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Gear Reviews, Snowboard Reviews 22

The 2019 Nidecker Area Snowboard Review

By Angrysnowboarder @angrysnowboard · On December 17, 2018

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.

2019 snowboard reviewarea snowboard reviewnidecker area snowboard reviewnidecker snowboard reviewsnowboard reviewThe 2019 Nidecker Area Snowboard Review

Angrysnowboarder

More than likely he has pissed you off, shocked, amazed, or mortified you at some point with his ramblings. Yet, you still continue to read what he writes.

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22 Comments

  • tah-hoe says: December 17, 2018 at 8:22 pm

    This looks sick! Is this too specialized to be a daily driver? I ride with family so some low speeds are required.

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: December 18, 2018 at 9:49 am

      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.

      Reply
  • Olaf Steenman says: February 13, 2019 at 3:05 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: February 13, 2019 at 8:15 am

      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.

      Reply
  • Olaf Steenman says: February 13, 2019 at 8:44 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: February 13, 2019 at 9:27 am

      I believe so.

      Reply
  • Billy Goat says: March 8, 2019 at 3:50 pm

    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.

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: March 8, 2019 at 7:16 pm

      Area all day sir.

      Reply
  • Billy Goat says: March 9, 2019 at 2:02 pm

    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!

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: March 9, 2019 at 2:10 pm

      No.

      Reply
  • Squirrel says: March 29, 2019 at 10:46 am

    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?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: March 30, 2019 at 7:13 am

      Shouldn’t be a bad fit.

      Reply
  • royce fraley says: May 9, 2019 at 11:07 pm

    55 year old intermediate rider, 6’2″ 160lbs with 10.5 boot, what size would you suggest?

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: May 10, 2019 at 7:32 am

      Mid to high 150’s.

      Reply
  • Jimmy says: May 19, 2019 at 1:01 pm

    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

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: May 19, 2019 at 1:09 pm

      Get the 57 it’ll have more effective edge.

      Reply
  • Jimmy says: May 19, 2019 at 1:33 pm

    Thanks!

    Reply
  • Danny says: July 2, 2019 at 4:59 am

    Hey,

    I would consider myself as an advanced rider. I love to speed down the mountain and carve on my current capita mercury. Since the edges on my current board are nearly fucked up, I was thinking about purchasing a new board and stumbled across this one here. The Mercury felt about right for me, since i´m still learning to fully lean into carves. Now i´m wondering which board I should go for. I´m 6.13 feet tall, got bootsize 11 and weight about 231 lbs… I know, a heavier boy. Would you say that i´ll stick to the mercury or would you recommend me using another board?
    Best regards, Dan

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: July 2, 2019 at 8:45 am

      Getting a new board is up to you, but you might like the Nidecker Concept over the Area for your weight.

      Reply
  • Danny says: July 4, 2019 at 7:47 am

    At first, thanks for the reply! I definitely wanna get a new board. I was just considering buying a new mercury or sth. that is more suited for my riding style 🙂

    Reply
  • Davo says: August 23, 2019 at 3:00 pm

    Great review, Avran! My aging 159 Flight Attendant is in need of replacement this coming season, and the 156 Area seems like a good choice: Quiver of one, chasing powder of fresh days, carving groomers every other day. I know you’re not a fan of the FA, but any quick thoughts on how those two boards compare/contrast? Thanks for being YOU!

    Reply
    • Angrysnowboarder says: August 25, 2019 at 9:06 am

      The tail will sink different on the Area when you’re in powder. Which will change how it floats.

      Reply

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