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JibbersaurusRex 
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Post subject: Salomon Official, your reviews?
 Posted: Jan 30, 2012 - 04:58 PM
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First post: Dec 06, 2011
Total posts: 43
Status: Offline
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| i have narrowed down the search for a new board between this one and a few others, i will be testing them all soon hopefully but have read up a bit on the other boards, but unsure about this one so i am wondering if anyone has tested, or even has this board and able to give on your thoughts on it? |
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BartSimpsonhead
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Post subject: RE: Salomon Official, your reviews?
Posted: Jan 30, 2012 - 06:34 PM
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First post: Oct 25, 2004
Total posts: 3112
Location: Verulamium
Status: Offline
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I have this board and love it. 
It's got Salomon's fastest base, is pretty stable at speed, decent in pow and it's mid-flex makes it pretty maneuverable all over the shop.
Mine's maybe three seasons old now and I was thinking I should replace it this year (even though it's in reasonable nick), but after demoing quite a few boards at MK and Tam only liked this years Official or the Artec Gabe Taylor and the Bataleon Goliath out of the ones I tried, so didn't bother with a new board as I already had the perfect board for me!
And after demoing all the others decided I prefer old-school camber boards over flat or rocker versions (which I have ridden in the past.)
You might not get a good feel for it riding indoors, and that goes for all boards really, but definitely worth a demo. |
_________________
"It's better to burn out, than to fade away..."
 Boardstore
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DrSnowboard
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 01, 2012 - 08:47 PM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 129
Status: Offline
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Yup, I have this year's model (161) and it is a great board IF:
You like a stiff, cambered board
You like a solid, wide feel under your feet rather than really quick edge to edge.
You are prepared to work it.
You take 3 days to get used to it.
This is my feeling after switching from a Salomon Special II which I folded the nose on, in itself not a soft or narrow board. The Officials base seems hard as nails - I've heard rocks under and not seen any damage - and the spoon nose allows it to float in soft stuff (admittedly with bindings back of centre)
I'm 5'11' , 90 kg. |
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Tommymac
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 05:09 PM
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First post: Nov 23, 2010
Total posts: 243
Status: Offline
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My special II folded at the nose as well. I was going to get another one but not so sure after hearing it happened to another one. Salomon did replace it with a burner which is a little bit on the stiff side for day to day riding. Oh well time to find a different board me thinks. I did love the special was so much fun.
Sorry for the hijack |
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kanpai
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 06:08 PM
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First post: Oct 18, 2004
Total posts: 50
Status: Offline
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| Official shouldn't feel wide I wouldn't have thought? |
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BartSimpsonhead
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 02, 2012 - 08:12 PM
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First post: Oct 25, 2004
Total posts: 3112
Location: Verulamium
Status: Offline
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I'm about 5' 11" and about 84/85kg (without my riding kit) and ride the 158 which I find fine for everything.
DrSnowboard, I'd have thought the 161 would be too long (we're similar heights), but if you're a bit heavier than me then it might be better for you..?
It certainly isn't a wide board - just feels like a regular riding board to me. |
_________________
"It's better to burn out, than to fade away..."
Boardstore
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DrSnowboard
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 03, 2012 - 12:24 PM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 129
Status: Offline
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Hi guys, yes I'm a little bit heavier - 90kg ish. I was on a 162 Special II and compared to that the Official felt 'wide' underfoot, (UK9.5, -9, +15, M Missions) but it's working well for me now, maybe something sidecut related. Initially tended to grab when flatbasing cattracks and seemed harder to carve.
I also folded / bumped the edge out of my previous Special, 2 years older after 2 months of last season, but I had previously 're-entered' a piste sufficiently hard to crack apart a Burton Cartel baseplate and find myself onefooted (replaced FoC) . Special 2 was 2 months of last season plus a month this, and there's a crack just behind the rear binding too (seehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/drsnowboard/sets/72157629056038911/) .
I got it through a BASI form and they've said if I return it to them (not trivial as I'm in Bourg St Maurice for the season) they'll have a look and see if it was a manufacturing defect. I do have a tendency to go over the nose (!) in powder from time to time and I do like to butter but was still surprised they gave out as both bases were otherwise OK.
Did make me think a rocker for pow might be fun though... |
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Tommymac
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 03, 2012 - 04:43 PM
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First post: Nov 23, 2010
Total posts: 243
Status: Offline
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I went over the handle bars at high speed in deep powder. Was Glad i took a spare board away with me.
That's almost in the same place as mine, same size too i wonder if it is just a weak point in the board.
Been demoing boards but haven't been on a board that came close to it. |
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DrSnowboard
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 03, 2012 - 08:20 PM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 129
Status: Offline
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| Don't get me wrong, the Official is a lovely board now I'm more used to it. But I remember getting on my Special and being amazed how easy it was to ollie and spin. I'd buy another special, even if it was likely to give up after 3 months, it was that good. |
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Tommymac
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 03, 2012 - 09:07 PM
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First post: Nov 23, 2010
Total posts: 243
Status: Offline
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| i got 9 days out my special. I have a pow board now so hope it will last longer this time. I am getting a new special tomorrow if they still have the 162 in stock. The last line of your post sold the idea to me. |
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DrSnowboard
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 04, 2012 - 06:59 PM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 129
Status: Offline
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I think you'll have trouble finding a Special, it's not in the range this year - hence why I went for an Official (plus I assumed it would make me hit kickers like Benedek..and land like him) though it's possible the Grip is an alternative. Worth giving the distributors a ring or talking to someone knowledgeable in a shop? The burner was a renamed / styled Fastback which I recall being a beast of a board in a straight line...not so easy to turn quickly though.
I know the snowboard industry works on marketing churn, but I really would like them to stick to a design if it works for ME |
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Tommymac
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 04, 2012 - 07:31 PM
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First post: Nov 23, 2010
Total posts: 243
Status: Offline
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I got my new special today. I knew a shop that had some in stock and on sale.
I demod the mans board which was okay but didn't quite do it for me.
The burner is going to be used on the deep days it just took to much effort for general riding.
Special has been waxed and is ready for a session on the Coe tomorrow. |
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DrSnowboard
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 10, 2012 - 04:23 PM
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First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 129
Status: Offline
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Just heard from Salomon that , although my SpecialII had a lot of wear and tear, they have offered to replace it with a 163 Burner also, an offer I 'm more than happy to accept!
A speculative polite email or 2, 35 euros in postage, equalling a replacement board? Result. |
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Tommymac
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Post subject:
Posted: Feb 10, 2012 - 04:27 PM
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First post: Nov 23, 2010
Total posts: 243
Status: Offline
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| The customer service at salomon is top notch. I am sure plenty of other brands would have not even have looked at it. Glad you are getting a new board. |
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