Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard Review

For your next adventure on the slopes, the Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard could be your ideal fit. How can you be sure?

It has an all-mountain rocker profile providing stability, is great at floating on powder, and, compared to other similar boards on the market, is very affordable.

That’s the good news, but unfortunately, not everyone is after the same thing when it comes to snowboards. Some riders warned that it’s ill-suited to beginners, while others might complain that it lacks stability at greater speeds.

But are those things you should be concerned with? Is this the right snowboard for your needs? To help you decide, we’ve gathered all the details, so you can have the right board on your feet this next season.

Let’s take a closer look at Rossignol’s Frenemy Snowboard.

Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard: The Details

In a Nutshell

• Profile: AmpTek All Mountain Rocker.
• Shape: Direction Twin.
• Flex: Medium flex.
• Construction: Sandwich construction.
• Core: FSC Certified wood core.
• Available Lengths: 144, 147, 150, 153 cm.
• Type: All-mountain.

Features

Profile

The Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard has a rocker/camber/rocker profile – but, more specifically, it’s an AmpTek All-Mountain Rocker.

This profile has softer tips and a stiffer waist. There is a 40% camber between where your feet are placed, ensuring almost perfect edge grip and stability.

The other 60% is the rocker at the tip and tail, equipping the board with ample forgiveness for jumps, tricks, and bumpier terrain.

Shape

The Frenemy snowboard has a directional twin shape, meaning the nose is slightly longer than the tail. In practice, that translates as a perfect match for snowboarders who like to ride all different parts of the mountain.

It also contributes to the board’s ability to float on powder or handle well on fast turns.

Core

The core of the Frenemy snowboard is made entirely of FSC Certified wood. However, it’s the construction process that really impacts this design’s abilities.

It is vertically laminated, ensuring the board is durable against harsh impact (like with jumps) or nicks (as with rough terrain).

As a plus, it stabilizes the board, so the rider can enjoy better comfort without a higher price tag.

Laminates

There is only one laminate included in this Rossignol snowboard and that is glass fiber. This contributes to the board’s flexibility, so it can handle quick maneuvers without sacrificing the resistance and stiff build needed to hold up against hard-packed or icy terrain.

This laminate also further stabilizes the wood core, so there’s no danger of feeling wobbly on this board.

Edges

The Rossignol snowboard has 5S serrated edge technology. This is Rossignol’s exclusive technology and provides five points of edge contact to fully grab onto the snow.

One point is between the inserts, with two others located on either side of them. This edge technology adds to the stable design and provides great edge grip, all without counteracting the smoother aesthetic.

Sidewalls

The Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard comes with ABS sidewalls. They provide more durability and protect the core from any moisture.

With a wood core, it’s paramount to keep any and all moisture at bay, or else it’ll begin to warp and damage the board. The sidewalls ensure this isn’t a danger.

Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard Review

The Positives

Incredibly Stable

We’re very happy to report that the Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard provides an extremely stable ride. The profile, laminates, and edges work together so you never feel insecure or wobbly.

Specifically, the edges ensure the board can grip the snow, preventing wipe-outs; the laminates make the wood core stiffer, providing greater stability; and the profile gives the rider enough balance to feel secure throughout their run.

Speaking of balance, a stable snowboard is key in ensuring the rider stays confident and upright while out on the snow. Your board will require less work from you to stay afloat, and your body will thank you for it.

This means you won’t feel forced to hop off the slopes after a few short runs due to tiredness. You’ll be able to take on the full day with the Frenemy by your side.

Amazing on Powder

The Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard is also excellent at gliding across powder snow. The directional twin shape makes this possible.

The longer nose and overall lightweight design means you won’t sink into even the softest snow; likewise, the tip of your board won’t nosedive into powdery terrain.

While this is an all-mountain snowboard, it will give you the smoothest ride when taking on powder.

Great on Uneven Terrain

But the Frenemy doesn’t just work on powder – it shines on uneven terrain as well. It possesses a careful degree of dampness, so you don’t feel every bump while riding down the mountain.

The edges and sidewalls work together to give the board ample shock absorption. As such, so long as you maintain a tempered speed, you won’t be jerked around on rockier terrain.

This gives your board more versatility overall since you won’t be confined to just one type of weather condition. If you’re looking for a board that you can take almost anywhere, the Frenemy does not disappoint.

When you’re taking this board through crud, you won’t have to regret it. Your board won’t buckle under the pressure, increasing its durability and ensuring you and your body don’t get wiped out.

Amazingly Affordable

Finding a quality snowboard under $500 is next to impossible. However, the Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard has finally changed that.

This model is currently priced at under $200 for the 150 cm. and under $300 for the other lengths on Amazon.

You no longer have to break the bank to enjoy the ride of your life. If you’re on a budget, or tentatively upgrading to a more advanced board, this price ensures you still have money left-over for other gear.

The price of outdoor activities can be discouraging, especially when it comes to snowboarding. Thankfully, Rossignol helps keep the excitement alive with an encouraging price for more enthusiasts to get involved.

Very Solid Edge Grip

We also appreciated the edge grip on the Frenemy. The 5S serrated edge technology grabs right onto snow and ice, providing easy turns and reducing the danger of falling over or wiping out.

If you’ve ever used a serrated knife before, you know how this works. The edge can cut through and grab onto whatever terrain you’re riding across with no struggle whatsoever.

Not only does this help build confidence in snowboarders, but this aids in the board’s responsiveness and overall manoeuvrability, ensuring a secure ride.

This also helps to open up this snowboard to a variety of scenarios and uses.

Super Forgiving

Whether you’re a pro or still working your way into the advanced category, this board won’t be the one to let you down. Thanks to its maneuverability, stability and edge hold, the Rossignol Frenemy makes a very forgiving board.

This is great when you’re trying to up your skills, or advance your snowboarding levels, you won’t have to worry about getting hurt or being forced to hold back with this snowboard.

Its willingness to forgive also makes this board incredibly playful! It’s hard not to have some fun on this board whether you’re grooving down the slopes or carving through powder.

A number of snowboarders noted that the Frenemy gave them that little bit of extra confidence they needed to start plowing through the snow like a pro. While the board has the title of Frenemy, it surely forgives.

The Negatives

Not for Beginners

Unfortunately, after our observations, the Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard is not for beginners. It demands a fairly aggressive rider who can drive it to (and control) its full potential.

A new rider will typically lack that degree of skill and find themselves overwhelmed with a stubborn board. There are plenty of other options for beginners, so take heart; just steer clear of this one.

You can always work up to this board in the future, but it will be much more fun when you have the skills to match it.

Chatter at High Speeds

The Frenemy has excellent stability – but at high speeds, testers did feel an uncomfortable amount of vibration and chatter.

The board is not damp enough to thoroughly handle great speeds. You may feel every bump and divot in the snow, which can be unfortunate in icy or uneven terrain – an area this board excels in at moderate speed.

As such, it’s wise to either go slow or take on smoother slopes, where the design advantages can truly shine. If you like to race, it’s wise to shop elsewhere.

Iffy on Jumps

While Rossignol’s Frenemy does have the AmpTek All-Mountain Rocker profile, which makes it good for jumps, according to tester feedback, it’s just not good enough.

When riders landed, the dismount was much rougher than they expected. If tricks and jumps are your thing, it’s worth looking into other options.

However, if you plan to simply ride the slopes, then the Frenemy will serve you accurately and well.

Overall Verdict

After combing through all the positives and negatives, we do recommend the Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard.

It’ll give you a stable ride (so long as you stick between low to medium speed), is great on powder, and has nearly perfect edge grip. And that’s without mentioning the price!

Finding a quality snowboard under $300 is nearly unheard of, but that’s exactly what this is.

If you’re an intermediate to advanced snowboarder, who is just looking for something to ride around the slopes, you can’t do much better than the Frenemy. It’s cost effective, reliable for non-speed-demons, and is built to last.

Where to Buy the Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard

Rossignol is a popular brand on the market with decades of experience manufacturing quality outdoor equipment. Thanks to their popularity, they’re a sought-after brand with retailers carrying their items around the globe.

Also thanks to their success, it won’t be hard finding items like the Rossignol Frenemy Snowboard both in-store and online.

While it’s usually best to check outdoor and sporting equipment stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• EVO (from $269)
• Level Nine Sports (from $224)
• The House (from $279)

And of course, you can also find this women’s all mountain snowboard on Amazon.

That’s the end of our Rossignol Frenemy review. Curious to give it a go?