Platinum Picks – Shapes: Salomon HPS Wolle Nyvelt Fish

Master shaper Wolle Nyvelt fine-tuned his Hillside Project Series snowboard, the Salomon HPS Fish, to be an incredible balance of speed and agility. A full-length bamboo topsheet not only gives the Fish an elegant appearance, but also its signature happy, yet humble character. The topsheet isn’t the only place where Salomon has implemented the sustainable grass. You’ll find it in the board’s FSC-certified core, as well as in the sidewalls, where it has been paired with cork to absorb edge vibrations. Holding it all together is Salomon’s ABC Wrapper, which surrounds the core in wood veneers, reducing fiberglass and resin consumption by 40% over traditional snowboard glassing.

The most notable aspect of Wolle’s HPS series board is its flex. It offers a consistent feel when loading tension and flexes without a fight, but is also able to snap back with a ton of energy. This balanced character is unique to the HPS Fish. Thanks to its unmistakable shape, it is built to thrive in powder. A wide, mellow- rising nose along with a split tail ensure that the Fish is right at home surfing tight, technical terrain. The profile of the nose also turns carving into an effortless, fun experience, helping the HPS Fish easily channel its way through firm snow, as the cambered spine drives energy out through the tail. The Fish’s medium flex is really easy to get on and go, no matter the conditions, and its exciting carveability makes this Salomon board as good of a choice for ripping freeride laps as surfing powder. – Mike Basher and TJ Kern

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