You can have a good time riding on snow in any boots strapped into any bindings attached to any board. Has the pure fun of snowboarding increased with the progression of its products? No.

The fact of the matter is we adapt to what we have. In theory, a brand name, updated technology or graphic shouldn’t determine your enjoyment of this activity that we hope you love as much as we do. But in a way it does. Just like we all want to become better riders, we all desire better equipment. We’re not going to claim that the following boards are essential to your enjoyment of snowboarding. They’re not. But we are constantly seeking improved tools to enhance the indescribable feeling of gliding down an incline.

We hand-selected the following collection of snowboards because we believe they represent today’s premium offerings in that category.

While you’ll never be able to purchase fun, the unique feeling you attain from riding a new board might be the closest you’ll come. We hope one of these premium offerings will find a place beneath your feet.


GNU Beautry

CAPiTA Mercury

MSRP: $519.95

capitasnowboarding.com
Ten years ago they were still a small start-up with a cult following; today they’re among the most established and progressive brands in snowboarding. New for 2016, this is CAPiTA’s offering to the nondenominational gods of the freestyle and freeride worlds. The Mercury is a directional twin, hybrid camber model perched at the top of the CAPiTA line. Lightweight, lasting snap is generated by two pairs of Bamboo Power Rods laminated parallel to the length of the board, which work in harmony with two V-shaped carbon stringers located in the tip and tail…

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Never Summer Funslinger

Never Summer Funslinger

MSRP: $509.99

neversummer.com
Having fun is the only reason to snowboard. If you disagree, put this magazine down and
get back to training. We’ll assume if you’re still reading, you’re on board the fun train. In which case, the ‘Slinger is worth a look. Running Never Summer’s Ripsaw profile that accentuates the camberedareas present in their patented Rocker Camber design, this merchant of good times is an open-minded asymmetrical park board unafraid to venture outside the restraints of manmade terrain…

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Ride Berzerker

RIDE Berzerker

MSRP: $509.95

ridesnowboards.com
This board’s name conjures up images of a bulging-eyed psychopath wielding an axe — nothing like the collected, cool and calculated guy whose signature is scribbled on it. Jake Blauvelt’s board gets a complete overhaul this season. It’s directional, but you wouldn’t notice at first glance. The sidecut is deeper, with a wider radii in the nose and a shorter radii in the tail allowing smoother turn initiation while maintaining the typical kick out of a turn that a twin provides. The stiffness has also been increased, but an updated directional hybrid camber profile makes the board ride softer…

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K2 Joydriver

K2 Joydriver

MSRP: $599.95

k2snowboarding.com
Falling on certain lines means you die. We don’t ride those, but Lucas Debari does. Understandably, Lucas wants a snowboard that won’t wash out when pointing it at life-or-death scenarios. For the rest of us, this translates to a board that dauntlessly holds an edge through any terrain you put in front of it. The Joydriver’s stability is attributed to positive, not traditional, camber throughout. The high point of the camber profile sits beneath the back foot, while traditionally it would lie at the center of the board. When depressed by a rider’s weight, this lifts the nose and increases float…

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Lib Tech Goldmember

Lib Tech T. Rice Goldmember

MSRP: $549.99

lib-tech.com
This is not a board for beginners or those on a budget. The Goldmember is aggressive and expensive for a reason. It’s Travis Rice’s already menacing ride, souped up with Firepower — Mervin’s lightest, smoothest and most environMENTALLY friendly construction. Imagine putting a jet engine in a Corvette. Though fully equipped to rip in both directions, the profile takes an accentuated directional transformation from the standard T. Rice shape, sporting a notched swallowtail and pointed nose. Both are thinned out, reducing swing weight and creating a board that spins like one three centimeters shorter…

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DWD Kwon

Dinosaurs Will Die Kwon

MSRP: $439.99

dinosaurswilldie.com
When you own a snowboard company, you can build any snowboard you want. Until then, you can ride Jeff Keenan’s board. After ten seasons of tweaking his dream ride, this is where Dinos’ co-owner landed — a mid-flexing twin suited for his smooth, yet powerful riding style, not barred by resort boundaries. Carbon V’s visible through the translucent topsheet lend lasting snap, and DWD’s SINtered base is so tough that the Dinos themselves have alluded to the idea that a deal may have been made with the devil to create something so fast and durable…

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YES. 420

YES. 420

MSRP: $479.00

yesnowboard.com
Leave the dick-measuring game of “whose planks are longer” to skiing. Understand what surfing has for years. When you shift volume — more accurately surface area in the case of snowboarding — you can reduce length while maintaining flotation. The 420’s circumference, and thus base surface, is equivalent to a traditionally shaped board ten centimeters longer. Bringing the board’s mass closer toward the center not only aids in flotation, but reduces swing weight; the 420 spins faster than a ballerina on stimulants…

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GNU Beauty

GNU Beauty

MSRP: $539.95

gnu.com
The Beauty negotiates ugly terrain with confidence. It excels in pretty, powder-filled landscapes too. An adaptation of GNU’s popular men’s board, the Beast, Barrett Christy trusts this baby to get her through any scenario. A directional profile is hallmarked by a big, floaty nose with mellow-entry rocker and a tapered, low-rise tail. Ultra-high-molecular-weight material is utilized in the tip, tail and outer sidewalls for impact protection, which equates to exceptional durability…

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Salomon Pillowtalk

Salomon Pillow Talk

MSRP: $399.99

salomonsnowboard.com
You don’t want your friends to hear your pillow talk, but you’ll want them to see your Pillow Talk. Inspired by the Derby, a pioneer in the length reduction game, and powered by Rocket Science, a shorter and wider design for maneuverability and flotation, the Pillow Talk is a woman’s wildest winter dream. Popster Construction provides snap, an Aspen Strong Core lends lasting durability and Royal Rubber Pads dampen the ride…

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Capita Jess Kimura

CAPiTA Jess Kimura Pro

MSRP: $399.99

capitasnowboarding.com
An adaptation of one of the most popular women’s boards of modern time, Danger P’s ride of choice is a Birds of a Feather with modifications to suit the type of riding that has cemented her place among snowboarding’s elite. Updated for this season, Jess’ board now features a Canadian Maple Dual Core™ — fitting for the BC native — that makes the board just a hair stiffer than its Feather’d counterpart. A DYNAWEAVE fiberglass layup, borrowed from the marine industry, allows thickness reduction of the wood core through increased resin performance, and CAPiTA’s now tried and true HYBRID FK profile puts stable and responsive camber through the majority of the board…

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