If it has Marie-France Roy’s approval, you know it’s going to be gear that performs. The Arbor Sequoia is responsive and has great board feel.
In many ways, Arbor has been ahead of the curve. As the first snowboard company founded with a commitment to the environment across the board, Arbor has taken a mindful approach in everything from sourcing materials to how the brand represents themselves through a, shall we say, organic aesthetic. Celebrating twenty- five years in the game this winter, though Arbor may be best known for its esteemed line of snowboards, the binding department is quickly becoming the talk of the town, given the technically innovative yet streamlined designs. For women, the Marie-France Roy Sequoia Pro is the highlight of the collection.
Anyone familiar with Arbor understands the integrity of the brand and nowhere is this more evident than in the support of a rider like Marie-France Roy. This legendary Canadian has helped to shape the face of snowboarding over the past two decades and continues to inspire and enlighten via whatever snow she slides on. The MFR Sequoia Pro is designed to her specifications, specifically for women riders.
Taking the specs of the innovative System X Baseplate and shrinking it down in size, the elements of this binding are centered around this design’s ability to provide comfort and response, all the while eliminating fatigue thanks to anti-chatter, dampening construction. By limiting the base contact with the board through an X-shaped profile, the rider gets a more true-to-construction board flex and in turn, a much smoother ride. In other words, better response equals accelerated progression, while smoother ride equals longer sessions.
Another thing people overlook is canting. If you don’t know, canting is essentially a slanted footbed that raises the outside of each foot just slightly. At just 1.5 degrees, it may not seem like much, but this slight tweak allows for better ergonomic alignment, in addition to a more even distribution of power. This, in combination with asymmetric (left and right boot-specific) high backs with five degrees of prerotation provides enhanced freedom of moment without sacrificing driving power. – Nate Deschenes
Arbor MFR Sequoia Bindings – $214.99
Learn more at www.arborcollective.com and @arborsnowboards.
This year, the Snowboard Magazine Platinum Picks Awards are sliding into their fourteenth season as the largest, most in-depth gear review of its kind. Thousands of great products from every category on the market have been narrowed down to a select few that our editors have reviewed, tinkered with, analyzed, and photographed. Our goal is to inform, educate, and help guide your buying decisions this winter, so you end up with the very best gear for your time on the mountain. In the 2022 Platinum Picks, you’ll find an assortment of amazing boards, boots, bindings, goggles, helmets, jackets, pants, and more that we have deemed The Best of ’22.
