Jones Flagship - 2011
Despite having similar aesthetics to the Experience, Jeremy’s pro model at Rossignol, Jeremy is keen to stress that the Flagship is the evolution of his work at Rossignol, the next step. Blunted tips and tails reduce the effect of drag in fresh snow, directional Camrock helps cut down the risk of catching an edge and makes initiating turns at slower speeds a piece of pie. Convinced that full Magnetraction edges were too aggressive for smooth riding, Jeremy has pioneered Mellow Mag, providing the extra grip in the case of an emergency, Carbon & Kevlar reinforcement reduces chatter and provides the guts for stomping monster cliff drops. Jeremy is also the founder of the POW (Protect Our Winters) charity, you can rest assured a huge amount of time and effort have gone into creating a sustainable and green option for big mountain shredders, the Flagship leads by example in this department.
Manufacturer's Description:
The premier big mountain weapon.Ideal for speed, stability, stomping airs, charging down the mountain. The apex of 25 years of freeriding experience, rigorous testing, and the latest construction technologies, the Flagship is a battle proven weapon for all-mountain attacks. The Flagship combines Magne-Traction, directional rocker and camber underfoot for the highest overall performance in even the most demanding terrain and conditions.
Jeremy Jones’ Thoughts:- Stepping into the mountains you never know what you’re going to encounter. The first two turns may be waist deep followed by ice through the crux and chop in the outrun. The Flagship is my go-to board for fast and confident freeriding in any conditions. I have designed this board with directional rocker and a blunted nose to keep the tip up in the deepest of snow, camber underfoot and Magne-Traction for edging on ice, a longer radius sidecut for speed and railing turns, a shortened running length for maneuverability in tight spaces, and a freestyle tail to land switch in powder. This board has no speed limit and no boundaries. This is the Flagship of our line and my life’s work - the ultimate freeride board. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself thanking this board at the bottom of a line.
Recommended for freeride riding.
Recommended for big mountain riding.
High cost $
Available in MidWide.
Rocker Construction.
Freeride Specific.
Green or Eco Friendly Construction.
Year: 2011
Available Lengths (cm):
158, 161, 164, 162W, 168W
Riding Style: Freeride
Specifications:
Full FSC sourced Poplar and Beech wood core
Wood Veneer Topsheet
Reclaimed Hickory Wood sidewalls
High Grade recycled sintered base
Directional Camrock rocker
Blunted Nose and Tail
Mellow Magnetraction
Carbon & Kevlar Reinforcement
Similar boards: Rossignol Experience MagTek - 2011 Never Summer Raptor & Raptor X - 2011 Nitro Pantera LX - 2011 Compatriot Commissioner - 2011 Salomon Burner - 2011
Snowboard Review:
It wouldn’t be right to test the Flagship without a healthy helping of powder.. although the weather on the board test was nothing less than consistently appalling, we did have the benefit of a Wednesday evening dump. The car park was filling up as we arrived at Kaunertal, boots laced up and tight… check… liftpass… check… goggles and gloves… yep. I was all sorted, so I ran down to the TSA tent and pounced on the Jones Flagship. Jeremy and Nidecker deserve some serious credit for producing such a cool looking board, the untreated wood veneer topsheet and Hickory hard wood sidewalls just ooze class. After hurriedly mounting my bindings I ran to the gondola and peered though the windows at the infinite lines below.
Strapping into the Flagship, you immediately notice how setback the stance is, how the nose of the board is relatively stiff and the tail although still firm is little bit softer. Tight turns felt easy to initiate and grip was impressive even on harder conditions, I really enjoyed the transition between edges… this board loves being turned. So the Jones Flagship likes being turned, but it’s also a board that Jeremy and his Jones team mates use when they’re turning up the speed to eleven. As soon as I released the reigns and started charging, the Flagship was in it’s element. Straight lining steep terrain was a bit of a doddle and in the pow I felt like I was flying. As I mentioned before, I was testing the flagship on 12 inches of fresh heavy snow. The rockered nose worked well, staying catch free with absolutely no worry about going over the handlebars or sub-marining, even in the afternoon when the snow was tracked and choppy. So you’ll hear lots of reasons for using Camrock, sure it helps with float and helps with straight line confidence, for me the main reason for Camrock is to make the board more agile regardless of the boards stiffness. If the Flagship was like Jeremy’s old cambered decks on Rossi, then I’m sure it would be a bit of a handful, but it isn’t at all. I really believe that if you can carve, then you’ll get on with the Flagship.
I’ve got to give Jeremy credit for the Flagship. The Flagship is agile, the Camrock works brilliantly to help even inexperienced riders initiate tight turns super easily and the slight Magnetraction and firm torsional flex holds carves like a vice. When you crank up the speed the firm flex and camber between the bindings means the Flagship holds long carves well and when the snow gets choppy the nose rises up and the board is damp enough to deal with those unwanted vibrations. One of the best qualities of the Flagship was that it stomped powder landings on command… although I won’t be dropping any 40ft Jeremy Jones size cliffs in the near future, the Flagship certainly goes some way to explaining how the living legend does it.
Posted by Rich Ewbank in • Jones
User Snowboard Reviews
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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 December 20, 2010 at 07:51 PM
Thanks for the great review and all the informative comments. I am a lower-level advanced rider at 5’9”, 180 lbs, with size 11 boots. Trying to decide between the 161, 164, or 163W for my all-around freeride board. Any notes on widths and possible toe-drag? It looks like the 164 would be about right with a waist width of 25.4 cm. Not sure I want to go as big as 26.2cm with the 163W.
Thanks
on December 20, 2010 at 08:17 PM
Lewis, I have 11 size feet too and at first bought the 161. Bit of a mistake. When I compared it to my actual boots, I knew I had to get the 163W. Plus, I might have to upgrade to a 12 size boot at some point. If you’re sure you will never need bigger boots and you are riding a reduced footprint boot, you should be all set with the 164, but otherwise I’d go for the 163W just in case.
on December 20, 2010 at 08:22 PM
My thoughts exactly. A 25.4cm waist and a 9m sidecut mean you’re not going to have a huge width of board under your feet with the standard 164. To be honest 26.2 is only a mid-wide really. You’re not talking Lib Tech or Nitro Magnum wide which ventures into the realms of 28cm. My advice would be to go for the 163W, last thing you want is toe drag ruining perfect Vitelli carves!
on December 20, 2010 at 11:12 PM
5’10” 200#, size 11 feet. Trying to decide between 163W and 168W. I notice that most of the energy is toward 163W, and just wondering why all-mountain freeriders like ourselves don’t go more toward 168W? I ride an 2000 K2 Eldo 164 I’ve always been encouraged to go bigger if I’m comfortable with that length (which I am). Thanks!
on December 21, 2010 at 06:15 AM
Ken, go big. I am 6’2” 180 lbs. and ride a 172 Prior. I tried the 168 Rossi Experience and wanted more for wide open high speed riding, and especially more for that late day pounded fresh crud bumpiness—my cambered Prior was way more stable. I might get the 168 Jones for trees and messing around with my children.(if I learn that I do not have to lacquer the top) I really don’t understand why more freeriders don’t go bigger—it just makes riding easier. I am not being macho or trying to compensate either!
on December 21, 2010 at 08:59 AM
Andrew and Rich: Thanks for the quick feedback. Luckily, there were a few 163Ws still kicking around online, so I put my order in. Stoked! I wasn’t sure about widths because I have been riding my brother’s old Burton Custom 163 with a waist of 27.8cm, and the turn initiation was awful…but maybe the design didn’t have enough sidecut either.
I’ll try to comment later about the topsheet absorption issues after I’ve been out a few times. Fingers crossed.
on December 21, 2010 at 09:02 AM
Looking for a 168W in Seattle, WA or online if anyone knows who has stock.
on December 21, 2010 at 10:02 AM
@ Ken Check out Wave Rave snowboard shop in Mammoth
on December 21, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Ken I’m completely agreed with Jeff on this one. For a man of your stature the 168W is a pretty much as small as you want to go… perfect for an all mountain freeride board… for big bowls and balls out charging go BIGGER!
on December 21, 2010 at 10:15 AM
Appreciate the encouragement to go big. Maybe I’ll take another look at those Tankers.
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