Expert Review: Rossignol Circuit Snowboard
This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2021.
On some groomers at Sugarloaf, Maine. All photos courtesy of Brett K.
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2021.
My take
The Rossignol Circuit is designed for a beginner to an intermediate rider, but it also makes for a playful freestyle/all-mountain board for advanced riders.
Getting into the West Virginia backcountry
About the gear
- Model: 2020 Rossignol Circuit
- Size: 155cm
About me
- Height: 5’7”
- Weight: 130 lbs
- Experience: Over 15 years of snowboarding, with 2 seasons of teaching
Test conditions
- When I bought these: October 2021
- Days tested: 50
- Mount position: 21 inches, -15 degrees, +15 degrees
- Boots: 2006 Burton Motos
- Boot Size: 9
- Bindings: 2018 Union Force
- Where I’ve used it: West Virginia, Maryland, Maine, Colorado
- Terrain: Hard Pack, Ice, Groomers, Powder, Moguls, Glades, Jumps, Slush
How it performs
What I was looking for
I was looking for a new all-around deck to try that would be good in powder and playful on groomers.
Why I chose this gear
I impulsively bought this board in a local ski shop because they had a great deal on it, and I’d never tried a Rossignol before. I looked at other options in the store, but the Circuit had a minor stance setback and an early rise rocker on the nose, which I knew would be good in powder.
What I love about it
- Turns: The auto-turn rocker profile makes initiating turns effortlessly. The Circuit turns quickly and accurately. Just don’t lean back too far in soft snow. It floats great in powder, but I found it pretty easy to over-flex it and have the tail wash out.
- Groomers: I like riding playfully, and this snowboard is great on green to black groomers (and surprisingly well on double blacks). The edge is very non-catchy.
- Powder: The board floats naturally in powder, especially with a setback stance. It’s pretty easy to shift my weight back to give the nose that extra float in the deep stuff.
- Trees: Even with the 155 being a little on the big side for me, I found the short radius made it pretty easy to turn in the trees. Just don’t get going too fast as it is a little squirrely!
- Backcountry: The Circuit would be better if it were a split board, but its tight turn radius and early rise rocker make it capable of handling the most mellow backcountry terrain I can throw at it.
- Durability: I’m not very heavy, but I’ve taken the snowboard through its share of trees and thin areas, and so far, there aren’t core shots or delamination to note, probably due to its ABS construction.
- Weight: It’s a reasonably lightweight board. I’m a small guy and don’t have any trouble spinning or flexing it.
- Switch riding: I would say it falls right in the middle for switch rideability. Since it's a directional twin, I can get away with riding switch with a centered stance in most scenarios. I don't get going too fast.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Speed: Being a rocker dominant profile, the Circuit’s not super fast or stable on the groomers. However, I was pretty shocked at how well it did when I bombed a double black sheet of New England hardpack in Maine. That tiny bit of camber in the middle must have gone a long way. I wouldn’t take it down a big couloir out west though.
- Edge hold: I don't get long sweeping carves with this board. Short, tight turns are where it shines. This is mainly because of the fairly short radius and soft flex.
- Moguls: This board is pretty awful in the moguls. Its soft flex and rocker profile make it too squirrely.
- Park: I would say it’s better on groomer freestyle than in the park. However, it’s soft and rocker, so it doesn’t give me the best landing stability or rail lock.
- Stability: It’s not remarkably stable. However, it has moderate pop, low dampness, good buttering, and satisfactory underfoot chatter.
Favorite moment with this gear
I had some excellent powder days in Canaan Valley, WV, on this board. There was 2 feet of powder on the ground, and it did a great job floating on it all day.
In Maine, I peered over the lip of an icy double black and decided to send it despite expecting no edge hold whatsoever. This board surprised me as I took a couple of wide traverses, then started to straighten out and pick up speed. It’s one of the fastest moments I’ve had on a board, and it actually felt pretty stable. But if there had been bumps, that would have been a different story.
Value for the money vs. other options
The Rossignol Circuit is a pretty affordable deck for a beginner to an intermediate rider that will last for several seasons of progression. Similar boards like the Ride Manic or Burton Custom are significantly more expensive, but the Salomon Pulse, for example, has it beat by about $150.
Final verdict
The Rossignol Circuit is primarily a progression-friendly board for beginners and intermediate riders but also a great playful, mess-around board for advanced riders to add to their quiver.
