Below I have selected my top 10 for the best freestyle snowboards for the 2018/19 season.
As per tradition here at SnowboardingProfiles.com, the boards will each get a rating out of 100.
In compiling this list I rated 36 different freestyle/park/jib boards:
Prices have not been considered in the scores unless 2 boards have the same score, then the cheaper board gets the higher place.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 10. For the latest season's Top 10 Freestyle list, check out the link below:
>>Top 10 Freestyle Snowboards (Latest Season)
O.k. here’s the top 10!
FREESTYLE BOARD #10
Board: Capita Ultrafear
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Feel: Stable
Smart rating score: 82.4/100
The Ultrafear is the best jibber on this list, so if you spend a lot of time in the jib line in the park or do a lot of Urban riding, then the Ultrafear is worth looking at.
In fact, if I did a separate category for jib/street boards it would likely be quite close to the top, if not the top. But it’s certainly no slouch over jumps either. It’s super easy to spin and to press – an awesome board for all-day park laps.
Not something that’s great outside of the park, but awesome for park laps.
The Ultrafear has more of a stable feel to it, as opposed to a loose feel.
Check out the video for more about the Ultrafear
Score Breakdown for the Ultrafear
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jumps | 3.5 | 17.5/25 |
Jibbing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Powder | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Carving/Turns | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Speed | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Pipe | 2.0 | 2/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 82.4/100 |
FREESTYLE BOARD #9
Board: Niche Knew
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Feel: Stable
Smart rating score: 83.5/100
The Knew is the 2nd lowest priced board on this list so if your budget is low then this board should be high on your list.
This is a sweet little, agile freestyle deck that rides in either direction with ease, loves jibs and is lively over jumps. Definitely a fun ride through the park.
Check out the video for more about the Knew
This video is for 17/18 model but still relevant.
Score Breakdown for the Knew
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jumps | 4.0 | 20/25 |
Jibbing | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Powder | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Carving/Turns | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Speed | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Pipe | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 83.5/100 |
FREESTYLE BOARD #8
Board: Burton Kilroy Process
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Feel: Semi-Locked In
Smart rating score: 83.5/100
Compared to most boards on this list, the Kilroy process has a more aggressive feel. It's still quite soft-flexing, but has a full camber profile.
All that camber, among other things, helps to give this board some mean pop, as well as stability for the approach to jumps and landing. Overall, this board is sick on jumps!
It's also capable on the rest of the mountain (bar powder), if you want to lay down some carves on the way to the park.
Not a super buttery board, and not the best on jibs - but great for all other freestyle elements.
Check out the video for more about the Kilroy Process
Score Breakdown for the Kilroy Process
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jumps | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jibbing | 3.0 | 12/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Powder | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Carving/Turns | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
Speed | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Pipe | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 83.5/100 |
FREESTYLE BOARD #7
Board: Lib Tech Skate Banana
Flex: Medium-Soft
Feel: Loose
Smart rating score: 84.1/100
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
Another great jibber in the list, the Skate Banana, comes in at #7.
The biggest weakness of the Skate Banana (in the most important freestyle factors) was in jumps – but it still performed really well in that category.
And if hitting rails, boxes and any other obstacle you can find, is your thing then the Skate Banana will be an awesome deck to have beneath your feet.
Just a great all-round freestyle board that isn't too bad outside of the park too.
If you often ride in hard/icy conditions but still like a loose feel for your freestyle board, then this is going to be the ideal ride for you.
Check out the video for more about the Skate Banana
Score Breakdown for the Skate Banana
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jumps | 3.5 | 17.5/25 |
Jibbing | 4.5 | 18/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Powder | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Carving/Turns | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Speed | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
Pipe | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.1/100 |
FREESTYLE BOARD #6
Board: Arbor Westmark Camber
Flex: Medium (5/10)
Feel: Stable
Smart rating score: 84.1/100
The Westmark Camber is on the aggressive side, due to it's camber and being a little stiffer than most on this list. But Arbor's system camber is a little more mellow than a traditional full camber feel - so it's not quite as aggressive as you would expect.
Still, it has heaps of pop, is super stable on landings, spins easily and can be taken out of the park for some good carves too.
Not the best on this list for jibbing/buttering but for the jump line, natural hits on the mountain, ollies and basically anything else airborne, this is a killer deck.
Check out the video for more about the Westmark Camber
Score Breakdown for the Westmark Camber
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jumps | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jibbing | 3.0 | 12/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Powder | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Carving/Turns | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
Speed | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Pipe | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84.1/100 |
FREESTYLE BOARD #5
Board: Slash Happy Place
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Feel: Stable
Smart rating score: 86.3/100
Coming in at #5 is the Happy Place by Slash.
If you are looking for a board that can handle switch, jibs and jumps with equal aplomb and can also do a bang up job in the pipe – then the Slash Happy Place is a great pick.
Whilst it doesn’t get a perfect score in any of the categories, it’s close to it on all the important ones for ripping it up in the park and pipe.
If doing sick park laps all day is your thing then riding this board will definitely take you to your happy place!
Oh yeah and if your wallet isn’t bulging, this board will make you even happier. It’s the cheapest on this list – the performance-to-cost ratio of this board is outstanding! The best choice for anyone on a tight budget.
Check out the video for more on the Happy Place
Score Breakdown for the Happy Place
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jumps | 4.0 | 20/25 |
Jibbing | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 4.5 | 9/10 |
Powder | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Carving/Turns | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
Speed | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
Pipe | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 86.3/100 |
FREESTYLE BOARD #4
Board: YES Jackpot
Flex: Medium-soft but bordering on Medium (4.5/5)
Feel: Stable
Smart rating score: 86.8/100
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
The #4 board on this list is the YES Jackpot. This board is a demon in the park – no matter what you like to do in there – so if you like to do it all, the Jackpot will be a great weapon.
But if you like to break up your park laps and feel the need for speed or if you want to lay down some carves, then the Jackpot can tackle that too – and whenever you see natural hits on your journey down the rest of the mountain – this board becomes super fun.
It would also score very well as an all-mountain-freestyle board.
It’s a great option for it’s versatility in that sense and also for anyone who rides in hard/icy conditions a lot.
NOTE: The Jackpot's camber profile changed a little for the 2019 model - it now has less rocker in the tip/tail, giving it a more camber dominant feel, which gives the board an overall different feel. I've kept it in the Freestyle category but the ratings have changed based on the different feel of the board now. See the full review link above for my updated 2019 review.
Check out the video for more on the Jackpot
Score Breakdown for the Jackpot
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jumps | 4.0 | 20/25 |
Jibbing | 3.5 | 14/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 4.0 | 8/10 |
Powder | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Carving/Turns | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
Speed | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
Pipe | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 86.8/100 |
FREESTYLE BOARD #3
Board: Burton Paramount
Flex: Medium-Soft (4/10)
Feel: Semi-Locked In
Smart rating score: 87.8/100
The Paramount is new for 2019 and is like a souped up Kilroy Process (see #8 on this list).
It's the most aggressive board on this list and has heaps of pop and power when it comes to jumps and really solid on landing and approach.
As well as all that camber, it also has a nice and light core, making it easier to get air and spin.
Not ideal for the jib line, IMO, and not the easiest to butter - but for the jump line and for carving up groomers on the way to the park or natural hits, it's a beast.
Check out the video for more about the Paramount
Score Breakdown for the Paramount
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jumps | 5.0 | 25/25 |
Jibbing | 3.0 | 12/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Powder | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Carving/Turns | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Speed | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
Pipe | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 87.9/100 |
FREESTYLE BOARD #2
Board: Never Summer Funslinger
Flex: Medium-Soft (3/10)
Feel: Semi-Loose
Smart rating score: 90.1/100
Now for the last two – and 2nd place goes to the Never Summer Funslinger.
The Funslinger nails all the important freestyle performance factors – and can definitely play in the pipe and over the rest of the mountain too.
This thing has got plenty of pop, is super easy to spin and is really fun for anything park or for natural hits – and as a bonus it actually carves pretty well for a freestyle deck.
But you can also hit the jib line with confidence on this board and it butters with ease - making it a great all-round freestyle option.
Check out the video for more on the Funslinger
This video is for the 2018 model but it's basically the same board as the 2019 model.
Score Breakdown for the Funslinger
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 5.0 | 25/25 |
Jumps | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jibbing | 4.0 | 16/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Powder | 2.0 | 2/5 |
Carving/Turns | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
Speed | 2.5 | 2.5/5 |
Pipe | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.1/100 |
FREESTYLE BOARD #1
Board: GNU Space Case
Flex: Medium
Feel: Semi-Loose
Smart rating score: 90.7/100
*HARD/ICY SNOW OPTION
And in at #1, the GNU Space Case!
The GNU FB Space Case Asym C2X! might have the highest price-tag on this list but you definitely get what you pay for in this case – a beast of a park board that could just as easily be categorized as an all-mountain-freestyle deck.
The Space Case is seriously fun over jumps and natural hits and was super stable for landings.
It's also decent on jibs. Not the best on this list, so if that's more your forte, there are better options, but it's also not bad - and it's something you can definitely butter on too.
It can also rock the pipe and if you want to ride the rest of the mountain, the Space Case will tackle that better than some all-mountain boards! And to top it all off, it’s a great choice for anyone who rides hard/icy conditions.
Check out the video for more on the Space Case
Score Breakdown for the Space Case
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Switch | 5.0 | 25/25 |
Jumps | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Jibbing | 3.5 | 14/20 |
Uneven Terrain | 3.5 | 7/10 |
Powder | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Carving/Turns | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
Speed | 3.0 | 3/5 |
Pipe | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 90.7/100 |
Over to You
There you have my top 10 freestyle decks for the 2018-19 season.
NOTE: This is a past seasons top 10. For the latest season's Top 10 Freestyle list, check out the link below:
Buying Past Season Models
Often models don't change that much from year to year so if you can find a past season model, it will likely be close enough to the latest model but you can get it cheaper, if available and in a suitable size for you. For past year's models check out the links below to see if they still have any left.
- US
- CANADA
- UK/Europe
Recent Comments