The Rome Agent is one of those snowboards that has become an iconic staple of a line. I still remember the first year this board came out and how many people sought after it. So going into 2014 how does it stack up compared to years past?
Board: Rome Agent
Size: 156
Camber Option: Traditional Camber
Bindings: Rome 390 Boss
Stance: 22.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy
Boots: K2 Thraxis Size 10
My Weight: 175lbs
Resort: Breckenridge
Conditions: It was as if the chairlift let us off on the ice planet of Hoth. High winds, heavy snow, white everywhere, and then the sun came out. There were a few inches of fresh on top of the corduroy.
Flex: A true consistent flex that make it playful yet responsive with a bit of play in the tips. There was a bit of torsional give which makes the board arc well through carves.
Stability: There’s no fear of getting bucked with this board as it’s just a smooth lively ride. From ice chunder to powdery push mounds it handled all with a breeze.
Ollies: The carbon rod in the tip coupled with traditional camber allows for superior pop. Once you load the tip up the rebound snap just boosts you.
Pop On Jumps: This board is at home on jumps with that carbon rod in the tip, it’s flex pattern, and being traditional camber.
Butterability: Pressing on snow doesn’t come easily but it’s do able once you find the sweet spot in the tips and get your weight over the board where you want it.
Jibbing: This board will lock into presses if you know how to ride a cambered board. Just be prepared to not have it be as easy as an alternate cambered deck.
Carving: The sidecut is great for mellow set up turns or laying hard Euro-carves. With traditional camber you just drive into the contact points and it locks in.
Rider in Mind: Someone that loves camber and will ride the whole mountain doing whatever they damn well please.
Personal Thoughts: I haven’t been on an Agent in years and man it was refreshing to get back on a cambered deck of this caliber. The board can handle it all whether you’re cruising groomers, park, or getting in the trees and searching for powder. There’s a reason this board has been a staple for so long with the Rome line up.
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Disclaimer: This board was loaned to us for review from the Rome Snowboards Rockies rep.
Note: This board was made at the Elan Factory they have since switched to GST.
17 Comments
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is this board a park board?
Yes.
im 5,3 what size do you think i should get and i still haven’t hit my max growing point im 13 and im planning to use it for 2-3 years
Do you want to concentrate for three years down the road or do you want to concentrate on the now?
3 years down the road
Long time to try and hope you grow into it.
Im riding all the Hill. Set it oft every small bump loving airtime. Boots 11+. Right now riding Agent 158 But its too small.
Thinking of getting the new Agent 160w or the arbor Blacklist 160. Think they are pretty Same. Would like to learn more Park, Big jumps jibs etc.
Not really good at park and big jumps, can handle small air well.
Rest of Park im pretty noob.
Agent or Blacklist for next season ??
Thx
Blacklist doesn’t exist next season it becomes the Westmark Wide. Also the Agent camber is nothing like the Westmark/Blacklist the camber profile is so different. What is your definition of a big jump because it sounds like from your description you can’t hit a “big” jump.
Never said i could hit big jumps. Can handle kickers of about 1meter height nosegrab, 180 nothing special. Would like to go bigger in future.
Summarize intermediate snowboarder with park in mind (jumping small kickers, jibbing small obstacles riding some boxen, But preference jumping)
If not in park like to charge sometimes and ride powder when possible.
Have 158 Agent but i think too small for 11.5
I know the difference between camber and rocker, have ridden both.
Question : could the Blacklist a suitable replacement for an Agent
Hope this is more precise
Thx
Really comes down to what you want out of the board, each have its pros and cons. Unless your stance is 19 inches a 11.5 will fit on a 58 Agent.
Recently picked up a 2014 156 W Agent for a good price. I am 6’1″ and 220 lbs… I am worried that this board is not big enough. I don’t want a big board and I know that advances in technology have allowed for board size to become more of a preference (or so they say). I just want to hear what you have to say. Thanks!
It’s a little small. Depends on what you’re going to do with it.
Hello fellow rider(s):
I’m 5’9” 165lb intermediate rider. My day on the mnt would consist of fast carves down the hill, medium jumps and boxes in the park and Ollie off of any natural hips/features I can find. Recently I rode my friends old Ride DH and fell in love with camber feel (been on flat camber for 3 yrs). I’d like to know what size is good for me. My board is 155 right now and Rome offers Agent in both 154 and 156. Thanks in advance.
Sounds like you want the 56.
Hey wondering if you’ve riden this board since the review, specifically the tweaked shape for 2016.
That one we have not.