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Nidecker Venus 2021-2022 Women’s Snowboard Review

Tested and selected for our top 100 snowboard products of the year: the Nidecker Venus

  • Price: £350 / €350 / $370
  • Category: All-Mountain
  • Sizes: 139, 143, 147, 151, 155
  • Flex: 6/10
  • Shape: Directional
  • Profile: Combo
  • 3D: No
  • Base: Extruded

Why we chose the Nidecker Venus Snowboard: One of the most popular women’s boards on the market just got an all-new shape for 2021/22 – and it’s sick.

Snowboard design has evolved a lot over the past few seasons. Directional shapes are no longer the preserve of dedicated powder boards – in fact many all-mountain models are losing that classic twin-tip look as riders realise the benefit of a silhouette that’s slightly biased towards your regular stance.

The Venus is one such example. A staple of Nidecker’s women’s line for many years, it’s been radically upgraded for 2021/22 with blunter lines and a slightly shorter tail. The result? Better turns, more float and increased stability when you’re blasting around the hill, while retaining all the freestyle performance you need to take it to the park.

“Riders of every level who want one board to do it all – piste, park, pow – will have their prayers answered by the Venus”

MORE INFO:
NIDECKER.COM

Who Is The Nidecker Venus For?

Riders of every level who want one board to do it all – piste, park, pow – will have their prayers answered by the Venus. Its mid flex is right in the sweet spot between friendly and responsive, and that new shape lets you make the most of the mountain’s natural terrain, especially if you’re lucky enough to score some fresh snow.

Shape, Profile and Sidecut

Did we mention the Venus has a new shape? As previously noted, the slightly extended nose and chopped off tail help the rear to sink in deep snow; the directional vibes also help you drive through complete turns and keep the board skimming easily over bumpy terrain.

The sidecut radius is pretty shallow – if you place the 143 version alongside two of Nidecker’s other women’s boards of the same length (the Ora and Elle) it measures 6900 mm versus 6400 mm. What this means in practice is that the Venus is less nervous, excelling at holding fast, drawn out carves.

The cruisy feel is backed up by a ‘Standard Camrock’ side profile that combines classic camber in the middle with extended rocker towards the tips. The idea here is to give you spring-loaded response between your feet (ideal for popping ollies and keeping your edge in contact with the snow during a turn) but with more forgiveness at the wide points. It’s a relaxed set-up that makes you less likely to catch your edge and inspires confidence.

“It’s a relaxed set-up that makes you less likely to catch your edge and inspires confidence”

Construction and Materials

At the heart of the Venus is Nidecker’s aptly-named Master Core. It’s a piece of woodcraft wizardry that combines no fewer than four different timber varieties (polar, beech, spruce and paulownia). Suffice to say it’s got a great balance of strength to weight and lends the board a lively feel underfoot.

The layup features a triaxial fibreglass topsheet. Triax weaves are a little stiffer than their biaxial equivalents (think criss-cross AND diagonal fibres). This beefs up the edge-to-edge response of what is otherwise a pretty friendly board. Alongside an ‘Absorbnid’ layer, and with strips of kevlar and carbon under the inserts (a technology Nidecker call ‘Vibrak’), there’s virtually no chatter even at warp speeds. It’s a smooth and controlled ride all the way.

Underneath you’ll find an N-5000 base that’s not exactly race grade, but it’s durable and quick enough for most – even if you’re not the type of person who packs a waxing iron alongside their underwear.

“At the heart of the Venus is Nidecker’s aptly-named Master Core”

Roundup

There wasn’t an awful lot wrong with the previous incarnation of this board. It’s always been a well specced all-rounder at a competitive price, and one that will suit a wide variety of abilities. The updated outline just gives it a fresh dash of cool in a marketplace that’s increasingly full of eye-catching shapes. It’s a practical move, too. That 10 mm of set back won’t really make switch riding any harder but you’ll definitely feel the benefit when you’re darting into the sidecountry on a powder day, or just charging the trails in your regular stance. And let’s face it, that’s where we’re going to benefit from the biggest returns, right?

Trade Secrets

Antoine Floquet – Senior Engineer & Product Manager, Nidecker

“Few dudes asked if we planned to make a 158L of it or similar shape in the men collection! Maybe sometime in a close future?”

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