Board: Nidecker Area
Size: 153
Camber Option: Directional camber. It’s a set back camber that goes into a flat zone that acts more like an early rise in the nose.
Bindings: K2 Indy
Stance: 21.5 15 negative 12 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis
My Weight: 195
Resort: Copper Mountain
Conditions: Overcast skies with patches of blue poking through, 23 plus inches in the last 36 hours, colder temps, perfect corduroy, and pow pockets all over.
Flex: This board has a unique directional flex pattern to it. Softer nose, stiffest under foot, then a tail that is stiffer than the nose but softer than the mid section. There’s a decent amount of torsional give to it.
Stability: So here’s the thing you’ll see the nose flapping and vibrating, but you won’t feel any of that resonate back underfoot. This board is so stable right under foot that it doesn’t buck you around. It’s great in whoops and rutted out terrain. You’ll never feel like you’re going to get bucked.
Ollies/Pop: Having camber in this board really helps with the pop. You do have to load it up to get the snap out of it, but it likes launching off rollers, sidehits, cat track gaps, and anything you can put in front of it. While it is camber it’s not so aggressive that you feel the load pushing back into your knees which makes it quick to snap when you’re in uneven terrain.
Butterability: The nose has such an abrupt up-kick in it that you want to make sure you’re buttering in fresh snow, otherwise on firm snow you’ll be leveraging yourself so far over the tip that it can cause you to wash out. I will say that having the tips softer than the mid section does make it playful and fun in various snow conditions.
Carving: This board is touted as a softer more friendly board for someone getting into carving. I would agree, although don’t let that marketing spiel turn you off to this board. It fucking rips turns. You can set it on edge and forget it. The nose engages easily then it locks in right where that camber zone is and allows you to set the edge and forget it. Tight quick turns or long drawn out ones this board has you covered.
Rider in Mind: Someone that wants to carve and ride pow on a directional board that isn’t going to be over powering or domineering.
Personal Thoughts: I wasn’t sure what I was going to get into with this board. I could see the camber dominance in it but that nose shape and up-kick was intense. The conditions were right to put it through some early season powder paces and the groomers at Copper were perfect for carving. This is a board that for someone that doesn’t want to spend a lot for a powder/carving board is a solid option.
17 Comments
This looks sick! Is this too specialized to be a daily driver? I ride with family so some low speeds are required.
No, if you’re just cruising with the kids and wife totally fine for that. But lets say you want to rip a hard carve with the boys, then send it.
Hi Avran or Kevin,
I’m looking for a daily driver next to my Cool Bean. I’m 40 years old, my park days are long gone and my knees are shot. 5’7″ and 130lbs. I hardly ride switch, love carving on groomers or pow.
I’m interested in the Nidecker Area, but the Burton Stun Gun and Korua Stealth are also on the shortlist. Do you have experience with the Korua Stealth or Burton Stun Gun? If so, which board would you recommend and why?
From what I know about the Stealth is that it’s super stiff torsionally which makes it a chore to ride. Stun Gun is a super solid deck. For what you’re describing though I’d go with the Area.
Thanks for the advice. Would you say the Area is a better carver than the Stun Gun? And when taking the occasional sidehit into account, will the Area still be the best choice?
I believe so.
Nidecker Area or Escape for an aging 45 yr old who wants to cruise groomers with the family, but also push it a bit harder when the conditions are right? Park and riding switch are not important to me.
Area all day sir.
Much appreciated and quick follow-up: would I be wise to spend a few more bucks and consider a more versatile board like the Slash Brainstorm? Both have a bit of stance setback, same flex but slightly different profiles (directional vs directional twin). Thank you!
No.
Got a pair of Flow NX2-GT’s lying around, would they be a good fit for this board? If not, what would you suggest?
Shouldn’t be a bad fit.
55 year old intermediate rider, 6’2″ 160lbs with 10.5 boot, what size would you suggest?
Mid to high 150’s.
Hey I’m wondering if I should go with the 153 or the 157 I’m 5’8 160-165 pounds and have a 9.5 foot
Purely for carving
Get the 57 it’ll have more effective edge.
Thanks!