We snowboarders often face a dilemma when choosing a board that can handle a mix of riding styles – e.g. freestyle/park, carving, powder, trees etc.
If you already own a stiff(-ish) snowboard or are considering buying one, you may be wondering how well it will adapt to doing tricks.
This is a common question for riders who want a versatile board that can handle various terrains and styles but plan to have tackle freestyle and trick-heavy sessions.
So in this post, I go over some of the most common snowboarding tricks and how a stiffer board would fare.
See also: Are stiffer snowboards harder to ride?
1. Ollie and nollie
Doing an ollie on a stiff snowboard can actually work really well, sometimes even better than on a soft one.
A stiff board will give you more pop, which means you can jump higher. A soft board may be easier for some tricks, but it doesn’t give you as much of a push-off.
For ollies, though, leg strength, timing, and weight shifting are even more important than your board stiffness.
You start leaning a bit forward, then you quickly move your weight back to the end of the board while bending your back leg a lot (loading up the tail of the board). You’re pushing down hard on the back, building up energy.
When you’re leaning back as far as you can and your leg is fully bent, you then push off hard with your leg. This, along with the energy you’ve built in the board, launches you into the air.
As you jump, you need to get back to standing straight so you can level out the board in the air and keep moving smoothly down the slope.
2. Jibs and board slides
Jibbing means doing tricks on objects like rails or boxes. Board slides are a type of jib where you slide across these objects with your board sideways.
Jibs and board slides are doable on a stiff snowboard but they require more control and precise technique compared to a softer board.
The stiffness means less flex, which is key for smoothly bending and contouring around objects. In a board slide, a softer board can more easily flex to match the shape of the rail or box, which gives you better control and stability.
To do these tricks on a stiff board, you need to focus on balance and precision. Without the flex to help, you have to be very accurate in how you position your board and distribute your weight.
You need to approach the object with confidence and make sure your board is perfectly aligned for the slide. Keep your body centered and use your legs to absorb impacts and adjust your balance as you slide.
See also: Guide to freestyle snowboarding
3. Spins
When doing spins (180s, 360s, or 540s) on a stiff snowboard, the stability and edge hold of a stiff board can be an advantage, but you need to compensate for the lack of flex with better technique and body mechanics.
The stiffness of the board plays an part role in spins. Since a rotation in the air is involved, a stiff board behaves differently than a softer one in this aspect.
A stiff board gives you more stability and responsiveness, which is great for setting up and landing spins. It holds an edge better, giving you a solid platform to launch from.
On the flip side, the lack of flex can make initiating the spin more challenging. With a softer board, the flex helps to spring you into the rotation. On a stiff board, you have to rely more on your own strength and technique to create that rotational momentum.
Landing a spin smoothly on a stiff board requires a clean rotation and precise alignment with the slope. You need to focus on your setup and take-off.
Try to carve into the jump assertively using the edge of your board to build up energy. As you leave the ground, it’s crucial to use your shoulders and hips to start the rotation. Think about leading with your head and shoulders, and let your lower body follow.
Once in the air, keep your core engaged to maintain control. Spot your landing early and prepare to absorb the impact with your knees.
The stiffness of the board means you have to be more precise with your movements. Any off-balance or misaligned take-off will be less forgiving.
4. Buttering & presses
Buttering on a stiff snowboard is challenging due to the lack of flex. It requires more strength, balance, and precise weight distribution.
It’s certainly doable, but it takes practice to get the feel of how to work with the stiffness rather than against it.
Buttering involves flexing the board in a press (either nose or tail) while sliding on the snow, often adding spins or pivots. The flex and playfulness of a board are key for these tricks.
With a stiff board, you have less natural flex to work with, which makes it harder to press and hold the nose or tail while maintaining control.
The stiffness doesn’t give the same easy, fluid bending that helps in smooth buttering. So, to butter on a stiff board, you need to rely more on your physical strength and balance.
You must put more effort into pressing down on either the nose or tail of the board to lift the opposite end. It requires a good sense of balance as the stiff board won’t bend easily to your movements.
Use your body weight strategically, leaning into the press while keeping your center of gravity aligned. You need to learn to manipulate the board’s minimal flex to your advantage.
Another aspect is maintaining momentum. On a softer board, the flex can help keep you moving, but on a stiff board, you need to use your body movement more to keep the flow going.
This means constantly adjusting your weight and position, especially when adding spins or pivots to your butter.
5. Halfpipe tricks
Doing halfpipe tricks on a stiff snowboard has its own set of challenges and advantages. In the halfpipe, you’re dealing with vertical walls and aerial maneuvers, which require a good mix of stability and agility.
A stiff snowboard offers great stability and edge hold, which is helpful when carving up the pipe walls. It helps in generating speed and maintaining control as you ride up and down the pipe.
However, the lack of flex in a stiff board makes some aerial tricks more difficult. Flex helps in launching off the lip of the pipe and provides a more forgiving landing.
For aerial tricks in the halfpipe, like spins or flips, you’ll need to rely more on your own strength and technique to generate the required height and rotation.
The stiffness of the board means you have to be precise in your take-offs. Any off-balance or misaligned take-off will be more noticeable on a stiff board.
When you’re in the air, you need to stay focused and control your body position. The stiff board won’t absorb the impact as much as a softer one, so landings require more precision. You need to land cleanly and keep your knees bent to absorb the shock.
Once mastered, though, a stiff board can be very effective in the halfpipe.
See also: 7 great snowboard for halfpipe
6. Park boxes and rails
Riding park boxes and rails on a stiff snowboard requires a different approach compared to a softer board.
A stiff board won’t hug the rail or box as a softer one might, so your weight distribution and balance need to be spot on.
The advantage of a stiff board here is the responsiveness and stability it offers, especially when landing off of rails or boxes.
A stiffer snowboard will hold an edge better, giving you a solid, predictable feel, which is great for sticking landings after a slide.
See also: Are park snowboards good for powder?
7. Switch riding
A stiff board is less forgiving and requires precise control, especially when you’re not used to the switch stance.
You need to be more deliberate with your movements, as the board won’t flex and respond as easily to your shifts in weight and balance.
So you have to pay extra attention to your stance, turning technique, and how you distribute your weight.
However, the stiffness also comes with stability, an advantage once you get the hang of riding switch. It gives you more consistent and predictable handling and makes it easier to maintain control at higher speeds and on harder snow.
See also: Can you ride switch on a directional board?
Final words: importance of the board profile
When performing tricks on a stiff snowboard, the board’s camber profile significantly impacts your technique, especially for ollies.
Take a stiff, full camber board like the Capita Outsiders: it offers more potential pop than a shorter, softer rocker board like the Park Pickle.
However, accessing that pop requires more effort. You must shift your weight further back, finding a narrower ‘sweet spot’ for the ollie. This position might feel like you’re tipping backwards, but it’s necessary to harness the stiff board’s potential.
In contrast, a rocker board, being more forgiving and with a wider contact area, makes initiating ollies easier, though it lacks the snap and pop of a cambered board for larger features.
So mastering tricks on a stiff camber board demands precise mechanics and more rider input.
See also: RCR, CRC, FRF, CFC… which Snowboard Profile To Choose?