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Review: 2019 Never Summer Proto Type Two




Size: 158 cm


Days: 10+
Rider size: 5'8" 165 lbs

Conditions

Fresh snow to powder.


Boots: ThirtyTwo Vela 9 US Women with Black Diamond liners 8 US Men
Bindings: Burton Frankebinders: 2017 Infidel (Baseplate: Single-Component 40% Long-Glass / Polypropylene Composite Re:Flex), Genesis Highbacks, Gettagrip capstraps, Hammockstrap ankle straps.  

Set Up: 23 inch stance centered Front 18, Rear +12

Flex: Between 5 and 6 out of 10. 10 being the stiffest.

Overall Feel

Marketed as an aggressive All-Mountain snowboard, the Proto-Type Two (PT2) with the patented Ripsaw RockerCamber is feels like an all-mountain asymetrical do it all machine. It is, in fact, a great quiver killer as for the person that rides mostly resorts and likes to go everywhere on the mountain. However, it is good everywhere but not great anywhere. Let's pinpoint every aspect of the board in details below.

Powder

I'm not a big believer of specific boards for specific conditions but sometimes it helps. The Proto-Type Two is a good treat in powder and soft snow. Turning with this board in soft snow is pillow like. The nice waist makes it perfect for deeper stuff but keeps it really responsive.

Carving and turning

This is the element that the PT2 surprised me the most. It carves like no other all-mountain board carves. Deep carves are effortless and turning is also enhanced with the asymmetrical shape of the sidecut. I could lay out carves for days on that thing and as this swiss knife is I would have kept it just for that specific property.

Speed

It gets a bit nasty for me here, the Ripsaw Rocker Camber didn't make it for me and I felt like the board was chattery in high speeds and the combination of rocker and camber retained me from fully charging agressively and putting more weigh into the nose of the board. I felt like it would be missing contact points even if my edges were really sharp.

Uneven Terrain

As long as you slash that terrain you'll have fun for days. But keep it at lower speed in uneven terrain otherwise it won't hold up really long.

Jumps

It is not bad on jumps but the camber profile makes the PT2 really unstable when jumping and landing tricks. I feel like it is made for the small to medium park and would keep out of big features and especially pipe.

Verdict

I own this board for a year and I was happy with the strong construction and the weigh of the board never really bothered me. But, the Ripsaw Rocker Camber and the asymmetrical twin shape is just not for me. Despite, the fun carving board it is and how it is a treat at slow speed to slash sidehits and fresh snow. 

Buy if you want a one board quiver and like to go everywhere on the mountain. However, I think that it is not an advanced/expert board that ranks nowhere near boards like Jones MTN TWIN, Jones Aviator or the Burton Custom.

Now go out and ride!

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