Nidecker Rave 2020-2021 Snowboard Review - Whitelines Snowboarding

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Nidecker Rave 2020-2021 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £465 / €500 / $520
  • Category: All-Mountain
  • Ability Level: Intermediate, Advanced
  • Size: 153M, 156L, 159L, 162W
  • Flex: 8/10
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • Profile: Camber
  • Base: Sintered

Looking for a board that won’t give you any backchat when you order it to go above and beyond all over the mountain? After something that’ll not just nod and agree to take on whatever you throw at it, but do it with a big, cheesy, stoked-out, grin, then come back hungry for it and begging for more? Nidecker believe they’ve got the answer – their top-tier Rave is the crown in their all-mountain arsenal.

Despite doing away with the bright yellow highlight that shone from the nose of the board last year, the Rave remains pretty much unchanged for 2021 in terms of the sheer volume of advanced tech that Nidecker have crammed into it – great news for the loyal fanbase that it’s earned over the past few seasons, and that calls it a firm favourite in near enough any part of the mountain.

“The Rave is the crown in Nidecker’s all-mountain arsenal”

Come groomers, moguls, neck-deep backcountry pow or even a sneaky lap through the park, the premium N-Tech construction ups the level of performance it brings to the table, whilst the shock-stopping Absorbnid topsheet dulls the vibrations you’ll surely shake up when ragging it around the hill.

Perhaps the coolest innovation in the Rave, though, is the use of the exclusive Freeflex 3.0 – only available in one other Nidecker board for 2021, the Ultralight – which, through chopping back the wood and fiberglass in the nose and tail in favour for lighter and stronger materials, strips a noticeable amount of weight from this puppy to give a really relaxed and light feel through the turn.

Chuck in a camber profile and a longer R8 Series sidecut profile which’ll work together to further that all-round stress-free ride, and put simply, you’ve got yourself the perfect duck analogy – tech that works its butt off under the surface, whilst keeping you looking and feeling hella chill right through the day.

Tester’s Verdict 2019/20

James Blogg – Ultimate Snowsports

“This board was one of my favourites during the testing this year. It absolutely rips!

It’s quite a stiff board, and really came into its own charging down the piste where the edge hold and quality base really shined. Having said that, it didn’t feel like it was trying to take you out at lower speeds like a lot of stiffer boards can, and I was surprised at how responsive it continued to be – edge changes were rapid and grippy, with the camber profile underfoot working well, which really inspired confidence all the way through the turns. As for switch riding, the setback is only quite mellow so it felt pretty good.

“If only I’d had the chance to hit a big pow field I think this thing would have slayed it”

When I managed to get some turns in some of the soft stuff off the sides, I could feel the board wanting to float and keep itself on top with the rocker profile on the nose and tail doing its job here – if only I’d had the chance to hit a big pow field I think this thing would have slayed it.

I did throw it around a bit with some rotations and presses… as to be expected, it’s not the easiest board to press but spinning felt pretty good, with the board feeling nice and light in the air and stable on the landings.

If you’re looking for a fairly aggressive but adaptable freeride / piste board that’s just a lot of fun to ride I’d highly recommend this.”

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Lewis Sonvico – getsuperrad.com

“This is a badass weapon! She rides awesome, and I wouldn’t change a thing!

The board has got quite a long sidecut which helps keep it super stable on an edge when you’re hauling down the mountain – and she likes to haul. She’s pretty stiff too, so this board can take you anywhere and smash its way through anything; piste, chewed-up sunset homeruns, and the deepest of the deep days.

I really loved it on the jumps, no matter what the landing was like – it’s like she just wants to ride away. The longer sidecut helps on takeoff too, making it feel floaty and effortless.

“The long sidecut helps keep it super stable on an edge when you’re hauling down the mountain”

It’s got a slightly setback stance and directional shape, so when you’re riding switch you barely notice the difference, but it’s best to profit from its natural stance when it’s really good out and you want to draw some lines and leave your mark.

At slower speeds it’s still really fun, being light and with a snappy feel, but you do have to be commited and make the board bend. But on an edge and it a straight lines, it just goes!”

Topics:

Advanced 2020/21 All-Mountain 2020/21 Buyers Guide 2020/21 Buyers Guide 2020/21 Snowboards Directional Twin 2020/21 Intermediate 2020/21 nidecker Nidecker Reviews 2020/21 Nidecker snowboards

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