Board: Rossignol XV Magtek
Size: 163
Camber Option: Amptek All-Mountain. 60% camber between the feet and 40% rocker in the tips.
Bindings: K2 Indy
Stance: 22.5 Wide 18 Negative 15 Goofy
Boots: K2 T1 DB Size 10
My Weight: 170lbs
Resort: Breckenridge
Conditions: Overcast skies in the early morning to patches of overcast in the mid day. 5 inches reported over night, crusty snow/ice lingering underneath the fresh due to the warmer spring like temperatures.
Flex: A reverse directional flex makes for a stiffer nose and softer tail. The torsional flex is enough to twist the board to catch and grip when needed. Over all the flex is softer than most hard charging all mountain freeride boards.
Stability: With the way the flex pattern works you can keep your weight a bit more forward which allows you to push through chunder easier. This board could run over a rock field and you wouldn’t notice it, because it’s that solid and stable.
Ollies/Pop: The camber between the feet gives the board the ability to be loaded and pop, while the rocker gives it that nice easy skate style snap you want when you’re riding in deep pow.
Butterability: This is a board you have to be on top of to do a butter, it doesn’t mean it’s impossible, it just means you have to work for it. For most people looking at this board I doubt they’ll ever butter it.
Carving: The Magnetraction grips real well on icy surfaces and allows you to lay an edge in. The over all sidecut is enough for doing hard Euro-carves or really simple set up turns.
Rider in Mind: The guy that’s going to charge some steep lines, slash some pow, billy goat through a rock field, and then get back on the groomers and carve around.
Personal Thoughts: This board never disappoints. It’s solid, it is versatile, and it does what it’s marketed to do. If you are riding lines and need an aggressive charging board, this is the deck for you.
Check out the past reviews of the 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 Rossignol XV.
Comparable Boards: Endeavor Archetype, Ride Alter Ego, Moss Snow Stick Swallow 62
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This board was loaned to us for review by the Rossignol Snowboards marketing department.
*Disclaimer this board did not change for 2018 so we carried the 2017 review over*
24 Comments
Did you find the XV to be a little washy off the tail? Looking at this vs. Jones Flagship, and I’m skeptical of the softer tail Would love to hear your thoughts…P.S. THANK YOU for the thorough and thoughtful reviews to date.
Honestly no.
Did you find riding the XV in a 163 to have enough maneuverability at your weight, or would you have preferred to downsize? Thinking tree lines here in particular.
I was fine, seen plenty of people struggle with it that weighed more than me in the trees.
Perfect review for this board. I initially set this board up with the Genesis X thinking it’d be a good combo, it wasn’t. I ended up buying the Rossi XV bindings that are supposed to be paired with it, and now this thing rips. Night/day difference in the performance. Angry tried to get me into a more responsive binding from the get-go, but I thought I knew better, I didn’t. Get the XV bindings or anything else that is at the highest tier in response to pair with this thing and you’ll have the time of your life. The faster/steeper the run, the better this board performs.
I keep reading that you should size up with this board. I’m 5’9 230lbs size 10.5 boot (Burton Ion). I’ve never been on anything longer than 163cm. Do you think 163cm is enough board for my specs? Should I not be scared and jump up to the 167cm? And should I float around the idea of going wide? I obviously don’t want any heel/toe drag but also don’t want to kill response edge to edge.
With a 10.5 you don’t need a wide on that board. Just note that with the 163 at your weight it’s going to flex easier than a 167.
Would you choose Rossi XV or flagship for a 1 board quiver?
Neither.
Any suggestions for a hard carving / powder board Than?
The K2 Simple Pleasures comes to mind.
5’8 9 boot 215lbs…. 163 or 167?
63 if you’re getting more into the trees, 67 if you’re more in wide open powder.
Dude, quick question. At 245lbs, am I going to smash the shiit out of this board, or do you think there is still room to ride it. I’m peeping the 174w. Coming off a Krypto 168w that I actually liked. Or, besides your hate for NS, would you think a Chairman 169w would cut it?
You’re in the right size run that you shouldn’t overpower it. Are you looking for a damp ride? If yes then Chairman if you want something livelier than XV.
Angry, your content rules. Currently on Burton Cascade 163 w Flux Otterstrom bindings I’ve gone through 2 of these decks since 2003. Yes, I’m old. The Smithsonian has asked for my ancient gear. I’ve got 400+ days on my setup. I ride powder stashes and carve roy. Spend a lot of time at Loveland, ABasin, and Eldora. No park, no butters, no trees (ive got kids now!) The Cascade I’ve loved as it rides WAY shorter than its length. Nimble but stable. It’s reverse directional — stiff nose, soft tail. NO chatter, ever.
I’m finally retiring my setup. I’m looking at A Frame 162 and Rossi XV 163. Key differences in your opinion? Anything else worth looking at? Would BSOD or Mercury at 159 be worth looking at? Didnt like Flagship feel.
Thanks much!
You definitely don’t want the Mercury unless you’re spending your days on Molly Hogan chasing your kids. A Frame would probably be the closest to the camber profile, but the Rossi XV is more in tune with what you’re looking for and better suited for the variable conditions A basin/Loveland have with the above tree line to treeline. Although it won’t be crazy nimble in the more dense trees, so in Steep Woods at the Basin you might have to work for it a bit more.
Thanks! What about BSOD or PYL? Also this will be my only stick.
BSOD no, PYL as a maybe if you can’t get the others.
Angry, I’m 6′, 180lbs, I go hard, big fast lines, expert level… Bragging aside, I just want a good advice. Currently riding 2016 XV 163. Love the deck, but find it rides short and perfect for trees. Thinking of getting the 2019 168W. What do u think?
Getting it for more wide open terrain?
Hi gents… same fellow from CO retiring my Cascade 163. Was able to ride XV 63 today. Went ahead and purchased. Thanks SO much for the input. With the stiff nose soft tail it handles the same as the cascade. Waist slightly wider, but seamless to use it. Feels like the Cascade just more crisp, better edge hold.
Bindings: my flux otterpops have held up great, but im keeping them on the old stick. Im old brahs, could use a little shock absorbing qualities. Union Atlas, Union, Flux XF? Others? Are those too soft to drive the XV?
Thanks again mah dudes!
Nitro Phantom Carver. Those airbags in the heel will give you the damp feeling you want and you can still charge with them.
* second binding was Union Falcor.. srry