The Most Expensive Snowboards

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Photo via Flickr by plantxau

Most riders experience sticker shock when shopping for the perfect new snowboard, and while it’s easy to pick out a board that’s exactly what you’re seeking, paying for that board can be a little more challenging, with price tags ranging from $200 to $500.

The following 10 snowboards, however, are the most expensive ever to hit the market, and they’ll probably make you feel better about plunking down that $400. Typically, the most expensive of these are experimental prototypes and limited editions of brands like Burton, Pogo, and Kessler.

If you're looking for discounted snowboards, check out Backcountry, a retailer of fine snowboards that often mark down prices up to 50 percent off. 

10
of 10

Burton Mystery—$1,189

Burton Mystery.

Many top-end boards add length and expensive woods to justify their high price point, but Burton took a different approach to modifications with their creation of the Mystery. It’s Burton’s lightest weight board, but the low weight also means high-tech features. Burton’s description of the board is a bit ambiguous, but terms like “Methlon Base” and “Mystery Glass” are part of what attracts their big-spending audience. We do know that this board has a standard camber and true twin tips, so it can be ridden anywhere on the mountain. The Burton Mystery once sold for $1699.

09
of 10

Kessler Alpine—$1,390

Kessler's The Alpine Snowboard.

Just when you thought $500 was too much for a brand new board, the Kessler Alpine makes you feel like a complainer. Kessler’s top-quality boards have become staples on the boardercross and snowboard racing scenes, a favorite of professional athletes in the field. The Alpine’s steady edge grip and Kessler Shape Technology means you get the best handling when you need it most; the Alpine practically flies down the hill, which is why more boarders have won alpine titles on this board than any other.

08
of 10

Boheme Swallow—$1,660

Boheme Swallow.

Boheme, a French ski and snowboard company, has been hand-crafting boards since 1998. The $1,660 Swallow is their top-end freeride board, crafted for the highest level of powder riding. The solid wood core and top sheet constructed from 15 different kinds of wood lets you know you’re at least getting some style for shelling out that amount of cash. And if you ever get a chance to test out the Boheme Swallow, you’ll find that it slashes through powder like a dream.

07
of 10

Pogo Wingergun 205—$1,660

Pogo Wingergun 205.

The term “gun” has been used to describe fast-flying surfboards for years, and when Pogo named one of their most expensive board the Wingergun, they knew it would take riders to new speeds. The Wingergun is handcrafted from premium woods, and it glides on top of powder like a surfboard on water. The high-tech features, like Carbon Kevlar, a three-layer rubber frame, Titanal reinforcement, a poplar-ash core, and custom high-strength fiberglass let you know you’re getting one of the most innovative freeride boards in the industry.

06
of 10

Pogo Maverick Powdergun—$1,779

Pogo Maverick Powdergun.

Pogo is no stranger to extremely high-priced snowboards, and the Maverick Powdergun will definitely burn a hole in your wallet. This top-of-the-line powder freerides board measures in at a whopping 230 centimeters, which means you float higher and fly faster than ever before. The Maverick’s swallowtail helps you maneuver where you want to go, and the rocker on the nose and tail keep you from diving head-first into the fluffy stuff. A walnut veneer, maple stringers, and mother of pearl inlays make the Maverick look more like a piece of fine art than a snowboard.

05
of 10

Cheetah Ultra Sports The Whip FR-II—$2,200

Cheetah Ultra Sports The Whip FR-II.

Cheetah Ultra Sports was going out on a limb with their The Whip design. This board is jam-packed with odd features like raised inserts, suspension, and something Cheetah Ultra Sports calls a “go faster stripe” carved out of the core of the board. FastCompany.com called The Whip the “Lamborghini of snowboards,” which seems to fit well because it is impractical, ridiculously flashy, but ultimately pretty cool.

04
of 10

The Miura Tekila—$3,400

Miura Tekila Snowboard by Olivier Miura.

The Miura Tekila is a somewhat mythical snowboard with a value that has only been quoted. The Tekila, crafted by legendary snowboard designer Olivier Miura, never made it beyond the prototype stage, which is why the estimated price is roughly $3,000-$3,400. However, there are none available on the market, so this one's almost an urban legend at this point.

03
of 10

Burton BB1 Londonderry—$11,211

The Burton BB1 Londonderry, sold on eBay on March 25, 2012, was still in perfect condition from the day it was built between 1978 and 1979. It was handcrafted in Londonderry, Vt., and had never even touched the snow. Thirteen bidders made 29 bids, and the board sold for $11,211.

02
of 10

Burton Black Widow—$11,732

Burton Black Widow.

The vintage Burton Black Widow board may have sold on eBay for roughly $20,000 less than the Experimental Prototype, but it still brought in a pretty penny. This 1983 board was ridden and signed by Burton rider Bob Novak. The Black Widow was one of seven produced for the Burton team, and the seller claims it was ridden by Novak when he took home first place in a downhill competition at Pando Ski Area in 1984. There are rumors in the vintage snowboard community that this may have been a forgery.

01
of 10

Burton Experimental Prototype—$33,131.13

Burton Experimental Prototype.

You may not buy your new boards on eBay, but the most expensive snowboard ever sold was found there. This 1977 Burton Experimental Prototype was sold on eBay on July 1, 2014, for the unbelievable price of $31,313.13. The board was sold by Vintage Winter, a ski and snowboard company that focuses on selling antique and vintage equipment. Most other Burton Experimental Prototypes had been overly used, abused, and thrown in the trash can, which is what made the existence of this board so valuable. Vintage Winter representative Jeff Hume stated the company had never sold a board for that much before.