Nitro Rook - 2011

Quick
stats: Recommended for park riding.

Last year the Rook was king of the Nitro castle. For 2011 the Nitro Rook returns with an almost identical package. Nitro are still using their zero camber profile, degressive sidecut and biaxial glass, but for 2011 they’re added Kevlar impact plates under the bindings so you don’t go smashing the core to bits when you overshoot landings, and Nitro have added their Pop Band technology, a narrow strip of glass that runs the length of the board, to improve pop without increasing torsional rigidity. The Rook is a park slayer with all-mountain versatility. If you’re not digging the 2011 graphic you can always pick up one of the limited edition rides featuring Dennis McNett’s artwork.

Manufacturer's Description:

The multiple board test winning Rook has become the go to board this season, because of its true twin, mid-wide shape and Zero camber that makes the board easier to transition from rails to jumps. The Bi-Lite laminates give the Rook a very forgiving flex while the Ballistic Impact Panels and Railkiller edge take all the abuses that the park dishes out. For 2011 we dropped the camber to Zero and added our new Pop Band in the fiberglass for boosted ollie snap. Rounding out the Rooks insanity is the dual degressive sidecut that keeps the board from being catchy on take offs and landings, but provides a solid hold between your feet. Don’t be a mark for those other companies - try a board that will give you some love back.

Pro Guides:

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Year: 2011

Available Lengths (cm):
152, 154, 156, 158

Riding Style:
Freestyle/Park

Specifications:

POWERCORE II: reinforced tip-to-tail woodcore for unrivaled snap and durability
BI-LITE LAMINATES: biaxial fiberglass for effortless turns and a forgiving flex
BALLISTIC IMPACT PANEL: kevlar® impact protection under your feet
NEW POP BAND: additional fiberglass for added pop without inhibiting torsional flex
DUAL DEGRESSIVE SIDECUT: makes landings and takeoffs effortless without sacrificing powerful turns
PROFILE TIP: tapered to disperse energy and reduce swing weight
RAILKILLER EDGE: more meat for more durability
SINTERED SPEED FORMULA BASE: sh#%t’s fast, tough and low maintenance - life’s short, so haul ass

SB-RV Review

Wow, what an awesome snowboard. I have to nail my colours to the mast early here and say that I want the Nitro Rook, and there is a good chance I will be riding it next winter. Surprisingly I didn’t even want to ride it. You see, it’s another one of these zero camber things, and I was really disappointed with the last one I rode. However, ride it I did, and what a ride it turned out to be!

I took it straight to the top of the glacier and if I’m honest, slightly skeptically strapped it to my feet. There was plenty of untracked powder to the sides of the piste so I pointed the Rook downhill and carved a perfect arc towards the edge of the piste, bouncing through the ridge and into the air, then landing in the fresh at high speed and shredding fresh lines all the way down, popping on and off the piste, in and out of the pow, whooping all the way. I then headed over to the slightly snowy park, where the Rooks base dealt with the snowy run-ins with no problem, creating loads of speed and super edge hold running up the kickers, helping me spin effortlessly off the top. It is a little stiffer than most freestyle boards and although it was still super capable on the rails and boxes, thanks I guess to that zero camber, it was a little stiff to manipulate at lower speeds, so I can’t see it under the feet of big jib fans. The Nitro Rook would make a great purchase for any intermediate to advanced freestyle snowboarder who wants a great all rounder with it’s roots in kicker riding, the Rook is particularly good for riding transitions of all shapes and sizes and even big icy pipe walls.

I would definitely buy the Rook, although if I’m honest and of course it’s my personal opinion, I’d take the limited edition McNett graphics over the Skeleton Playing card any day of the week. I would not hesitate to recommend the Rook to anyone heading out to the mountains, on holiday or for a season, but perhaps it’s a little stiff for dedicated jibbers. All things considered a fantastic snowboard.

Posted by Ben Molloy in • Nitro

User Reviews

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