Snowboard Riding Styles Explained

[@IIISentorIII]

Ben riding my new CAPiTA Mercury 158W with the 22/23 Topsheet here in the Swiss Mountains for the last couple of weeks. I'm 41 and Snowboard and Ski my entire life. I've been riding a-lot of boards in my time on the mountains, but I have to say there is just something "special" about this one. It just does it all so well and is super fun, Just had some new powder here in Verbier and it just floats like a dream also. This one really surprised me, basically a one quiver board. Cheers

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks for your take.

[@BlackMarketHoney]

Great list! James! I started at medium flex mountain freestyle, worked my way up to super stiff freeride when I lived in the mountains, now I have come full circle and gone back to medium flex mountain freestyle. I have a noodle and a snowsurf board and they are great fun! Just having a change sometimes is fun and good for your riding and board knowledge. I could actually use my snowsurf board in most situations apart from tail butters! I really do my homework when it comes to a daily driver, but if I find something I like the look of with a huge mark down, I buy it and try it! I can always sell it.

[@thegoodridesnow]

Many thanks! Also thanks for your take and agreed. It's great to mix it up.

[@AK-bw8xk]

Just to clarify at 6:08 into your video you state that the Aviator 2.0 is more washy than the MT & UMT. So the stiffer full camber hard charging technical board is "more washy off the bat" The only reason I nitpick is because I was looking to pick up a Aviator 2.0 and it can't do what it's exactly designed to do I want to know!!!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Yes because the spoon tech is more pronounced and the camber goes almost to the nose/tail so you feel it more. You feel it most in harder snow, but in clean snow, it's not as bad. If you click through and read the written review I talk about it more.

[@user-qh4uv5dz7i]

Appreciate the overview! Thanks!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks man!

[@realYELLOWSNOWteam]

Thanks for the walkthrough! Will help me with my purchase tomorrow…time to upgrade, got a crack in the Head Daymaker i’ve been riding for several years :/

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks and glad it helped. If you want in depth advice, hit me here. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@sergemann5951]

Hello I've been looking for a directional twin that's a good fun Carver. I can't decide, so many options. I'd prefer a damp, stiffer board with +8m side cut. I don't do jibs but I love medium size jumps.

[@thegoodridesnow]

Hard to say without knowing more about you. Some great twins are the YES Greats, Ride Twin Pig, and if you want a harder carving stiff almost twin give the Never Summer Proto Ultra 2025 (don't get earlier models) a go. Or If you want to get into it more, hit me here to give me the info I need to help you much better. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@sergemann5951]

That's true need to be specific. Thank you for mentioning it. I'm 5'9, 180lb, size 9.5 men's US. My last boards were - Lib Tech Hot knife 156cm - Capita DOA 156cm - Lib Tech Greenest snowboard. (Very fun board) 157cm - Rome Warden 160W for pow days. My favorite being the Lib Tech, just because carving experience is different on those. I'm biased to a degree living in Vancouver. My issue being too many crossover boards. Carving experience is the main deciding factor. Being able to handle high speeds not only at ease but excell and make it fun. Also being able to just cruise in the park and hit switch board slide and a jump. I'm sure all boards can do that but that's me.

[@thegoodridesnow]

No problem. It's hard to remember all that's needed here on YT. Working on something better on thegoodride.com so it will be easier to answer questions there. Yeah you have a ton of overlap. I wouldn't get caught up too much on sidecut because the specs don't always tell the full story. Maybe the YES Standard Uninc 156, Assasin or Assassin Pro 159, Cardiff Crane Pro Carbon 158, K2 Antidote 157, Never Summer Proto Ultra 2025 157, Weston Range 158, and Jones Aviator 2.0 158.

[@sergemann5951]

@@thegoodridesnow you're bang on, Props! Talk about hands on experience! Any of these boards would work. I'm leaning towards Yes Standard, It's in full inventory here as well. Keep up the good work.

[@thegoodridesnow]

Many thanks!

[@Axel_Doing_Stuff]

Awesome video! Are you based out of Bend?? Seeing that cone footie and the sisters!!

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks! Yep. I love Leeway ;-) Hit me up if you see me and want to try some boards.

[@Axel_Doing_Stuff]

@@thegoodridesnow Hope your season's started off well my friend! Crazy weekend with one day opening followed by torrential downpour, lol. I was able to snatch a pass and wondering how I could contact you about trying out some boards?? I seriously appreciate the offer. Would love to give the Beta APX and/or Flagship a rip. Thanks!

[@haydenwong8082]

I really found you western riders never set carving as a single category. But honestly it can be a lot different from all you listed here. Guess you should improve a bit. Including introduce some specified carving boards. Maybe you can keep up a bit with eastern side.

[@thegoodridesnow]

I'll consider this for next year.

[@Baconbits16]

I've noticed this & it's frustrating because carving is my biggest focus as a beginner/intermediate. I have to sus through multiple combinations & styles as a newbie to get something similar.

[@thegoodridesnow]

Thanks for this bump. I gave the original comment from @haydenwrong8082 a lot of thought and have a filter for carvers on the 'To Do" list for my web developer but here is the thing. There are less than 10 true Carvers out of 800+ snowboards reviewed on The Good Ride. Most brands don't have true carvers and the brands that do don't often have demo's to send. So unless the small/niche carving brands with limited stock can start sending us more boards this won't be the place for Carver reviews.

[@dootdoot1867]

​​@@thegoodridesnow would be nice to filter out some of the boards that fit other categories but have good mechanics for solid carving boards and get a few runs testing that performance in the report. Yes Greats unic, Ride Twinpig are great examples. You'll even see Japan riders who run double forward lean ride those boards as euro carve centric boards. That radius cut on the twinpig is money. The last year or so has been not as good of iterations, however. I run the Yes Greats uninc with Now Drive bindings. Full speed groomer carves down whistler all day. I think as us old guys slowly get off the jump lines, carving will become more prominent in NA markets.

[@thegoodridesnow]

@dootdoot1867 yeah I have a filter for all board based on "carving" at thegoodride.com you can use.

[@ChikenFingers79]

Picked up a ride Shadowban last year and love it. Curious if you think a Lib tech Orca would offer enough difference for me? Looking to pick up another board for those powder days, or the days I’m spending on blacks and in the trees and the Orca looks like a fun option for a different, shorter feel

[@thegoodridesnow]

Yeah super different rides. I would say there is no overlap.

[@g_pokesport9165]

Thoughts on the Bataleon Goliath for groomers, blues/blacks resort board with very little park. I have a 2024 Nitro Cheap Thrills but I want a more all around board than a strictly park board.

[@thegoodridesnow]

It could work if you want a very buttery/forgiving mtn freestyle board. Here is my take of it here. thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/bataleon-goliath-2020-snowboard-review/

[@haykhayko9668]

Hello, my favorite is off-piste skating. I also like the fast turns between trees in the forest. But when there is little snow, I ski on the track. I have been using rossignol district 159 cm for years. Now I need a smaller and new board. I think it would be better to have a twin board because I ski both directions. (72kg/182cm) I would like your suggestion for me, thank you very much in advance for your answer.

[@thegoodridesnow]

So don't have enough info to help properly. Can you hit me here so I can get all the necessary info to properly help you? shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@haykhayko9668]

thank you for your interesting @@thegoodridesnow

[@martinst-laurent4005]

What about moguls? 😊 Hard east cost moguls 😎 Directional or twin tip? Camber + rocker?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Something that matches your riding style, has good grip, is damp and turns quickly. Hit me up here if you want to get into it more. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@Harosoda]

Maybe the Korua POCKET ROCKET could be on your pure powder board section James :)

[@thegoodridesnow]

Tried that when it didn't have edges and a different camber profile but haven't got on the new one.

[@Turningboardz]

It rips. I would call it more all mountain freestyle because it can carve on firm snow now with metal edges. I might have confused the riding style and camber vids when I take it of jumps 😂

[@barrbozz]

I think you forgot about carving boards. They have some distinct issues

[@thegoodridesnow]

Good suggestion. I dont get many full on true carving boards to review and forgot to mention. Next time around I will.

[@SnakebitSTI]

Carving, alpine, BX... I think carving boards in particular deserve more representation. Nearly every list of "best carving boards" I've seen has been a list of freeride boards, not carving boards. Main highlights of a true carving board compared to feeeride: Damp construction to absorb bumps and blow through chop, huge effective edge, minimal nose and tail to minimize the amount of board flopping around in the air, more camber, and big sidecut radii. Or course, recreational carving is a niche part of snowboarding. At the moment, it's mostly the domain of custom makers in North America. Bigger companies are starting to dip their toes in (e.g. Jones Freecarver 9000), but it remains to be seen where that goes. I'd love to see professional alpine boarding gear reviews too, but I have to admit that is hyper niche.

[@timeflex]

Where do splitboards fall in there?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Splitboarders aren't one style of rider. They have different riding styles described here but just skin up instead of ride lifts.

[@josephmicheal2778]

Anyone have any recommendations for a good freeride/all MTN that I can start to learn how to hit jumps on? I’m 175 pounds at 5’11. I would say I’m between intermediate and advanced, no trouble with east coast black diamonds. Thanks😃

[@thegoodridesnow]

I can't help without at least knowing your boot size but if you want real advice hit me up here shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@isaacgonzalez4523]

What website is the for the boards

[@thegoodridesnow]

You mean this? thegoodride.com/snowboard-reviews/?mens=1

[@thomasgebhard3332]

Excellent explained! 🤜🤛

[@thegoodridesnow]

Many thanks!

[@Not2BadEH]

May I get some advice for Dancehaul? Your review website said 152 for size 9-10(I’m 9), but I only weight 138lbs and 5’6 tall, dose 152 too big for me?

[@thegoodridesnow]

Yeah your weight and height won't match up well with the 152 but the 147 drops considerably in width from the 152 so not sure if that will fit you well either. Hit me up here if you want to get into more detail/let me learn what i need to know about you to properly help. shop.thegoodride.com/merchandise/gear-advice/

[@eddiejin9211]

Great vid

[@thegoodridesnow]

Many thanks!