Snowboard Review: 09-10 Nitro Rook

Location: Loveland, CO

Snow Conditions: Hardpacked to icy conditions on the mountain.

Setup: I rode the Nitro Rook with Raiden Eris bindings and Bonfire Geo boots.

Size: 154cm.

First Impression: A bit stiffer than I was expecting but good pop and all around seems like your typical park board.

Weight: Average

Flex: The rook was deceiving at first, it seemed like a stiff board and then once I got it riding it was stiffer underfoot to the nose and tail, but in between the bindings softer flex so really easy to maneuver and a more forgiving flex than I was expecting.  The combination of stiffer nose/tail made it a bit more difficult to get some high press action going on.

Turning: I found the really short radius quick turns were the best and most responsive with the easy quick edge to edge and the softer torsional flex.  When I tried to hold the board into longer drawn out turns it wasn’t as fun and seemed to require more effort to remain stable through them.

Stable: It was decent at higher speeds, not the most stable board I’ve ridden in that size but it didn’t buck me either.  It handled shorter turns the best and longer radius turns, it wasn’t ideal on for holding that edge at that length and speed.  Held an edge on the icy spots and didn’t wash out underneath me.

Pop: Good poppy board off the rollers for me.  On presses it required a little more effort and tad stiffer nose/tail.  I didn’t feel any catching on the boxes or manuevering into switch.

Switch: True twin and rides like a true twin, handled the same with the progressive sidecut whether regular or switch with no surprises on the mountain.

Overall Impression: The true twin and specs of the Rook made it that ideal park board for someone who wants a stable board underfoot for bigger jumps, in the park it was a bit stiffer than I’d like for the playful park board but it made up in good pop and a forgiving ride down the mountain.

Shay’s Honesty Box: The Rook is the classic example of a board you guys want me to review even if it doesn’t suit me as a rider.  The Rook is a midwide but that didn’t scare me, boards in my collection have wider waist width’s than my boot size needs and I found that for parks laps it was great pop and definitely more for the rider who jumps in mind.

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the 2011 version of the Nitro Rook or shop their full line of Nitro snowboards

On Snow Photo

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Nitro Rook description

Review Disclosure: I rode this board at a demo day.