Summary:

The Official is extremely versatile, fun in the park and capable freeriding when conditions demand. Plenty of pop off kickers and a fairly narrow waist for improved response. Don’t be put off because top pro riders like David Benedek are riding it, snowboarders of all levels will enjoy riding the Official.

Manufacturer's Description:

Salomon’s Flagship in Lightweight Freestyle from backcountry booters to cutting edge park features the Official’s Alien Light Popster core delivers on the demands of riders like Benedek and Bourbousson.

Year: 2010

Available Lengths (cm): 148, 152, 155, 158, 161

Riding Style: Freestyle/Park

Specifications:

Directional Twin shape
Equalizer sidecut
4000 grade sintered EG base
Alien Light core
Popster core profile
Rubber Rails damping

Similar boards:

Palmer Burn - 2010

Forum Pat Moore Pro - 2010

Signal OG - 2010

What we reckon:

Read our pro guide to buying a park snowboard.

Read our pro guide to buying a rails snowboard.

Read our pro guide to buying a pipe snowboard.

Read our pro guide to buying a freeride snowboard.

Review of Salomon Official:

The Salomon Official is a great board for anybody looking for a good, solid all-rounder. It dealt well with the icy morning pistes and the torsional flex in the board meant that initiating turns on steep slopes wasn’t hard but the edge still held really well when I hit the crud and turned up the pace. Jibbing around the slopes wasn’t difficult and the stability and pop gave me the confidence to try tricks even with icy take-off’s and landings. If you’re a beginner looking for a board to last for the next four or five seasons then you’ll do well to have a look at the Official because no matter how good you get you’ll still find this board rewarding. The great thing about the Official is that it isn’t too aggressive for a beginner and isn’t so stiff that it’s going to stop seasoned riders from hitting rails or jibbing around on the flat.