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Ride DH2 or Never Summer Proto Ct

7K views 34 replies 12 participants last post by  Jules Winnfield 
#1 ·
So I'm looking to get a new board. I'm currently riding a Never Summer Evo 61 and absolutely love it. Unfortunately as I'm only 6foot, I'm finding the 161 a bit boaty and am looking at getting a shorter board.

Being in Australia, I mainly ride groomers or tree runs with park sessions to mix things up a bit. I've narrowed my choice down to either the DH2 or the Proto and was just wanting a bit of feedback on people's impressions of the boards. Its all good reading different reviews, but I want to know how people have actually found the boards.

Am open to other suggestions on boards as well.

Peace.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Unfortunately as I'm only 6foot, I'm finding the 161 a bit boaty and am looking at getting a shorter board.

Weigh in round the 80kg mark, (176lb). Was looking at the 155, 157 length. Both these boards being hybrid camber will let me get away with a shorter setup.
At 80kg, you should be going for at the 157 for the Proto, if not longer. I'm 5'9" 150 lbs and I ride the 154 Proto (there is no 155) but I'm 3 inches and 25 lbs smaller than you.

Hybrid camber setups float in powder better than regular camber setups... but 80 kg is a lot of weight. If a board as soft as the Evo is giving you trouble at your size (maybe in Australia you are considered small, but not anywhere else in the world), you might be trying too hard to brute force the board with your back leg instead of using the edge and sidecut turn the board for you. How many days have you been riding?
 
#4 ·
I can't comment on the DH, but I got the Proto CT last year and loved it. It completely changed my riding, was super stable and damp. I could charge over crud like never before. I didn't feel like I sacrificed anything in terms of performance over similar boards I've ridden, but neither was it as focused as my Custom X. For the riding you're describing, I would feel completely comfortable with the Proto.
 
#6 ·
Would be getting close to 30 days, so not a whole lot. I love my evo, just finding it a bit sluggish and lethargic on the change in direction, especially compared to riding a shorter board. While the majority of my riding this last season was more freestyle/mountain riding am looking to hit the park more next season, so am prepared to sacrifice a little stability for more functionality in the park.
 
#7 · (Edited)
Well the Evo is a soft park board. If your goal is to learn how to do tricks in the park, I don't really think you need a new board. Since you have only been snowboarding for about 25 days, your money would be better spent on park lessons and lift tickets as you are still at the point where practice is going give you the most improvement. If your goal is to a) get a shiny new board and/or b) want to try and buy your way into park skills... then go get a new board.

In general, you should never need to change directions quickly while riding in the park (that "sluggish/lethargic" feel you get with freeriding a park board... can also be called "stable/forgiving" when you land a trick).

If you really do need to swing the board around quickly, you just did something wrong... like doing a panic speed check before a jump/box... or you really didn't line up the box correctly and not after turn hard to make it onto the box. If you ever pay attention to a freestyle video you will see riders are going straight the entire way through the park, aside from some *really* mellow carved turns to setup their spins.

In my opinion, at your ability level, a shorter board might be a tiny bit easier... but it is also going to let your develop bad habits. You can kludge a 180 with bad form... maybe even a 360... but with that bad form... 540's are going to seem impossible... all because you never took to time to learn proper technique to get the proper mechanical advantage to through a spin or do a boardslide.
 
#8 ·
Cheers mate, appreciate the feedback. Yeah definitely not in the mindset of that by simply getting a new stick I'm going to be instantly better, that's just not how life works.

As for the whole change of directions thing, don't think I made myself clear, that was more in reference to riding outside the park, because like you said, you shouldn't need to change directions too much in the park. Basically what I'm looking for in the board is something that is going to be a little more responsive outside of the park then the evo, but still allowing me to progress in the park.
 
#9 · (Edited)
If you definitely going to buy a new board a Proto CT is going to be more responsive than the Evo (I've ridden a lot of Never Summer's line up) while still an ideal board for the park. A SL is going to be burlier and more damp (won't quite feel as snappy) - get that if you are going fast down groomers - and prefer pipe/jumps to boxs/rails.

That's not to say there aren't a dozen other boards out there that would also be good. I haven't ridden the Ride DH so I can't comment on it.

Use the search function for this as you are asking an extremely common question (there are literally thousands of posts on this very question).

I appreciate that it is harder to get access to boards in Australia, but every resort probably has some type of demo shop where you can try 2-3 boards a day for a fee. I think that's going to be your best bet if you still can't decide after reading the thousands of posts on this forum.
 
#10 ·
Your choices are completely different beasts.

As Lonerider stated, the Evo is a park board. Yes, it is a bit long for your weight especially if you are park focused (rails/boxes). If you are hitting mainly jumps, then your Evo should be just fine. Heck, it should be just fine for hitting features as well.

As for the sluggish turning, what boot and binding combo are you rocking? I noticed that a lot of times, a simple upgrade in bindings or boots takes care of handling issues. Too often I hear people complain about sluggish edge control only to find out that they are using a soft pair of bindings and boots.

Since your riding is a mix (all-mountain freestyle), your bindings should be at least mid flex optimally.

So your boots and bindings are fine. Alright, now let's look at the boards then...

The DH2 is a STIFF monster. I'm talking "good luck pressing that beast" stiff. However, it is easily one of the poppiest boards around. Load, release, and fly poppy. Micro camber between and rocker out. Oh yea, it's also stiff. Great park board if you are going to full-speed every rail in sight. Great park board if you are going to hit kickers and pipe all day like a boss. Long story short, you better know what you're doing if you want to take this into the park.

The Proto CT is the better choice for you. It's way softer than the DH2, but stiffer than the Evo. Rocker in between, camber starting outside the bindings. Lots of pop (DH2 still rules here). Plenty damp while remaining just a little less lively than the Evo. The Proto CT is truly a one board quiver. It's going to handle everything you throw at it well.

As everyone else said, you have plenty of other options. If you want a board from Ride, I wouldn't consider anything else except either the BuckWild or Machete (not the GT version).

From Burton, the Joystick is a great option.
 
#16 ·
Cheers for all the feed back. Haha as is the trouble when getting on board with forums, just when you think you've got a short list, more options open up.

Will look into the other boards you've mentioned. Preferably would like to get a ride as I can order it through work and save myself a bit of cash. But the Proto is so tasty...
 
#21 ·
Its not a materials or general build difference, its build process. The way its done overseas is really just better than most if not all the factories here. NeverSummer might stay rideable for a very long time, but something like Ride, K2, or Echelon is going to feel like day 10 longer than a NeverSummer. And you absolutely pay to get that eagle logo on your board.
 
#22 ·
You think the Asian manufacturing process, which has a higher degree of automation, leads to a better quality product than the handmade processes employed by never summer? Not wanting to get into another US vs China debate because personally I don't buy the whole "it's made in America therefore it is superior to china" etc argument, however I am led to believe NS boards are examples of high quality craftsmanship and hence the high prices are somewhat justified or at least understandable?
 
#24 ·
Just to throw my opinion into the mix, I would recommend the DH2 above some of the others mentioned so far. At 180 myself, I find anything softer doesn't handle out-of-park riding that well. You also have the added benefit of being able to land jumps with more stability. Not to mention the serious pop the DH2 offers. You will have a significantly harder time with presses but as you progress and become a more aggressive rider they'll come, even on a stiffer board. I'd also recommend the Nitro Eero Ettala as another option.

Can't speak to NS as I have yet to ride one.
 
#26 ·
In the ride qaulity no. I'm having boat loads of fun on my current deck, one of next years Signals. But even me, who used to make them, will say they fall to some of the same longevity issues as the other US made brands. One thing that does help them is they do not finger join their cores. Every length of core glued together is one solid piece tip to tail. And that matters. It means a more consitent break in. And for quality control I see things in my shop from Ride, Burton, Salomon, etc. that very well might have been pulled aside as B's at Signal. That comes down to a numbers game though. Signal does maybe a third at best of what Ride does. And the factory Ride is coming out of is also doing many other brands. Less boards through QC means they can spend a little more time on the board and catch more minor details like that.

As far as selecting quality people for the factory, meh. I ended up being one of the best grinders Signal has had, but they hired an 140lbs kid with little upper body strength to do the hardest physical job in the factory. Granted I think they wanted me to quit since they really didn't NEED me at the time, but yeah. And they've had enough turn around in the 9 or so years Dave and Marc have been running Signal that the crew they have right now is stellar. Amazing people and I dont think twice about riding what comes from their hands. Anyway, the job doesnt take a lot of technical skill. All that needs to be assessed is if the person can handle hard labour, deadlines, and repetetive work. That fits a lot of people. And the culture in China caters to that type of worker. Second to costs of operation, that's why most product manufacturing is out of China.
 
#27 ·
Just to clarify - where you think US-made boards fail in comparison to Chinese made boards is in longevity and that's down to what exactly in the process (if it's not to do with materials etc.)?

As an aside, I'm really interested in trying a signal board. They get good reviews all round. And I like the design aesthetic...what do you think of their new custom option a la the nike id system? I think it's pretty cool...I'm surprised they can do this profitably given the size of their operation.
 
#30 ·
I have rode NS almost exclusively since about 2005-2006.... I have only had two SL's in that time and have had 20+ days every year and both basically still look brand new and have zero core shots on the base. They hold up awesome! So ill let those guys "who think its cool" keep makin my boards cause they are durable an last!

I switched it up with n arbor westmark this year and that is NOT a durable board.
 
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