5 Best East Coast Snowboards for 2024: Excellent Boards for Ice

Here is a collection of the best snowboards for East Coast riding.

If you are an East Coast snowboarder, you know we don’t always get the picture-perfect conditions that other riders do out west. We go out to our favorite resorts, knowing that conditions will be challenging. We face slopes that are entirely made of ice. We often hit patches of slippery, hard snow, and we rarely experience the softer, powder day. With that in mind, it can be challenging to read snowboard reviews online and know if the board you’re reading about will work for you on this side of the country. That’s why I made this list. I’m from Pennsylvania and also experience the same icy conditions as you do.

In this post, I’ll share my top picks for the best snowboards for East Coast riding. The boards on this list are designed to handle everything from icy groomers to deep powder to parks. There will be a board on this list for every riding style. However, all of the boards share one thing in common. They all have an incredible amount of edge hold, and they will work well for you while carving the icy East Coast terrain.

So, let’s get right to it.

The Best Resort Boards for East Coast Riders

Jones Mountain Twin (Men’s) & Jones Twin Sister (Women’s)

The Jones Mountain Twin and its women’s counterpart, the Jones Twin Sister, stand as exceptional choices for East Coast riding thanks to their phenomenal edge hold on ice, stability, and forgiving, easy-to-ride flex pattern. These are boards that you can ride anywhere at your favorite resort while having the additional stability and edge hold required for when conditions start to get slippery.

So what makes these boards so East Coast friendly? It’s their Traction Tech Edges. These boards feature Jones’ proprietary edge technology called Traction Tech 3.0. Traction Tech 3.0 means that there are three additional contact points built into the edges of this snowboard on both sides. Traction Tech 3.0 is the primary feature that allows the Jones Mountain Twin to have a superior edge hold on ice or more challenging, harder conditions. If you were to look downward at the snowboard’s edges, you would see a few extended contact points that look like this.

Additionally, these boards feature a hybrid camber profile. There is a camber section between your feet and rocker that goes past your bindings in both the nose and tail. If you were to look at these boards from the side, the profile would look like this.

This type of camber profile offers the playfulness of a freestyle board with the stability, power, and drive of a camber-dominant board. What makes this profile perfect for East Coast riding is its stability at higher speeds on firmer snow.

Another notable feature in both the Mountain Twin and Twin Sister is its 3D, spoon-like contour base in the nose and tail. This diagram illustrates it well.

This spoon-like feature allows the board to glide effortlessly in deeper snow while assisting greatly with turn initiation. You’ll notice it as soon as you make your first turn. Carving on the Jones Mountain Twin feels simple and smooth while still having enough power and response to charge.

The Mountain Twin has remained the same for the new 2024 version. The only updates are the addition of a new, smaller 149 size to the lineup and the new graphics on the topsheet.

Now, we are shifting our attention to the Jones Twin Sister specifically. The Twin Sister shares all of the same features as the Mountain Twin. It is just as versatile to ride anywhere at your favorite resort. The only difference lies in its slightly softer flex, catering to the preferences and riding style of women riders. All other features of the Twin Sister mirror those of the Mountain Twin.

Both the Jones Mountain Twin and the Jones Twin Sister are perfect for any East Coast riders looking for a versatile resort board that’s extremely fun to ride and can handle the edge-hold demands of riding ice. If you’d like to learn more, read our in-depth Jones Mountain Twin snowboard review.

Pros

• Excellent edge hold on the East Coast ice
• Damp ride thanks to the dual-density full premium wood core featuring a 2:1 paulownia to poplar stringer ratio
• Directional Shape / Stability while riding switch – One board with unmatched versatility.
• Three-year warranty (two-year warranty with a one free year extension)
• Its shape. All mountain twin that can carve like a directional freeride snowboard.
• Pre-Broken in – All Jones boards come with “Forever Flex.” A machine was used to mimic extreme riding.

Cons

• Flex rating is on the stiffer side
• Not the best board for rails
• Not the most beginner-friendly (Great for more advanced riders)

Sizes Available: 149, 151, 156 Wide, 157, 159 Wide, 160, 162 Wide, 163, 165 Wide, 168 Wide

Flex: Medium to Stiff 6/10

Bindings to Pair With It: Jones Mercury Bindings

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Best East Coast Snowboards for Carving

Never Summer Proto FR (Men’s) & Lady FR (Women’s)

The Proto FR and its female counterpart, the Lady FR, are extremely fast, aggressive, yet easy-to-ride carving boards that are sheer perfection for East Coast riding. The Proto FR is designed to handle every type of condition riders encounter, from powder to ice and everything in between.

The Never Summer Proto FR has two key features that make this snowboard phenomenal at carving through all conditions. First is its board profile. Never Summer gave the Proto FR its Triple Fusion Camber profile.

Here is what it would look like if you were to look at this snowboard from the side.

The board profile has three camber sections connected by two smaller rocker sections. The benefit to having more overall camber in a hybrid profile is that the camber sections dig in as you carve, giving this board an aggressive edge hold and added stability while still being easy to transition edge to edge and float in powder. Basically, it has all of the responsive benefits of a camber dominant snowboard while being easy to ride in all conditions.

The second feature that helps this board carve well is its Power Grip Sidecut.

The main idea behind this feature is that the Proto FR has three different radii from the nose to the tail. The benefit is that the different sidecut angles give this board additional contact points that add stability and edge hold on ice, while the straight section adds stability at slower speeds and while floating in deeper snow.

Never Summer added rubber and other dampening features into the Proto FR. They call this feature the RDS 1 Damping System. The dampening system eliminates the chatter and vibrations you normally feel in your legs while riding on harder snow at higher speeds. The benefit is that you can ride the Proto FR longer than some other boards on this list before your legs get tired.

The wood core of the Proto FR is a combination of bamboo reinforced with birch stringers. The result is a snowboard that is lighter weight and more durable than other decks out there. Additionally, the sidewalls are designed to be durable and crack-free, thanks to Never Summer making them out of sintered P-Tex. The base of the Proto FR is scientifically built to reach insanely high speeds. It is a high-quality sintered base specifically intended for racing. The base on the Proto FR is made with an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE), black carbon, and modified with special paraffin base additives. You can glide through any terrain while ripping at speeds you have never reached before.

If you are looking for a resort board ready to carve at high speeds through all conditions, get the Never Summer Proto FR.

Pros

• Phenomenal resort carver – Good on groomers, powder, or ice
• Edge control is next level
• Lightweight / Maneuverable
• Fast / Durable
• Loads of pop / Energy in board
• This board is powder ready. Tt has a directional shape with a .75 inch (19.05 millimeters) set back stance and .12 an inch (5 millimeters) of taper.

Cons

• Slightly more expensive than some of the others. However, you get a lot of tech built in. There is a lot of board for your money here.
• The waist width is narrow, so note if you need a wide (X) or extra wide (DF) size. X sized boards would be for riders with a USA Men’s shoe size of 10.5 through 12. DF sized boards would be for riders with a shoe size larger than a USA Men’s 12.

Sizes: 156, 157X (Wide), 160, 161X (Wide), 162DF (Extra Wide),164, 165X (Wide), 166DF (Extra Wide)

Note: If your shoe size is between 10.5 – 12, then get an X (wide board). If your shoe size is greater than a 12, get a DF (extra wide “Drag Free”) board.

Bindings to Pair With It: Union Falcor

Flex: Stiff ( 9 out of 10)

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Best Freeride Snowboard for Icy Conditions

Lib Tech Dynamo (Men’s) & Dynamiss (Women’s)

The Lib Tech Dynamo and Dynamiss are directional freeride snowboards that are versatile enough for you to take them anywhere on the mountain. These snowboards have a slightly wider nose than its tail. The wider nose helps the board float above the powder on those steep days. The directional shape of the Dynamo and Dynamiss gives the board a fun, predictable carve. While the Dynamo or Dynamiss are intended to ride in your regular stance, you could still land switch if you were to do a 180.

The East Coast carving potential of this board is immense because it features Lib Tech’s Magne-Traction edges. The edges are serrated strategically to provide an exceptional edge hold while you are carving through all conditions. When you look along the sidecut of the board, you will see there are seven angled bumps built into in the edges. These serrated bumps bite into the snow as you carve. No matter how icy it is, this board is going to carve well for you.

The board profile is a C3 camber. It looks like this.

The C3 is a traditional camber board with the slightest bit rocker between your feet. If you were to lay this snowboard board flat on its base, you would notice the rocker between your feet is mild and does not reach the surface it is laying on. The result is you get the versatility of a rocker with the stability of a camber snowboard.

The Dynamo’s core is a wood blend of 75% aspen and 25% paulownia. The combination of wood gives the board its balanced playfulness and lightweight. There are birch rails running through the sidecut to enhance the board’s power and durability.

The laminates are a combination of triaxial and biaxial Fiberglass, and the base is Lib Tech’s Eco Sublimated TNT base. The base is designed to be as tough as a sintered base while reaming fast with less maintenance.

If you are looking for a high performance freeride board that could carve through any condition you throw at it, this is the board for you.

Pros

• Directional shape gives it a natural powder float
• Magne Traction – offers excellent edge hold on East Coast ice
• Softer flex in a freeride board

Cons

• Not great for beginners
• Not intended to ride switch

Sizes Available: 150, 153, 156, 156 Wide, 159, 159 Wide, 162, 162 Wide

Flex: Medium 5/10

Bindings to Pair With It: Bent Metal Solution

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The Best Rocker Snowboards for East Coast Resort Riding

The C2X GNU Riders Choice (Men’s) & Ladies Choice (Women’s)

The C2X version of the GNU Asym Riders Choice Snowboard is a do it all asymmetrical twin that is light, stable, and poppy while being ridiculously easy to ride.

This version of the Riders Choice is built on the C2X rocker profile. This profile is a more exaggerated rocker (curves like the letter u) between the bindings while slight camber sections under your foot (curves like the letter n). The board’s profile looks like this.

The benefits of the board’s profile are that it will have the playful, forgiving feel of a banana rocker shape with the combined responsive precision of a traditional camber board.

Additionally, this snowboard has an asymmetrical sidecut. That means that it has a deeper heelside sidecut than its toe side edge. The asymmetrical shape helps it lock into turns and make it slightly easier to ride than other boards on this list. It is also a twin shape so that it will ride switch as well. However, if you ride with a regular or goofy stance, you will want to set this board up with the designated heelside edge being your primary heelside edge.

The Riders Choice is the perfect board for east coast riders because it can hold an edge even on ice. The GNU Riders Choice holds an edge incredibly well thanks to its Magne Traction edges. If you were to look at the edges of this board, you would see they look like a serrated steak knife. This image does a great job showing the wavy, Magne Traction serrated edges and highlights their benefit.

Combine the serrated edges with the asym shape and C2x profile, and you have a playful all-mountain board that can grip anything.

The GNU Riders Choice is made to be durable, lightweight, poppy, and fast. The core of the board is a combination of aspen and paulownia wood. GNU also added in UHMW (ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene) sidewalls to help the board remain unharmed if it hits a rail or rock on its side. To round it all off, GNU added in a fast-sintered base. The base is durable and will remain fast for you when you wax and maintain it.

If you’re looking for an awesome snowboard that is fun to ride and can hold an edge in all conditions, get the GNU Asym Riders Choice or Ladies Choice Snowboard.

Pros

• A playful / easy to ride all mountain board (Good for beginners through advanced riders)
• Asymmetrical twin shape – this makes it easier to carve / allows you to ride longer with less fatigue in your legs
• Light, durable, and poppy core
• Sintered base
• Magne traction edges – the edge hold is incredible on East Coast ice
• An excellent do it all snowboard
• Hand made in the USA

Cons

• It does ok in powder thanks to the rocker profile between the feet. However, if you will be riding deeper snow often, check out one of the directional shape boards on this list.

Sizes: 139.5, 142.5, 145.5, 148.5, 151.5, 153.5

Flex: Soft / Medium (4 out of 10)

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The Best East Coast Park Snowboard

Jones Tweaker Snowboard 2024

The Tweaker was added last season as the first park focused board in the Jones Snowboards lineup. While this board is primarily intended for park riding, it also includes a handful of other tech features that make it versatile enough to be your daily driver in all types of conditions.

Here is an overview of all of the features you will find in this snowboard.

The Tweaker has a traditional camber profile with a blunted nose and tail. The blunted shape keeps the weight of the board down while hitting jumps without hindering how this snowboard performs while carving in any way.

One feature that stands out against other park boards is how well of an edge hold you can get on the Tweaker. This board features Traction Tech 2.0 edges. This feature is what makes the Jones Tweaker the perfect snowboard for riding in icy conditions. Traction Tech 2.0 means there is a waved serrated edge that you carve with on this snowboard. The serrated edge adds additional contact points and grip to this snowboard. The waved edges work with the camber profile of this board to offer a firmer grip to the snow as you turn edge to edge.

This image shows the additional contact points in the Tweaker. The additional contact points are highlighted in orange.

The Jones Tweaker is a medium flexing snowboard in the center with a stiffer flexing nose and tail. The hybrid flex gives the board an additional level of pop while making it stable enough to stomp your landings off of larger kickers.

This board also has a 3d spoon-like curvature in its nose and tail. This image shows the spoon-like curvature to give you an idea of how this looks when rested on a flat surface.

This 3d feature combines with the camber board profile to help the board butter, float in powder, and give this board a catch-free feel while still being incredibly responsive.

Jones added a poplar wood core to keep the board lightweight and durable. The base of Tweaker is a fast sintered base. It will remain fast for you if you wax it regularly.

Also check out our in-depth Jones Tweaker review. Besides the board’s new graphic and three additional sizes (149, 160W, and 162), the 2024 version of this board shares all of the same features as the 2023 version. On snow, the 2024 Jones Tweaker rides exactly the same as it did last season, and that’s a good thing.

If you’re looking for a versatile board that can rip the park while being all-mountain / all-conditions ready out of the park, check out the Jones Tweaker snowboard.

Pros

• Twin shape with blunted tips – helps jumps and spins
• 3d profile – Helps with landing off axis
• Traction Tech 2.0 – Helps improve its edge hold even while carving on ice
• Eco friendly materials
• 3 year warranty

Cons

• It might be too stiff and aggressive for some riders who want a softer, jib board

Sizes: 149, 151,154,156, 157 Wide, 159, 160 Wide, 162

Flex: Medium (6 out of 10)

Bindings to Pair With It: Jones Meteorite Snowboard Binding

Do You Actually Need Special Edges to Ride on the East Coast?

The short answer is no. Standard snowboard edges will work well to carve through icy East Coast conditions.

Over the years, snowboard manufacturers have begun to include special edge technologies, which are said to help riders increase their level of grip while carving to icy conditions. These edge technologies often include serrated edges that mimic a steak knife, like Magne Traction, or additional contact point notches designed into the edges of snowboards. Snowboards that offer additional edge hold or have a high level of edge hold are often recommended to East Coast riders because of the amount of ice we typically ride each year.

However, it is still out for debate if an additional edge technology actually works to help you grip better on ice.

A few years ago, the team at The House did a study where they tested all of the latest snowboard edge technology that was specifically designed to help the boards carve on ice. They rode each board on an ice skating rink. They ultimately determined that the board’s edge technology and camber profile don’t make a large noticeable difference when carving on ice. They can help slightly. However, all you really need is a sharp edge.

You can watch the study here.

Also Check Out Our Other Snowboard Guides:

Best Snowboards for 2024

Best Park Snowboards

Best Freeride Snowboards for Carving

Best Snowboards for Kids

Best Complete Snowboards for Beginners

Best Powder Snowboards

Best Women’s Snowboards

Best Snowboard Boots

Best Bindings for Park Riding

Best Snowboard Goggles

Snowboard Size Calculator & Board Size Guide

Capita Ultrafear Snowboard Review