Snowboard Review: 12-13 Jones Carbon Flagship

Location: Winter Park, CO

Snow Conditions: Hardpacked to softpacked groomers.

Setup: I rode the Jones Carbon Flagship with Union Charger bindings and Vans Ferra boots size 8.

Size: 161 cm

First Impression: Wow, the carbon combination definitely makes for a lightning fast, aggressive board for charging riders.

Weight: Lighter than average.

Flex: The Carbon Flagship is on the stiffer end, it’s designed for aggressive freeriding. I haven’t ridden the normal Flagship to compare it yet. There is a good amount of torsional flex between the bindings for quick edge response. The nose felt a bit softer than the tail but overall both were on the stiffer side for mountain handling. The Carbon Flagship features a directional rocker. There is more rocker on the nose side of the board, camber underfoot and subtle rocker towards the tail of the board. The Carbon Flagship also features a blunt nose.

Turning: Insanely quick edge to edge…that’s what I wrote down in my notes for the Carbon Flagship. It’s light, quick and as soon as you initiate a turn, you are riding that turn. It’s not meant for the faint-hearted, this board will keep you on your toes (or heels). Once engaged into a turn, there’s a full dynamic turn on the board and the carbon helps snap you out of each turn so you can really power through them.

Stable: The Carbon Flagship is built for speed and carving, the handling matches being able to charge. For speed capabilities, it was on point and just as aggressive as you want to be. For the dampening, I thought it could be more because you did feel some bounce to it but nothing that you can’t handle with that board.

Pop: When I did ride over the rollers with it, the board was quick and snappy for pop. I didn’t try more than the rollers though because of the size and capability of the board.

Switch: I didn’t even try to ride this board switch.

Overall Impression: The Carbon Flagship is new for 2013 from Jones. It takes the popular Flagship and creates a lighter, more lively, aggressive board that rides tough. This is a confident board, it knows what terrain it’ll destroy and it will take you along for a ride if you can’t handle it.

Shay’s Honesty Box: In my mind, carbon and carbon was a good idea. It was a great idea until I realized that I was riding a board/binding combo that could ultimately ride me if I wasn’t paying attention. The combo was good, it was challenging and built to freeride but it was good.

Review Disclosure: I demoed this board at the SIA On-Snow Demo at Winter Park, CO.