Nivek

Well, I haven't been on a Never Summer yet that I felt like rode as well as the price suggested.

Evo $500, Era $390. Proto $550, Rush $500. SL $510, Nitro Team Gullwing $480... I could go on but yeah. If it's what you want that's fine, they do ride well. But they are overpriced. I don't really think that's up for debate.

And I rode SoCal for a year, they don't really get enough snow to get gnar chop.

__________________
Snowboarding Sucks.

danm

Just looked at K2's site and the only board comparable to the Raptor is the Peace Maker and it costs slightly MORE than the NS...

wernersl

I can see your complaint with the price difference in the Evo. But 30 to 50 bucks difference in the other boards? Not enough to consider NS "overpriced." And yes...we get plenty of chop. Sure only a few powder days per year, leaving every other day of the year either well groomed, icy as hell, or slushy think mashed potatoes. And I usually venture out of SoCal once or twice a season.

Again...until you've ridden one......

wernersl

But NS is just overpriced junk...How can anyone be more expensive?

wernersl

Be careful. Around here it would be considered overpriced! $574

danm

AGREED

Nivek

You think the Raptor only compares to the one size only pow board that replaced the Gyrator? You came to this conclusion how?

The Raptor comparison is the Slayblade, which retails less than the Raptor. Hard charging power freeirde board. Not floaty powder board.

Also you're mistaking my other comment saying K2 alone makes a board better than every NS for cheaper. In fact they dont. They dont really make anything comparable to the Summit. Closest thing is that Peace Keeper. But I guess I should be more specific as they do make great all mountain decks and the price point for those isnt terribly different. Same thing for my issues with Mervin. Once you get up to the hard charging decks they arent priced that ridiculously compared the norm. But for both brands their Park and general all mountain decks are overpriced. And those are the decks they sell the most.

__________________
Snowboarding Sucks.

Nivek

Pretty close yeah, I think anything over $600 is unnecessary. One of the old T9 guys said it best, it's easy to design a great board that costs $600, but to build one that rides awesome for under $400, that's fucking hard. And in the last few years I've been haing way more fun on sub $400 decks than higher end ones. This is the first year I've chosen to ride something more expensive, the Rush.

One of the big things about those $50-$30 price differences is you'll typically get way more tech and a lighter board than it's Mervin/NS equivalent. Burton is often the same way, but they do also try to pack in features. With those brands you're buying a product, and then paying a little extra to have their logo/name on that product. It's a smart move by those brands, it creates a sense of elitism that you own/ride brand X and dirves hype and demand. However, that doesnt mean everyone buying them or working there has that attitude. Our Gnu rep is chill as a drunk bear in Nepal for example.

__________________
Snowboarding Sucks.

danm

You seriously work in a shop and you think the Slayblade is the equivalent of the Raptor? Directional hard charging twin with 3/4" setback... sounds like the Heritage is the better comparison... I do agree with the pricing on the lower end NS and Mervin though.

jdang307

Have you or anyone ridden it yet (it's cool if there is still an NDA).

I've been eyeing the Happy Hour for a couple years now, just never pulling the trigger. But this Lifted stuff looks crazy.

Plus the base on the HH is pretty fucking cool