• Price: $500
• Category: Freeride/Powder
• Ability Level: Intermediate, Advanced
• Size: 141, 145, 148, 152
• Flex: 5/10
• Shape: Directional
• Profile: CamRock
• Base:Extruded
• BUY DIRECT FROM YES

It’s not all about length. A well-trodden phrase, but it’s true. Much like surfboards are about volume, powder snowboards are about surface area. This was the inspiration that bore the 420 nine years ago and has seen it grow into a worldwide phenomenon, with many brands now offering shorter and stubbier powder boards.

New for this season is a shorter offering of a 141 size. This opens the 420 up to more female riders and the groms who’ve grown out the PowInc. Keep in mind that the board is designed to be ridden around 8-10cm shorter than your regular deck.

“A shorter edge and shallower radius mean you can turn the board on a sixpence and navigate even the tightest of lines”

The reduction in length also allows a for a shorter effective edge. Trees become a whole new playground on the 420. A shorter edge and shallower radius mean you can turn the board on a sixpence and navigate even the tightest of lines. It’s easy to overlook the pure stoke-inducing fun of trees when you’re riding a 164W juggernaut that takes on the role of an axe as soon as you’re under the canopy of the pines. No so for the 420. The reaction and agility of this one will leave you lapping up night laps in Niseko fully trusting its ability to sneak out of any tight spots.

The long rocker in the nose allows you to ride completely centred, confident that it will keep you from submerging on even the deepest days. There’s a touch of rocker in the tail, too, so if you fancy recreating the magic from the previous run in switch then it’s certainly not out of the question.

“The minimal and easy-going nature of the 420’s core construction allows the shape and profile to do most of the heavy lifting here”

The minimal and easy-going nature of the 420’s core construction allows the shape and profile to do most of the heavy lifting here. The core is constructed purely from poplar stringers, sandwiched between biax fibreglass layers. Torsionally, it makes the snowboard pretty forgiving so you can get creative with powder butters or just enjoy being able to take your foot off the gas when the legs are tired at the end of the day.

Remember, though, this is an out-and-out powder board. Horses for courses and all that. Take it to the kind of terrain it’s made for and it’ll never let you down. Just be prepared to bring another board in your luggage in case you miss-timed the snowfall by a few weeks. For those who want that same shape, with the minerals to back it up, the new Pro20 will be more to your liking.