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Snowboards

Rome National 2017-2018 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £520 / €600
  • Sizes: 149, 152, 154, 156, 157MW, 158, 162MW
  • Flex: 6
  • Profile: Hybrid Camber
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • romesnowboards.com

Thanks to the exploits of Stale Sandbech and his cohorts in the RK1 crew, a lot of people think of the park when they think of Rome. While there’s no denying that they’ve cranked out some terrific trick-sticks in their day, there are plenty of all-mountain options in the range too.

“Its directional twin shape is primed for park booters and pow laps alike”

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The Rome National is a brand new go-anywhere, do-anything snowboard that you’d be happy to have under your feet every day of the winter. Its directional twin shape is primed for park booters and pow laps alike, as well as all the piste-bashing you could want. When cruising the groomers it feels just like a twin, so switch riding is a must, but the extra nose length comes into play when you get to the deep stuff.

The profile features the classic camber bend with minimal rocker at each end. When you need edge bite and stability, it’s there for you, but the slight twist on classic camber means that it won’t be quite so twitchy. It may take a little getting used to if you’re a fan of straight-up camber, but the result is mellower turn initiation even at the highest speeds.

“The fairly stiff flex – combined with a carbon rod that runs down the middle of the core – means that you’ll get out what you put in”

A new development featured on the Rome National is the sintered sidewalls. These will take one hell of a beating, giving you less to worry about as you batter park features or nick the odd rock. As for pop, the fairly stiff flex – combined with a carbon rod that runs down the middle of the core – means that you’ll get out what you put in. There’s also carbon enhancements in the fibreglass, calibrated to match the rest of the National’s all-mountain properties.

As always, Rome have crafted some special edition graphics for their pro riders on selected models, and it’s Bjorn Leines that gets the treatment on the National. His eye-catching orange version also features two arced carbon rods rather than the standard edition’s single straight one. You can go for that one as long as you can work with a 158, but the standard version of the Rome National isn’t too shabby either.

The Rome National is a powerful all mountain freestyle machine.

Tester’s Verdict

Sam Oetikeronboardmag.com

“The National snowboard from Rome is their newest take on a go-anywhere, do-anything deck, and when I tested it back in January it did a damn fine job of just that. With Rome’s modern take on the tried-and-tested camber profile, along with smooth, predictable but incredibly poppy flex, the National is a workhorse.

“If you’re looking for a modern day quiver-killer in a very nice-looking package, The National is a solid option”

Not the scruffy, been-through-the-battles kind, mind you – more like the sleek, powerful, ‘I’m gonna gallop you to death and not even break a sweat’ kind. The very subtle reverse camber in the nose and tail made it almost effortless to turn, without being too loose, and I found myself getting some fantastic pop out of the tail thanks to that dependable camber profile.

It’s definitely not soft, so probably isn’t one for the rail rats, but if you’re looking for a modern day quiver-killer in a very nice-looking package, The National is a solid option to on which to saddle up.”

Trade Secrets

Alek Oestreng – Team Rider, Rome

The National turns and holds an edge better than any other board i have ridden. It’s really stable, but still quick and responsive.

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The eye-catching TurboRods at either end of the Rome National boost pop.
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