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Salomon Assassin Pro 2020-2021 Snowboard Review

  • Price: £580 / €640 / $550
  • Category: All-Mountain, Park,Jib
  • Ability Level: Advanced
  • Size: 150, 153, 156, 158w, 159, 162, 163w/li>
  • Flex: 9/10
  • Shape: Directional Twin
  • Profile: CamRock
  • Base: Sintered

The Salomon Assassin Pro is the top of the range big brother to the Salomon Assassin. If you’re looking for high performance and money is no barrier, then this dark destroyer might just be for you. On initial inspection of the Assassin and the Pro, they have the same versatile directional twin shape and Rock Out Camber profile. However, most of the differences lie within the internal board construction, Salomon have really souped-up this model to justify the price difference.

The Assassin Pro is flat between the feet aiding with stability, slight camber directly under the feet for quick response with rocker at the tip and tail for pressability and playfulness. The early rise tip and tail will keep your board floating on top during those deep days and aid with smooth turn initiation.

“A high end Sintered EG base, combined with Salomon’s Quadrilizer Sidecut will keep you tipping and gripping on piste”

The lightness combined with this board’s stiffness means it packs a hefty punch. If you’re willing to put in the work, then it will most certainly give the performance out. A high end Sintered EG base, combined with Salomon’s Quadrilizer Sidecut will keep you tipping and gripping on piste and firmly at the front of the pack.

Salomon have come through with all the bells and whistles on the Assassin Pro, utilising their premium technologies to make sure there’s no compromise on performance. Two carbon beams are inserted into the tip and tail, boosting power from the inserts when you’re popping off kickers or sidehits. Gunslinger Sidewalls run the length of the board, two carbon inlays which will provide the rider with increased stability when carving at high speeds and soak up some of the chatter as you’re tackling varied terrain.

“Two carbon beams are inserted into the tip and tail, boosting power from the inserts when you’re popping off kickers or sidehits”

The result is a light and nimble board with plenty of power for fast edge to edge transitions and lightning fast responsiveness. The Assassin Pro is adaptable and ready to take on whatever the season throws your way. This board would suit intermediate to advanced freestyle riders who like a challenge in the park but are looking for a board that is responsive and stable to rip up the whole mountain.

Tester’s Verdict 2019/20

Rhys JonesTDC Snowboarding

“This board looked like a stealth weapon! Awesome graphics which were right up my street. Cool shape. Cambered board which flattened out between the feet which makes this a super stable ride. Bit of rocker in the tip and tail making it nice and playful.

“Cambered board which flattened out between the feet which makes this a super stable ride”

Enjoyed carving on this one down the groomers. Performed long carves super smooth. Felt this board gave a real solid edge hold on hard packed snow. Fun, fast and responsive directional twin. Quite a light board. Found it nice and poppy with a mid to stiff flex which keeps you on your toes. Good for pinging off natural features. Being a higher stiffness makes this quite an aggressive all-mountain freestyle number which really makes you earn your turns. It didn’t come alive in powder like other similar boards I’d ridden but it still got the job done.

This is the sup’d up version of the Assassin. I’ve never ridden an Assassin but I’m keen to check it out after riding the Assassin Pro.

I would recommend this for the advanced intermediate freestyle riders who like a challenge in the park but want something nice and sleek to rip around the whole mountain on.”

Tester’s Verdict 2018/19

Ed Leigh

“This thing is a pure weapon – a samurai sword of snowboard. I rode the regular Assassin and it was great; it handled powder and a backcountry kicker with ease. But that’s what it designed for so that shouldn’t surprise anyone.

“I thought the funky profile might be a bit squirrelly in a big pipe, but it was the opposite”

What did surprise me, though, was when I borrowed the Pro off Tim Warwood in Korea and went to ride the Olympic halfpipe. I thought the funky rocker/flat/camber profile might be a bit squirrelly in a big pipe, but it was the opposite. It’s way stiffer than the normal board, and super light, so it held an edge effortlessly.

I am anything but graceful in a pipe but I did manage to elicit a cheer from the volunteers for one particularly nice frontside air, the credit for which should go as much to board as to anything I did.”

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