Choosing a Snowboard for the Terrain Park

Any snowboard can be ridden in the park, no matter the shape, camber profile, or length. Want proof? Check out Zeb Powell’s custom seven-foot swallow tail board. If you don’t have a “park board,” don’t let that stop you from trying park stuff.

However, some boards are designed specifically for freestyle riding and may help you progress faster on certain tricks. If you’re getting into freestyle snowboarding and excited about adding a park board to your quiver, look for these characteristics:

• Shape: True Twin is a symmetrical design that makes it easier to learn tricks and ride switch.

• Size: Go with the smallest board recommended for your weight — it’ll be easier to maneuver, spin, and press.

• Flex: A soft to medium flex (usually under 5 out of 10) helps with butters, jibs, and absorbing awkward landings.

• Camber Profile: Look for flat, rocker, or hybrid camber boards, as these offer a more forgiving, catch-free ride on rails and boxes.

For my first four seasons, I used my ancient Lamar board and then my Jones Mountain Twin in the park and made great progress, even though both are fairly stiff with traditional camber. This year, I added a Capita Space Metal Fantasy to the mix when I found a great deal on a used board. I feel like it makes it easier to progress toward a boardslide and is slightly easier to spin 180s. Beyond that, I barely notice a difference in the park (though outside the park, I definitely notice the Jones has better edge hold).

Popular Park Boards for Beginner and Intermediate Riders

These boards frequently come up in park gear discussions on Reddit and in local park communities. They all share beginner-friendly characteristics and are worth looking into if you’re ready to shop:

• GNU Headspace
  Designed with pro rider Forest Bailey, this true twin has a soft-medium flex and asymmetrical sidecut that helps with easier turns and presses. A creative, poppy board for riders who like to experiment.

• Lib Tech Skate Banana
  Famous for its “banana” rocker camber, this soft-flex board is perfect for buttering, pressing, and keeping things playful. Great for early progression on jibs.

• Ride Kink
  Designed for street and park riders, the Kink is soft, simple, and pressable with a flat-to-rocker profile. Super forgiving on rails and great for developing your jib skills.

• Capita Ultrafear
  A highly decorated park board with a slightly more responsive feel. The medium flex and hybrid camber offer stability for jumps while staying fun on boxes and rails.

• Salomon Huck Knife
  Camber-dominant but still poppy and fun. Slightly stiffer than others here, so better if you’re venturing into jump lines or want a longer-term progression board.

• Bataleon Evil Twin
  Known for its 3BT (Triple Base Tech) that makes it forgiving on landings and rails. Medium flex with a smooth ride that works well across park features.

What About Bindings and Boots?

You don’t need to buy new bindings or boots for your park board if you’re already happy with the ones you have. Although if you’ve got the budget, it’s nice to get a second pair of bindings so you don’t have to constantly switch them out between your favorite all-mountain board and your park board. If you need to buy new boots anyway, or you decide to buy a second pair of bindings, here’s what to look for.

Best Bindings for Freestyle Snowboarding

Look for soft to medium flex bindings that allow you to bend at the ankles to reach the board for grabs and absorb the impact of jumps. Features to look for:

• Cushioned footbeds for landing jumps

• Malleable highbacks for more flexibility in presses and tweaks

• Tool-less adjustment for quick tweaks on the fly

Best Boots for Freestyle Snowboarding

Your boots should match the flexibility of your bindings and board:

• Go for soft or medium flex boots — they’ll make it easier to move naturally and recover from wobbly landings.

• As always with snowboarding boots, look for a snug, secure fit with minimal heel lift.

• Consider convenience features like Boa or speed laces, but prioritize fit and flex over the lacing system.

Bonus Tips for Buying Gear

• Prioritize boots first. If you’re on a budget, invest in boots that fit well before anything else. Comfort and control start at your feet.

• Don’t sleep on used gear. If you get involved in your local snowboarding scene, you should be able to find tons of opportunities to buy used gear. Many ski hills host used gear swap days (Tyrol Basin does theirs around Thanksgiving). Some local snowboarding shops sell used gear. I’ve had great experience buying snowboards on Facebook Marketplace. You can also look into Snowboarding Gear Buy/Sell groups on Reddit.

• Demo if you can. Demo-ing boards on the slopes is the best way to know if you like the flex and camber profile. Many resorts host at least one gear demo day per year. In the Madison area, Cascade usually hosts one in early March, on one of the last weekends of the season.