Ns sl? - Snowboarding Forum

The Deacon · 03-11-2013, 12:27 PM

Is there a review for a NS SL? Searching for either gave me about 1000 threads to sift through? More importantly, Do the experts feel this board would not be overkill on the Midwest hills, being that it appears to be suitable out west? $400 seems like right about where I should be for my board budget...

racer357 · 03-11-2013, 12:58 PM

Deacon,

I ride a SL in the Midwest. It is perfect IMO.

You can take it in the park if ya went. It handles well on lousy hardpack and ice, and if we happen to get some deep snow, it will hande that too.

I was trying to help my fiance progress this weekend so I was trying to ride switch and spin and generally just dicking around all day Sat at her speed and trying to give her pointers.

The board is very forgiving and I had a blast. My old board would not have allowed me to pay more attention to what she was doing that what I was doing without landing me on my head.

FWIW, I consider myself to be on the upper end of intermediate in skill, 6" 225lbs size 12 boot and I am riding a 158.

There is nothing I wont try to ride as long as my board is on snow.... I stay away from rails and urban features, they hurt when you test them with your face... LOL.

I do enjoy jumping both Natural features and well made man made jumps and the board works well for me.

jdang307 · 03-11-2013, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Deacon

Is there a review for a NS SL? Searching for either gave me about 1000 threads to sift through? More importantly, Do the experts feel this board would not be overkill on the Midwest hills, being that it appears to be suitable out west? $400 seems like right about where I should be for my board budget...

It's fine where ever you want to ride it. Most snowboards in your size are fine where ever you want to ride it, unless you're venturing way out of bounds or are looking to ride a pow stick on some rails.

The Deacon · 03-11-2013, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer357

Deacon,

I ride a SL in the Midwest. It is perfect IMO.

You can take it in the park if ya went. It handles well on lousy hardpack and ice, and if we happen to get some deep snow, it will hande that too.

I was trying to help my fiance progress this weekend so I was trying to ride switch and spin and generally just dicking around all day Sat at her speed and trying to give her pointers.

The board is very forgiving and I had a blast. My old board would not have allowed me to pay more attention to what she was doing that what I was doing without landing me on my head.

FWIW, I consider myself to be on the upper end of intermediate in skill, 6" 225lbs size 12 boot and I am riding a 158.

There is nothing I wont try to ride as long as my board is on snow.... I stay away from rails and urban features, they hurt when you test them with your face... LOL.

I do enjoy jumping both Natural features and well made man made jumps and the board works well for me.

Sounds like we're about the same size, and ride the same crud... although you're a bit more adventurous. I'm already getting stoked for next season!

NightRider2613 · 03-11-2013, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowolf

I will be adding a review of the 2013 SL soon. The SL is really right in the middle as a true all mountain. It really does everything well while perhaps not mastering one specific thing. Not overly aggressive so it makes for the ideal beginner board while still performing through advanced riding demands so a rider does not outgrow it. Probably the epitome of the quiver killer.

Really looking forward to your review Snowolf as I was already thinking about pulling the trigger on this bad boy for next season so that will probably push me over the edge. A friend of mine that is on Ski Patrol rides one for that purpose and absolutely cannot say enough good things about it. I was accepted as a candidate patroller next season and I was thinking about getting the SL for this reason as well since my 167 Lib Tech TRS seems a bit like overkill. Will keep my eyes peeled for your write-up!

NightRider2613 · 03-11-2013, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer357

Deacon,

I ride a SL in the Midwest. It is perfect IMO.

You can take it in the park if ya went. It handles well on lousy hardpack and ice, and if we happen to get some deep snow, it will hande that too.

I was trying to help my fiance progress this weekend so I was trying to ride switch and spin and generally just dicking around all day Sat at her speed and trying to give her pointers.

The board is very forgiving and I had a blast. My old board would not have allowed me to pay more attention to what she was doing that what I was doing without landing me on my head.

FWIW, I consider myself to be on the upper end of intermediate in skill, 6" 225lbs size 12 boot and I am riding a 158.

There is nothing I wont try to ride as long as my board is on snow.... I stay away from rails and urban features, they hurt when you test them with your face... LOL.

I do enjoy jumping both Natural features and well made man made jumps and the board works well for me.

Interesting that you are pretty much my exact build (I am 6'2", 225 lbs), and are riding the 158. I was thinking about getting the SL in a 161 for my riding here on the East Coast but I have a size 11 boot, so I am wondering if I should go with the 158 instead. Do you have any problem with toe drag riding the 158 with size 12 boots? I ride large Cartels as far as bindings are concerned, so they should have no problem fitting on the 158. This has definitely peaked my interest as I would definitely prefer the 158 vs. the 161.

Nukka · 03-11-2013, 08:20 PM

Bought a 153 SL this season on boxing day sale. I'm a really small guy, so this board is actually bigger than is "recommended for freeride." Been riding it all season in the BC interior and it holds up everywhere I put it. Handles double black runs even when they've been skiied out, turns on a dime in thick glades, powder float is much better than my last board of the same length, I can stay afloat in ~3ft of resort powder without leaning back or putting any extra effort in. On icy snowpack I imagine it's as good as you can get it.

The board has not washed out on me once during a turn. It's a fantastic board and well worth the full MRSP price. The only thing you should know is that you should wax it before you take it out. I was a little let down the first couple days I took it out with factory wax but waxing gives it quite an improvement.

Anyways, it's a good board.

MrKrinkle · 03-17-2013, 11:30 PM

Im 5'11 and 2 bills with a 10.5 boot and I ride the 161 SL and simply put it is an awesome all around charge the mountain board perfect for the guy with a one board quiver budget...

If you later decide you like to ride park more often or go the other way into back country and deep powder just buy another board specific for those styles of riding... but you really cant go wrong with the SL... In my 22 going on 23 years of snowboarding I have never ridden a better all mountain board than the NS SL...

If you shop around I have seen the 2013 SL on Sale between $350-$380 Google shopping is your friend...

Dago91 · 03-22-2013, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by racer357

Deacon,

I ride a SL in the Midwest. It is perfect IMO.

You can take it in the park if ya went. It handles well on lousy hardpack and ice, and if we happen to get some deep snow, it will hande that too.

I was trying to help my fiance progress this weekend so I was trying to ride switch and spin and generally just dicking around all day Sat at her speed and trying to give her pointers.

The board is very forgiving and I had a blast. My old board would not have allowed me to pay more attention to what she was doing that what I was doing without landing me on my head.

FWIW, I consider myself to be on the upper end of intermediate in skill, 6" 225lbs size 12 boot and I am riding a 158.

There is nothing I wont try to ride as long as my board is on snow.... I stay away from rails and urban features, they hurt when you test them with your face... LOL.

I do enjoy jumping both Natural features and well made man made jumps and the board works well for me.

Wow.. now im confused. You have a size 12 boot and ride an SL?? do you get alot of overhang/toe drag ? I was looking at the Legacy due to my size 12 boot.

03-11-2013, 12:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
The Deacon Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Hudson, WI Posts: 257	Ns sl? Is there a review for a NS SL? Searching for either gave me about 1000 threads to sift through? More importantly, Do the experts feel this board would not be overkill on the Midwest hills, being that it appears to be suitable out west? $400 seems like right about where I should be for my board budget...

03-17-2013, 11:30 PM	#8 (permalink)
MrKrinkle Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 17	Im 5'11 and 2 bills with a 10.5 boot and I ride the 161 SL and simply put it is an awesome all around charge the mountain board perfect for the guy with a one board quiver budget... If you later decide you like to ride park more often or go the other way into back country and deep powder just buy another board specific for those styles of riding... but you really cant go wrong with the SL... In my 22 going on 23 years of snowboarding I have never ridden a better all mountain board than the NS SL... If you shop around I have seen the 2013 SL on Sale between $350-$380 Google shopping is your friend... Last edited by MrKrinkle; 03-17-2013 at 11:34 PM.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

03-11-2013, 12:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
racer357 -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 307	Deacon, I ride a SL in the Midwest. It is perfect IMO. You can take it in the park if ya went. It handles well on lousy hardpack and ice, and if we happen to get some deep snow, it will hande that too. I was trying to help my fiance progress this weekend so I was trying to ride switch and spin and generally just dicking around all day Sat at her speed and trying to give her pointers. The board is very forgiving and I had a blast. My old board would not have allowed me to pay more attention to what she was doing that what I was doing without landing me on my head. FWIW, I consider myself to be on the upper end of intermediate in skill, 6" 225lbs size 12 boot and I am riding a 158. There is nothing I wont try to ride as long as my board is on snow.... I stay away from rails and urban features, they hurt when you test them with your face... LOL. I do enjoy jumping both Natural features and well made man made jumps and the board works well for me.

03-11-2013, 08:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nukka Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 12	Bought a 153 SL this season on boxing day sale. I'm a really small guy, so this board is actually bigger than is "recommended for freeride." Been riding it all season in the BC interior and it holds up everywhere I put it. Handles double black runs even when they've been skiied out, turns on a dime in thick glades, powder float is much better than my last board of the same length, I can stay afloat in ~3ft of resort powder without leaning back or putting any extra effort in. On icy snowpack I imagine it's as good as you can get it. The board has not washed out on me once during a turn. It's a fantastic board and well worth the full MRSP price. The only thing you should know is that you should wax it before you take it out. I was a little let down the first couple days I took it out with factory wax but waxing gives it quite an improvement. Anyways, it's a good board.