So to be honest when this board came in to be tested I was not entirely excited to test it. I had just tested the Skate Banana and was completely unimpressed especially after I had heard all this hype about it and rocker boards, and the banana left me unsatisfied. It was unstable at speed on groomers, didn't pop to well but in the park it did well on jibs. But once I pulled the Sl-R out of the box and set it down on the counter I noticed some thing that was completely different than anything I have ever seen. The board had rocker and camber something I was not expecting in the least. This technology over at Never Summer is called R.C. Technology. The board has a rockered center with camber starting at the back of the bindings to the contact points on the tip and tail but holding a rockered shape. (See picture at the bottom) Once I saw this I was totally excited to try this board. I got to ride the board at The Canyons Resort in Park City Ut. The conditions for the day were perfect about 9 inches of fresh on the ground, cant ask for anything better when riding a rockered board. The board was a 155 my set up was 15 15 all the way out which I believe was 23.75 inches. First run was on a groomed run I couldn't believe how stable the board was by putting the camber out past the bindings it kept the contact points next to the snow making the board stable and easy to go edge to edge. I took a few pow runs in the morning and I was surprised at how easily this 155 floated my 6ft 230lb frame. The board felt like it was a 160+ while it was in the pow. The second half of the day was just as awesome. This board in the park kills it. Because it still has camber it pops off lips like no other board I've ridden. On rails and boxes it locked in well and it pressed like a champion. On little speed hips or cat-tracks this board went a good 5 to 10 ft further than my normal board would have, and a few feet higher. My only guess why is the camber sections have a smaller surface area than a normal cambered board and it doesn't loose the energy because it has less surface area to travel through. This board buttered like a champ, I've never been able to control butters like you can with this board you can spin them carve in them everything, loved it! Needless to say this was the most fun board I've ever ridden and that is why its been added to my stable of boards. It is the best all around snowboard, it was a 155 and rode like a 60+ in the powder and rode like a 155 in the park cant ask for anything more out of a board. So if your looking for a kills everything kinda board look no further.
R.C. Technology really is having your cake and eating it too. You get all the best of a rocker board and a camber board. This board also has carbon V stringers going from the back mounting holes to the tip and tail giving plenty of pop and keeping the torsional flex down. Thank Never Summer for R.C. technology and giving me the opportunity to shred this board.
51 comments:
Great review. It kind of boggles my mind how much has changed since I used to spend my winters riding a basic M3 152. Can't wait to read more reviews. Keep up the good work.
Ya board companys have come a long way. Almost all of the board companys made a rockered board for this season but imo this is the best technology
i'm 5'10 and 175lbs you think the 155 will treat me well? glad i came across this review. thanks
well it depends if your more of a park rider id id go with a 155/56 evo-r or sl-r if you ride more mountain and find yourself in powder go for the 158 you will want a little more board for that.
I am 6 foot tall 175-180 lbs. I am looking for an all mountain board. Do you think the 158 sl-r will be too stiff for all around, or should I go with the 155? I don't want it to be too stiff, but want stability at speeds and the ability to do tricks. I also need the board to float in powder.
my mate adam WANTS IT NOW! but he is only into his 2nd season and was wondering if he should get a cheaper more suitable board as his first one?
Anonymous i would go with the 158 for all mountain riding you will be impressed with the ride.
Pod i would say a sl-r will be just fine for your friend this never summer board is very forgiving and tons of fun to ride he will be stoked and you will be to when you get to poach some runs on it
Hey, Ryan. Adam here, pods mate :)
I went ahead and ordered one yesterday. I went for a 158, but looking at some posts above, people that are heavier than me are considering the 155. Im 160-165lbs 5'8 and im wondering if i should phone neversummer tomorrow before they dispatch my board and ask for the 155. Aarrgghh!!
I hear with r.c. you can downsize. And seeing as this board is super stable anyway maybe ill be ok with 155?
Adam
id say you will be hapy with either one but i think the 155 will be more fun a little more playfull.
I've had my '05 SL for a few years and I've been planning on getting the SL-R for this season, this article just got me 10x more hyped for it im pumped. sick review
Hey Ryan I do believe the max stance on the 55 is around 24.5 or 25 inches. Reference stance should be about 22 on it.
Guys.. Daddies Board shop has it for 440 - 20% which comes out to $352. Good until midnight tonight I think. Coupon: DBS13YRS
angry you are right my 22.5 was wrong i just measured my 155 slr and the widest stance is 23 and 3/4ths thanks for the heads up.
Hi Ryan, thanks for the review it came all the way to Amsterdam. One question; I just bought the NS sl 09 1.61 but now I read your rewiew and found out that maybe the 1.61 is to tall for me. I'm 6 to 6'1 feet and just 180 to 190lb. Do you think I should change it for a 1.58? I'm not really a park guy more all mountain/ border cross guy. But the european red slopes are mostly ice and bumpy. Which one whould take it better. Excally I took the 161 because my feets I have the Salomons size 12 who are the same size as 11's from other brands but still!!! The 1.61 = 25.5 and the 1.58 = 25.3 but I think it will be just oke by duckstance!!
What you think. Thanks Niels from Amsterdam
niels since your more of a mountain rider the 61 will do perfectly fine for you extra float in pow and a little more base for speed i think you will be stoked on that size. i only recommend sizing down if you heavy into the park
Hey, I am looking at picking up an SL-R around christmas. Same question as the last guy i suppose. I dont hit the parks to often, im 5'8'' ish, 150 lbs. . . I was looking at the 158 because im use to riding a 159.. would it do me good to go with the 158 or perhaps size down to a 155 for the SL-R? I was previously riding a 2005 Burton Cruzer 159W. Any tips will be greatly appreciated.
I just got a SLR 158 and it's amazing!
Atreaux Go for the 158 you wont regret it the board is awesome and the size only upsizes in powder not on normal groomers.
Atreaux If you are riding a wide board maybe go for the Legacy by Never Summer which is the wide version of the Sl-R.
Ryan
Id like to hear your opinion on my situation. I have size 12 Salomon F22s boots and they should fit on the sl-r not sure though. I am 6'1 and 180lbs. 70/30 freeride to park. Should I go with 158 or 161 sl-r or 159 or 161 legacy? Id rather have the sl-r bc I heard the legacy is set back more and stiffer. Thanks
Thanks for the reassurance ryan, i'll probably grab the 158 sl-r..hear alot of better reviews on it compared to the legacy. Appreciate the words of advice.
This is Atreaux by the way, i forgot my password..lol.
hey ryan, great review. i'm about 5'10, 160. deciding between the 155/158. i board on both the east coast in the icy conditions and out west in CO. seems like you've been recommending the 158 for guys riding powder more.
i'm not really a park guy, usually just go for the big jumps, deep carves, maybe pop a couple butters to play around. i currently ride a 155 which is the only reason i'm afraid of moving up in length. what do you think i should get?
thanks for the help, sorry to be repetitive
If your worried then go for the 155 if its the size your used too. I do think the 58 would work well for you though its a lot of fun poppy and will probably do all you want. they really are the best all mountain boards. I just upsized one of my friends from a 155 stepchild to a 158 sl-r and he is super pumped on it.
do you think the difference will be huge? all my buddies ride 158 also. how are high speeds on the 155. any chatters? that's pretty much my only concern
i just found a great deal for the 155 at my local store for 25% off. might have to just bite on that, maybe use the extra cash to get new boots
Hmm.... Well I just bought this board and can't wait to get out and ride it. I upsized my board from a 153 to the 158 for the SL, since I'm only 15 and am expecting to grow into it. I really hope that I can handle the extra length, although I won't be doing any park. Mostly in the back bowls, mogles, trees, and groomed runs. Do you think I'll be able to whip it around? I moved from a Forum Recon, which really is more of an intermediate board, and I only weigh 125 lbs., although I'm 5' 9". Thanks!
hey I have a slightly used 08/09 158 sl-r that I am looking to get rid of, Why? Yes this is one of the best boards on the market that I have ridden this year, so much control and still holds a mean butter for all the jibbers. I have two of these boards and will not ride anything else. So if anyone is interested in picking one of these up for a steal, hit me up. Wesblankenstein@yahoo.com I am located in utah and would love to meet up face to face, but I will ship to you also! thanks! I hope everyone has a great season!
hi im looking into buying a NS SL
i am a small framed man.. 5'5" ~150lbs
it makes sense for me to get the 151 board .....i freeride most of the time and consider myself to be a bit above intermediate level....
trying to learn some tricks to freestyle ..starting out slow but eventually want to hit rails and jumps .....
ive had a lamar 151 for 8 yrs now and i find the size suitable...
the next size up is a 155....
would that be too much ...or ...would y'all recommend me sizing up??
thanks for the feedback
great review btw !!!!
Hey great review. I just bought the slr 155 a few weeks ago and I LOVE IT. I can definitely second everything you wrote about it. It holds a great edge, very stable, but still a fun board to mess around with. It is a little stiffer than the Evo but i think it presses like a champ. I agree it feels like you're on a longer board in the powder- it's effortless! I'm an avid rider and love all types of terrain (park, corduroy, powder) and this board is PERFECT for resort all-mountain riding. I've demoed the skate banana and the K2 rocker board but the SLR kills them both! If you are worried about making the transition to a rocker board- don't be worried. Its effortless and enhances your riding.
Again, awesome description of the board man.
Damian, go with the 151.
I'm 5'9" 185 solid and the 155 is perfect for me. Talked to a couple people on dogfunk.com and they recommend sizing down for a rocker board. I ride mainly free ride out west but when I'm home in the midwest I play around in the park. This board does it ALL and does it great. The thing is a cruise missile, a ton of fun to ride anywhere on the mountain and super responsive. If you got the cashflow BUY THIS BOARD
thanks a lot for the review man. I was planning on getting one of those, i wasnt really sure, but now im really sure, i cant wait to get it!!! thanks a lot!!!
Looking for a NS SLR, having trouble with sizing, I'm 5'8 220lbs, will a 161 be the right size? I don't do any tricks, just carve down the hill.
Gare im stoked for you. You are going to love it.
And as for the 161 i dont see a problem with it. For a strictly all mountain person it will be a bit faster. I'd say go for it.
Going fast on a 161 is good but how's the control? Don't want to bomb anyone while carrying this weight. $350 a good price? What bindings u recommend? Thanks for all the great advise.
Hey Ryan,
Excellent review! You've got me pumped to pick up a NS SL-R.
I had a board-size question I'm hoping you can help with.
I'm 5'8, weigh 175lbs, and wear a 8/8.5 size shoe. I'm not interested in park riding or tricks.
I am a beginner (boarded 5x) and, as per boarding instructor's recommendation, have been renting a 150. I was told its easier to practice turns etc.
What size SL-R would you recommend I purchase? This would be a board I'd like to be able to use for a few seasons.
Thank you in advance.
Newbie101
Just wanted to put a response after riding the board for a week out west.
Its awesome. really forgiving when trying to do tricks and landing jumps. great in the powder. great edge hold.
really happy i upsized to a 158. (5'10", 160).
Tail is a little stiff, still need to get used to it. i guess i just have to be more aggressive.
Great review. After riding my SL-R 161 (I'm 180) for 5 days I have to say that I couldn't ask for anything more. Grips almost perfectly on ice and frozen hardpack, fast as hell, very lively and springy when carving, softness is just enough for fun but no chatter or washiness. It really is a great all mountain board. I'd replace it without a second hought.
Those debating on a 158 or 61 in my weight range, I don't think you'll regret any playfulness at the 61. Haven't tried a 55 or 58 but there's nothing lacking in going longer if you anticipate pow.
how did it handle at top speed? I have been doing HEAPS of research into the rocker boards and have come to the conclusion the lib techs, gnu and burton rockers dont handle well at top speed.
I usually ride as fast as possible and would like a board that i can take everywhere and start to work some park in.
158 or 155. 6"0 175 size 10 boot. My only qualm is the 158 is wider than what i wanted which was around 25.0
Jono
The sl-r is amazing at speed. Im a big fan of bombing down the hill on groomers and this board was incredible. I rode the lib banana first and did not enjoy the speed wobbles that came with it. So like the review says I wasn't to excited to ride the sl-r but this board has zero problems at speed. Its base is super fast so you'll be going even faster than usual. And with a size 10 the 158 has the perfect waist width for you. IN fact the 158 is the board i rode all season and i have a size 10 boot myself.
Thank you Ryan. I think we all appreciate your time. I have found what may be the perfect board and I am going to get next seasons premier F1 157:)
Hey Ryan
I am 5'11 180lb - i ski in the north east (vermont, nh, maine). I currently have an older salomon forecast 159cm - it's a stiff heavier board that is great for speed and carving. I'm looking to get a new board but I havent been in the market for a while so I could use your advice.
I'm looking to get a shorter, lighter board to make it easier to jump, spin. I'm not into rails though. But I still want to be able to cruise and beat all my friends down the mountain. would you recommend this sl-r over a burton custom? I was thinking a 154 or 156cm.
also, what advantage does the rocker give you?
thanks!
What do you think about this technology for a woman beginner that will never hit the parks?
Male anonymous a 155 sl would be perfect for what you are looking for. The sl has a 4501 sintered base which is super fast. Rocker is Incredible! With the never summer you get rocker and camber making it way fun and getting the best of both worlds. You have the playfulness of the rocker but the pop and control of the camber. Id say the 55 is where you want to be unless you have a size 11 and up then go for the legacy which is the sl but wide.
Girl anonymous the infinity would be a perfect board for you. It is the same shape as the Sl but made specifically for a woman. It is very forgiving. The rocker is great for beginners because it is less prone to catching edges and is more loose feeling. I promise that you wont be sorry.
Ryan
Hey Ryan,
The Legacy is the wider SL-R and I just ordered it in 159. I usually just freeride, but since I am planning to get into park a little more this season I went with the 159 appose to the 161. I am 6' and 160 pounds, with size 11 boots. Like I said, I want to do some park this season but I still want to have minimal chop at high speed. You have more experience in this field than I do, so can you tell me if the 159 will satisfy my park AND no-sketch high speed cravings according to my body type? An educated guess is good enough
-Anton
Ok I know you guys have heard it before but I have a problem. I've talked to ns directly and quite a few people that have ridden the slr and I am torn between the 158 and 161 I am 5'11 190lbs I love to go pretty fast and play around butters jumps and natural stuff mostly I live in md so I mostly ride in pa. Help if you can. which deck and why thanks in advance
Anonymous (158 vs 161) -
If it helps, I'm 5'10" 175 lbs and, after a ton of research, am set on 158 SL-R. My buddy who is about the same build as me ended up doing the 161... I doubt he can handle it, but he claims to be loving it. I'm sure that if I had a few more inches and/or pounds on me, the 161 would win. If I were you, and looking for true all-mountain capability, I'd stay with a 161 and tear it up.
I'm about to pull the trigger on an SL-R. I'm 6'0 195/200, i ride equal park/freestlye/freeride. Is it possible for me to be in anything smaller then a 161? Thx!
i myself ride a 159 on the norm. i'm 6'3 and 230..
My feeling is on the whole 158 or 161 debate that is sort of going on is to ride which one you feel will suit you best i personally switched down to a 155 this year for park riding and have zero problems while i go ride the whole mountain. On high speed groomers the stability is incredible it definately doesn't do the best in powder but thats expected im 235 and 6 ft 1 ish. If you want to ride the smaller board do it but i would recommend the larger board if you ride more outside of the park anf the smaller board if you ride more park than not
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