Snowboard Review: 09-10 Never Summer Infinity-R

Location: Loveland, CO & Timberline, OR

Snow Conditions: Loveland was hardpacked to light powder on the runs.  Timberline, OR was hardpacked to slushy snow conditions.

Setup: I rode the Never Summer Infinity-R with my Force and Force SL bindings and Bonfire Geo boots.

Size: 156cm.

First Impression:

Weight: average

Flex: The Infinity hasn’t changed much since the switch from camber to reverse camber.  Overall it’s a medium flex board with the flex torsionally softer between the bindings and longitudinally stiffer from nose to tail, it’s what gives it that all mountain do everything ride that it’s known for.  When it comes to playfulness, the nose is stiffer than the tail (giving it the stability on charging)  and the tail is softer (making it still fun for tail butters and presses).

Turning: The Infinity-R handled the long radius drawn out S turns without feeling like I would hook the board or needed to turn quicker than I wanted, but also when I needed quick responsive sharp turns it allowed me to get them done.  On the hardpacked groomers with some icy spots, it held an edge and gripped the icy areas so I never felt unstable on them.  It was easy to go from edge and edge and I never felt the board stall between carving.

Stable: On the slushy bumps in the summer, the dampening helped absorb them pretty good and I never encountered the board taking a carve into the snow that I didn’t want.  Overall the board can charge with good stability and you never feel let down from it.  I wasn’t able to take it in more than an inch or two of powder so didn’t get to judge that fully.

Pop: The mix of reverse camber has a sweet spot and when you find it, it’s ideal for popping and getting good ollies.  I was able to get it and could play with it over rocks/bumps and play around with it on butters.  It’s not as easy as the park boards to press/butter but it can.

Switch: I didn’t encounter any problems with going into switch riding, it didn’t catch and rode without any adjustment.

Overall Impression: The Infinity continues to be the all mountain slayer for women, it can charge the mountain but also play in the park.  It’ll float in powder when you have some new snow on the mountain and it’ll handle slushy summer conditions.   The reverse camber helps with the progression, less catchy and  that first step if you take it into the park.  Across the board it’s the middle of the road for female riders who want a board to handle everything, it won’t disappoint wherever you take it on the mountain and it’s a boards that lasts.

Shay’s Honesty Box: I first rode the Infinity at Windell’s this summer and then rode it at Loveland early this season so the graphics had changed from the photo to what they are now (no cassette tapes).  The Infinity is always that board that I can ride without any adjustment, just get on and feel comfortable right from the start.  Compared to the other women’s boards it doesn’t push me as much as the Lotus (my main board) and it isn’t as fun as the evo in the park.  It’s that good in between but I tend to fall on one side or the other so I don’t spend as much time on the Infinity throughout the year.

Ready to buy? Head over to evo for the 2011 version of the Never Summer Infinity-R or shop their full line of Never Summer snowboards

On Snow Photo

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Never Summer Infinity-R description

Review Disclosure: I rode this board at a demo day.