The Details:

The DC Ply is another reminder of just how well the brand delivers affordable boards. The price tag suggests this is only for beginners, but the performance certainly doesn’t.

Of course, newbies won’t find themselves out of their depth; the camber profile may be quite pronounced, but there are mellow flat sections at the contact points that give you margin for error without sacrificing control. The poplar core is nice and light, too, so it won’t feel like an oil tanker when you make turns.

More experienced riders will enjoy this too, as long as they like freestyle. It’s not mega soft but you’ll still be able to have a good butter on it, plus it can hold its own on bigger features; probably more than any other board of similar cost.

We can’t help but go back to that price again, actually. If you’re on a limited budget then this is a no-brainer – and even if money’s no object, this deserves a place on your shortlist. There’s also a women’s version available, aimed at much the same kind of rider.