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Jones Flagship 2019-2020 Snowboard Review

  • Sizes: 151, 154, 158, 159W, 161, 162W, 164, 165W, 167, 169W, 172
  • Flex: 8
  • Profile: Setback Camber
  • Shape: Directional
  • Price: £569 / €650
  • BUY DIRECT FROM JONES

They grow up so fast, don’t they? The Jones Flagship is already celebrating its tenth birthday. Then again, can anyone remember the days when this wasn’t the go-to freeride weapon of choice? From day one, the Flagship has had the look of a timeless classic – and the performance of one, too. In celebration of its first decade, the board has had a bit of an overhaul.

It’s still unmistakably a Flagship, but the new blunt nose and tail give the board a modern twist. The directional taper with the 3D base contouring provides the same effortless float it has delivered in previous seasons, but the redesign has the look and feel of a slightly shorter, more manoeuvrable deck.

“It’s still unmistakably a Flagship, but the new blunt nose and tail give the board a modern twist”

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With the addition of two new sizes (151 and 167), the Flagship reaches out to freeriders of all shapes and sizes. It’s the board that’s going to hold your hand along a knife-edge ridgeline and then laugh at you when you begin to cry and ask to turn around and go home. It’s so unphased by big lines, and that confidence will soon rub off on whoever’s strapped onto it.

The Flagship has seen and done it all before. It’s one of the safest bets for looking after you in the backcountry. It has power and predictability, with camber underfoot and Traction Tech disruptions along the sidewall. It has float in abundance, with a setback shape and progressive nose rocker. And it has stability and dampening with the sustainably produced dual-density wood core, and all-new basalt and flax stringers tucked under the new wood veneer topsheet. In short, it has it all.

Over the years, the Flagship has become a little more accessible in its flex, and a lot more sustainable in construction – now sitting proud as the brand’s (and the world’s?) most environmentally friendly snowboard. Ultimately, though, it still remains the go-to big mountain, expert freeriders’ favourite in the Jones fleet.

Tester’s Verdict

Rob McCreathWhitelines

“I was frothing to get a go on the ten year anniversary edition of the Flagship. The overall look and feel remain consistent with the board’s ethos, but the blunt nose and tail just give it a more current shape.

Apparently the Flagship has somewhat softened up over the years. Let’s just say I’m glad I never rode the earlier incarnations of it. It’s an absolute beast. Rock-solid and steady as a ship (ahem). No wonder it’s such a favourite among experienced backcountry riders.

It’s a board that I often see Dad’s kicking the back leg out on, chasing their kids down the blue runs and I was never really sure why. On the piste it needs work. It’s easy and forgiving enough in and out of turns, but during the arc, you’ve got to show it who’s boss unless you’re trusting enough for people to get out of your way. Because you’re so set back and it’s ridden in a classic, longer, freeride size, there’s a hell of a lot of edge competing for its share of the fun.

“I’m so glad I got to put the Flagship through its paces that day. It dispelled a lot of my premonitions and made me see it for what it truly is – arguably the best big mountain freeride snowboard out there”

Fortunately, my time on the pistes were limited. There had been some recent snowfall and we’d eyed up a couple of couloirs just a short hike away that hadn’t been opened yet. Riding the Flagship in these conditions is off the scale. It is so, so solid off-piste. I honestly don’t think I’ve felt so confident on the first run of a new board than I did here. Everything from the float to stability is exactly how you need it to be on bigger lines. Once the couloir opened up I could just point and shoot and it tracked like a torpedo.

I’m so glad I got to put the Flagship through its paces that day. It dispelled a lot of my premonitions and made me see it for what it truly is – arguably the best big mountain freeride snowboard out there.

If you’re wanting to push your backcountry riding and will genuinely use it for it’s intended purpose then I wholeheartedly endorse that decision. For anything less, you’re just attracting weird looks from the chairlift and setting yourself up for some savage leg cramps in the middle of the night.”

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Darren Williamsthesnowboardshop.co.uk/

“First off, don’t buy this if you are a newbie… it will ruin you and you may well reconsider snowboarding in favour of skiing (and nobody wants that). It’s a stiff freeride snowboard that is most at home carving out big epic lines down steep gnarly hills.

“Don’t buy this if you are a newbie… it will ruin you”

If you like to either carve up the groomers at warp speed or charge the powder in the backcountry then this is perfect for you. The spoon nose floats brilliantly in the deeper snow, and the slightly beveled tail makes for a less catchy ride on piste.

That said, if you get it wrong you’ll be punished, so the Flagship is for more experienced riders. For 2019 it still has the classic Flagship wooden topsheet, and now it’s lighter than before with an upgraded core.”

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