The following 10 boards are what we consider to be the best snowboards for intermediate riders for the 2024-2025 season.
These boards have been chosen as boards that are still not too difficult to ride, but at the same time offer a little more performance than what we'd typically recommend for beginners.
The boards in this list are best for high-end beginners or low-end intermediate riders that are looking for a board that can get them to the next level. In some cases their first board will be this rather than a beginner board, if they've been renting for a while (though
Each board is given a rating out of 100 for easier comparison.
Price has not been considered in the ratings.
#10: ROME WARDEN
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
FEEL: Stable
Style of Board: All-Mountain
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 84.7/100
Starting off our list at #10, we have Rome's Warden, which is debuting in this list this year.
The Warden is a touch stiffer than most in this list, but it's still a pretty easy going board and should work well for low-end intermediate riders looking to progress to a higher intermediate or advanced level.
It's particularly well suited to intermediate riders who are a little bigger than average or who are stronger/fitter than average.
>>See Full Review (full review coming)
Score Breakdown for the Warden
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 4 | 16/20 |
| Turning Ease | 4 | 16/20 |
| Versatility | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Category Score | 87.3 | 43.65/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 84.7/100 |
#9: JONES TWEAKER
Flex: Medium (4.5/10)
FEEL: SEMI-LOOSE
Style of Board: ALL-MOUNTAIN-Freestyle
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 84.8/100
Despite it's full camber profile, the Tweaker is easy to turn with, most likely due to its upturned edges (3D Contour Base in Jones speak).
Also in spite of that all-camber profile, it's on the looser, more playful side, so if you like the sound of that, this board could work well for you.
A great option for any aspiring freestyle to all-mountain freestyle riders out there.
Score Breakdown for the Tweaker
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Turning Ease | 4 | 16/20 |
| Versatility | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Category Score | 87.6 | 43.8/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 84.8/100 |
#8: BURTON PROCESS FLYING V
Flex: Medium (4.5/10)
FEEL: LOOSE
Style of Board: All-Mountain
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 85.9/100
Our #8 pick is Burton's Process Flying V.
The Process Flying V is one of the more versatile boards going around for those that want a playful take on all-mountain riding.
Also, great for helping you get to that next level if you're a progressing high-end beginner/low-end intermediate rider.
Score Breakdown for the Process Flying V
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Turning Ease | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Versatility | 4 | 8/10 |
| Category Score | 83.7 | 41.85/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 85.9/100 |
#7: YES AIRMASTER
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
FEEL: LOOSE
Style of Board: ALL-MOUNTAIN-Freestyle
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 86.0/100
For 2024-2025 Lobster merged with YES, and so there are quite a few new (and quite different compared to their other boards) options from yes for 2024-2025. The Airmaster is one of those that has been inherited from Lobster. For now, I think we'll call it a Lobster-inspired YES board.
The Airmaster is one of those boards that can turn on a dime and can turn with very little effort at all. Quite a loose feeling, making it easy to spin, butter and surf-turn with and works well on jibs.
But, importantly for this list, it's also a great board to reach that next level with.
>>See Full Review (full review coming)
Score Breakdown for the Airmaster
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 4 | 16/20 |
| Turning Ease | 5 | 20/20 |
| Versatility | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Category Score | 86 | 43/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 86/100 |
#6: NEVER SUMMER SNOWTROOPER
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
FEEL: SEMI-LOOSE
Style of Board: ALL-MOUNTAIN
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 86.2/100
Next up we have Never Summer's Snowtrooper.
The Snowtrooper is a very easy going and versatile ride that can take you anywhere/do a bit of everything.
Great for anyone who wants something that's a little more casual/surfy but that can still progress with them, anywhere and everywhere on the mountain.
Score Breakdown for the Snowtrooper
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 4 | 16/20 |
| Turning Ease | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Versatility | 5 | 10/10 |
| Category Score | 84.3 | 42.15/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 86.2/100 |
#5: BATALEON WHATEVER
Flex: Medium (4.5/10)
FEEL: SEMI-LOOSE
Style of Board: ALL-MOUNTAIN-Freestyle
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 86.3/100
In at #5, we have Bataleon's Whatever.
The Whatever is a great option for those that want a catch-free ride, but still wants plenty of pop and something that can take a freestyle flavor to the whole mountain.
And of course something that can help high-end beginner/low-end intermediate riders reach that next level.
Score Breakdown for the Whatever
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Turning Ease | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Versatility | 3.5 | 7/10 |
| Category Score | 86.5 | 43.25/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 86.3/100 |
#4: SLASH BRAINSTORM
Flex: Medium (5.5/10)
FEEL: Stable
Style of Board: ALL-MOUNTAIN
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 86.3/100
The Brainstorm is great option for those who want just a bit more stiffness compared to most on this list. Still a mid-flex, but just a touch stiffer than most here. If you're quite an athletic rider, or weight more than the average, you might like that extra rigidity.
But it's not stiff by any means and it's not super technical to ride or anything. It's got very subtle camber between the feet and is a really easy turning board.
So, if you think you want to step it up just a touch more with the flex, but still want something that's easy enough to turn and is otherwise a really high performance board, this could be a great option for you. It's one that is a a great all-mountain board in it's own right, not taking into account being good for an intermediate rider.
Score Breakdown for the Brainstorm
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 4 | 16/20 |
| Turning Ease | 4 | 16/20 |
| Versatility | 5 | 10/10 |
| Category Score | 88.6 | 44.3/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 86.3/100 |
#3: YES TYPO
Flex: Medium (4.5/10)
FEEL: Stable
Style of Board: ALL-MOUNTAIN
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 88.7/100
*TOP TIER HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
At #3 we have the YES Typo.
The Typo is my go-to recommendation for those who are looking to progress from the high-end beginner/low-end intermediate and at the same time need a board that can handle icy conditions well.
It's the ideal intermediate progression board on any terrain, but is even better for those that need something that grips hard/icy conditions.
Score Breakdown for the Typo
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Turning Ease | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Versatility | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Category Score | 87.3 | 43.65/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 88.7/100 |
#2: LIB TECH TERRAIN WRECKER
Flex: Medium (5/10)
FEEL: SEMI-LOOSE
Style of Board: ALL-MOUNTAIN
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 90.3/100
Our penultimate board, at #2, is Lib Tech's Terrain Wrecker.
The Terrain Wrecker is a really easy to ride board, but one with very good performance too. Even for more advanced rider's who prefer a board that's not too stiff/demanding.
It's one of the most versatile boards going around, for those that want a one-board-quiver and, importantly for this list, is something that's very doable for a lower intermediate rider.
Score Breakdown for the Terrain Wrecker
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 5 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease | 4 | 16/20 |
| Versatility | 5 | 10/10 |
| Category Score | 88.6 | 44.3/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 90.3/100 |
#1: BATALEON GOLIATH
Flex: Medium (5/10)
FEEL: Stable
Style of Board: ALL-MOUNTAIN
INTERMEDIATE rating score: 91.3/100
And finally, in at #1, we have Bataleon's Goliath snowboard.
The Goliath has that knack of being catch-free but also snappy, poppy and high performance. This is in part to do with the 3BT (curved base) in the base, coupled with a full camber profile.
The Goliath is a super versatile, go-anywhere, do-anything ride that will still be fun and relevant when you're more advanced, but is something that is easy going and confidence building for the here and now for progressing riders.
Score Breakdown for the Goliath
| FACTOR | Rating (/5) | Weighted |
|---|---|---|
| Flex Score | 5 | 20/20 |
| Turning Ease | 4.5 | 18/20 |
| Versatility | 4.5 | 9/10 |
| Category Score | 88.6 | 44.3/50 |
| TOTAL (after normalizing): | 91.3/100 |
Over To You
So there's our top 10 Intermediate boards for 2024-2025.
Hopefully this list will help those of you who are straddling that gap between beginner and intermediate to find a good deck that can take you to the next level and that you won't outgrow too soon.
The scores above have been derived firstly by taking 3 factors that I see as important to a friendly board for less experienced riders, and giving 50% of the score to that. The other 50% of the score goes to how well that board performs in it's given category (i.e. all-mountain).
Check out the links under each board for more info, prices and availability.
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