Snowboards

Stone Merken Message Snowboard 2022-2023

PRICE: €349

French brand Stone has been shaking up in the industry in recent years, especially with their surf-style splitboards. Based in the Pyrenees, they’re a small independent unit, focused on using predominantly European suppliers, rather than mass-manufacturing their boards in far-flung lands. The Message has long been one of their most popular all-mountain freestyle models – and it’s easy to see why. Ideal for beginners right up to advanced riders, it’s a traditional camber board with a light poplar core that has plenty of pop. This season, they’ve launched it in collaboration with up-and-coming ripper Julien Merken. Get ready for buttery antics around the mountain.

As soon as I stepped on this board I could feel it was pretty damn stiff right the way through from tip to tail, so it’s not much of a noodle for pressing on boxes and rails. But man is it stable for sidehits and the jump line, you can load a hell of lot of pop up in that stiff camber profile for big airs. And the wider waist width makes landings feel super comfortable and easy. And the same tech meant that I could really push into my turns and point it down a cruddy, frozen slush morning without getting absolutely bucked.

All in, I’d say that if you’re looking for something for the big kicker line, or to absolutely blast around the piste this would be a good option. The only improvement for me would be a smidge more flex in the nose / tail to open up a little more room for presses.

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Splitboards

Stone Legalize Splitboard 2022-2023

PRICE: €499

When it comes to splitboards, French brand Stone offers a veritable feast of shapes to choose from. Are you looking for a fish-tailed, surf-style number? Or a wide-nose floater? New for 2023, the Legalize is pure all-mountain in style, designed in collaboration with photographer Matt Georges (you’ll likely have spotted his work in our mag). The rocker-camber profile rides just as well on the piste as it does in knee-deep pow, plus Stone have added extra rigidity down the centre of the board for greater stability. Added bonus: the price is surprisingly affordable; splitboards don’t have to cost the earth anymore.

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