A party board is a board that lets you have fun all over the mountain. It aims to serve as a one-quiver solution for playing on many types of snow in a laidback manner.
It’s a board for having fun all around the mountain. Sidehits, flat tricks, buttering, carving, a bit of switch. A board that will float in the pow and shred the park on the way down. One that tears up groomers and does well on occasional slushy days.
Some are looking for a fun deck for carving around trees & moguls with mellow edge hold to roll between the turns in a laid back manner.
See also: Building your snowboard quiver
Characteristics of a party board
Party boards have a balanced design to float smoothly in powder yet still allow you to carve groomers and handle mixed conditions with ease.
Party boards have volume-shifted profiles with waist widths between 254-270mm. Such width provides exceptional stability at slower speeds on beginner terrain like cruising groomers or riding through deep powder.
The extra surface area allows you to float easily on top of soft snow without sinking in.
Their soft, playful flex also facilitates many common techniques. Camber profiles on party boards are usually mellow, making turns effortless to initiate while maintaining good edge hold.
You might think of them like volume boards with park flexes.
For construction, party boards use flexible wood cores and soft top sheets rather than stiffer materials. The flexible build and generous board shapes result in a forgiving ride when cruising groomers, exploring trees, or floating in fluffy snow.
While not made for big park tricks, many party boards can still handle light jibbing if you want to mess around in terrain parks too.
Due to their versatility across mixed conditions, a party board is great when riding with friends of different abilities. It allows you to have fun on varied terrain around the mountain.
Popular models like the Rome Stalefish, Salomon Dancehaul, and K2 Party Platter are centered or directional twins that let you ride in switch stance.
See also: Can You Do Tricks On A Stiff Snowboard?
Choosing the size of your party board
When deciding on the size of your party board, your height and weight will be the main determinants, as they dictate what flex and dimensions will feel the most balanced under your feet.
First, check the recommended size chart from the board manufacturer. This gives you a starting point based on your height and weight. Most will suggest a board between 150-160cm for beginner riders and 160-170cm for intermediate riders.
You’ll also want to factor in boot size, as a board that is too small won’t leave enough space between your toes and the nose/tail. At the same time, sizing up too much can make your party board feel clumsy to turn.
Another thing to keep in mind is your riding style. If you prefer carving on groomers more than floating in powder, you may want to skew a little smaller. But if deep days are more your priority, opting up an inch or two can add extra floatation.
How wide should a party board be?
When it comes to choosing the right width for a party board, most riders look for dimensions between 254-270mm. Here are a few key reasons:
- Waist widths in this range (254-270mm) provide stability at slower speeds while still allowing nimble turning. This is ideal for the varied terrain associated with party riding.
- The extra width compared to traditional boards allows the nose and tail to float more easily in powder without sinking in deep.
- Widths above 270mm can start to feel unwieldy on groomers and in trees, making quick edge-to-edge transitions tougher for party riding.
- Some riders size down to boards with waists as low as 248mm, but widths in the 254-270mm range tend to be the sweet spot of float versus maneuverability.
- If you’re a beginner rider or have smaller feet/lower weight, sticking to the narrower 250-254mm range will make a party board feel more playful and responsive without losing float.
See also: Powder board size: should you go wide?
Party boards vs other types of snowboards
Here are some of the main differences between party boards and other types of snowboards.
All-Mountain boards
- Have more directional shapes for advanced riding in varied terrain
- Emphasis on stability at speed over playfulness
- Often have traditional camber for power and edge hold
Freestyle boards
- Designed for park riding and tricks with little to no camber
- Very flexible and soft feeling with emphasis on spin-ability
- Shorter in length for maneuverability in the park
Powder boards
- Even wider than party boards for floating deep snow
- Often have set back stance positions for back seat riding
- More specialized solely for deep powder days
Party boards
- True twin or directional twin shape for playfulness regular or switch
- Soft and forgiving flex to make tricks accessible
- Wider than freestyle but not as wide as powder boards
- Emphasis on having fun in mixed terrain at slower speeds
| Snowboard Type | Shape | Flex | Width (waist) | Target Terrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party Board | True Twin or Directional Twin | Soft-Medium | 254-270mm | Mixed groomed and ungroomed terrain at slower speeds. Emphasis on playfulness over performance. |
| All-Mountain | Directional | Medium-Stiff | 248-254mm | Variable terrain at higher speeds. Balance of stability and maneuverability. |
| Freestyle | True Twin | Very Soft | 242-248mm | Park features like jumps, rails, pipes. Agile and spin-friendly. |
| Powder Board | Directional | Soft | 270mm+ | Deep, fluffy snow. Wider nose and tail for floatation in powder. |
| Carving Board | Directional | Stiff | 248-254mm | Groomed trails for advanced carving. Emphasis on edge hold at speed. |
Party boards are more versatile than freestyle boards but not as specialized as powder or all-mountain boards. They have just enough width to stay afloat in soft snow without being too wide for maneuvering on groomers.
Their true twin or directional twin shape, combined with a soft-medium flex, also makes them easy to ride in both regular and switch stances.
K2 Party Platter
The K2 Party Platter continues to be a favorite among riders looking for a playful party board. At 147cm, it handles small park features with ease and carves tight tree lines, yet maintains the stability to charge when you want to lay it on edge.
While not the quickest board on groomers, its smooth flex and locked-in camber allow strong carves in and out of turns.
Some riders are concerned about edge hold at speed given its width, but people are often surprised at how solid it feels while still allowing stylish tricks in the hits.
Where it really shines is up to its name – the Party Platter absolutely throws down in the pow. With its setback inserts and wider tail, leaning back unleashes a surfy ride that’s a blast in deep days.
Whether in the park, trees, or deep stuff, the K2 Party Platter truly knows how to party.
All the details about the Party Platter (Evo)
Rome Party Mod
If you’re looking for a board that can do it all, the Rome Party Mod deserves your attention. While it may not float quite as well as those super short and fat powder shapes, the standard length makes it way more fun to ride everywhere else.
Are you getting tired of wrestling tiny boards around? This one gives you more control at speed. It also provides improved edge hold on groomers compared to those ultra-narrow twins. The Party Mod still brings the fun in the features, as it really pops off in the park.
Just be careful at first since that continuous rocker is snappier than camber. But once you get used to how it engages, you’ll love floating landings.
Salomon Dancehaul
The Dancehaul really shines both in the park and all over the mountain. While it’s directional shape helps it charge, this board is super playful whenever you want to mess around. You’ll likely sell your regular park/resort twin after getting the Dancehaul!
The soft nose and slight taper make landings buttery smooth. Whether you’re dropping in or just cruising, the pop you get makes any trick easy to throw down.
Many riders feel the 152 size is just right if you’re around 84kg/185lbs, giving you plenty of surface area to feel stable at speed but still maneuverable through features.
The Dancehaul and Party Platter are pretty similar. Both have centered stances and nearly identical taper. You can’t go wrong with either as a fun freestyle board that also rides the whole mountain.
Just think about if you want something a bit fatter like the Party Platter or if riding switch is more your thing, as the Dancehaul is a little more playful option for messing around regular or goofy.
Check out the Dancehaul on Evo
Other popular party boards
These are additional popular models often considered for a party board:
- Bataleon Party Wave+ (use it even for jibing, ride switch without issue)
- GNU Gremlin 152 or 155 (magnetraction and mid-wide shape)
- Ride Peace Seeker 147