2017 Never Summer Type Two Snowboard Review

Its been almost 5 years since I last had the joy of riding a Never Summer Proto and all I can say is the 2016/2017 Type Two was even better than I could have ever imagined.

Never Summer’s Type Two is the most lively, fun, surfy, poppy hippie loving snowboard I have ever ridden and it makes me uber proud that this snowboard was handmade in Denver, Colorado and even pressed by Sasso (a snowboarder). When you buy board from NS you’re supporting snowboarding and more importantly snowboarders as the company is still owned by brothers Tracy and Tim, and from the top down the entire crew shreds.

First Impression

You might be wondering why I’m riding a twin tip freestyle board in pow? Well because it’s about as rad as it gets, and don’t be fooled it works!

Last year I reviewed Never Summer’s deliciously designed Funslinger. That board won a bunch of awards from us including our Editor’s Choice and I was convinced this was the best snowboard Never Summer had ever made. It was until the Type Two and I met for a romantic day of 40″ snow at Grand Targhee Resort that I realized Never Summer is making THE BEST SNOWBOARDS in the industry, and theses are some of the easiest boards to ride regardless of your skill level.

Anyone that straps into a Never Summer Type Two will become a better snowboarder. Do you really need to even keep reading?

Riding

If you like to and I hate to borrow the term from another brand “surf the earth” this is the snowboard you will want to buy. Top to bottom Never Summer’s Type Two can handle any terrain the mountain throws your way from the steeps to the deep and everything in between.

After a week of testing in the Tetons I have yet to find any terrain or conditions that this board did not allow me to have 100% confidence and some in my riding. I found myself picking of technical exposed lines off Grand Targhee’s Mary’s Peak, sending cliffs and searching out every single piece of powder that mountain had to offer. This is a snowboard that was designed to simply have fun.

I don’t ride park anymore so can’t tell you how it works there but I would assume if It can land solid off big cliffs in the backcountry and hold an edge on steeps groomed park kickers and pipe sessions should be a breeze. This board makes me want to spend more time riding resorts.. And I never thought that would happen again.

Pop

There is something about the Proto’s over the years that has remained the same, insane pop thanks to the hybird poplar / birch core material. I set this board up in the backseat (as I am always riding pow) and it takes little to zero effort to load the tail. I felt like my dog leaping from patch of snow to patch of snow. It was like I had reunited with my favorite board, favorite terrain and favorite mountain. However all this was new to me yet I just felt like the board and I were always in tune.

Even spinning on this board felt easy, my 3’s became 5’s and so on. Once the board gets loaded up it’s going to release some serious energy.

Ripsaw Profile

Clearly as seen above in the video above it’s obvious that Never Summer’s Type Two performs well in deep snow. Wondering why? You can thank the tried and true Ripsaw profile found on this board.

Last year I heard feedback that the Funslinger was too soft? You might want to loose some weight, but all kidding aside I actually felt the Ripsaw was a bit too stiff for my every day style of riding. So when Never Summer decided to take the best of both of these boards and plop them together, I can say without a doubt the Type Two will be the only snowboard you will ever want to ride again.

The Type Two is actually an asymmetrical twin shape, so yeah it can go anywhere you want to take it. Another new piece of tech on the 2017 Never Summer Type Two is a sweet looking nylon topsheet, hopefully. I did notice snow still sticking to the sparkly pentagram at the top of the board, but whatever I’m calling this a powder board and it should be covered in snow anyways..

Overall Impression

This is what Vince Sanders of Never Summers Product Development team had to say “Rocker between the feet and camber extending out to the ends of the board is the most versatile design for snowboarding overall”. And I could not agree more.

For a solid board this is the perfect blend of tried and true camber for stability and the effortless float found in rockered boards. I never had to force this snowboard to go where I wanted it to. After a week of resorts laps and backcountry runs I have found my new daily driver (move over Funslinger) as this board really held its own in big technical terrain. And for that Never Summer will surely sell a ton of these.

The early release boards are currently only available in core local snowboard stores around the country with sizes 154, 157 and 155X. For the 2016/17 season more sizes will be added and odds are these boards will be available through online retailers as well. This board will sell out, if you snowboard you need to have this board in your quiver. Or better yet get rid of most of your other boards as this tech combines everything I love about snowboarding into a nice neat looking package.

Last but not least for anyone that likes to carve you will want to take this board out on some groomers. It’s nearly impossible to make the Type Two wash out, put it on an edge and it will stay there until your ready to swift your weight to the opposite side. This is effortless snowboarding 101.

And for anyone not fully convinced, rumor has it NS is making a directional version of the Proto Type Two (The Twenty Five). Not that this board needs any improvement…