- Price:$545
- Category: All-Mountain
- Ability Level: Intermediate, Advanced
- Size: 158, 158W
- Flex: 7/10
- Shape: Directional Twin
- Profile: Hybrid
- Base: Sintered
As the lines between freeride and freestyle continue to blur so do the snowboards that are made to service them. The Kemper Fantom straddles both categories as a mid-flexing all-mountain deck that’s just as at home in the pow as it is in the park.
The hybrid profile is your Goldilocks formula for all-terrain versatility. Subtle rocker between the feet functions as a central pivot point, allowing the tips to seesaw up to smooth out turn initiation and add some float when you’re riding deeper snow. More aggressive camber underfoot shoots energy through the body of the board, making for a more dynamic and lively ride.
“Subtle rocker between the feet functions as a central pivot point allowing the tips to seesaw up”
The Fantom is ideal for slicing up groomers when the conditions are less than perfect or digging trenches on freshly groomed corduroy. The midbody rocker helps to engage the sidecut through the middle of your turns, with Kemper’s Shark-Bite technology distorting the edge profile and offering increased traction.
The directional twin shape lends itself to a variety of terrain, with the inserts set 2cm back you can control the board more from the rear and add a bit of extra lift in the nose. The outline, however, is still that of a twin so throwing it around in the park is definitely on the cards.
“For those who fit the bill the Kemper Fantom is a solid all-mountain option”
Artwork by Dig My Quiver’s Chuck Mclean singles the Fantom out from the rest of the Kemper line as a more modern offering. Only coming in a 158, with the option for a regular or a wide board, this isn’t going to be for everyone, but for those who fit the bill the Kemper Fantom is a solid all-mountain option. Smooth and floaty in the pow, firm and grippy on piste, and playful in the park, this is a versatile deck with a whole tank of gas.
