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Picking new NS board- need advice please!

8K views 61 replies 16 participants last post by  syphabiscuit 
#1 ·
Hey guys, so I have been riding the same board for 3 years and decided it is time for an upgrade (especially cuz I found out my cousin can get me a discount!). A little background: my current stick is a NS circuit-r 148 that I originally bought as a jib-stick but it ended up replacing my very stiff 155 rome blue even for big mountain riding (the 155 felt like utter shit to me after riding the circuit, the flexy board is much more fun). I have loved the circuit, but I think it is a little small and soft for me to be riding everywhere.

I am a 5'8", 160 lb girl with size 8 women's boots. For my next board I really want to stick with NS, the construction of my NS is noticeably better than the brands my friends are riding and I love the RC profile. I also want a true twin, which means I need to find a men's board because the women's pandora only goes to size 149 and the infinity is offset and I think it would be too stiff for my liking. Right now, I am stuck between the Evo 152 and Proto-CT 152. I do a fair amount of park riding but I am not very good... still getting down the basics of jibbing and jumping. I also ride the whole mountain and like to go fast (even on my 148 jibber), but I am mostly stuck on groomers because its the east coast. On paper, the Proto-CT would probably be the better choice for the rest of the mountain but I am scared it is going to be too stiff for me progress in the park. On the other hand, the evo would be pretty flexy but likely be a little more beefy than the circuit, I am truly looking for a 1 board quiver and I want something that wont be quite so squirrely at speed. Any advice is appreciated, thanks guys!
 
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#4 ·
I woulda said Evo just cuz its probably plenty of board for you unless you NEED to mach or send 45footers+

Not sure I get the comment on her stats, she's just a human, its not like she's massive - as many of the guys who post here are.

She's a girl snowboarder, already 10x sexier than you and TT.

The naked comment is just rediculous, and shitty... nobody, and I mean NOBODY wants to see YOU naked. :thumbsdown:
 
#11 ·
you are a fucking idiot. that is a personal attack and if you don't see that you should kill yourself and help the planet.

you live in Hong Kong and that's your excuse?? that's pretty funny cuz everyone i know in Hong Kong sucks shit at snowboarding and 90% of asian women have the body of a 10 year old boy.... guess you're into that kind of thing.
 
#24 ·
So, you're using old French proverbs with words not in the dictionnary. It's honni not honi. No wonder I could not understand.
No, it is "honi" (one n). In modern French it would be "honni", but the expression is not in modern French.

Just wondering how you are trying to impress with that...
Not trying to impress anybody, just making a point in response to the people who accused me of evil intent.
 
#5 ·
Definately proto unless you really wanna improve your park riding and spend a lot of time there. If you can get to a demo I would try the SL too, its good combination of all mountain park too but not twin twip. You can haul ass on it for sure. I havent got to try the proto but based on what ive heard it will probably be my next board
 
#8 ·
For those of you that gave me actual advice, thanks! It looks like I can't really go wrong with either board, but if the Evo will be enough for all mountain riding it might be a better choice... hmm still have some deciding to do.


As for hktrdr, I can assure you I am of pretty average build and am just tall... If you think I am twice the size of a normal girl you must be either a) 12, or b) have a tiny dick that can't satisfy anyone over 80 lbs.
 
#9 · (Edited)
Jeez, settle down people - it was just a light-hearted dig, not a personal attack.

My physical stats (5'9" and 145-155 lbs) are openly posted on this forum. As is my location (HK), from which it is easy to see that the average woman here weighs less than 110lbs, which makes 160lbs quite huge (and yes, heavier than me).

Oh, and:


Anything other than an Evo (which is plenty for all-mountain riding) is still a retarded suggestion. Even the Evo is stiffer or at least as stiff as the Infinity. Proto much stiffer.
 
#31 ·
Jeez, settle down people - it was just a light-hearted dig, not a personal attack.

My physical stats (5'9" and 145-155 lbs) are openly posted on this forum. As is my location (HK), from which it is easy to see that the average woman here weighs less than 110lbs, which makes 160lbs quite huge (and yes, heavier than me).

Oh, and:


Anything other than an Evo (which is plenty for all-mountain riding) is still a retarded suggestion. Even the Evo is stiffer or at least as stiff as the Infinity. Proto much stiffer.
Insult her now call me a retard? :cheeky4: I said proto because she's looking at the 152. 160lbs on a 152 Evo is a joke for all mountain. I'm 145 and on the 152 it was flapping like a vagina down Breckenridge's blues. My 153 Coda killed it going down Squaw's blacks and blues, no flapping.

At 152, in my opinion the Proto is perfect for a 160lb person. If she bumped up the sizes that would be different. But at 152 I don't think the Evo is any good unless she never goes fast. She said she wanted to go fast and not get squirrely.

You're telling me the 152 Evo on a 160lb frame is perfect for that?

At 5'8" 160 lb is perfectly normal. And if shaped right, hella sexy (not all 160 lbs are created equal)
 
#26 ·
I am not posting anonymously, I am using a pseudonym - might want to learn the difference, mate.

Also, I never called her fat. In fact, I expressly mentioned the possibility that she could be shredded/toned.
Such misrepresentation of what I wrote is exactly the evil intent (on your part, not mine!) that I was pointing out with the quotation.
 
#33 ·
Well this was a fun thread... for anyone interested here is a pic of my stomach Tummy (sorry boys, no naked photos today!). That should not have been necessary as this thread was about a new snowboard, but when I get accused of being fat I like to defend myself.

Moving on, the reason I don't want to go longer than 152 is because I think the waist width would get too big for my feet. Is it true that the evo has about as much flex as the infinity, or is that bullshit? Would the proto be about the same stiffness as a women's all mountain, or would it be stiffer since its a guys board? I think that is the confusion I am having, I was under the impression weight and not strength is the factor in board length, but it seems like some people think otherwise.
 
#34 ·
Well this was a fun thread... for anyone interested here is a pic of my stomach Tummy (sorry boys, no naked photos today!). That should not have been necessary as this thread was about a new snowboard, but when I get accused of being fat I like to defend myself.
I don't think anybody accused you of being fat - I certainly did not!

Moving on, the reason I don't want to go longer than 152 is because I think the waist width would get too big for my feet. Is it true that the evo has about as much flex as the infinity, or is that bullshit? Would the proto be about the same stiffness as a women's all mountain, or would it be stiffer since its a guys board? I think that is the confusion I am having, I was under the impression weight and not strength is the factor in board length, but it seems like some people think otherwise.
Both the Evo and the Proto are stiffer than the Infinity (the all-mountain board for girls). According to the NS chart the Evo is the same as the Lotus (the big mountain board for girls), but that is a bit misleading - it is slightly softer longitudinally and slightly stiffer torsionally.
 
#37 ·
It beats not being able to turn...

The fundamental issue with her going for a men's board is that that longitudinal and torsional flexes will not match - anything with the right longitudinal flex (possibly the Proto) will be way to stiff torsionally. The only thing even remotely close in terms of torsional flex is the Evo.
 
#38 · (Edited)
Why should they not? What does my location have to do with the quality of my advice? How about providing specific criticisms on my suggestions rather than attacking the source (based on my choice of location of all things).

But if you really want to compare credentials:
I spend at 100+ days riding a year between the northern and southern hemisphere and have been involved in the industry (albeit on the financial side) for a long time.

Your turn.
 
#41 ·
Ok I guess the fundamental question is: is the evo/proto gonna feel stiffer to me than they would for a 5'8" 160 lb guy? if so, why? Im not doubting that it could be true it just doesn't make sense to me. The only reason why I am looking at mens boards in the first place is because NS doesn't make a women's freestyle board for someone my size, so why would the mens park boards all of a sudden feel like planks to me? I have been riding a mens circuit 148 and i can assure you it is a wet noodle after 3 seasons...

If the evo would actually feel stiffer than it is described by a lot of guys it seems perfect, but I just don't want to end up with another wet noodle since I am looking for the happy medium
 
#49 ·
It's not just your weight it's also your strength. The weight will affect the flex a bit and some handling. Your skill and strength will affect your ability to turn a board.

The SL and Proto are not that stiff. Some freeriders will call them outright soft. In your original post you said you wanted something that can go fast, not get squirrely, and can take in the park. That's what the Proto is.

If you want to sacrifice speed for flex than that's a different story. My own opinion. You can learn how to press a stiffer board, you can't learn how to stop a board from flapping.

But it's your call. If you want something slightly stiffer than the Circuit and don't mind sacrificing top end speed, go for the Evo.

To throw another wrench into all of this, why not the Infinity? It is a directional twin. From what I recall, the flex and shape is twin, the bindings are set back but you can twin it up by adjusting where you mount the bindings. Check on that, but if so, perhaps you just need to stick with the girls Infinity board
 
#43 ·
Like I said in my original reply, the Evo is going to be perfect for you, EXCEPT when maching. You say you like doing alot of park, AND going fast, so there will be a tradeoff.

At 152 either board will work very well, you just have to understand the limitations. I have a '54 proto at 175lbs and am adding a '54 Evo to my quiver (going super fast is less and less important to me). The Evo is going to be easier to manipulate for you in EVERY way, but it WILL flap if ur bombing. The proto is basically an advanced version, it will be harder for you to ride in the park, more work to manipulate in general, but it won't flap on you at speed.

Go slower and get the Evo or ... not.
 
#44 ·
Perfect, thank you. I think I would rather have a slightly "funner" board at the sacrifice of a bit of sketchyness at speed, so it sounds like the evo is my best bet. Hopefully it will be a bit sturdier than the circuit without losing the fun feel that I love!
 
#45 ·
the evo is a soft park board. the proto is still way more of a park board than all-mt. and would never be "too much board" for anyone #150+. period.

stiffer boards are better on ice.

you ride 100+ days and live in Hong Kong huh? lets analyze that a little... how many days did you get this summer? do you just leave for the whole winter? how many days a week do you work?

just doesn't really seem possible to me. you do know there are only 365 days in a year, right?
 
#58 ·
Simple, got a house in Hokkaido and spend a good chunk of the season there, usually starting sometime in December until after Chinese New Year. Even if I am not riding every day that accounts for over 60 days already. Add a few random long weekends towards the end of the season in Japan and 1-2 trips to the Southern Hemisphere during our summer and I am pretty much there - before even going to Europe or North America.
 
#47 ·
Ugh if I could just find a NS demo all of my problems would be solved... but im from the east coast and go to school in upstate NY so demos (esp. NS) are pretty much non-existent. Im def gonna look into renting, I didn't really know that was an option, but im kinda skeptical east coast places will rent never summer so if I cant try it out i guess it will be a bit of a coin toss.
 
#53 ·
That is extremely helpful, I would imagine a proto might be slightly softer than the infinity if it were of the same size, which is exactly what I am looking for. Its also a true twin which is what I was looking for and the 152 in only half a cm wider than the 151 infinity, so I should be able to ride it easily. I can't stop flip-flopping but I think I am leaning more towards the proto 152 now haha
 
#60 ·
snowsam, im female 169cm (google says equivalent to 5.54462 foot) and 132 lbs. I use a 152 Proto and find it just a little stiff although i solely use it for freeriding purpose. I think the 152 proto will be more suitable for you than the evo for the riding that you will be doing since u still would like to be able to mach down the mountain and do park at the same time. At your weight, you will find the proto just nice imo.
 
#61 · (Edited)
Read pages 5 and 6 of posts and this first page. I'm 5'9" 150 lbs. I ride the Proto 154. The Proto has a slightly stiffer/snappier nose/tail than the Evo, but it is not a very stiff board. I don't think you would have any problem riding it if you choose the Proto 152 over the Infinity 151 (what I would suggest although I've never actually ridden that board). I found the Evo to be soft mush - I used to ride a Evo 153 when I was 140-145 lbs and I don't recommend it outside of the park personally as it is simply not that great a board for freeriding (chatters, flaps at higher speeds, tends to over-flex and spits you out of a deep carve)... but that's just my opinion.

I rode two models of SL 155 over the years and I agree with ShredLife, that while the SL is stiffer than the Proto, it is still kind of soft for a freeride board (more of an all-mountain board). I also agree that the SL has way more dampening which makes for a better ride outside of the park.
 
#62 ·
I haven't said anything for a while. And I own a 157 Proto and 154 Evo both 2012. Firstly I totally f***ing love these boards. I am 175 lbs. Proto for all mountain Evo for domes. And I honestly don't believe there is a great deal of difference between these boards!! Evo will chatter more at speeds than the Proto but the Proto is no charger either! That said I got 114kmh on it - but it scared the absolute shit out of me! It is hardly noticeably stiffer than the Evo to hand flex it.

Evo is the funnest board I've ever ridden but I think I'd vote Proto myself. If you're more about the bombing then it will surpass the Evo (if not by a long way) but it is still flexible and you can butter the hell out it. Never found it hard to initiate a turn on the CT. Look into SL too maybe. If its not rated as much stiffer tan the Proto then it it is still pretty flexible!!
 
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