Should You Ride a Directional or Twin Snowboard?
Ready to commit to a snowboard? Great! You’re taking the first step to having the gear you need to make the best of any conditions the mountains can throw at you.
The question is, should you ride a directional or twin snowboard? Are you wondering what the difference is? If you said yes, or if you know the difference but are having a hard time deciding, then we have the guide you need here.
Check out the ASO Mammoth team’s best tips on whether you should ride a directional or twin snowboard below, then visit ASO Mammoth for the best ski and snowboard rentals in Mammoth Lakes!
Why You Should Ride a Twin Board
The Basics:
- Better for freestyle, all mountain, and park snowboarding.
- Symmetrical in all facets.
- Best for snowboarders who like to ride switch.
The Details:
Twin boards are the most popular type of snowboard since they’re rooted in the history of the sport and offer the most flexibility for beginner snowboarders.
Twin boards became the standard for snowboarding early in the sport because they went hand-in-hand with freestyle snowboarding. The reason is that true twin boards have symmetrical noses and tails, which makes them easier to ride switch and opens a ton of possibilities for park riding.
Since twin boards are more adaptable to different types of riding, they’re what beginners start with and many people stick with as they progress.
Twin boards are the standard, and if you want a reliable and adaptable snowboard over everything else then a twin snowboard is right for you.
Why You Should Ride a Directional Snowboard
The Basics:
- Better for freeride, powder, and backcountry riding.
- Different nose and tail shapes.
- Best for aggressive riding on steep slopes or deep snow.
The Details:
If you’re focused on making big turns on deep and steep slopes, then a directional board may be the way to go.
As the name implies, directional boards are designed with either a pointed or long nose and tapered tail so that the nose of the board naturally rises in deep snow. On top of that, directional boards are generally stiffer than twin boards, which makes them better at making hard turns on steep slopes than popping and flexing to do a freestyle trick or butter. Some directional boards are designed to only ride with the nose forward, which eliminates riding switch comfortably. Although you can’t ride switch on a board like that, you will ride through deep snow and bumps much easier than you would on a twin board.
There are hybrid directional twins that combine the best of twin and directional boards so that you can ride steep and aggressive slopes while still throwing freestyle tricks. If you can’t decide between a twin or a directional board, then a hybrid may be the way to go. You can also demo both types of boards at a mountain resort or ski shop that offers demo gear rentals.