The Snowboard Test was held in Kaunertal, Austria, with more than 220 snowboarders , 400 snowboards and 40 brands. We popped along to test out the latest boards, boots and bindings and chatted to the assembled ladies about what they would be spending their dollar on this season…

Option Paloma board, £299

‘Great all mountain intermediate board. Fast and fun!’ – Kathryn Gunter

‘This board was a great surprise. Although it’s stiff, you can still throw it around like a softer board, this allowed stability at speed as well as freestyle performance.’ – Rhianna Nuttall

Santa Cruz Suave Bindings, £77

‘Very soft bindings, these are good for beginners or rails but lacked the support for charging and jumping. Entry level to easy style intermediate.’ – Gemma Freeman

Salomon Lily board, £270

‘A great, all round, intermediate board. Felt a bit unstable at speed due to being a reasonably soft board, perfect for progressing riders. It’s a nimble, fun board to play around on anywhere on the mountain.’ – Rosie Thurston

‘Really fun board, great on piste and off. Wobble free on the steep bits and great in the powder, responds to anything you want it to.’ – Kat McLean

‘Easy to turn stable at speed, rode well in all conditions. Ideal board for all round intermediate to advanced girl looking for a little bit of everything.’ – Annie White

Vans Sparrow boots, £150

‘Low profile loveliness. So comfy, these puppies have an uber soft furry lining that feels like slippers. The tie laces mean you can adjust the tightness to perfection (I’ve struggled with boas). Your heel is locked in while you’ve still got room to wiggle your toes (good for jibbers and beginners to intermediates).’ – Gemma Freeman

Forum Spinster board, £316.26

‘Rode this too long, although this made it smooth even at speed, slicing through snow like Edward Scissorhands. However, it’s meant to be ridden small for playing; butter flex for rails, pressing, light and poppy for air, easy to spin, freestyle fun.’ – Gemma Freeman

‘The graphics on this are sick. Girlie without the cringe. Super fun in the park and loves to jib. Surprisingly fun carving. All round fun ride.’ – Georgie Horgan – DCMT

Burton Blender board, £300

‘Playful and fun, rode a lot like the Troop but seemed more responsive and held up well at speed.’ – Karen Willmer

‘A really fun board! Even holds its own in the swish and bumpy stuff. Has loads of pop and is a joy to ride.’ – Helen Robinson

Escapade IBK bindings, £170

‘Super comfy, supportive bindings, nice and responsive, could have worn them all season long… most importantly… looks good.’ – Georgie Horgan – DCMT

K2 Fling board, £300

‘Ironic name as I did get flung off over humps – but loads of fun, fast and probably good for jibbing if you like jibbing.’ – Poppy Smith

‘From maching it down the piste, jibbing off small hits to the biggest kickers in the park and boosting out of the pipe – this board has it all. Pop and responsiveness when you need it and stability and smoothness when you don’t. Take it on rails and it really comes into its own.’ – Lynsey Ashdown

‘Another amazing board for girls that love the park. Slightly slower edge to edge than I’m used to but I think I like it that way, it was less skitty at speed. Totally mellow off kickers and stomped landings brilliantly.’ – Gilly Seagrave

‘A fine new addition to the K2 quiver of girl’s snowboards. Light, fast, easy to turn and very forgiving. What more could a girl need on the mountain?’ – Annie White

Ride Fever board, £364.60

‘Lush, artsy graphics, super fun and extra poppy, the Fever is a freestyle wander board. Easy to jump, spin and jib, light and easy to control. Good for beginners to intermediate. Not so good in powder – the nose tended to dip and the board stuck in slush.’ – Gemma Freeman

‘Stiffer than last year making it a more all mountain ride. Good fun through the park and strong when chipping down the mountain, would be better if softer to set it apart from the Tokidoki.’ – Rosie Thurston

ThirtyTwo Vela boots, £169.99

‘My favourite boot in the Thirty Two range. It has a nice mid flex with great support. Ideal for hard carving but also great in the park.’ – Anna Bartlett

Head Fountain board, £280

‘Very good boarding feeling.’ – Babsi Klotz

‘Really nice board, great at carving, held the edge well. Not too soft -liked it.’ – Sarah

‘Really fun, responsive board. Good all mountain/freestyle board. Great to learn new tricks on.’ – Kathryn Gunter

‘I really liked this board, great for going fast, fun off jumps, easy to jib around, just about perfect for anything really. If you need a new board to take to the park and go fast on and off the piste, this is the one for you – you won’t be disappointed.’ – Gilly Seagrave

‘A really fun ride and great to jib about on. Very punchy and held its own in the choppy bits too. Probably best for intermediate and higher.’ – Helen Robinson

Fay bindings, £120

‘Really liked the bindings, not too small around the heal, easy to get off.’ – Sarah

‘Quite comfortable, easy to use and look nice.’ – Kath

‘Soft and comfy yet still hold my midget feet securely. The Fay is a sweet, budget priced binding perfect for beginner and jib monkeys. They could be made adjustable for experts/advanced though.’ – Gemma Freeman