We get this question a lot, “what’s the best snowboard?”. It’s a tough question to answer, but there are definitely some “best” options, especially when it comes to having warm, slushy, springtime fun! And you’re in luck, we have all of our Top 5 favorites in our demo fleet for you to take out whenever you want! (Psst… we also have dirt cheap Snowbird passes for all of your springtime shredding needs, they’ll be open through June! More info here)
So let’s get to it, our Top 5 favorite Spring shred sticks below!
#1- Lib Tech Birdman Swallowtail: If you know Salty Peaks, you know we love the Birdman. Most know its incredible performance in deep powder, but few know how good it is as the ultimate off-groomer slush slayer! On the steeps, when the sun has been baking, and the air temps are high, there’s nothing quite like the Birdman for cutting deep turns in bottomless slush. With the enormously floaty nose, you won’t ever dig into the soft snow and go over the handlebars. Pair that with the deep, specially designed swallowtail, you’ll be throwing out monstrous slushy rooster tails while you rip around in board shorts and a tank top! As fast and surfy as can be, the Lib Tech Birdman Swallowtail is a favorite in the Salty Peaks demo fleet!
#2- D-Day Panda: The Panda is a unique board, it’s incredibly wide with a massive nose bias. Just like the Birdman, the Panda’s big nose keep you from digging in and turfing it. The short swallowtail sends up mighty rooster tails in deep turns too, but unlike the Birdman, the Panda’s stubby tail is much stiffer and snappier, making for a much more aggressive and quick feeling ride! It’s perfect for ripping the soft groomers and slashing the side hits and berms. If you like a snappy, lively, traditional camber feel, but want something that’s designed to truly excel in slushy conditions, the D-Day Panda is for you!
#3- D-Day Heartcard: The ladies have a great option too, not to worry! The Heartcard is an epic spring snowboard that, just like the others, absolutely rips the soft, slushy groomers! The drawn out, pointy nose keeps you up above the sloppy chop, and the short moon tail cuts and drives like nothing else. The pointy tips of the moon tail shoot up quite the rooster tails too! Ultra fast base, snappy and quick traditional camber, all on an easily maneuverable shape all make the Heartcard our lady’s choice for top demo pick! (This one is from the future, a 2018 production D-Day board! Try it before it’s out!)
#4- D-Day Aloha: The boys were jealous of the Heartcard, but luckily there’s a mens version (Deathcard). But here’s the thing, there’s a modified version of the Deathcard that has a sloppier, more playful tail that suits springtime slushy goof offs and pond skims a bit better, and that is the Aloha! With a tail more akin to the Birdman, you’ll easily spray skiers and sluff slush off the steeps, but this isn’t some ultra-serious charge-hard sort of board. The flex is fun and the tail twists just enough to get funky, but it’s still a ride loaded with pop, so landing those newly-emerged-from-the-base rocky side hits is easier than ever. Feel those island surf vibes on the Aloha! (The Aloha is from the future too! 2018 D-Day production board right here!)
#5- Voile Spartan: If you aren’t in the know, the spring backcountry season is some of the best riding out there. Nothing beats touring with your chums in a tank and shorts, getting epic views, and then getting to shred down a thin snowpack on the way down. The backcountry in Utah is rideable deep into July, and sometimes August too! It’s not unheard of to snowboard all 12 months of the year in Utah, but splitboarding is the only accessible way to do it. That’s why the Spartan makes our top 5 list, it allows access to any and all terrain, no matter what lifts are or are not turning. Those who stop snowboarding when most lifts stop turning on April 16th are missing out on some of Utah’s best views and best springtime slush riding! Think of it like this, you get to go hiking with your buds, but you get to ride back down instead of hiking back down. Way better!
That pretty much wraps up our favorite picks, come demo any one of ’em and you’ll leave the mountain a happy camper. Don’t miss out on one of the best parts of the season, the slushy spring! We have freshly tuned boards ready and waiting, and with $60 Snowbird passes through June, it really is a no-brainer.
