Updated April 22, 2025
I used to think I needed one board that could do everything. Pow, park, groomers, side hits, switch, carving, a bit of splitboarding if I squinted hard enough.
I tried the usual suspects—the boards every gear guide ranks in the top 5 year after year. The so-called quiver killers. Medium flex, directional twin, carbon stringers, camber underfoot, “playful yet responsive.” You know the ones.
They all kind of worked. But none of them were fun.
Everything… but exciting
Let’s be clear—boards like the Yes Standard, Capita Mercury, Jones Mountain Twin, Ride Algorythm, even the Burton Custom—they’re all well-made. No complaints there. But every time I strapped one on, I got the same feeling:
“Yep. That’s… fine.”
They carve okay.
They float okay.
You can ride switch okay.
But nothing ever stood out…
They’re tuned to do everything, which also means they’re tuned not to offend anyone. It’s like riding the Toyota Corolla of snowboards. Reliable, but no one’s getting hyped about it.
The moment it clicked
I was riding the Yes Standard on what should’ve been a dream day. 25cm overnight, bluebird, untouched sidecountry. And it just… didn’t do it for me. I was fighting to keep the nose up. I couldn’t lay into turns properly. It felt like I was asking the board to do something it didn’t really want to do.
The next day I took out my Bataleon Surfer, and suddenly I was flying. The same snow, same legs, different board—and everything worked. But of course, cruising back through the park line afterwards was a different story.
That was the moment I stopped believing in the “one board for everything” idea.
Boards with purpose > boards with balance
Now I ride what suits the day. Pow day? Surfer. Slushy groomers? Something soft and playful. All-mountain? Sure, but I want it to feel like something—not just tick boxes.
Most “do-it-all” boards ride like they’re trying to please the marketing team. They work. But they don’t spark anything. And I’d rather ride something slightly wrong for the conditions that makes me want to keep lapping, than something technically perfect that bores me by noon.
And yeah—quick disclaimer. I know not everyone can justify owning two or three boards. I couldn’t either when I first got into it.
For most riders, especially if you only get a few weeks a year, having one solid board makes total sense. This is just where I’ve ended up after too many years of spending too much money trying to find “the one.”
So who are they for?
Honestly? They’re great for newer riders. Or people who want one board that’s dependable no matter what the day looks like. Or maybe you ride a resort where conditions don’t swing wildly and you’re just there to cruise.
And that’s totally valid. The idea isn’t that all-mountain boards are bad—it’s just that they’re not exciting once you know what kind of riding really lights you up.
Final thought
If your “quiver killer” doesn’t put a smile on your face, it’s probably not killing much of anything. And let’s be honest—you’re still board shopping. That’s why you’re here.
I’ll take a small quiver that makes me excited to ride over one board that’s just pretty good at everything.
And if you do find that mythical one-board setup that actually delivers on the hype? Ride the hell out of it. And maybe don’t tell me—I’m still recovering from my last gear crisis.
