Bataleon Cruiser Snowboard 2022-2023

Whitelines Choice Winner: Best Newcomer Snowboard
PRICE: £400 / €460 / $460

Bataleon’s calling card is of course Triple Base Technology, and while there are obvious benefits for park riding (less chance of hooking up on rails and more forgiving landings) the original concept was all about more efficient turns. That’s what they’ve tapped into with the new Cruiser – a long-nosed, set back freeride weapon that corners like it’s on rails even at warp speeds. It’s no slouch in the pow either.

Who Is The Bataleon Cruiser For?

If your park days are largely behind you but you’ve still got the minerals to go fast and tackle steep stuff, you’ll find a lot to love about the Cruiser. Don’t be fooled by the name: it sounds like a mellow entry-level board but it’s got a pretty stiff flex better suited to experienced shreds.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 Bataleon Cruiser here

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Bataleon Evil Twin Plus Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: £540, €640, $640

You’ve heard of Dr Jeykl and Mr Hyde, but what if there was another involved? The Evil Twin + is a new character in the story, one that takes the personality of the classic but looks to up the construction to offer a more refined and dynamic ride.

Understandably, the ‘Plus’ next to the name might be quite off putting for modest riders who don’t categorise themselves as an absolute Charlie Big Potatoes, but fear not, the Evil Twin + isn’t only for pros. The board is lighter, faster and a bit more responsive, but it’ll still offer the same fun, forgiving, freestyle experience you’ll have got from the original.

Who Is The Bataleon Evil Twin Plus For?

Let’s be real here, this isn’t for novice riders. You’re a powerful snowboarder who relishes lapping the bigger lines in the park, and are prepared to drop the cash and take a zero compromise approach to buying one of the best all-mountain freestyle boards out there.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 Bataleon Evil Twin Plus here

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Bataleon Goliath Plus Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: £570, €650, $650

The crew at Bataleon opened Pandora’s Box when they gave the Party Wave the ‘Plus’ treatment a couple of years back, and now here we are with everyone’s favourite all-mountain powerhouse pumped full of carbon with a sexy new monochrome paint job to seal the deal.

It’s the Goliath Plus, so obviously it’s leaner, meaner and faster but you’ll find the same versatile shape, 3D shaping and adaptable profile as you do in the regular Goliath.

Who Is The Bataleon Goliath Plus For?

You may have been a fan of the original Goliath, but there’s no need to have sampled that one to appreciate what’s on offer here. This is a true all-mountain offering and, despite bearing the Plus moniker, the barrier for entry isn’t impossibly high. Intermediates all the way up to pro team rippers can get on board with this (literally).

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 Bataleon Goliath Plus here

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Bataleon Whatever x Beyond Medals Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: £470, €540, $540

There is perhaps no board as aptly named as the Whatever, because it rides, well… whatever. A classic Bataleon model that’s been given the Tor Lundstrom twist, it shares much of its DNA with the OG Whatever, but with a little bit of added spice. Previously the Beyond Medals crew have had a whack at the Goliath, but for this season they’ve taken on another of Bataleon’s flagship models, and the result is one of the best all-mountain snowboards of the year.

A touch stiffer, a smidge poppier, slightly more performance oriented but still at heart it’s the go anywhere, do anything snowboard we’ve loved since its debut. It’s a real buffet, powder laps for breakfast, corduroy for lunch and party laps in the park for dinner, all you can eat baby.

Who Is The Bataleon Whatever x Beyond Medals For?

Better yet, who isn’t it for? There are a lot of boards that claim to do it all, but this one genuinely does. If your park days aren’t behind you, but you still want a board that can dominate in other areas then the BYNDMDLS Whatever is a goer.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 Bataleon Whatever x Beyond Medals here

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Drake Tao Of Drake Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: €400, $450

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.

What you still don’t see very often, though, is a board that wears its suitability for both men and women as a badge of honour. That’s what Drake’s new Tao of Drake snowboard does, and you’ll now find it under the feet of the brand’s team riders regardless of chromosomes.

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.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 Drake Tao Of Drake here

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Jones Tweaker Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: £470 / €530 / $530

Up til now, 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.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 Jones Tweaker here

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Ride Shadowban Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: £415 / €480 / $500

With the success of their Pig line, it’s cool to see Ride veer away from the porky shapes with the Shadowban. This is a new foray into all-mountain territory, with a mellow flex and some of the best tech Ride has to offer, and all for less than 500 bucks, not bad, not bad at all.

Okay, and maybe the graphic comes into play here too, we’re loving the synth-pop 80’s Stranger Things vibes. Obviously never pick your board based solely on the topsheet, but we like this one, what you gonna do? Sue us??

Who Is The Ride Shadowban For?

Your park days aren’t entirely behind you, but you’re more likely to take a few laps rather than spend all day sessioning that one rail. Instead, you’re looking to spend your time on the hunt for fresh corduroy, bombing hills and seeking out pockets of powder when the weather delivers.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 Ride Shadowban here

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Rome Artifact Pro Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: £420 / €500 / $500

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.

That being said, its fun-on-a-bun personality does make it a bit noodly for the biggest features in the park. Just a bit of extra stiffness, combined with a few other tweaks here and there, and it’d be a different story. Step forward the new Rome Artifact Pro.

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.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 Rome Artifact Pro here

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YES. Basic Women’s Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: £380 / €430 / $430

Ask and ye shall receive. The crew at YES. are coming in hot for 22/23 with what quickly became one of our test teams favourite snowboards. This is the YES. Women’s Basic. The snowboard we know and love, with a bit of female specific flair.

Everything about this new women’s Basic is instant classic. The tried and tested outline, the versatile camrock profile, even the understated graphic is a winner. Aside from the sizing, they’ve tricked out the women’s Basic with a narrower waist width, softer flex and slightly mellower profile to make it a budget friendly resort board that can seriously go toe to toe with the big dogs.

Who Is The YES. Basic Women’s For?

It’s hard to really put your finger on who this board is aimed at, regardless of if it’s your first wobbly day strapping in or you’re a seasoned vet with 20 years of experience under your belt, there’s something to enjoy here. Snowboarding is meant to be fun and enjoyable, and the Women’s Basic really allows for that, with no fuss and no frills.

Selected for the Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2022-2023 YES. Basic Women’s here

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