Rome has been designing high-performance snowboards since 2001 and the Muse is the latest iteration in their women’s line. Built to charge on trails while retaining a softer flex that increases the board’s playfulness without limiting responsiveness. The Rome Muse charges, which is why it’s a 2022 Platinum Pick.
In ancient Greek mythology, there were nine different muses, each with a specific area of expertise, be it in literature, science, or the arts. They provided inspiration to the writers, thinkers, and artists of that civilization, prompting classic works like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey (stick with me here). When it comes to snowboarding inspiration, a Muse that’s a quiver-of-one is better than nine for getting creative on a variety of terrain. To this end, Rome Snowboards has just released the newest addition to their line, the women’s-specific Muse, ready to rip and spur creative alpine artistry wherever you’re riding.
The Muse is made for riders who want one deck to do it all, from peak to park to parking lot. It has a directional twin shape with true twin flex, meaning you enjoy a little extra float when there’s fresh and still benefit from the same consistent flex whether going regular or switch. The Muse is Rome team rider Madison Blackley’s daily driver. “This board is my favorite to ride the whole mountain and everything in between,” says Mads. “It has a nice effective edge for tight, deep carves with high stability. It’s super poppy with great snap but still has enough flexibility to feel comfortable on rails.”
That’s where the Muse hits the mark: It’s snappy and responsive, yet not too stiff. Powering through turns and holding an edge are no problem for this deck (even on icier conditions), but it’s flex is playful in the park or when sussing out side hits. This is, in part, thanks to Rome’s responsive Stomp
Core and lively Bamboo Hotrods. The SDS’ Fusion Camber, with traditional camber between the bindings and rocker on the nose and tail amplify the board’s reliable-yet- lively response and go-anywhere mentality. The Muse is a total all-mountain performer and has classically inspired, stand-out art, which is just the icing on the cake, so to speak. “Although the graphic doesn’t define the board,” adds Madison, “I do feel like a high-speed goddess when I’m riding it.” And it’s that top-to-bottom performance that that landed the Rome Muse in our 2022 Platinum Picks. – Mary T. Walsh
Rome Muse – $449.95
sizes: 140, 143, 146, 149, 152
To learn more, check out www.romesnowboards.com and @romesnowboards.
This year, the Snowboard Magazine Platinum Picks Awards are sliding into their fourteenth season as the largest, most in-depth gear review of its kind. Thousands of great products from every category on the market have been narrowed down to a select few that our editors have reviewed, tinkered with, analyzed, and photographed. Our goal is to inform, educate, and help guide your buying decisions this winter, so you end up with the very best gear for your time on the mountain. In the 2022 Platinum Picks, you’ll find an assortment of amazing boards, boots, bindings, goggles, helmets, jackets, pants, and more that we have deemed The Best of ’22.
