Rossignol Sashimi Splitboard Test | Photo Mike Hardaker Mountain Weekly News
The shape and size of the Rossignol Sashimi Splitboard is certainly unique. You’ll most likely be used to riding narrower and longer boards. Too be honest this Rossignol Splitboard sat around the office for a while before I took the board out for some laps. Typically I’m not a fan of non-standard shaped snowboards or splitboards.
If your the sort of snowboarder or splitboarder that really likes to put your board on edge, (not the kooky groomer trenching) but actual powder surfing. You know like mimicking the sport of surfing, which snowboarding has always tried to do. Now with the Rossignol Sashimi Splitboard you can fulfill your wildest powder surfing dreams.
Rossignol Sashimi Splitboard Size
When you first look at the Sashimi it sort of reminds me how surfboards have gone shorter and shorter with fish shapes over the past few decades. The Sashimi fits between the XV Split and the softer smaller fatter Rossignol XV Sushi Splitboard.
Sometimes when it’s deep and untracked the best thing to do is point it. Could a board that’s only 156cm be ridden in deep Teton backcountry snow as well? Yep, one of the reasons why it rips powder is this board likes to sit above the snow and is lightning fast. It has a bigger nose, short tail and a design that’s simply put fun to ride.
On this directional shaped board, available in only one size, (156cm) there’s no chatter. You can really open the Rossignol Sashimi Splitboard from top to bottom, even in crap snow. But hopefully your not researching splitboard reviews and then planning to ride hardpack snow.
Touring on the Rossignol Sashimi Splitboard
For the profile, the Sashimi uses the Rossignol AmpTek Rocker Camber profile, with 60% of the boards camber being underfoot. This makes for reliable touring on the way up and a board that does what’s asked of it without compromise on the way down. The Sashimi is stiffest under foot and then lightens up and becomes softer as you move toward the tip and tail.
Rossignol once again teamed up with POMOCA for perfect cut Sashimi Splitboard Skins. The board has notches cut out in the tail that are designed to work specifically with POMOCA skins. POMOCA has a bungee style attachment that easily locks your skins into place without any fuss.
L.I.T.E. FRAME Technology
Rossi uses their L.I.T.E. FRAME Technology in the Sashimi Splitboard that wraps Urethane around the entire board directly against the sidewall and metal edge. This creates strong damping properties. What’s crazy is when you hold the board up in the light you can actually see the metal edges running into the core through the Urethane.
What I like best though about the L.I.T.E Frame Technology is it allows you to put more pressure on edges, without actually using more force. I’m talking you really don’t need to apply much or additional pressure as this board wants to roll over onto its edge at the faintest hint of pressure making for livelier turns. For the light and fast crowd this technology stands out.
Rossignol Sashimi Splitboard Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Unique shape and size for a different riding experience
- Ideal for powder surfing with great edge control
- Efficient touring with AMPTEK Rocker Camber profile
Cons:
- Non-standard shape may not appeal to all
- Directional shape limits versatility
- Can be challenging in hardpack snow
Overall Impression
I must have tested 15+ splitboards last season. They come and go out of the office all the time. However, this board is staying with me. The Rossignol XV Sashimi Splitboard ($789.95) is a board that will surprise you. It’s longer than the XV Splitboard and it honestly shouldn’t ride as good as it does, especially with how the board looks. Rossignol started in 1907, they make skis, snowboards and a ton of other stuff. The technology truly shows here. And heck the board was developed in partnership with Xavier de la Rue.
You might not think of Rossignol as a core snowboard brand. That’s fine but in all reality they have been cranking out solid products for years. The Rossignol Sashimi Splitboard can be used anywhere around the world and is one of those shapes you’ll want to mount traditional bindings on for cat skiing or heck it would smash heli skiing in a place like Haines, full send mode..
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Hi Mike,
Love the review. Quick rather random question for you… do you know what size the buckle (the clip for the top) is for the skins. I only ask because I have last year’s Sashimi Split and I bought skins from Rossignol, went to put them on the board to adjust them, but I immediately noticed that they use Pomoca z clips (new for 2023″s Sashimi) not a buckle. Pretty sure I can swap out the z clips for buckles, as they are removable, but I don’t know the size of the buckles. Any help would be much appreciated.
Mark,
Let me reach out to Rossi and see if they can chime in here.
-Mike
Hey Mike, nvm I ended up sending them back and getting some climb 2.0 splitboard skins, which work really well. Fwiw, Rossignol called me after I’d already ordered the climbs and told me they have something that lists the latest sashimi skins fit the older style sashimis. They really need to add that adapter to their site.
Mark,
Thanks for the feedback, I will echo your thoughts to Rossi.
-Mike
Same issue. Any update on a buckle to use for this?
Hey, I’m about 5’11” 145 lbs. I know this board says it’s rated for 130 to 175. Do you think 156cm would be okay for me? I consider myself an advanced rider. And I normally ride a 154 for my all mountain and powder board.
Robert,
We have similar specs, I liked the 156 a lot. I think you will dig this size. And the board.
-Mike
Hey guys would you recommend the sashimi over the Salomon hps taka split?
D.J.
Really different boards and shapes. The HPS Taka will ride more like a traditional snowboard. Where the Sashimi will have a a more rockered nose / directional shape. For all around board the Taka, for more powder specific riding the Sashimi rips too.
Mike
Would you suggest this board for a 6ft 185lb person?
Katsumi,
Xavier weights 187 lbs. So yeah I would say this would work for sure.
Mike
Hi Mike,
thanks for the reply.
Another question that I forgot to add to my latest comment.
I current do ride an Amplid Surf Shuttle as a split and mainly a Jones Stratos as a solid freeride board.
I do love the Stratos in the side/backcountry. It just feels really stable at speed, while being super nimble, surfy and poppy even at slower speed.
Even though I like the Surf Shuttle it just does not feel right and I think there might be a better splitboard out there for my style of riding. Currently I think the Sashimi might be it.
I do not know if you have ridden the Stratos, but as you surely know how the Jones Solids/Splits feel like, can you compare the riding feeling of the Sashimi. How does turn initiation feel like? is it slower due to the missing 3D Shape of the nose/tail. How is landing smaller cliffs/drops. Etc.
Just interested in your thoughts as I do not have the option of testing Rossignol boards where I am.
Cheers
Tom
Hey Tom,
Thanks for the comment. The Rossignol Sashimi is sooo incredibly underrated. The turn seems to happen well before the actual turn starts. The board just knows what to do. It’s Xavier de la Rue’s “play” fun board, everyone that we have had ride it falls in love instantly. As for airs the boards sendy and very stompable. Rossignol is making some incredible stuff as of late.
Mike
Hi Mike,
what binding would fit the board in your opinion?
Cheers,
Tom
Hey Tom,
What bindings are you looking at? We tested both Spark and Union Bindings on this board and loved them!
Mike