Anatomy
Curvature along the side of the board. Contributes to the overall control & responsiveness of the board with varying depths & styles of side cuts.
This board is described as the bottom half (tail) and top half (nose) are mirror images of each other and the flex is exactly the same on both ends.
Contributes to the overall flex, pop, and responsiveness when initiating any maneuver on the board. Is also essentially the shoe of your board when looking at it side on.
What is a Camber profile?
This is the simplest and most common side-cut. This is basically the same arc right along the side of the snowboard – from contact point to contact point.
What is Radial side cut?
Many manufacturers will give a number rating ranging from 1-10 on what?
What is Snowboard Flex?
Front tip of the snowboard, absorbs shock & lifts the board in powder.
What is Nose?
This board has the same tail/nose width but there is usually a very noticeable difference in shape. Usually the nose is longer than the tail and the sidecut is directional. You can ride switch pretty well but it’s noticeably different.
What is Directional?
This is the original snowboard shape ideal for aggressive riders who want bigger ollies. It is stable at high speed especially when carving and has more control landing bigger jumps. You have to use your own weight to push the board into the shape of a turn. The board then wants to return to its original position which creates the pop and snap that gives your board its energy and life.
What is Traditional Camber?
This is where there is series of different side-cut radii along the edge of the board. This allows a board to behave differently when initiating a turn and when exiting a turn and in the middle of a turn.
What is Progressive side cut?
This board is going to be more forgiving and easier to turn. Beginners, Riders with lower body weights lean towards it and These snowboards tend to be a bit looser at higher speeds but can also provide a soft buttery feel at slower speeds.
What is softer Flex rating?
Back tip of the snowboard, contributes to the overall control of the board. Provides pop & responsiveness when initiating an ollie or maneuvering in the park.
What is Tail?
This board is usually a very tapered and very directional board with a little pizza slice cut out of the middle of the tail. You often see this with Snowsurf boards and it’s a great way to get the tail to sink in powder in order to keep the nose up for easy directional float
What is Swallow Tail?
This shape has predictability to its ride without ever worrying about catching an edge. Its loose surfy feel is ridden more between the feet and naturally planes above powder. Unlike Positive Camber this board is already in the shape of a turn so it basically auto-turns itself. It is also great for exaggerated butters and presses on rails and boxes.
What is Reverse Camber?
This edge technology started with Magne-traction and there are now other forms of it. Basically, what this means is that the side-cut is wavy, and this creates more contact points with the snow.
What is Serrated & often times called Magne-Traction?
This provides better edge hold and are more stable at high speeds. can be great for riders laying down high speed turns but tough for lightweight riders to flex properly.
What is Stiffer Flex?
Amount of space between the edges at the center of the board. Impacts overall toe & heel drag of the rider. Size of boot determines how much waist width the rider will need. Boot size 11 or larger requires a wider board.
What is Waist Width?
This board shape is like a directional board but has a tail width smaller than the nose width. The nose is usually longer and has a little to a lot less surface area than the tail.
What is Tapered Directional?
This is an ideal choice for riders who want the stability of camber with the loose forgiving feel of reverse camber. These boards have a longer feel and therefore can be ridden a bit shorter. They also plane well above powder. Great all around board.
What is Flat/Zero Camber?
This shape simply means that the side-cut on the heel edge of the board and the toe edge of the board are different. The idea of this is to counteract the asymmetry of our bodies. The heel-edge side cut is deeper (smaller radius) than the toe edge side-cut.
What is Asymmetrical side cut?
This snowboard flex rating would be ideal for Resort, Park and Freestyle riding?
What is Soft-Med Flex?
Length of the board, longer boards are more stable at higher speeds & easier to control in powder. Shorter boards are easier to initiate turns & easier to maneuver in the park. Typically, length is determined by a rider's weight & riding style.
What is Length?
This board is a true twin on sidecut but often looks like a twin or is close to it but there is usually one, some or multiple things about it that aren’t symmetrical:
-The tail could have a stiffer flex than the nose.
-There could be a set back stance.
-The camber profile could be different on the nose compared to the tail.
-The board could have more surface area/length in the nose than the tail for easier float in powder.
What is a Directional Twin?
This combines reverse camber between the feet with positive camber in the nose and tail for added zones of pop and control. This board turns itself, floats above powder and still has the control and stability at higher speeds. Great shape for riding everything
What is Hybrid Rocker (Camber/Rocker/Camber)?
The way this is created will affect how the board turns and performs.
What is side cut?
This Flex rating would be idea for All mountain, Freeride and powder riding.
What is Med-Stiff Flex?