Snowboard Profile + Shape Guide

A mid-west jibber isn't going to have the same feelings for a board as a Chilean pow-hound, and for good reason. Every component in a board's design & construction is intended to affect the way it performs. Conditions, riding style & personal preference all influence which board will wind up being your perfect match. The increasing variety of shapes & profiles available can make your head spin, but allow us to simplify. All boards essentially fall under 1 of 3 shape and profile categories. Check out the charts below & learn the performance features of each.

Snowboard Profiles

describes the shape of the snowboard when viewed from the side.

	Camber - traditional snowboard profile. When laying a cambered board on a flat surface, the center will rise with both sides upturned. They're better for faster riding and offer better edge hold, stability & control in hard-packed snow or icy conditions. Shop Camber Snowboards >
	Rocker (reverse camber) - when lying on a flat surface, a reverse camber board will have an overall convex or U-shape. They're known for having a "surf-y" feel: better float in powder & a more forgiving, catch-free ride overall. Shop Rocker Snowboards >
	Camber/Flat - a mainly flat profile with minimal elevation in the edges. Good for rails & bombing hills, but edges catch easily when turning. Shop Camber/Flat Snowboards >
	Rocker/Camber - combines both rocker & camber profiles for smooth rides with good edge hold. Typically the area between your bindings will have positive camber, with a rocker nose & tail or vice-versa. Shop Rocker/Camber Snowboards >

Profile	Construction	Performance	Conditions & Style	Example
Camber	The original, arc-shaped profile.	Best for high speeds, carving, stability	Packed, groomed snow, all-mountain	Burton Custom X
Rocker*	Also called “reverse” camber, the top of the board is built with an overall concave curve	Best for loose, fun feel, easy pressing, beginners	Powder, freestyle riding	Lib Tech Skate Banana BTX
Flat	Base is flat at all contact points	Provides pop & stability for jibs & rails	Park, urban	Capita Horrorscope FK
*Rocker/Camber	A hybrid of the 2, typically w/ camber at your feet & rocker in-between	The wavy shape creates contact points for edge hold & has a toned-down, fun rocker feel	Varying, all-mountain	Forum Destroyer DoubleDog
*Rocker/Flat	Another hybrid shape, flat with rocker in the nose & tail	Slight rocker keeps you smooth & catch-free on rails. Flat area adds pop & grips edges when you turn	Park, freestyle terrain	K2 World Wide Weapon

Snowboard Shapes

Shape	Construction	Performance	Conditions & Style	Example
Direction	Board has an obvious front & back	Nose easily floats above powder, stiff tail maintains stability at high speeds	Powder, freeride	Flow Infinite
Twin	Board tip & tail are identical	Symmetrical shape & flex pattern make it easy to ride switch	Park, freestyle terrain	Ride Kink
Directional Twin	Tip & tail vary slightly, but have an intended front & back	Similar shape with a softer nose flex offers versatility for the all-mountain rider	Varying terrain, occasional runs through the park	Salomon Man’s Board

View the Snowboard Buyers Guide >