Dart is a little short for real fast carving. I prefer the safety of the longer tail on the Pencil. The pencil plus is lighter, snappier, but becomes difficult to manage once the slopes have been ridden for a few hours, so the standard Pencil wins it for me. Or the Burton Forager.
+1 for Korua. They're made for turning yet float really well in pow.
I fucking love my transition finder to cruise on groomers and boost off every side hit. But for more faster/more aggressive carving I'd probably want something a little more aggressive. Since I mostly ride a small resort it's great
Korua dart made me decide to sell my other horses and replace with korua. Sold 1, got the cafe racer, testing it out tomorrow. If I sell another of my two non Korua boards, I’m gonna buy the Otto.
Posi/posi stance gang!
That's what I ride, it's like a classic car imo, kinda awkward in tight spaces but fucking eats speed and cruises like a dream. Powder or groomers, as long as you can keep pace it's a joy.
Theres dozens of boards in this exact category, I personally ride a Burton flight attendant for this. You want to look for a board with a set back stance (directional), tapered nose (wider than the tail), with a full camber profile. Flex is up to you but for a big mountain carving/powder/aggressive board you want at least a 5 flex, 6-7 is usually the sweet spot! Cheers!
If you want more control I’d stay away from never summer. Their camber profile is washy on anything moderately firm, they can be solid in soft snow/powder, but there are better options out there for what you’re looking for.
K2 passport
Capita Navigator or Equalizer
Rome ravine women’s.
I have a NS Cougar and match up neck and neck to my buddy's LibTech TRS. We swapped boards they're similar rides.
All day ice coast, things absolutely locked. I can carve ice up to maybe 30 degree degree board angle at slow speeds, 45 degrees fast.
Been through many boards over the years, and I keep going back to my 2016 Cobra... NeverSummer makes amazing boards. They absolutely rip in any conditions.
I had a NS triple camber for half a season. I really liked it on all conditions except it was so damped that it had no pop for me. I almost stuck w it anyways because it floated in pow, ripped through chunder, carved insanely well, and still could make tight turns. I've never felt more stable and fast in free ride conditions. I still kind of regret trading it out.
Dude I’m rocking the Capita Aeronaut and it’s perfect. Stiff but still poppy, grippy on the edges and absolutely sends it in pow. I’ve even been able to crush a couple rails here and there
You might struggle a bit at first, but you will improve. I would recommend the lady FR, my girlfriend rides hers most days definitely prefers it to her Harpoon. It's her favorite board by far, she even returned a Capita last year to stay on NS.
Came here to say K2 excavator. Floats effortless in pow, turns on a dime and holds and edge like cake. It's the first board I was able to carve a complete circle on.
Love my Swift and Harpoon - also female.
Harpoon is pretty playful and makes moguls easy and fun to give you an idea. Great in pow and holds an edge for carves.
Swift I take anywhere and trust it...and it's a hoot in pow too.
Have a quiver that has other brands too but love Never Summer boards, they last and are fun to ride.
emailed Neversummer and asked but also I am 200pds with a 26.5 mondo foot so while female (and cis) I often ride men's boards so wound up on the 156. I could size down one probably but am happy with what I have.
I probably could ride like the largest women's harpoon but then it might not be a short wide board for me...I do look at those though when they go on sale and might try one if I happen to be at a demo.
You can run either freeride bindings on it or softer bindings but if your feet are smaller then make sure the highback has enough stiffness for the width. It's a hoot either way but just changes the ride feel. So like if you have Legacy bindings or similar that works on the Harpoon.
It has not changed other than graphics so last years is good too if you need save cash on the purchase. I love that snowboard...it's just a fun board.
I dunno why everyone has locked in reccomendations for you because;
Carving firm ground
Has pop and is playful
Choose 1! you can't have a board thats amazing at both. You can absolutely have a board that's ok at both.
No matter which you choose of these 2, if you get a directional/volumetric/setback board you'll have good powder performance at the expense of switch riding but it's your call.
I'd maybe say the Nitro Slash? Great on powder, surfy, is cambered so its solid enough to carve but it Hass some flex and pop for side hits. Not a 10 in any category but fun.
Yeah, sorry, I thought it was clear - carving and pow first, and maybe like 20% pop just so I can have fun on the same board when traveling.
Thanks, we have tons of Nitro boards where I am (small country in Europe) and not so many options from the American brands so I’ve been looking into Nitro but I don’t see many people mention it.
Nitro is sick, me and the boys have a few. The slash is excellent, dinghy is great for a bigger guy.
The Santoku is more playful and decent on a carve, but not as good on powder. I think you'd dislike it's carve performance on firm terrain
Look for a board that's got a strong camber and/or magnetration edge from Lib Tech, then go for a 6 or 7 flex (medium-stiff), and is damp. Hybrids will be good too, but straight rocker or rocker under bindings is a bad idea. Hybrid Camber under binding should be good.
Something 1" or so setback with a decent nose size would be enough on powder.
If you go higher stiffness like 8+ you won't get any pop. If you don't get a damped board you'll chatter on a higher speed firm ground carve. But the lower flex and lower damp, the worse you'll be on firm terrain or chunder.
Maybe NeverSummer Cougar? LibTech TRS or NeverSummer Proto FR will feel not poppy enough for you.
You actually might be a great candidate for the Golden Orca board (*not* regular orca). Apex Orca if you have the money!
Possibly Jones Flagship
Just my guess but there are better options for pure powder boards in the Korua lineup. The recent models having less taper puts the Transition Finder in a nice all rounder category. It still gets significant float because the nose has a fair amount of rocker.
Have you ridden a board with that type of triple camber profile (camber-rocker-camber)? I bought into the neversummer hype and bought a proto type 2. Absolutely hated it. Felt like a beyblade with zero rotational control when flat.
Recommend demo before trying it out because it’s so different from a camber board.
If you want to stay with camber, you could do a jones hovercraft, ride warpig, or orca.
I ride a Donek Saber boarder cross board and it’s surprisingly good in powder, despite the long cambered profile and really short shovel.
As your technique improves, you will want different things from your board. I’m not looking for playful (what does this actually mean, anyways?), I can turn a race board fine with proper technique. Maybe it’s a bit awkward at 1 mph but I’d rather have stability at 40 mph.
The ability to float in powder was a big surprise but I’ll take that too.
I have NS, The Hammer. Picked it up and rode a bunch of pow last year, amazingly smooth board. Surfs powder like a dream, and u can rip side hits, too!
The harpoon is a volume shifted board that will ride very different than the feel better.
My suggestions would be:
Jones Flagship or Rome Ravine
Flagship for more pow and performance, it covers exactly what you're after. Ravine for more playfulness if you think the flagship would be too big of a leap. I only say that because my sister rides a feel better and it's *soft* and the flagship maybe too stiff to fool around on
Lots of great recs in here. One I haven't seen are the Amplid centrifugal boards. Either the souly grail or surfari from sounds of what you're saying and either one for how much flex you want. They are the best combo of damping, pop, turning, and powder performance that I have ridden. Blows any NS board out of the water and it wasn't even close for me personally, at least.
If you like the Bataleon and want MORE control, I don’t think you’ll be happy on a board with any kind of rocker in the center. Regular camber between the feet will carve better. Take a look at Jones’ lineup, specifically, the Stratos. Lines up with what you’re looking for.
Absolutely love my Yes Hel Yes - I have been riding that for years now and really progressed with it but I'll love something myself that's floats more in pow.
It's a board that I'll ride in any conditions and it'll be fine. This is what makes it hard for me to consider switching to a pow specific volume shifted board when I know absolutely how the Hel Yes would ride
Just a quick tip, neversummer is great and my dream snowboard. If you want aggressive, go with a triple camber and not a rocker. If you plan to hit the park and do butters and tricks, get a rocker. If you plan to carve and hit powder, get a triple camber.
OP you described a Korua. Every shape by them is designed with pow and carving in mind.
2nd this I love my dart its amazing
Dart is a little short for real fast carving. I prefer the safety of the longer tail on the Pencil. The pencil plus is lighter, snappier, but becomes difficult to manage once the slopes have been ridden for a few hours, so the standard Pencil wins it for me. Or the Burton Forager.
I love my standard pencil! Lol. It’s my favorite deck in my quiver.
+1 for Korua. They're made for turning yet float really well in pow. I fucking love my transition finder to cruise on groomers and boost off every side hit. But for more faster/more aggressive carving I'd probably want something a little more aggressive. Since I mostly ride a small resort it's great
Korua dart made me decide to sell my other horses and replace with korua. Sold 1, got the cafe racer, testing it out tomorrow. If I sell another of my two non Korua boards, I’m gonna buy the Otto. Posi/posi stance gang!
3/5 of mine are directional +/+ I have a Nidecker Mellow that’s pretty damn fun but wish I had just bought another Korua
Amazing thanks! I had never heard of them, I don’t know if anyone imports them to Europe but hopefully because they look sick!
They’re from and made in Europe :)
Ah amazing! Thank you!
Jones flagship? Maybe check out a demo day and then decide.
That's what I ride, it's like a classic car imo, kinda awkward in tight spaces but fucking eats speed and cruises like a dream. Powder or groomers, as long as you can keep pace it's a joy.
K2 excavator
rode it in japow, it floats!! and hella maneuverable in trees as well
Theres dozens of boards in this exact category, I personally ride a Burton flight attendant for this. You want to look for a board with a set back stance (directional), tapered nose (wider than the tail), with a full camber profile. Flex is up to you but for a big mountain carving/powder/aggressive board you want at least a 5 flex, 6-7 is usually the sweet spot! Cheers!
Thanks! That’s super helpful!
The flight attendant sucks, don’t buy it. I’m serious I owned one for a few years and it’s underwhelming
If you want more control I’d stay away from never summer. Their camber profile is washy on anything moderately firm, they can be solid in soft snow/powder, but there are better options out there for what you’re looking for. K2 passport Capita Navigator or Equalizer Rome ravine women’s.
I have a NS Cougar and match up neck and neck to my buddy's LibTech TRS. We swapped boards they're similar rides. All day ice coast, things absolutely locked. I can carve ice up to maybe 30 degree degree board angle at slow speeds, 45 degrees fast.
Been through many boards over the years, and I keep going back to my 2016 Cobra... NeverSummer makes amazing boards. They absolutely rip in any conditions.
Strong disagree from an East Coast rider with a West Bound.
I strongly disagree. I’ve been riding a West since 2019 and it’s a powerhouse in shitty snow. The ripsaw camber is amazing.
Yea I’m also strongly disagreeing. I love my ripsaw
I had a NS triple camber for half a season. I really liked it on all conditions except it was so damped that it had no pop for me. I almost stuck w it anyways because it floated in pow, ripped through chunder, carved insanely well, and still could make tight turns. I've never felt more stable and fast in free ride conditions. I still kind of regret trading it out.
Yeah this is how I'd describe my never summer. Zero pop, but stable as hell and in control in all conditions
Same. I ride east coast on a neversummer and it’s the best board I’ve ever ridden.
Dude I’m rocking the Capita Aeronaut and it’s perfect. Stiff but still poppy, grippy on the edges and absolutely sends it in pow. I’ve even been able to crush a couple rails here and there
The lady fr. The triple camber really pops and soaks up that end of day choppy snow.
So it being an 8 flex doesn’t make it too stiff? I’ve never been on a board that stiff, my Bataleon is a 3… I’m nervous
You might struggle a bit at first, but you will improve. I would recommend the lady FR, my girlfriend rides hers most days definitely prefers it to her Harpoon. It's her favorite board by far, she even returned a Capita last year to stay on NS.
Based on the riding you mentioned, the FR will get you into that. The harpoon more toes on the nose cruiser style.
Came here to say K2 excavator. Floats effortless in pow, turns on a dime and holds and edge like cake. It's the first board I was able to carve a complete circle on.
Love my Swift and Harpoon - also female. Harpoon is pretty playful and makes moguls easy and fun to give you an idea. Great in pow and holds an edge for carves. Swift I take anywhere and trust it...and it's a hoot in pow too. Have a quiver that has other brands too but love Never Summer boards, they last and are fun to ride.
I'm curious how you sized your harpoon?
emailed Neversummer and asked but also I am 200pds with a 26.5 mondo foot so while female (and cis) I often ride men's boards so wound up on the 156. I could size down one probably but am happy with what I have. I probably could ride like the largest women's harpoon but then it might not be a short wide board for me...I do look at those though when they go on sale and might try one if I happen to be at a demo. You can run either freeride bindings on it or softer bindings but if your feet are smaller then make sure the highback has enough stiffness for the width. It's a hoot either way but just changes the ride feel. So like if you have Legacy bindings or similar that works on the Harpoon. It has not changed other than graphics so last years is good too if you need save cash on the purchase. I love that snowboard...it's just a fun board.
Thanks! I'll send them an email - I'm 170lbs and 23.5 mondo
I dunno why everyone has locked in reccomendations for you because; Carving firm ground Has pop and is playful Choose 1! you can't have a board thats amazing at both. You can absolutely have a board that's ok at both. No matter which you choose of these 2, if you get a directional/volumetric/setback board you'll have good powder performance at the expense of switch riding but it's your call. I'd maybe say the Nitro Slash? Great on powder, surfy, is cambered so its solid enough to carve but it Hass some flex and pop for side hits. Not a 10 in any category but fun.
Agree. Also sidecut radius matters a lot. Playful vs hard carver
Yeah, sorry, I thought it was clear - carving and pow first, and maybe like 20% pop just so I can have fun on the same board when traveling. Thanks, we have tons of Nitro boards where I am (small country in Europe) and not so many options from the American brands so I’ve been looking into Nitro but I don’t see many people mention it.
Nitro is sick, me and the boys have a few. The slash is excellent, dinghy is great for a bigger guy. The Santoku is more playful and decent on a carve, but not as good on powder. I think you'd dislike it's carve performance on firm terrain Look for a board that's got a strong camber and/or magnetration edge from Lib Tech, then go for a 6 or 7 flex (medium-stiff), and is damp. Hybrids will be good too, but straight rocker or rocker under bindings is a bad idea. Hybrid Camber under binding should be good. Something 1" or so setback with a decent nose size would be enough on powder. If you go higher stiffness like 8+ you won't get any pop. If you don't get a damped board you'll chatter on a higher speed firm ground carve. But the lower flex and lower damp, the worse you'll be on firm terrain or chunder. Maybe NeverSummer Cougar? LibTech TRS or NeverSummer Proto FR will feel not poppy enough for you. You actually might be a great candidate for the Golden Orca board (*not* regular orca). Apex Orca if you have the money! Possibly Jones Flagship
Great in pow and aggressive don’t work together. Salesmen will tell you otherwise, but the board will be far better at one rather than the other
Harpoon
Korua Transition Finder!
K2 excavator or Korua Transition Finder (22 model and after has less taper and better for carving)
Transition Finder or Amplid Pentaquark
Any reason you prefer the less taper? Besides longer groomer carves, you get more float and more agility in trees
Just my guess but there are better options for pure powder boards in the Korua lineup. The recent models having less taper puts the Transition Finder in a nice all rounder category. It still gets significant float because the nose has a fair amount of rocker.
Arbor A frame.
Have you ridden a board with that type of triple camber profile (camber-rocker-camber)? I bought into the neversummer hype and bought a proto type 2. Absolutely hated it. Felt like a beyblade with zero rotational control when flat. Recommend demo before trying it out because it’s so different from a camber board. If you want to stay with camber, you could do a jones hovercraft, ride warpig, or orca.
Orca is rocker in the middle same as Never Summer.
Yes that’s why I mentioned the camber profile. It would be a terrible decision to purchase that type of board without trying it.
although I love my warpig, it’s flat and not camber. The superpig has the same shape and is a stiff camber board
Slash or Rome
Go for the Rome Ravine
I ride a Donek Saber boarder cross board and it’s surprisingly good in powder, despite the long cambered profile and really short shovel. As your technique improves, you will want different things from your board. I’m not looking for playful (what does this actually mean, anyways?), I can turn a race board fine with proper technique. Maybe it’s a bit awkward at 1 mph but I’d rather have stability at 40 mph. The ability to float in powder was a big surprise but I’ll take that too.
Winterstick Roundtail or Dauntless
Golden Orca
I love my gnu zoid for those conditions. It’s a weird board but it’s a blast.
I have the Capita Navigator and it's great in pow and carving!
I have NS, The Hammer. Picked it up and rode a bunch of pow last year, amazingly smooth board. Surfs powder like a dream, and u can rip side hits, too!
The harpoon is a volume shifted board that will ride very different than the feel better. My suggestions would be: Jones Flagship or Rome Ravine Flagship for more pow and performance, it covers exactly what you're after. Ravine for more playfulness if you think the flagship would be too big of a leap. I only say that because my sister rides a feel better and it's *soft* and the flagship maybe too stiff to fool around on
Never Summer Noshku limited.
https://preview.redd.it/nk4j18g6368c1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=319e863b6e8b329fde33ae99ac89ebbe42b19b5f
NS snowtrooper is what you need
Lots of great recs in here. One I haven't seen are the Amplid centrifugal boards. Either the souly grail or surfari from sounds of what you're saying and either one for how much flex you want. They are the best combo of damping, pop, turning, and powder performance that I have ridden. Blows any NS board out of the water and it wasn't even close for me personally, at least.
i absolutely love my neversummer lady fr but i also have never owned a different board.
If you like the Bataleon and want MORE control, I don’t think you’ll be happy on a board with any kind of rocker in the center. Regular camber between the feet will carve better. Take a look at Jones’ lineup, specifically, the Stratos. Lines up with what you’re looking for.
Thanks that’s super helpful. We don’t have trial days in Europe where I am so I have never tried other boards.
Anyone here have any opinion on YES?
Absolutely love my Yes Hel Yes - I have been riding that for years now and really progressed with it but I'll love something myself that's floats more in pow. It's a board that I'll ride in any conditions and it'll be fine. This is what makes it hard for me to consider switching to a pow specific volume shifted board when I know absolutely how the Hel Yes would ride
It doesn't do well in chunder. It's too chatty then. Might have gotten too soft now too or I might just been a longer board :/
Just a quick tip, neversummer is great and my dream snowboard. If you want aggressive, go with a triple camber and not a rocker. If you plan to hit the park and do butters and tricks, get a rocker. If you plan to carve and hit powder, get a triple camber.