Rome Ravine Pro Review

When it comes to choosing a snowboard for those deep and fluffy powder days, we genuinely can't recommend a better ride than the Rome Ravine Pro. Packed into this sleek and shiny snow-ripping machine is a host of different technologies that make this thing an absolute powder hound.

Edging

The Rome Ravine Pro is a guillotine when it comes to powering through carves, initiating turns easily, and ensuring edge security. It's shaped as a directional all-mountain board with a uniquely designed tri-radial sidecut of 7.9 meters. By focusing on three sidecuts, this mid-stiff board flexes into the snow on edge, creating a more progressive and predictable turn shape that allowed our testers to swiftly become comfortable on the Ravine Pro's rail.

This board's camber profile is different, starting with rocker on the nose, flat under the front foot, and then camber under the tail. In addition, its core is made of poplar and paulownia strips, which are then given carbon fiber rods milled directly into the core. All of this finite work amounts to a crispy in-turn experience on groomers. When initiating turns, the rocker on the front will ease you in, then you can start to feel the hotrods and camber tail kick into gear, shooting our testing team out of turns with more speed than they went in.

Once we took the Ravine Pro to spray some slush on a spring day, we were again excited about its surfy feel. With a 3D directional early rise nose, it has some flex on the front end of turns. When we were trying to spray chunks, the tail held up through both thick and thin snow. The slightly narrower waist width could be an issue for people with larger feet, but we didn't have more than a minor moment of toe or heel drag during our testing with men's 10.5 boots. Overall, the Ravine Pro is a splendid board for all levels of intermediate and expert riders, although it may be a little bit too stiff for beginners.

Float in Powder

If you're anything like our team of testers, then you know a powder day can be the most supreme conditions, but it's imperative to have the proper rig on those deep days. The Rome Ravine Pro is that rig.

Our team immediately noticed how responsive this powder boat is, starting with a large surface area created by an all-mountain shape and a minimum 7.5 mm taper. This board not only features a large, scooped nose that is rockered on the bottom, but it also incorporates a 3D-shaped early rise for added buoyancy in the front. Once we reached some of the flatter parts of the mountain and needed extra speed to carry through the snow, we found reassurance knowing that the Ravine Pro's sintered base is one of the best on the market, providing superior speed and wax retention.

During our deepest and steepest days of testing, we truly appreciated this board's 1.5 millimeter setback stance, which helped prevent our back leg from burning. We also discovered that the hotrods, both in the tail, helped keep our edges solid during large powder carves, and we felt quicker response times during tighter turns and hacks. All in all, the Ravine Pro is our team's top pick for any rider looking for the best snowboard for powder.

Stability at Speed

When approaching smoldering velocity, it is crucial to have a sturdy snowboard underfoot that can handle rough bumps and varied terrain at speed. Fortunately, the Rome Ravine Pro is built with a mass of integrated technology designed to improve stability and deliver more power at speed.

The initial feel of the Ravine Pro starts within its core. By adding alternating strips of poplar and paulownia, and then milling carbon fiber hot rods into the tail, this board is ultra-stiff in the back. The profile has traditional camber in the rear half of the snowboard, further adding to the solidity of its tail. When ripping down moguled terrain, our team found safety in knowing that the tail of this super juiced snowboard could withstand intense drops and bumps, and even generate power through turns.

Not only does the back end of the Ravine Pro have steadiness and strength, but the entire board is wrapped in flax-integrated sidewalls, ultimately adding rigidity throughout the whole board. There are also flax impact plates layered underneath the binding inserts, which further add to durability and actually dampen heavy impacts. Fortunately, with the added flax sidewalls and impact plates, we could immediately feel the difference in how this board rode compared to others in the lineup. When going fast over rough terrain, ripping over a traverse bump, or even snowboarding through mogul fields, there was less chatter coming from the edges of this board. On several occasions, we overshot a jump; the landings didn't sting our feet one bit.

Playfulness

A playful snowboard can mean a more enjoyable day during spring conditions or when spending time in the park with friends. Luckily for our testers, the Rome Ravine Pro was fun throughout a range of days and conditions, including slushy park laps and nose buttering boxes.

First of all, this Rome snowboard's profile shape is an all-mountain camber, meaning the nose is reverse camber, then turns flat under the front foot, and finally transitions to a traditional camber throughout the tail. In addition, the nose has a 3D scoop and early rise. These two features make the front of the Ravine Pro immensely entertaining when initiating knuckle spins, nose-pressing features, and even popping frontflips.

Although the bow of this board is beautifully buttery, it received some setbacks in its playfulness score due to stiffness. This thing is built to handle large terrain, including hefty drops, jumps, and deep powder; therefore, someone looking to venture into the park might find other models a better fit. Despite these more advanced features, Rome did a good job keeping this board user-friendly, and it is super playful when slashing around banks and chucking slushy snow. Intermediate riders will be able to handle the Ravine Pro, but an expert rider will truly maximize its potential.

Pop and Jumping

Our team of top-tier testers enjoyed plenty of time on the Rome Ravine Pro. Every carve, ollie, and jump was an opportunity to see what the carbon hot rod infused poplar and paulownia core could do — and it did not disappoint. The alternating stripped core of this board is downright snappy, and with the addition of Rome's signature carbon fiber hotrod inserts, this truly is one of the poppiest snowboards in our entire reviewed lineup.

The Ravine Pro has a triax fiberglass pattern, offering three different flex patterns and ultimately providing more consistent pop across the board. With its all-mountain camber profile, this snowboard features traditional camber throughout the back half, cultivating a sturdier and more traditional feel not only for ollieing but also for springing out of carves. The classic feel of this board is elevated by its unique flex patterns and downright rocket-powered pop.

When tackling the local jump line, our testers noted that the Ravine Pro “has a super solid tail”. Its unique shape and minimal taper provide more surface area and therefore create a large landing base when jumping. The stance placement also allows riders to be in a more ergonomic position for both ollies and landings, adding yet another mark to its already sterling score in this metric. This board is very stiff, which may make it difficult for a beginner or intermediate rider to harness its potential popping power entirely. However, once you do, you won't want to go back.

Should You Buy the Rome Ravine Pro?

If you love powder more than any other condition and want a snowboard designed explicitly for days when you might need a snorkel, then the Ravine Pro is our powder pillaging pick. Its shape and camber profile are designed to provide superior float, a sturdy base for large drops, cliffs, and landings, integrated carbon hotrods for pop and power, and a sintered base for added speed. All these features and more not only make this a beautiful slashing snowboard, but also one that is fun all over your local mountain. We recommend this board for stronger riders who will be able to tackle its next-level snowboard tech.

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