Nitro Woodcarver 2021 Review
The Woodcarver is one of Nitro’s high end, carving boards that is still made to float in powder. It is a smooth and fast turning board that can handle a lot, but it isn’t a cheap one.
Features of the Nitro Woodcarver
- Directional Shape
It has a longer nose, shorter tail and the tiniest bit of taper. - Cam-Out Camber
Cam-Out Camber is basically just a regular camber profile, that just has a more mellow or toned down camber sections at the nose and tail. - Mid-Wide Width
Although it is a mid-wide width for a Nitro, compared to a lot of other boards it would just be a regular width. - All Terrain Flex
Nitro’s name for a flex rating that is suitable for riding all over the mountain. - Dual Degressive Sidecut
A mix between different radius circles, which has larger ones toward the nose and tail of the board, and a smaller tighter one in the middle. It is the most forgiving option Nitro have, that keeps it loose and playful. - Power Core Lite
Made with the highest grade of very lightweight poplar, it has lots of pop and strength, at a very light weight. - Diamond Laminates
Extra layers of carbon add more snap and a lively feel. - Sintered Speed Formula II Base
A hard and fast base material, that is infused with wax to keep it fast in all conditions. - Standard Core Profile
- PowerPods
Powerpods give the board a bit of extra width under the bindings, which give extra edge hold and less toe and heel drag for riders with big boots.
Sizes available:
- 155cm
- 159cm
- 163cm
How it Rides
Board size: 159
Boots: Salomon Launch Boa 27.5
Bindings: Burton Cartel
This review is based on me riding the 159cm 2021 Woodcarver, with my Burton Cartels set up to +12 and -9, with a stance width of around 21.5 inches. I am 6 foot tall, and weigh 72kg or 160lbs.
I had ridden a 2019 Woodcarver for a few runs a year or so ago, but I didn’t spend enough time on it to be able to really find out what it was like.
Camber Profile
The Cam-Out camber profile is really just traditional camber, that is toned down a tiny bit towards the contact points. It has all the feel of a regular camber board, so if you learnt on a camber board, there won’t be any surprises there.
Flex and Pop
It has a stiffer flex, and I noticed it mostly in the tail. A few times when I got the timing just right on the top of a roller, I was able to get much more air than I expected, and I felt comfortable in the air knowing that even if I landed with my weight off center, it was easy to keep under control.
Edge Hold
Although I am used to riding sharp camber boards, I was still nicely surprised with the Woodcarver. It was new, so the edges were in perfect condition, but holding an edge even in the hardest snow I could find felt effortless. It is probably a combination of the Dual Degressive sidecut, Power Pods and the Cam-Out camber, but I was very impressed.
Float
In powder and deeper snow the Woodcarver had a very smooth, surfy feel that I always felt in control of. I didn’t notice that I had to make an effort to lean back, which was probably helped with the 20mm setback stance. I would happily ride this on a powder day.
Speed
It’s a quick board, and it felt very fast on groomers, chopped up snow and in powder.
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Excellent edge hold
- Makes turning fun
Cons
- Expensive
Overall
For someone who likes to ride fast, really use the edges of the board and get that “always accelerating” feel from a board, the Woodcarver is what you want. Turns start very smoothly and naturally, and short and quick turns are as easy as wide and fast ones. Even with the extra width under the bindings from the PowerPods, the waist width is quite narrow on 155 and 159, though it does get a bit more generous on the 163. The ride in powder is just as nice on groomers, I never felt like it was hard work to keep the board afloat.
You pay a lot for it, but you get a fast, quick turning board that will be as aggressive as you want it to be.
Similar boards:
Nitro Woodcarver 2021 Technical Specs
| Length | Effective Edge (mm) | Setback (mm) | Waist Width (mm) | Sidecut (m) | Weight Range (lbs) | Weight Range (kg) |
| 155 | 1065 | 20 | 250 | 6/5/6 | 120-165 | 55-75 |
| 159 | 1100 | 20 | 251 | 6/5/6 | 145-185 | 65-85 |
| 163 | 1140 | 20 | 257 | 7/6/7 | 165+ | 75+ |
2020
2019
2018
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