Snowboards – Different Boards For Different Terrains
If you miss riding the waves during the winter season, then you can get the same thrill on the slopes courtesy of snowboards. These sleek boards have hooked legions of fans who have turned the sport into a lifestyle. In this article, we’ll tell you how to pick the snowboard that will give you maximum performance.
Snowboards generally have a length between 140-165 centimeters and a width of 24 to 27 centimeters. Sizes vary to accommodate height and weight, skill level, snow type and riding style. The boards are usually constructed with a laminated wood core sandwiched between multiple layers of fiberglass. The bottom or ‘base’ of the snowboard is generally made of various constructions of plastic, and is surrounded by a thin strip of steel, know as the “edge.” The top layer, where a printed graphic resides, is usually made of acrylic. Some boards incorporate the use of more exotic materials, such as carbon fiber, kevlar or aluminum.
Boards are designed with different terrain in mind. A racing or alpine board is long, narrow, rigid and has a directional shape. This board performs best on machine groomed slopes. A freeride board is longer in length, semi-directional and is used for long, fast turns in various types of snow, from groomed hard-packed to soft powder. A freestyle snowboard is generally shorter in length with a semi-directional or twin-tip shape. It incorporates a deep side cut for quick or tight turning. Freestyle boards are best in the pipe and in the park on various jumps and terrain features, including boxes, rails and tables. Swallow Tail boards are wider boards that have a split running down its tail. The split tail is designed to sink the tail lower than the nose. This is preferred in powder or backcountry conditions. Fish Shape boards are a shorter, wider board with a tapered tail designed to eliminate leg fatigue in deep powder. For the serious snowboarder, the Magne-Traction board has a wavy side cut with seven contact points. If the outer two contact points lose grip, then the inner contact points can take over, allowing better control and edge hold, even on ice.
There are several pieces of supplementary equipment needed for snowboards. To get peek performance out of yourself and your board, you’ll need to get good boots and well fitted bindings. The bindings are part of the face of the board and hold your boots firmly in place so that the board responds well to your movements. The right snowboard boots are critical to your performance. You want something that looks good, but make sure that your boots provide lots of support and will keep your feet warm.
It is important to know what type of snowboarder you want to become before you invest in a new board, boots and bindings. If you’re just starting out, avoid snowboards that are only designed to perform well in one environment. As a new snowboarder, you will want to round out your skills on a variety of terrain, without your gear holding you back.
By Sports Editor
[...] Original post by Sports Editor [...]