Snowboarding-2

Snowboarding – Part Two

Beginner snowboarders are usually better off renting equipment than buying it. This saves you the initial investment while allowing you to become familiar with the sport and the equipment. You can try out various brands and types of boards to get a feel for what's available. All this experience will be invaluable when it comes to buying your own board and boots.

Snowboards come in different shapes depending on how they will be used. For example, freestylers want a board that can be ridden both ways, so these boards have both a nose and a tail that is tilted up. Alpine boards are built for speed so they are shaped more like a ski.

Base

In addition to the shape, the base of the ski can be a big factor in its performance. Most boards have a polyethylene base which is either 'extruded' or 'sintered'. Extruded bases are found on budget boards – they are easy to manufacture and easy to repair. The downside is that they are the slowest type of base and don't hold wax well. Sintered bases are found on higher quality boards. They are faster and more durable and take wax better than extruded bases. They are also more expensive – both to buy and to repair. Graphite bases are also available for racing boards. These are the fastest and hold wax the best. They are also very expensive.

Camber

Camber is the arch in the middle of the board. This affects turning ability. Boards with a flat camber turn easily and are suitable for freestyle. Boards with a higher camber apply more pressure to the nose and tail, and are therefore more stable at high speeds.

Sidecut Radius

The sidecut radius is the cutout area in the middle of the board. It is affected by the width of the waist (the narrowest part of the board) and the board's length. Sidecut radius affects turning ability – a board with a small radius can make tight turns but a board with a larger sidecut radius will make broader turns.

Waist

This is the area between the bindings – the narrowest part of the board. The waist has to be wide enough to accommodate your boots, although the narrower the waist the faster the board.

Boots

Good boots are essential for controlling the snowboard and they also need to be comfortable and warm. They are available with either a hard plastic or soft leather shell – soft boots have more flex and are a better choice for beginners. Hard boots offer better high-speed control and are generally used for alpine snowboarding. Freeride boots usually have an inner boot that can be laced as tightly as needed. The outer boot is stiff enough to provide extra support. Freestyle boots are more flexible and lower cut – the inners are usually molded. Alpine boots are higher than other snowboarding boots to provide support for the ankle and lower leg.

Bindings

Bindings are made for a particular style of boot, so boots and bindings are usually bought in combination. There are 3 basic types of bindings: flow-in, step-in, and lever. The most popular with freestylers and freeriders are the flow-in because they offer the most flexibility and comfort. Step-in bindings are easy to get in and out of but require boots to match the particular set of bindings. Lever bindings are very solid and give the most control over the board. They are suitable for alpine snowboarding.

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