Bit of background: I have been riding for about 15 years and consider myself to be an advanced intermediate if that makes sense. I like to charge all areas of the mountain, lay down deep carves, ride switch, shred the glades and hit the M/L jump line. I wanted a board that could do all of these things well, but first and foremost be a fun board to ride.
I am 6'0, 170 lbs and lean. I like to ride boards in the 157-160 range, but I bit the bullet on a 156 Rome Mod (cambered version) because I got a smokin deal on it.
Conditions: Great mix of everything. Hiked some fresh powder lines, rode a lot of groomers, glades, a bit of moguls, lots of hard pack snow and a bit of ice.
On to the review
Carving/groomers - Being a stiffer, cambered deck, this thing can lay some pretty good trenches. The thing I like most about it is that it is so snappy from edge to edge. Coming from a rockered K2 Turbo Dream wide, the Mod nearly put me on my ass the first time I did a hard edge to edge transition. Make no mistake, this thing is catchy and wants to be pushed hard on edge. I was doing some of the best carves of my life on this thing and it is just so fun to rip on a fresh groomer.
Edge hold is strong on hardpack/ice as well, it will slip out but it is predictable, and being a cambered board it performs quite well in these situations.
Steeps/choppy stuff - The Mod wants to plow through everything. It is pretty damp for it's weight but by no means is it meant for hard charging over chunder and small children. I was able to make it through some pretty tracked out chop on some steep blacks and double-blacks and the energy the board has meant it was nimble and fast to switch from edge to edge. Did I mention this thing is light? It was hard to come off this board and it seemed to want to be pushed harder.
Powder - This board is not built for pow, full stop. I hiked some fresh lines knowing this but wanted to give the loyal community a fair review in all conditions. Being that it is a true twin, cambered and a 156, the board pretty much sank like a rock. I suppose if you set your bindings back to the max it would be serviceable due to it's light weight, but by no means would this be my first choice to take out on a pow day.
Switch - It's a true twin, and I set it up with no setback because I do like to ride switch and am constantly popping little 180s all over the hill, so I need to be comfortable riding switch. The Mod definitely delivers in this realm, but it will punish you if you are not on your game. This is not a forgiving rockered or hybrid camber board so for the advantages in edge hold you experience much less forgiveness. Be on your game though and you will be rewarded with a stable, confident ride.
Jumps - This thing was built to fly. I'm no Stale Sandbech but i'll throw down a few laps on the M/L jump line. While i wasn't going mega-hard on the jumps due to Marmot's crappy park line, i did some basic grabs and spins on jumps in the 20-35 ft. range. The Mod has renewed my desire to push myself on bigger jumps as it just tracks so beautifully and is so light and poppy that my airs were floatier and my spins more effortless. Again, it's not as forgiving on landings, but if you are confident and get your edge down the board rides away with good stability. The Mod really shines in this realm and anyone who reads Rome's description of the board will see it was built to handle the biggest jumps out there.
Jibbing - I don't do it. No comment here.
Playfulness/fun factor - The Mod is pretty stiff, and the flex originates from a little bit outside of the inserts, more towards the tip and tail by the carbon stringers which are visible through the topsheet. I'm not one to butter around the hill, and this board isn't particularly suited for that, but I must say this thing POPS. Camber+carbon stringers means no more hesitation going to ollie that little tree or boundary line, it is very snappy and this is its claim to fame. I loved riding this thing because it seemed to have boundless energy and want to pop off everything. Combined with its light weight the Mod was ultra fun to whip around in any conditions, but was stiff and stable enough to hold it's ground when plowing through chop. Because of it's weight, energy and stability, I can say this is the most fun board I have ridden.
Conclusion - I f'in love this deck. Highly recommended for the all-mountain rider who knows what he's doing and wants a light, fun board that will still charge when needed and have your back when the going gets tough.
I am 6'0, 170 lbs and lean. I like to ride boards in the 157-160 range, but I bit the bullet on a 156 Rome Mod (cambered version) because I got a smokin deal on it.
Conditions: Great mix of everything. Hiked some fresh powder lines, rode a lot of groomers, glades, a bit of moguls, lots of hard pack snow and a bit of ice.
On to the review
Carving/groomers - Being a stiffer, cambered deck, this thing can lay some pretty good trenches. The thing I like most about it is that it is so snappy from edge to edge. Coming from a rockered K2 Turbo Dream wide, the Mod nearly put me on my ass the first time I did a hard edge to edge transition. Make no mistake, this thing is catchy and wants to be pushed hard on edge. I was doing some of the best carves of my life on this thing and it is just so fun to rip on a fresh groomer.
Edge hold is strong on hardpack/ice as well, it will slip out but it is predictable, and being a cambered board it performs quite well in these situations.
Steeps/choppy stuff - The Mod wants to plow through everything. It is pretty damp for it's weight but by no means is it meant for hard charging over chunder and small children. I was able to make it through some pretty tracked out chop on some steep blacks and double-blacks and the energy the board has meant it was nimble and fast to switch from edge to edge. Did I mention this thing is light? It was hard to come off this board and it seemed to want to be pushed harder.
Powder - This board is not built for pow, full stop. I hiked some fresh lines knowing this but wanted to give the loyal community a fair review in all conditions. Being that it is a true twin, cambered and a 156, the board pretty much sank like a rock. I suppose if you set your bindings back to the max it would be serviceable due to it's light weight, but by no means would this be my first choice to take out on a pow day.
Switch - It's a true twin, and I set it up with no setback because I do like to ride switch and am constantly popping little 180s all over the hill, so I need to be comfortable riding switch. The Mod definitely delivers in this realm, but it will punish you if you are not on your game. This is not a forgiving rockered or hybrid camber board so for the advantages in edge hold you experience much less forgiveness. Be on your game though and you will be rewarded with a stable, confident ride.
Jumps - This thing was built to fly. I'm no Stale Sandbech but i'll throw down a few laps on the M/L jump line. While i wasn't going mega-hard on the jumps due to Marmot's crappy park line, i did some basic grabs and spins on jumps in the 20-35 ft. range. The Mod has renewed my desire to push myself on bigger jumps as it just tracks so beautifully and is so light and poppy that my airs were floatier and my spins more effortless. Again, it's not as forgiving on landings, but if you are confident and get your edge down the board rides away with good stability. The Mod really shines in this realm and anyone who reads Rome's description of the board will see it was built to handle the biggest jumps out there.
Jibbing - I don't do it. No comment here.
Playfulness/fun factor - The Mod is pretty stiff, and the flex originates from a little bit outside of the inserts, more towards the tip and tail by the carbon stringers which are visible through the topsheet. I'm not one to butter around the hill, and this board isn't particularly suited for that, but I must say this thing POPS. Camber+carbon stringers means no more hesitation going to ollie that little tree or boundary line, it is very snappy and this is its claim to fame. I loved riding this thing because it seemed to have boundless energy and want to pop off everything. Combined with its light weight the Mod was ultra fun to whip around in any conditions, but was stiff and stable enough to hold it's ground when plowing through chop. Because of it's weight, energy and stability, I can say this is the most fun board I have ridden.
Conclusion - I f'in love this deck. Highly recommended for the all-mountain rider who knows what he's doing and wants a light, fun board that will still charge when needed and have your back when the going gets tough.