Last winter when the Rome mid west rep was in town I got to take the Rome Anthem SS 2012 for a rip. All rigged up with my bindings I rode this hot rod of snowboards in the natural pipes of Annupuri to blasting off pillows and deep powder turns at Teine in the mid March powder we scored through watching the weather patterns
The Anthem SS 2012 performed well in all conditions from boosting out of well ridden natural pipe walls to floating the steep powder laden bowls of Sapporo Teine.
This board is tech madness and if you want to ride varied terrain and fancy yourself as a bit of a Lucas Debari then this is the board is for you.
This board also looks the part with it's swish high end graphick!
So what this makes this board tick? Well first up it packed full of strength, think stiff, giving you the ability to power through anything and accelerate out of turns. Strength is bought to by Rome’s PressurePop Tech: Kevlar V which transfers the energy from under the binding out to the contact points on the effective edge for maximum response. Put this with the Carbon Torque Hotrods that run between the bindings arching out to the sidecut at the centre which softens the end to end torque but still allows great edge to edge control to power out of turns. The Hybrid Camber gives it float when needed, this is done by making the edge contact points longer, allowing the camber start points to be set back so that when you decompress the board the tip and tail rise up.
All this tech basically means you get increase control and pop from the reinforcement while increased float and ease of turn from the hybrid camber when in the pow. Finally put all this with the SinterCarbon.2 Base to make you slide even faster.
This board is a machine for someone who likes to free ride in the powder, down steep lines, off kickers and the pipe and park. A good board for peak to pipe runs this winter in Niseko or where ever you ride!! It comes in 157, 159, 161 and 163 and for more Tech Check Rome.
We are really digging this little segment filmed in central Hokkaido. Got everything from super sick riding, good tunes, to a bit of Japan, Head Love… otsukare sama deshita!
End of February Christophe Schmidt, Fredrik Evensen and Shayne Pospisil went Asahidake in Japan to meet up with Masaomi Harada. Because of the great snow conditions it was possible to film this clip in 7 days. Enjoy!
Rome SDS has been designing some sweet bindings over the years and the top end Targa for 2012 is a beauty. Targa’s are known to be tech, tuff, light, adjustable as can be and aesthetically pleasing. When a few guys from the rome crew came over to shred Niseko and Teine, I strapped my boots in and ripped around on em. Boot-in and board dangling off the lift, the binding didn’t release so no need for a leash! When fully strapped in the Targa’s are so comfy that it feels like you are just wearing boots and somehow your board is attached- Comfort King approved! Super responsive in the Niseko pow, chop, park and pipe.
Rome rider Cameron slashing around the Sapporo Teine resort on a deep day
Kopish kicking a method strapped in the 2012 Targa's and Mod
Some progressive ideas that the Rome binding design guru has put into place are the V-rod baseplates that have a smaller binding footprint on your board with all four corners raised up allowing more board flex. From your toe and lateral side of your heel the V-rod baseplate delivers power and the “Yes, I cant system” gives you EVA-to-board contact for maximum cushioning, canting options and lightness. The Targa’s come with normal flat, 2 degree and 3.5 degree footbed/basepads and are the only Inbase canting system in snowboarding so far. I rode them normal-flat and Cameron rips the 3.5 degree cants. Cam likes cant as much as rice-ball triangles and it gives him leverage on rocker boards. Seen it in the 90′s… cool cant-tech comes back around.
AntiShock highback and AutoStrap out of your boots way.
Internal highback adjusting and a fresh looking binding
2012 Targa binding is ready and willing with cool new toestraps and highbacks
The four corners of the V-Rod baseplate are raised up for more board flex
The Targa’s Boot-size tweakable baseplates and tuff aluminum underwrap heel hoops are solid to stand on. The interchangeable and tweakable EVA inserts in the ankle straps give you 3 flex options and the new Conformist.3 toe straps fit snug. The new AntiShock highback takes the abuse and has fully tweakable rotation, toe and heel ramps. The Targa’s tool-less tweakable forward lean, toe and ankle straps come in handy when it’s time to swap boards for a run.
Tweakable to the max, the 2012 Targa’s hold your boots like you hug your best friend.
