The Salomon Villain is marketed as a jib board, but its versatility extends beyond the park. This review delves into its performance in various conditions, edge hold, and overall suitability for different riding styles.
Initial Impressions and On-Snow Feel
Initial experiences with the Salomon Villain can vary. Some riders may find it surprisingly aggressive, similar to the Salomon Official, making it suitable for technical big jumps and pipe riding rather than jibbing. However, subsequent rides often reveal a softer flex and a more technical camber feel appreciated by advanced to expert all-park riders.
One rider's experience with a 2015 Salomon Villain Classicks 155 highlighted its amazing graphics and colour, marking it as a significant upgrade from a previous Rome Garage Rocker. The board was used primarily on a dry slope in the UK for freestyle riding.
Performance Across Various Conditions
The Villain performs well in groomed conditions, offering a fun experience when the terrain is smooth. However, it becomes less enjoyable in choppy or uneven terrain. While the board can handle speed, slowing down or trying to navigate through hard, uneven surfaces can cause it to feel cranky and create problems, with chatter reverberating through the board, impacting ankles and knees.
Edge Hold
The Salomon Villain stands out with its exceptional edge hold, surpassing other boards in the Salomon line. Even in snowy conditions, it maintains a strong grip, almost like a magnetraction board.
Read also: Choosing the Right Salomon Snowboard
Jumps
This board provides a playful pop, making it ideal for lapping the kicker line. Overall, the Villain is a well-rounded freestyle ride that excels in the park and can also be enjoyable on the mountain.
Salomon Villain - Good Wood Men's Park Snowboard - TransWorld SNOWboarding
Technical Features
The Salomon Villain boasts several features that contribute to its performance:
- True Twin Shape: Ensures identical performance whether riding regular or switch.
- Popster Core: Features a shaped core profile with varying thicknesses.
- Detuned Tip and Tail: Enhances playfulness and reduces edge catches.
- Base Edge Bevel: A 2-degree base edge throughout the board transitions to a 3-degree angle between the feet for improved control.
- Sintered Base: Facilitates speed and wax absorption.
Rider Feedback and Suitability
The Salomon Villain is described as having a fairly soft flex rating, around 4/10 according to Salomon. The camber/flat sections provide stability, even at high speeds. The rocker sections on the nose and tail are subtle, contributing to the board's overall performance without being overtly noticeable.
One rider, who is 185 cm tall, uses a 155 cm Villain with Salomon Halogram bindings and finds it great for having fun anywhere, especially in park laps. The board is also noted for its buttering capabilities. Another rider downsized to a 153, wanting something more playful for freestyle/jibbing with a lower swing weight, and found it to hold an edge well and carve perfectly. The torsional flex is soft for quick turn initiation, and the nose and tail are soft enough for butters but still springy. Switch riding is reported to be very easy.
Although primarily a park board, the Salomon Villain can also be a top choice for all-mountain riding. It excels in carving and jumps, making it a versatile option for riders who enjoy various terrains.
Read also: Ace Snowboard Performance
Summary of Features and Performance
Here's a table summarizing the key aspects of the Salomon Villain:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Shape | True Twin |
| Flex | Soft (4/10) |
| Core | Popster |
| Base | Sintered |
| Edge Hold | Excellent |
| Terrain | Park, All-Mountain |
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