If you want to start jibbing and doing tricks then it is worth investing in a forgiving freestyle snowboard. You can jib on an all-mountain stick but by getting the right board for the job you’ll progress faster and hopefully have less spills. So if you want to get into freestyle have a read of this Pathron Slash review – it might be the board that helps you rock the park like a Guns N’ Roses guitar solo by Slash.
Pathron snowboards are a Polish brand made in the Nobile factory that used to make Burton’s boards. They are the premium snowboard option by Raven Snowboards, who are huge in Poland providing most of the rental equipment. Pathron make high quality boards for around half the price of more well known manufacturers. Having reviewed a few Pathron Snowboards I have found them to be great value and to ride their specs rather than their price tag.
The Pathron Slash snowboard
The Pathron Slash is designed as a forgiving freestyle snowboard. The key ingredient to this is the Flatrock profile which is flat between the bindings and rocker outside, making it harder to catch an edge but nice and stable for landings. It’s advertised flex is medium to soft which will help you escape dodgy landings and is great for ground tricks and jibbing.
To help create the pop you’ll need for busting your best moves the Slash combines Tasmanian Oak and European poplar in it’s core. This is reinforced with Carbon and Kevlar straps, theyt run across the board from tip to tail in a cross formation. The Kevlar also acts to dampen vibrations and provide high speed stability. To further add to the pop, a scratch resistant high density Triaxial fiberglass is used for the laminate.
With an IS7200 base the Slash will be fast out of the blocks, although it is harder to maintain than an extruded base it is more hard wearing so there is less chance of it being damaged by features. As with any self respecting freestyle noodle the Slash is a true twin tip, being perfectly symmetrical in shape and flex it will help you ride away switch like you own the park.
Like it’s Guns N’ Roses namesake Slash, the Pathron Slash does not try to be pretty, but it has a distinctive look the fits the genre perfectly which hides it’s depth from anyone giving it just a superficial glance.
Pathron Slash review
I was riding the 152 Slash, I normally ride a 157 or 158 all-mountain board and went for the much shorter option to help improve my ground tricks and presses. Despite the board being (on paper) too short for me it didn’t feel that way to ride and I was quickly storming the piste and popping tricks. Popping is a key word here as I was able to generate good air from almost nothing with ease.
Being a short and light board I found it easy to spin, and when you don’t get all the way round its forgiving design means you’ll probably stick the landing anyway. It’s the most flexible board I have ridden which made it ideal for presses, in fact they were so easy that the first time I tried one I over balanced and embarrassingly fell on the flat when I wasn’t moving.
It is not a board that is made for going fast and being shorter than my all-mountain board I was a long way off my top speed. However it is no slouch either, and the fast sintered base means you’re out of the blocks faster than my wife when Guns N’ Roses released their last album. The flat profile between the bindings keeps it stable at speed, and I felt confidant pointing straight with the board flat to get across slow sections.
Although I never rode the Slash on anything that was exceptionally hard and icy I found the edge hold to be very good, probably because the flat base between the bindings gives it wider contact points. For a flexible board with no camber the Slash feels fairly powerful in the turn – like a spring ready to launch you into your next trick.
Forgiving freestyle snowboard
Unfortunately during this 
Pathron Slash review I didn’t get the ride it in the park (due to closed parks and injury), but I expect it would be ideal for early forays into freestyle, and for those that want to take their freestyle to the next level. Boxes and rails should be easier as the board is stable and hard to catch an edge, and being a flexible noodle you can pull easy presses. It’s great for ground tricks and messing around so park rats will love it.
I certainly wouldn’t recommend it for riding the pipe or massive airs (particularly if you drop down a size like me) as the flex will work against you on the landing. However when going small, medium or moderately big the pop you can generate with little effort will help you jump higher with more control, its light weight helps with spins and grabs, and it’s forgiving on landing. So the Slash is a great forgiving freestyle snowboard for anyone who wants to improve that side of their riding.
Pathron Slash review: Conclusions
To conclude this Pathron Slash review, just like Guns N’ Roses are a easy way into hard rock, the Slash is an easy way into freestyle snowboarding. It’s is not the magic bean that will turn you into the next X-Games winner but it will make everything a little easier as you develop, and being a forgiving freestyle snowboard you’ll take less hits than if you rock up at the park on an all-mountain stick.
If you plan to get into freestyle next season, when the November Rain turns to snow and the pistes and parks start to open, jump on the Slash and you’ll be in Paradise City.
The Slash comes in 152, 155, 158, 161, 162W sizes, you can buy them on ebay for under £180 directly from the manufacturer: www.ebay.co.uk/snowboards24/
