The Ultimate Steep Terrain Weapon
Jones Snowboards Men’s Flagship Snowboard, Directional Freeride
Welcome to the world of big-mountain snowboarding, where precision and performance matter most. The Jones Flagship snowboard is a standout among freeride snowboards, designed to excel in powder, backcountry, carving, and tree runs. If you’re an advanced to expert rider seeking a high-performance board for steep and deep adventures, the Flagship deserves your attention.
Pros:
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Riding Style
Image credit: Jones Snowboards
The Jones Flagship is tailored for advanced to expert riders who crave challenging terrain and seek the ultimate freeride experience. This board shines in powder, backcountry, carving, and navigating trees. It’s a high-speed, big-mountain tool built to conquer steep and deep slopes. Riders who enjoy technical lines, cliffs, and demanding off-piste conditions will appreciate what the Flagship has to offer.
The 2020 model of the Flagship brings a notable improvement in maneuverability at slower speeds, making it more accessible for high-end intermediate riders. This is thanks to the board’s reduced stiffness and enhanced taper compared to the 2019 model. It retains its carving prowess, offers a smooth, stable ride in uneven terrain, and provides excellent edge hold. For those seeking to make the mountain their playground, the Flagship proves to be a versatile companion.
Board Features
Image credit: Jones Snowboards
The Jones Flagship is loaded with features that make it a standout choice for freeriders. Its directional rocker-camber profile combines tip rocker for float and maneuverability with camber underfoot for edge hold and response. The tapered shape and 3D contour base with spoon bevels in the nose and tail ensure precise and effortless turns in powder.
The Flagship’s FSC™ Power Core incorporates hardwood bamboo stringers for pop and durability, along with paulownia for weight savings. It features a progressive sidecut for smooth turn initiation and exit, especially useful in technical terrain. The inclusion of sustainable flax and basalt stringers enhances power transfer, torsional response, and dampening. This board boasts a sintered 9900 base with carbon additives for exceptional speed and glide.
The 2021 model introduces “float pack” inserts, allowing riders to achieve a super setback stance for unmatched float in deep powder. In addition, Jones uses bio-based, renewable epoxy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making the board more environmentally friendly.
Construction and Materials
Image credit: Jones Snowboards
The Jones Flagship stands out with its advanced construction and eco-friendly materials. The directional rocker-camber profile offers the perfect balance between float and edge hold. The Spoon bevels in the nose and tail enhance powder performance.
A combination of hardwood bamboo, paulownia, and sustainable flax and basalt stringers in the FSC™ Power Core delivers pop, durability, and dampening. The triax fiberglass construction provides precise and responsive riding across various terrain.
This board features oversized recycled steel edges for added durability and improved sustainability. The FSC™ Engineered Veneer topsheet, made from 100% FSC certified wood, helps absorb chatter and dampen the ride.
Additional Considerations
Image credit: Jones Snowboards
The 2020 model of the Jones Flagship introduced significant improvements, making it more forgiving and versatile. It’s a board that feels at home in challenging, steep terrain while also accommodating high-end intermediate riders. The Flagship’s added maneuverability at slower speeds and enhanced stability in uneven terrain open up new possibilities for riders who previously found it too demanding.
The Flagship’s 2021-2023 models are quite similar, with only slight variations, such as the inclusion of “float pack” inserts and updated graphics. Despite its stiffer nature, the Flagship delivers on the promise of a versatile freeride board, making it a fantastic choice for those who want to push their limits and explore the most demanding slopes.
Conclusion: Should You Buy the Jones Flagship snowboard?
In the world of big-mountain snowboarding, the Jones Flagship shines as a true freeride champion. Designed for advanced to expert riders who revel in steep and deep terrain, this snowboard offers remarkable performance and precision. With improvements in maneuverability at slower speeds and enhanced stability in uneven terrain, the Flagship has evolved into a more accessible and versatile tool for off-piste adventures.
For riders who value powder, backcountry exploration, carving, and navigating trees, the Flagship is an excellent choice. Its eco-friendly construction, exceptional edge hold, and smooth glide make it a standout in the freeride category. Whether you’re tackling technical lines, cliffs, or simply craving the ultimate big-mountain experience, the Jones Flagship is a reliable and high-performance companion. If you’re an advanced to expert rider seeking the best of freeride snowboarding, the Jones Flagship deserves a place in your quiver.
