If you think girls don't know about sidecuts or setback and simply buy the snowboard with the nicest graphics, then you seriously need to think again.
Take Enni Rukajärvi for example. The Finnish ripper has designed two pro models for VIMANA and knows it all when it comes to board design, so who better to tell you all you need to know to get the perfect board for you, what ever your gender.
So read on, pay attention and reap the benefits of Rukajärvi's expert advice on the slopes.
01
Board types
Camber
This is the best option if you mostly ride the resort, groomers, park or pipe. It's great for turning, going fast and carving without losing your edge on ice. It also gives you good pop on jumps, and doesn't give up too easily on landings.
Flat
These work pretty similar to camber boards, hold edge really well and are pretty responsible, but camber boards might have a little more pop.
Rocker/ Reverse Camber
This style is mostly good for beginners, as it's easier to learn how to turn and you don't catch your edge that fast. But when you know the basics, it's better to change to a camber board, so you can go faster, learn how to turn properly and hold your edge on hard snow. If you mostly want to fool around, a rocker is great. For spring riding, for example, and it makes jibbing way easier.
I personally prefer aflat rocker, which is flat between the bindings and a rocker to the tail and nose, so I still have good grip in turns. Special powder rocker boards float way better than camber options, too.
02
Directional or twin-tip shapes – what’s the difference?
Directionals
These are great if you mostly ride regular, and don't ride switch too much. They're also good for powder, because the nose is longer and bigger, and the tail shorter and often more narrow. That makes them float, making turning in deep snow is easier and more fun.
Twin tips
Twin tip boards are best for park and rails when you do switch tricks, as the board feels the same both ways.
03
Does it matter if it’s a male or female board?
Not really. The biggest difference is the width. Men's boards are wider than girl's boards.
Always check if your foot size fits the board
Your boots can overlap a bit on both sides, but not too much. If your boots are touching the snow when you turn, you need a wider board. If your boots don't overlap at all, you should get a narrower board. Make sure your bindings are in the right position to have your feet centered between the edges.
04
How do you find the right length?
A good basic length for a board is about 20cm less than your height. You can go a little bit shorter for rails, and a little bit longer for powder, groomers or pipe. I'm 164.5cm and my park board is 147cm, my rail board 143cm, and my pow board is 149cm.
05
How does stiffness or flex influence a board?
If you want to ride fast, you want a stiffer board, because it's more stable. Softer boards are better for jibbing and for slush, because they don't dig into the snow that much.
06
What does the radius/sidecut tell about how the board will ride?
It tells you how fast the board turns. If you want a playful board for quick turns, you should choose a smaller radius. If you like mellow, longer turns, choose a bigger radius. However you need more speed to turn with a bigger radius. It really depends on your riding style. You can find almost all boards specs in catalogues or online so compare the board you already have with new options.
07
What’s setback?
Setback defines how much your bindings are positioned towards the tail compared to the middle of the board. If you mostly ride regular, you can have quite a lot of setback to carve harder or make your board more floaty in powder. My park board has a centered stance, but I always have 2cm setback so my nose is 2cm longer than my tail. On my powder board I have at least 6cm setback.
08
Is an extruded or a sintered base the better choice?
A sintered base, for sure! Usually, cheaper boards don't have it and it needs a bit more wax maintenance. But it's worth paying for a board with a sintered base, because it helps a lot when the snow is bad and it's hard to get speed.
09
Final advice for happy board shopping
You get used to all kind of boards, but it makes things so much more fun when you have the right one for your riding style.
Check out demo centres in the resort and try out different boards before you buy something you're not happy with. Start with a smaller and softer board first, but when you get better at riding, you should really get a more responsive board so remember to upgrade your equipment when your ridings skills get better
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