How to choose a snowboard

Before you choose a snowboard, decide: what you need a board? Today, there are several types of snowboards:

Freestyle (FreeStyle)

Freestyle – the most spectacular and active snowboard style. If you are attracted to different snowboarding tricks – this style is for you. Jumping into the halfpipe (half pipe), jumping, tricks on perilla (ralls) and, as a result, a huge amount of adrenaline (bruises and contusions) will help you to master all the delights of Freestyle, which includes flights from natural mountainous terrain and canopies with different rotations and grips the board. Technical freestyle (as a kind of style) – is already known to be skating on hard surfaces and structures prepared from a dense snow with the implementation of various acrobatic stunts.

Freeride (FreeRiding)

The name of this style (free – free, riding – riding) speaks for itself. The meaning of it – in the development of the ride: any tricks on any terrain and trails. It skating without any rules and conventions. Just ride for fun. Freeride is a horse in the mountains at high speed over the vast virgin field with fluffy snow and the woods and jumping from the eaves, snow inflating and turning radius of about 100 meters, touching the hand of the slope.

Freeride Back Country – is riding in an absolutely wild places with no marked trails with high avalanche danger where no man has gone before. However, unlike freestyle – this style is not fixated on the tricks and is suitable for those who prefer the freedom of choice. Freeride – a cross between freestyle and downhill, he is the most popular, and therefore the majority of snowboards, commercially available, designed specifically for him.

Downhill / Racing / Carving (Slalom / Racing / Carving). If you need more speed – that this style is perfect for you. Despite its apparent simplicity, it requires a lot of skill and experience in the management board. Therefore, if you are a beginner snowboarder – stop its focus on the styles easier and refer to these in the selection of their future boards.

Length

Length of the snowboard is one of its main parameters. For snowboarders properly chosen length – is, first of all, the stability of the reference arc of rotation on the board. There is a simplified method of selection of sizes: the board should be just above the chin. Still, the weight is more important than growth, and therefore preferable to follow the board said the average weight of the rider. Ideal Rostovka also be determined by a special table. It should also be borne in mind that boards with greater length – are more comfortable when riding in deep snow ( Freeride), better managed on the highway at higher speeds, but also require greater effort at driving and cornering.

Weight

Rider weight is also not least for the choice of the projectile. Let's say your height 176, weight 58-60 kg, while board height 155 cm will be most suitable for you. Not above, otherwise you’ll spend a lot of effort to manage Bordeaux. Or vice versa: Your height 190, weight 70. Board height of 155 cm you will not do, because this growth you will not have stability and you will be filled up on the board.

Width

The choice of snowboard and affect not only height and weight, but the size of his feet. Buy as much as possible should be narrow board, but not less than the width that you need. Remember, the mounting area at the right angle setting foot shoes do not have to go back and forth more than 2 cm above the toes and the edge of the heel. The smaller the board, the less effort is required when riding to change edges, driving on icy slopes and perform rotations. If you have size 45 or above, then select the broader pattern labeled «+» or «wide».

Form

Directional – this board with directional geometry. It has an elongated toe and softer design of its space to the front mounting to the end point of the nose, the holes for fasteners typically shifted by 25 mm towards the tail. Directional recommended for freestyle, freeride and freeride Back Country.

Twin-tip has a symmetrical geometry: the tail and the nose of the board the same width, shape and rigidity, fixing exactly in the center. This maneuverable board and is recommended for technical freestyle.

Twin Tip-directional – this board is symmetrical shape (Twin Tip) and thus different in stiffness toe and tail (Directional). Holes for mounting on these boards are shifted by 25-35 mm from the center to the side of the tail. To distinguish Twin Tip of Twin Tip-directional, you just need to bend down one end of the board, and then the other: the result you will feel immediately. In this form of the advantages: a soft nose allows it to float better in soft snow, and a hard tail – well take off from the springboard and confident to keep the arc.

«Swallow-tail» has a sharp nose and a forked tail like a swallow. Is the traditional form of virgin boards, providing easy access to the flat glide and good stability on the course.

All Mountain – This form is universal. These snowboards are designed to be ridden by any form of mountainous terrain, for simple and complex routes for freestyle and freeride in snobourd – parks and halfpipe. The nose and heel of the snowboard – different lengths, the bending stiffness – a small area for fasteners shifted to the tail, and cut symmetrical. Such a form board is perfect for beginners.

Design

Buying a snowboard, would not hurt to find out what materials it is made. Ipopulyarnoy most common structure is a «sandwich». In this board, side wall, manufactures most of the material of ABS (acetil-butadien-stirole), serves as a connecting element between the top cover and edging. The design resembles a sandwich board.

Another design snowboard – «cap». It is advantageously easier to sandwich «since no strip is made of ABS and lesser amounts of material: The upper cover covers and kepovoy board core and sides. Board This provides the necessary rigidity, but more difficult to fix a board. There are hybrid structures, which each company The manufacturer calls on his own».

Stiffness

On your level of skiing depends on the rigidity of choice snowboard. The basic rule is that the better you ride, the more rigid board will suit you. This does not mean that riding well, you need to have the toughest snowboard. But, if you are not very sure of yourself, you better think twice, getting a hard board. Usually suitable for beginners and medium soft board.

Rigid board well hold on hard snow. That is why all snowboards for racing and carving – hard. At the same time, a good board for Halfpipe too tough, but like a good snowboard for boardercross.

On the other hand, soft board is suitable for small jumps and tricks, and, perhaps most importantly, for skiing on virgin snow. Soft snowboard – an abyss of pleasure, because it is easy to learn and do tricks, it is easier to manage, and infinitely easier to ride in deep snow.
The disadvantages of soft snowboard is the inability to do the «cut» turns on hard snow. The general recommendation in this case would be: if you are not an avid paypist and do not intend to participate in the competition, take a softer snowboard.