Curated Snowboard Expert Mike Leighton got his hands on the** **2023 Never Summer Snowtrooper and put it to the test at Powder Mountain in Utah this past spring. Check out how it performed in the carving, freestyle, and freeride categories, but don’t forget, every rider is unique; if you have any questions on the Never Summer Snowtrooper or would like recommendations on what board would be ideal for your needs, reach out to a Snowboard Expert here on Curated.

Before we jump in, a quick note that Curated Experts are not sponsored by any brands, all of these reviews are completely unbiased.

Brand Claims

Never Summer markets the Snowtrooper as the Swiss army knife of snowboards. It's a versatile go anywhere, do everything, one board quiver. It’s an all-mountain directional twin shape featuring Never Summer’s Original Rocker Camber Profile. It has the Vario Power Grip SIdecut utilizing multiple radiuses creating extra contact points to enhance edge hold.

Overall Impressions

I wasn't sure what to expect from my initial impression of this board. It's listed with a 5 out of 10 flex rating and a 5 out of 10 for dampness, which puts it right in the middle, making it a very approachable board. When I first got on it, I noticed the ease of turn initiation with that original rocker camber profile. It has rocker between the feet with a short section of camber and then it eases into the tip and tail. The rocker camber profile is the same on both sides of the board, making it really easy to initiate those turns. It utilizes multiple radii creating extra contact points to enhance edge hold. Once you get up on the edge, you lock into those camber zones and hold a solid edge. It is a directional twin with a slight setback stance that is not very noticeable. The Snowtrooper really feels right at home riding both switch and regular. I rode this board more switch versus regular when I was reviewing it.

Carving

Carving on this board was really fun. It holds a great edge and slingshots you out of one turn and into the next. Once this board is on edge, it turns really, really well! We had some slushy conditions on some groomed terrain and it performed very well riding both switch and regular. One thing I did notice with the Vario Power Grip Sidecut is you will feel where the different radiuses intersect and it will feel a little catchy at first. Once you learn to recognize how it feels and when to anticipate it, it will become incredibly predictable and confidence expiring.

Freestyle

With its directional twin shape, you can take this thing in the park riding switch and regular. The Snowtrooper is pressable, playful, engaging and a lot of fun to ride. You can hit a jump switch, rail switch and whatever else your heart desires. This a great Swiss army knife option which is exactly what Never Summer markets this board as.

Freeride

Getting into more free riding terrain, there was a little bit of chatter under foot. The rocker profile was very quick and nimble when you got into some tighter moguls and trees. With the slight setback stance, it powered through the chunder and chop. It was pretty damp and stable for a board with a 5 out of 10 for flex and dampness. It was predictable, easy to ride and nothing is going to catch you by surprise on this board. The Snowtrooper was fun blasting all over the mountain.

Recommendations

Who would you recommend this board to? I would recommend this board to any intermediate and above rider. This could be the board for a progressing rider coming off their very first beginner set up looking for their next board. Intermediate to advanced riders are going to have a great time on this board. It can charge, turn, hop in the trees, hit jumps and spin. This board does a little bit of everything. If you can only have one board in your quiver, you can't go wrong with the Snowtrooper.

Who would you not recommend this board to? If you're going to be freeriding more, getting into technical and steep terrain, you might want to consider something that's a bit damper with a stiffer flex. If you're a dedicated park rider, you probably want something that's a true twin shape. I would stay off this board, if you are a true beginner just starting out. This would make a great second board to progress on, once you start building some confidence and you're getting into more blue intermediate terrain. When you start to introduce yourself to riding switch and ungroomed terrain, this would be a great option for you to step up to. Overall, the Snowtrooper was a lot of fun and a great board.

Snowboards work differently for different riders and in different conditions. If you're looking for help to find that perfect next board, hit up Mike or another Snowboard Expert here on Curated. Note that the 2024 version of the Never Summer Snowtrooper is linked below - same tech, just different graphic: