Brand new for the 2017 season, Rome SDS introduce the Royal. This is an interesting board which is flat almost the whole length with Rocker at the top and tail.
The new board has 'QuickRip Sidecut' technology which are two intersecting side cuts designed to give quickness and control, and our test team found that this was an ideal board for piste cruising being stable at both fast and slow speeds. Where the Royal really excels is in executing those long and wide arched carves - simply sublime.
The Royal has been included with 'Hot Rod' technology which is a single glass barrel that Rome claim adds more of a dynamic poppy flex than flat glass fibres, but although not bad, we didn't find the Royal to be overly playful and jibby.
Taken slightly off-piste, the board has a reasonable float with the rocker at the top and tail, but feels more at home on tracked snow.
The Rome Royal feels slightly on the heavy side and needs an aggressive riding style as it is not very forgiving if you get lazy. If you live and breathe for carving, then you will love the Rome Royal.