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Snowboards

Rome Gang Plank 2017-2018 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £425 / €500
  • Sizes:146, 149, 152, 155, 157MW, 158, 160MW
  • Flex: 6
  • Profile: Flat
  • Shape: True Twin
  • romesnowboards.com

UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2018/2019 Rome Gang Plank here

At first glance, the Rome Gang Plank looks a bit like your classic park board. It’s a true twin, for starters, and has the name and aesthetics of a freestyle stick to boot (especially the eye-catching Len Jorgensen pro model colourway). However, look closer and you’ll find all the hallmarks of a true all-terrain vehicle.

“Look closer and you’ll find all the hallmarks of a true all-terrain vehicle”

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The Rome Gang Plank has a flat base, which is a good start for any snowboard that wants to do it all. It may not have the pop or edge bite of a cambered board, but it’s not far off. And while it’s not as infinitely pressable as a true rocker, or have the same effortless float in powder, it can still do both with ease. In short, you can take this anywhere.

Interestingly, Rome haven’t just shrugged at the prospect of lessened performance in the turns that can come with a flat base. The ‘QuickRip’ design seeks to redress the balance towards strong edge hold by using different sidecut radii to create extra contact points with the snow. When you really open the throttle and engage an edge at speed, you’ll be glad they’re there.

The pop has also been given a boost, courtesy of a single rod of bamboo that’s been added to the core. Running from nose to tail, it provides a little extra spring to the Rome Gang Plank’s ollies, but doesn’t impact the way the board twists through the waist – which, given the use of biax fibreglass, is enough to let you really mess about with minimal effort.

“A single rod of bamboo running from nose to tail provides a little extra spring to the Gang Plank’s ollies”

The sidewalls are specially designed to handle impacts, so after a full day lapping the rail line it’ll come away unscathed. The base is nice and rapid too, so if you’ve got the stones to hit the bigger kickers in the park, you’ll have the speed when you need it.

It may have increased in price this year, but the Rome Gang Plank is still great value when you consider this one snowboard may be all you need. Younger rippers haven’t been left out either – check out the Rome Gang Plank Mini, a solid choice for any all-rounder grom.

Tester’s Verdict

Michael Readsnowfit.co.uk

“The Rome Gang Plank is one of the most versatile boards I’ve ridden. Whether carving on piste or jumping off rocks into powder, this board had the stability you would expect for a all-mountain/powder board built for un-groomed and harsher terrain.

“In the right hands this board can boss the entire mountain”

For buttering and jibbing it had the perfect amount of flex in the nose and tail to control presses without it wanting to spring from under you, and enough snap between the bindings to generate huge amounts of pop.

I wouldn’t hesitate to put a beginner on the Gang Plank as it was smooth, easy to control and gave you a great sense of confidence. Nor would I a seasoned park rat, as in the right hands this board can boss the entire mountain and do everything asked of it.”

Trade Secrets

Len Jorgensen – Team Rider, Rome

The Gang Plank has been my favourite board for at least three years now – it’s the best all-round board you could think of.

Pressable in the streets, the perfect cruiser on the mountain, and you could even take it off-piste too.

I’ve filmed all of my parts from the last few years on this bad boy. He rocks!

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The Rome Gang Plank is a capable stick with which to tame the whole mountain.
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