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This is not my review, but I like to read reviews of boards of the future:

http://mtnweekly.com/reviews/snowboard- ... -2013-2014

Is it just me, or is this a terrible "review"? Nothing against the board, but I cannot glean anything from this "review" which tells me how it rides?

How about stability at speed: maybe a good test would be to come blasting out of a steep line straightlining, and then hitting some soft avy debris…

How 'bout handling in the steeps?

How 'bout float in the deep?

How 'bout discussing how it performs in long, short and medium radius turns at different speeds?

How 'bout discussing how smoothly it transitions from arc to smear and back during a turn?

How 'bout discussing how it handles difficult snow conditions, like a breakable crust?

How 'bout discussing how much edge grip there is, and how easy it is for the rider to make the edges grip, or slide as needed?

This "review" seems to mostly regurgitate the features mentioned in promotional materials for the board. Perhaps the "reviewer" would be better off testing the board, and writing the review, before reading Never Summer's marketing blurbs…
It is "reviews" like this which contribute to the appalling lack of understanding of how snowboards work among even many experienced riders.

They have a comments section. Post your questions there. I agree the 'review' was mostly insipid tripe.

Hey Barrows, Here's a few more Hardaker reviews for your enjoyment.

http://mtnweekly.com/reviews/snowboard-reviews/venture-odin-splitboard-review-2013-2014

http://mtnweekly.com/reviews/lib-tech-t-rice-horespower-splitboard-review-2013-2014

http://mtnweekly.com/reviews/venture-zephyr-splitboard

http://mtnweekly.com/reviews/snowboard-reviews/never-summer-proto-review

thanks philip, I will do so…
perm: I have read some of the other "reviews"… the above appears to apply to all of them. If someone is supposed to be a "professional" doing reviews and getting paid, I expect better information, and a more critical analysis.

Who knew about rocker and camber?? "When the two are combined utpoic nirvana ensues."

I want some of that Utpoic Nirvana. And what would Magnetraction get me? Maybe utopian virnana.

Yeah Chris, I want some of that Utopian Nirvana as well... funny thing is, in a review of another board on the same site, the same reviewer, praises a different board company for not "putting a bananna between my feet", so, apparently, he believes in NS' RC (which is rocker between the feet), but not in a "bananna" betwen his feet. Honestly, reading all of this reviewer's reviews, he appears to directly contradict himself, his own preferences, and what makes a board "work" (or not). I am not sure what to call this, but certainly it is not responsible reporting or journalism...

i think this deck has a review somewhere on the forum.... not next years model, but...
my understanding is next years model hasn't changed much from last year... the graphics are diff and it think that's actually somewhat significant, pale colours on the top sheet and bright base colours, it means less snow melt/freezing on top of the deck, and safety third below. i dig it.

regarding the review linked here, i think the guy has taken some utpoetic license, he's not actually regurgitating any NS hype, except the word 'versatile' and the '3 year warranty', i'm pretty sure he's made up the rest on his own. i agree, a lot of that content is questionable.

i know you're not really considering this deck Barrows, but in case others really do want answers to your questions... i've been on this deck for 3 years and i gots some...

-the board really is versatile. it can handle speed well. i've learned to avoid avy debris at most speeds, but soft anything is not an issue. NS dampening is really good and this is a pretty damp deck from them, 7/10 damp on their scale.

-between the RC profile and the vario sidecut, edge hold is very reliable. that combined with the short length, and fairly stiff flex (5.5/10 on NS' scale), makes the board a great performer in steep terrain.

-the RC profile is not a full banana, it does float well tho. i think theres maybe a bit more R than C, and in low angle deep powder you can feel this makes for some 'plow' over 'plane', but in steeper / faster situations and or settled powder you don't feel that at all.

-this deck makes all those turns, it's made for turning. if you push the 'long radius' turns to the point where you're almost flat basing / straight lining, the deck does get a bit squirrelly at high speeds, esp if in settled (firm underneath) snow. i think most decks with no taper and freestyle sidecuts will ride this way, but its only as big a deal as you make it... it's not smooth but it doesn't really lessen the control either, if you put the board back on edge, or shift your weight back to the tail, it stops being squirrelly. or just keep pointing it and accept that the back end will bump around a bit.

-with the RC and vario there is no transition between carve and smear. there is always a touch of smear in the vario nose and you can push the board anytime anywhere to smear it more, it's seamless, and it goes back on edge the same way. super fun, and great for situations where you need precision in speed and or direction.

-the RC is also fine in breakable crust, i don't agree with the linked review that it's 'virtually impossible to dig the nose in' though it might feel that way if you get on it from a cambered board. when you get used to the profile you find... ... i found that i can still go over the bars if i really deserve it. i think the most difficult snow condition on this board is firm saturated snow, as i said you always have some smear in the nose and this can be slow if you haven't waxed for it, while the edge is faster.... i think this snow condition is mostly found in bounds on groom, not so much an issue in the b/c.

if you're into freestyle riding this is a great board. i'm big into that style but maybe more on the big mountain end of the style spectrum, i do find that at the end of the resort season (i ride a 169x raptor around the ski hill), i have to adapt from a 'charging' style to the more 'playful' style that this board (163x) shines at.... although sometimes i forget and find myself between a rock and a big fast sluff, and this deck hasn't let me down.

Thanks karkis! Right, I am not considering the SL, but am considering the Prospector 167X, especially if the published N-W-T widths are accurate. I know you have some level of relationship with NS, have you by any chance had anytime on the Prospector yet? If so, I would love for you to add any information you are free to share to the Prospector thread which I started. There are at least a couple of Prospector samples floating around here, but I have yet to see one in person...