What is an all mountain snowboard?

An all mountain snowboard is a broad group of snowboards specifically engineered to perform well across a wide variety of terrain and riding conditions. Generally speaking, all mountain snowboards feature a medium flex profile, moderate taper, and conventional camber that makes them a great choice for resort riders and sidecountry riders of all abilities.

While there are certainly advantages to having a quiver of different specialized snowboards for specific snow conditions, the tried-and-true all mountain board is a reliable standard for a daily driver. In this overview, the Burton experts dive deep into the details of all mountain snowboards and explain why they truly are the G.O.A.T. when it comes to on-hill versatility.

• The History of All Mountain Snowboards
• All Mountain Snowboards: Versatility for Every Style of Riding
• The 5 Traits of a Snowboard
• Selecting an All Mountain Snowboard to Match Your Riding Style

The History of All Mountain Snowboards

The evolution of snowboard design has come a long way since the Snurfers of the 1960s. The original snowboards (well really, they were more of a mono-ski) lacked metal edges or camber and were made from solid pieces of wood or thick fiberglass that didn’t really flex. Honestly, you were a boss if you had the skills to ride one from the top of the hill to the bottom, let alone execute a turn, carve, or catch air without wiping out.

But as the small backyard hobby made its way to bigger mountains (thanks to visionaries like Jake Burton Carpenter), riders realized that the current designs just didn’t cut it anymore. So, snowboard manufacturers like Burton started incorporating rider feedback into their boards, adding metal edges, camber, flexibility, and adjustable stances.

At the same time, mainstream snowboard competitions were evolving to incorporate features like half pipes, jumps, and jibs. This progression facilitated other snowboard designs like unique sidewall profiles and innovative nose and tail shapes. And as different styles emerged, freeride, all mountain, and freestyle slowly grew into their own sub-disciplines of snowboarding and riders were eager to test the ever-expanding selection of shapes and designs.

All Mountain Snowboards: Versatility for Every Style of Riding

The term “all mountain snowboard” comes from the fact that these decks are designed to go anywhere and everywhere on the mountain and perform reliably. Hit the groomers, drop into the half-pipe, then hike a back bowl, and do it all with one snowboard. At least, that’s the idea.

But if an all mountain board can do it all, why would you need anything else? Think of it this way: the versatility of an all mountain snowboard means that certain areas, like stability at speed, or pop, must compromise a little bit. And on a long enough timeline, most snowboarders may want a freestyle snowboard that excels in the park, or a freeride snowboard for taking on steep, big mountain lines.

But the truth of the matter is this: most riders will benefit more from versatility than specialized performance, the majority of the time. In other words, not every day is a powder day, and most of the time you just need a snowboard that can handle a variety of conditions. This is especially true for riders who own just one snowboard. If this sounds like you, an all mountain snowboard is where it’s at.

The 5 Traits of a Snowboard

When we talk about any category of snowboard, be it all mountain, freeride, freestyle, or powder, there are five primary traits that determine performance: shape, taper, reference stance, bend, and flex.

In the case of all mountain snowboards, there is quite a bit of variability, but generally speaking, there are a few consistencies you can expect.

• Shape: Overall, the shape of all mountain snowboards tend to be directional, with the nose being slightly longer than the tail.
• Taper: Because all mountain snowboards are offered in both twin and directional designs, taper may be non-existent, or may be moderate, with a slightly wider nose than tail.
• Stance: Reference stances on all mountain snowboards are generally set back, but may also be centered. Ultimately, The Channel from Burton allows a rider to choose the stance that works best for them.
• Bend: All mountain snowboards often have some variation of traditional camber which may be combined with rocker, but this varies widely by design and manufacturer.
• Flex: Medium flex to stiffer flex is very common with all mountain snowboards.

Note that the all mountain snowboard category is very broad, and consequently, you're likely to see a range of traits that differ from those we've just outlined, depending on the manufacturer.

Selecting an All Mountain Snowboard to Match Your Riding Style

The all mountain snowboard category has the largest variation regarding the five main snowboard traits of shape, taper, stance, bend, and flex. Because of this, if you’re thinking about purchasing an all mountain snowboard, it’s a good idea to test out a few different boards before making an investment. One of the easiest ways to do this is by visiting a Burton Test Ride Center or another rental center at your local resort.

Test Ride Centers always stock Burton’s latest snowboard designs, featuring cutting edge technology to help you ride your best. Test Ride Centers are located throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, so no matter where you are located, you can demo a Burton snowboard and find the perfect model. Did we mention that the cost of your demo can be applied toward the price of a new snowboard? Sweet.

Final Thoughts on All Mountain Snowboards

All mountain snowboards are one of the most popular categories of boards, and for good reason: these general-purpose designs excel on almost any terrain and will serve both the beginner as well as the seasoned rider, with excellent performance day in and day out.

With lots of design variation across the all mountain category, every rider can find an all mountain snowboard to suite their riding style, giving them what they need to explore every acre of terrain the ski area has to offer.