I first came into contact with ash while working with a small German snowboard manufacturer over 20 years ago. The exact same shape felt completely different when pressed with white ash instead of a pure poplar core.
There was something almost magical about the way it flexed and deflected through a carve while still feeling completely composed on icy, man-made snow. It became obvious to me how large a role wood selection plays in how a snowboard rides. Fast forward 20 years, and I still swear by good wood for obvious reasons.
A snowboard core is under constant stress. Every turn compresses and twists the materials beneath your feet. The quality of the wood determines how that energy behaves. Cheap wood absorbs energy inconsistently. Great wood stores and releases it smoothly. That difference is hard to explain on paper — but obvious on snow.
It creates a board that feels composed in rough terrain while still delivering precision and rebound out of turns. Damp without feeling lifeless. Strong without becoming harsh.
That balance is difficult to achieve when a core is built from short finger-jointed sections cut from lower-grade timber rather than carefully selected full-length wood strips, which brings us over to another detail we care deeply about: How the core itself is assembled.
Many snowboard cores today use shorter finger-jointed wood sections to reduce waste and lower production costs. It’s efficient manufacturing. We prefer using full-length strips whenever possible. That creates a more consistent flex pattern from tip to tail and reduces weak points throughout the core structure. It’s slower, more material-intensive and more selective — but it produces a cleaner, more predictable ride feel. Especially at speed.
Different Woods for Different Purposes
No single wood species does everything perfectly. That’s why we blend materials depending on the model and intended ride characteristics. Alongside ash, we also use woods like:
• Poplar for balancing the flex
• Paulownia for reduced weight in specific constructions
• Bamboo for added stiffness and reinforcement around binding inserts
Every material combination changes how a board behaves on snow. Designing snowboard cores is about balancing strength, damping, energy return, durability, weight and feel. That process takes time.
Built to Last — Not Just Impress
We’ve never been interested in building snowboards that feel exciting for three demo runs and collapse after a season. The goal is different. We want premium boards that riders trust in consequential terrain. Boards that stay stable when conditions become difficult. Boards that continue to feel better the harder they’re pushed. That starts with material selection. Because even with modern composites, resins, and construction methods, wood still defines the soul of a snowboard. And good wood takes time.
Check the video below and hear Mats Drougge talk ash and it’s role in high performing snowboards