Share

Best Buys

Best Park and Freestyle Snowboards For 2023-2024

Whether you're hitting the jump and rail line or just building your bag of tricks around the mountain, here's our roundup of this season's best park and freestyle snowboards

The lines between park and all-mountain riding continue to blur, so it can be hard to pin down exactly what makes the best freestyle snowboard. Are you an honorary lifetime member of Laax’s P60 club? Are you the kind of rider who exclusively hits the jib line or street rails? Are you building kickers in the backcountry and gettings your spins on lock miles from the park ropes? Or are you mobbing every sidehit with your riding posse and growing your bag of flat land tricks on the greens and blues?

Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter. In almost every case, the ingredients that go into building the perfect freestyle deck are often very similar. But final tweaks and finishing touches all add a certain “je ne said quoi” to the snowboard, so there are a handful of key things consider before splurging your hard-earned cash.

“It can be hard to pin down exactly what makes the best freestyle snowboard”

What To Look For When Buying A Freestyle Snowboard

Shape
Backwards, forwards, frontside, backside, regular, hardways, right way up and upside down. Freestyle snowboarding, at its core, is about creativity. Snowboards in this category are almost exclusively true twin shapes, meaning the outline, stance, flex and profile is completely symmetrical if you cut it through the waist. They’re designed to be ridden in switch as easily as regular and feel completely balanced in the air.

Profile
We all know that nothing pops quite like a traditional camber profile, but those of us who’ve put in the hard yards of learning to ride on these boards will undoubtedly be aware of their Achilles heel(edge catches).
Most freestyle decks will strike a balance between sending the rider skywards when it’s time to pop and carving a line up the transition of a pipe wall or kicker, while still keeping the contact areas relatively forgiving and easy to press on.

There’s more than one way to shine a penny, though. Take your pick between camrock, flat and hybrid profiles, or check out some 3D profiles, like Bataleon’s Triple Base Technology.

Construction
This is where the field starts to really open up. Every snowboard below features a wood core. Some just opt for the ol’ reliable poplar wood, while others look to shave weight, increase pop or add durability by adding lighter, harder and snappier woods.

Then, come the various additives. A freestyle snowboard flex can sit anywhere between 1 and 10 on the flex scale and it really is a case of horses for courses so, whether you’re wanting a big booter booster or a buttery soft jib knife, make sure you do your research. Stiffening up the nose and tail can increase a boards pop, but reinforcing the centre of the snowboard instead keeps the ends more playful for pressing on.

Base
Not just a big factor in determining a board’s price, but also its speed, durability and ease of repairing. Extruded bases are the cheaper option and, although not as fast, will run well if you keep them waxed and are much easier to repair if you catch a loose screw on a box. Sintered bases run faster, and are pretty resistant to knocks and bumps, but amount to around a third of the cost of a snowboard.

“Whether you’re wanting a big booter booster or a buttery soft jib knife, make sure you do your research”

Remember, finding a good freestyle deck is only half (actually, a third) of the battle. You’ll want a well-fitting, comfortable and responsive set of boots and bindings to go with it. Not to mention some comfy threads to complete the look. As ever, a protective lid is a personal choice, but with so many affordable and freestyle specific helmets available this year, there’s really no excuse.

Bataleon Moodboard Snowboard 2023-2024

PRICE: $460

Bataleon has one of the greatest taglines of all time: Smile, it’s snowboarding. Nowhere is that vibe more on display than with the new Moodboard. It’s a women’s specific twin made for good times in the park and right around resort. Bataleon’s signature 3D shaping and colour pop artwork bring even more fun to the mix – and if all that doesn’t put a grin on your face then the competitive price surely will.

Who Is The Bataleon Moodboard For?

Women and smaller riders that want to bring relaxed style to the park, enjoy catch-free boardslides and get creative off side hits, knuckles and natural transitions. The mountain is your playground. Entry level riders will also find a lot to love in the Moodboard thanks to its easygoing flex and versatile twin outline (more on that below).

Buy the Bataleon Moodboard: £410 at Blue Tomato UK

Buy the Bataleon Moodboard: €459 at Blue Tomato EU

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2023-24 Bataleon Moodboard here

Top

Burton Talent Scout Snowboard 2023-24

PRICE: £520

>Burton’s out-and-out women’s freestyle weapon, the Talent Scout is a certified banger between the park ropes. Burton don’t hold back with this one, packing the Talent Scout full of their top-shelf tech and forward-thinking design to create a snowboard that’ll have your back no matter how hard you want to send it. Powerful, poppy and unrelenting, the Talent Scout is certainly not for novices, but advanced riders looking for next-level park performance would do well to pick one of these up.

Who Is The Burton Talent Scout For?

Advanced riders looking for a snowboard that’ll allow them to up their park game.

Buy the Burton Talent Scout: £530 at Blue Tomato UK

Buy the Burton Talent Scout: €590 at Blue Tomato EU

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the Burton Talent Scout Women’s Snowboard 2023-24 here

Top

Drake Tao of Drake Snowboard 2023-24

PRICE: £360 / €400

In reality, the gender categories for snowboards are far from cut and dry. Over the years we’ve seen female-specific boards take a heavy influence from a men’s model, and (latterly, and to a lesser extent) vice versa. It’s also not uncommon to find a rider using a board that’s technically aimed at the opposite gender, because it better suits their physical profile.

Who Is The Drake Tao of Drake For?

Despite this novel approach, this certainly isn’t for everyone. Unless you favour the JP Walker approach of riding park to warm up for the street, you’d be better off on something with an all-mountain focus. Freestyle fiends will love it though.

 

MORE INFO:
DRAKESNOWBOARDS.COM

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the Drake Tao of Drake Snowboard 2023-24 here

Top

Jones Tweaker Snowboard 2023-24

PRICE: €550 / $530

Up til recently, the closest Jones got to making a park board was the long-serving Mountain Twin – and even that was more suited to hitting natural features as part of its all-mountain remit. However, what we have here is a bona fide true twin that absolutely belongs in the park, yet is still unmistakably a Jones.

Who Is The Jones Tweaker For?

David Benedek is the rider that comes to mind; a freestyle pioneer who always championed the art of carve (even when it was far out of favour in the snowboard world) and fully understood how a snowboard works on the ground, not just in the air. If you want to Be More Benedek (and we all should), then this will help you get there.

Buy the Jones Tweaker: £475 at Blue Tomato UK

Buy the Jones Tweaker: €550 at Blue Tomato EU

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the Jones Mind Tweaker Snowboard 2023-24 here

Top

Lib Tech T. Rice Pro Snowboard 2023-24

PRICE: €700 / $700

Travis Rice has more pro model snowboards than we’ve had hot dinners. And you know what? Fair enough. The man is a law unto himself when it comes to snowboarding, and to this day there’s not a T. Rice snowboard we haven’t liked.

Who Is The Lib Tech T.Rice Pro For?

Aggressive riders who want to make the most of everything the mountain has to offer. Freestyle is at the heart of what you do, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you spend all day lapping the park- natural features in the sidecountry, rollers on the piste or boosting off sidehits really get you going.

Buy the Lib Tech T.Rice Pro: £625 at Blue Tomato UK

Buy the Lib Tech T.Rice Pro: €700 at Blue Tomato EU

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the Lib Tech T. Rice Pro 2023-24 Snowboard here

Top

Nidecker Sensor Plus Snowboard 2023-24

PRICE: €530 / $530

Nidecker might have a giant range of shapes these days, but when it comes to classic twin tips there are only two choices: the Nidecker Sensor, and the Sensor Plus. While the regular Sensor boasts a pretty mellow flex and rocker towards the tips for a jib-friendly ride, the Plus is aimed squarely at more aggressive riders who know their way around the big jumps at their local park. With more carbon in the mix it’s a little stiffer, and a little pricier, but the reward is a deck that snaps off the lip and won’t buckle when you set the landing gear down.

Who Is The Nidecker Sensor Plus For?

Enjoy spinning 5’s and beyond? Then this might well be the park board for you. The responsive trad camber profile also makes it a solid choice for charging around the resort and beyond – while keeping an eye out for take-offs at all times.

Buy the Nidecker Sensor Plus: €520 at Blue Tomato EU

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the Nidecker Sensor Plus Snowboard 2023-24 here

Top

Rome Artifact Pro Snowboard 2023-24

PRICE: €530 / $530

Name a more universally beloved freestyle board than the Rome Artifact; we’ll wait. For years it has sat at the very top of the tree, rivalled by a tiny smattering of others – and we don’t expect that to change any time soon.

Who Is The Rome Artifact Pro For?

Like we said, anyone who liked the original up to a point, but found it wanting when things got serious, will prefer this one. The dial hasn’t been turned up too far, though, so the Rome Artifact Pro remains accessible to a wide range of riders.

Buy the Rome Artifact Pro: £445 at Blue Tomato UK

Buy the Rome Artifact Pro: €530 at Blue Tomato EU

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the Rome Agent Snowboard 2023-24 here

Top

Salomon No Drama Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: £430 / $500

It’s hard to believe the Salomon No Drama was released just a few short years ago considering the impact it’s had on the industry. As an unashamed park deck for advanced riders, it forced other brands to up their offering to try and compete. Taking many of its design cues from the iconic Salomon Huck Knife and updated for this season, the No Drama makes the most of a super poppy profile, a versatile outline and rugged construction to ensure you won’t be left wanting.

Who Is The Salomon No Drama For?

Aggressive freestyle riders who want a snowboard that’ll handle everything from tech rail manoeuvres to boosting the pro line kickers.

Buy the Salomon No Drama: £445 at Blue Tomato UK

Buy the Salomon No Drama: €500 at Blue Tomato EU

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the Salomon No Drama Women’s Snowboard 2023-24 here

Top

Slash Happy Place Snowboard 2023-24

PRICE: €519

There aren’t many snowboards that are coming in under the £500 mark these days, especially not ones with sintered bases, carbon lay up and Gigi Rüf’s seal of approval.

Who Is The Slash Happy Place For?

Thanks to its easy going flex and versatile profile, there’s so much potential here. And thanks to the true unisex sizing, pretty much anyone would get on with a Happy Place. Seriously, from beginner all the way to grizzled veteran, this is a snowboard that can deliver.

Buy the Slash Happy Place: £439 at Blue Tomato UK

Buy the Slash Happy Place: €520 at Blue Tomato EU

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the Slash Happy Place Snowboard 2023-24 here

Top

YES. Greats Uninc 2023-24

PRICE: €630 / $600

We’ll admit, at first glance the YES. Greats looks a little weird (and we’re not just talking about the graphic), but trust us on this one, okay? YES. are pretty well known for the experimental shapes in their line, and the Greats was one of the first snowboards they released that really started to push convention.

Who Is The YES. Greats Uninc For?

You’ve been around the block a few times and you’re looking for something a little different. Although YES. put the Greats firmly in their freestyle category, we’d definitely call it more of an advanced all-mountain option, aimed squarely at chargers who refuse to compromise on performance, wherever they decide to go.

Buy the YES. Greats Uninc: £565 at Blue Tomato UK

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the YES. Greats Uninc Snowboard 2023-24 here

Top

YES. Rival Women’s Snowboard 2023-24

PRICE: £500 / $530

Designed by Juliet Pelchat, daughter of OG Wildcat and wildman JF Pelchat, the YES. Rival is a no-holds-barred freestyle-focussed snowboard that promises the ultimate in performance. Whilst it certainly was built for hitting the pro-line and locking in tech rail moves, what makes the YES. Rival so special is its uncompromising performance across a huge range of terrain.

Who Is The YES. Rival For?

Women who want a snowboard that’s as rad as they are. This is a world-class freestyle board, built to handle big hits and bigger tricks. Warning: novices need not apply.

MORE INFO:
YESSNOWBOARDS.COM

 

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the YES. Rival Women’s Snowboard 2023-24 here

Top

Share

Newsletter Terms & Conditions

Please enter your email so we can keep you updated with news, features and the latest offers. If you are not interested you can unsubscribe at any time. We will never sell your data and you'll only get messages from us and our partners whose products and services we think you'll enjoy.

Read our full Privacy Policy as well as Terms & Conditions.

production