What to Know When Buying Snowboards
As a beginner, getting the right board will help you progress quite fast. Buying a snowboard can be quite difficult without the proper guidance. Sometimes, you may even give up on your dream of becoming good at snowboarding because of failing to choose the right kind of snowboard.
Here are a few tips that should help steer you in the right direction.
• Choosing the Right Size
There are some key measurements that you must keep in mind when choosing the right board. They include your weight, your shoe size, and your height. These measurements will be used to determine the dimensions of your snowboard.
If you make the right choice, you will be able to have good control of your board when you hit the slopes. The length of the board should be determined by how tall you are. In most cases, a good board is one that reaches to your chin.
Another factor to consider is how heavy you are. In most cases, the heavier you are, the longer the board needs to be. It ensures that you are more stable when riding. If you are light, you can use a board that is shorter than your chin height to increase control of the board.
If you do not size the board correctly, you will have a hard time controlling your board. However, do not be too obsessed with numbers. It depends on how comfortable you feel on your board. Width is another measurement that you must keep in mind.
The width of a board depends on your feet’s size. The last thing you want is to have your feet hanging off the edge of the board. Ideally, the feet should only hang off the edge by the tips. If they scrape the ground during turns, you will find it hard to make accurate turns.
• The Direction Matters
A snowboard is either twin or directional. A snowboard that is directional rides well in one direction although it can be ridden in both directions. A twin snowboard rides well in both directions.
If you love freeriding in natural terrain, you should use a directional snowboard. A twin board is great if you prefer riding in the park. If you love freestyling and doing tricks, this board will work great for you. Most park boards are twin.
• The Camber
An important factor to keep in mind is the board’s curvature, known as the camber. There are three popular types of camber in snowboarding. These are camber, rocker, and flat. Each type of camber has different implications for the rider.
Camber is the basic type of camber profile. It has been tried and tested for many years with success. It offers edge hold, pop, and stability. It works well for snowboarding at great speeds, and it has a lot of energy out of tight turns. However, you will require lots of effort to turn compared to other types of camber.
Rocker is another camber profile, popularly known as reverse camber. It loosens the snowboard, which causes a ‘skatey’ feeling. One thing that is great about this profile is that it is quite easy to make quick turns.
Additionally, these types of boards float quite well on powder. Since these boards are easier to press than cambered boards, they are great for learning flat ground tricks. However, with this type of board, a washout is quite easy.
The third common profile is zero camber. It is the middle ground between rocker and camber. This board is quite common in parks. The boards with this camber are great for riding rails. The flat surface between the bindings helps with stability. However, some riders complain that these boards have a dead feeling to them.
A recent innovation in camber is the hybrid camber. It has a rocker profile between the feet and a camber below the feet. Numerous companies are using this camber. The main benefit of this camber is versatility.
The camber below the feet provides edge hold, some pop, and stability. At the same time, the rocker between the feet provides float in powder and looseness. However, this board does not offer as much pop and stability as a full cambered board. The main disadvantage is that it does not offer the stability of a full camber at high speeds.
• Flex
The responsiveness of a board is determined by its flexibility combined with the rider’s weight. Thus, it is important for you to adhere to the weight recommendations of each board. The board’s stiffness can be classified based on two areas; torsional and longitudinal.
Longitudinal flex is important if you are a freestyle rider. If your board has a soft flex, it will perform better during landing jumps, jibbing, and freestyle riding. If you are light, you should choose a board that has as much flex as possible.
Torsional flex is the board’s stiffness from toe edge to heel edge. A board with soft torsional flex is great for both bumpy and soft snow. This flex is great for groomed snow and deep powder.
Summary
If you decide to purchase a used board, be very careful. You may end up purchasing a board with a damaged core. In most cases, it is preferable to purchase a new board.