EzLounging

I've had 3 Rome Nationals since 2017. It is an ideal do it all type board that doesn't totally disappoint on resort pow days. 7/10 flex on a universal scale. I have nothing bad to say about Rome boards other than the graphics are meh (although that goes for many brands IMHO). Crewzer or Freaker both seem very similar to the National and can be found cheap.

Kevington wrote: ↑Sun Oct 08, 2023 1:40 pm I've had 3 Rome Nationals since 2017. It is an ideal do it all type board that doesn't totally disappoint on resort pow days. 7/10 flex on a universal scale. I have nothing bad to say about Rome boards other than the graphics are meh (although that goes for many brands IMHO). Crewzer or Freaker both seem very similar to the National and can be found cheap.

I actually remember looking at National some years back, but never ended up getting on. Probably because I had a chance to demo Nitro and it was easy to choose something I liked. Feels like the differences are really subtle between those three Romes. I can get almost the whole last year's Rome lineup -40 %, so there are options to choose from.

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I actually remember looking at National some years back, but never ended up getting on. Probably because I had a chance to demo Nitro and it was easy to choose something I liked. Feels like the differences are really subtle between those three Romes. I can get almost the whole last year's Rome lineup -40 %, so there are options to choose from.
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My friend has the Freaker and National and says they are very similar but the Freaker has a tighter sidecut and ever so slightly softer (but snappy) flex. I think the national has marginally 'better' materials but it's probably unnoticeable.

Not sure if the lack of attention to Rome in the community has anything to do with them moving to Nidecker?

I have a Cabin Mountain Tools which I love — designed by Paul Maravetz (Rome cofounder), made at Kiel (Austrian Burton factory)

I've come close to grabbing a Rome Service Dog / Stale Fish several times. Still might. Was looking at it and considering buying one last week.

As far as some brands not getting attention here, it seems to me that two things drive more conversation; One is the smaller niche brands and two is new boards. Could just be more novelty, or exclusivity, whatever whatever. But I think (with exceptions) we're perhaps talking about these two areas more than we're buying and riding them irl.

And as for Rome specifically, for me it's just one I have zero branding impression of. Like... most brands I have a space in my mind where they live either by image, or how the boards feel, or something that sets them apart. Good or bad. LibTech has its space. Never Summer has its space. eTc. etc. etc. And Rome, idk what they are because the're nothing that much sets them apart to me... just another brand in a sense.

Rome to me is just not attractive. Never dug their graphics, never dug their specs ( same narrow ass WW as Burton )... Not sure there has just never been anything that makes me think about them.

No hate on them, they just hold absolutely no appeal to me in any way shape or form..

Rome’s graphics have been horrendous for so fucking long. I think as a blanket statement, most loungers are the freeride/freecarve(?)/all mountain type. Rome doesn’t really offer a wider, stiffer, aggressive deck. I think the National was their stiffest board for awhile, it’s softer than a Custom IMO.

BUT I think their finished product has been great in recent years in terms of quality, they make fun “party” decks and awesome bindings. Kinda wish I kept the syndicate base Ravine now.

They never had huge presence out here in VT/NE where they were founded and based. Lackluster marketing, lazy sales rep?

Rome have never been very much interested in freeride and carving I guess. I tried the Ravine and it was the softest board I've ever been on by some margin. A lot of fun, but absolutely not what I would classify as freeride. The Blur seemed kind of freeride but had a tiny nose for some weird reason. As a brand I think they carry a bit more weight in my neck of the woods due to their long time partnership with the RK1 crew (Sandbech, Ostreng, Jørgensen) and now Rene Rinnekangas. The graphics have been and still are awful though.

Kevington wrote: ↑Mon Oct 09, 2023 11:49 am Rome have never been very much interested in freeride and carving I guess. I tried the Ravine and it was the softest board I've ever been on by some margin. A lot of fun, but absolutely not what I would classify as freeride. The Blur seemed kind of freeride but had a tiny nose for some weird reason. As a brand I think they carry a bit more weight in my neck of the woods due to their long time partnership with the RK1 crew (Sandbech, Ostreng, Jørgensen) and now Rene Rinnekangas. The graphics have been and still are awful though.

The Blur was marketed as an 8/10 for the 2017 model year. It probably started around a 7 and is now more like a 5.5 - 6.

Blur is an oddity of a board for sure. It's soft, but has some crazy curved carbon rods that track sidecut so it doesn't feel that soft on edge. It also has a TON of edge packed into it-- 127 cm EE on a 162, typically 122-123-ish. So it still feels relatively stable because it has the edge of a board 3-4 cm bigger.

I don't know that there's really a market for that board, which is why they probably killed it. They turned it more into the Freaker, which is a bit more budget.