Riding Gear

Just as there is no longer one kind of skiing and one kind of ski, snowboarding has evolved into a sport that is big enough to encompass a number of speciaties and specialty equipment. It now ranges from let-it-all-hang-out free-riding to racing through gates. And just as there are all-mountain skis, there are multi-purpose snowboards whose main quality is versatility. A good rider can take almost any board almost anywhere, but as the snowboarding sport develops into subspecialties, you will also find targeted gear.

Boarded Up

Some boards are better suited to free-riding, hlafpipes and terrain parks, carving (even racing), and powder. Designers have come up with a variety of shapes. You'll find fairly straight-sided freestyle boards and curvier free-riding models, as well as asymmetrical models. Freestylers like short, maneuvrable boards that turn at both the tip and tail. Carvers prefer longer boards, with more extreme shapes or even an asymmetrical profile.

Conventional sizes for adult boards range from about 135 to about 155 centimeters, which should reach roughly between the chin and the eyebrows. As with skis, heavier riders need a stiffer board, while lightweights can do with a softer one. Waist, nose, and tail widths vary, as does the sidecut radius, height of the nose and tail off the snow, and other measures. Long boards, including a few swallowtails, are designed for powder. As with skis, shorter and lighter boards are available for women and youngsters, too.