Shape, Profile and Sidecut

Another size option has been added for 2023/24, but the Salomon Dancehaul still tops out at just 157cm. However, that version measures a whopping 26.9cm across the waist, with an effective edge roughly equivalent to a longer standard model. This ‘volume shift’ allows everyone from giants to groms the opportunity to scale down a bit whilst still getting plenty of stability on hard-pack and float in the powder. It’s not for everyone, but it’s also easy to see why such models are as popular as they’ve ever been.

This is especially true if you like nipping into the trees after a storm. With its tight, true radial sidecut and a bit of taper towards the tail, the Salomon Dancehaul is so easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces – and may even steer you out of trouble from time to time.

If it’s a more standard resort day, the width and taper are ready for a carve-fest – but again, think quick skims between rollers rather than long arcs on motorway pistes. The profile, essentially the classic camber bend, gives it a good amount of pop too.

“Under the bonnet, the Salomon Dancehaul has plenty of impressive features, if not quite maxing out what the brand has in its arsenal”

Construction and Materials

Under the bonnet, the Salomon Dancehaul has plenty of impressive features, if not quite maxing out what the brand has in its arsenal.

The Aspen wood core is light and strong, making it a good fit for the design, and the thickness varies between the feet to deliver a better bend and rebound. Basalt stringers running the length of the board deliver more snap when it’s time for lift-off, while layers of biaxial fibreglass ensure that there’s a bit of play when you want to twist through the waist, even with that extra width.

Holding it all together – and new for this year – is ‘Greenpoxy 28’ resin, so named because 28% of it is derived from plants. That makes it better for the environment, as well as those involved in the manufacture, but there’s no drop in quality.

“This is the kind of board that will have you waking up to a drizzly pea-souper at the tail-end of the season, and thinking about all the good times you’re about to have”

Roundup

Rather than going with the classic popsicle-stick approach, one way to nail an ‘all mountain’ board is to make a freeride shape that’s forgiving and fun enough to mess about with, be it in the park or on side hits. That’s exactly what Salomon has done with the Dancehaul – this is the kind of board that will have you waking up to a drizzly pea-souper at the tail-end of the season, and thinking about all the good times you’re about to have.

Pros:

• Shorter and nimbler than most boards, without any significant compromise to its stability at speed
• Serves equally well as a quiver board or a daily driver

Cons:

• Many won’t mind, but a lot of the tech is at the lower end of what Salomon offers

Buy the Salomon Dancehaul: £445 at Blue Tomato UK 

Buy the Salomon Dancehaul: €500 at Blue Tomato EU