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Nidecker Beta APX 2021-2022 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £495 / €500 / $530
  • Category: Freeride + Powder
  • Sizes: 157, 162
  • Flex: 8/10
  • Shape: Directional
  • Profile: Combo
  • 3D: Yes
  • Base: Sintered

[David Attenborough voice] Here, in the unforgiving landscape of the High Alps, we catch our first glimpse of a remarkable new snowboard. Shaped by thousands of years of evolution, its distinctive nose and tail are perfectly adapted for the mountain environment; it moves through deep snow with a speed and grace found only in nature. Introducing: the Beta APX.

“Lovers of natural terrain – be it windlips, gullies, forests or wide open faces – will froth on the Beta APX”

MORE INFO:
NIDECKER.COM

Who Is The Nidecker Beta APX For?

Lovers of natural terrain – be it windlips, gullies, forests or wide open faces – will froth on the Beta APX. It’s a capable resort steed that comes alive in the backcountry.

Shape, Profile and Sidecut

Nidecker’s new Instinct series takes its inspiration from the natural world. There are two basic shapes – the Alpha and the Beta – both of which are available in a standard flex that’s fairly relaxed or the more aggressive APX version, seen here. The Beta is the most directional, and has clearly been drawn with deep snow in mind. An extended nose provides maximum float up front and features a 3D curve across its width. Nidecker say it mimics marine animals like the dolphin and penguin, which surf effortlessly through waves and slide over snow. It’s a fun concept, and they’ve doubled down on it at the tail, which steps in “like a bird of prey’s” before ending in a short swallow. Sinking this tail comes (ahem) naturally, especially with the laid back Surfy Camrock profile that blends trad camber in the middle with rocker up front. But whether you’re drawing lines through the trees or laying down some turns on hardpack, what shines through with this shape is its sheer glide.

“But whether you’re drawing lines through the trees or laying down some turns on hardpack, what shines through with this shape is its sheer glide”

Construction and Materials

The APX benefits from premium materials throughout. The core is Swiss grown, 100% sustainable poplar, glassed in a triax weave for increased torsional stiffness. Nidactive APX construction sees the topsheet wrap all the way over the edge to meet a 2mm thin sidewall; it’s a very neat finish that – together with those triax fibres – promises lightning edge control.

The N-9000 base is one of the fastest on the market, made from race-grade P-tex. It also features some swirly nature-themed artwork that’s carried through to a more subdued graphic on the topsheet. Overall this board looks great and it means business.

“Overall this board looks great and it means business”

Roundup

We’re suckers for volume shift snowboards. They always turn heads but more importantly, they make the best days even better. The Beta APX is no exception. Even if you don’t quite buy the bio-mimicry angle, its 3D nose and swallow tail were always going to ensure that natural terrain is in its DNA. That said, we found it cuts brilliantly smooth turns on hardpack, too. You’ll need to be an aggressive rider to make the most of its stiffer flex and that face-meltingly fast base, but take the handbrake off and this thing truly soars.

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