Built for speed - Harry Kearney + Rylan Bell talk Flagship
WIND RIPPING ACROSS YOUR FACE, TREES BLURRING THROUGH YOUR VIEW, ELEVATION MELTING IN YOUR WAKE… DON’T YOU JUST LOVE TO RIDE FAST?!
The challenge of haulin’ ass is that there is a fine line between ’fun fast’, ’scary fast’ and ’OMG I’m gonna blow up! fast’. Variable snow conditions and unexpected obstacles can crush even the best planned speed run if you’re not on top of your game. It takes experience, edge skills and the right board to safely ride at top speed.
Jones riders Harry Kearney and Ryland Bell live for this feeling of flying down a fall line. Both are born speed demons and two of the fastest riders on our team. To no surprise, Harry and Ryland are also both diehard Flagship and Carbon Flagship riders.
HARRY KEARNEY IS 5’8, 160 LBS AND WEARS SIZE NINE BOOTS. HE RIDES THE FLAGSHIP 161.
"The Flagship is just such a fun all-around board," says Harry. "I’ve never ridden a board that can handle speed so well, and at the same time, feel so playful. Straight lines, side hits, cliffs, spinning off natural features, landing switch, the Flagship does it all effortlessly."
The Flagship’s shape, flex and rocker profile are what deliver such diverse performance and stability at speed. It features a powder nose, freestyle tail, rocker in the tips, camber underfoot and a medium stiff flex. The nose shape where the edge first comes in contact with the snow is also a unique design feature. This entry point is super smooth which eliminates catch and keeps the nose floating above any crusts. New for 2017 we’ve also added SPOON 3.0 in the nose and tail for added glide/speed plus a Flax topsheet and Basalt stringers for better torsional stiffness and eco-performance.
The Flagship is ideal for riders who focus on freeriding and are looking for an ultra stable board designed to bomb lines, groomers or wherever there’s room on the mountain to get up to speed. Harry splits time on his Flagship between Mt. Baker and Telluride.
"The Flag is my go to board just about everyday, because it excels any day," says Harry. "Freeze/thaw Cascade slush or Colorado cold smoke, it powers through whatever you put it on."
RYLAND BELL IS 6’0, 190 LBS AND WEARS SIZE 9.5 BOOTS. HE RIDES THE CARBON FLAGSHIP 164.
"Best board hands down," says Ryland about the Carbon Flagship. "Works great for everything I like to ride. It’s awesome at the resort, ripping lines or hitting cliffs and even better on steep spine lines."
The Carbon Flagship is the yoked out older brother of the regular Flagship. It shares the same shape and rocker profile with the Flagship, but it’s substantial stiffer and features a Textreme carbon topsheet. The carbon topsheet is not about weight, however. We know how to build much lighter boards than the Carbon Flagship. The carbon topsheet is added to suck up chatter and provide ultimate stability at speed.
With a stiff, ultra responsive flex, the Carbon Flagship is no doubt a demanding board, but that’s exactly what a powerful rider like Ryland loves about it.
"You can put everything you got into the Carbon Flag and it answers right back." says Ryland. "It’s always there when you need it in heavy situations."
Freeride competitors or experienced rippers who can’t help but straight line every run should look no further than the Carbon Flagship. There’s truly no other board like it on the market.
If you are debating between the regular Flagship and the Carbon Flagship here’s a couple things to consider:
The Carbon Flagship has a higher top speed than the regular Flagship, but it’s also much stiffer and less forgiving. Don’t expect to butter boxes on either Flagship, but especially not the Carbon Flagship.
The Flagship also comes in several more sizes than the Carbon Flagship so your perfect size may not be available in the Carbon. For sizing info check out our sizing guidelines.
Which ever Flagship you choose, you really can’t go wrong. Both models are two of the most confidence inspiring snowboards on the planet for the intermediate or expert freerider.
