Diversity has been the design creed of the Nitro snowboard line since the beginning, and there is a long list of industry firsts in board shapes from the early ´90s until today. This variety is not driven by coming up with the ‘next crazy new thing’, though: It pays respect to different riding styles, from weekend warrior to pro, from park to pow, from resort to the backcountry. It is fueled by the variety of people in our company, from technician to salesman, from team rider to the kids in our families. This allows us to come up with a great variety of boards that are - above all – functional and fun.
People thought we were out of our minds when in our first collection of 1990, we presented the “Retro”, a 171 swallow-tailed powder board which we designed as a tribute to the early, surf-inspired days of snowboarding. And we basically kept a swallowtail board in the line every year since then.
However, the most challenging boards to design are the ones that look quite ordinary, as they must work in a variety of conditions and for many riding styles and levels. For most of us, a well-balanced all-mountain board is still the best choice.
We take pride in offering boards in all price categories, too. Not everyone can afford high-end boards and we feel a responsibility to make products also for slimmer wallets, so more people can go out and enjoy riding with their buddies. And we proudly design rental boards that equal our in-line models in tech, function, and looks. A snowboarder is a snowboarder, we are all one community.
We’re doing our best to describe each board model for you here, explain the technical details and differences so you can choose your stick of choice. The best purchasing advice we can give you is to go out and test our boards. Many of our shops are running demo events and programs.
Here are a few things to look for to understand which boards may suit your style.
We’re doing our best to describe each board model for you here, explain the technical details and differences so you can choose your stick of choice. The best purchasing advice we can give you is to go out and test our boards. Many of our shops are running demo events and programs.
Here are a few things to look for to understand which boards may suit your style.
Shapes
Easy to recognize, and together with the graphics the most prominent feature a board has.
Nitro R&D Team using latest Paranormal Technology in Search for the ultimate Shape
Directional boards work best in freeriding and backcountry conditions. The longer the nose, the more flotation you have in powder and the more forgiving your board will be on these big cruising turns. Also, typical carving boards are shapes directionally. Directional boards also have several sub-categories such as swallow tails, tapered outlines, and other specific features.
Twintips are the choice shapes for park riding. Normal or switch, your board will feel the same ridden either way.
Directional twins represent the best of both worlds and can be found on most all-mountain boards. Just enough twin shape to feel balanced in the park, yet a bit more nose than tail for more flotation and ease of turning in the untracked snow.
Sidecuts
Difficult to see, but with a massive effect on performance.
Developing functional sidecuts has been our passion since the beginning. The actual shape of the board’s sidelines is extremely important to its characteristics. From dual degressive (mellow and forgiving), to radial (super versatile) to various degrees of progressive (great for carving and acceleration), there is a big selection of sidecuts and board feels within the Nitro line. Once again, theory is good, but testing is better and you will definitely feel the differences, no matter what level rider you are.
Flex
More than one can feel by hand-flexing
We spend more time on fine-tuning a board’s flex than on shaping it. The core profile and flex of a board has to match the outline, and we optimize not only the board’s overall stiffness, but also the distribution of stiffer and softer areas along the length of the board as well as the torsional flex. Every parameter must correspond with the board shape to make a truly fun and functional board.
Camber Lines
The Quintessential Four
We have experimented with dozens of camber and rocker variations of the years and are now focusing on the most truly functional camber lines to avoid confusion and make selection easier.
Standard Camber boards are best suited for higher speeds, carving, and big mountain riding, as this gives the board maximum stability and control.
Flatout Camber boards are essentially flat, and the early tip and tail rises make the board playful, easy to rotate, and forgiving. Found either on entry-level or certain park boards.
Cam-Out combines the two above versions, making for truly versatile boards with enough grip for medium to higher speeds, but keeping them loose and forgiving through the turns.
Gullwing Rocker is a hybrid of cambers under each foot, with raised contact points for a playful feel and a fun combination of control and playfulness.
Construction and Materials
Function over Gimmicks
Over the decades, we have developed a huge array of different construction techniques and materials, some of them ideal for general purpose boards, others designed specifically for certain needs. While we always strive to design boards with maximum simplicity, certain features, and materials enhance the board in a specific way. Here is a small selection of proprietary features, more can be found in our board tech section:
Power Pods
Einen engeren Radius in der Mitte des Boards über einen weiteren Radius hin zu Nose und Tail gelegt, ergibt unsere exklusiven POWERPODS, die zwei wunderbare Effekte haben: Auf der einen Seite ergeben sie mehr Boardbreite unter den Bindungen, was für mehr Kantenkontrolle, speziell auf harten und eisigen Untergründen sorgt und weniger Fersen- bzw. Zehenüberhang für größere Boots oder weniger steile Bindungswinkel bedeutet. Auf der anderen Seite machen unsere POWERPODS das Board agiler und sorgen für engere Turns, wenn das Board auf die Kante gebracht wird – während es leicht zu manövrieren bleibt, wenn es weniger dynamisch gefahren wird.
Hike Pods
Hike Pods sind speziell auf unserem Doppelganger Splitboard verbaut, um zusätzlichen Grip unter den Bindungen im Aufstiegsmodus zu gewährleisten. Damit werden auch eisigere Traversen ein wenig spaßiger!
Railkiller Edge
Deine Geheimwaffe für Rails, Felsen und Langlebigkeit! Mit ihrem einzigartigen Kantenprofil und einer Widerstandsfähigkeit von mehr als 200% verglichen mit einer Standardkante – ist die Railkiller Edge doppelt so dick und doppelt so stark. Diese überlegene Bauweise kann jede Railchallenge aufnehmen. Nimm dir eine Feile oder beanspruche sie stark und fahre sie auf natürliche Weise runter. Dieses Stück Metall hat genug Material für jahrelange Abnutzung.
Ballistic Impact Panels
Kevlar© wird in kugelsicheren Schutzwesten verbaut, um deinen Körper zu schützen. Wir verwenden es an strategischen Stellen rund um die Inserts, um das Board zusätzlich vor harten Einschlägen bei Landungen zu schützen.
Softride Flex
Eine exklusive Konstruktion: Spinnenwebenartige Erhöhungen um die Bindungen, erlauben es uns super weich flexende Boards für die jüngsten Shredder herzustellen, die dennoch mit allen Standards für Bindungs-Inserts und deren Haltbarkeit konform sind. Verbaut auf den kleineren Ripper und Spirit Längen.
Koroyd™ Powercore
Das Neuste in Sachen Kerntechnologie. Der KOROYD™ Powercore besteht aus kleinen Kunststoff-Röllchen, die vertikal angeordnet und verschweißt werden. Sie sorgen für einzigartige Energieabsorbtion bei bis zu 70% weniger Gewicht, als bei einem Standard-Holzkern ohne auf Stabilität und Flex zu verzichten. Dieser spezielle Kern wird in Tip und Tail bei unseren Highlander, Doppelgänger und Victoria Pro Modellen verbaut.
Antiphase™
Gemeinsam mit unseren Freunden bei Amplid® Snowboards verwenden wir die Antiphase™ Technolgie, die Vibrationen reduziert und damit die Stabilität des Boards enorm verbessert. Anders als konventionelle Dämpfungsmethoden, die auf Gummieinlagen beruhen, ist Antiphase™ eine multidirektionale Verbundschicht, die zwischen Bindung und Tip/Tail platziert ist. Es unterbricht die natürliche Frequenz eines schwingenden Snowboards und stoppt Vibrationen, bevor sie sich zu einem unruhigen Board aufschwingen. Gib mehr Gas und bleib unter Kontrolle!