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The Good Ride Take

The Salomon Official Review by The Good Ride

Board 158
Boots- Burton SLX and Burton Rampant

Bindings- Burton Diode and Union Atlas

Riders- 5'10" 195lbs size 9 shoe, 5'11" 175lbs size 8.5 shoe

 

The salomon Official has a reputation as a great do anything all mountain to all mountain freestyle board that rips the pipe and we agree.  However with all the hybrid shapes out there it isn't the one board for every condition type of ride.

 

 

 

 

Groomers- Yeah taking a long drawn out turn on clean morning groomers at higher speeds is pretty fun here.  The typical salomon reverse chatter happens though when the conditions are uneaven, rutted up or chopped up.  It seems to tell you it doesn't want to be there by loosing it's damp feeling that it has at higher speeds.

 

Powder- We mainly ride in thicker snow and that is a really good test as to how a board will ride in powder.  Even if you are into the old shool camber type of ride you will find this a little more difficult to keep afloat compared to other directional camber twins. If you ride in light fluffy powder that never gets too deep you'll be ok but don't rely on this for having a great time in powder if you ride in the thick/deep snow areas of the world.  It would be fun to have this board and a dedicated powder board.

 

Turn Initiation/Carving- Camber boards are definitely more difficult to turn than many hybrid shapes.  Still the 158 we had was very responsive and esasy to turn.  Quick short radius turns weren't incredibly easy but were very doable. Wider turns are pretty damn fun.  When it comes to carving out a serious turn we both really enjoyed the feeling from the official.  Carving on this board is rather pleasurable.

 

Speed- The Official doesn't have that magic like the Salomon XLT or discontinued Salomon Special but it is closer to the side of excellent.  We had no problems going any speed on this board.  The Salomon Official seems to get angry at you if you slow down which is kind of weird.  The Official is happiest on smooth groomers at good speeds.  It has that ultra damp feeling without being dull and the base isn't so slick that the speed seems like it's getting away from you like it did with the XLT. 

 

Weight- Not a feather weight but not too heavy either.

 

Edge Hold- The unique multiple angle sidecut is used for many rocker snowboards in Salomons line.  While it improves edge hold with those flat/rocker boards it's still missing some grip.  However when paired up with a medium camber shape like the Official it does a very good job holding an edge. 

 

Flex- This is on the slightly stiffer side of medium but not beyond a press or two with a little more effort.

 

Switch- We had the stance centered and the bindings ducked out at 12 degrees.  Even though this is a directional twin it felt pretty much the same riding each way.

 

Rails/Jibbing- an awesome pipe board is not going to do as well in a jib park as other boards.  Just not the officials forte'. You can visit but you don't want to live there with this board.

 

Pipe- This is just a super fun pipe board for any technical rider. It climbs walls really well and is the perfect type of board to snap you from wall to wall.

 

Jumps- Like the pipe this is a great board for taking a technical approach to the roller coaster park.  It's also a very poppy board but that is expected from a camber profile and all the awards.  Ollie power is there and it's near the top of it's class here.

 

All in all the Official isn't going to be a one board for everything solution but it has many more positive qualities than negative.  If you are looking for a good camber jump/pipe/groomer board you won't be dissapointed here......especially if you have a dedicated powder board.  We wish Salomon would put just a little more rubber in the rails like they did with the Special II at the end to soften up the reverse chatter we experienced in poor conditions at slower speeds.

 

 

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.

 

Company Information

Salomon Official 2012

Official

Nice Wood

David Benedek redefined the sport of snowboarding on the Official, and while David's out creating his new book and keeping his legend status clean, the Official continues to progress too. Popster Ollie power and a super light Alien Light core are two technologies that make the Official a TWS GOOD WOOD winner for the 3rd year in a row.

 

 

 

Salomon Official 2011

Stability on big jumps and 22’ pipe walls. Trust Transworld on this one. The Official makes the grade in the Good Wood Test every time.

Shape

Directional Twin

Mustache

Wingtips Equalizer

Base Material

Sintered EG

Factory Finish

Med Stone Finish

Core Type

Alien Light Core

Construction

Popster Core Profile

Suspension

Rubber Rails

Salomon Official 2010

 

 

 

Shape	Directional Twin
Sidecut	Equalizer
Construction	Popster Core Profile
Base Material	Sintered 4000 EG
Factory Finish	Med Stone Finish, Full Edge Bevel
Suspension	Rubber Rails
Core Type	Alien light core

 

 

 

 

Specs

Salomon Official 2012 Specs

 

 

 

Board Size	Contact Length	Effective Edge	Max Stance	Waist Width	Tail Length	Nose Length	Set Back	Sidecut Radius
( cm )	( mm )	( mm / cm )	( mm )	( mm )	( mm )	( mm )	( mm )	( mm )
144	1070	1130	626 (24.6)	245	180	190	10	8
148	1110	1170	636 (24.9)	246	180	190	10	8
152	1140	1200	646 (25.4)	247	185	195	10	8
155	1160	1220	656 (25.8)	248	190	200	15	8
161	1190	1250	676 (26.6)	253	200	210	15	8
158	1175	1235	666 (26.2)	250	195	205	15	8

 

 

 

 

Salomon Official 2011 Specs

 

 

Size / cm	Contact Length / mm	Effective Edge / mm	Max Stance mm / cm	Waist Width / mm	Tail Length / mm	Nose Length / mm	Set Back / mm	Sidecut Radius / mm
148	1110	1170	636 (24.9)	246	180	190	10	8
152	1140	1200	646 (25.4)	247	185	195	10	8
155	1160	1220	656 (25.8)	248	190	200	15	8
158	1175	1235	666 (26.2)	250	195	205	15	8
161	1190	1250	676 (26.6)	253	200	210	15	8

 

 

 

 

Salomon Official 2010 Specs

 

 

Board Size (CM)	Contact Length (MM)	Effective Edge (MM)	Max Stance (MM/IN)	Waist Width (MM)	Tail Length (MM)	Nose Length (MM)	Set Back (MM)	Sidecut Radius (MM)
148	1110	1170	636 (24.9)	246	180	190	10	8
152	1140	1200	646 (25.4)	247	185	195	10	8
155	1160	1220	656 (25.8)	248	190	200	15	8
158	1175	1235	666 (26.2)	250	195	205	15	8
161	1190	1250	676 (26.6)	253	200	210	15	8

 

 

 

 

Pictures

Salomon Official 2012

Salomon Official 2011

Salomon Official 2010

Videos & Other Reviews