Burton Family Tree Hometown Hero Snowboard 2027

The Burton Family Tree Hometown Hero has been one of our favorite snowboards since the day it was introduced.

Some boards take a few runs to figure out. The Hometown Hero makes a great first impression, and then somehow continues getting better the longer you ride it.

On paper, it looks fairly directional. There's a noticeable setback stance, 12mm of taper, and enough nose to suggest it's happiest on powder days. Then you get it on snow and realize it's one of the most balanced directional boards you'll ever ride.

The first thing that stands out is the grip. Whether you're carving perfect corduroy or trying to make the most of an icy East Coast morning, the Hometown Hero won't back down. It holds an edge exceptionally well without ever feeling catchy or overly demanding.

Just as impressive is how lively it feels. Too many freeride boards sacrifice personality in the name of stability. The Hometown Hero doesn't. It loads up naturally through a carve, has plenty of pop for side hits, and feels surprisingly nimble weaving through trees or picking apart technical terrain. It's serious when you ask it to be, but never loses its playful side. The sneaky tech working for you is that unlike a lot of boards out there, the flex profile is not consistent all the way through. You have stiffer sections just outside each binding, but a torsionally softer zone between your feet allowing you to twist and pedal the board through tighter terrain.

Then it snows.

This is where the setback stance and taper finally make themselves known. Until then, the board feels remarkably balanced underfoot. But once the snow gets deep, the nose naturally rises, the tail sinks just enough, and suddenly you're putting far less effort into staying afloat. It's one of those designs that quietly does its job without constantly reminding you it's there.

That's what makes the Hometown Hero so special. It never feels like you're giving something up. You aren't sacrificing hardpack performance to gain powder performance, or carving precision to gain maneuverability. Burton found an incredibly rare balance that few boards manage to achieve.

We've ridden a lot of snowboards over the years, and this remains one we keep coming back to. If your ideal day consists of carving hard, hunting for side hits, ducking into the trees, and hoping to find a few untouched turns before heading home, the Hometown Hero is about as complete a snowboard as we've ever ridden.