Proto Ultra
Designed for team rider Chris Corning’s powerful Slopestyle and big air prowess, the Proto Ultra is a unique powerhouse of a board for the freestyle rider that likes to make the entire mountain your park. It not only will dominate the park, halfpipe, and groomers at your local mountain but it will transfer over to a floater in powder. This new offering from Never Summer’s Proto line up is a snowboard that will put a smile on your face every day of the season.
Snowboard Tested and Rider Specs:
- Never Summer Proto Ultra 2020-2021
- Proto Ultra Size: 154cm (waist width 26.0 cm)
- MSRP: $629.99
- Bindings: Union Falcor (Medium)
- Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV size 9
- Stance: approximately 22.5″
- Rider Height: 5’9″
- Rider Weight: 180
Conditions/Terrain Tested: Groomers, park, all mountain, moguls, and tiny bit of pow.
Recommended for: The aggressive park rider that wants a snowboard that will take your riding to the next level or the rider that wants to use the whole mountain (inbounds or in the side/backcountry) as your park.
Features from Never Summer
- Co-Extruded Polymer Topsheet
- CC Carbon Configuration Technology
- ShockWave Camber Profile
- Extended Transition Area
- Power Grip Sidecut
- Low Profile Nose/Tail
- STS Pre-tensioned Fiberglass
- Bi-Lite Fiberglass
- NS Wooboo Wood Core
- Perforated Rocker Pad
- RDS 2 Dampening System
- Elastromeric Underfoot Stabilizers
- Sintered P-tex Sidewall
- harmonic Tip/Tail Damper
- Durasurf XT Sintered 5501 Base
- Full Wrap Metal Edge
Special Features on the Proto Ultra:
- NS WooBoo Wood Core: Premium Wood and Bamboo core. Lightweight and Ultra high performance characteristics.
- CC Carbon Configuration has a full perimeter, top side carbon X and base side dual carbon X for Ultra-power.
Review:
Never Summer’s Prototype line up now consists of three offerings. The ProtoSlinger, ProtoSynthesis, and Proto Ultra. Each offers distinct characteristics for the ride you want and each board can tackle whatever you’re into from all mountain freestyle to park laps there’s a Prototype in the line up for you.
The Proto Ultra is the stiffest and widest of the three with Never Summers Shockwave Rocker Camber profile you’ll get a lot of powerful pop incorporated with a lively nimble ride that will dominate jumps and rails, carve up groomers, and float in powder. After riding the 155 ProtoSynthesis last season I was really looking forward to checking out the Proto Ultra. The 154 Proto Ultra has a distinct look with a much wider waist width, at 26.0cm, than most freestyle boards in this category. It feels well balanced, which you’d expect from a true twin and has durable topsheet with tasteful abstract artwork. Just what you’d expect from Never Summer’s Proto family.
Never Summer rates the flex of the Proto Ultra as an 8 out of 10 and 6 out of 10 for damping. With a rating of 8 in flex, I was pleasantly surprised on how this board flexed. The additional carbon X in the middle section of the board with harmonic dampeners really makes a difference in balancing out the flex patterns while increasing stability at high speeds. To that end, it’s a stiffer board that doesn’t feel that stiff. It will however stand up to those riders that prefer a stiffer flex when riding.
It’s been a low snow year, and I’ve hit a few rocks while riding the Proto Ultra and the durasurf XT 5501 base is extra durable as you’d expect from Never Summer. The topsheet is easy to hold when grabbing in the air, and the pop for ollies is outstanding, I really appreciate the feeling you get from this board you can feel the best characteristics from the WooBoo (wood and bamboo)core and shockwave profile come through.
Riding park on this board was impressive. I felt confident and secure that I could pop, spin, slide and land most tricks right away. It’s a true confidence builder if you want to step up to larger jumps and bigger spins. The increased waist width felt good on locking into rails and presses and board slides were fun on this board. I appreciate the unique shape in the design, the tip and tail are somewhat blunted to me which reminds me of some 90’s style boards, that could just be my interpretation, it’s a fun shape.
Carving on the Proto Ultra is well rounded. I’ve found some boards aggressively pushed through the arc of the turn, I felt this board is easy to initiate turns and hold the arc of the turn where you want to. It made eurocarving really fun on the toe and heel, a very well balanced carving machine.
The Proto Ultra is geared toward the advanced freestyle rider, and I found it to be an impressive well rounded board that will really make the entire mountain your playground from park to powder. It’s on the higher end of the spectrum price wise for snowboards, but it’s a quality product built in Denver, CO. This board is truly one of my favorite snowboards that I’ve ridden in several years, and is worth looking into for those freestyle riders looking for a confidence inspiring true twin. It’s just fun to ride, who doesn’t want to have more fun?
Overall Impressions:
The Proto Ultra is powerful yet forgiving when you need it to be, a truly unique snowboard to perfect your freestyle prowess. If you’re a park rider who demands the best, or a powerful rider who wants a freestyle board to ride everywhere this is the ticket, it will serve you well all season long wherever you ride.
Pros
- Stable at high speeds and landing jumps
- Freestyle dominator (rips the park)
- balanced weight for spinning
- Carves amazing
- Incredible boosty pop on ollies
- Durable topsheet and base
- 3 year warranty
Cons
None
| Price: |  (4.4 / 5) |
| Performance: |  (4.8 / 5) |
| Design: | (4.8 / 5) |
| Overall: |  (4.7 / 5) |