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How to Buy the Perfect Snowboard--Part Two

© H.D. Lail

Last month, I discussed how to buy a snowboard according to form. Now we move on to function, or the purpose of the snowboard.

Of course, the purpose of every snowboard is to provide a medium between you and the snow. Beyond that, it's up to how creative and athletic you are. There are three basic types of snowboarding: alpine (carving or racing), freestyle (pipe and tricks), and freeride (all-mountain). What type of riding do you plan to do? There is a board for every occasion, as well as some all-around types that you can take just about anywhere.

Board manufacturers make snowboards to fit every type of riding. Alpine riding, or carving, needs a board that has lengthy effective edges (the outside edges of the snowboard that actually touch the snow). The longer the edge, the better the carve. Also, these boards are extremely stiff and stable, allowing for quick edge changes and excellent holding power at high speeds. Because alpine snowboards are used for racing, they tend to be longer, which means you go faster. The thin width gives precise control when making sharp, rapid turns. These type of boards sometimes have a blunt or flat tail.

For playing in the pipes or performing tricks, a freestyle board is in order. These boards are usually called "twin-tips," because both the nose and tail are turned up and are identical in shape. This is an important feature when riding switchstance, or backwards. Freestyle boards are usually short, under about 150 cm., responsive, and lightweight. When flying through the air, a heavy, long board will certainly hinder performance. The binding inserts are centered equally on this type of board, allowing the riding to have complete control.

Freeride, or all-mountain, snowboards are known for their versatility. These are the most widely available of all snowboards and come in a variety of lengths and styles. All-mountain simply means that you want to enjoy the entire mountain, from half-pipe to steeps and chutes to cruisers. Many freeride boards are directional, meaning the nose is elongated and maybe turned up higher than the tail, creating an easily recognizable front and back. One way to turn your trusty old freeride into a powder board is to move your bindings back, which effectively shifts your weight toward the tail of the board. This allows you to float on top of powder and not take a nose dive into it.

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