Snowboards

Snowboarding has become one of the most popular winter sports in the world, attracting millions of enthusiasts to the slopes every year. Choosing the perfect snowboard can be a daunting task, especially with the wide variety of options available. From all-mountain boards that can handle any terrain to specialised powder boards for those epic deep snow days, there's a snowboard out there for every riding style and skill level. To help you find your ideal match, it's essential to understand the key factors that go into selecting a snowboard. Your ability level, whether you're a beginner just starting or a seasoned pro, will play a significant role in determining the right board for you. The length of your snowboard, based on your height and weight, is another crucial consideration.

The shape of your snowboard – directional, true twin, or directional twin – will impact how it performs in different conditions and riding styles. And let's not forget about the flex rating, which ranges from soft and playful to stiff and aggressive, and can make a world of difference in how your board feels beneath your feet. But it's not just about the technical specs. Your snowboard should be an extension of your personality and riding style. Whether you're a freestyle rider who lives for the thrill of the terrain park or a free rider who craves the rush of untouched powder, there's a snowboard out there that will help you unlock your full potential on the mountain. So don't settle for just any board – take the time to find the one that speaks to you. With the right snowboard under your feet, you'll be ready to tackle any challenge the mountain throws your way and experience the pure joy and freedom that only snowboarding can provide.

All-mountain snowboards are the most versatile type of board, designed to handle a wide range of terrain and conditions. They typically have a medium flex and a directional shape, which means they are slightly longer and stiffer in the tail than in the nose. All-mountain boards are a great choice for riders who want to explore the entire mountain, from groomed runs to powder stashes and everything in between. They offer a balance of stability, responsiveness, and float, making them suitable for intermediate to advanced riders.

• Ability Level — Beginner to Advanced: All-mountain boards are available in various flex patterns and shapes to suit different skill levels. Beginners may prefer a softer, more forgiving board, while advanced riders can opt for a stiffer, more aggressive setup.
• Snowboard Length — Slightly shorter than your height: All-mountain boards are typically sized a few centimeters shorter for improved manoeuvrability. However, if you plan to ride a lot of powder, you may want to size up for added float.
• Flex Rating — Medium (4-7): All-mountain boards usually have a medium flex rating, which provides a good balance of stability and playfulness. Softer flexing boards are more forgiving, while stiffer boards are more responsive and stable at high speeds.
• Snowboard Shape
  • Directional: Most all-mountain boards have a directional shape, meaning the nose is slightly longer and wider than the tail. This helps with float in powder and stability at high speeds.
  • Directional Twin: Some all-mountain boards have a directional twin shape, which is more symmetrical for riding switches while still maintaining the benefits of a directional shape.

Freestyle snowboards are designed for riders who love to hit jumps, rails, and other park features. They are typically shorter and more flexible than all-mountain boards, with a true twin shape that is symmetrical from nose to tail. Freestyle boards often have a softer flex and a centred stance, which allows for easier spinning and landing in both directions. They are also lighter and more manoeuvrable than other types of boards, making them ideal for jibbing and buttering.

• Ability Level —  Beginner to Advanced: Freestyle boards are great for riders of all skill levels who want to focus on park riding and tricks. Beginners may prefer an even softer flex for a more forgiving ride.
• Snowboard Length — Several centimeters shorter than your height: Freestyle boards are typically sized several centimeters shorter for increased manoeuvrability and easier spinning.
• Flex Rating — Soft to Medium (2-5): Freestyle boards usually have a soft to medium flex rating, which allows for easier pressing and buttering on features. A softer flex is more playful and forgiving, while a medium flex provides more stability for larger jumps.
• Snowboard Shape
  • True Twin: Most freestyle boards have a true twin shape, meaning the nose and tail are identical in length, width, and flex.This allows for easier riding and landing in both directions.
  • Asymmetrical Twin: Some freestyle boards feature an asymmetrical twin shape, with a slightly different sidecut on the heelside and toeside edges for improved turning and edge hold.

Freeride snowboards are designed for riders who love to tackle steep, ungroomed terrain and deep powder. They are typically longer and stiffer than all-mountain boards, with a directional shape that is tapered and rockered in the nose for better float in deep snow. Freeride boards often have a stiffer flex and a setback stance, which allows for more power and control when charging through variable conditions. They are best suited for advanced to expert riders who have the skills and experience to handle challenging terrain.

• Ability Level — Advanced to Expert: Freeride boards are designed for experienced riders who can handle the stiffness and aggressive shape in challenging, ungroomed terrain.
• Snowboard Length — Slightly longer than your height: Freeride boards are often sized a few centimeters longer than your height for increased stability and float in deep snow. Longer boards also provide more edge hold on steep, icy slopes.
• Flex Rating —  Stiff (7-10): Freeride boards typically have a stiff flex rating, which provides the necessary stability and responsiveness for riding at high speeds in variable conditions. A stiffer board also helps to prevent the nose from diving in deep snow.
• Snowboard Shape
  • Directional: Freeride boards have a directional shape with a longer, wider nose and a shorter, narrower tail. This shape helps the board plane up and float in powder while maintaining control and stability.
  • Tapered Directional: Some freeride boards feature a tapered directional shape, where the nose is wider than the tail. This further enhances float in deep snow and makes the board more manoeuvrable in tight spaces.

Powder snowboards are specialised boards designed specifically for riding in deep, fluffy snow. They are typically wider and longer than other types of boards, with a large, rockered nose and a tapered, swallowtail shape in the tail. Powder boards are designed to float effortlessly in deep snow, thanks to their unique shape and profile. They often have a softer flex and a setback stance, which allows for a more surfy, playful ride in the pow.

• Ability Level — Intermediate to Expert: Powder boards are best suited for riders with some experience who want to maximise their float and fun in deep snow conditions.
• Snowboard Length —  Significantly longer than your height: Powder boards are often sized 5-10cm longer than your normal all-mountain board to provide extra float and surface area in deep snow. The added length also helps with stability at high speeds.
• Flex Rating — Soft to Medium (2-6): Powder boards usually have a soft to medium flex pattern, which allows for a more playful, surfy feel in deep snow. A softer flex also helps the board conform to uneven terrain and provides a smoother ride.
• Snowboard Shape 
  • Tapered Directional: Most powder boards have a tapered directional shape, with a wide, rockered nose and a narrower, swallowtail-shaped tail. This allows the nose to plane up in powder while the tail sinks and acts as a rudder for turning.
  • Volume Shifted: Some powder boards use a volume-shifted design, which means they are shorter and wider than traditional boards. This allows for a more manoeuvrable, surfy feel without sacrificing float.

Splitboards are a type of snowboard that can be separated into two halves, allowing riders to use them like skis for uphill travel. They are designed for backcountry riding, where there are no lifts or groomed runs.

Splitboards typically have a directional shape and a stiffer flex, which provides stability and control when riding in variable snow conditions. They also have specialised bindings and skins that allow for easy uphill travel and transitions.

• Ability Level — Advanced to Expert: Splitboarding requires a high level of fitness, avalanche safety knowledge, and backcountry experience. Splitboards are designed for advanced to expert riders who are comfortable navigating ungroomed, variable terrain.
• Snowboard Length — Similar to your freeride board: Splitboards are typically sized similarly to your freeride board, with a bit of extra length for improved float and stability in deep snow.
• Flex Rating —  Stiff (7-10): Splitboards usually have a stiff flex rating to provide the necessary stability and edge hold when riding in challenging backcountry conditions. A stiffer flex also helps with uphill performance when in ski mode.
• Snowboard Shape
  • Directional: Most split boards have a directional shape for better performance in powder and variable conditions. The nose is typically longer and wider than the tail for added float.
  • Tapered Directional: Some split boards feature a tapered directional shape for even better float and manoeuvrability in deep snow. 

• Beginner — If you're new to snowboarding, it's important to choose a board that is forgiving and easy to control. Look for a board with a soft flex (1-3 out of 10) and a flat or rocker profile, which will be more stable and less likely to catch an edge. An all-mountain or freestyle board is a good choice for beginners, as they are versatile enough to handle different terrain and snow conditions.
• Intermediate — As you progress to an intermediate level, you can start looking at boards with a medium flex (4-6 out of 10) and a hybrid camber profile, such as rocker-camber-rocker or camber-rocker-camber. These boards provide more stability at higher speeds while still being forgiving enough to handle mistakes. An all-mountain board is a great option for intermediate riders who want to explore different terrain, while a freestyle board is ideal for those who want to focus on park riding.
• Advanced — Advanced riders will want a board with a stiffer flex (7+ out of 10) and a camber-dominant profile, which provides better edge hold and responsiveness. Freeride boards are designed for experienced riders who like to charge hard and ride fast on steeper, more technical terrain. Look for boards with a directional shape, setback stance, and stiffer flex for optimal performance in challenging conditions.

Choosing the right length snowboard is crucial for control and manoeuvrability. Here are some general guidelines based on your height and weight:

• If you're under 5'3" and weigh less than 120 lbs, look for a board between 135-145 cm.
• If you're between 5'3" and 5'6" and weigh between 120-150 lbs, look for a board between 145-155 cm.
• If you're between 5'6" and 5'9" and weigh between 150-180 lbs, look for a board between 155-165 cm.
• If you're over 5'9" and weigh more than 180 lbs, look for a board between 165-175 cm.

Keep in mind that these are just general recommendations, and the ideal length for you may vary based on your riding style and personal preferences. Freestyle riders often prefer shorter boards for easier manoeuvrability, while free riders and powder hounds may want a longer board for better stability and float.

• Soft Flex (1-3) — A soft flexing snowboard is more forgiving and easier to control, making it ideal for beginners and park riders who want to butter and press on features. The downside is that soft boards can feel unstable at high speeds and may not hold an edge as well on icy or hard-packed snow.
• Medium Flex (4-6) — A medium flex snowboard offers a balance of stability and playfulness, making it suitable for a wide range of riding styles and conditions. This is the most common flex rating for all-mountain boards, as it provides good performance in a variety of situations.
• Stiff Flex (7-10) — A stiff flexing snowboard provides greater stability and responsiveness at high speeds, making it ideal for advanced riders who like to charge hard and ride fast on steep, technical terrain. 

When it comes to high-quality equipment from reputable snowboard brands, numerous key players are leading the way in pushing designs forward each year alongside the longer-running staples. Burton is undoubtedly the most well-known name having pioneered the sport and used continuous innovation with new technologies over the years, such as its exceptional Channel mounting disc system for bindings. Other heritage brands instrumental in progressing snowboard design and manufacturing include Santa Cruz, Barfoot, Sims and Winterstick in the 1980s. 

Nowadays the snowboard industry sees various major competing brands pushing technology and designs forward each year. Flagship brands include traditional category leaders like Burton, Salomon, Ride, Nitro, Rome, Arbor and GNU (Mervin), alongside relative newcomers like Capita, Jones, Yes, Niche and DC rapidly gaining loyal followings and moving the sport onwards. This diversity of brands provides wide-ranging options and price points for every type of snowboarding discipline.

The Burton Snowboard company towers over the scene as the inventor of the very first commercial snowboard in 1977 when Jake Burton Carpenter saw potential in what was then just a grassroots hobbyist activity. Burton’s relentless innovation pursuing performance and pushing boundaries revolutionised equipment. Key innovations include highbacks allowing greater edge control and leverage in 1986, perfecting p-tex base extrusion manufacturing reliability in 1990, introducing the channel mounting system in 2003 for adjustable stance settings, developing nested fibreglass and carbon layering construction in 2007, and designing the pure pop camber profile in 2008 amping ollie pop distinct from rockered dominant trends. 

Burton fundamentally merged ski and skate influences that defined modern snowboard form factors. Alongside hardware advances, founder Jake Burton championed competition scene development and international organising bodies lending credibility to snowboarding as a legitimate sport. Recent technologies include breakthrough Step-In binding systems improving entry convenience without compromising board connection and feel. Through both product and sports advances, Burton engineered itself as the indisputable market leader based on continuous innovation.

1. Frequent waxing helps boards glide faster — Once the perfect board is selected, maintaining equipment well optimises longevity and performance. Waxing frequently helps boards glide faster by reducing base friction across the snow surface. Without wax, unprotected bases oxidise and absorb dirt leading to sluggish glide.

2. Stripping and properly rewaxing bases — Before initial use, factory machine wax should be stripped and rewaxed properly with temperature-specific formulations - in warm conditions use softer wax than colder snow. Quick field waxes mid-session refresh speed but boards should undergo full hot waxes every few days riding to maximise glide performance.

3. Field waxes refresh speed mid-session — Proper waxing requires fully cleaning the base first, applying melted wax evenly across the base, ironing thoroughly to penetrate wax into the pores, and then scraping off excess wax cleanly. Finish by buffing with a nylon brush to polish the base and align the wax structure optimally.

4. Checking for damage and prompt repairs — Inspect boards regularly for damage which can expand over time if neglected. Look for delaminating edges indicating core impact damage and epoxy promptly before it worsens. Deep base gouges or scratches require P-Tex candle drip fills which then file back flush once set before rewaxing.

5. Maintaining bindings in good repair — Maintain bindings periodically by checking mounting disc screws are tight and replace frayed straps when overly stretched.

6. Drying equipment prevents moisture damage — Routinely drying equipment after riding preserves snowboards best against moisture damage over years of hard use. With attentive care taking reasonable precautions, each treasured board should serve reliably for many seasons before considering replacement.