Last season we got skunked on being able to test out splitboards for you guys due to the unsafe snow conditions and lack of snowfall in Colorado. Well this year the late season went off and we sent Gary out to test out the new Rossignol XV Magtek Splitboard for review. Here’s what our resident backcountry guru had to say.
Board: Rossignal XV Magtek Splitboard
Size: 167cm
Interface: Comes with Voile tip/tail clips and Voile Chinese hooks. The board uses the standard Voile hole pattern.
Camber Option: Cam rock. Camber between the feet rocker at the nose and tail.
Bindings: Spark Burner
Stance: Regular, 22 inches wide. Set all the way back.
Angles: +15 -15
Boots: Ride Insano size 11.
My Weight: 240lbs
Backcountry Area: Berthoud Pass
Conditions: Powder, corn, slush.
Flex: I would call it stiff. It is softer in the tail and stiffer in the nose. Very much a directional freeride board.
Stability: Very stable at speeds. Just like you would expect from a Xavier De La Rue pro model.
Ollies/Pop: Not really what this board is designed for. Still, with the cam rock design I was able to get some response out of the tail in firmer conditions.
Butterability: Really? This board is meant for hauling ass and going straight.
Wild Snow performance: The shape of this board stands out. The nose is long and pointed. There is a decent amount of taper. In real deep low angle snow this was a bit of a nose diver until you got your speed up. Which I thought was due to the camber profile between the feet. In steep deep powder it just plain ripped. Performance in slush and corn was also stellar. The Magnetraction was a nice touch on steeper firm terrain.
Skinning: Above average. The camber is under foot when in touring mode. You get a good amount of skin to snow.
Rider in Mind: The rider that fancies steep big mountain lines and enjoys going fast.
Personal Thoughts: This is one of the few boards out there that I felt right at home from the very first turn. My first run on it was a low consequence but high angle run at Bert. I had to cut a cornice to make a ramp to get in and thought for sure I was going to tumble on the drop in. This board flat out ate it up. Edge hold at speed was great and transitioning into turns felt natural. This is also a very light board. A few ounces over 7 lbs with tip clips and Chinese hooks I would guess. I loved touring all day on this. The stability seems to be due more in part from the flex design than dampening. The base on this board is also extremely tough. I put a couple of the hardest shots I’ve had this season on this board. I thought I had a core short for sure on the first hit. It took me a good long while to find where I hit it due to the lack of damage. The only negatives I had with this board was the nose diving on low angle, low speed terrain in powder. The other being that it was a little hooky on hard pack bob sled style out runs. For big mountain lines, it just charged. I haven’t thought about Rossignol for years. This is a solid effort to get back into the snowboard market. Well done Rossignol.
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Disclaimer: This board was loaned to us from Rossignol Snowboards marketing department for review.
2 Comments
Thx Angry and Gary, knowing where these reviews actually comes from in terms of people who ride constantly and get after it is so reassuring and makes this hot snowless part of the year more bearable. Fuck yes.
You say “there is a decent amount of taper” …but aren’t the nose and tail the same width?
There’s a decent amount of rocker? …of set back?
Otherwise good to see splitboards and more freeride boards on here.