About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the snowboard, which I purchased with my own money in August of 2021.

My take

The Salomon Sickstick is a one-board, do-it-all beast. From pow to park, this board is great for all levels of riding.

About the snowboard I own

• Model: 2022 Salomon Sickstick
• Size: 161cm

About me

• Height: 5’11”
• Weight: 190lbs
• Experience: 18 years

Test conditions

• When I bought this: August 2021
• Days tested: 80
• Mount position: -3(B) 12(F)
• Boots: 2021 32 TM2
• Boot Size: 11
• Bindings: 2021 Rome Targa
• Where I’ve used it: Mount Baker, Timberline Lodge, Japan
• Terrain: Very deep snow, cliffs, trees, park, groomers

How it performs

What I was looking for

I wanted a board that could literally do it all, but in a directional form. I've got a few true twins, but I wanted something directional that ripped in fresh snow, could handle deep carves, and even throw down in the park. This board literally does all that and then some.

Why I chose this gear

The Sickstick has been a true classic in the Salomon line up. It's got basically everything I'd want in a directional twin. Slight setback stance to get float in snow, camber profile so it grips carves, and it has a ton of pop, and a super light core. So this thing feels like a feather underfoot. Wolle Nyvelt (designer of the board) hit the nail on the head.

What I love about it

• Speed: The Sickstick really knows how to get down and handle high speed. The sintered base holds wax in fresh snow to even sticky spring snow conditions. The flat profile between bindings with slight camber underfoot really helps me feel controlled at high speeds.
• Edge hold: I can really drive into my carves and trust this board not to wash out with help from the camber. The edges have a two-degree bevel between the feet that changes to a one-degree through the rest of the board. This gives me superior edge hold without feeling too catchy.
• Groomers: The Sickstick loves groomers. Here in the PNW, snow can get heavy at the end of the day, so the switch to groomers is typical. I could lay into turns and this board responded very well. The playful pop and snappy response basically turns groomers into a skate park.
• Powder: One of the main highlights of this board was the float. The tapered tail helped it dive into the deep stuff by keeping the nose raised. The nose also has a ton of rocker, which added to the float. As stated, the base is sintered, so it flew in all kinds of fresh snow from light to the heavy stuff out here in the PNW.
• Trees: Who doesn't like ripping through some trees on a pow day? Nothing worse than being on a board that's not quick to turn and seems to have a mind of its own. Being flat between the bindings really brings this board to life, giving it a quick and snappy feel in the tight tree sections. It allows me to go where I want, when I want.
• Moguls: In my years of riding, it's been hard to say I've ridden a board that's fun in a mogul section. The Sickstick proved me wrong. The control I feel when I pop allows me to gap anything I want; and the nose is just the right stiffness, so it doesn't feel like it's getting eaten up in tight mogul sections.
• Park: I was surprised the Sickstick absolutely excelled here. From hitting jumps to locking onto rails, the Sickstick did it all. The bamboo core allowed me to pop off any feature with confidence. I knew how the board was going to react and the flat profile between my feet felt really locked onto rails. The cork sidewalls really helped dampen harsh landings if I went too deep and overshot a landing.
• Durability: My Sickstick got put through the ringer all season. After a full year of riding and landing on whatever, I found the base looked great. The sintered base really can handle it all.
• Weight: The Sickstick is one light shred stick. From the eco-friendly bamboo/wood core to the bamboo/cork sidewalls, this thing feels like a feather and doesn't hurt the environment in the process.
• Switch riding: At a glance, you might not think about riding switch too much on this board, but it actually does really well. Only being slightly set back with similar rocker on the tail, the board handles riding switch very well. I wouldn't have thought so with the slightly tapered tail, but I was blown away.
• Stability: This has to be one of the most stable boards I have ever ridden. The bamboo core and cork sidewalls really make this board super damp, even plowing through the heavy/beat up snow. The stiffer flex with a thinner core under foot that slowly gets thicker really gives this board a ton of pop, which feels really controlled.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Other: I wouldn't recommend this to a beginner still getting the hang of things. It’s a little stiff for learning. And if one rides in an area where there are storms dropping over 24 inches, maybe go for something with a bit more rocker.

Favorite moment with this gear

It's hard to pinpoint a favorite day or moment with this board, since every day on it was a blast. I think all my night rides at Ski Bowl were really brought to life on this board. Nighttime laps for me are a time to unwind after a day of working, so I typically would have this board with me. It really brought the mountain to life and made night riding even more fun. I could literally go anywhere and approach the mountain like a skatepark.

Value for the money vs. other options

The Sickstick is worth every penny. I can't put a price on the fun this board unlocks. I would compare this with the Capita Kazu Kokubo. Coming in at the same price with a bamboo core as well, it has a similar ride and stiffness. It’s great on all aspects of the mountain, but I found the Sickstick a little more capable.

Final verdict

The Sickstick can do it all. It basically says it in the name. For those who like riding literally anything and don't want to have to ponder over what to ride, check out a Sickstick.