Salomon 2020 Snowboards Overview -

The classics are back this year, as well as a few new models like the upgraded Huck Knife Pro.

Salomon Camber Profiles

Powder Camber

A large rocker section on the nose of the board for easier float in deep snow, with camber under your back foot for pop, and power through turns.

Used on the HPS-Taka X Wolle.

Rock Out Camber

The most popular camber, Rock Out is the most useful, and used on the majority of Salomon boards. Flat between your feet, camber under your feet and rocker at the nose and tail. It has a good mix of edge hold, pop and stability without being too catchy.

Rock Out Camber is used on the Sickstick, First Call, Pillow Talk, Assassin, Assassin Pro, Craft, Villain, Villain Grom, Sleepwalker, Rumble Fish, Gypsy, Gypsy Grom, Oh Yeah, 6 Piece and Wonder.

Back Seat Camber

Used mainly of all-mountain boards, the Back Seat Camber has traditional camber

Used on the Super 8, Speedway, Speedway Split, HPS, Bellevue and XLT.

Mellow Back Seat Camber

A slightly toned down version of the regular Back Seat Camber

Cross Profile

Salomon Cross Profile

A mix between camber and rocker, with camber between your feet, and large rocker sections on the nose and tail of the board.

Found on the Premiere and Sight.

Quad Camber

As close as you can get to traditional camber, it has varying amounts of camber through the board, with a tiny rocker section at the contact points. Boards with this profile have very good edge hold, pop and a stable ride.

Found on the Ultimate Ride, Huck Knife, Huck Knife Pro and Huck Knife Grom.

Super Flat

Flat for the length of the board, this is one of the easiest to ride profiles, that is best for beginners and kids.

Found on the Grail, Grace and Team.

Flat Out Camber

Used on the Lotus.

A few interesting features that turn up on quite a lot of the range are the:

Edge Bevels:

Basically the base edge angle on most boards is generally around 1 degree, though depending on what the board is designed for, Salomon change it in different sections of the board.

The Freestyle EB (Edge Bevel) is the most interesting, as it has a 2 degree around the main parts of the sidecut, which changes into 3 degrees between your feet. The idea is that you still get the feel of nice sharp edges on a new board, and better edge hold on ice, while the 3 degree sections means that hopefully you won’t have to detune it to ride rails, as it is raised up an extra degree, so you are less likely to catch. I think that is a better idea than just having to file and round down your edges on a new board just to ride in the park.

A slightly toned down version is the All Mountain EB, which has 1 degree on most of the sidecut, raising to 2 degrees between your feet.

Popster is their name for core profiling, which means that the core of the board has thicker and thinner sections, aimed to get the best flex and pop out of the wood.

Bases

Like all brands, there are different levels of the bases, starting with the slowest and cheapest base – extruded. Normally found on entry level boards, as well as cheaper park/job boards, they keep the price of the board down, and don’t need much maintenance or waxing. Being a softer material, they are quite easy to repair.

The next step up is sintered, which is a harder material, that has “pores” where wax can soak into the base, so you end up with a much faster ride.

There are levels and additives that can make sintered bases faster, Salmon have a few versions:

Sintered

Regular, sintered material. Most often found on mid range boards.

Sintered EG

Gallium is added to strengthen against impacts, and Electra to get a better glide.

Area 51 is a version of the Sintered EG, which is a higher density material, pre-waxed.

Salomon 2020 Snowboards

Sickstick

Each of the three sizes of Sickstick have a different shape, with each size being aimed at a riding on different terrain. The 151cm is the shortest and fattest, with a quite wide 263mm waist width – and is made for short quick turns, with a surfy feel.

The 157cm has a regular width, and is the do-it-all size. The biggest 162cm has the longest length, and a decent 260mm waist width, which is best for riding big steep lines, in deep snow.

Responsive Flex
Rock Out Camber profile
Tapered Twin
ABC wrapper
Quadralizer sidecut
BA MD Fiberglass
Popster core
Sintered EG base
Ghost Green Core
Fine stone finish
All mountain edge bevel
Bamboo and cork rails

Get some more details on the Sickstick here.

First Call

You can think of the First Call as a more budget friendly Sickstick. With the same camber profile, tapered shape for easy turns and extra float, still with a sintered base.

Medium Flex
Rock Out Camber Profile
Quadralizer
Ghost Basalt Stringers
Tapered Twin
Medium Density Fiberglass
Popster
Sintered Base
Aspen SLCT wood
Fine Stone Finish
All Mountain Edge Bevel

Find out more about the First Call.

Pillow Talk

A tapered twin board, with Rock Out Camber for pop and stability, and a fast sintered base. The taper helps to sink the tail, and give a surfy ride.

Medium Flex
Rock Out Camber
Quadralizer Sidecut
Ghost Basalt Stringers
Tapered Twin
Medium Density Fiberglass
Popster
Sintered Base
Aspen SLCT
All Mountain Edge Bevel
ABS

Get some more details here.

Speedway

Made for riders who just like to ride fast. A stiff flex, camber under your back foot and a bit of taper to help make turning smooth, as well as helping float in powder.

Stiff Flex
Backseat Camber
Quadratic Sidecut
C/FX superfiber
Tapered Directional shape
Damplifier Lite
Popster
Sintered EG
Ghost Green Core
Fine Stone Finish
All Mountain Edge Bevel

Get some more details on the Speedway.

Super 8

The Super 8 is an all-mountain, ride everything board. The Backseat Camber has regular camber under your back foot, which keeps the board stable at high speed, while the flat section on the nose gives you extra float in powder, as well as making turns smooth and easy.

Medium Flex
Backseat Camber profile
Quadratic Sidecut
C/FX Basalt
Tapered Directional Shape
Medium Density fiberglass
Damplifier
Popster
Rocket Science
Sintered Base
Aspen SLCT
Fine Stone Finish
All Mountain Edge Bevel
ABS

Bellevue

An all-mountain and freeride womens board, with a mid-wide width and backseat camber for stability, pop and edge control.

Medium Flex
Backseat Camber
Quadratic Sidecut
C/FX Basalt
Tapered Directional
Medium Density Fiberglass
Popster
Rocket Science
Sintered Base
Aspen SLCT
Fine Stone Finish
All Mountain Edge Bevel

Find out some more about the Bellevue.

Wonder

A medium flexing, directional shaped all mountain board, that has plenty of pop, as well as features to dampen out the bumps and vibrations from fast aggressive riding.

Medium Flex
Rock Out Camber
EQ Rad Sidecut
Ghost Basalt Stringers
Directional Twin
Medium Density Fiberglass
Popster
Sintered Base
Aspen SLCT
Fine Stone Finish
All Mountain Edge Bevel
Royal Rubber Pads

Get some more details on the Wonder.

Sight

The Sight is an affordable, medium flexing all mountain board, with the cross profile camber keeps a solid and stable ride, that turns smoothly and will help to float in powder.

Medium Flex
Cross Profile
Directional Twin
Aspen Strong Core
Quadratic Sidecut
Low density fiberglass
Extruded Base
Standard Stone Finish
Bite Free Edges
Rubber Pads

Get some more details on the Sight.

Ultimate Ride

A stiffer flexing, cambered, true twin (that doesn’t really look like it) all mountain board. I am quite biased with this one, so far it is the best board that I have ever ridden, overall I can’t see it being beaten anytime soon. Grippy and stable camber with plenty of edge hold, lots of pop and a fast base. Quite a light board, very responsive but not so stiff that it becomes hard work to ride.

Stiff Flex
Quad Camber
Quadralizer camber
Popster
Ghost Carbon Beams
True twin
Triax fiberglass
BA medium density European fiberglass
Sintere EG base
Ghost Green Core
Area 51 base
All Mountain Edge Bevel
Gunslinger sidewall

Read my full review of the Ultimate Ride here.

Assassin

Made to be a versatile, freestyle board that can ride everything including powder, it has a balance between stability, flex and pop in a directional twin shape.

Medium Flex
Rock Out Camber
Quadralizer sidecut
Popster Booster
Bamboo Rods
Directional Twin
Medium Density Fiberglass
ABC Wrapper
Sintered EG base
Aspen SLCT
Fine Stone Finish
All Mountain Edge Bevel
Royal Cork Rails

Read my review of the Assassin here.

Assassin Pro

An upgraded version of the Assassin, the Pro has a lighter core, stiffer flex, 2 carbon beams running down the board, as well as carbon in the sidewalls.

5/10 Flex
Rock Out Camber
Quadralizer
Ghost Carbon Beam
Directional Twin
Medium density fiberglass
Popster
Sintered EG Base
Ghost Green Core
Fine Stone Finish
All Mountain Edge Bevel
Gunslinger Sidewall

Get some more details on the Assassin Pro.

Rumble Fish

A mix between a freestyle and powder board, the Rumble Fish is designed to be stable at high speeds, have good float in powder and still be playful in the park.

Responsive Flex
Rock Out Camber
EQ Rad Sidecut
ABC Wrapper
Medium Density Fiberglass
Popster Booster
Sintered EG Base
Ghost Green Core
Fine Stone Finish
Royal Cork Rails

Get some more details on the Rumble Fish.

Villain

One of Salomon’s most popular freestyle boards, the Villain has been an easy choice for riders who want a freestyle board, that can still ride the rest of the mountain without a problem. Medium flex so you can still press it without too much effort, but still stable when you ride fast. Triax fiberglass gives it a bit more torsional strength, and the sintered base makes it easier to keep speed for jumps.

Medium Flex
Rock Out Camber Profile
Quadralizer Sidecut
Popster Booster
True Twin
Triax Fiberglass
Medium Density Fiberglass
Sintered Base
Aspen SLCT
Medium Stone Finish
Freestyle Edge Bevel
Slingshot Sidewall

Huck Knife

One of the first two boards that came out with the Quad Camber profile (as well as the Ultimate Ride) a few seasons ago, it won the Blackboard Experiment first year and has been getting more and more popular since then. A medium flex, that I think is a touch softer than they say, with a sintered base and a fairly cheap price.

Medium Flex
Quad Camber
EQ Rad Sidecut
Popster
True Twin
Triax Fiberglass
Medium Density Fiberglass
Sintered Base
Aspen SLCT
Medium Stone Finish
Freestyle Edge Bevel
Slingshot Sidewall

Get some more info in my review (with video) here.

Huck Knife Pro

From the popularity of the Huck Knife, the new Pro version has a few upgrades – which almost make it closer to the Ultimate Ride than it does to the Huck Knife. It has a lighter and stiffer core, an upgraded sintered base, and Gunslinger sidewalls which make it a board that will handle bigger jumps better than the regular Huck Knife.

Responsive Flex
Quad Camber
EQ Rad sidecut
Popster Booster
True Twin
Triax Fiberglass
Medium Density FIberglass
Sintered EG Base
Ghost Green Core
Medium Stone Finish
Freestyle Edge Bevel
Gunslinger Sidewall

Get some more details on the Huck Knife Pro.

Craft

A ride it all board, with Rock Out Camber and a medium flex.

Medium Flex
Rock Out Camber
EQ Rad Sidecut
Popster
True Twin
Medium Density Fiberglass
Sintered Base
Aspen Strong
Medium Stone Finish
Freestyle Edge Bevel
Royal Rubber Pads

Get some more details on the Craft.

6 Piece

The main jib board in the line, with Rock Out Camber to give it pop, but still not take a huge amount of effort to press. Not a cheap jib board, it still has a sintered base and triax fiberglass, so you could ride it on anything in the park and it will do well.

Medium Flex
Rock Out Camber Profile
EQ Rad sidecut
Easy Press Core
True Twin
Triax Fiberglass
Medium Density Fiberglass
No Chip Tips 2.0
Sintered Base
Aspen Strong Core
Medium Stone Finish
Freestyle Edge Bevel
ABS

Sleepwalker

You can think of the Sleepwalker like a cheaper Villain, it shares a lot of the same features, but with a cheaper price. It has an extruded base, which is slower, but keeps the cost down quite a bit.

Medium Flex
Rock Out Camber
EQ Rad Sidecut
Popster
True Twin
Medium Density Fiberglass
Extruded EG Base
Aspen Strong Core
Medium Stone Finish
Freestyle Edge Bevel
Rubber Pads

Read some more in my review of the Sleepwalker.

Oh Yeah

A soft flexing, easy to ride board that is suitable from first time to intermediate riders. Easy enough to ride from day 1, the Rock Out Camber means that you can push it a long way, so you won’t have to worry about growing out of the board, it will help you progress your riding for a long time.

Soft Flex
Rock Out Camber
EQ Rad Sidecut
Popster
True Twin
Medium Density Fiberflass
Extruded EG Base
Aspen Strong
Medium Stone Finish
Freestyle Edge Bevel
Rubber Pads

Find out more about the Oh Yeah.

Pulse

An easy to ride, soft flexing board that is perfect if you are looking at buying your own board rather than renting.

Soft Flex
Flat Out Camber
Radial Sidecut
Aspen Core
Directional Twin
Low Density Fiberglass
Extruded Base
Standard Stone Finish
Bite Free Edges
ABS

Get some more details on the Pulse.

Lotus

A soft flexing, all-terrain, easy to ride board that doesn’t have a crazy price.

Soft Flex
Flat Out Camber
Radial Sidecut
Aspen Core
Directional Twin
Low Density Fiberglass
Extruded Base
Standard Stone Finish
Bite Free Edges
ABS

Get some more details on the Lotus.