Salomon Super 8 Review

Although the Super Eight boasts a tapered tail and base profile unique amongst other boards we tested, it simply felt like a regular (but good) ride. The skinnier tail and camber under the rear foot is intended to make it snap in and out of turns faster, and the flat profile under the front foot supposedly helps with floating in powder. Now, understanding that these properties should certainly help with these things, our testers didn't feel that it rode any differently than a traditionally cambered, non-tapered, board. We're not trying to diss the board though, because it still rips. The Salomon Super Eight held its edge well throughout turns, made fairly quick transitions from toe to heel and floated in powder like any modern all-mountain snowboard should. The rear camber and stiff flex kept it popping off jumps better than banana'd boards, and its fairly large sidecut radius makes it ride much better at higher speeds than at slower speeds, the latter making it a bit less playful too.

Performance Comparison

Edging and Carving

As you'll find with other boards we tested with similar sidecut radius, the Super Eight isn't the most nimble and playful snowboard out there. It's built to rail longer arching turns at higher rates of speed and hammer through crud all thanks to it's flex. It felt close to the Burton Flight Attendant and the Rossignol One

Float in Powder

The flat base profile under the front foot is supposed to help this board float in powder better than if it were fully cambered. This tester could not feel a difference though and concluded that it floated very well, but not considerably better than other cambered, traditionally shaped boards. The noticeably better float can be found in boards with long surfboard-like noses, farther set-back stances, or fully rockered base profiles. Perhaps if you're really looking for it you could find it, but we couldn't.

Stability at Speed

The Super Eight's wide width, classic edges, and flex make it very stable at speeds much like the Jones Explorer and the T. Rice Pro Pointy. It tracked well while riding straight, it stayed smoothly locked into turns while releasing from them easily, and it mashed through crud.

Playfulness

Smaller riders may not have as much fun on this board as bigger ones. Once again, boards with longer radius sidecuts just don't respond fast enough to make them awesome at all speeds, unfortunately. The Super Eight responds better at higher speeds, but it doesn't feel quite as cat-like as the YES Optimistic, Arbor Wasteland, or the Never Summer Proto-Type Two

Pop

The Salomon Super Eight pops well because camber and stiff flex help boards pop - it's as simple as that. It's when boards are too soft, or if they're not cambered (at least by the rear foot like this model) that they lose the responsiveness you're looking for when you try and get in the air. Comparable popping boards to this one are the Burton Flight Attendant and the Rome Agent The only thing that will make this board pop better is for you to start doing squats every day.

Best Applications

High speed groomer carving, jumping, mashing through variable conditions, and powder riding.

Value

Very well worth the price.

Conclusion

This is a really nice, well-made, all-around board.