“The new old”
Snowboard Tested and Rider Specs:
- Neuvo Retro 162
- Bindings: Union Falcor & Union Strata
- Boots: Adidas Tactical ADV size 11
- Stance: approximately 22.5″
- Rider Height: 5’11″
- Rider Weight: 195
Conditions/Terrain Tested: Groomers, park, chop, and powder
Features from SlideShow
- Board Length: 162 cm
- Tip Length: 35 cm
- Tail Length: 17.6 cm
- Effective Edge: 110 cm
- Contact Length: 107.5 cm
- Tip Width: 32 cm
- Waist Width: 28 cm
- Tail Width: 29.5 cm
- Camber: 2 mm
- Side-cut Radius: 8 m – 6 m | Bi-Radial Blended
- Side-cut Setback, in relation to reference stance: 9.6 cm
- Reference Stance: 22.8 in
- Stance Min/Max: 19.6 – 25.9 in
- Stance Setback: 18 cm
- Weight Range: +150 lbs
- Durasurf 4001 Base
- Triax S-Glass
- In-house CNC full-length Poplar Core
- UHMW sidewalls
- Superior Zero VOC epoxy resin
- All products sourced in the U.S.A.
- Handcrafted in the U.S.A. at Sego Manufacturing
About Slideshow Snowboards
Ron Murray started Slideshow Snowboards about five winters ago. The idea had been on his mind for years and so when he found himself working at Sego Skis he began to move towards designing and building. He started to relearn CAD design software and focus on snowboard construction, shapes, designs, and measurements. It took six tries to make something that was close to what he wanted. Over the next two years, he continued to evolve the designs, materials, and construction methods to get to the present boards.
Ron’s driving forces for this project stem from two different reasons. The first is that Slideshow creates an avenue for personal growth challenges and requires him to learn new skills and to create new opportunities in his life. The second reason has to do with the snowboard industry and the fact that he had not been able to find a board that he really liked for a number of years now. It is Ron’s opinion that most snowboards are all very average and similar in respect to sidecuts, flex, shape, and base contours. Most of the different-looking shapes by the major manufacturers are based on existing models within their lines and do not provide any real performance improvements. While he understands the reasoning for this from the marketing and manufacturing perspectives, the results do very little to really provide a unique user experience.
So why Slideshow?
Ron believes that the snowboard turn is one of the most elegant and euphoric experiences that humans can have. Each one of the models in the lineup is purpose-built to emphasize a particular aspect and feeling of the snowboard experience. The boards are hard carving powder shapes that excel in deep snow, chop, and groomer riding. They are designed to be fast and turny. The boards contain the highest quality components and bomber construction methods and they are built-in Teton Valley, Idaho.
Review:
I met Ron Murray a few years back at Grand Targhee Resorts Teton Surf Classic. I was drawn to his boards, Slideshow Snowboards, due to the unique shapes. After talking with Ron for a bit, I could really feel his passion for snowboarding. I have been fortunate enough to get to know Ron and ride with him frequently. Ron is like the mad scientist of snowboarding. He will tell you every detail that went into the Slideshow boards and why he designed it that way. He is always tinkering with the designs to make them better.
The Neuvo Retro has a classic fish shape, with a big pointed nose and a short tail. Looking at this board, you’d expect it to be stiff. But Ron put a lot of thought and time into this board. It is surprisingly playful and flexes in all the right places to make this board a blast to ride.
Most boards take some time to get comfortable riding them, however, it only took about two turns and I was closely acquainted with the Neuvo Retro. For a big directional board, it was really easy to ride and this really stands out to me. You might think it’s for powder only, but the more I rode this board, the more I was amazed at how it handles everything. This board seems to excel in every condition.
Unfortunately, we had a long dry spell at Grand Targhee Resort so I was not able to ride as much powder as I would have liked. I did get the Neuvo Retro out in some though and as you’d expect, it floats really well and cuts through chop.
The bi-radial 8-6m side cut makes carving at high-speed fun. The board will hold a layed out carve and snap out of turns. Another thing that really stood out to me is it does not ride like a 162 and is incredibly agile for a big board. Making quick turns in trees was easy.
Riding the Neuvo switch was challenging with the short tail and big nose but again the board is just easy to ride.
I have also had the pleasure of watching Ron Murray and Rob Corum, Marketing+ for Slideshow, take people out on demos. They do an amazing job of explaining the boards and teaching how to ride them.
Overall impressions
The board was fast edge to edge and full of energy coming out of turns. I found it to be damp but lively and very stable. The big nose does chatter a bit, but you don’t feel it underfoot. The Neuvo Retro is really a breath of fresh air, fun design, incredibly functional, and is just fun to ride.
Pros:
- Carving ability
- Fast and poppy
- Excellent float
- Easy to ride
- Cuts through chop
Cons:
- None
| Price: |  (4.5 / 5) |
| Performance: |  (5.0 / 5) |
| Design: | (5.0 / 5) |
| Overall: |  (4.8 / 5) |