Anybody remembers the Salomon 450 board?

Posted: 01 January 2010 08:47 PM

Who makes a board similar to that old style?

I busted my favorite board, a 2001 Salomon 450 couple years ago and bought a 2007/2008 Ride Timeless, which I didn’t care for.

Does anyone know if there is anything comparable to the 450?

Also how much have technologies changed in the past ten years? I still have an older 1999 Salomon 350 that rides very nice.  Just wondering if it’s even worth it to buy a new board these days.

One of the boards I’m considering is a Never Summer Premier.

Thanks in advance for any comments!

Posted: 01 January 2010 10:21 PM

Hi Moron,

My first board was a Salomon 400FR which I think pre-empted the 450. From what I remember, it had a directional shape, sintered base and a medium flex, I think the 450 had a mid-wide waist too.

Snowboard construction hasn’t changed a huge amount in the last 8 years but design has definitely evolved… oh and Cap construction which was used on the first unibody salomons is kind of a thing of the past. If you’re looking to ride powder then you should be looking at a tapered shape… if you’re riding park then there are a number of rockered boards you could look at.

I’ve listed below a number of boards I’d have a look at which kind of fit with the old Salomon 450:

Burton Guru - Slight taper and a directional shape with a twin medium flex.

Lib Tech Lando Pheonix - Rockered between the feet, this board is ideal for riding pow and doing a bit of freestyle here and there. A kind of mid-wide waist too.

Amplid Paradigma - Directional shape with a firm flex, ideal for dominating the whole mountain, some where between the 450 and your timeless flex wise.

K2 Zero - Probably my favourite snowboard of 2010, Medium firm flex, unbelievably light and soo responsive and snappy… an all mountain dream machine. Perhaps on the pricey side!

Rossignol One - Rossi all mountain dominator. A firm flex, carbon and kevlar reinforcement and magnetraction edges for unrivaled grip… the edges effectively acts as a serated blade.

If you’re thinking of a more freeride / powder orientated ride just holla and i’ll make some suggestions.

Rich

Posted: 02 January 2010 04:46 AM

Rich,

You read my mind: One of my criteria for a new board is that it has to be light and responsive. 
K2 Zero has my attention.  I will give it a shot if I run into a good deal.  Otherwise, I’ll wait till the end of the season.  Call me a weight weenie, but I love anything light and fast.

You have a wealth of knowledge!  I appreciate your reply, and thank for your recommendation!

Posted: 02 January 2010 11:00 AM

Thanks for the kind words.. unfortunately in the real world my extensive knowledge of snowboard equipment is useless! Long live the forum! Yeah, I think you’ll love the Zero… thinking about it, you might be able to source a deal on one of last years.. I don’t think the board changed much this year.

Posted: 02 February 2010 07:27 AM

Rich,

I can’t find a K2 Zero in any local shops, but I looked at a Rossignol “One Mag” yesterday.  When I placed the board perpendicular to the ground with the nose facing up.  I could easily flex the board by pushing down with both hands at the tip of the nose.  This was a 157cm One Mag, and I believe that’s a medium width board.  The flex is much much more than my Salomon 350 and Timeless

Is the term “Flex” in reference to lateral (side to side) or nose to tail stiffness?

I ride 80% resort groomer (hard pack mostly and sometimes ice), 10% moguls, and 10% powder.
My riding style: Sometime all out speed, something cruise and crave.  I like to ride switch, hit small 360 jumps, do nose/tail press, but definitely no pipe or park. 

I’m 5’ 8”, Weigh 170 lbs, Size 9 USA in Salomon boots. 

What’s your take on a head to head comparison between a One Mag and a Zero?  The One Mag seemed fairly light in weight.  Too bad I didn’t have a Zero to compare it to.

Thanks again!

Posted: 02 February 2010 09:07 AM

Hey there,
don’t know if you’ve already seen it but yesterday Tom published his Rossignol reviews including the OneMag! (direct Link)

, if you’re the kind of rider that likes charging down the mountain at ridiculous speeds, getting your hand to glide over the piste when you carve, and boosting off rollers at terrifying speeds then you may have found the ‘One’ for you.

The flex of a snowboard describes the relationship of its longitudinal flex to its torsional flex.

Posted: 03 February 2010 12:02 AM

Yeah the Timeless was an absolute monster! THose kind of super stiff boards have died a bit of a death, hence Ride dropped the Timeless. Technology now means you don’t have to ride an absolute ironing board to have stability. I think for the kind of riding you want to be doing and for the price… you won’t find better than the One Mag.