2017 Shomo Takao Ltd. Snowboard Review

Board: Smokin Shomo Takao Ltd.

Size: 156

Camber Option: CTX. Camber under foot with reverse camber between the feet.

Bindings: K2 Indy

Stance: 21.5 wide 18 negative 15 goofy

Boots: K2 Traxis Size 10

My Weight: 175lbs

Resort: Breckenridge

Conditions: Sunny bluebird spring laps in February.

Flex: This board has a unique flex pattern. It’s not a true middle of the road park flex but it’s one step above a jib board. The abundance of the flex is out in the tips and then it stiffens up from there. The torsional flex isn’t that abundant either.

Stability: This board is stable when not aggressively charging but the second you start to get crazy, it gets all sorts of floppy.

Ollies: There’s an OK amount of snap in this board, but it’s not something to be wowed with. If you know how to ride and how to get a board to react as you would want it then you’ll be golden.

Pop On Jumps: It’s OK, but much like how it snaps an ollie it’s nothing crazy.

Butterability: For Japan being the land of the butter video, I figured this thing would be more playful. It does a decent job, but over all isn’t something to write home about.

Jibbing: Locking into presses and slides is a breeze with this board. Whether you’re getting technical or being more standard this board will handle it.

Carving: This board straight up sucks at carving. The sidecut isn’t that aggressive so while the Magnetraction locks in, it doesn’t let you push it. I constantly found myself washing out on turns and having to catch myself or I would eat it.

Rider in Mind: The jib guy that needs a more meat and potato style deck.

Personal Thoughts: I hated this board. I think the sidecut isn’t conducive to the flex pattern which when you’re going fast and trying to rail a turn makes it skip and wash out. Over all I can say it’s a snowboard it’ll get you down the hill.

Comparable Boards: Salomon Salomonder, Rome Artifact Rocker, Rossignol Trick Stick

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This board was loaned to us for review from Smokin Snowboards marketing department.