Banked slalom is a timed race through a course of berms (banked turns). The best boards for it are directional, fairly stiff and cambered, with edges that grip on hard snow. Here are our picks, then what to look for.
Best Banked Slalom Snowboards
- Nitro Banker: Built for banked slalom, as the name says. Stable, responsive and precise in carves. Check price
- Jones Mind Expander: A short, wide, surf-inspired freeride board with Traction Tech edges. It floats and grips when the course gets chopped up. Check price
- Jones Stratos: A directional all-mountain board with a rocker-camber profile and Traction Tech. A good pick if you want one board for racing and everyday riding. Check price
- Korua Bullet Train: A dedicated carving board that switches edge to edge fast and drives hard through tight transitions. Sold direct by Korua.
- Salomon Dancehaul: A shorter, wider, surf-style board with a playful, flowing feel. Best if you care more about style than the clock.
What to Look For
- Directional shape: A longer nose than tail gives more drive and stability through turns, and more float if the course gets soft. A directional twin works if you also ride switch.
- Medium-stiff to stiff flex: Stiffer boards hold hard carves at speed. A medium-stiff board is more forgiving and easier to adjust mid-turn.
- Camber: Camber, or a camber-dominant hybrid, gives the best edge hold and pop. A little rocker in the nose helps start turns. Avoid boards with lots of rocker; they feel loose in hard carves.
- Grippy edges: Serrated or wavy edges, like Magne-Traction (Lib Tech and GNU) or Traction Tech (Jones), grip better on ice and hardpack.
- Sintered base: Faster and tougher than an extruded base. It needs more waxing, but speed matters in a race.
- Waist width that fits your boots: Too narrow and your toes or heels drag in deep turns. Too wide and the board is slow to tip on edge.
How to Choose
- Demo before you buy, if you can. Many resorts hold demo days, and some banked slalom events have demo tents.
- Ask riders on your local course what they ride and why.
- Match the board to your style. Racing for time: stiffer and cambered, like the Nitro Banker. Riding for fun: shorter and surfier, like the Mind Expander or Dancehaul.
The Bottom Line
For racing, get the Nitro Banker. For a surfier board that also works outside the course, get the Jones Mind Expander.