Directional snowboards have longer and pointier noses than tails. They offer maximum performance going forwards, making them ideal for carving on hardpack and/or floating in deep snow. The most extreme, cutting-edge snowboard shapes on the market today tend to be directional – like the swallow-tailed Surfer or the brand new Cameleon. Think: fast and fun.
A snowboard that is exactly the same shape at the nose and tail, and which offers exactly the same level of flex in either direction, is called a ‘true twin’. As you’d expect, this makes them great for riding backwards (‘switch’). If doing tricks in the park or on street rails is your thing, then a true twin is for you. Take a look at the Wallie and the legendary Evil Twin for instance. We’ve even got a twin tip for the youngest riders on the mountain in the Minishred.
Directional twin snowboards combine the best of both worlds. At Bataleon, this means combining a symmetrical sidecut and contact area (i.e. the bit under your feet) with a slightly longer nose. The result is a board which can happily take on every terrain from park to piste to pow. For examples, check out some of our best-selling all-mountain models like the Whatever, the FunKink or the Goliath.
Flex is critically important to the performance of a snowboard. Stiffer boards are more stable at speed and will respond quickly from edge to edge. They offer greater ollie power (snap) to advanced riders who can sufficiently load the nose and tail, and won’t buckle during heavy landings. If you’re into fast carves, big jumps or are just heavier than average you should look towards a stiff snowboard.
Softer boards are easier to manipulate underfoot, making them great for low-speed tricks like buttering or rail presses. Anyone can pop an ollie on a soft snowboard, and they are more relaxed and forgiving to ride. This makes them ideal for beginners who are still mastering their turns, or creative shredders looking to improvise on every obstacle and side hit.
Bataleon gives each of its snowboards a flex rating out of 10. Our super mellow park stick the Disaster, for instance, is rated as a 2, whereas the hard-charging Turbo scores a 9. All-mountain models like the Whatever will be somewhere in between.
As a rule of thumb, longer snowboards will be faster but more difficult to turn. They will also float better in deep snow (thanks to increased surface area) while sacrificing performance in the park – where maneuverability is key.
The ‘right’ length of snowboard therefore depends again on the type of riding you plan to do. You’ll probably find that the sizes offered for a freestyle model are smaller than those of a carving snowboard, for instance.
Once you’re settled on a model, the exact size you should choose is largely determined by your weight. It's best to double check the size chart, especially with volume shifted boards like the Party Wave, to be sure you're making the right choice.
The width of your snowboard will affect how quickly it turns from edge to edge. Assuming they have the same length and sidecut, a wider board will be slower to turn than a narrower board.
On the flipside, wide snowboards – just like longer snowboards – are more stable and offer greater float in powder. Crucially for riders with big feet, they also reduce the chance of toe overhang (when your boot can drag on the snow).
Some models – like the Goliath and the ThunderStorm – come in both standard and wide versions. For most riders, it’s best not to choose the wide option unless your feet are a size US11/UK10/EUR44 or above.
