$549 Advanced to Expert Freeride/Big Mountain Camber Direcitonal Tapered Shape The Salomon Burner is for someone who is a speed junkie and understands veyr well how to handle a fast board. Salomon is known for their exceptionally fast boards and this is the fastest board in their line up. With the exception of the Nidecker Platinum we haven't found a large scale commercial production board that is as fast. Its been in Salomon's Line up for years and has a cult following. It's slightly tapered directional shape and large size range also does very well in Powder. After 09-10 they upgraded the board tech to make it, softer, easier to turn and very very very damp at high speeds. By doing this they transformed this from a niche Freeride board to a top notch all condition Freeride board. This Should be strongly considered if you are looking at the Burton Supermodel X and the Burton Supermodel. Because of the major overhaul in 2010 the 2011 model has not changed too much. For 2012 not much was changed here either. Now with the Supermodel and Supermodel X gone the Burner is one of the last tapered directional cambered boards are around.
The Salomon Burner Snowboard Review by The Good Ride
Board- 160 and 166 Bindings- Flux Feed Back, Flux SF45, Union Co2's Days- 40+
Riders-2
A quick look at the 2012 Salomon Burner
There were 4 major boards in this small category of cambered slightly tapered freeride boards that all compete directly against each other. They were the Salomon Burner, The Burton Supermodel, The Burton Supermodel X and The Nidecker Legend. In 2011 the Supermodel X dissapeared and in 2012 the Supermodel dissapeared. The Legend which is barely available in the US is now a hybrid camber so it's not as similar to the Burner as it use to be. In the old days of the Mid to Late 2000's Salomon use to make this boards so stiff a you would have to be in shape to flex it. Salomon chose in 2010 to soften up this board so it will be a little more friendly for advanced users as well as experts. The design also looks allot better in person than the pics show. Maybe it's because we are older but the contemporary design with this board is unique compared to other boards out there. It's hard to find a freerider who has tried the Salomon Burner and let it go. Groomers and Speed- On our first impression we couldn't get over how soft the Burner is now. It use to take all your effort to flex the board. It worried us that the board wouldn't handle well at high speeds. Fu$% we were wrong! This board has a new type tech that we think has to do with the dampening of the side walls and the ghost core tech. This has that same type of speedy base as the Salomon Special has where it just keeps building momentum. Because of it's larger size it actually has more momentum! When you are on firmer snow this is where the special and the burner shines. We have experienced that all tapered boards like the Burton Supermodel, Supermodel X and Salomon Burner don't seem to have the edge hold that a non tapered board of this speed would. The only board that held an edge in this category was the Nidecker Legend with ultimate grip. That thing could ride over a glacier. That being said the Burner does a pretty good job in anything but snowment and ice. We felt it held an edge better than the supermodel and about the same as the Burton Supermodel X. Where this board stood out was it's incredibly fast base. None of the boards in this catagory came even close to this board in terms of speed. We are almost glad we didn't get the 171 because this thing just can't stop building momentum. Not only does it build up momentum but the board is chatter free. There is one steep run that we hit all the time and if any of us straight line even half of the run it's a heart stopping adventure. On an early morning the editor straight lined more than half of the run without even feeling one bit of chatter. The board handles speed soo well it felt like you aren't going fast and that is scary in a weird way. Their are no alarm signs that the board gives. It just keeps telling you that everything is OK and 50mph is no big deal. The only other board we felt came close to this 166 in terms of speed was the 168 Rome Notch. It's still not as fast but comes close in terms of dampening. The Burner definitely challenges you as a freerider.
Normally as the day progresses with Salomon and the conditions get chopped up the board gets angry. We call this reverse chatter and it's hard on your body. The new Salomon handled chopped up crappy runs like a dream. It was un-beleiveable how much they improved this category after 08-09. The new tech makes a huge difference in the all conditions battle. This can handle 1st chair on Saturday morning to last chair and still be kind on your body.
Powder- This board also performs very well in powder. It has a big set back and a decent enough taper to float very well even though it's cambered. You are not going to feel the speed that you will on groomers but you feel the board keep it's momentum. We compared this board to the Capita Charlie Slasher Pow FK and were suprised to see that a flat kick 164 is just as tall as a Cambered 166 board. We also noticed that this had a similar wide and long nose as a powder board. On the one powder day we had on this board we had the bindings set as close to the nose as possible. It still did very well in powder and there was minimal rear leg burn. It still doesn't have that effortless reverse camber feel but the float is definitely there. We'd like to see Salomon add a little extra float in the nose. We don't want salomon to ruin the good thing going with the speed derived from Camber but we wouldn't mind a little more nost to make it just barely a hybrid camber.
Turn Initiation- When it comes to turn initiation we were skeptical on theirk ghost core. The old ERA construction with minimal core in the center to make it easy to turn wasn't all that. The ERA boards were still tough to turn at low speeds if you were in their suggested riding weight compared to other boards. The new Ghost Tech is far better. It makes the board incredibly softer and easier to turn at low speeds. It is also very easy to turn in tight situations like trees or steep chutes. This is good because the board gets going soo fast you need to turn. There was one turn the editor made where he dropped his hand to touch the ground on a high speed carve and the snow took off the silicone on the fingers!
Lightweight- This board is right up there in the top of the light boards. The 166 feels like a 160.
Edge Hold- Like all tapered boards they don't have the best edge hold when it comes to hard pack conditions but out of all of the similar boards we tried it did very well.
Stiffness- The newer Burner from 2009-2010 on really softened up. We would say it used to be a 5 out of 5 but now it's closer to a 3 or maybe even less. What is weird about this change is it didn't loose any of it's crazy speed or dampening.
Jumps- Not very good in the park but great for a method off a natural hit.
The rest of these categories are not really applicable for the Salomon Burner. This is a very specific board to big mountain and if you take this on a rail we'll come to your house and take it away from you.
The Good Ride Take on Salomon
Boards Salomon is small compared to some companies but they have the complete line up and a very strong following. You will either love or hate a Salomon board. Salomon makes a very fast and damp all mountain to freeride board that seems to feel best at high speeds. It is really scary how fast it is. They have also made a solid effort to make some pretty good park boards as well and won some Good Wood Award's in the park and pipe. If you are looking for something a bit off the beaten path Salomon might work for you. Boots It is almost undisputed amongst most knowledgeable riders that Salomon has some of the best boots out there. They have spent a lot of time making a boot that fits well and that won’t pack out much. Even though there is a semi-traditional lacing system it still has a speed lace tightening system and it can lock at each rung on the upper part of the boot. Some complain that the Salomon boot runs a bit narrow so if you have wide feet think twice. Also others complain that it can take longer than some boots to make them comfortable for your feet. Bindings Salomon’s bindings are not as popular as their boards and boots but still do a good job competing with the other big name brands. They are reliable and well made and have a more traditional old school feel compared to the leading companies. That being said the turn initiation and general feeling is good so these could work for you.
The Burner's our Tapered Directional speed machine with a firmer flex for max edge hold on steeps and banked turns. Alien Light core construction with Ghost XY carbon stringers give you the strongest rider response in the board line.
The Burner’s lightweight and directional shape bring a whole new feel to riding at very high speeds. No more tanks that bank turns, the Burner is responsive, stable and sturdy.
Simply the best board in our line for wide open hauling ass and straight lining the sickest chutes in the world. From AK to Chamonix the Burner gulps steep terrain and terminates all board chatter. A fine tuned, Ghost Light machine. Point it.
Here is a shitty video of the Burner with me taking it for a spin on a slushy spring morning and here is a shaky video of a run he took.
Burton Supermodel
User reviews
Average user rating from: 3 user(s)
Overall Rating:
4.0
Fast but sometimes furious ;)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Bought this board after long time considering what I wanted. I enjoyed going fast and didn't do much in the parc. So after some long research....I got the Burner of 2010.
The looks and feel of this board is awesome, but thats more a personal choice.
I have done 5 days in a row on holiday on it and I enjoyed it a lot. Stable on ice, fast in deep snow and very controllable.
Only con for me was that the board fires away and just keeps going. I had to work hard on this board to control it and after 3/4 day I started to get tired and wasnt able to control it, which means the board goes away with you ;)
Did some jumps and 180s with it, but I got punished a couple times because the board is not forgiving, so stiff that a wrong landing will send your nose into the snow.
Now I got more into the freestyle modus, but I will keep this one for deep powder and going out with Skie'ers who think they are fast.
Together with the Salomon Caliber bindings...perfect match. Expensive board but if your up for a fast one, this is your pick I guess.
Overall Rating:
4.0
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Reviewed by Wig
October 18, 2011
Love It
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
I should probably give five stars, but, to be honest, I don't have much to compare to... In about a 12-year period I went from the UniBody Pro to the Fastback to the Burner (these were the Salomon boards that evolved into the Burner). All 163s. I had a K2 Electra 165 in there but hated it. I have the '08/9 model and I love how stiff it is. Yes, it's fast. I was at Snowbasin a few weeks ago and my GPS clocked 60mph just crusing...not trying to "go fast." I love it in the trees (my fave) and on powdery bowls...It's just a great board.
Anyway, I'm wanting a different all-mountain board but not sure where to go from here...Any Ideas?
Overall Rating:
4.0
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Reviewed by Tony
March 20, 2011
This board is very fast and stable
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
I agree with the description above; very fast with good stability and edge hold. I was an intermediate rider when I boought it but I now enjoy flying down the mountain blowing past speed demon skier friends on steep black runs and will shoot off piste into powder with pleasure. It carves and holds an edge very well. This board has helped me become an advanced freerider.
But, I am on this site to look for a second board because I want to develop my Freestyle with jumps, pipe and switch. This board can do those but not really well, especially switch, as a sort of ambidextrous mutant the swithriding that came naturally to me while on other boards is truly rough on this tapered directional board.
But if you want to charge down and slice around the mountain this board comes recommended.
