The Money is GNU's affordable freestyle board. GNU builds it for riders who want to play in the park and ride the resort without paying for a top-end board.
This review covers how the Money rides, where its soft rocker profile helps and where it holds riders back.
What It Is: A Soft Hybrid Rocker Twin
The Money uses a hybrid rocker profile. It has rocker between the feet and some camber toward the tips. Rocker makes a board loose and forgiving, and the camber adds a little stability.
The core is a blend of poplar and paulownia, two light woods, and the fiberglass is a mix of three-way and two-way weaves. Like most GNU and Lib Tech boards, it has serrated edges. The small bumps along each edge bite into hard snow for extra grip.
GNU also sells a camber-leaning version called the C Money. This review covers the standard Money.
On the Snow: Soft, Playful and Easy
Owners describe the Money as super soft. One long-time owner called it their favorite park board and said it is great fun to butter, ollie and hit side hits on.
In a thread from a beginner, riders said the Money is a fine first board. They pointed to its soft flex, hybrid rocker profile and low price, and one said it is forgiving and won't kick too hard.
The serrated edges get praise too. One rider said GNU and Lib Tech boards are good on the icy East Coast because the edges grip well on firm snow and ice.
Where It Excels
The Money shines for beginners and park riders who want a forgiving board for butters, small jumps and side hits. It suits riders on a budget who ride icy hills and want the extra grip of serrated edges.
It is also a fun extra board. One owner said it is fun on spring slush days.
Where It Falls Short
The Money has little pop or stability. The same owner who likes it in slush said that, compared with any cambered board, it has no pop or stability. Another owner called it a soft hybrid rocker board with only a little camber.
It also chatters at speed. The long-time park rider said bumpy, tracked-out snow is a workout on the Money, while a stiffer board stays calm.
Carving is the other weak spot. One owner loved their Money but said that after a few seasons it was time to switch to true camber, because they lacked the tight grip in carves that camber gives.
The Rocker vs Camber Question
You'll find this debate in most Money threads. Riders who want a loose, surfy feel like the rocker. Riders who want to carve and go fast say a camber board will feel more locked in and give more snap.
Here's the take from owners: the Money is a great board to learn and play on. If you mostly carve or charge, a camber board will suit you better.
Pro tip: If you like the Money's price but want more pop and edge hold, look at the C Money, which leans toward camber.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the Money if you are a beginner or park rider who wants a soft, forgiving board for butters, jumps and side hits, especially on icy snow.
Look elsewhere if you ride fast, carve hard or want lots of pop.
Alternatives
The Lib Tech Skate Banana is a soft, playful board from the same factory with a similar rocker feel. Read our full Lib Tech Skate Banana review.
The YES Basic is an affordable twin with more camber for riders who want extra pop. Read our full YES Basic review.
The CAPiTA Defenders of Awesome is a stiffer camber park and all-mountain board for riders ready to step up. Read our full CAPiTA DOA review.
Verdict
The GNU Money is a soft, forgiving and affordable board that owners love for butters, park laps and icy days. It has little pop, chatters at speed and does not carve like a camber board. For beginners and park riders on a budget, it is a fun and safe pick.
