Rome Ravine Review

Who is the Ravine Most Suited To?

The Rome Ravine is best suited to anyone who wants to ride more freeride style terrain but still being capable on every other aspect of the mountain. Best suited for deeper snow and jump lines but still able to lay down a solid carve at decent speed.

Definitely a good option as a one-quiver style board unless you like to ride a lot of freestyle, as it isn't your best friend when it comes to riding switch but otherwise it was hard to find many faults with it 

While it is a great board for most situations, it isn't for everyone as it isn't beginner friendly. I would recommend it to anyone who's a more experienced intermediate to advanced rider. 

Bindings angles: +12/-9

Stance width: 560mm (22″)

Stance Setback: Setback 15mm (0.6")

Width at Inserts: 270mm (10.63") at front insert and 269mm (10.59") at back insert

Rider Height: 6'1"

Rider Weight: 180lbs

Rider Boot Size: US9.5 Adidas Tactical Lexicon ADV

Bindings Used: Fix Yale: M 

Control Board for Control Laps: DWD Kwon

Weight: 2980grams (6lbs 9oz)

Weight per cm: 18.86 grams/cm

Average Weight per cm: 18.59 grams/cm*

*based on a sample size of around 200 models that I’ve weighed in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 & 2023 models. The Ravine is a little heavier than average on the scales but felt normal on snow.  

Powder

Unfortunately no powder to test in but based off specs and feel it should perform really well.  

The Ravine has plenty of rocker in the nose which will help keep your nose above powder. Couple that with the tapered directional shape and marginally set back stance and you shouldn't have any issues when in the powder.

Carving & Turning

Carving: Not a carving killer or anything but definitely capable of laying out a decent carve without any noticeable catchiness or anything. I overall did prefer it for shorter sharper carves over longer more drawn out carves though. 

Ease of Turning/Slashing: Pretty easy to release the tail and initiate a turn, making it enjoyable to slash as well.

Maneuverability at slow speeds: Felt pretty nimble overall, allowing you to whip it around with a bit of effort. 

Skidded Turns: Even with a decent amount of camber, I still found it pretty easy to control/handle on skidded turns. It never felt too catchy.

Speed

I enjoyed this profile when riding at speed. The camber allows you to get going pretty quick, while the larger rockered nose keeps the board from getting chattery, overall giving you a stable feeling at most speeds.  

Uneven Terrain

Crud: To my surprise the Ravine didn't smash through it as effortlessly as I was expecting, especially when riding through it at speed. It could get bucked around a bit. The saving grace however, was that it's still maneuverable in these situations, for when you get thrown off your line and need to correct it. 

Bumps: It is quite quick edge-to-edge and really enjoyable in the trees/bumps. 

Let’s Break up this text with a Video

Jumps

Really enjoyable board to take off jumps

Pop: Overall had a good amount of pop that was pretty accessible - it didn't require too much effort. With that being said, it had the same amount whether you really wound it up or moderately wound it up. 

Approach: With it being so quick edge-to-edge, it made approaches easy. I never noticed it feeling catchy and last second adjustments were easy to make.  

Landing: Felt forgiving and smooth. You could land a bit off and still ride away pretty easily and not catchy whatsoever either.

Side-hits: Enjoyed these the most on it, as you could really attack them at any speed and feel comfortable knowing if the approach or landing zone are torn up, that you're going to be ok. 

Small jumps/Big Jumps: Excelled on both really well. I struggle to say it did one better than the other.

Switch

Not amazing but not terrible either as the profile makes it more difficult with the directional shape, larger nose, and setback stance. I did find initiating to switch pretty manageable but did notice some catchiness at times.

Spins

Good amount of pop is nice. Pretty average amount of effort required to get it to spin, so overall OK. Switch takeoffs/landings aren't the easiest and will require some getting used to.

Butters

Consistent flex from nose to tail that is a nice happy medium, allowing you to press/butter pretty easily.

Overall, the Rome Ravine is a really fun freeride board that is a bit more mellow/playful than your average freeride board.

It excels in the powder and on jumps or side hits of any size or variety. All while still being able to be ridden at higher speeds and laying out decent carves.

Not a freestylers first choice as it isn't twin, thus doesn't ride switch very well, but it does have some playfulness which can make flatground stuff still fun. Overall it is a really enjoyable board you can be confident on almost anywhere.