“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 in the best snowboard accessories of the year.
Best Park and Freestyle Snowboards For 2024-2025
Nidecker Sensor Team Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €500 / £479 / $500
New for the 24/25 season, Nidecker’s Sensor Team is a true twin powerhouse that’s been developed in collaboration with their expanding roster of pro riders. This board takes the freestyle DNA of their popular Sensor model and cranks it up a notch, with a wider waist width and a full camber profile that had our tester Terry grinning from ear to ear. “This just really clicked for me,” he reports, praising its “fun, poppy feel.” That classic camber, combined with carbon inlays towards the nose and tail, delivers spring-loaded ollie power that’ll have you boosting off everything in sight.
In terms of materials, the Sensor Team is based on Nidecker’s Light Core (which, as the name suggests, weighs next to nothing) and a mix of fibreglass fibres they call Biax Plus. It’s a combo that makes this board feel agile in the air and stable on the run-in or landings – in fact the Sensor Team is surprisingly fun to carve and would make a solid daily driver. Likewise, the dense N-7000 base is perfect for rail destruction, big jump lines and high-speed groomers alike.
Our tester recommends this one “for someone who likes a bit of variation, from resort cruising to off-piste and park.” He also noted that the added width provided extra stability for stomping big landings, and was a big fan of the understated graphics, which are full of subtle details.
Nidecker have developed some of the most exciting tech of the last few years (not least the radical Supermatic binding) and the Sensor Team continues to show that these guys know their design onions. Whether you’re a park rat looking to expand your playground or an all-mountain freestyler seeking one board to rule them all, it deserves a spot on your shortlist.
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Drake Battle Rusty Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: £396
Italy-based brand Drake is best known for its bindings, but also does a fine line in boards, and the Drake Battle Rusty is no exception. It has playful characteristics that our test team loved, but it’s also strong enough to withstand anything Kendrick Lamar might throw at it.
Given its association with Alex Stewart’s merry band of Itali-Kiwis, the Drake Battle Rusty is most at home in the park or the streets – which might seem a bit odd, given that it’s a little tapered, and a lot wider than most. That makes it good for other things too, not least getting your elbow down on piste and staying afloat in powder – but when you want to get airborne, the mostly-camber profile and end-to-end carbon bar have got you covered. There’s also carbon infused into the base, bestowing the Drake Battle Rusty with the means to clear the gnarliest of questionable winch-accessed street spot gaps.
Fans of standard-width true twins may find that this takes a bit of getting used to, but we reckon most will find it to be a change worth making. We love that topsheet too, featuring Vitruvian Man-esque sketches of the crew’s mad winch-bike. Brava!
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Rome Rene-Gade Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €600 / $600
Our test team’s big takeaway from the Rome Rene-Gade was that it’s not for the hesitant; it’s stiff, aggressive, pops to the moon and takes a lot of work to press on boxes and rails. It goes without saying, then, that the Rene-Gade won’t be for everyone – but those who get on with it can expect to open up a new world of park-based possibilities.
Rene Rinnekangas’ fun-loving persona has bled into the name of his pro model – however, unlike the similarly puntastic pro-endorsed Rome Stale Fish, this is a serious precision tool rather than a laid-back cruiser. Rome doesn’t make boards that come much stiffer than this, and that means absolutely bucketloads of pop, but you need to put the work in to get the most out of it.
In its natural habitat (pipes, hips and showtime booters) the Rome Rene-Gade is nigh-on perfect, with well-placed additives complimenting the true camber profile, as well as shock-absorbing flax to mellow out harsh landings.
The directional twin design also makes it a bit better suited to the whole mountain than most freestyle-favouring sticks. Wherever you take it, Rome’s fastest base will ensure you get there quickly, and in style.
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Bataleon Goliath Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €630
The Bataleon Goliath isn’t just a snowboard; it’s a legend that kickstarted the 3D revolution. This perennial bestseller continues to evolve, blending freestyle agility with freeride power in a package that lives up to its mythical name.
At its core, the Goliath sports Bataleon’s 3BT and SideKick technology, with low uplift in both nose and tail. Our testers hailed this as “arguably Bataleon’s most balanced triple base flavour,” praising its stability in a straight line and its smooth turn initiation. At the same time, the edges are raised enough at the contact points to give you that all-important get-out-of-jail-free card when you don’t quite land bolts.
With a medium camber profile and a stiff-ish flex, the Goliath means business. It’s best suited for confident intermediates and up who can harness its potential, and with the addition of six carbon Super Tubes provides extra edge power for those big mountain missions.
Available in a range of sizes from 153 to 167W, including four wide options, the Goliath truly lives up to its name as an all-rounder. Whether you’re hot-lapping the park or charging the biggest features on the mountain, this board has your back. Just remember, with great power comes great responsibility.
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Bataleon Push Up+ Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €600
Bataleon’s Push Up+ takes their popular women’s all-mountain board and elevates it to new heights. It’s a premium deck that packs in high-end tech and is perfect for riders looking to push their limits across the entire mountain.
At its core, the Push Up+ features Bataleon’s signature 3BT and SideKick technology. It’s pretty subtle, though, with low uplift at the nose and tail, so if you’ve not ridden Triple Base before you’ll soon get used to it. Overall, the ride feels responsive and forgiving, with way less chance of edge catches. An Ultra Light Core and Ultra Glide sintered base set the Plus version apart from its predecessor, offering a noticeable boost in agility and speed.
Our tester Stella was jumping back on a Bataleon for the first time in a couple of years, and was immediately impressed: “The Push Up+ felt so light and effortless under my feet,” she says. “I literally had a smile on my face as soon as I strapped in.” With a medium camber profile and a versatile mid-soft flex, it’s a board that strikes a perfect balance between playfulness and stability.
The Push Up+ shines across varied terrain. “It’s fun, stable, poppy, and easy to maneuver,” says Stella, who was stoked on its performance from buttering the piste to park kickers. Carbon stringers and dual carbon Super Tubes provide that extra pop and response when you need it.
Available in sizes from 138 to 152cm, there’s also a Push Up+ for riders of all statures. At 5’7 (172cm) Stella found her sweet spot on the 146cm, but be sure to factor in your weight and don’t be shy of going longer if you want to enjoy a little more float in pow.
While die-hard freeriders might prefer something stiffer, most female riders will find the Bataleon Push Up+ delivers a near-perfect blend of performance and fun. As Stella put it: “For me, this is a 10/10.”
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Bataleon Evil Twin Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €700
If Bataleon were Black Sabbath, the Evil Twin would be Paranoid – the heavy-hitting classic that built a legend. On the scene since 2003, this iconic true twin has been turning heads and redefining park riding for over two decades.
The secret sauce? Bataleon’s signature Triple Base Technology, here deployed with medium uplift in both nose and tail. Our testers raved about the confidence it inspires, claiming “few other boards offer as much forgiveness in sketchy rail situations or under/over rotated landings.”
With a medium camber profile and a playful mid flex, the Evil Twin delivers what one tester describes as a “super smooth, surfy feel” that encourages you to push your limits. The Ultra Light Core keeps things poppy, while carbon stringers and a central carbon Super Tube add responsiveness without compromising that torsionally forgiving nature.
A sintered Hyper Glide S base ensures you’ll clear the knuckle with ease, while the true twin shape means you can ride away switch as easily as you dropped in. Available in sizes from 151 to 159W, there’s an Evil Twin for every park rat out there.
For those seeking the ultimate in lightweight performance, Bataleon also offers the Evil Twin+. But for most riders, the original Evil Twin hits the sweet spot of performance and value. Can it help you / occupy your brain? Oh yeah.
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K2 Medium Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €580 / £515
The K2 Medium has been around for a few years now, but its inspirations go back quite a bit further than that. Jake Kuzyk had a hand in bringing this to life, and it looks like he set the flux capacitor to the mid-90s. On the surface – that is to say, in its true twin shape and classic camber profile – this is as ‘classic’ as a freestyle snowboard gets.
Of course, there’s plenty of modern-day tech at play here, making this a far safer bet than an eBay relic. ‘Pop’ was our test team’s main takeaway; thanks to its traditional bend and end-to-end carbon stringer, this will absolutely ping if you want it to. At the same time, the overall flex isn’t so nails that you can’t also give it a good press when the mood strikes.
From edge to edge it’s a little firmer, thanks to the triax fibreglass and carbon ‘X’ shapes under each foot. Those transfer energy to the edges, which is ideal when you’re at high speed and looking for quick response.
So it’s playful to an extent, but ready to step up to bigger stuff when you want it to – just like a good park board should.
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K2 Almanac Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €520 / £460
As our test team noted, the successor to the much-loved K2 Party Platter has some huge shoes to fill. Fortunately, the K2 Almanac is up to the task, and a worthy successor to one of the most fun snowboards of modern times.
It’s another volume-shifted design from K2, designed to be ridden around 5cm shorter than your usual fare. A bit of extra waist width makes this possible, but it’s not an extreme case like the K2 Special Effects or the K2 Niseko Pleasures. No, this one is more suited to everyday riding – all terrain, all conditions.
A mellow-flexing core, sandwiched in between layers of easy-going biax fibreglass, make getting to grips with the Almanac (and getting used to that extra girth) a piece of cake. Before you know it you’ll be carving up the piste or even getting the most out of its directional shape in the powder, and wondering why you didn’t downsize sooner.
If you want pop, there’s plenty on hand thanks to the mostly-cambered profile, enhanced with a carbon strip (also cambered) running from tip to tail. ‘Going over the handlebars’ is always a bit more of a concern on a volume-shifted board, so you may not want to take this to the XL line, but for everything else you’re golden.
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Burton Blossom Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €660 / £585 / $620
When Burton gives their team riders free rein to design a board, you know you’re in for something special. At first glance, the Blossom might seem understated with a weathered grey topsheet supposedly inspired by “an old eroded rock” but as the brainchild of Niels Schack – a rider whose creativity extends well beyond the snow – there’s more to it than meets the eye. The graphic is actually temperature reactive, shifting colors when the mercury drops. Flip it over, and you’re greeted by a vibrant base (the “crystal inside”) that somehow hints at this board’s split personality.
Split personality, you say? Well yeah. Because while the Blossom has a cute name and a true twin shape that suggests pure freestyle fun, it’s pretty damn stiff. And as our tester Kristiin puts it: “It’s FAST – you’ve really got to invest in your turns.” The combination of camber and carbon reinforcement in the core delivers precision edge response and powerful pop that’s capable of demolishing features across the mountain – the bigger the better.
“It’s pretty aggressive and will suit an advanced rider,” cautions Kristiin. “Beginners should look for something softer.” But for those looking to send it hard in the park or charge every inch of the resort, this is a deck that will live up to its moniker and let you thrive. It’s a unisex model first, with sizes from 149 to 162cm – all of which naturally feature the Burton Channel system to let you dial in your stance width with pinpoint accuracy.
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Lib Tech Two Time Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €500 / £435 / $500
Lib Tech’s new women’s model, the Two Time, is a twin-shaped park and street destroyer. Designed in collaboration with pro rider Katie Kennedy, this board embodies Lib Tech’s commitment to both high performance and environmental responsibility.
Although they’re famous for Banana Technology (aka reverse camber), Lib Tech have always included a variety of profiles in their line-up, and the Two Time features traditional positive camber. Together with a mid-stiff flex and Magne-Traction serrated edges, it’s a recipe for exceptional grip and control. “I really, really enjoyed riding this board. It’s so fun,” reported our tester Stella. “It’s super stable; I did not feel like it was gonna catch an edge at all.”
Built at the legendary Mervin factory near Seattle, the Two Time boasts a core made from 75% aspen and 25% paulownia – both sustainable, FSC-certified woods. An eco-sublimated topsheet further underscores its environmentally conscious credentials.
While it excels on park jumps, the Two Time is equally at home hitting rails and street features, and its poppy, responsive feel makes it perfect for intermediate to advanced riders looking to push their freestyle skills across both man-made and natural terrain. Cool kids like Katie will no doubt appreciate the understated graphic, too, which leaves plenty of room for stickers and doodles.
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Jones Women’s Tweaker Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €500 / £449 / $500
After a decade spent building a brand in his own image as a powder hound, Jeremy Jones has recently been dipping his toes into freestyle waters. The Women’s Tweaker, new for 24/25, is the latest example. It’s a true twin hellraiser that can hold its own with the park rats while staying true to the company’s mountain-loving, eco-conscious roots.
At its core, the Tweaker rocks a full camber profile paired with Jones’ 3D Contour Base. This combo delivers the pop and precision you’d expect from camber, with a dash of that surfy Jones feel. Our tester Stella noted that while the camber adds a bit of aggression, the friendly flex kept it feeling easy to ride, and she never felt like it wanted to catch an edge.
The Tweaker’s eye-catching blunt shape isn’t just for show. It makes the most of the running length while shaving weight at the tips, so it’s easy to throw around – perfect for park shenanigans and switch riding. Under the hood, you’ll find Jones’ dual density Control Core (made from poplar and paulownia) with basalt stringers and biax fibreglass. All of this creates a lively yet easygoing ride that won’t punish you for the occasional mistake. The Sintered 8000 base ensures you’ll clear the knuckle with ease, while an eco-plastic topsheet – made from castor beans – adds durability and reduces environmental impact.
Available in sizes from 140 to 151cm, the Women’s Tweaker is an ideal choice for intermediate and up riders looking to push their freestyle skills across the entire mountain.
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Jones Tweaker Pro Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €600 / £539 / $600
Jones Snowboards continues to shatter expectations with the Tweaker Pro, new for 24/25. This board might make you do a double-take – as our tester Tristan did. “I rode a Jones splitboard for years, and associate this brand with big-nosed powder guns,” he says. “This was a short, snub-nosed stunt stick.”
But while it’s certainly compact, The Tweaker Pro packs a punch with its high camber profile and 3D Contour Base, delivering turns that are smooth, powerful and precise. The true twin shape and stiff-ish flex make it a freestyle powerhouse that’s equally at home in the park or hunting out natural hits across the mountain.
Tech wise, Jones has pulled out all the stops for this new Pro version. The triple density Power Core is enhanced with Koroyd® – a synthetic, aerospace-inspired material that adds response while reducing weight, while the sintered 9900 base is wickedly quick. A Carbon/Innegra layer dampens the ride, and together with triax fibreglass provides the pop and stability needed for high-speed park laps and all-mountain charging.
“The Tweaker Pro has a stiff, snappy flex that made it feel more sturdy than most boards this length,” our tester reported. “I found I could boost off little bumps in the piste almost without thinking, and it still felt stable enough for hitting bigger park jumps.”
Available in sizes from 146 to 159cm, including a wide option at 157, the Tweaker Pro is aimed at advanced riders looking to ride fast and go big, and proves that Jones can indeed hold its own when it comes to freestyle. As Tristan put it, “Turns out I was wrong to make assumptions about what Jones can and can’t build.”
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Jones Rally Cat Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €450 / £399 / $450
The Rally Cat is a brand new directional twin that injects a little more fun into the Jones line. Its bright, skate-inspired graphics are a radical departure from the brand’s usually sober and organic-looking artwork, and hint at a board that’s all about getting creative in the park and beyond.
At its core, the Rally Cat features a true camber profile, mellowed out with the addition of Jones’ 3D Contour Base and a soft flex. Overall, the ride feels cruisey and forgiving, whatever the terrain. As our tester Tristan reports, “I tried this out in a wide range of different conditions – from early morning pow to afternoon slush – all of which it handled with aplomb.”
Diving into the tech specs, you’ll find Jones’ poplar/paulownia Control Core and biax fibreglass, together with a sustainable bio-plastic topsheet made from castor beans and a sintered 8000 base that ensures you’ll maintain speed whether you’re cruising through fresh snow or hitting park features.
“The Rally Cat felt great in the powder, cruised through the slush, and was a whole world of fun when I took it for a couple of laps over the kicker line in the park,” our tester reports. While he noted it wasn’t the most stable at high speeds in choppy conditions, he acknowledged this as “pretty much par for the course for any board with a flex this soft, and the flipside of its fun, forgiving nature.”
Available in a huge range of sizes from 151 to 170W, including multiple wide options, there’s a Rally Cat for almost every rider – and for good reason, since it would be a great choice for any beginner to intermediate rider. It’s a board that invites you to push your boundaries without punishing your mistakes – you might even say it gives you nine lives. *ducks for cover*
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YES Basic Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €450 / £399 / $430
The YES Basic has been a cornerstone of affordable all-mountain performance for years, consistently proving that a snowboard doesn’t need a hefty price tag to put a smile on your face.
At its core, it features what YES calls a CamRock 3-4-3 profile, blending the pop of camber with the forgiveness of rocker. This year, they’ve fine-tuned it to offer a more subtle feel, maintaining its friendly feel without compromising drive. An UnderBite sidecut sees the edge pinched in underfoot to enhance turn initiation and edge hold, and together with the true twin outline creates a board that’s equally comfortable on groomers and in the park.
Our tester Emyr, who rode the 159 wide version, was impressed by the Basic’s versatility: “Beginners can learn to ride on this, while advanced riders who like to ride rails will enjoy the mid-soft flex.” He was stoked on how well it held an edge, while still allowing for easy nose and tail presses.
The construction is based around a full wood core – not the lightest or most exotic, but lively and durable. The extruded base ensures decent speed without requiring constant maintenance.
While our test team pointed out it’s not the best performer in powder, that’s not the Basic’s primary mission. Available in sizes from 143 to 163cm, including wide options, the YES Basic is simply a great value all rounder. And thanks to a slick new graphic by Guillaume Rousseax, it’s guaranteed to be as popular as ever.
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YES Shifter Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €420 / £379 / $400
The YES Shifter is a soft-flexing twin that blurs the lines between park, street, and cruisey resort riding. With its unisex design and a range of sizes from 142 to 158cm, it caters to riders of all statures looking to push their freestyle game.
At the heart of the Shifter is a camber profile with a three-dimensional element they call Y3D. The latter comes courtesy of YES’s recent merger with Lobster Snowboards, who’ve been using Triple Base Technology for years. The uplift on this model starts outside the contact points for a more direct edge feel, and helps create a board that’s super loose and playful. Rail riders and beginners alike will appreciate the lack of edge catches. Just be aware that as our tester Kristiin pointed out, “it’s not really suited to hard, icy conditions.”
Indeed, the Shifter’s construction is geared more towards pure freestyle performance. A carbon layup adds stiffness to the nose and tail while keeping things soft between the bindings. As YES themselves put it, this setup “makes your ollies pop as high as possible while keeping the board nice and responsive between the feet.” Meanwhile, a bombproof extruded base ensures you can confidently smash rails and features without worrying about damaging expensive sintered P-tex.
All told, the YES Shifter offers a versatile platform for freestyle fun. And if you’re a fan of “iconic Icelandic supermarkets” (who isn’t?) then check out the limited edition collab version they’ve produced with Bónus.
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Vimana Wernair Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: €499
There’s something for everyone in Vimana’s range – but the Vimana Wernair certainly isn’t. One of several veterans in the brand’s pro team, Werni Stock has been given free rein to design a deck that suits his style of riding. No surprises, then, that the Wernair is a bit of a beast.
You don’t have to be quite as good as Austria’s finest to tame it, but our guinea-pig certainly got the most out of it when channelling that same aggressive, burly style. Speed is never an issue thanks to the high-quality sintered base, and the triax fibreglass makes it as responsive as it gets. Its full potential will be realised on the park’s biggest features, as it’s been designed to fly as well as it can charge.
It’s probably too twitchy for novices – and jibbing is essentially out, too. But if you want the all-mountain versatility of a cambered directional twin, combined with carboned-up poplar core that could ping you to the moon, then this could be what you’re looking for. After almost a decade with Vimana, helping to design boards as well as showcase their abilities, Werni may have made his masterpiece.
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Slash Happy Place Snowboard 2024-2025
PRICE: £439
The Slash Happy Place is a board designed to spread the love. A staple in the line-up of Gigi Rüf’s brainchild brand, it embodies the legendary Austrian rider’s vision of accessible, high-performance snowboarding.
Geometry-wise, the Happy Place features a true twin freestyle outline and a versatile CamRock profile. This combo of camber between the feet and rocker at the tips delivers a ride that’s both playful and precise. It’s a board that encourages progression, whether you’re a park rat or an all-mountain explorer.
Despite its wallet-friendly price point, the Happy Place doesn’t skimp on tech. A lively dual-wood core is wrapped in torsionally soft biax fiberglass, while carbon X-bracing outside the inserts (and visible through the blank topsheet) adds pop and responsiveness where it counts. Overall, it’s a soft and confidence-inspiring flex that intermediate riders will love. A sintered base – a rarity at this price – keeps you gliding when others are stuck.
Slash’s approach to graphics is nothing less than inspired. You can either ride it blank – a clean, translucent look that lets the board’s construction speak for itself – or choose from a selection of roll-out ‘Topart’ that you stick on yourself. Heck, you can even keep the same board for years (thus doing your bit for the planet) and refresh the graphic whenever you feel like it. Genius.
Available in a unisex size range from 146 to 163w, everyone can find their own Happy Place. As for ourselves, the WL test team found it lives up to the freestyle billing but is far from a one-trick pony. From side hits to powder stashes, it’s a genuine go-anywhere board that can handle all but the gnarliest situations.
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