Construction and Materials

The Rome Freaker is one of only two models in the brand’s 2021/22 range to feature Directional Triple Bamboo Omega HotRods. Two bamboo rods at the back, near the edges, provide some additional stability, not to mention a bit of extra rigidity in the tail for delivering uber-ollies. Then at the front there’s a single rod in the middle, so you still get some of the benefits when riding switch. All three are wrapped in lightweight carbon for added response.

Elsewhere the combination of triax and biax fibreglass layers offers up the perfect amount of torsional twistability to compliment the longitudinal flex, with a lightweight poplar/paulownia core sandwiched between the two. The ‘Sinterstrong’ base sitting underneath it all isn’t Rome’s fastest (another reason to wonder why this was ever called the Speed Freak), but it’s not far off, and doesn’t require a lot of upkeep.

“Simply put, the Rome Freaker is an all-mountain board when it needs to be, but under the right feet it’s capable of so much more”

Roundup

While we very much approve of the name change, even calling this the Freaker might still catch some people out. It’s a bit more conventional than that, and would honestly suit a rider that likes to clock up their riding miles inbounds and far from the park.

Having said that, anyone who like to fly their freak flag high will love the potential for spontaneity offered by the profile, combined with the sheer oomph in the tail when you just want to send it to the moon. Simply put, the Rome Freaker is an all-mountain board when it needs to be, but under the right feet it’s capable of so much more.

“All new for the 21/22 season, the Freaker is the new go-to for Rene Rinnekangas. This directional twin has an appetite for high-speed transition destruction and an eye for creative lines all over the mountain. This year’s graphic is a psychedelic nod to those who spent their life’s close to the speaker.”