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REVIEW; Neversummer Raptor 156

66K views 211 replies 36 participants last post by  danm 
#1 · (Edited)
Actually this is just a prequel, I'm heading up to http://www.Shweitzer.com this Sunday and Monday for first turns on this board and the forecast looks pretty promising for some nice pow.
About me, 160-165lbs sz 9 foot 5'5"... I've been riding 'seriously' for the last 7-ish years but off and on since I was 15... I'll be 40 in March. Not into park except for jumps/kickers and don't do switch unless I need to get out of a dicey situation.
I purchased the Raptor to replace my T.Rice 157... My pure pow board is a Lib Mullet 160 and I'll keep that for snorkel days! Love the rice but the waist width at 25.8 can be kind of a chore with my feet and it's a twin and I don't do much switch so..... in comes the Raptor. I was originally considering the Cobra but after much reading and noticing how reviewers (Snowolf, Leo, others) noted that the Heritage was stiffer than the Cobra and the T.Rice was stiffer than the Heritage... and I really like the stiffness of the rice :)
I'll update this thread probably Tuesday...

Happy riding
danm
 
#6 ·
Well I live in SoCal and currently ride mostly snow summit but will being going to mammoth for a week next month and I have already been for a week this year. I currently have a rome reverb rocker because I thought i wanted to get into park but I now hate this board. Its so soft, not damp at all and just unstable. Next year I will be going to mammoth a lot more since my brother will be living up there. By a lot more I mean every weekend I get the chance, which will be pretty much every weekend.
 
#8 ·
Not what you want to hear, but yes. The Raptor is a very stiff board and has to be man handled aggressively to get the performance out of it that it was designed for. Having a Raptor that is too big for the rider's weight is going to make the riding experience unpleasant compared to being on a deck that is better matched to the rider.

At 130 pounds, a 156 in any board is big but on a Raptor it's going to be even worse. At your weight,the best match for you in the Neversummer line is going to be an SL in a 151. A close second and third will be in order, the Proto HD in a 152 then a Cobra in a 153.

I would love to be able to stoke you on the Raptor, but I feel honesty is better than telling you what you want to hear. The Raptor is a beast and unfortunately does not come in a length close to ideal for you. You are going to enjoy your riding much more on a different board better matched to your weight.
Agree completely...
 
#10 ·
Well... I'm back from my initial ride of the Raptor and all I can say is... WOW!!! It's like Neversummer designed and built a board for ME... like I was a pro and... I aint... Everything is perfect for the riding I like to do, steeps, powder, trees, bombing. It seriously turns on less than a dime even going slow but really opens up at speed... seems to turn 'almost' before you think about it, it's that instantaneous. It's definitely stiff but didn't really seem more so than my T.Rice, but that probably has to do with the waist width and being able to pressure the edges better with my foot size.
Snow conditions were mostly awesome with some 12"+ on 45 degree+ pitches and float was awesome... I'm really curious how well it does in the 2' plus stuff... I might not even need my Mullet anymore :)

BTW... Snowolf, you're going to LOVE this board ;)
 
#15 ·
Interesting. So they have made it even more damp and stiff? I heard the 2011-12 (which I got) was stiffer than 2010-2011.

The elastomer stabilizers I think were on the f1, is now added.
 
#16 ·
Okay, I did some side by comparisons of the 2012/2013 Raptor and the 2013/2014 Raptor and there are a few changes.

Flex: The 2013/2014 model is stiffer going from 6.5 to 8.0

Dampness: The 2013/2014 model is damper going from 7.0 to 9.0

The construction is identical except on the 2013/2014 model, they have added "Elastomeric Underfoot Stabilizers" which is described as, "Elastomeric Rubber Stabilizers directly below the mounting area provide optimum vibration absorption and increase high speed stability while reducing foot fatigue."

So in a nut shell, it sounds basically like a stiffer, damper version of the original from last year.
Curious to see if it's actually stiffer or if NS adjusted their scale? Did you here this from Vince?
 
#17 ·
Apologies for the semi-thread jack, but was looking to get the 2013 Raptor as my freeride stick. Currently have a 153 NS SL and was looking to get a 156 Raptor. I was pretty much set on getting this year's version, but hearing how next year's version was stiffer and damper, I'm debating now. So I have two questions...

1) For anyone that has had an opportunity to ride both, is there a noticeable difference, particularly in regards to carving fast, between the Raptor and the SL to justify the cost?

2) For anyone that has, or will have, an opportunity to ride a 2014 Raptor, and has also had an opportunity to ride a past years version (doesn't have to be 2013), could you comment on the differences. I know that the numbers say, but I'm just curious if there's actually a difference when riding the board.

My stats...

5'7" 150 7.5 boot
 
#19 ·
No worries, not a thread jack, just a slight meander :)... I haven't made turns on an SL but I would imagine the Raptor is significantly more adept at high speed carving... It's amazing how comfortable it feels at speed and it just demolishes end of day crud without having an over damp dead feeling.
 
#18 ·
I'm looking forward to more reviews of this board! I'm probably going to pick up a new board for next season and I'm close to the end of my season (sucks to live in TX). The 2013/14 Raptor sounds really promising.

I'm also looking at the Jones Carbon Flagship, GNU Billy Goat, Jamie Lynn Classic and Jamie Lynn Phoenix, but haven't been able to find these at a demo store yet.
 
#24 ·
Like I said, have to wait a few more days for my first full review but I can answer some of your basic questions as I am riding the 156 Raptor for 2014 and I have a 2013 SL.

There is a HUGE differnce in high speed handling and carving ability between any SL and any Raptor regardless of model year. The dampness and overall handling at high speed in a carve is quite noticeable. I cannot comment on the difference between the 2013 and the 2014 but I will say this, if you can get a 2013 for a good price, snag it; it will not dissapoint.

More later.
Thanks! Been patiently counting the days until you post it up

I figure their would be a significant difference, just wanted to be sure since I can't find any to demo around here

Definitely looking to snag a 2013 at a good price in the near future. Thanks for the reassurance. :)
 
#31 ·
Review update

Rode at Silver Mt yesterday with 'officially' 6" of new but much more on Wardner Peak and wind blown in areas. I'm soooo impressed with this board it's hard to put into words. Early in the morning I was lapping a medium to tight mostly untracked tree area and was finding myself actually seeking out the tightest lines because I could turn and whip this thing around like a ninja. This area was about 10-12" of fresh.
Before lunch and since my legs were still going strong I wanted to do the Wardner Peak hike, it's about 15 min pretty steep but it's groomed so not too bad. Definitely worth it especially for snowboarders since the wardner traverse is skiers only and you gain about 200 yards elevation. Anyway, I met up with my expert ski buddy and we hiked... We were greeted by 24" of light untracked pow mixed trees, open sections and STEEPS... I was never once wishing I had my Lib Mullet... I'm seriously wondering how deep I can ride this thing and I'm still centered on the inserts.

danm
 
#32 ·
Snowolf,

Can't wait to read your review! I'm thinking of picking up one these boards too. I'm about 5'9", 175 lbs, 9.5 boots, and intermediate-advanced rider. Looking to shred some big lines and to slay some powder with the raptor. I'm torn between the 156 and 159. Demoed a 158 heritage last month and loved it. Just looking for something that handles the powder better and can bomb with.

How was the 156 raptor compared to your 158 heritage? What size would you suggest for me? Any feedback/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
#33 ·
This is the 156 Raptor for 2014 and it`s ability to hold an edge on steep, variable terrain is uncanny. This is the base of Chute 225 and the snow conditions today consisted of widespread ice patches (freezing rain crust), wind packed powder and sastrugi. The pitch here is about 50. I was able to make consistent short radius very dynamic skidded turns all the way down this. I traversed over to the next canyon (Clark) and had similar conditions although there were much larger ice sheets to cross and with a light touch, I was able to navigate across them and drom into the wind packed powder. The board is stiff (in a good way) and amazingly damp yet it is not a dead plank with no torsional flex. I was able to easily twist this board effectively for very tight short radius turns which you need on this terrain.
So you're saying you like it?!?!?!?!? ;)
 
#34 ·
Oh the thing is is just terrible......:D

I let my friend who is now the night operations manager at Meadows ride it for about 4 hours while I rode the Proto HD to coach on. He used the Raptor to rove all over the mountain and at the end of the night his first comment to me was, "So, when I can buy this board?" I have let several coworkers ride it including a friend in Ski Patrol and everyone was stoked about the way it handles aggressive terrain and technique....:thumbsup:
Yeah, 'aggressive' is the one word synopsis for this board... :thumbsup: When is your AK trip? I'm thinking the Raptor won't suck up there :D
 
#37 ·
To be honest, you could better compare to a board with an S-Rocker, because from what I'm reading on NS' website, its got a camber up front with a rocker in back, which is similar to Burton's S-Rocker. Problem is, all the S-Rocker boards are to different in shape to compare to the Raptor.
 
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