Full transparency: As a woman who has worked in the snowboard industry for over a decade, I have my fair share of boards. From my humble beginnings at Boulder Ski Deals (the real ones know), to my present day role as Marketing Manager at Weston, my quiver is very well rounded. I’ve been extremely lucky to be able demo a large variety of boards out there in that ladies or unisex offering and #blessed to have access to some of the best directional powder and freeride shapes on the market.
My biggest piece of advice to the ladies out there looking for snowboards right now, don’t sleep on the directional boards! For some reason, the majority of gals only want twins. Seems like we have not yet cracked the code on the benefits of getting into unique shapes or owning multiple boards to round out the quiver. Maybe a twin board is just a safe bet? Are we just conservative spenders? Or maybe it’s what we’re used to seeing the pro’s ride in snowboard edits, the X games, the Olympics, etc. The female snowboard representation out there heavily features gnarly chicks throwing down in freestyle competitions, halfpipe, or street edits (and they absolutely shred)! But you have to do a bit more digging to find the big mountain, powderhound, freeride, backcountry chicas out there. If you do find ‘em, you’ll notice they fully embrace the joys of the directional board.
The reality is, a directional board is designed to ride the way you want it to. Let’s be real, how much of the time are you actually riding switch? If it’s 50% of the time or you’re spending the majority of the time in the park, then yes, a twin board is probably for you. But if you’re only riding switch every now and then to get out of a hairy situation in the trees, or to mess around on the flats on your way back to the lift, let’s dive deeper into the magic of the directional board. Let’s dissect Why Directional Boards Should Be an Essential Part of Your Quiver.
When it comes to building out your quiver, the conversation usually starts with versatility. What can handle it all? But as anyone who's chased fresh lines or punched through trees in a storm can tell you, a true quiver isn’t complete without a directional board. Whether you're stacking boards in your van or dreaming of that one-board solution for pow missions, a directional deck isn’t just another shape. It’s a tool with purpose, built for riding free and diving deep into the mountains.
At Weston, we live and breathe directional. Here's why you should too.
1. They're Designed for the Ride Down
While twin boards shine in the park and can handle some all-mountain terrain, directional boards are purpose-built to send it down the fall line. The stance is set back, the nose is longer and often wider than the tail, and every detail is engineered to charge. That means better float in pow, better edge hold at speed, and more stability when things get spicy. Boards like the Backwoods, Japow, and Eclipse are legends in their own right for precisely this reason, they were designed to surf the mountain.
2. Float Like a Dream in Deep Snow
Riding powder on a directional board is like discovering an extra gear. The elongated nose and setback stance naturally lift the board, keeping you on top of the snow with less effort. That means more energy to ride longer, hit more lines, and link up turns with the flow you dream about. Our Japow, with its massive nose and tapered tail, is basically a hovercraft for deep days.
And if you're splitting time between backcountry laps and resort pow, the Eclipse and Backwoods Splitboard delivers that same float with touring efficiency built in.
3. Precision + Power When It Matters
Directional boards are built to be stable and powerful. When you're riding fast, navigating tight chutes, or pointing it through no-fall zones, having a board that holds an edge and keeps you in control is key. Weston’s directional designs often incorporate materials like carbon stringers or aluminum-reinforced cores (check the Backwoods Carbon Splitboard or Gnarnia Carbon Split) for added torsional stiffness and responsiveness without adding weight.
Bottom line: a directional board reacts how you want it to - no surprises, just reliable performance when you need it most.
4. Carving on a Directional Board Feels Like Flying Sideways
There’s carving... and then there’s carving on a directional. If you know, you know. That locked-in, edge-to-edge precision that lets you dig trenches without slipping out or chattering like a cheap box store deck. Directional shapes are made for this—longer noses, tighter sidecuts, and stiffer tails create a natural arc that locks you into turns like you're on rails.
It’s the difference between making turns, and riding the mountain. Whether you're railing groomers on the Gnarnia, butter-slicing pow on the Japow, or linking long, fast turns on the Eclipse, that carving experience becomes more intuitive, more responsive, and way more fun.
It’s not just about control, it’s about feel. About tuning into terrain. About that moment you realize you don’t need to muscle your turns, you just lean in and let the board do its thing.
If you live for high-speed arcs, long toe-side drives, or just laying it over so deep your uphill hand grazes the snow, a directional board will blow your mind.
5. They Shine Where It Counts (The Backcountry)
Let’s be real: in the backcountry, a directional board isn’t a “nice to have”... it’s a necessity. Every ounce of efficiency matters. Directional boards not only help with float and control in variable terrain, but our Weston shapes also factor in things like shifted touring brackets for better uphill balance and holeless bases for smoother downhill performance. That’s not marketing fluff. It’s the difference between crushing a lap and cursing your gear.
When you're booting out past the resort gates, setting a skintrack at sunrise, or laying into big alpine lines, you’ll want a tool that was designed for the job. And most of the time, that’s a directional board.
6. They Add Purpose to Your Quiver
Riding the right board for the right conditions isn't about being picky, it’s about progression. It’s about unlocking the best turns possible for the terrain in front of you. Directional boards let you lean into freeride terrain with confidence and style. They become your go-to when the storm delivers, when the line gets steep, or when you're just chasing the stoke with your crew.
So yeah, you could ride your twin every day. But why would you, when a directional board like the Eclipse or the Gnarnia is just waiting to show you what you’ve been missing?
Final Thought
At Weston, we believe that directional boards are essential because they help you ride free, explore deeper, and connect to the mountains in the purest way possible. So whether you're heading out on your first backcountry tour or already stacking lines in your notebook, don’t sleep on the directional. Add one to your quiver, and let it lead the way.
Want help picking your perfect directional setup? Hit me up! I’m a total gear nerd and would love to help you dial in your dream ride. Send an email to info@westonbackcountry.com and ask for Ellen!
Follow @ell_en_degenerate for more pow slayin' greatness.
