Best of the Best

Snowboards can be classified into three general categories: park & pipe (freestyle), all-mountain (freeride), and powder boards. Park and pipe can be subdivided into more specific boards made with features that help in the pipe, or similarly, rail sliding specific boards that are created for those who love the rails.

When looking for a board, there are key features to be aware of including length, side cut, width, and flex.

Length:
Board length is measured in mm, women’s boards range from around 140 to 158, measured from tip to tail. Longer lengths give more directional stability. An easy guideline for the length of a board is to hold it up and see if the height of the board reaches between your chin and nose. Remember, powder boards will be longer due to the need for greater surface area in order to float over deep snow. If you prefer to ride in the park, a shorter board will be easier for spins and rails. If you like to go fast and carve, a longer board will give you more stability at speed.

Side cut:
Each board has a different side cut, which is the amount of curve in the contact edge of the board. It is measured in meters, as the radius of a circle. General women’s board side cut varies, but the easiest way to check it out is to stand the board up on its side and examine the arc of the side of the board, a greater arc will mean quicker, more responsive turning.

Flex:
There are two kinds of flex: longitudinal (the way it flexes along it length) and torsional (resistance to twist). Most boards are rated by the manufacturer on a scale as to their flexibility. However, a more hands- on approach is to hold the board with the tail on the ground and one hand on the tip, and place your other hand in the center and push. This will give you a good idea of the longitudinal flex of the board. Torsional flex can be tested in a similar way, hold the board and twist it. Softer boards are better for initiating turns, rails, and overall maneuverability at slow speeds in varied conditions. They also allow for playful riding, making tricks like butters, ollies, and noserolls easy. Stiffer boards are more stable at high speeds and perform better in the halfpipe.

Width:
Board width is the distance straight across the board. Because of side cut, they are thicker at tip and tail and thinner in the middle. Narrower boards are quicker when transitioning edge to edge. Wider boards have more surface area, are slower edge to edge, but perform better in powder. If your feet are larger, width can be a definite factor in your choice for a board. Look for a board that your feet fit on, without the toes or heels hanging over the edges.

In order to determine which category of boards to browse, consider your personal riding preferences. Type of riding, body weight, height, foot size, and, of course, graphics are all factors to be considered.

Where do you like to ride?
The mountains we ride are diverse places. There are parks, halfpipes, steeps, flats, trails, and trees. Think about where you like to spend most of your time. If you have trouble deciding, remember that there are the well rounded all mountain boards for those who choose to spend time equally over various parts of the mountain.

Geographics:
If you live or ride in a place that has powder all the time, you are going to want a board that will enable you to ride your best in those conditions. Similarly, if you are an East Coaster who rides hard pack and ice a good amount of the season, you want a board that will perform for you in those conditions. It’s not surprising that with the technology today, there are boards for just about every condition you can think of.

Our beautiful bodies:
Don’t worry; I’m going to show you how to avoid disclosing your weight to the good-looking snowboarder that may help you buy your board. Each board has a sticker on the bottom which gives you a recommended height and weight rating (in each size). Remember, this is a guideline, and it is made to make the board perform at an optimum level. If you are slightly out of the range it’s no reason to forget about the specific board. You can also find these charts online on the board manufacturer’s websites. They are usually listed as “specs” (or specifications) or “tech.” Generally speaking, women’s boards are designed with the assumption that all women have relatively small feet. If you have larger feet (if you place your feet on the board and find that your toes are hanging off the edge), you may want to consider looking for a wider board. This will affect your performance. Some women choose to look at men’s boards, as they are built wider.