Can You Use A Freestyle Snowboard For All Mountains?

We may earn commissions for purchases made through links on our site. Learn more on our about us page.

There are going to be two tiers to this question, and to start, we will tell the beginner snowboarder that, no, you should not use a freestyle snowboard when going on certain types of terrain.

For instance, backcountry slopes might require a wider board to help a newer snowboarder with control and stability through the deeper snowfields.

Then we will address the advanced and professional level riders to say, ride whatever fits your style best and shred. You know what fits and feels best at this point in your riding career. Go with it, and be sure to bring a backup, just in case.

What is Freestyle Snowboard the Best For?

Freestyle snowboards are best for being trick boards, you know the ones that are used for the half-pipe and the rails on the slopes. Whether it be natural or made of designed features, these boards are meant to hit them with speed and then allow playful manipulation in the air.

These flexible snowboards are of the groomed slopes variety and should be kept out of the deeper powders to get the best results possible.

The backcountry and powder day snowboards will be the all-mountain style snowboards with the stiffness to carve through powder.

What is the Difference Between Freestyle and All-Mountain?

The main differences will be in the board’s flexibility ratings. The trick boards will want to be more flexible, which is what the freestyle version provides.

The all-mountain snowboard will be designed with a stiffer board to combat the heavier snowfields and powder, effectively slicing through it like going through a cloud.

Or at least the good boards do so. Otherwise, the main differences will be in the binding’s placement, which is further back on the all-mountain snowboard compared to the freestyle boards.

The freestyle rider will want to be closer to the center of the board, allowing for easier grabs, spins, and flips.

What Will Change if You Use Freestyle?

Flexibility is the biggest difference a snowboarder will notice when switching from an all-mountain board to a freestyle board.

Therefore, one of the most important factors in making a massive trick possible would be to use the elasticity found in the freestyle snowboard.

The flex incorporated into the design will help a snowboarder to launch into the trick, compared to a stiffer all-mountain board that would fight the same movement relatively compared to the freestyle board.

Therefore, a snowboarder will also experience an increase in acceleration and agility when going downslope, the board almost begging the rider to go towards that jump.

Can You Have the Same Quality?

These two boards might have a plethora of differences when it comes to the design and engineering that goes into them both, but when it comes to the quality of the make, that depends on the manufacturer.

Although each will have a slogan or claim to be the best, be sure to investigate further than just the company claims.

If you are truly concerned about the quality of the product or the item you are shopping for, then it will be necessary to do a little extra research; ask around the resorts and watch a review video or two, but after all that work, it will be worth it in the end.

What are the Cons of It?

The cons of going from an all-mountain to a freestyle snowboard will be the decreased performance from the lighter, more flexible board in deeper snowfields and powder days.

The nose of a freestyle snowboard naturally wants to climb up the snowfield, like that of when an Olympian or X-Games rider hits a half-pipe or goes big a jump.

Another con might be the restrictions to types of terrain when switching. For instance, if a snowboarder wants to cut across the backcountry snowfields, they will want to go with an all-mountain style board.

Final Thoughts on Using a Freestyle Snowboard for All Mountains

There are going to be a million reasons to want to use an all-mountain style board, especially when you see powder in the snow report.

Not to mention, if given a chance, the snowfields in the backcountry can only be traversed with a board that has the stiffness to hold up in the heavier, deeper snows.

Then again, a freestyle snowboard will have just as many reasons to be ridden, truly when racing down a slope and the trick features begin to show.

There is nothing like the rush of hitting a jump at speed and catching even a moment of air, and the more skilled one gets, the bigger the rush.