The 2026 Never Summer Benchmark sets a new standard for effortless float in powder and smooth control across the mountain. It stays solid in rough conditions and turns ordinary days into unforgettable ones. Whether you're slashing through backcountry bowls, carving groomers, or hitting the park, the Benchmark delivers a ride you won’t forget.
Board Type: All Mountain
All Mountain snowboards are versatile boards that excel across various terrains, from groomed runs to off-piste. These boards offer solid edge control and responsiveness, making them a great option for riders who want one board to do just about everything.
Flex: 6/10 (1=soft, 10=stiff)
Offering a balanced blend of flexibility and stiffness, mid-flex boards are versatile and suitable for all-mountain riding. They provide enough responsiveness for carving while maintaining some forgiveness for playful or casual riding.
Ability Level: Beginner-Intermediate
A beginner snowboard is softer, lighter, and more stable, making it easier to control and manoeuvre while learning basic skills like turning and stopping.
Intermediate snowboards offer more responsiveness and stability at higher speeds, with a slightly stiffer flex for better control on varied terrain and more advanced manoeuvres.
Shape: Directional Twin
A directional twin snowboard has a symmetrical shape but with a slightly shifted stance, making it ideal for riders who want the versatility of a twin for freestyle, with the added stability of a directional design. It performs well both regular and switch but excels in one direction, offering improved control on varied terrain.
Camber Type: Rocker Camber
Rocker Camber offers a playful, surf-like experience from the central rocker, while the camber in the nose and tail delivers enhanced performance and versatility. This combination creates the ideal balance for all-mountain performance.
Width: Mid-Wide
Mid-wide boards offer slightly increased width, reducing toe and heel drag, enhancing flotation, and boosting confidence when leaning into powerful carves.
Sidecut: Power Grip Sidecut
The Power Grip Sidecut features a combination of multiple radii to create additional contact points along the edge, improving edge grip. A flat section in the middle area forms a wide contact point when the board is flexed, while allowing it to remain stable and avoid catching when unbent. Two shallow radii on either side of the flat section add extra contact points, while deeper radii near the tips of the board enable quick turn initiation and provide the final contact points.
Inserts: 2x4 Inserts
These offer a tighter hole pattern, allowing for more precise stance adjustments. They're common on modern boards and ideal for riders who want fine-tuned positioning and can be used with any binding with a standard or mini disk.
Board Construction
Topsheet: Co-Extruded Polymer Topsheet
The Co-Extruded Polymer Topsheet is made from a tough, lightweight thermoplastic with a fiber backing, offering resistance to scratches and chips. These topsheets stand out for their vivid colors and enhanced grip, serving as a built-in stomp pad for added control while unstrapped.
Laminate: Bi-Lite Fiberglass, Carbon Max Laminate Technology, STS Pre-Tensioned Fiberglass
Bi-Lite Fiberglass is a lightweight glass fiber matrix, offering outstanding freestyle and freeride performance without compromising durability.
Carbon Max Laminate Technology enhances both power and precision of the snowboard by incorporating more carbon. A strategically layered carbon matrix reinforces key areas, delivering exceptional strength, responsiveness, and energy transfer. This advanced construction creates a lightweight yet high-performance ride, offering stability and control without compromise.
STS Pre-Tensioned Fiberglass is a strong, layered material designed for durability and performance. It features elastomer stringers placed between the glass fibers to improve strength and edge hold. This advanced bonding technique makes our snowboards more durable and responsive. Similar fiberglass is also used in bows because of its ability to flex and snap back with great force, launching arrows at high speeds without breaking.
Core: PowerSurf Wood Core, Triple Layer RDS 2 Damping with Underfoot Stabiliser
The PowerSurf Wood Core blends a high proportion of lightweight Paulownia with Poplar and Birch through the center of the core, while Poplar lines the sidecut edges. This combination enhances strength and provides the ideal level of torsional rigidity, ensuring a durable yet lightweight ride.
RDS 2 strikes the perfect balance between freeride stability and freestyle responsiveness. It provides more damping than a typical freestyle board for better control at high speeds, yet slightly less than a dedicated freeride board to maintain a lively, poppy feel. This design ensures an optimal blend of vibration absorption and energetic performance.
Elastomeric Underfoot Stabilisers are positioned beneath the mounting area to maximise shock and vibration absorption, enhancing stability at high speeds and extra cushioning to minimise foot fatigue for a more comfortable ride.
Sidewall: UHMW Sidewalls
The use of UHMW Sidewalls (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) is essential in preserving the life of your snowboard. Unlike ABS sidewalls, UHMW are more resistant to cracking in colder temperatures. They also improve damping performance around the metal edges, providing a smoother ride.
Edge: Fullwrap Metal Edge
Base: Durasurf XT Sintered 5501 Base
The Durasurf XT Sintered 5501 Base is an exclusive, high performance sintered base and is infused with the ideal amount of graphite, making it one of the fastest and most durable P-Tex bases available on the market.
Additional Features:
| Size (cm) | Waist | Edge | Sidecut | Stance | Taper | Nose/Tail | Rec. Weight (kg) |
| 152 | 257 | 1140 | Vario 756* | -8 | 10 | 307/297 | 54-72 |
| 156 | 259 | 1180 | Vario 778* | -8 | 10 | 309/299 | 63-90 |
| 160 | 261 | 1210 | Vario 800* | -8 | 10 | 311/301 | 72-100 |
| 157X | 266 | 1190 | Vario 780* | -8 | 10 | 316/306 | 68-90 |
| 161X | 268 | 1220 | Vario 810* | -8 | 10 | 318/308 | 71-100+ |
All measurements in millimetres otherwise specified
X - Wide version
* Indicates multiple radius average
We are confident in our products and our sales staff to make sure that you get the best help and the gear that is most suitable for your adventures.
We are a local, independently owned store and do not offer ‘change of mind’ refunds for returned items (this includes incorrect sizing), however we're happy to offer you a store credit or exchange subject to the following conditions:
Store credits, lasting up to 3 years, will be issued for the amount paid at time of purchase for the particular item being returned. They are issued via email in which you'll receive a 16 digit code that you can use at checkout online or in store.
Unfortunately stock levels vary and we are not able to stock all products in all sizes, which may result in your desired exchange product or size not being available. In the event that your desired exchange product is not in stock, a store credit will be issued.
Should you not want a credit or exchange, in extenuating circumstances Melbourne Snowboard Centre may issue a refund minus a 20% restocking fee.
If your return is time sensitive, our regular returns policy applies and no refunds will be given if you purchase new items prior to returning original items.
Making a return is easy. Please follow the steps below to make the process quick and easy for everyone.
Please note:
We require all items be returned in their original, sellable condition. All returns must meet the below criteria:
When returning, please ensure you take care to protect the item and its original packaging. Damaged packaging or damaged products may result in a reduction in your credit, or a refusal of your return. Refused returns incur a minimum $10 return shipping fee (more for bulky items).
An example of how your boxed return should be packed:
An example of how your boxed return should NOT be packed:
If you have received a faulty product or you feel the product you have been using is eligible for a warranty evaluation by the manufacturer due to defect in its materials or workmanship, contact us and we can walk you through the appropriate steps to lodge a warranty claim. Please include photos of the item and issue so we can expedite the process. Find out more on our warranty page.
If you have received a damaged product (eg. damaged in transit), please send photos and a description of the damage within 7 days of receipt to web@melbournesnowboard.com.au, along with your order number and contact details. Damaged product claims do not apply after the item has been used.
Our packages are discounted to help you get on snow at a reasonable price. Due to this, if you get the wrong size we are happy to offer an exchange in size of the same product, but we do not accept returns for individual package items. If you would like to return one or more items in a package but not all items, you must return the entire package and re-purchase the remaining item at its advertised price.
If you've bought a package online and would like to return one or more items but not all items, please email web@melbournesnowboard.com.au prior to return.
