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Snowboards

Never Summer Twenty Five 2016-2017

  • Price: £550
  • Sizes: 151, 155, 158, 159W, 160, 162, 163W, 165, 166W
  • Flex: 7
  • Profile: Combo
  • Shape: Directional
  • NEVERSUMMER.COM

Happy birthday to the Colorado-based board builders at Never Summer. Over the past quarter-century they’ve developed quite the following, and have chosen to mark the occasion with a brand new model: the Never Summer Twenty Five.

It might not be blessed with the most original name, but the Never Summer Twenty Five has it where it counts. It’s a freeride-focused charger that is all about stepping up to any terrain, in any conditions. As with all NS boards, there’s not a square inch of this that is in any way superfluous or under-developed – these guys take tech seriously.

“The dampening is off the scale, so it stays solid even when straightlining over harsh crud”

For starters, they have the patent on ‘Rocker Camber’ profiles, and it’s the ‘Ripsaw’ variation that you’ll find here. The rocker section sits in between the feet to aid with powder float, while the pronounced camber bends on either side deliver the grip you need for carving up the mountain.

Carbon stringers run between the inserts and just past the contact points, stiffening up the nose and tail without turning it into a plank. There’s also an ‘X’ of carbon laid right in the middle, which has a similar effect on the area between your feet. It’s be responsive, but there’s no need to worry about foot fatigue when things are sketchy underfoot; the dampening on the Never Summer Twenty Five is off the scale, so it stays solid even when straightlining over harsh crud.

All in all, it feels like there’s more fancy stuff at work in one of these than you’d find in the average Formula 1 car. You’re always going to be paying a little more for a Never Summer – especially as they’re still made in the Centennial State – but the quality speaks for itself. Plus they’re built to last, with chip-resistant topsheets as well as extra-durable sidewalls and fibreglass.

All Never Summers are available in wide sizes, so larger-hoofed riders should check those out. There’s also a splitboard version of the Never Summer Twenty Five, which has an even more directional shape.

Tester’s Verdict

Mike Brindley – Whitelines

I was lucky enough to take out Never Summer’s 25-year anniversary ride on one of the first deep snow days of the season, and it really didn’t disappoint.

“There were a few points where I should have been bucked off, but the Twenty Five let me ride away clean”

While it’s certainly stiff, this board gives the feel of a torpedo that’s as responsive as it is rapid. As I was cutting through a powder field it was bouncing between turns without losing speed, and when you choose to throw a big powder slash and you can tuck the board back under your feet rapidly, with plenty of time to blast through the white room.

There were a few points where I should have been bucked off, but the Twenty Five let me ride away clean. The stiffness meant it felt slightly skittish on icy flat cat track – but this thing was great at speed on all terrain.

Trade Secrets

Vince Sanders – Chairman, Never Summer

Last spring, owner/engineer/shaper Tim Canaday created the Twenty Five to commemorate 25 successful years, showcase our progression, and celebrate our roots in freeriding.

Tim wanted to incorporate our Ripsaw Rocker Camber Profile, but add the desirable characteristics of the Swift. The result is a combined profile that allows for massive edge hold and pop under your back foot, and effortless turning and float in the front. Tim made the first one on 20th May 2015, and within two days I was prototyping during a spring dump at A Basin. From blower pow in the morning to chunky monkey in the afternoon, it destroyed.

After sourcing numerous topsheets, multiple unique shapes, months of testing, and brainstorming the perfect look, the Twenty Five was born. This is a limited edition, ‘one and done’ board. But don’t worry; you’ll see the Twenty Five’s profile again.

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Selected for The 2016/17 Snowboard 100

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