Best _______ Snowboards of the Year 2022 – 2023

Bataleon Whatever Snowboard 2021-2022

Whitelines Choice Winner: Best All-Mountain Snowboard
PRICE: £430 / €500 / $500

All-mountain boards by their nature tend to look a bit… meh. After all, they need to sit firmly in the middle of the performance spectrum – not too pow-specific, not too jib-orientated. With the updated Whatever, Bataleon have succeeded in blending everyday versatility with an exciting 3D profile and gorgeous silhouette to create a quiver of one which truly sets your pulse racing.

Who Is The Bataleon Whatever For?

Who is it NOT for? The Whatever is just as comfortable diving into the sidecountry as it is taking a lap through the park. Wanna cruise the resort? Build a powder kicker? Yeah cool, whatever. Anyone who doesn’t have the budget or luggage allowance to take more than one deck will appreciate this board’s ability to tear up just about any terrain. Sure, it’s not the stiffest thing out there, but for the average shredder the friendly flex just makes it more fun.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2021-2022 Bataleon Whatever here

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Bataleon Evil Twin Snowboard 2021-2022

PRICE: £450 / €550 / $550

A fixture in the Bataleon line since 2003 (damn, that’s nearly 20 years!) the Evil Twin has benefitted from several nips and tucks to keep the kids lusting after it. The 3D tech in particular has come a long way – these days it runs the latest Triple Base Tech including Sidekicks at either end (more on that below) – but at heart it’s the same park-focused rebel it always was, just… badder.

Who Is The Bataleon Evil Twin For?

For a freestyle deck, the Evil Twin packs pretty aggressive response and will hold its edge impressively, so it’s best suited to riders who aren’t afraid to hit bigger jumps or who like to crank out some turns while the park shapers are having a lie-in. Your all-mountain freestyle shredder, basically.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2021-2022 Bataleon Evil Twin here

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Bataleon Wallie Snowboard 2021-2022

PRICE: £420 / €500 / $500

In a few short years the Wallie has established itself as possibly the most legit park and rail deck in the Bataleon range. For a company that built itself on ‘catch-free’ freestyle boards that’s no small claim. Taking inspiration from skateboarding, the radically steep nose and tail design – together with Triple Base tech – makes learning critical tricks over obstacles easier, and brings the board’s creative potential to another level.

Who Is The Bataleon Wallie For?

Anyone who takes their rail game seriously. The Wallie is not going to win any prizes on a powder day, but if your idea of a good time is lapping the park drag lift, bonking the crap out of natural features or maybe even trying to dial a wallride on some weird street set-up, this thing has your back. Just ask Ethan Morgan – it’s his go-to soft deck.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2021-2022 Bataleon Wallie here

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Best Of The Rest From Bataleon Snowboards 2022-2023

• • Bataleon Surfer
  • Bataleon Distortia
  • Bataleon Thunder

  
  

  Bataleon Surfer Snowboard 2021-2022

  PRICE: £420 / €500 / $500

  Whitelines Says: No board better embodies the recent push beyond traditional shapes than the Surfer. It is a lovingly designed snow craft with a ton of volume up front, the latest in 3D technology, and a swallow tail that would make Dimitrije Milovich smile (look him up). In short: one sexy beast.

  In a market now crowded with eye-catching directional shapes, the Surfer retains an unmistakable silhouette. A massive, shovel-like nose tapers down to a full-on swallow tail. The idea here is to maximise float and minimise back leg burn. It basically takes no effort to keep this board (ahem) surfing on top of deep snow – especially with the addition of some dramatic 3D bevel, which lets the nose plough through powder, slush and chop like the hull of a boat cutting through waves.

  If your best park days are in the rear-view mirror, or you just want to treat yourself to the ultimate quiver stick, then it still doesn’t get better than the Surfer. It’s a pure turning machine, free of compromises, but it’s also more versatile than you might imagine. Slash the pow, surf the slush, carve the corduroy: whatever the snow conditions, this thing is a ton of fun – and guaranteed to turn heads.
  

Bataleon Distortia Snowboard 2021-2022

PRICE: £420 / €500 / $500

Whitelines Says: The last decade has seen the market flooded with rocker-combination boards intended to make turns and tricks that little bit easier. The trouble is, any kind of reverse camber compromises your ability to hold an edge through more aggressive carves. Bataleon stuck to their guns with Triple Base tech, and as the industry now goes increasingly 3D mad it looks like they were ahead of the game. The Distortia’s catch-free ride and friendly flex are brilliant in the park, but with some carbon lurking under the hood it’s also an awesome shape to explore the whole resort and even duck the ropes from time to time.

[REAL TIME REVIEW]