Summary:

The Rossignol JDub looks like nothing you’ve ever seen, the lovechild of a snowboard and the Batmobile, it’s strange looks will get you more respect than that one-piece you’ve got stashed away in your loft., trust me, I’ve got one… a JDub that is! On the hill the JDub’s Magne-Traction edges offer incredible grip, edge-to-edge response is impressive and the pop is ballistic! At high speed the JDub offers chatter free carving. A great snowboard for advanced and aggressive riders who want to ride large jumps and halfpipe.

Manufacturer's Description:

The new all mountain freestyle classic! The history continues: Mag edges, psyched art, pentagon tips and badass construction. If you need evidence of the quality and capacity of this directional twin ripper, go check Mathieu Crepel’s part in the new Standard Films release.

Year: 2010

Available Lengths (cm): 154, 158, 161

Riding Style: All Mountain

Specifications:

Directional twin shape
Twinwood 3 C/K core with Dual Torsion Box (Carbon & Kevlar reinforcement)
4400 grade sintered base
Magne-Traction edges
Stone ground finish
Flex 8/10

Similar boards:

Burton Jussi - 2010

Salomon Official - 2010

Ride Society - 2010

DC HKD Devon Walsh - 2010

Volkl Cashew - 2010

What we reckon:

Read our pro guide to buying a park snowboard.

Read our pro guide to buying a pipe snowboard.

Read our pro guide to buying a freeride snowboard.

Review of Rossignol JDub Mag:

I’ve ridden 4-5 weeks on the JDub, in all conditions and on all types of terrain. It’s certainly not a relaxing ride, the aggressive sidecut and firm flex mean just cruising around saps tons of energy.

I chose the Rossignol JDub because my previous snowboard had been a Rossignol Todd Richards, the one with the Teddy Bear / Monsters Inc style graphics. I was impressed by the tight lively sidecut, snappy flex, grip in all conditions, fast base and most of all the durability that the Todd Richards had offered, so naturally choosing a Rossignol again was a simple choice. The JDub doesn’t disappoint, it’s all of these things, an aggressive poppy ride definitely more so than the Todd Richards and the Premier (Both now discontinued). The Magne-traction really holds an edge well in hard and icy snow conditions, you’ll certainly notice the amount of noise it makes turning down steep windswept black runs. In powder the JDub rides ok, but if you’re running the stance on max width the fact that you can’t setback your stance means it’s a case of pumping and leaning back to keep float on flatter terrain, and landing you’ll have to adjust you’re weight back as there’s not enough nose to keep you from cart wheeling, saying that, landing on the tail isn’t a problem, there’s plenty of pop to snap you back on to both feet.

I took the JDub in the Mayrhofen park last spring, it’s a perfect snowboard for riding big hips and jumps or flying out of the pipe, great grip up transitions at high speed and tons of pop. Landings aren’t particularly forgiving, but you’ll want to make sure you stomp your landings if you’re riding the JDub at the speed it should be ridden at. Rails and boxes aren’t the JDub’s forte, approaches and on rail feel are a bit awkward; it’s just too stiff, longitudinally and torsionally. The JDub has two real stand-out features; providing you wax it regularly it’s one of the fastest freestyle snowboards on the market, fail to wax it and it’ll ruin your day, especially in slushier conditions. Secondly it just looks so crazy, people can’t help but stare at the bizarre 50 pence styles tip and tail radii.

To summarise, the Rossignol JDub is an extremely aggressive, lively, stable, durable and fast (providing you wax it regularly) snowboard. On hard and icy snow conditions the Magne-traction, carbon and Kevlar reinforcement, triaxial glass and heavy camber provide impressive edge hold and tons of pop out of transitions. Unfortunately the limited stance options and pronounced camber mean that riding powder isn’t as effortless as it could be and the stiffness of the ride means rails won’t be at the top of your to do list. Buy the JDub if you want to ride big park and backcountry kickers and push it in the Halfpipe.