Never Summer has released the new Nokhu, a fresh, limited-edition snowboard for 2024.
The board’s name comes from the Nokhu Crags, the tallest peak in the Never Summer Mountains. In terms of visual design, It’s a collaboration with Grassroots California, featuring art by Stanley Mouse.
The Nokhu is designed to be agile like a short board but stable like a longer one, thanks to its Triple Camber profile. It’s designed primarily for all-mountain, freeride, and powder.
It has a mid-flex for versatility and a shape that promises smooth turns and solid performance in deep snow.
The Nokhu is priced at $730 with a 3-year warranty.
What’s special about the Nokhu 2024
The Nokhu comes with a compact running surface, making it super agile for quick, sharp turns, just like you’d expect from a shorter board.
On the other hand; it also packs Triple Camber tech, which means you get the solid edge grip and steadiness you’d normally see in a longer board (more on this below).
The wide nose lifts up early, helping the board stay on top of the powder effortlessly. The tapered design and mid-level flexibility also make it a versatile board for shredding any part of the mountain with ease.
This snowboard is flexible enough to handle rough patches with ease. When you’re cutting into the snow, the edges won’t catch and slow you down, and the board is quick to respond, making it great for weaving through trees.
The Triple Camber Advantage
Triple Camber likely refers to a profile with three distinct camber sections. If we relate this to the common profiles, it’s closest to an RCR (rocker-camber-rocker) profile due to the rocker/camber/rocker transitions, but with additional camber sections.
The cambered sections near the bindings create points of pressure where the rider’s weight is concentrated. This pressure translates into increased edge hold, allowing for precise carving and control, especially on hardpack and icy conditions.
The central camber section acts as a stabilizing spine for the board, with consistent and reliable contact with the snow. This reduces chatter and provides a smoother ride at higher speeds.
With camber zones underfoot, the board has a lively flex that can snap back as you exit turns, giving you a boost of energy and allowing for quick, dynamic riding.
The cambered areas store kinetic energy that can be released when jumping or ollieing, giving the board a poppy and playful character.
The Triple Camber profile has the combined benefits of rocker and camber profiles. It provides the playfulness and float in powder of a rocker with the pop and edge control of a camber.
The transitions between the camber and rocker sections make turn initiation smoother as the rocker sections at the tip and tail reduce the catchiness of traditional camber boards.
The distribution of camber sections also allow for a balanced torsional flex, meaning the board can twist along its length. This helps in making nuanced adjustments during turns.
See also: RCR, CRC, FRF, CFC… Which Snowboard Profile To Choose?
Never Summer Nokhu tech breakdown
In addition to the Triple Camber profile discussed above, these are the Nokhu’s key features and their benefits:
Carbon Max Laminate Technology
This integrates carbon into the fiberglass of the board, adding stiffness and energy without extra weight. It means the board can snap back quickly after turns, giving you a lively ride with plenty of pop.
PowerSurf Wood Core
A combination of polar, paulownia, and birch woods makes the core light yet durable. This core is designed to give a smooth flex pattern from nose to tail, which results in a consistent ride in all conditions.
RDS 2 Damping System
This three-layer system absorbs vibrations and reduces leg fatigue. It means you can ride harder for longer, even on choppy terrain.
Elastomeric Underfoot Stabilizers
Positioned under the bindings, these stabilizers also reduce vibrations and enhance high-speed stability, resulting in a smoother ride.
Power Grip Sidecut
An innovative sidecut geometry that creates additional contact points along the edge of the board. This translates to superior edge hold, especially on ice and hardpack.
Extended Transition Area
This design feature at the ends of the board smooths out turn initiation and exit, resulting in a more forgiving ride when you’re pushing the board to its limits.
Early Rise Nose
The nose of the board starts to rise earlier than traditional designs, which improves float in powder and helps the board plow through heavy snow without bogging down.
Other tech
- Durasurf XT Sintered 5501 base: high-density sintered base that’s durable and absorbs wax well for a faster glide.
- P-tex nose/tail protection: extra material at the ends of the board to increase durability and impact resistance.
- Full wrap metal edge: a metal edge that wraps around the entire perimeter of the board for added durability and improved edge hold.
Riding Style and Terrain: Is the Nokhu Right for You?
The Never Summer Nokhu is a versatile beast, but it’s not for everyone. It’s designed for riders who love to explore and need a board that can keep up with that spirit.
If you get a kick out of a mix of fresh powder, groomers, and occasional foray into the park, the Nokhu is probably a good match.
With its Triple Camber profile, the Nokhu excels in providing edge hold on hardpack and stability when you’re picking up speed. This makes it a solid choice for freeriding – think big mountain lines and tree runs where control and responsiveness are key.
The board’s mid-flex is a sweet spot if you want a balance of support and playfulness. It’s stiff enough to handle high-speed descents and big landings, yet flexible enough for some buttering fun and freestyle action.
As for terrain, the Nokhu thrives on the whole mountain. The early rise nose and tapered shape mean you’ll float effortlessly in powder, and the robust construction can take on the crud and chop you find later in the day.
It’s wide enough to prevent toe drag for riders with larger feet, yet agile enough for quick maneuvers.
That said, if you’re a beginner, the Nokhu’s advanced features might be more than you need right now. It’s also not the board for someone who spends most of their time jibbing in the park; it’s built more for charging than jibbing.
In short, the Nokhu is ideal for intermediate to advanced riders looking for a do-it-all board with a bias towards freeriding and all-mountain riding.
Art and visual design
The Nokhu’s look is getting mixed feedback from riders. The art is from Stanley Mouse, who is known for his classic rock posters. Some riders really dig this old-school style and think it’s cool to see it on a board. They’re stoked to have something that reminds them of the good old days.
But not everyone’s into it. A few folks wish the board had a more traditional snowboard look. They’re not fans of the flashy art and want something simpler.
The design with a polar bear and dancing bears has got some riders excited and others just not sure what to make of it. Whether they love it or not, the Nokhu’s design is definitely getting people talking.
Even with these mixed feelings, there are plenty of people who can’t wait to get this board because they think it looks awesome.