Rome Mod Rocker - 2012
The Rome Mod Rocker is one of those boards that the masses have been waiting on for years. It’s not that the cambered Mod needs rocker it’s just that riders wanted the high spec performance of the cambered mod with the playfulness of reverse camber. If that was the mission statement then Rome has surpassed itself. The Freepop Rocker is stable but playful featuring a flat area that runs from 5cm before the leading foot’s first pair of inserts to 5cm past the last set of inserts, this flat section is designed to give a stable level platform. In the tips are Carbon hotrods, which are milled into the core giving the Mod Rocker plenty of pop, but the tips remain buttery and easily pressed. Rome employed famous London stencil/graffiti artist D-Face to do his thing and he’s done a nice job of the graphics.
Manufacturer's Description:
What it likes: That top-to-bottom run with all the features that the locals know; nollies off rollers; ollies over gaps; the big jump line in the park; the small jump line in the park; backcountry kickers; backcountry powder lines
Recommended for park riding.
Recommended for halfpipe riding.
Recommended for rail riding.
Recommended for freeride riding.
High cost $
Available in Wide.
Rocker Construction.
Twin Shape.
Year: 2012
Available Lengths (cm):
150, 153, 156, 159, 158W, 161W
Riding Style: Freestyle/Park
Specifications:
Hotrods: Carbon Double Barrel
Quickrip Sidecut Technology
Kevlar Impact Plates
Airpop Core Matrix
Superlightbiax Laminate
Sintercarbon Base
Freepop Rocker Camber
Similar boards: K2 Fastplant - 2012 Stepchild FTW - 2012 Lib Tech Attack Banana - 2012
Snowboard Review:
Watch the 2012 Rome Mod Rocker Video Snowboard Review
After three years of testing snowboards I’m ashamed to say that the Mod Rocker is the first Rome board that I’ve ever ridden. I’m not sure why but Rome has always been one of those brands that I haven’t been particularly bothered about. Nevertheless, if there’s any board that could (and did) change my opinion about Rome it was the Mod Rocker. I guess I’d always believed that Rome took themselves a little bit too seriously and thought as themselves as the fashionable, rebellious side of the industry.
When Scotty, Rome’s UK rep, handed over the Mod Rocker I asked him a little bit about the technical specifications of the board and in his coarse Scottish accent he replied:
“You don’t need to worry about that pal. All you need to know is that this is the funnest board Rome have ever built.”
Although Scott hadn’t given me the answer I was looking for, and it appears that adding ‘nest’ to the end of ‘fun’ doesn’t agree with Microsoft Spell Checker, he did manage to sum this board up in one word. The Mod Rocker is ridiculously ’fun’ to ride. In all honesty the Mod Rocker feels like a pogo stick under your feet, it’s lively and poppy at low speeds but has the minerals to deal with higher speeds, choppy conditions and the bigger features in the park; qualities that a lot of rockered boards don’t have. To give the Mod Rocker more versatility Rome has added Hotrod inserts to the nose and tail of the board, which add some of the qualities of a cambered board.
If you’re a park rider and die-hard fan of cambered boards then this could be the board to shift your opinion. The Freepop Rocker Camber profile is a zero camber profile with early-rise nose and tail, which really lends itself to flatland jibbing, sliding and pressing rails and floating in powder. Nevertheless this board still has great pop at low speeds, is ridiculously lively in and out of turns, there isn’t much chatter in the nose and tail at high speeds and it holds a surprisingly strong edge when carving. This is the perfect board for progressive park riders who have been missing a little ‘pop’ in their riding whether that be on rails, jibbing-around or spinning off kickers.
Highlights:
Fun and playful FreePOP Profile
Zero camber stability between the feet
Springy low speed pop from Carbon Hotrods
Graphics by D-Face
Letdowns:
None
Posted by Tom Ewbank in • Rome
User Snowboard Reviews
Want some advice, or have a question about the Rome Mod Rocker snowboard, or whether it is right for you? DON'T POST HERE! Head over to our snowboard forums and our community will be happy to help.
Seriously - READ THE ABOVE..., the snowboard forum the best way to get your question seen by all of our community and an answer, rather than just those who happen to view this page.
However, if you have ridden this snowboard and want to share your feedback, then please add your experience below. It helps to add as much detail as possible, e.g board length you used, bindings, rider stats etc.
on November 10, 2011 at 03:19 AM
I was wondering if this board would be good for me, I ride park mostly hitting all boxes and rails available as well as all the jumps available under 55ft. On pow days i ride pow only and some all mountain. I was looking at this board but was wondering how easwily it was to press. ( im looking at the 153, im 5’9 and weigh 160) the other boards i was comtemplating are: rome reverb rocker, agent rocker, and Never summer evo Thanks
on November 10, 2011 at 10:10 AM
@Andrew, Yea the Evo or the Mod Rocker would be an inspired choice if you’re looking for a park board that will also work in powder. Tom who did the Rome Mod test is 5’9” and 150lbs I think so not much difference. He’s used to riding slightly longer boards so that’s why he recommended sticking to your usual all-mountain freestyle size but I think he got along just fine on the 153. The Evo has a super long effective edge for its length so you could definitely ride the 153… in fact that’s the size I’d recommend. Rich
on January 08, 2012 at 06:46 AM
Great review.
I’m really considering this board, but like the poster above I’m curious about the flex for butterability, presses and jibs.
I’m 5’11 and 175lbs with size 11 boots. Should I stick with the 156?
I live on the east coast of the US, so ‘powder’ is really not an actuality. Is this too much of an all mountain board for east coast ice, park and groomers?
Thanks much
on April 14, 2012 at 08:53 AM
After almost 6 months of browsing I have come to the conclusion that this is the board for me.. BUT, I am 6 foot 2 and 80 kilograms and I am not sure if i should get the 156 or the 159… I currently ride a 155 and i don’t have much trouble with it but I’m still not really sure what is best for me considering it is the only board I have ever owned. I do ride all mountain, love to hit the park on a sunny day when the snow is crappy but will always look for pow when possible. Please help me with the size of board you recommend for me. Thank you!
on April 28, 2012 at 06:23 AM
Mod and mod rocker suck. I have had one of each this season. Mod Rocker lasted 2 1/2 months and the mod lasted 1 month. Very weak in my mind especially from a company who is in search of the 100 day rider. Maybe should look to make a 100 day board.
on March 07, 2013 at 08:59 PM
I’m 5’11” 175 lbs and picked up a 156 to get more play in the park with my. Set up with my 390 Bosses.
Regardless that the board is a hair shorter than it should be on me, this thing slays EVERYWHERE. It’s not a jib board but you can get buttery on it if you try hard enough.
I was hesitant about the rocker as I usually always ride cambered decks but this board can carve VERY well and hold its own in sketchy terrain. I plan on bringing it out west to take on some bigger mountain riding and am not worried at all.
I would keep this thing to more park/all mountain riding and not as much backcountry. It does float pretty well in powder but its first and foremost a freestyle park deck, specializing in jumps.
