, chop
Product detail:
- El Dorado Powerply
- R. A. P. Topless Technology
- FSC Certified Double Barrel II Core
- Sintered CrossLink Base
- Mixed Glassing
- .11cm – .16cm Tapered Tail
- A 360 degree, fully wrapped sidewall
- Recycled Steel Edges
- Entropy Bio Resin
- Three Year Warranty
About Arbor Snowboards:
Arbor launched their brand in 1995. They started as a snowboard company and added skateboards a few years later. They’ve stayed true to their roots, making high quality, handmade, environmentally friendly snowboards.
Review
The Arbor Cosa Nostra, Italian for “Our Thing”, received a complete makeover for 2020. Gone is the shape from the Shreddy Krueger days, the Cosa now has a more traditional shape to it. The new shape has smooth lines, a big nose and a little bit of taper.
The Cosa Nostra uses Arbor’s Rocker System, a reverse camber platform that reduces the leverage needed to release and reengage the board’s outside contacts points making for a seamless ride, better float in powder and easy turn initiation. The Cosa Nostra features parabolic rocker which reduces the rocker in the nose and tail creating a low profile and keeping the contact points close to the snow for easy engagement. This paired with Arbor’s grip tech side cut, which gives the board contact points underfoot, allows for maximum board control and natural turn initiation.
The boards core is Arbor’s Double Barrel Core, a poplar to paulownia blend with bamboo stringers running down the center of the board for added longitudinal pop and board control.
The Cosa Nostra and all of Arbor’s line are environmentally friendly. New for their 2020 line is Entropy Bio Resin, a replacement for traditional petroleum based resin that doesn’t affect performance or usability. The ingredients that go into Entropy Bio-Resin are sourced as co-products or waste products of other industrial processes and are manufactured employing green chemistry techniques that reduce the carbon footprint of the material by up to 40% (when compared to its petroleum based equivalent). This board also features the R.A.P. Topless Technology, in which the Bio-Plastic Topsheet featured on numerous Arbor boards is eliminated, giving you a lighter, eco-friendly ride.
The nose on the Cosa Nostra is twice the length of the tail. When you combine this with setback (2 cm) design you get great float and a surfboard feel while riding powder. The Cosa Nostra is no slouch on groomers and/or big lines. It is really responsive edge to edge and was really fun to carve on. I took it off a few small to medium jumps, finding the board had decent pop for a big board but you have to work for it a bit. The shorter tail might make large airs a bit tricky, but I liked it in the trees. It made maneuvering in tight spots easy. Arbor rates the Cosa Nostra at 7 on their flex meter. I’d agree with that as it’s pretty stiff. You can still lay down nice carves and the big nose is fun for pow butters.
Overall:
The Cosa Nostra received a surf-inspired overhaul for 2020. This board meant for riding deep powder and will provide a loose surfy ride that will have you smiling from ear to ear. If riding fast, big lines and deep power is “your thing” the Cosa Nostra will make a great addition to your quiver.
Pros:
- Distinctive top sheet
- Grip Tech sidecut
- Excellent float
- Sintered CrossLink Base is fast
- Eco-friendly
Cons:
- none
| Price: |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Performance: |  (4.9 / 5) |
| Design: | (4.9 / 5) |
| Overall: |  (4.7 / 5) |