Over the last few seasons volume shift, or short and wide boards have been quickly gaining in popularity. Showing that they can now do more with less, almost every brand will have at least one option.
Although some of the older models were originally designed for riding in powder, a lot of the newer ones would fit into the all-mountain category – with a stable ride that carves well, quick and easy to turn while still having good float in powder.
What are Volume Shift boards?
In the past powder boards used to be longed than your regular board, the extra length gave you more surface area and made it easier to float in deeper snow. The tradeoff is that you had a bigger board to move around, so they often took more effort to turn, especially for smaller tight turns.
Volume shift boards solve this problem by squashing the board down to a shorter length, and making them wider. The short length and wide width does a few things:
- It keeps the surface area of the board high so that they will still float in powder
- Keeps the boards easy to move around and turn, especially in tight trees
- Lets you carve aggressivly on groomers without getting to and heel drag, even if you have big boots.
As weight is the main factor in choosing the boards length, it is a good idea to follow the manufacturers weight recommendation when you are choosing a board, even if it sounds like they are recommending a board that seems too small.
Salomon Dancehaul
The Dancehaul is a new board for 2021, and I predict that it will end up gaining popularity quickly like the Warpig did when it was released. It has a tapered directional shape, which makes it carve easily on groomers, and naturally float in powder. The Rock Out Camber profile has enough camber to keep it stable for faster riding, and still gives it good edge hold on hardpacked snow.
- Tapered Directional Shape
- Mid Flex
- Rock Out Camber
- Sintered Base
Sizes:
- 143cm (247 mm waist)
- 147cm (255 mm waist)
- 152cm (264 mm waist)
- 157cm (269 mm waist)
Read my review of the Dancehaul
K2 Party Platter
The Party Platter has a bit of a stiffer flex rating than the Dancehaul, and the waist width is wider at smaller sizes if you compare them.
- Tapered Directional Shape
- Directional Combination Camber
- 7/10 Flex
- Sintered Base
Sizes:
- 138cm (247 mm waist)
- 142cm (254 mm waist)
- 147cm (262 mm waist)
- 152cm (270 mm waist)
- 157cm (279 mm waist)
Lib Tech Orca
The Orca has been a very popular board since it came out, and that popularity has meant they have added quite a few extra sizes to the range so that everyone has an option that will suit them. Although it still has a tapered directional shape, the main difference on this board compared to most in this list is the hybrid camber profile. The Orca has C2x, which means that it is rocker between the feet, with camber on the nose and tail (a bit more on the tail if you look closely). The rocker makes it naturally want to float in deep snow, but it will have a different ride feel compared to any boards with camber between your feet.
- Tapered Directional Shape
- C2x Camber Profile
- Medium-Stiff Flex
- Sintered Base
Sizes:
- 144cm (255 mm waist)
- 147cm (257 mm waist)
- 150cm (265 mm waist)
- 153cm (267 mm waist)
- 156cm (267 mm waist)
- 159cm (267 mm waist)
Read more about the Orca.
Ride Warpig
Another super popular board, the Warpig originally started out with just two sizes, and now has 5 different sizes. The flat to rocker profile, as well as the medium (if not slightly more) flex make it turn smoothly and easily, and hold a good edge, especially for a board with this profile. The rocker tail means that you need to work to get some good pop out of it.
A couple of years ago the Superpig variation was introduced, that has the same shape as the Warpig, but with much more camber and a stiffer flex. If you like the idea of the Warpig, but want a faster board with better edge hold and more pop, look at the Superpig instead.
- Tapered Directional Shape
- Directional Rocker Profile
- Medium Flex
- Sintered Base
Sizes:
- 142cm (250 mm waist)
- 148cm (260 mm waist)
- 151cm (265 mm waist)
- 154cm (270 mm waist)
- 158cm (277 mm waist)
Read my review of the Warpig or the Superpig.
Yes 420
One of the original (if not the) short fat boards, the 420 has huge waist widths, and new for this season has some camber added for better edge hold and more pop than the older versions.
- Tapered Directional Shape
- Blended Rocker + Camber
- Medium Flex
- Sintered Spec Base
Sizes:
- 141cm (256 mm waist)
- 145cm (260 mm waist)
- 148cm (286 mm waist)
- 152cm (286 mm waist)
Read my review of the Yes 420.
Capita Slush Slasher
The Slush Slasher is a weird one, that has a very surfy ride and a unique nose angle (when you look at it from the side). Although it might not necessarily be designed for it, I bought one to ride in powder and was very happy with how it rode.
The giant waist width and short length floated through powder with zero effort, and the tail nicely sunk for a very surfy feel. Turns could be made with no warning, and at times it felt like I was almost able to ride uphill with the crazy amount of float it had.
- Tapered Directional Shape
- Party Profile
- 4/10 Flex
- Extruded Base
Sizes:
- 139cm (280 mm waist)
- 143cm (282 mm waist)
- 147cm (284 mm waist)
- 151cm (286 mm waist)
Read my review of the Slush Slasher.
Bataleon Party Wave
Like the Slush Slasher, the Party Wave is one of those boards that is on the cheaper end, in terms of retail price and in the simple materials it is made from. The difference is that it has a unique shape to make it good option if you want something fun and don’t want to spend a whole lot. It has just a little camber, soft flex and plenty of base shaping for a loose and surfy ride.
Just like the Warpig with the Superpig option, there is now a Party Wave +, which has a stiffer flex and a faster base.
- Directional Tapered Shape
- Freeride 3BT
- Mellow Camber
- Extruded Base
Sizes:
- 144cm (275 mm waist)
- 148cm (278 mm waist)
- 151cm (279 mm waist)
- 154cm (280 mm waist)
- 157cm (281 mm waist)
Read more about the Party Wave.
GNU Gremlin
The Gremlin is a new one for 2021, and just comes in one size – 155cm. It has the C3 Camber profile, a wide 264mm waist width and a medium stiff flex. The camber, medium stiff flex and wider width will give you plenty of stability for hard carving on groomers, and plenty of float in deeper snow.
- Tapered Directional Shape
- C3 Camber
- Medium-Stiff Flex
- Sintered Base
Sizes:
- 155cm (264mm waist)
Read more about the Gremlin.
Never Summer Harpoon
The name is obviously having a shot at the Lib Tech Orca, and is quite similar in features. A hybrid camber profile means it has rocker in between your feet, camber on the tail and a longer extended nose for better float in deep snow.
- Tapered Directional Shape
- Fusion Rocker Camber
- Medium Flex
- Sintered Base
Sizes:
- 142cm (245 mm waist)
- 144cm (254 mm waist)
- 148cm (259 mm waist)
- 152cm (261 mm waist)
- 156cm (262 mm waist)
- 159cm (264 mm waist)
Read more about the Harpoon.
Nitro Slash
The Slash changed its shape this season, from being a long board down to a short wide option. All sizes have plenty of width, and with the camber lets you carve quite hard on groomers with no toe or heel drag.
- Tapered Directional Shape
- Cam-Out Camber
- 7/10 Flex
- Sintered Base
Sizes:
- 151cm (260 mm waist)
- 156cm (265 mm waist)
- 162cm (266 mm waist)
Read my review of the Slash.
If you have any questions on any of these boards, leave a comment below!
Please could you recommend one of these boards for a 195lb ride intermediate rider,is the k2 party platter to stiff im not really an aggressive boarder thanks