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Best Freeride Snowboards 2017-2018

Our favourite freeride snowboards of the year, as chosen by the Whitelines Team

UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2018/2019 Best Freeride Snowboards here

If you’ve got little interest in the park, then even an all-mountain board might be a little too broad for your tastes. Instead, why not go for one of these specialist sticks that’s designed to make the most of whatever terrain is laid out in front of you?

“Some of these lean heavily towards the deep, deep powder, while others are aimed more at carving”


Some of these lean heavily towards the deep, deep powder, while others are aimed more at carving. They’re all capable of a bit of both, though, so wherever you’re able to put in your turns, you’ll be glad you got one of these.

Some also open the door to backcountry freestyle, and so could be taken off jumps of any size, but are a little too pow-focused to be called a true all-mountain board. You won’t, for example, tend to see any of them lapping the rail line.

But if it’s freeriding you want, then with these sticks it’s freeriding you shall have. Check out our top freeride boards for 2017/18 below.

Scroll down to view all snowboards, or skip to a particular brand using the links below

Bataleon | Burton | Dupraz | Gnu | K2 | Lib Tech | Lobster | Nidecker | Rome | Salomon | YES

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Bataleon Surfer Snowboard 2017-2018

Have you ever seen a board more suited to riding pow?

The Surfer is a brand new creation from Bataleon, and one that takes the float-friendly characteristics of their Triple Base Tech to new levels.

You don’t have to save it for the storms, though; watch our video on the review page to see how well it works when it’s low tide.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Bataleon Surfer here

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[monetizer101 search=’Bataleon Surfer’]


Burton Flight Attendant Splitboard 2017-2018

One way to create an amazing splitboard is to take a standard model that everybody loves, and chop it in half. Simples.

All the fine qualities of the original Flight Attendant are here, with the added bonus of getting yourself further out of bounds than ever before. If you like airtime as much as you like charging, this one definitely ticks both boxes.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Burton Flight Attendant Splitboard here

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[monetizer101 search=’Burton Flight Attendant Split’]


Dupraz D1 5.5” Snowboard 2017-2018

Dupraz means carving; it was ever thus. There’s never been a better time to check out what this legendary French brand has to offer.

The D1 gives you unrivalled acceleration out of the turn, so prepare to feel the G’s as you paint razor-thin lines in the fresh groomers. Naturally it’s amazing in powder, too.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Dupraz D1 5’5″ here

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Gnu Müllair Snowboard 2017-2018

Who doesn’t want to ride like Nico? His pro model won’t necessarily turn you into an impossibly stylish powder Jedi, but it could serve as a step in the right direction.

The camber means there’s plenty of power and pop when you need it, but it’s not mega stiff. For exploring the powder and deepening your trick bag while you go, this is ideal.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Gnu Müllair here

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[monetizer101 search=’Gnu Müllair’]


K2 Simple Pleasures Snowboard 2017-2018

The directional design of the K2 Simple Pleasures makes it a great fit for freeriding, but you don’t have to be a hellman to appreciate this one.

You can go fast when you want to, by all means, but it’s also ideal at slower speeds when you want to explore a feature-filled face with ample opportunities for airtime.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 K2 Simple Pleasures here

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[monetizer101 search=’K2 Simple Pleasures’]


Lib Tech EJack Knife Snowboard 2017-2018

It’s hard to believe that this is Eric Jackson’s first pro model with Lib, but it makes up for lost time in its sheer quality.

The slight taper gives it an advantage in deeper snow, but it’s not just for swooshing down a face. Seek out as many cliffs, spines and pillows as you can – the bigger, the better.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Lib Tech EJack Knife here

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[monetizer101 search=’Lib Tech EJack Knife’]


Lobster Floater Snowboard 2017-2018

The Floater is also great for backcountry freestyle, albeit on a less gnarly scale.

The extra waist width and pronounced Triple Base Tech make it float insanely well for such a short twin board, allowing you to dip into the trees and get spontaneous off any natural hits you come across.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Lobster Floater here

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[monetizer101 search=’Lobster Floater’]


Nidecker Concept Snowboard 2017-2018

Here’s another brand that was around for the early days of carving. Nidecker know a thing or two about edge hold, and the Concept is one of their finest creations yet.

The crescent tail makes it easier to handle in the deep stuff, but wherever you take it you can expect a powerful ride that doesn’t hold back.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Nidecker Concept here

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[monetizer101 search=’Nidecker Concept’]

Nidecker Gun Snowboard 2017-2018

If it’s speed you want, you won’t find a better option this year than the Nidecker Gun.

It’s as much of a bullet as it looks, with a powerful setback profile and a seriously stiff backbone. If you’ve got the ability, it’ll have you leaving Back To The Future-style trails of flame behind you whenever you open it up.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Nidecker Gun here

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[monetizer101 search=’Nidecker Gun’]


Rome White Room Splitboard 2017-2018

Our testers found the Rome White Room to be a dependable workhorse of a splitboard, that had all the right stuff for exploring the backcountry.

There’s plenty of power on hand thanks to the carbon-enhanced tail, while the early rise rocker in the nose keeps you afloat whatever the conditions.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Rome White Room here

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[monetizer101 search=’Rome White Room’]


Salomon Sick Stick Snowboard 2017-2018

It’s a modern classic that has been around for a decade, but this year the Sick Stick sports a completely new design courtesy of longtime S-man Wolle Nyvelt.

It’s still a powder weapon, of course, so if you like freeriding it’s definitely worth a look. We’re not sure you’ll find a prettier-looking board than this, either.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 Salomon Sick Stick here

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[monetizer101 search=’Salomon Sick Stick’]


YES 420 PowderHull Snowboard 2017-2018

Think snowboard design has stalled? A look at the YES 420 PowderHull will change your mind.

The unique base design makes this thing float in the deep stuff like nothing on earth. It also allows YES to make this narrower than the regular 420, improving its edge-to-edge performance on the piste.

Selected for The Whitelines 100 – take a closer look at the 2017-2018 YES 420 PowderHull here

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[monetizer101 search=’YES 420 PowderHull’]

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