Because “riding” means not skiing
BOARDS
Snowboards keep getting lighter, more technical and more adept at riding anywhere on the mountain.
1. Burton Method
Burton went all in with the Method, allowing its designers to build the board of their dreams without worrying about the cost. It’s obscenely light, yet strong thanks to carbon and titanium and the latest incarnation includes rocker.
$1,500; burton.com
BEST FOR: Purists (and trust funders)
2. Venture Storm
Colorado-based Venture developed this board on the steeps and pow at Silverton. The Storm has been made a bit stiffer this year for more stability on steeps and groomers but it will still charge the soft stuff.
$575; venturesnowbaords.com
BEST FOR: Big lines
3. Ride Canvas
This women-specific freestyle board features a touch of rocker and Ride’s Pop Rods, carbon rods that give the board some srping without adding extra stiffness.
$470; ridesnowboards.com
BEST FOR: Women who do it all
4. Lib Tech Rasta Pow NAS
Lib Tech’s NAS (Narrow Ass Snowboard) is so tiny, the brand suggests you ride on two at once. When you do, you will float pow and crush crud (thanks to rocker) and grip hardpack with the brand’s serrated edges. These limited editions were handbuilt by freeskier Tim Dutton.
$899; lib-tech.com
BEST FOR: Skiing
7. Jones Mountain Twin
You expect big things from Jeremy Jones, and the Mountain Twin delivers—it’s a freeride board with traditional camber underfoot for stability and tip and tail rocker for float and manueverability. This directional flex twin-tip thrives everywhere from the park to sidecountry.
$449; jonessnowboards.com
BEST FOR: Taking on the whole mountain
NORDIC
We’re not sure how they ended up next to the snowboards but these skis call out for attention.
6. Rossignol Xium Skate
Much like road bikers, Nordorks are constantly obsessed with weight and Rossi cut its sexy X-ium Skate package (ski, boot, and binding) by 230 grams. It’s our choice for speed.
$1,195; rossignol.com
BEST FOR: Going freaking fast
5. Madshus Annum
Built for off-track adventure, this waxless touring ski features a big nose and metal edges that break through nasty snow.
$340; madshus.com
BEST FOR: Touring exploration
GREEN WAX
You won’t go very far on those boards without a good wax job. We’re fans of Green Wax since it’s petroleum- and PVC-free. Most importantly, it works. Beyond all that feel-good greenness, the stuff keeps you sliding through the dead spots when you put it on the bottom of your skis or board.
