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All You Ever Needed to Know About Snowboards...
| Equipment & Clothing Guide |
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Having the right equipment for your chosen activity will help ensure that you get the best possible introduction to your sport (if you are a beginner), or help speed you along in your learning curve if you are looking to improve. The easier and quicker you learn, the more pleasurable your experience will be! In this section, you will find guides to help you select the most appropriate gear for your sport and your ability.
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| Getting to Know Your Tray |
So, are you a 'knarly free-riding dude or dudette?' or is a 'nose grab' with a 'tail poke' more your thang....? Confused....?
The snowboarding craze really took off in the 1980s, although there is evidence to suggest that it began as far back as the 1960s. Over the past couple of decades the sport has continued to grow in popularity and its skateboarding roots have undoubtedly been responsible for the change in today’s cool and trendy skiing fashion and clothing designs. Along with the introduction of the snowboard however came a rebel like 'bad boy' image which was largely brought about by the fact that it was adolescent males who were taking to the sport. Fortunately in today's skiing climate the sport is continuing to grow and appeal to men and women of all ages. In 1998 snowboarding made its debut at the winter Olympic Games but this was not without contraversy, Sadly even in todays open-minded skiing community it continues to struggle to shrug off its arrogant and misconceived 'rebel like' image amongst skiers and other mountain users. Moreover, there are still a few American ski resorts where the sport is completely banned!
Its popularity can be partly due to the fact that snowboarding is quite simply... easier than skiing! Not only is there less paraphernalia to carry around but the gear is also considerably more comfortable as the boots are soft and almost trainer like, (making them perfect for a spot of après ski partying!) Speaking from personal experience too, the ‘art of skiing’ can take years of hard work and dedication to perfect. Even after a good twenty (plus) years at the sport (which includes many hours as a child at the dry ski slope and days heather hopping in Scotland’s mountains), I still haven't managed to perfect my off-piste and moguls technique, and apparently I possess a number of bad habits and faults that I had pointed out by a qualified instructor during a recent refresher lesson.
Snowboarding on the other hand is pretty straight forward. In general it can take a good three to five days to get the hang of it. There's no denying, it can be a painful three to five days but after that the learning curve is generally as big as your courage! It’s also much easier to ride a snowboard in fresh powder too so you can safely hit the off-piste much quicker than you could skiing. Riding off piste offers a gliding or floating sensation that is completely different to that experienced on skis. There’s also an indescribable exhilarating feeling felt when you make a turn in fresh powder that sends a huge spray of powder in the air or at your mate if you’re skilled enough!
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last updated 19-Feb-2008 |
| Snowboarding Styles |
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There are a few distinct styles that have emerged within the sport of snowboarding which have been characterised by the type of riding preferred. There are different types of gear and equipment to buy depending on what style of snowboarder you are so it is important to understand your style before you splash out on new gear! Broadly speaking, snowboarding styles are Freestyle, Freeride and Alpine. |
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last updated 5-Oct-2007 |
| Freestyle Snowboards |
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Freestyle boarding is considered by many boarding sportsmen to be the most spectacular and impressive style of riding. Freestyle riders will usually be found in the board parks, half pipes (and any natural obstacle with a suitable launch ramp!). A general all round freestyle board will be shorter, lighter, fatter and more manoeuvrable than a Freeriding board although there are specific snowboards designed for halfpipe’s or the perfect rail slide, it’s not usually financial possible to have a board for every occasion. More often than not, freestyle boards are Twin tipped or directional-twin boards (identical in shape at the tip and tail) to facilitate easy 'switch' or 'fakie' riding and turning. |
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last updated 5-Oct-2007 |
| Freeriding (All Mountain) Snowboards |
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Mastering the art of 'Freeriding' will allow you to ride, carve, jump and/or do some aerial manoeuvres either on or off-piste. Freeriding is generally the most popular of the snowboarding styles as it’s the easiest for the snowboarding novice to learn and master. As such, a freeriding board is generally the most popular and common on the slopes. As soon as the powder comes, Freeriders’ will be first in the lift queue!! A Freeriding board has directional shape, and as such is primarily designed to be ridden in one direction. The board is relatively longer and narrower so the Freeriders stance is slightly positioned to the rear of the board to make it easier when riding fresh, untracked powder. |
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last updated 5-Oct-2007 |
| Alpine (Carving) Snowboards |
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Alpine boards, also know as Carving or Racing boards, are focused on racing, speed and producing the ultimate carving turn. Carving boards are long, narrow, stiff constructions and are configured for higher speeds with cleaner carved turns. Carving boards allow quick edge turns, swift, superior edge-holding power on hard snow, and have good stability at high speed. Since many boarders descend at high speeds with turns that demand a lot of strength, it is often difficult for beginner snowboarders to master the carving technique. A Carving or Alpine board will be longer, narrower and stiffer to give stability during periods of high speed descent. (It almost looks like a large ski!) Furthermore, Carving boarders will wear hard boots instead of the usual soft boot as worn by Freeriders and Freestylers. |
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last updated 9-Oct-2007 |
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