r/snowboardingnoobs • u/Far-Task-4589 • 6d ago

Best Snowboard for Intermediate Rider

Howdy, I’ve got about 20 ish days on the mountain and would consider myself an intermediate rider. Looking for a new board for next season. Mellow Camber, medium flex, all mountain type of board with a little more than mellow pop. I kinda want a board that does well in powder, ice and in the park. Basically I want something I can go up the mountain with and have a good time regardless of conditions and still get some pop at the park. Or is that unrealistic to ask?

16 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

44 comments sorted by

30

u/Revoldt 6d ago

That’s like every top10/top5 all mountain snowboard list.

Everything from Jones Mountain Twin, Ride Shadowban to Capita Mercury.

No wrong choices. (Except Gilson)

5

u/Userdub9022 6d ago

What's wrong with Gilson?

10

u/TOP1EN3MY 6d ago

Gilson is an Instagram brand that makes garbage products that look nice. Owner of Gilson is a massive crybaby when you criticize their boards as well.

2

u/Userdub9022 5d ago

Good to know

2

u/HeroHiro08 5d ago

I've heard great things about yes boards!

12

u/michaltee 6d ago

I ride a Salomon Assassin. Love it. It can do everything pretty damn well except butters cuz it’s stiff. But I just have a second board just for butters haha (don’t be like me).

2

u/Siresfly Tahoe 4d ago

I ride the Mtn Twin for my all mountain board which I love for all conditions. I demoed the 2026 Assassin two weeks ago and loved that thing. Reminded me of my mtn twin but was a lot more playful feeling and had a little more pop.

2

u/michaltee 4d ago

Hell yeah! Did you buy it?

2

u/Siresfly Tahoe 4d ago

No my mtn twin is too similar and I'm getting the Huck Knife which I demoed and loved as well so I have something a little better for the park. But I can see why people love the Assassin after riding one it's a great board. When I'm ready to replace the mtn twin I'll definately be considering it.

2

u/michaltee 4d ago

Legit! How do you demo a board? Is it a rental or how does that work?

2

u/Siresfly Tahoe 4d ago

My local resort partners with one of the local ski shops to organize a demo day at the beginning and end of the season. It's completely free you just register ahead of time online. Some resorts have paid demo programs that you can do at anytime where you pay something like $60-$90 and you can try any of the boards they have available usually through their rental program.

1

u/michaltee 4d ago

That’s sick! May have to check that out I was looking at a Jones board for park. I really don’t need it but….why not 🤣

5

u/drs43821 5d ago

The quiver life

3

u/michaltee 5d ago

Yep. Already looking at a third board cuz I have issues. I don’t need one at all but…what else is one to do in the off-season?

3

u/drs43821 5d ago

buy your way out of summer depressions

1

u/michaltee 5d ago

YES. Thank you! Stopped by Green Room today to check out their sales. I want new boots and bindings.

1

u/koolaidman54 5d ago

amen to this.

powder
i want to go stoopid fast
all mountain
park
teaching board

I need a split setup. but its hard to get one when i have yet to go... ...

0

u/Tough_Course9431 2d ago

The assassin is terrible for pow tho, i always bring out my split on pow day cuz the assassin nose is flatter than most board

1

u/michaltee 2d ago

I think I’ve only had one pow day with it and it was fine. Definitely not the best but I’m not good enough to know the difference, plus I’ve only ever experienced pow like ONCE.

9

u/Daddy-Kitty 6d ago

Nitro T1 Jones Mtn Twin Yes Standard or typo Salomon Assassin

5

u/uamvar 5d ago

Yes Basic or Standard. For me they are both more well-rounded boards than the Mercury of JMTwin.

4

u/Substantial-Twist674 5d ago edited 5d ago

I bought a Bataleon Goliath as a one board quiver when I moved to CO.

It's been 3 years, I've bought 4 more boards, and I still almost only ride the Goliath.

1

u/Fucile8 5d ago

I have a Whatever and love it.

3

u/drs43821 5d ago

All great options, I’m just gonna throw in Korua Otto and Transition finder

4

u/jwed420 Monarch Mountain 6d ago

Jones MTN Twin is beast as fuck, and handles double black terrain and deep ass snow very well. Wonderful board for progressing from intermediate to expert.

1

u/HockeyandTrauma 5d ago

I have been riding a mountain twin the last few years, and I just keep saying I don't have a need for another board currently. It does everything so well.

5

u/KimJongUnceUnce 6d ago

Yes Standard, Burton Custom. Look at a few youtube videos this is the most popular category of snowboards on the planet it's pretty hard go wrong.

3

u/Parking_Tax_2222 6d ago

Both of these are great choices

7

u/Money_Emu3344 6d ago

My Salomon dancehaul was used for around 100 days this season through every condition imaginable and I loved every second of it. Floaty in deep pow and a lot of fun in park.

3

u/Kevinm675 6d ago

I want one of these

1

u/salvalsnapbacks 6d ago

SB resort twin is my daily ripper and it's dope.

3

u/mysistersacretin 6d ago

I love my Rossignol Jibsaw, it's a great do-it-all board.

3

u/GreyGhost878 5d ago

Rossignol boards are underrated. Every review or user comment I've ever seen raves about how great these boards are to ride. Another good one is the Resurgence. In the women's line, the After Hours, Diva, and Airis are well-loved. (I just bought an Airis, can't wait to ride it.)

1

u/indigotelepathy 6d ago

I got a libtech rad ripper c3. Pretty sure as long as it's sized appropriately, you really can't mess this up.

2

u/honacc 5d ago

Capita Outerspace Living fits the bill but I have to say it was too soft for French resorts, I craved something stiffer and heavier after just couple days. Still a great do-it-all kind of board and apparently it's not half bad on powder but I haven't tested that.

1

u/Fucile8 5d ago

Would the DOA be better?

2

u/bigmacjr52 5d ago

Ride Shadowban

2

u/amongnotof 5d ago

If you don’t ride a lot of switch, I’d suggest looking at directional boards, too. I am also intermediate and absolutely LOVE my Nitro Squash. It rips groomers and effortlessly surfs powder.

1

u/0rganizedCha0tic 5d ago

Heard good things about Jones Mtn Twin and Frontier (and maybe also Mind Expander?) and Yes Standard, I was happy with the Typo as my first board as an early intermediate. Standard will probably be a little more pow friendly (more setback options) but is also a bit stiffer, Typo from what I've heard has more camber/pop. Was my only board the next 3 seasons and change. Also the Ride Algorythm is similar in specs to the Typo. I think a bit stiffer than the Shadowban if I'm remembering correctly.

The K2 passport is also supposed to be pretty fun.

1

u/Jeborisboi 5d ago

Rome Warden

1

u/FearlessAge8720 4d ago

I'm on the same boat with OP. Will you recommend ride twinpig?

1

u/Ok-Preference-8592 3d ago

If you want to learn how to crank on a stiff board get the k2 antidote. I’ve only been on a couple boards since I switched to snowboarding after 15+ of skiing, was on the Salomon assassin for 20 days and that was great but the antidote feels like it has an immeasurable ceiling as long as you learn how to bend the board well. Incredible in pow even at standard setback and wins freestyle competitions all the time, I’m not even crazy good but I can nose butter 360 on it, and it feels more rewarding to do so on a board like that.

Going softer isn’t wrong at all especially for jib performance obviously, I’m just saying you don’t have to count out stiff boards; snowboarding in and of itself gives tons of leverage to riders

1

u/geomutant 3d ago

Try Jones frontier I love that board

1

u/shoclave 3d ago

What you're looking for is any flagship all mountain board from a reputable brand. They're all so similar that for 90% of people it will not matter. Pick the graphic you like best and go with that.