Shape up Or Ship Out On Snowboard Shapes – Types, Terms, & More

Since we started snowboarding back in the mid-’90s, gear has come a long way and the sport is way more fun because of it. We remember the days of foam-core boards, snowboard goggles that fogged nonstop, low-back bindings, and ski pants so bulky they could’ve doubled as a bulletproof vest. One of the biggest game-changers, in our opinion, has been snowboard shapes. Those curves aren’t random. Along with camber profiles, board shapes are designed for specific riding styles and snow conditions. Below, we break down each category to help you find the right board or boards for how and where you ride, plus some of the best options we’ve found in each type.

Know Your Weapon: Snowboard Styles & Types Explained

When looking at technical specs, you’ll normally see a category that provides a bit more context on what it was designed for. Freeride means that it will tackle pretty much any terrain you throw at it. Think glades, chutes, and big mountain backcountry goodness. Freestyle is specifically designed to kill it in the park. Jumps, rails, and half-pipers are its playground.

All-Mountain is in between these two. It likes to tackle hairy lines off trail but still is known to dabble a bit in the park. Think of it as the Swiss army knife. Powder boards are just that. Three feet of wet glop or cold smoke, and it doesn’t matter if it’s fresh. These decks are designed explicitly to keep you afloat.

Last but not least, one of the newer categories is the splitboard. As the term dictates, they split in half so you can use them as skis to travel up a mountainside and then combine them back to ride down. Normally, these aren’t used within resort boundaries.

Built for Switch: True Twin Snowboards

If you’re an engineer, a Virgo, or just a person that likes everything in its place, you’ll fall in love with a true twin snowboard. As the name dictates, both the nose and the tail are the exact same length and width. In theory, if you cut it in half, you’ll have two pieces of board that are the same shape i.e. “twins.” These types of boards are geared towards those who spend a lot of time in the park. Why? Because if you tend to ride switch a lot then you can easily ride with your left foot forward OR right foot forward. Examples of this design include the Burton Good Company, Salomon Huck Knife, and CAPiTA Defenders Of Awesome

Park Friendly, Pow Ready: Directional Twin

Unless you have a strong attention for detail, the only way you’d know that a deck is a directional twin is based by the sticker on it. In this category, the nose is a bit longer than the tail. Typically, the natural stance is setback a smidge (less than ¾ of an inch). Even this little bit will help the snowboard naturally float better in powder. Despite the setback stance, these boards are quite comfortable riding switch. An example of this type are the Arbor Formula Decon and Jones Flagship.

Directional: One-Way Heroes for Speed and Carves

These are designed to go one direction and do it well. Within this category of snowboard shapes, the variations can be drastic. You could find pow slashers, classic carving killers, or just a good all mountain freeride board. They’re also usually stiffer meaning less forgiveness at slower speeds but helpful at mach ten. In addition, the stance is setback as much as an inch closer to the tail. Directional snowboard shapes are normally ridden by those that are about the art of the turn and have a few years under their belt as well as spend less time in the park. A good example of this is the Arbor Coda

Surf the Snow: Tapered Directional Shapes

When the snow is deep and we’re talking three feet of sludge, do you have a problem keeping the nose afloat? This is where a tapered directional helps a lot. In this directional variation, the nose is wider than the tail. The nose width can be as much as a few centimeters wider or just a few mm. This ensures the nose stays up, allowing you to put less weight in the back seat and more time enjoying the pow. Imagine a surfboard slashing through water. The problem? On chunder or groomed snow, these types of decks make it a bit more challenging to turn. Good example of this style of board is the Weston JaPow, Jones Hovercraft, Stratos, or the Bataleon Surfer.

Less Length, More Float: Volume Shifted Explained

Another subcategory of the directional shape is the volume shift. Inspired by the short boards of surfing, the idea is to have the same surface area of a longer deck by trading the length for increased width. This allows a rider to make quicker turns and yet stay afloat in deep powder. If you live in mountains that receive big, massive dumps and tree lined terrain, this is a good tool to have in your quiver. Be aware, they’re tough to ride in choppy snow. Some of the best in this category includes the Weston Hatchet (which we’ve tested and reviewed on all conditions), Ride Warpig, Never Summer Nokhu, Gnu Gremlin, and Capita Spring Break Slush Slasher.

Asymmetrical: Smarter Turns for Heel and Toe Balance

One of the newer concepts in snowboard shapes that’s come around in the past few years is the idea of an asymmetrical twin. As anyone who has snowboarded a lot has found, the amount of pressure you apply on a toe-side turn and heel-side carve is different. And through a ton of R&D, companies have figured out how to help improve your riding.

Why Asymmetrical?

These boards are designed with sidecuts that have both a shorter and deeper, more pronounced heel side sidecut. In return, this helps riders make tighter heel side turns and improve maneuverability. Asymmetric sidecuts also improve your balance, giving you more natural and intuitive control while engaging the board’s heel side edge.

Picking a snowboard is like choosing a cookie. For some, it doesn’t matter. EVERY cookie is amazing. For others, once they find the perfect cookie nothing will suffice. And then there’s the cookie connoisseur. They must have and sample the best of ALL varieties. So, are you a connoisseur? A collector of all snowboard shapes? Or just a fiend to snowboard?