Construction and Materials

At the heart of the Venus is Nidecker’s aptly-named Master Core. It’s a piece of woodcraft wizardry that combines no fewer than four different timber varieties (polar, beech, spruce and paulownia). Suffice to say it’s got a great balance of strength to weight and lends the board a lively feel underfoot.

The layup features a triaxial fibreglass topsheet. Triax weaves are a little stiffer than their biaxial equivalents (think criss-cross AND diagonal fibres). This beefs up the edge-to-edge response of what is otherwise a pretty friendly board. Alongside an ‘Absorbnid’ layer, and with strips of kevlar and carbon under the inserts (a technology Nidecker call ‘Vibrak’), there’s virtually no chatter even at warp speeds. It’s a smooth and controlled ride all the way.

Underneath you’ll find an N-5000 base that’s not exactly race grade, but it’s durable and quick enough for most – even if you’re not the type of person who packs a waxing iron alongside their underwear.

“At the heart of the Venus is Nidecker’s aptly-named Master Core”

Roundup

There wasn’t an awful lot wrong with the previous incarnation of this board. It’s always been a well specced all-rounder at a competitive price, and one that will suit a wide variety of abilities. The updated outline just gives it a fresh dash of cool in a marketplace that’s increasingly full of eye-catching shapes. It’s a practical move, too. That 10 mm of set back won’t really make switch riding any harder but you’ll definitely feel the benefit when you’re darting into the sidecountry on a powder day, or just charging the trails in your regular stance. And let’s face it, that’s where we’re going to benefit from the biggest returns, right?

“Few dudes asked if we planned to make a 158L of it or similar shape in the men collection! Maybe sometime in a close future?”