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REVIEW; Neversummer Raptor 156

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

I'm already pleased to see the comparison of the T. Rice and the Heritage. I was always wondering how they compared.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigmountainVMD (Post 635498)

I'm already pleased to see the comparison of the T. Rice and the Heritage. I was always wondering how they compared.

TBH, I haven't ridden a Heritage, I was just going off of Leo's statements stating that T.Rice was stiffer! :thumbsup:

I really want this board but am worried it might be too big for me since I weigh 130lb. Would it be too big, I obviously plan to just carve and ride powder with this board.

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatMyTracers (Post 635626)

I really want this board but am worried it might be too big for me since I weigh 130lb. Would it be too big, I obviously plan to just carve and ride powder with this board.

Well I still need to make some turns on it so I can't really recommend it yet but it's a big mountain board, where do you ride?

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.

So do you think the 156 is too big for me? I would be sad since its the smallest size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf (Post 638730)

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...

Alright well I want a big mountain powder board so what would you recommend that comes in a smaller size. Would the Jones Flagship be a similar type of board also is the 154 of that too big?

Quote:

Originally Posted by danm (Post 635474)

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 ;)