Rome Freaker Snowboard Review

Overview of the Freaker’s Specs

Check out the tables for the Freaker’s specs and available sizes.

Specs

Who is the Freaker Most Suited To?

The Freaker is best suited to advanced to expert riders looking for a stable damp board for charging, carving and smashing through rough snow without too much chatter. 

Not for beginner - it's too stiff for that and too much, IMO. Even intermediate riders may struggle with it, unless they're particularly strong/fit. 

The Freaker in More Detail

Bindings angles: +15/-15

Stance width: 560mm (22″) 

Stance Setback: Centered

Width at Front Insert: 267.5mm (10.5")

Width at Back Insert: 268mm (10.5")

Rider Height: 6'0"

Rider Weight: 180lbs

Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Response ADV

Bindings Used: Burton Malavita M 

Weight: 3020grams (6lbs 11oz)

Weight per cm: 19.11 grams/cm

Average Weight per cm: 18.71 grams/cm*

*based on a sample size of around 250 models that I’ve weighed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024 models. The Freaker a little heavier than average but really close. On snow it felt a little heavier than normal, but nothing super heavy or anything. 

Powder

No real powder to test in, but based on the general feel of the board and on specs, I would say it should be OK but not amazing. 

It has a directional shape and some taper, but it's a very small amount of taper. The reference stance is centered, but you could set it back some on powder days. While it does have some rocker in the tip and tail, it's pretty subtle. It's a predominantly camber feeling and looking board. 

Carving

I found this thing could lay some big carves. Felt at its best on higher speed carves and mid-to-long radius carves. It holds on well, even at higher speeds. 

Turning 

Ease of Turning/Slashes: Takes some effort to initiate turns and release the tail for slashes. It's quite stiff torsionally and relatively heavy feeling. And that more locked in feeling also makes it a little harder to initiate turns/slashes.

Maneuverability at slow speeds: You have to put in quite a bit of effort to get this thing turning quickly when riding slower. I was able to get it fairly quick edge-to-edge (without being lightning or anything) but it was far from effortless to get there. 

Catchiness: It's got some catchiness to it. Nothing too catchy, but you want to be making sure to ride this properly or it can punish you. 

Speed

It's not the fastest board I've ridden but it's faster than average for sure. And is nice and stable at speed. That pronounced camber, stiffness and little bit of extra weight all help to keep it stable at speed. 

Uneven Terrain

Crud: It's a pretty damp board, so you don't feel much chatter in rougher snow and it stays stable, so you don't get thrown off your line easily. Again, that extra weight and stiffness helps here. 

Trees/Bumps: You can get it weaving through bumps/trees fairly well, but it does take some effort/energy to do. Could be quite fatiguing if you spent half your day in trees, unless you're really fit and strong. 

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Jumps

It has some good qualities for jumps, like it's stability on landings and approach, but overall wasn't my favorite for jumps. But also certainly not bad.  

Pop: Quite hard to access the pop in this board. You had to really put your weight into it to get it to pop. When you do, it gives back a really decent amount of pop, just don't expect it to be easy to extract.

Approach: Nice and stable for when you need good speed and need to hit a line and stick to it (i.e. for larger jumps). But not as easy to adjust/speed check, so not great for beginner jumpers. 

Landing: Really solid landings and good amount of tail for those tail heavy landings. Not super forgiving if you need to stop quickly after the landing or make quick adjustments after landing. 

Side-hits: Wasn't my favorite for sidehits. I'd prefer something with easier access pop and better maneuverability. 

Small jumps/Big Jumps: Best suited to big jumps for experienced jumpers, where you need good stability on the approach and landing and have plenty of run off space. 

Switch

Felt good riding switch. Felt a little catchy in transitions, but once there it rides well in your opposite direction. 

Spins

I didn't enjoy it that much for spins. It could feel a little catchy on setup and landing (and dumped me pretty bad landing a 180 at one point!), the pop isn't super easy to access and is on the heavier side. 

Butters

It takes some effort to get this board to press. But once you do, it locks in pretty nicely. Just have to be pretty strong to get it to that point. 

Score Breakdown and Final Verdict

The Freaker is the kind of board that you need to be more aggressive/deliberate with to get the best out of it. When you do ride it that way, it gives back.

It feels nice and stable and damp at speed and in rough snow and can lay down a pretty mean carve. 

Harder to ride at slower speeds and can't get too casual on it as it can punish you if you're not riding it with intent.