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.

Thanks to Pete from Great Lakes Insurgents RomeSDS for the image

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.

Brian

Mitts that bite powder and kill next season

Work on your puppet show skills in the park, on the lifts or gondolas and create dialog with other fish out there poaching the lines. Check em out next winter 2012!

Brian

D*Face base graphic

Quick slash

The Mod’s mellow rocker starts outside the binding inserts and is loaded with carbon hot-rods that snap the pop. It edges awsm with the quickrip side-cut (Rome’s reply to Mervins Magna-traction) and it’s just as playful at jib tempo in the park as it is at mach speed. Wheeling in deep Niseko powder or bombing the tard-traverse-crud in slush or crust, pipe, park or rails, the 2012 Mod is dirty-clean. Equipped with all the bells and whistles of Rome’s high end line… the carbon double barrel hot rods in the tips, kevlar impact plates under the boots, air-pop core fully wrapped in superlight biax laminate with that carbon-sintered super fast base… It’s worth next season’s loot.

Rome and D*Face 2012 Mod Rock top sheet

Mod Rock rail pop

Everyone that I have let ride this board instantly likes it. The 2012 Mod is one of Rome’s most hyped boards for next season and it’s been a gem to ride from the arctic north to the rising sun. Rip-Roaring Fun.
 Ask your local shop about it next season!

Brian

If you manage to pick up a copy of The Fine Line you will also get the 4 training videos which will prove invaluable in combination with backcountry training. more soon…



Anyhow check out the K2 and Lib Tech videos below to get an idea behind this new style of board and if your in the market for a new board I wouldn’t buy anything else!

VS