UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2018/2019 Best Freeride Snowboards here
We’ll refrain from adding our voice to the collective waffle about how wonderful riding powder is – if that’s what you’re after, watch any shred-doc from 91 Words For Snow onwards and you’ll soon have your fill.
It is rather good, though, and many a board has been specifically designed to get after it at every opportunity. Common features to be found in a freeride board include a setback camber profile, extended nose, tapered tail and some good dampening in the core.
“Expect a prevalence of earthy graphics and muted colours; grizzled pow-hounds tend to shy away from neon”
They’re also usually pretty stiff (both from end-to-end and from edge-to-edge) in order to deliver a stable ride at even the highest speed. Furthermore, expect a prevalence of earthy graphics and muted colours; grizzled pow-hounds tend to shy away from neon.
Unlike some of the more offbeat shapes out there, these boards will more than hold their own on firmer snow too. Get them on a fresh stretch of corduroy, or some freshly-shaped banked corners, and appreciate the simple joy of turning (gah, we’ve started to sound like one of those movies after all…).
Among those that have turned our head this year are some high-tech debutants, a couple of retro throwbacks, an old favourite or two, and an oversized green meanie – take a look.
All boards are in alphabetical order. All photographs by Sami Tuoriniemi – click any image to enlarge
Production: Tom Copsey / Andrew Duthie / Arian Schlichenmayer / Sami Tuoriniemi
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