2018 snowboards are now starting to become available in the stores – at least for a number of brands.
These have been available in the southern hemisphere for the past few months but now they’re starting to come out for the northern hemisphere’s 2017/18 winter season – the first signs of the 2017/18 season! Can’t wait.
Brands
At of time of writing this (August 9th) the following brands have 2018 models available (that I’ve seen, there may be others that I haven’t seen).
- Capita
- Never Summer
- Jones
- YES
- GNU
- Lib Tech
- Burton
- Ride
- K2
- Salomon
- Rossignol
- Rome
- Roxy
- Arbor
- DC
- Nitro
So, essentially, most of them!
I’m sure there are some that I’ve missed as well.
What’s on Offer this Season
A lot of the old favorites return – some with some changes made to them and others basically the same as they were for the 2017 model – but with a different graphic.
Some models have been discontinued, or renamed, as is the case every season.
And there are, of course, some newcomers to most brand’s line-ups.
Some Newcomers
Here’s a quick list of some of the newcomers to 2018.
This list is far from exhaustive and are only for the brands that I’ve looked at thoroughly so far.
- Capita Neo Slasher (Split board version of the Charlie Slasher)
- Capita Navigator
- Never Summer Maverix
- Never Summer Women’s Maverix
- Never Summer Insta/Gator
- Never Summer Women’s Insta/Gator
- Never Summer Big Gun
- Never Summer Swift Split
- Burton Free Thinker
- Burton Deep Thinker
- Burton Family Tree Working Stiff
- Burton Family Tree Dump Truck
- Burton Family Tree Story Board
- Burton Instigator
- Jones Lone Wolf
- Jones Dream Catcher
- Jones Mind Expander
- YES Libre
- Gnu Hyak
- GNU Hyper Kyarve
- GNU Swallow Tail Carver
- GNU Super Progressive Air Machine
- GNU Chromatic
- GNU Gloss
- GNU Free Spirit
- Lib Tech Cold Brew
- Lib Tech Terrain Wrecker
- Lib Tech Double Dip
- Lib Tech Step Tail
- Lib Tech E-Jack Knife
- Lib Tech Lost Lib Jamie Lynn Mayhem Colab
- Lib Tech Lost Lib Rocket
- Lib Tech Lost Lib Twin Rocket
- Rossignol XV Sushi LF
- Rossignol XV Sushi LG Split
- Rossignol Diva Split
That’s just a selection of new boards from a few different brands but gives you an idea of how many new decks are out for the coming winter.
Most of the old models are returning too – in 2018 versions.
Some Notable Omissions
The following have been discontinued in 2018. Some of which were quite surprising to me, especially the first one. But some of which are still around, essentially (with some tweaks) but with a name change.
- Never Summer Twenty Five
- Never Summer Prospector Split
- Burton Custom Twin
- Capita Volcom Pat Moore Pro
- YES Public
- GNU Finsanity
- GNU Hard Candy
- Lib Tech Black Powder Nootka
- Lib Tech Black Powder Birdman
- Lib Tech Black Powder Speedodeeps
- Lib Tech Mayhem Round Nose Fish
- Lib Tech Lib Tech Matt Cummins Coho
- Lib Tech Mayhem Rocket
- Lib Tech Utility Knife
- Lib Tech Jamie Lynn Half Cap
More Details
Check out some more details on some of the brands above at the following links. I will publish more of these as the season approaches and will try to remember to add them in here as I publish them, but these are the ones that are done so far.
>>2018 Capita Snowboards Overview
>>2018 Never Summer Snowboards Overview
>>2018 Burton Snowboards Overview
>>2018 Rossignol Snowboards Overview
>>2018 YES Snowboards Overview
>>2018 Jones Snowboards Overview
>>2018 Lib Tech Snowboards Overview
>>2018 GNU Snowboards Overview
>>2018 Ride Snowboards Overview
>>2018 Salomon Snowboards Overview
>>2018 Rome Snowboards Overview
Finally
Bring on the winter!
Don’t get me wrong, I like summer, and I’ve had a great summer, but with these 2018 boards coming out, it’s got me really excited for the upcoming season!
Nate,
What is your take on Arbor boards? Specifically the Arbor Bryan Iguchi Pro-Camber Snowboard 2018? I am in Utah, mostly ride All-Mountain, groomed, but also like Powder whenever available. Not a terrain park guy, little old for that!
Hi John
I don’t demo Arbor boards unfortunately, so I can’t really comment too much. Based on the specs, I would say that it would be a good carver but might lack a little in powder – just because there doesn’t seem to much, if any rocker in the profile and the stance is centered. It does have a tapered directional shape (nose is wider and longer than the tail) and that will certainly help in powder – but to really excel in powder, then a bit of setback stance and a bit of rocker in the nose would help – but if you’re not going to be in the powder a whole lot, it will certainly ride the powder ok, I would say.
The other thing to think about is whether or not you like a full cambered board or not – some people only like that, others hate it. If you’ve been riding for a good while – 10 years plus, then you’re probably used to that kind of camber profile and it’ll be fine – but it can be catchy if you’re off your game. That said, the Bryan Iguchi Pro-Camber does apparently have “parabolic camber” that is supposed to make it less catchy – I can’t vouch for this though unfortunately as I haven’t ridden it.
Hope this helps
Hi
Love the site. Need some advice please. Looking at a new board. I’m a solid intermediate who boards in France mostly all mountain, carving with a few ollies now and again!
I’ve tested the bataleon whatever and fancy a Goliath but also seen a few yes boards namely the typo and standard as well as the never summer Proto 2…
Any thoughts would be great
Cheers
Hi Chris
Thanks for your message.
I don’t know a lot about Bataleon boards – not a brand I currently demo, so I can’t really comment on those.
As for the other ones, if you see a lot of powder, like to go off trail a bit, then the Standard is probably your best bet, followed by the Typo. However, if you like things a bit cruisier/softer flexing in general, then the Typo over the Standard – but that Standard isn’t super stiff either (it’s medium) so it’s still definitely fine for an intermediate level.
If you don’t see a lot of powder/don’t go off trail much, then the Never Summer Proto Type Two would be a great choice.
You can check out my reviews of these at the links below for more.
~ YES Standard Review
~ YES Typo Review
~ Never Summer Proto Type Two Review
If you’d like any size recommendations, I’d be happy to help there too – I’d just need your weight, height and boot size.
Hope this helps