$500 Discontinued 2012 Advanced to Expert All Mountain Camber Directional Twin Shape The Salomon Ivy is an all mountain board with a freeride aftertaste. This is proof that a cambered board is still very fun. If you like to book it regular or switch then give this board a try. If you want to go big this board will take you there. This year they did soften up the board and make it a little more playful and forgiving than years past. The cool thing about this is that it still has the same aggressive speed of the stiffer boards of old. Not much has changed from 2010 to 2011. Check out the Detailed review below.
The Ivy is a very niche board and not for everyone but if you are looking for a fast directional twin here it is. You will want an aggressive and stiff binding to go with these. It has lots of pop and is a stiff, stable directional twin that rides big for its sizing. This is something you don't see much of in the directional twin category. Our only complaint is it seems to get short bus angry at you if you aren't going fast or going big. If you do what it wants and ride it in good conditions at medium to high speed it will be very good to you. If you ride in chewed up rutted conditions it can act a bit angry
The 09-10 Model has softened up a lot and added some new tech that has minimized our poor conditions and our low speed chatter complaint. It also still rides very well at high speeds even though its softer. We liked the old model's 3-D core on the top because it make the board very unique but the performance of the 2010
Groomers- This board performs well on almost any type of groomed run. Post powder packed runs over corduroy are of course perfect and the board really shows its stability making any kind of turn at high speed. The Ivy keeps its edge in hard pack and firm conditions. Ice just sucks for any board but it will do better than most because of its quadratic side cut, cambered shape and stiffness. At the end of the day when the groomers are all chewed up Warren comes out again and this board seems to act like some boards that can't handle high speed at low speed. We call it reverse chatter and that might be this board’s only weakness. The 2010 model is a little softer than past models and is much more forgiving in crappy conditions so well done! It's worth paying the $40 extra this year to have the newer tech. Powder- This board does well to make a twinish cambered shape the best it can be in powder. It has a 20mm setback so it does have some room to set your stance back for the deeper days but this isn’t going to blow you away. The nose & tail also turns up rather high to help you stay above most moderate pow days. It’s not going to relieve any leg burn though or even come close to a pow specific board. Speed- This board is fast....really fast. It's also incredibly stable. The only boards that are faster are the big freeride boards like the A-Frame and Burner. The tough fast base, good edge hold and stiffness makes for a dependable chatter free board at high speed. It runs really well in the flats and gets you through traverses easier than many other boards out there. This board shines in the morning on a steep flat, well groomed run. It's so stable you don't realize how fast you are going if you are by yourself. Some of our best groomer days were on this board. Weight- This board is pretty light. If you compare it to most boards you will see that the rails are much thinner. However they didn't skimp on a sturdy top sheet or base so it will last you a long time. It's actually on the upper end of light weight. All in all it's a good balance of weight and should last a long time. Turn Initiation- This board is stiff but it does turn better than most stiff boards of this type. It won't let you down in a tight spot. If you like a board that takes a little bit of lean to turn then this is perfect. It's not too much to make you weary in tight areas but enough to be incredibly fun on a uncrowded morning when you can make any kind of turn you want. When you are in the crud or 2 day old powder this board grabs and can make turning difficult but it's not terrible. The only time this board is not fun is at the end of a crowded day when the runs are all chewed up. At this point it brings out every imperfection in the run and is rather unforgiving. Edge Hold- The Quadratic Side Cut isn't revolutionary but sure does have good edge hold. Salomon keeps this board on edge when you need it. No matter what condition we ride in this board will not wash out. When you come into the steep runs that have all the good snow blown away on the top you'll feel safe making turns to get to the good snow. Hard pack days will not be a problem. Stiffness- This year Salomon took a lot of stiffness out of their boards but still kept all the other qualities they had. If you get an older model then we say it’s Very Stiff! This board has allot of pop but it takes allot to flex it. This board does not chatter and hauls ass because of this. If you want a stiff board that you can really lean into turns with this should be a finalist in your decision making process. Switch- The directional twin shape makes this board ride very well switch. It’s not going to compare to a true twin but is a great choice for anyone who mixes it up. Pipe- Ivy like its name in the pipe. The board climbs the pipe walls with ease. The only issue is its stiff so sometimes it's not as forgiving on tricky landings as some boards. Jibbing- Don't get this if you like the jib park but it can hang with an occasional run through there. Rails/Boxes- Don't ruin these precious edges on rails but if you do you will still have pretty good edge control Jumps- This has the same issue with the pipe is that it’s not forgiving on tricky or slightly off landings on smaller jumps at low speeds. However it hits kickers well and lands them well when you are going big. If you hit jumps all day there are better boards out there for that but it’s perfect if you stop in the park on the way to the chair lift for your next run or like to go really big
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 Ivy handles the mountain. She knows how to navigate every traverse, drop into the sweet spot of the landing, catch air through the trees and set the pace. Get ready to rally.
The Ivy is a lightweight, natural flexing, all-mountain freestyle board that is pretty to look at and fast as hell. For 09-10 we reduce waste and toxic materials while refining the flex, for a smooth, ollie-enhancing, luxurious G.I.F.T. ride.
