2023 Rome Stale Fish Snowboard: Detailed Review
Rome describes the Stale Fish as “Stale Sandbech's go-to for pow days, sending it deep and all-mountain charging.” It has Rome’s “Free-the-Ride Camber,” which basically feels like traditional camber when riding.
It’s a 7 out of 10 in flexibility (meaning it’s pretty stiff), and it has a wide waist, which Rome notes makes the standard width suitable for riders with big feet.
Detailed Snowboard Review
What size board did you buy?
148 cm
Please rate this board on a scale from 1 (terrible) to 5 (amazing): ️️️️️️️️️️️️️4 stars
Why did you choose this board?
I bought this board because I wanted a powder board for my trip to Japan. My primary board (a Jones Mountain Twin) is a directional twin, so it couldn’t be set back as far as I wanted for powder riding.
What were the conditions like when you rode the board?
I have mostly used this board during six days of snowboarding in Japan at four different resorts. We experienced fresh fluffy powder (a whole foot, with free refills throughout the day!), hard-packed groomers, tracked-out powder, and windblown powder.
What's your overall impression of the board?
Overall, I liked this board as a powder board!
In deep powder, this board seemed to help prevent my back leg from fatiguing as fast as it would have with my Jones, but it was still tiring as hell. This board had a little bit of a surfy feel, especially on less deep powder — even windblown “powder” pile-ups at my local resort were fun to ride on because I felt like I was pushing the snow out of my way.
It also held up pretty well at very high speeds on groomers, although on some of the really steep, hard-packed groomers we rode in Japan my heel edge slipped out from under me a lot. I didn’t feel as comfortable trying any kind of park tricks as I do on my Jones, since it’s not a twin.
What is the BEST thing about this board?
This board was great for riding in glades and in deep powder, although I’m not an expert rider and I still struggle in deep powder because I have so little experience. I’m not great at reading the terrain in the trees, so I often end up in flat spots and have to unstrap. Sadly, the board can’t make up for my lack of intelligence in that regard.
Are there any ways in which this board didn't meet your expectations?
Nope.
Is there anything you wish you'd known before buying?
I didn’t really think about the logistics of having multiple boards and being forced to either choose one to take on a trip or deal with heavier luggage. For example, on the Japan trip, I took both the Stale Fish and my Jones, but I only rode the Jones once, on a day where there was no powder and I thought I might try some park stuff. Ultimately, it probably wasn’t worth the extra weight to bring two boards, and I should have just stuck with the Stale Fish.
About the Reviewer
Name: Olivia Barrow
What is your gender? Woman
What is your height? 5'7"
What is your weight? 135 lbs
What's your level of experience as a snowboarder? 100+ days riding
Describe your skill level: Advanced - I ride confidently on any groomed run, as well as in trees and on bumps/moguls, and I am comfortable taking small jumps, whether they're in a park or off of a side hit. I can ride some boxes and rails.
