The Details:

They may have released a board called the ‘Powder Sucks’, but that was done with tongue firmly in cheek; the guys at Stepchild love the fluffy stuff as much as anyone. This is their pow-specific vehicle, the Stepchild OG Powder, re-released last year and back again for 2015/16.

They’ve opted for a fully flat base, which is unusual for a powder board but by no means inappropriate. Even without a long rocker section towards the nose, keeping the front end up is easy thanks to the tapered shape and relatively soft flex (this is one of Stepchild’s stiffest boards, but still far from a plank).

Flat boards are famously versatile, so the Stepchild OG Powder leaves a lot of options open for those days when the fluffy stuff hasn’t arrived.

The taper isn’t too fierce, so you’ll be able to enjoy switch riding and freestyle with this too. With its no-nonsense all-poplar construction, it’s light enough to mess around with while still offering plenty of stability when you want to make aggressive turns.

It all adds up to a board that has the specs required for the backcountry, but is versatile enough to suit a whole season’s riding.