Tested by
Steve Andrews
Where
Grouse Mountain, Whistler Mountain, Blackcomb Mountain
How long
10 days, spring 2026
Used for
Slushy park laps, alpine bombers, and playful afternoons
Photos
Steve Andrews and Lindsay Gough
In this review
Alpine Islands is reader-supported. Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you buy through them — at no extra cost to you. It never changes what makes this list or what order it’s in. Gear earns its spot here or it doesn’t appear. Learn more about our Gear Review Policy. ThirtyTwo provided this board for testing. There’s no sponsorship, and they had no say in what I wrote.
Thirtytwo now makes boards. Kind of crazy to think about it, really. After so many years as a go-to snowboard boots brand, they entered the board scene with a massive bang. Backed by the Nidecker Group who bought the brand in 2024, Thirtytwo offered snowboards for the first year, last year.
I had a chance to get my hands (and boots) on the Permanent Vacation board and was pleasantly surprised. It’s clear that a lot of thought went into the board, and after giving it about 10 rips in the spring slush, I’m stoked to try it out in colder, firmer conditions. It’s a board that does a lot of the work for you, is stiff enough to crank some G-force, but playful enough to turn fast and pop when needed.
ThirtyTwo Permanent Vacation: First Impressions
When first pulling the board out of the box, I noticed that this wasn’t your average first-year effort. The Nidecker influence is real. The normal (non-carbon) version felt light enough, and The flex was right in the middle of the range, just as they specified. But the construction was the standout. It’s a well-made board.
Riding it in the spring slush and melt-freeze actually did pretty well. You notice the flex when pinning it on the crust, but in the slush it’s as playful as ever. And the sidecut made me want to do quick turns and fun maneuvers. It’s a perfect board for those who don’t take themselves too seriously and just want to play around with different features on the mountain.
Notable Features of the ThirtyTwo Permanent Vacation
A quick-turning sidecut: Fun sidecut lets you rip quick turns with minimal effort. ThirtyTwo lists the sidecut radius at 7.3 to 7.8 metres, depending on the size.
CamRock profile: Holds a turn really well and charges up to pop without being too stiff. CamRock is ThirtyTwo’s hybrid profile: camber between the feet for edge hold, with rocker in the tip and tail.
Directional twin with a slight setback: Great all-mountain ripper that is more tuned for ripping than jibbing. The shape is twin, but the inserts are set back 20 mm, which nudges it toward the freeride end of the spectrum.
Side-hit pop: Quick pops and side hits are where it shines for me. ThirtyTwo pitches it as an “all-terrain” directional twin built for side-hit pop, and that tracks with how it rode.
Balanced flex: ThirtyTwo rates the standard Permanent Vacation a 5 out of 10 on its flex scale.
ThirtyTwo Permanent Vacation
~$600 CAD at ThirtyTwo Canada / ~$500 USD at Backcountry (check current)
| Bottom line | A go-anywhere all-mountain board with a quick-turning sidecut and easy side-hit pop, tuned more for ripping than jibbing. |
|---|---|
| Shape | Directional twin, 20 mm stance setback |
| Profile | CamRock (camber between the feet, rocker in tip and tail) |
| Flex | 5/10 (standard); Carbon version 9/10 |
| Sizes | 154, 156, 156W, 158, 159W, 161, 162W cm |
| Size I rode | 158 |
| Sidecut radius | 7.3–7.8 m, depending on size |
| Effective edge | 114–121 cm, depending on size |
| Underfoot width (front foot) | 25.93–27.51 cm, depending on size |
| Core | Poplar / paulownia |
| Base | Sintered |
| Artwork | Nathan Kostechko |
| Tested | 10 days, spring 2026, Grouse Mountain and Whistler Blackcomb |
Worked
- Quick pops and side hits
- Good at high speed
- Easy to maneuver
Didn’t
- Didn’t try it in deep pow
Specs verified October 2026 against ThirtyTwo’s product page; core and base from retailer listings. Prices drift by retailer and region — check current before you buy.
Drawbacks
Haven’t used it for powder yet, so not sure how it does in the deep stuff.
Also a disclaimer that all ten of my days were in spring slush. Edge hold on firm, cold, chalky snow is still on my to-do list.
Best Uses for the ThirtyTwo Permanent Vacation
All-mountain ripping, freeriding, or boosting off sidehits.
Skip If You…
You’re a pure jibber at heart or want to do large eurocarves. Or if you take yourself too seriously. This board is all about bringing out the inner kid and just playing around on fun micro-features on the mountain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the ThirtyTwo Permanent Vacation best for?
Intermediate to advanced people who want a go-anywhere board and spend more time out of the park than in it, but enjoy a few booters from time to time.
What is the sidecut like on the Permanent Vacation?
Fun! It’s easy to rip around on it. ThirtyTwo lists the radius at 7.3 to 7.8 metres, depending on board size.
Does ThirtyTwo make snowboards now?
Nidecker bought them out, so they are now part of the group that owns Jones, Rome/Bataleon, and Nidecker. They have a huge backing and were given free rein to design the boards to how the brand saw fit.
Is the Permanent Vacation good in powder?
Haven’t used it for powder yet, so not sure how it does in the deep stuff. [DRAFT — review] I’ll update this review once I’ve had it in deep snow.
What’s the difference between the Permanent Vacation and the Permanent Vacation Carbon?
ThirtyTwo makes a Carbon version with a full carbon lay-up and a 9/10 flex rating, versus 5/10 for the standard board. The shape and size run are the same. This review covers the [***standard / Carbon] version.
Final Thoughts
Snowboarding is all about branding, and Thirtytwo has earned their keep as one of the best snowboard brands of all time. But behind brands are just people, and the people running the show at Thirtytwo are real snowboarders who like to throw down and have fun, and not take themselves seriously.
Now that they are backed by Nidecker, the brand can take a whole new level of influence, and their boards show that the people behind the brand know a thing or two about snowboarding.
The Permanent Vacation has earned its spot in my quiver as a go-anywhere board that is still fun to rip quick turns and pop off side hits with ease. I’m stoked to try some more boards out and see the different shapes that Thirtytwo’s riders have come up with.
Looking for more great ThirtyTwo gear? Check out this review of the T32m FASE bindings. We also tested the Women’s Crucible snowboard. We also did a deeper dive into the brand if you’d like to know more about ThirtyTwo and it’s history. Or check out more great gear reviews.
Steve Andrews is a lifelong adventurer since before he could walk. A skier since age 2, snowboarder since 11, he began his guiding career in 2007. He has a passion for teaching people how to fish, and helping them discover their own power in the mountians. He started Alpine Islands to give people a different take on achieving mastery in the wild (hint: you’re never a master of Mother Nature). He lives in Horseshoe Bay, British Columbia with his partner and two kids.
