Doubledeck vs. normal snowboard – how does the newcomer fare?
13.1.2026
Translation: Patrik Stainbrook
Video: Davide Arizzoli, Ambra Antonelli
A snowboarding revolution – that’s what Doubledeck Snowboards promise. I’d usually take this as just a bunch of noise, but mind you, snowboard legend Terje Håkonsen helped develop the technology. And that does mean something.
When I saw the first Doubledeck snowboard in 2022 – still a prototype at the time – in an article by fellow editor Patrick Bardelli, I knew I wanted to ride that thing one day! A board that actually boasts visible technical innovations, allowing a faster, more direct and more controlled ride. Co-developed, tested and approved by snowboarding legend Terje Håkonsen. How cool is that?
Last summer, Patrick told me the Doubledeck was coming to Switzerland and that he’d asked for a test board.
A few days before Christmas, the time had finally come: I put a Doubledeck Turning D up against my own Nidecker Escape for a day in Hoch Ybrig ski resort.
You can see how the Doubledeck fared in this 1-to-1 comparison in the video above.
A strange boarding experience you need to get used to
Aside from the comparison with my board, I also rode the Doubledeck a few times over the holidays. No head-to-head, purely focusing on the new technology. The riding experience on my Doubledeck was very strange at first. The added suspension provided by a new bar and the cushioned feel of the snow under the edges felt strange at first.
After my first day on the slopes with just the Doubledeck, I got more and more used to this feeling, and on my second full day, I didn’t even notice it any more. This significantly improved my driving experience compared to the first day. Mind you, there still weren’t any improvements compared to my personal board.
I really like riding the Doubledeck. It turns well, the edges grip the snow reliably and it forgives unevenness in the ground as well as your riding style. But I still won’t really miss the board after giving it back. I like my own board too much. I just feel much more comfortable on the slopes when I can directly feel what’s happening under the surface and edge. Short, quick turns, large loops, high speeds, hard surfaces, slushy snow – the Doubledeck can do it all. But I can still do better with my board.
In a nutshell
Good, but not good enough for me
Doubledeck snowboards are advertised by the manufacturer as revolutionary. From a technological point of view, they really are: the actual snowboard’s structure, a so-called Convex Pressure Bow System, is designed to cushion impacts from the base. Meanwhile, the main structure’s fixing – the Superslide Rail System – is designed to distribute pressure during curves over the entire edge length and minimise tilting. Finally, an Inverse Concave Bending System, that hollow space in the core of the board, is added to increase flexibility as well as the turning ability of the board.
On the slopes, the interaction between these innovations initially felt extremely unfamiliar. I felt like I was sliding across the snow, not navigating on it. It’s as if I had less control over the ride, not more. Over time, I got used to this feeling and it bothered me less. It’s true, the Doubledeck is a lot of fun and, after some practice, rides almost as well as my normal board. But only almost. It does a lot of things well, but never goes one better than my board.
Pro
- Easy to turn
- Stable riding experience
- Forgiving to errors
- Suitable for beginners
Contra
- Strange riding experience, especially starting off
- Little or lacking feedback from the base
- Takes some getting used to for experienced riders
- Expensive for beginners
Oliver Fischer
Teamleader Editorial
Oliver.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chGlobetrotter, hiker, wok world champion (not in the ice channel), word acrobat and photo enthusiast.
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