Board of the World, written as BoardoftheWorld, began in August of 2020 by author, digital marketer, and board sport enthusiast Steve Weber.
About Board of the World
Board of the World is an online skateboard and snowboard shop specializing in writing gear reviews. We are dedicated to helping you find the perfect gear. Read our full about us page to learn more.
The Goal of Board of the World
Board of the World’s goal is to help you find the right board sports gear for your needs. I (Steve) want you to find a board that works for you, so you can spend more time outside enjoying it and less time looking at your phone reading reviews.
Why I Created Board of the World
I initially created Board of the World as my passion project brand. It allowed me to get better at writing and web development while allowing me to share my thoughts on how each skateboard and snowboard that I rode during the year felt under my feet.
This brand has evolved into something larger than I ever could have hoped, though. And thank you immensely for reading this and being part of its growth! However, the main difference from Board of the World then and now is that now I occasionally get invited to industry events and get to demo boards that I don’t always own.
I will make you the promise that even if I don’t own all of the gear that I am riding, I will continue to be as unbiased and objective as I can describing what each piece of gear felt like to me.
Our Commitment to Our Readers
People who visit this website make their buying choices based on my knowledge, suggestions, and the details I share with them.
Readers rely on me to provide them with accurate and unbiased reviews, so I maintain independence from brands and do my best to offer straightforward, honest opinions on how each board felt to me as I rode it.
With that said, my ability to provide accurate, in-depth reviews is a result of my ever-evolving and thorough testing Methodology.
About Our Testing Methodology
I get to demo between 10 -30 snowboards and skateboards each year. Each item that I write a review about has been tested personally by me. As I ride each board, I take notes on its performance in a few key areas. I then use those notes to write out the review, and if I have footage of me riding it, I will also supplement the written review with a video review that I share on the Board of the World TikTok and YouTube profiles.
How Long Do I Ride Each Board Before Writing the Review?
The honest answer is that it varies. There are two types of reviews you will read on this website.
My Longer “In-Depth Reviews” – The board was ridden for more than one full week.
If you see the words “In-Depth” in the titles or first paragraphs of any of my reviews, please know you are reading an in-depth review of a product that I have ridden and reviewed for more than one full week. In most cases, these are for boards that I have purchased myself and ridden for an entire season.
To put it simply, the more notes that I have for a board, I will share them with you.
My Shorter Reviews – The board was ridden for less than one full week.
In some cases, I will write a review for a board that I rented for a few days or got to ride at a demo event.
In most cases, these reviews will be on the shorter side because I will not have as many notes to share with you about the board.
In each review, I will document how many days I got to ride the board in a section of the review called “Days I Rode.”
My testing methodology enables me to push each piece of gear to its limits so I can uncover any potential weaknesses or shortcomings and highlight any standout features or benefits.
It is worth noting that my approach is going to be different from board to board. This is because I tailor my tests to each specific board category, the intended use of the item, or any unique characteristics associated with the product compared to a similar one in its category.
In other words, there are several different types of snowboards and skateboards that have different purposes (strengths they are intended for), and I take that into consideration. I review and score each board to the main characteristics and buying considerations for the category the board is in.
So, with that in mind, let’s dive into how I conduct my scored tests in each category of the gear that I review.
How We Test And Review
How We Score Our Snowboard Reviews
I don’t just ride each snowboard and write the first details that come to mind. I thoroughly test each snowboard in the categories and conditions that it’s meant for.
To keep the scoring system simple, I break down our reviews with a scoring system that’s all about what matters to you.
Here’s the summary:
- Each snowboard gets rated in different areas, from 0 to 5 stars (with 5 being perfection, for the category).
- The importance of each area changes depending on the snowboard’s style. Think of it like grading a math test differently from an art project. They don’t evaluate the same things, and different types of snowboards aren’t meant for the same things.
- For example, a powder board needs to float like a dream in deep snow, so the flotation score counts for more than that category. Who cares if it can’t jib rails? Rail skills aren’t a priority for a powder board, so those points don’t weigh as heavily on the final score.
Basically, I use the main buying considerations to weight certain sections higher than others depending on each board’s major intended use.
Here is how I am currently scoring each category that I review. (Please know that this is an ever-improving process, so I will update this section as it changes and include the latest date for each iteration of the change. )
All Mountain Snowboard Rating Scores:
As of 3/29/2024
| Considerations | Weight / Importance to Score |
|---|---|
| Resort Riding / Versatility | 10 |
| Pop / Power | 10 |
| Powder | 5 |
| Carving / Turns | 10 |
| Responsiveness | 10 |
| Speed | 10 |
| Ice / Poor Conditions | 10 |
| Switch | 5 |
| Jibs | 5 |
| Jumps | 10 |
| Dampness | 5 |
| Buttering | 5 |
| Fun to ride | 5 |
| Total | 100 |
Freestyle / Park Snowboard Rating Scores:
As of 3/29/2024
| Considerations | Weight / Importance to Score |
|---|---|
| Resort Riding / Versatility | 5 |
| Pop / Power | 10 |
| Powder | 3 |
| Carving / Turns | 5 |
| Responsiveness | 5 |
| Speed | 10 |
| Ice / Poor Conditions | 5 |
| Switch | 10 |
| Jibs | 15 |
| Jumps | 15 |
| Dampness | 5 |
| Buttering | 10 |
| Fun to ride | 2 |
| Total | 100 |
Freeride Snowboard Rating Scores:
As of 3/29/2024
| Considerations | Weight / Importance to Score |
|---|---|
| Resort Riding / Versatility | 10 |
| Pop / Power | 10 |
| Powder | 10 |
| Carving / Turns | 10 |
| Responsiveness | 10 |
| Speed | 10 |
| Ice / Poor Conditions | 10 |
| Switch | 2 |
| Jibs | 2 |
| Jumps | 10 |
| Dampness | 10 |
| Buttering | 2 |
| Fun to ride | 4 |
| Total | 100 |
Powder Snowboard Rating Scores:
As of 3/29/2024
| Considerations | Weight / Importance to Score |
|---|---|
| Resort Riding / Versatility | 10 |
| Pop / Power | 5 |
| Powder | 30 |
| Carving / Turns | 10 |
| Responsiveness | 5 |
| Speed | 10 |
| Ice / Poor Conditions | 5 |
| Switch | 2 |
| Jibs | 2 |
| Jumps | 5 |
| Dampness | 10 |
| Buttering | 2 |
| Fun to ride | 4 |
| Total | 100 |
All-Mountain / Freestyle Snowboard Rating Scores:
As of 3/29/2024
| Considerations | Weight / Importance to Score |
|---|---|
| Resort Riding / Versatility | 15 |
| Pop / Power | 5 |
| Powder | 3 |
| Carving / Turns | 15 |
| Responsiveness | 5 |
| Speed | 10 |
| Ice / Poor Conditions | 5 |
| Switch | 5 |
| Jibs | 10 |
| Jumps | 15 |
| Dampness | 5 |
| Buttering | 5 |
| Fun to ride | 2 |
| Total | 100 |
About Each Categorically Scored Section:
An explanation of the 14 scored areas for each of my reviews:
Resort Riding / Versatility: How versatile is the board for riding all over the typical ski resort? A 5 in this category indicates that this board can go everywhere and do everything at your local ski resort.
Pop / Power: Does this board have any additional pop to it? When you ollie does it give you what you load into it, or does it feel lifeless. When you connect your turns, does it feel like it offers some extra power transmission? A 5 in this category means that this board has some pop and power to offer you.
Powder: How well does this board float in deep snow? A 5 would indicate that it can float with ease in powder or deep snow.
Carving / Turns: How nice does it feel to make carves of all sizes with this board? This includes short, tight, wide, and skidded turns. A 5 in this category would mean that this board is a high performing carver.
Responsiveness: Does this board feel like it gives you what you put into it quickly and intuitively, or does it feel sluggish or lagging? A 5 in this category would mean that there is a high degree of response in this board.
Speed: How fast does the board’s base feel compared to the standard sintered base? A 5 would mean that this board is noticeably faster than the standard sintered base board.
Ice / Poor Conditions: How well does this board handle icy terrain or poor choppy conditions? This category measures the edge hold/grip performance of the board. A 5 in this category would indicate that this board grips exceptionally well to ice.
Switch: How well does this board ride switch stance? A 5 in this category means that this is a board that rides well from your opposite stance.
Jibs: How well does this board jib? This score includes pressed jibs like nose presses as well as how well the board molds to the feature to help you balance on it. A 5 in this category means it’s an easy board to jib with.
Jumps: How well does this board work for popping off jumps of all sizes? How stable is it for landings? A 5 in this category means it is meant for jumps, and you can hit most jumps with it confidently.
Dampness: How smooth of a ride does this board feel? A 5 in this category means that it is a damp feeling board where you will feel very little chatter.
Buttering: How well does this board swivel around in butter? A 5 in this category would indicate this board is excellent for butter and flat ground tricks.
Fun to ride: How much fun did I have on this board? A 5 would indicate that it was a lot of fun to ride for its primary intended purpose.
Our goal is always to provide detailed and accurate information to help you find the best snowboard for your specific needs and style of riding. Keep in mind that the top snowboards can work well for any rider as long as they meet your requirements.
An excellent snowboard should perform well in various conditions and terrains, from smooth trails to deep powder to steep backcountry slopes. It should also be durable and dependable, capable of enduring regular use without breaking or degrading its performance. Finally, an excellent snowboard should be worth its price tag, meaning that it should be made with high-quality materials and construction and provide the rider with a good value for their money.
How We Test Skateboards
We don’t just ride each skateboard for a week; we put each deck through thorough testing tailored to its intended style of skating.
Our skateboard reviews revolve around six key aspects:
- The deck’s overall shape and feel.
- The deck’s overall strength.
- How well it slides and performs for ledge tricks.
- The amount of pop it offers.
- Its value for the money.
- The overall quality of the deck.
Our primary goal is to offer you detailed and accurate information to assist you in finding the perfect skateboard deck. Keep in mind that the finest skate decks can work well for any skater as long as they meet your specific needs.
A top-notch skateboard should be durable enough to endure the demands of street skating, including being dropped, stomped on, and scraped. Additionally, an outstanding should justify its price by offering a great value for your money.
Our Team
Steve Weber is the passionate snowboarder, skateboarder, and author behind Board of the World. He understands that most gear reviews focus on having the perfect snow conditions, but his testing methodology is different. Living in Pennsylvania, Steve describes exactly how a board performs when the conditions aren’t perfect. His reviews cover performance on ice, hardpack, and flat-out brick conditions. In other words, he reviews boards for the conditions that East Coast riders actually face.
Bringing 27 years of East Coast snowboarding and 21 years of skateboarding experience, Steve is a 42-year-old intermediate park rider. His recommendations are informed by decades of battling icy conditions, ensuring every review accounts for the board’s performance on the roughest of terrain.
For the last five years, Steve has poured his passion into writing in-depth, unbiased reviews that help riders make informed decisions about the gear they’ll use. He also works part-time at a snowboard shop in Northeastern Pennsylvania, which gives him a direct line to learning about the new gear tech months in advance. When he’s not writing reviews, Steve is often found riding at Montage Mountain and testing out new boards.
Steve’s goal with Board of the World is simple: to help every reader find the right gear so they can have fun outside from the first time they use it.
Affiliate Disclosure
Sometimes, when you make a purchase using the links on our website, we receive affiliate commissions from retailers. However, it’s important to note that if you buy a product and then decide to return it to the retailer, we won’t earn any commission on that transaction.
We want to make it clear that our recommendations are based on the quality of the products, and whether or not we have an affiliate relationship with a retailer does not influence our recommendations. Our primary commitment is always to our readers. We’ve communicated to all our retail partners that our top priority is providing trustworthy information to our audience.
Board of the World wouldn’t be where it is today without the trust our readers have in us. This trust enables us to do what we love every day, and we are dedicated to safeguarding that trust. You can read more about our affiliate disclosure here.