Park & Powder Snowboarding
Park snowboarding and powder snowboarding are very distinct styles of snowboarding, each offering unique experiences and challenges:
Park Snowboarding
Terrain Parks: are specially designed areas within ski resorts with various features such as jumps, rails, boxes, and halfpipes.
Tricks and Jumps: park snowboarding focuses on performing tricks and jumps on these features, showcasing creativity, style, and technical skill. Some common tricks include spins, flips, grabs, and slides along rails and boxes.
Freestyle Focus: considered a freestyle discipline, emphasizing creativity and expression, you’ll develop your own unique riding style and incorporate individual flair into your tricks and maneuvers.
Technical Ability: park snowboarding requires precise control, balance, and timing to execute tricks safely and effectively. It takes a lot of time practicing and refining your skills to master complex maneuvers.
Safety: even when safety measures are in place, like padding and supervision, park snowboarding inherently involves a higher risk of injury due to the nature of the features and tricks performed.
Powder Snowboarding
Terrain: powder snowboarding typically takes place in off-piste areas, backcountry terrain, or ungroomed slopes where fresh, untouched snow accumulates naturally. If you’re a powder enthusiast, areas with deep snow and minimal tracks provide the most exhilarating ride..
Floating Sensation: characterized by the sensation of "floating" on soft, fluffy snow, with a unique feeling of weightlessness and freedom, you’ll likely experience a sense of exhilaration and serenity while gliding through powder.
Natural Features: navigating natural terrain such as open bowls, glades, and tree runs, you may encounter obstacles such as rocks, trees, and uneven terrain, requiring adaptability and terrain awareness.
Adventure and Exploration: appealing to your sense of adventure and exploration, it often involves venturing off the beaten path and exploring remote or untouched areas of the mountain.
Technical Skill: requiring a different skill set from park snowboarding, it demands proficiency in riding in variable snow conditions, maintaining balance, and navigating challenging terrain.
Safety Considerations: due to the inherent risks associated with backcountry riding, including avalanche danger and hidden obstacles, powder snowboarding requires careful planning, preparation, and awareness of mountain safety protocols. You’ll need to carry essential safety equipment (avalanche beacons, probes, and shovels) and specialized training in avalanche awareness and rescue techniques is highly recommended.
Whether you like the challenge of tricks, jumps, and freestyle riding in a designated terrain park, or fresh, deep snow in natural off-piste environments, both are thrilling, and very popular. Find your community and get out there!
What are the best Park and Powder Snowboards?
Several snowboard manufacturers are well-known for producing high-quality boards designed specifically for park (freestyle) and powder (freeride) riding.
These brands are recognized for their excellence in these categories:
Burton: one of the most iconic and influential brands in the snowboarding industry, they offer a wide range of snowboards tailored for various riding styles. The Burton Custom is a popular choice for park riding, and the Burton Deep Thinker for powder riding.
Lib Tech: renowned for its innovative designs and environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes, their boards often feature unique technologies like Magne-Traction edges and Banana Technology rocker profiles. The Lib Tech T. Rice Pro performs well in both park and powder.
Capita: known for producing high-performance snowboards with creative graphics and progressive designs, their DOA (Defenders of Awesome) is a top choice for park riders, while the Capita Mercury is favored by freeriders for its versatility in powder and all-mountain terrain.
Never Summer: specializes in creating durable and responsive snowboards suitable for all types of riding. The Never Summer Proto Type Two is a popular choice for park enthusiasts, offering a responsive feel. For powder riding, the Never Summer West Bound is a versatile option with excellent floatation and stability.
Jones Snowboards: focuses on crafting boards designed for backcountry exploration and big-mountain riding. The Jones Mind Expander is a favorite among powder enthusiasts for its surf-inspired shape and excellent performance in deep snow. For park riding, the Jones Ultra Mountain Twin offers a blend of stability and maneuverability.
Ride Snowboards: offers a diverse lineup of boards catering to different riding styles and preferences. The Ride Warpig is a standout choice for park riding, known for its unique shape and playful feel. For powder, the Ride Wild Life is a great option with a setback stance and directional shape for optimal floatation.
Choose a park and/or powder snowboard depending on your riding style, preferences, and budget. Do your research, read reviews, and, if possible, demo different boards to find the perfect match. Ride on!
