Never Summer Cougar Review vs. Proto Fr and Valhalla

Summary

In this engaging review, James Beasy and Davey Boy evaluate the Never Summer Cougar and Valhalla snowboards, comparing their performance across varied conditions like groomers and powder. They discuss board specifications, flex, pop, edge hold, and turning dynamics, highlighting the Cougar's versatility, strong pop, and competent edge grip. The Cougar is noted for its dynamic ride and suitability for advanced riders, while its directional shape influences performance in powder. Overall, the review underscores the Cougar as an excellent all-mountain option, ideal for those seeking a balance between playfulness and stability.

Takeaways

• 🏂 The Cougar snowboard is ideal for advanced and expert riders, offering a dynamic and poppy performance across various conditions.
• 🔄 The Valhalla is recommended in a larger size due to its tapered design, making it more directional compared to the Cougar.
• 📏 The Proto Free Ride felt oversized for some riders, suggesting a smaller size may be better for maneuverability.
• 🎢 The Cougar provides a medium-stiff flex, ensuring stability and excellent pop, making it suitable for aggressive riding.
• ⚡ The on-snow performance of the Cougar is stable and consistent, with a satisfying spring out of turns that outperforms the other boards.
• 🌨️ In powder, the Cougar performs well but tends to favor straight-line speed over playful turns, making it less versatile than the Valhalla.
• 🔪 The edge hold on the Cougar is reliable, even on harder snow, although it doesn't specialize in extreme hard snow conditions.
• 🏋️‍♂️ The Cougar can handle jumps effectively and feels centered for switch riding, making it fun for various types of terrain.
• 📈 The Cougar's construction allows for easy engagement of pop, making it one of the most responsive boards in the lineup.
• 🧩 Overall, the Cougar is recommended as a versatile one-board quiver, with the potential to pair well with the Swift for optimal performance in different conditions.

Q & A

What boards were compared in the review?

The review compared the Never Summer Cougar, Proto Free Ride, and Valhalla snowboards.

What types of conditions did the reviewers test the boards in?

The boards were tested in a variety of conditions, including pristine groomers, midwinter powder, and less than ideal conditions.

How did the Cougar perform in terms of stability and on-snow feel?

The Cougar was described as having a very stable and consistent on-snow feel, making it easy to ride one-footed and flat-based.

What are the flex characteristics of the Cougar compared to the Valhalla and Proto Free Ride?

The Cougar has a medium-stiff flex that feels a bit softer in the nose and stiffer in the tail, while the Valhalla is a little stiffer overall.

How did the Cougar's pop compare to the other boards?

The Cougar had the best pop, described as very accessible due to its construction and camber profile, making it easier to engage and rewarding when flexed.

What was mentioned about the Cougar's speed and edge hold?

The Cougar was noted for its ability to maintain speed and hold an edge well in harder snow, although it wasn't specifically a hard snow specialist.

What was the turning experience like on the Cougar?

The Cougar provided a satisfying and balanced turning experience, excelling in carving compared to the Proto Free Ride and Valhalla.

How did the Cougar perform in powder compared to other boards?

In powder, the Cougar was competent but more down-the-line and aggressive, preferring straight-line performance rather than playful turns.

What feedback was provided about riding the Cougar switch?

Despite being tapered and directional, the Cougar was still enjoyable to ride switch, providing a good experience.

What is the overall recommendation for the Cougar?

The Cougar is recommended as a versatile option for various conditions, serving well as a one-board quiver for groomers and shallow powder.