Rome Notch Powder Freeride Snowboard Review |
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The Good Ride TakeThe Rome Notch Powder and Freeride Snowboard Review by The Good Ride We rode the 168 for 25+ days, the 162 Camber for 5 days and the 162 S-Rocker for 15days Well for 2011 things have changed for the Rome Notch. For 2009 and 2010 the Notch had these shapes A specific reference to The 162 and 158 S-Rocker Notch To start off with the S-Rocker on the 162 and 158 is pretty cool. It has a pretty aggressive camber from the tail to right before the first binding mount near the nose. After that there is a pretty aggressive rocker. If you lay it down on a flat floor the nose is allready off the ground but when you step in the nose lifts even further. If you compare this to the Burton Malolo, a board very similar to this Notch, the camber in the back of the board is more pronounced and more poppy but the rocker is similar. I (editor) was lucky to experience some really really really deep snow where there was up to 5+ feet in some places and even if the board dived you could feel the nose fighting to get back to the surface. There was little to no rear leg burn and cruising along the groomers with about 1 ft of snow you didn't even have to lean back. Also the base is incredibly fast for a board of it's size. The Notch S-Rocker is very slashable and really fun to ride. It has a very stable feel for such a tapered set back snowboard. Even in hard pack the Notch held an edge rather well. It didn't lock in like some boards but over Ice and hard pack it wasn't sketchy. A review and comparison of all the past and present Rome Notch shapes Groomers- The old discontinued 168 is excellent on groomers and the others (158 & 162) will not be as good but still do a good job. The Swallow tail 164 is not going to have the all conditions ride but you can do ok on groomed runs. The Rome Notch is a powder board but has sharp edges and good hold. With such a set back stance on all the boards (less on the 168) its a little difficult to have a great time on groomers but it is fun. You can make quick turns and have fun. The base is incredibly fast and picks up speed quickly. Even with a deep set back the board can still straight line like no ones business. If you have to leave the groomers don't worry. Powder- Expect any shape to out perform any old regular board and many other powder boards. All the boards have a super surfy feel that is fun as hell. The tail sinks deep and the nose stays afloat making the boards feel like a surf board. Even the bigger boards turn well. The bigger boards pick up speed really quick and it's a bit less responsive than the smaller boards so it takes some adjustment your first time in the trees. Thick powder is where this board excels! If you are in sierra cement be very happy because this board is heavy, Stiff and plows through just about anything. Even those tracked or semi-tracked runs at the end of the day are a lot better when you are on a Notch. This board was ridden in 1ft to waist + deep and the nose just doesn't sink. Rear leg burn is almost non existent and makes something like powder even more coital. The 158 and 162 use to be camber but for 2011 they are now both S-Rocker and as you can see the crappy video of the 162 the rocker is pretty turned up and the camber is pretty arced. Speed- This board is stiff and has a really strong fast base. Rome knew that you would be in areas with rocks, trees and ??? lurking beneath the white goodness. It can take a hit that would give other boards a core shot and you will barely see a scratch. The 158 & 162 are fast for their size but can have issues in flatter pow areas. The 168 and 172 just keep moving when other boards slow to a stop. On hard pack groomers the hybrid camber Rome Notches can become a bit chattery but that is expected for such a light board with such a big turned up nose. Turn Initiation- It feels like there isn't steel on the edges and your in water on a surfboard. So quick and easy! The 168 was like moving a surfy tank but it still did very well for it's size. The 2011 S-Rocker models are incredibly light and very very easy to turn. Even if it's incredibly deep sierra cement the Notch doesn't bog down on one edge and become difficult to get to the other. The hybrid camber models are light and slashy to the point where you will feel comfortable Edge Hold- The edges have been known to cut a finger. Ok they cut one of our riders fingers the first day out. They hold really well for a tapered shape and will get you through the ice on the way to the powder. The S-Rocker model doesn't have an the same edge hold but but is surprisingly good for a board with such little contact on the snow. A common issue with many tapered boards is if you commit to a carve like you would a regular board on a hard pack day the tail will wash out. This is no exception and you will have to adjust the way you initiate a turn. Stiffness- These boards are all pretty stiff and thick in the center but soft and playful at the tips. It really comes in handy when dealing with speed and chopped up runs. It's very damp. All models have a pretty stiff flex. The Old 168 was the stiffest but the newer models have a stiffness more on the medium side of stiff. Despite the thickness the hybrid camber models are incredibly easy to turn. Jumps- This does very well for most jumps you are going to do in deep stuff. It's not going to land switch well but that's what the park boards are for on non-powder days. The camber in the Hybrid camber does a very good job for giving you a spring of wind lips or jumps. Everything else doesn't matter on this review because you won't take this thing in the park.
A quick look at the 2012 Rome Notch
Here is a video of the editor taking the notch out for a spin in about 3-4 ft of pretty thick Sierra powder. This wasn't our deepest day on the Notch but it was pretty close.
Here is a detailed overview of the Rome Notch
The Good Ride Take on Rome
Company InformationRome Notch 2012NotchSURF MUSIC FUELS EARLY MORNING SESSIONSpowder in steep chutes; powder in the trees; powder waves; powder in backcountry bowls; powder in river beds; powder in wide-open fields; face shots everywhere MSRP: $550.00 USD CamberPowder S
ShapeDirectional Tapered
What It Likes
Flex/FeelPoppy Tech Details
Rome Notch 2011
LINE UP EARLY FOR FIRST CHAIR There are those riders at every mountain who show up early for first chair. And every storm brings out the same crew. They might not all hang out together at night, but they do hang out for an hour or so every pow day. With two tapered models and one swallow tail, the Notch features Rome’s S Camber for those with a first-chair addiction. New tech in 2011 adds more kick in the tail for surf-style cut backs or just spraying your friend with a wall of snow. MSRP: $550.00 USD
New Tech
Shape/Camber
Directional Tapered
S Airpop Core Matrix Maximum low-density wood species laced with bamboo, for maximum lightness and maximum pop StraightTriax 30 Laminate A laminate that combines a surfy feel with solid edge control SinterSpeed Base A wax-hungry sintered structure for knuckle-clearing speed PressurePop Technology: Kevlar V Added power off the contact points from light, energy-returning Kevlar PowerBar: Carbon V Carbon bands channel energy from binding to contact points to put more pop in your slash Kevlar Impact Plates™ Bombproof and superlight protection under your bindings Mountain Edge Bevel -1° base/-1° side for maximum freestyle grip
Rome Notch 2010SNURF THE EARTH If you’re thing is making powder turns, strap into the Notch series. This quiver of surfy shapes will enhance your face shots, change your approach to the hill, and make you fall in love with snowboarding again—most likely to the point where you’ll quit your city job and move into a caboose down by the river in Aspen. We’ve seen it happen. Shape/Camber Directional Tapered Positive S-Rocker Airpop Core Matrix Ultralight with model-specific bamboo-powered pop
StraightTriax 30 Carbon Laminate 30-degree off-axis fibers blend control with finesse; carbon adds the pop SinterSpeed Base A strong, wax-absorbent structure for gap-clearing speed Impact Plates™ 2.5 times stronger under foot Carbon Centerline Stringer Technology From the inserts to the tips, carbon down the centerline powers ollies and nollies without any unwanted torsional stiffness AC Technology Air channels for greater lightness Centerline Tail PowerAmp Mapping Bamboo in the tail equals more fun slashing powder LDC Technology Low-density woods in low-stress regions of the core to reduce weight Edge Bevel: Mountain (-1° base/-1° side) All the edge power you expect, with just enough bevel to eliminate twitchiness Positive Camber Traditional positive camber delivers dynamic energy release from edge to edge and a ton of pop in the nose and tail S Camber Camber from the front binding to the tail and reverse camber in forebody combine a ton of float in powder with a ton of power (only on the 155 and the 164 and 172 Swallowtails) Terrain Mapping
Calibrated Flex
SpecsRome Notch 2012 Specs
Rome Notch 2011 Specs
Rome Notch 2010 Specs
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