Every year, our testers put the newest boards to the test and bring our standout picks to you. With innovative designs and the ability to handle all kinds of terrain (and make for very fun riding), these three stood out from the rest of the pack.
Capita Spring Break
Best For: Deep powder and spring slush.
The Test: Spring Break Snowboards partnered with Capita to handcraft this powder surfer with a shape that Spring Break ($670) describes as “experimentally primitive.” Testers credited the board’s resilience to Capita’s materials, while the Surf Rocker profile gave it a floaty feel in deep snow. The girth is slow to initiate turns, but once on-edge it transitions fast—almost like a wakeboard. One rider summarized it well: “A weird, dramatic sidecut with a surprising amount of pop. All that surface area makes it easy to stomp airs.”
The Verdict: An energetic powder surfer.
Venture Storm
Best For: Big mountains.
The Test: Venture Snowboards are built in Silverton, Colorado, home to some of the state’s most intimidating peaks. So it’s no surprise that the Storm ($595) can handle gnarly terrain. The supple, tapered nose floats over soft snow, and superior flex provides ideal maneuverability, which one tester lauded as “springy transitions between turns.” The Storm has a straight-line rocker with a hollow lift in the tip and tail, so it holds a mean edge and turns on command on hard surfaces.
The Verdict: Makes it easy to enjoy gnarly terrain and deep snow.
Burton Trick Pony
Best For: All-mountain freestyle.
The Test: Testers of all abilities loved this extremely stout, high-energy board ($499). The flat profile between the nose and tail provides ample pop and maximizes edge control to deliver stability in mixed terrain. The light swing weight and early-rise rocker of this true twin tip offer seamless edge transitions and promote what one tester called “effortless spins and smooth butters.” Another tester praised its control at high speeds, adding that he was surprised how well such a lively board handled variable snow, even crust and ice.
The Verdict: A playful board no matter how and where you ride.