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Snowboards Buying Guide They might look simple, but today's snowboards are masterpieces of design. If you know what to look for, you can find one perfectly tailored to your style of riding. By Sarah Bamberger
Freestyle. If riding in the park and the half-pipe appeals to you, a freestyle board is the most logical choice. These boards are lightweight so you can spin easily and get more air off jumps. Freestyle boards also allow a snowboarder to ride forward or backward, as they have twin tips (the nose and tail dimensions are the same) and a centered stance. While these boards are made for quick turns and easy maneuverability, they are slower on the downhill and less stable at higher speeds. They are usually softer in flex, which means they won't plow through the crud as easily. Freeride. If you enjoy riding all over the mountain -- whether it's floating through the trees or making big arcs on groomed runs -- choose a freeride board. These boards are directional, which means they have a natural tendency to point you downhill. This makes it harder to ride "fakie" (backward) but allows you to make solid turns and offers better performance in powder. A directional board also has a softer nose and a stiffer tail to help with the transition from edge to edge. These boards are designed to handle speed with grace but are less maneuverable than freestyle boards due to the additional length and weight. Racing/carving. A carver likes going extremely fast and making deep turns. A few loyal riders know they need a carving board with hard-plate bindings. These bindings look and act more like ski bindings than snowboard bindings. They are designed to keep the foot rigid -- with little or no flexibility -- and to make the board an extension of your foot. Carving boards are built for speed; they are long and have an asymmetrical shape to give you control over turns. These boards are not as compatible with pipe or park riding but make it easy to carve beautiful arcs on freshly groomed runs. In the last few years, several companies have also introduced hybrid freestyle/freeride models for riders who want to explore the whole mountain -- including the park and the pipe. To make a hybrid board, manufacturers have blended features such as the softer flex of a freeride board with the deeper sidecut of a freestyle board. Is a Women's Board for You?
Just because a snowboard has female-friendly graphics doesn't mean it's truly built for women. More important than a board's aesthetics are its construction and design. Women are typically shorter and lighter than men and have smaller feet. As a result, a well-built woman's board is shorter than a man's and features a lighter core and a narrower waist -- all of which give women greater control. Boards are now being made to fit women of all ability levels. When making your selection, consider whether the design fits you and matches how you plan to use the board. For a heavy or aggressive rider, a unisex board might be the way to go. The Long and Short of It
The length of a board is measured in centimeters from the tip of the nose to end of the tail. This measurement is different from "effective edge," which is the amount of board that touches the snow. Freestyle boards are usually chin-height or shorter. Freeride boards come at least up to the chin and vary in length according to flex, waist width, and sidecut (the depth of the board's hourglass shape). Racing or carving boards are longer, stiffer, and narrower at the waist. If you are a beginner, stick to a board no higher than your chin. If you ride aggressively and feel confident with speed, try a longer board -- somewhere between your chin and your eyes. Your choice of length is also determined by your body type, as heavier boarders generally need longer boards. The Facts About Flex A board's flex, or ability to bend, affects how it performs in turns. A softer board requires less muscle power to control but does not store energy or respond as aggressively. A light or beginning snowboarder needs a board with greater flex. A lightweight rider on a board that is too stiff will likely find it difficult to command. A heavier or more aggressive rider benefits from a stiffer board, which requires more energy at the initiation of a turn but returns more energy at the conclusion. If you are above average weight for your height, choose a stiffer board. The board will react better to the force you put into turns and jumps and will support your weight more effectively. Since choosing the right amount of flex is a decision that integrates several factors, be sure to check out a range of boards -- including some unisex boards -- to get one with the level of flex that suits you best.
Width and Cut The shape of a snowboard also determines how much control you have when riding. A board ridden in powder should be wide enough to provide ample float but not so wide that you can't initiate turns on a groomed run. If a board is too wide at the waist, it is difficult to put enough pressure on the edges to turn effectively. Too narrow a waist puts you in danger of toe or heel drag, which could face-plant you on a sharp turn. Use your shoe size as a basis for choosing waist width. Women's shoe sizes 5 to 7 take board widths of from 21 1/2 to 23 1/2 centimeters; shoe sizes 7 to 8 1/2 take widths of from 23 to 24 1/2 centimeters; shoe sizes 8 1/2 to 10 1/2 take widths of from 24 to 25 1/2 centimeters; and shoe sizes above 10 1/2 take widths of 25 centimeters and over. Women with larger feet might want to consider a unisex board. Sidecut refers to the hourglass shape of the board. The greater the difference between tip and tail widths and the waist width, the deeper the sidecut -- and the sharper you can turn. Freeride boards are wider at the waist and have a shallower sidecut. A freestyle board usually has a relatively deep sidecut to allow for more precise turns and quicker edge-to-edge control. Racing boards are usually asymmetrical, with the sidecut on the toe edge further forward than the sidecut on the heel edge. The Core Issue
Today's boards are lighter than ever. Most boards have wood cores, which are durable and lightweight. Wood cores absorb vibrations well and give the board a snappy feel. Cores that blend wood and carbon fiber are a more recent technological development. Though slightly heavier, a blended core lasts longer than a wood-only core. Plus the blended core has better energy transfer (especially important in freestyle riding) and absorbs vibration more effectively than an all-wood core. Whichever type of core you choose, a snowboard can weigh between 5 and 7 pounds. Add your bindings and your boots, and you're nearing 10 pounds of gear that you are pushing and pulling around the mountain. If weight is a concern for you, seek out lightweight binding systems and snowboards that are constructed with the latest, and usually lightest, materials. Sarah Bamberger is a competitive cyclist who completed the California AIDS Ride last summer.
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