Snow: Best Park Boards
UPDATE: Looking for the latest park snowboard review? Checkout out […]
If there is one thing that Midwest snowboarders know it’s their way around a terrain park. Seeing as how we are short on the whole “mountain” thing around here, we are forced to get creative both on and off the mountain. Scoping out sweet urban shred spots and spending our days lapping the park at our local resorts is basically how our seasons tend to go. Midwest snowboarding is as fun as you make it and luckily, we have some great local resorts that put a lot of effort into their terrain parks (since that’s really all we got) and with the right board (and the right attitude) you can have a pretty awesome season right here in the middle part of the U.S.
Since we spend all our time in the park, we know a thing or two about a good park board. Here is a little list of some of our favorite park snowboards for Winter 2014.
For the Guys
Burton Name Dropper
Brand new park focused technology from our friends at Burton has brought us the one and only Burton Name Dropper. This super flexy true twin has so much to offer it makes our heads spin. With a flat camber profile, this board is extra loose but still can grab an edge when it needs to which is great for hard pack days. The big feature is the brand new Filet-O-Flex shape that offers an ultra-thin super flexible profile without compromising strength or the ability to carve hard when it needs to. Burton added some underfoot padding to help relieve any chatter and give you some cushioning on hard landings and since this board was born to be destroyed, they’ve beefed up the edges and added a highly durable sintered base.
Never Summer Evo / Revolver
Never Summer has the park rats covered too with the Evo and it’s big-footed twin the Revolver. With big mountain influences, this board was made to shred the park hard and live to tell the story. Classic Never Summer rocker/camber hybrid profile which means softer through the middle for easy presses and locking in on rails but still able to hold an edge while charging up to huge kickers. Bi-Lite fiberglass makes this board super snappy and the full wrap metal edge is perfect for knocking around on boxes and rails without doing major damage to your board. Plus, just like everything else the Never Summer makes, these boards come with the stress-free 3 year warranty…just in case.
Rome Garage Rocker
If there is any brand that knows their way around a terrain park, it’s Rome. If there is one board in the line that is meant to destroy the park, it’s the Rome Garage Rocker. True twin, extra playful, this board was made for jumps, jibs, bonks, presses and everything in between. With a flat camber shape, this board can handle Midwest hard pack and still rip in deeper snow while the Bambooster feature keeps it green. Replacing the need for fiberglass or carbon fiber with a bamboo stringer giving this board all the pop and snap you would expect from your friends at Rome. Available in slew of sizes, the Garage Rocker was made for park junkies of any age.
Arbor Westmark
For the park rider who still has the desire to dominate all mountain, the Arbor Westmark could just be the board for you. Transworld Snowboard Goodwood ’14 winner, the Westmark truly can conquer it all (although we know she prefers the park). True twin shape, medium to soft flex, reverse camber for smooth action on boxes and rails and recycled steel edges for an eco-friendly dose of major durability. Arbor also added their very own Fusion base which is a super tough extruded base that is very easy to repair for those days when you go a little too hard on that urban terrain.
Gnu Forest Bailey Space Case
The magical, mystical, unicorn-like Gnu Space Case snowboard seems to catch our attention year after year. With a tongue-twisting list of tech, Forest Bailey’s ride of choice gives you everything you need to slay the park with less effort than ever before. With the toe and heelside-specific ASYM shape, you get enhanced power and control so you can snap from toe to heel edge – or switch to regular – more effortlessly than ever before. Banana shape thru the middle of the board offers a super soft flex while the elliptical cambers at either end offer added control and a ton of pop. If you are looking for one of the most effortlessly awesome boards ever made, then this could be the board for you.
Capita Ultrafear
As Capita puts it “jib like a madman”. That’s one phrase that comes to mind when talking about the Capita Ultrafear. Flat kick shape, super soft, extra tough base – this board was made to be wrapped around rails and thrown down stair sets. Urban assault is your preference? This is your board. You spend the entire day lapping the local terrain park? This is your board. Transworld Goodwood winner and in general, one pretty damn awesome board.
For the Girls
Burton Lip Stick
Many will classify the Burton Lip Stick as an all mountain board and while I agree with that. I will always push this board on my park loving ladies. With the crowd-favorite Flat Top profile, this board is soft enough for presses and great lateral flex while still offering just enough edge to hold on to hard pack or carve hard at higher speeds. This true twin is loaded with a TON of pop thanks to the triax fiberglass and and a Superfly Core keeps the weight way down on this fun little ride. The sintered base is fast and durable and the Frostbite Edges give you some extra control for those icy days. If this board couldn’t get any better, the Restricted model comes equipped with our homegirls Salt-N-Pepa in conjunction with the Life Beat Foundation doing their part to bring awareness to HIV / AIDS education and prevention. Now push it – push it real good!
Never Summer Onyx
New for 2014 and one of our favorite boards on the wall, the Never Summer Onyx is a very welcome addition to their already awesome lineup. Made with the freestyle lady in mind, the Onyx is a true twin shape with a blunted nose and tail for low swing weight and equipped with Never Summer’s press flex core – a soft yet super strong construction that allows the rider to press and flex with ease. The Onyx also offers a specially formulated dampening system that helps absorb the shock and vibrations from both stomping hard landings and hauling a$$ on hard pack. All of this awesomeness is backed by Never Summer’s 3 year warranty, so shred on lady. This board was built to do just that.
Gnu B-Street
If the word “Jib” is frequented in your winter vocab then chances are you would really enjoy the Gnu B-Street Snowboard. A staple in the women’s lineup year after year, the B-Street is built for that urban lady of shred that is looking to devour everything in sight. A true twin banana shaped board that flexes perfectly so you can press and jib until your heart is content. Magne-traction will give you the extra hold you need on icy days while the detuned edges won’t catch on that sketchy box you are about to hit. Equipped with Gnu’s toughest sintered base so it’s built to take a beating but we will add that she will ride best with regular waxes (yeah, that’s what she said). If you are driving around in your car calling out random shred spots, the B-Street deserves to be riding on your roof, ready to rip.
Rome Romp
The Rome Romp is another board on our list that likes a little bit of everything when it comes to hitting the mountain but you can really bring out the best in her while in the terrain park. Thanks to the super soft flex of this board, it’s also great for the beginner rider looking to further her skills in the park since the rocker shape is both fun and extra forgiving. Rome added in their signature Bambooster Technology which lays two parallel bamboo stringers thru the core of the board giving you “Mother Nature’s Springboard” which means a TON of pop and a super snappy ride. Whether it’s your first day in the park or you’re a seasoned ripper, the Rome Romp will give you everything you need for a successful day of jumps, jibs and rails galore.
Roxy T-Bird
Torah Bright’s ride of choice – need we say more? The Roxy T-Bird was designed for girls like Torah who excel in park and pipe but still like to destroy the entire mountain. With a slightly softer, yet snappy flex, this board is perfect for a day of play in the park. The hybrid shape offers a soft flex thru the middle and camber where you need it for precision turns and edge control. The true twin shape allows you to ride switch with ease and the magnetraction gives you a little extra hold on those extra icy days.
Capita Birds Of A Feather
The first time I stepped foot on the Capita Birds Of A Feather, I fell in love. Capita team ripper Jess Kimura must also feel the same way since this is one of her favorite rides as well. With the super versatile flat kick shape, this board lays down the camber effortlessly but presses and bends like a much softer ride. Thanks to a heavy dose of fiberglass, this board is loaded with pop and super responsive making it fun on any terrain you can find. Capita also understands that sometimes a lady likes to shred some urban terrain so they added their uber-durable XXXtruded base so she can take slams like a champ.
If this list doesn’t inspire you to get out and destroy your local park, then we just don’t know what will. Now let’s all pray for some serious city snow this winter so we can hit the streets and parks with these snowboards!
Snow: Best Park Boards
UPDATE: Looking for the latest park snowboard review? Checkout out […]