UPDATE: Check out our review of the 2018/2019 Best Freeride Snowboards here
Freeriding is where snowboarding started, and where whatever ‘soul’ the sport has is often said to reside. It’s no surprise that so many riders still prioritise the powder over everything else, and much of the market is aimed at keeping them happy. Take these weapons, for example, which are all designed to excel off the beaten track.
Of course, all of these can also be ridden on the piste, and some perform exceptionally well. More riders than ever are making their purchasing decision based on its carving chops, and that’s not gone unnoticed by the brands.
“It’s no surprise that so many riders still prioritise the powder over everything else, and much of the market is aimed at keeping them happy”
Some are also well suited to backcountry freestyle, albeit the natural-hits kind rather than rails and boxes. We’re not saying you can’t go into the park with these, but really that’s not what they’re for. If you want to hit the features between pow days, maybe consider an all-mountain model. However, if your main interest is the simple art of turning, with a healthy dose of high speeds, then there’s something in this list for you.
All boards are in alphabetical order, other than the category winner which can be found at the end of the list.
All photographs by Sami Tuoriniemi
Production: Ed Blomfield / Mike Brindley / Andrew Duthie / Sami Tuoriniemi
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