Never Summer Proto Ultra Snowboard Review

If you snowboard, there’s a part of you that dreams about a world where it’s Never Summer, and if you dream of endless white pow year-round, with techy hits and deep drops and everything in between, Never Summer’s Proto Ultra is the board you’re on in those dreams. It’s a powerful plank that gobbles up anything that gets in its way and roars for more, no matter the conditions.

Performance & Riding Experience

Considering the Recurve word is included in the name. It’s one of Never Summer’s signature exotic hybrid cambers. Nose and tail to transition area, into three cambers with two rockers in between each. What does this recurve camber mean? It means you get float when you want it but then precision when you need it. It means I loved it just as much swimming through Japow as I did trenching groomers back in the Tetons over a cold closing day. In a lot of ways, this Recurve Camber is like having 2 boards in one, adaptable to every condition, out of its element in none.

I first pulled this board out after landing in the Hakuba Valley, Japan. The first day was spring spring at best. Still, I’m not NOT gonna shred Japan as hard as I could, dropping everything, arcing hard turns on icy bobsled tracks, spinning and boardsliding the park during the day and at night. The next day we woke up to 2 feet of fresh snow and it floated through pow as well as this snowboard trenched the groomers.

Specs & Features

As I said, I was dropping on firm snow, both there and up in Hokkaido where there was still a good bit of soft stuff but also a few rocks to hard flat that should have made my knees explode. Thanks to the Proto Ultra’s RDS, or Rubber Damping System, the board has a literal shock absorber built in. The RDS2 that the Proto Ultra uses is made so that you get the stability of a big mountain board and the responsive performance of a park board. Add in  the underfoot stabilizers and your knees and ankles will thanks you greatly. Especially if you like to huck everything in sight.

NS Power Grip Technology

Never Summer dropped its Power Grip sidecut on the Proto Ultra, a series of varying strategic radii to ensure as much of the edge digs in throughout every step of your turn. And that edge? It’s NS’s R.I.P. tech. These edges are straight but the bottom of the board itself waves throughout, a step up from the serrated magne-traction that can drag and catch more than a straight edge, even though they dig in better. This edge? It dug in deep as I arced hard, fast turns on bulletproof wiggle tracks early in the morning without catching on rails or slush in the afternoon when they softened up.

Proto Ultra Construction

Never Summer has long had some of the best core tech out there. The Proto Ultra Snowboard is where Never Summer got to pull out all of their tricks. First there’s the wood: paulonia, with poplar stringers down the middle and edges for strength and bamboo stringers in between for pop and durability. And birch underfoot to ensure your bindings never slip. Then there is the top carbon runner crossing between your bindings, while base carbon X’s over lap and extend to the nose and tail.

What does all of this mean? It means that after a month of hard charging in all conditions my board looked and felt like it was fresh out of the box. It means that this board will have plenty of pop and stiff stability for years to come, no matter if you’re a hard-charging meathead rider. From park to cliffs, this board is constructed to handle everything the hill can throw at you as long as you’re looking to throw back.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

1. Versatility: The Recurve Camber profile allows for excellent performance in a wide range of conditions, from powder to groomers.
2. Durability: The robust construction, including the RDS and carbon reinforcements, ensures long-lasting performance and resilience against harsh conditions.

Cons:

1. Price: The high price point may be a barrier for some riders.
2. Stiffness: The stiff flex may not be ideal for lighter riders or those who prefer a softer, more forgiving ride.

Verdict

In the end, Never Summer’s Proto Ultra ($699.99) is an endless fun machine. It’s able to slay all conditions, to endure for years, to handle whatever you and the mountains combine to throw at it. I took this ultimate snow-sliding machine through some hard-charging turns, from Hakuba and Hokkaido to the Teton Backcountry and some resort riding at Grand Targhee. I tested it on hardpack, slush, a couple inches of pow and a snorkel-deep Japanese gift. It excelled in all conditions. I made some of the best memories I’ve ever had on snow riding this board. If you’re looking to sell hard, the Proto Ultra is snow craftsmanship at its finest, a guaranteed perfect companion whether your adventure is on the other side of the world or in your own favorite home paradise.

Related Snowboards We Have Tested

1. Ride Moderator Snowboard
2. Burton Custom Camber Snowboard
3. Arbor Pat Moore Candle Rain Snowboard