never summer sl-r. first time on a reverse camber - Snowboarding Forum

lambo4 · 12-09-2009, 10:49 AM

I know there are a ton of reviews out there for the sl-r. The reason I'm writing this review is just to add some perspective. I've been snowboarding over 8 years, and have only owned/riden 2 boards - both camber. My last deck was a salomon freeride board from 2003 - really great for charging down the mountain. I don't demo boards, and I haven't tried all the tech every year. I've just ridden your basic freeride camber board. So after years of riding one or two camber boards, this is my review of jumping ontop a reverse camber deck for the first time.

stuff to note - I usually race down the mountain and don't hit many jumps, but this year i'm looking to up my freestyle game - hitting natural jumps and I charge down the mountain, and hopefully get better at riding switch too. Along with all this, I still want to be able to bomb down the mountain on every run. After doing some research and reading reviews, I ordered a never summer sl-r from daddies board shop.

me: 5'11, 175.
board: 2010 ns sl-r 158
bindings: technine MFM
conditions: man-made snow, LOTS of ice (east coast in early december)
also, I waxed my the board before I took it out.

I get off the chairlift, strap in, and I'm ready to go. The first thing I notice is that the reverse camber is A LOT different from camber. I had a lot of trouble controlling the board just because it was so different from what I had been riding for the last 8+ years. The base was SUPER FAST, but I lacked the control to actually feel comfortable to go fast (I was riding blues, but looking back i should have started off on a green trail). With this, I made it down the mountain a little slower than I usually do, telling myself that it will take a few runs to adjust to the board. If I had demo'ed this board and only ridden it once, there would be little to no chance I would ever buy it. With that said, onto the second run.

Second run - i fall when getting off the chairlift! LOL, i can't remember the last time i've fallen riding off the chairlift, but it happened yesterday. So I strap in and start the second run. I notice things are feeling a lot smoother that that first run. I'm able to control the board a lot better. The base of the board is SO fast that I just wasn't ready for it so I kept having to stop. THEN about half way down the mountain something clicked - all the sudden the board just felt right and I was CHARGING down the mountain. I was riding ice/manmade snow/crud and I felt in great control and I was going as fast, if not faster than my old freeride board. The last half of the second run was really great.

The rest of the night (5-6 more runs) was basically just trying to get a good feel for this board. Some things I noticed - I was literally carving on ice. Where I felt my last board might have slipped out under me on the nice, the sl-r really grabbed hold and rode well on the ice. On the runs where I felt i was riding the board's sweet spot, I noticed it really pops you in and out of the turns which was a lot of fun.

Yesterdays run was really about trying to get a good feel for this board. Rides much much different from my freeride camber board, but in the end I was able to charge the mountain faster that I have before (again the base of the sl-r was reallllllly fast). When I get a bit more comfortable on it I will start experimenting more with it in terms of trying jumps and switch. I also might try adjusting the bindings and my stance a little bit.

When upgrading my 6 year old camber board, I was looking for something that felt a little more free-er and fun, but i still wanted to be able to go fast. So far my first impressions make me think I picked the right board. So I'm happy with my purchase and I can't wait to get back on the slope with this deck!

12/16 update:
for those that aren't reading this whole thread- I just wanted to give a quick update. I adjusted my bindings to be a little more set back (when measuring- before I had equal nose and tail, now I have slightly larger nose). The difference is great. The board finally clicked for me and I am charging down the mountain with more speed and stability I could ask for. The RC really keeps me from catching an edge and I am able to play around with grounds tricks a lot more than my camber board. I don't see myself going back to camber. Big thumbs up!

12-09-2009, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lambo4

I know there are a ton of reviews out there for the sl-r. The reason I'm writing this review is just to add some perspective. I've been snowboarding over 8 years, and have only owned/riden 2 boards - both camber. My last deck was a salomon freeride board from 2003 - really great for charging down the mountain. I don't demo boards, and I haven't tried all the tech every year. I've just ridden your basic freeride camber board. So after years of riding one or two camber boards, this is my review of jumping ontop a reverse camber deck for the first time.

stuff to note - I usually race down the mountain and don't hit many jumps, but this year i'm looking to up my freestyle game - hitting natural jumps and I charge down the mountain, and hopefully get better at riding switch too. Along with all this, I still want to be able to bomb down the mountain on every run. After doing some research and reading reviews, I ordered a never summer sl-r from daddies board shop.

me: 5'11, 175.
board: ns sl-r 158
bindings: technine MFM
conditions: man-made snow, LOTS of ice (east coast in early december)
also, I waxed my the board before I took it out.

I get off the chairlift, strap in, and I'm ready to go. The first thing I notice is that the reverse camber is A LOT different from camber. I had a lot of trouble controlling the board just because it was so different from what I had been riding for the last 8+ years. The base was SUPER FAST, but I lacked the control to actually feel comfortable to go fast (I was riding blues, but looking back i should have started off on a green trail). With this, I made it down the mountain a little slower than I usually do, telling myself that it will take a few runs to adjust to the board. If I had demo'ed this board and only ridden it once, there would be little to no chance I would ever buy it. With that said, onto the second run.

Second run - i fall when getting off the chairlift! LOL, i can't remember the last time i've fallen riding off the chairlift, but it happened yesterday. So I strap in and start the second run. I notice things are feeling a lot smoother that that first run. I'm able to control the board a lot better. The base of the board is SO fast that I just wasn't ready for it so I kept having to stop. THEN about half way down the mountain something clicked - all the sudden the board just felt right and I was CHARGING down the mountain. I was riding ice/manmade snow/crud and I felt in great control and I was going as fast, if not faster than my old freeride board. The last half of the second run was really great.

The rest of the night (5-6 more runs) was basically just trying to get a good feel for this board. Some things I noticed - I was literally carving on ice. Where I felt my last board might have slipped out under me on the nice, the sl-r really grabbed hold and rode well on the ice. On the runs where I felt i was riding the board's sweet spot, I noticed it really pops you in and out of the turns which was a lot of fun.

Yesterdays run was really about trying to get a good feel for this board. Rides much much different from my freeride camber board, but in the end I was able to charge the mountain faster that I have before (again the base of the sl-r was reallllllly fast). When I get a bit more comfortable on it I will start experimenting more with it in terms of trying jumps and switch. I also might try adjusting the bindings and my stance a little bit.

When upgrading my 6 year old camber board, I was looking for something that felt a little more free-er and fun, but i still wanted to be able to go fast. So far my first impressions make me think I picked the right board. So I'm happy with my purchase and I can't wait to get back on the slope with this deck!

Happy for you man! Had me worried at first. I just bought a Premier F-1 and haven't been able to get up to the mountain yet. Never have ridden an R.C. board either...

12-09-2009, 11:31 AM

nice! I got 12 days left till I get to try my 161 sl-r out, Reading your review has me that much more amped to go ride....

Glade Ripper · 12-09-2009, 12:07 PM

I'll be trying out my sl-r and evo-r tomorrow. Can't wait

BurtonAvenger · 12-09-2009, 12:55 PM

You steer under your foot not out at the nose/tail contact points.

AdamBQ · 12-09-2009, 01:05 PM

I just did the switch over to the Legacy myself...
Personally I did not have nearly has much adjustment time. That might be because I only started riding last year. By my first run down I had it pretty dialed in.

Personally I love carving and charging on this board. I can go confortably way faster on this board than I could last year. Additionally I find making the switch from edge to edge just super easy. On super steed stuff, where last year I would feel hesitant to link that turn, I really don't have that anymore. I know that with this board, if I want it to turn, it'll turn right away.

I also agree with BA, where you can pretty much stteer under your feet, which really helps me do a lot of hard carving going edge to edge.

Love it!

coffeenirvana · 12-09-2009, 01:06 PM

Thank you for the review lambo4. I like your point about probably not giving the board another chance had you only demo'ed it once. I believe too many times people (at least ones that I ride with) get way too hung up on the "Good Wood Test" or something they are told by someone who rode a board once and hated it.

I bought the NS Legacy-R last year and had a very similiar experience as you did. First hour or so I thought I just wasted $400!! Several hours later, in love with the board and the technology (may not be for everyone, but it is for me).

Jay29 · 12-09-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sick Sense

Happy for you man! Had me worried at first. I just bought a Premier F-1 and haven't been able to get up to the mountain yet. Never have ridden an R.C. board either...

X2

I'll trying my EVOR next week.

Good review.

lambo4 · 12-09-2009, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurtonAvenger

You steer under your foot not out at the nose/tail contact points.

i'll agree to that 100% - that was pretty much the adjusting period for me. it rides really awesome once you get that down (most probably will pick it up quicker than i did). i was way guilty of steering with my tail with my freeride board.

The main thing I was worried about was going fast and staying in control, after adjusting to the board i had no problems and felt i was moving faster than my old board. and i'll agree its more fun riding than my camber board. overall i'm very happy to have gotten this board, and I feel i'll progress much more this year than if I stuck with my old freeride board.

arsenic0 · 12-09-2009, 02:57 PM

Yup my 2008/09 SL-R is a damn fast board...its really pushed my speed...i had(and still do sometimes) those moments where you feel like your going way too fast

12-09-2009, 10:49 AM	#1 (permalink)
lambo4 Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 48	never summer sl-r. first time on a reverse camber I know there are a ton of reviews out there for the sl-r. The reason I'm writing this review is just to add some perspective. I've been snowboarding over 8 years, and have only owned/riden 2 boards - both camber. My last deck was a salomon freeride board from 2003 - really great for charging down the mountain. I don't demo boards, and I haven't tried all the tech every year. I've just ridden your basic freeride camber board. So after years of riding one or two camber boards, this is my review of jumping ontop a reverse camber deck for the first time. stuff to note - I usually race down the mountain and don't hit many jumps, but this year i'm looking to up my freestyle game - hitting natural jumps and I charge down the mountain, and hopefully get better at riding switch too. Along with all this, I still want to be able to bomb down the mountain on every run. After doing some research and reading reviews, I ordered a never summer sl-r from daddies board shop. me: 5'11, 175. board: 2010 ns sl-r 158 bindings: technine MFM conditions: man-made snow, LOTS of ice (east coast in early december) also, I waxed my the board before I took it out. I get off the chairlift, strap in, and I'm ready to go. The first thing I notice is that the reverse camber is A LOT different from camber. I had a lot of trouble controlling the board just because it was so different from what I had been riding for the last 8+ years. The base was SUPER FAST, but I lacked the control to actually feel comfortable to go fast (I was riding blues, but looking back i should have started off on a green trail). With this, I made it down the mountain a little slower than I usually do, telling myself that it will take a few runs to adjust to the board. If I had demo'ed this board and only ridden it once, there would be little to no chance I would ever buy it. With that said, onto the second run. Second run - i fall when getting off the chairlift! LOL, i can't remember the last time i've fallen riding off the chairlift, but it happened yesterday. So I strap in and start the second run. I notice things are feeling a lot smoother that that first run. I'm able to control the board a lot better. The base of the board is SO fast that I just wasn't ready for it so I kept having to stop. THEN about half way down the mountain something clicked - all the sudden the board just felt right and I was CHARGING down the mountain. I was riding ice/manmade snow/crud and I felt in great control and I was going as fast, if not faster than my old freeride board. The last half of the second run was really great. The rest of the night (5-6 more runs) was basically just trying to get a good feel for this board. Some things I noticed - I was literally carving on ice. Where I felt my last board might have slipped out under me on the nice, the sl-r really grabbed hold and rode well on the ice. On the runs where I felt i was riding the board's sweet spot, I noticed it really pops you in and out of the turns which was a lot of fun. Yesterdays run was really about trying to get a good feel for this board. Rides much much different from my freeride camber board, but in the end I was able to charge the mountain faster that I have before (again the base of the sl-r was reallllllly fast). When I get a bit more comfortable on it I will start experimenting more with it in terms of trying jumps and switch. I also might try adjusting the bindings and my stance a little bit. When upgrading my 6 year old camber board, I was looking for something that felt a little more free-er and fun, but i still wanted to be able to go fast. So far my first impressions make me think I picked the right board. So I'm happy with my purchase and I can't wait to get back on the slope with this deck! 12/16 update: for those that aren't reading this whole thread- I just wanted to give a quick update. I adjusted my bindings to be a little more set back (when measuring- before I had equal nose and tail, now I have slightly larger nose). The difference is great. The board finally clicked for me and I am charging down the mountain with more speed and stability I could ask for. The RC really keeps me from catching an edge and I am able to play around with grounds tricks a lot more than my camber board. I don't see myself going back to camber. Big thumbs up! Last edited by lambo4; 12-17-2009 at 12:08 AM. Reason: Additional review

12-09-2009, 12:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
BurtonAvenger Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mountains Posts: 8,020	You steer under your foot not out at the nose/tail contact points. __________________ Angry Snowboarder Because someone has to call it how they see it!

12-09-2009, 02:57 PM	#10 (permalink)
arsenic0 Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Hillsboro, Oregon Posts: 2,106	Yup my 2008/09 SL-R is a damn fast board...its really pushed my speed...i had(and still do sometimes) those moments where you feel like your going way too fast __________________ '09 151 Never Summer SL-R '10 K2 T1 DB Bots '09 Burton Cartel Bindings

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12-09-2009, 11:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Augie09 Guest Posts: n/a	nice! I got 12 days left till I get to try my 161 sl-r out, Reading your review has me that much more amped to go ride....

12-09-2009, 12:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
Glade Ripper -LIFETIME MEMBER- Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 794	I'll be trying out my sl-r and evo-r tomorrow. Can't wait

12-09-2009, 01:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
AdamBQ Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB Posts: 266	I just did the switch over to the Legacy myself... Personally I did not have nearly has much adjustment time. That might be because I only started riding last year. By my first run down I had it pretty dialed in. Personally I love carving and charging on this board. I can go confortably way faster on this board than I could last year. Additionally I find making the switch from edge to edge just super easy. On super steed stuff, where last year I would feel hesitant to link that turn, I really don't have that anymore. I know that with this board, if I want it to turn, it'll turn right away. I also agree with BA, where you can pretty much stteer under your feet, which really helps me do a lot of hard carving going edge to edge. Love it!

12-09-2009, 01:06 PM	#7 (permalink)
coffeenirvana Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver, WA Posts: 189	Thank you for the review lambo4. I like your point about probably not giving the board another chance had you only demo'ed it once. I believe too many times people (at least ones that I ride with) get way too hung up on the "Good Wood Test" or something they are told by someone who rode a board once and hated it. I bought the NS Legacy-R last year and had a very similiar experience as you did. First hour or so I thought I just wasted $400!! Several hours later, in love with the board and the technology (may not be for everyone, but it is for me).