Snowboard Tested and Rider Specs:
- Nitro Banker 2020-2021
- Nitro Banker Size: 159cm (waist width 25.6 cm)
- Nitro Banker Sidecut: 8.2 / 6.5
- MSRP: $519.95
- Bindings: Union Falcor (Large) and Union Strata (Large)
- Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV size 11
- Stance: approximately 22.5″
- Rider Height: 6’0″
- Rider Weight: 195
Conditions/Terrain Tested: Groomers, park, chop, and some deep pow!
Features from Nitro
- Trüe Camber
- Directional All Terrain Flex
- Progressive Sidecut
- Power Core II
- Reflex Core Profile
- Bi-Lite Laminates
- Sintered Speed Formula HD Base
- Flex: 8/10
- 2 Year Warranty
Review:
After riding the Nitro Fusion last year, I was excited to get out and ride the Nitro Banker. The Banker is a directional, all-mountain board designed to be fast and responsive, and is relatively new to the Nitro Quiver line. Bryan Fox and Austin Smith wanted a board specifically for the Baker Banked Slalom, hence the name.
On my first day or so on this board, I wasn’t sure I liked it. It was stiff and pretty wide. I quickly learned this board wants to be pushed. This is definitely not a beginner board. The more aggressively you ride this board, the more it responds.
The Banker was designed to crush groomers but I found it to be a solid board for most conditions. Using Nitro’s Reflex Core Profile, it snaps in and out of turns and is really fast edge to edge. It uses a progressive sidecut which means it basically uses two side-cut radii along the edge. This changes the behavior of the board when initiating and exiting turns. I found the Banker just wanted to accelerate out of turns.
The combinations of Nitro’s Trüe Camber profile and the Reflex Core Profile allow for a lot of board to snow contact, enhancing board control. The Powercore II is constructed of poplar wood and reinforced with two stringers. The Banker is rated at an 8 out of 10 on stiffness. It definitely is stiff, however, I found the board to be damp and just really stable. It hardly has any chatter at high speeds and loves to be pushed.
The Nitro Banker features the Sintered Speed Formula HD base. I have found the Nitro boards to be really fast and seem to retain wax a bit longer than other boards.
I took the Banker through the park a few times and while it’s not designed for the park, I was comfortable hitting small jumps and rails on it.
With its wide nose, it had excellent float in powder and was very surfy in deep powder.
I really found this board to excel on groomers and chop. In chop, it just absorbed bumps and pushed through everything in its path with ease. On groomers, it just wants to go fast, spring in and out of turns and is just smooth. It takes some effort to lay down deep carves but as I’ve mentioned, this board just wants to be pushed. When you push it hard, it just comes alive.
Lastly, the base and top sheet on this year’s Quiver line are really vivid. Bright colors, with a spray paint-like texture in a matte top sheet, is sure to turn heads. The base graphic mirrors the top but includes “Nitro”.
Overall impressions:
The Nitro Banker is an intermediate to advanced directional board designed to be nimble and really fast out of turns. This board just wants to go and the harder you push, the more it comes alive. I found it to be really damp and smooth in the roughest conditions. If you are looking for an aggressive all-mountain charger, take a few laps on a Nitro Banker as it will not disappoint.
Pros:
- Stable at high speeds
- Fast and poppy
- Responsive
- Excels in powder
Cons:
- Must be ridden aggressively
| Price: |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Performance: |  (4.7 / 5) |
| Design: |  (4.8 / 5) |
| Overall: | (4.7 / 5) |