Snowboarding

Choosing A Snowboard. Don't Be Hasty. Be Thorough And Reap The Rewards.

When choosing a snowboard you need to know what to look for. Why does one brand work better than another. Why do prices differ from one board shop than another? Should I let price matter? What if I buy and not like the board?

Unless you have money to burn your best bet is to find a shop that will rent you a board with the understanding that if you don't like it you can walk without obligation, but if you do like it then the shop will deduct the rental fee from the retail price.

Do not be in a hurry. Rent a few different boards. Try to get the feel of each one. Make a real effort to resist buying and do not get caught up in the hype. Every board manufacturer will tell you their boards are better. That is human nature at work. Remember, graphics do not make the board better.

The one point you really must understand is this. Nearly every board is made the same way. The core is wood. It's covered on top with fiberglass and the bottom is plastic. That is all there is to it.

Sure, some manufacturers spend more time sanding, painting, designing and applying nice graphics. Some also spend a fortune on advertising material, but when it comes right down to it, one board is about the same as the next.

The most important factor in the equation is how does the board feel to you on the snow. Choosing a snowboard means all of the above PLUS trying it out on the slopes. Experience the feel for yourself. Do not believe the advertising hype because most of it is a play on words. In the long run, you and you alone will decide what you want and feel.

When you enter a snowboard shop or an on-line shop the first thing you will notice will be the tremendous variety of boards available. Name brands such as Burton, Abbigliamento, DC, Dragon, Gnu, K2, Roxy, Salomon and dozens of others fill the walls. If you question the clerks and ask for their opinion of the different boards you will get the impression that they must spend all of their time testing every board out on the hills. If truth be known, they will probably have one board they use personally. The rest of the information they will pick up from brochures and advertising material.

Choosing a snowboard is a matter of elimination. By trying a board you will either like it or love it. Compare the stiffness of one against the other.

Do not skimp on the bindings. You bought a great board but fitted it with a cheap binding. Big mistake. Advances in binding manufacturing have resulted in equipment that will last for years. Nothing will wipe you out like having that cheap binding give out, ruining a day of what should have been perfect boarding. Now it is back to the shop, buying the more expensive binding. Why not do it all once. Buy the best you are able to afford.

Once you have purchased the board and those great bindings get out there and try it out. Be sure to check how the board and bindings are working together, sort of as a team would do. The employees at the shop are usually very helpful. Do not hesitate to return for binding tweaking.

So there it is. Choosing a snowboard need not be a tough task. Be aware of the pitfalls of paying too much for a fancy board. The cheap one will do just as good a job for you. Place the dollars on the bindings and really enjoy your days on the trails.

About The Author:

Joe and Irma Mac Millan have enjoyed the Whistler Mountain and valley area of British Columbia for many years. They have camped, hiked and skied the mountains and fished and kayaked the rivers and lakes. Their website Whistler-Outdoors is a must visit for anyone considering a trip to Whistler as well as the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. They invite one and all to take a look.

How to Choose the Right Snowboard

Buying a new snowboard is fun and exciting, but it's also a big investment. When faced with several hundred bright, shiny new snowboards in the shop, choosing the right board can seem almost impossible. Burton Snowboards alone produces 47 different snowboards between their men's and women's lines. However, with a little research, it's not difficult to narrow down your choices to a handful of boards, making your decision that much easier.

How to Choose the Right Snowboard:

Define Yourself as a Snowboarder

To narrow down your choices so you can choose the right snowboard, think about what type of riding you do the most. If you're into freestyle snowboarding, you'll want to look at different boards than if you're an All Mountain rider.

Check Out the New Catalogs

Snowboard companies start delivering their new brochures and catalogs to shops in August, just a few weeks before the new gear actually arrives. Stop by your local snowboard shop and pick up a few brochures - this will give you a head-start as you go about narrowing down your choices. Pick out a bunch of boards from the catalogs, but don't put too much faith in what they say, because after all, they were written by the marketing departments. Trust - you can never be too careful!

Research, Research, Research

Snowboarding magazines like Transworld Snowboarding, Snowboarder Magazine and others typically publish an annual buyers guide before the season starts (usually in September or October). These guides offer a wealth of information on nearly every snowboard model being sold for the upcoming season. Companies send new product to the magazines towards the end of the previous season for testing, so you can be sure the opinions and information contained within the annual buyers guides is legit. Take that list of boards you picked out from the company brochures, and read up on 'em as much as possible.

Hit Up Your Local Snowboard Shop

Pick their brains. Seriously. It might sound gross, but the guys and gals at your favorite shop probably know more about this year's line of boards than anyone outside of the companies themselves. Head on in, let 'em know the important things - how long you've been riding, the type of riding you mostly do, how much you're looking to spend, and the boards you've been reading up on. See what they say. Note what they say. Buy NOTHING that first day.

DEMO, demo, demo

This is the most important step. All the research, knowledge and recommendations in the world don't mean a thing until you've actually ridden the board. Don't believe me? A few years ago, the industry was falling all over themselves in praise of the Burton Custom, an admittedly venerable board. I took a demo model out for a few runs and came back unimpressed. The next day, I tried out a different Burton Board (an Un Inc.) and absolutely loved it. Had I listened to "everyone," I'd have been one unhappy rider.

Resort Demo Days: Resorts usually hold demo days in the beginning of the season (December is prime-time for product demo's). Call up your favorite resort, or ask around at the local shop to find out when, where, and who will be at the various product demo's in your area, then get out and ride, ride, ride! By the time you get to this point, you should have your choice narrowed down to two or three boards - take each of them out and let 'er rip.
Shop Demo Programs: Most snowboard shops will let you try out a demo model of the board you're interested in for a small fee, which they'll usually put towards the purchase price of the board if you decide to buy. Just like with resort demo days, bring in your list of two or three boards and try each of them out.
By Christopher Del Sole...About.com

Choosing a Snow Boarding Instructor

Choosing a snow boarding instructor can be a very difficult choice, and one that comes down to your judgement more than anything else, however by following a few basic rules and asking the correct questions you can be sure that your choice will make a more informed one. When I first started learning how to snow board I was only 20 and in fact the sport was just getting started. Snow boarding began when a man decided to attach his son’s skis together in order to ensure that his son’s technique was correct. This has lead to snow boarding being one of the most popular winter sports even making an appearance in the Olympics. Despite this, the rules and regulations that surround other sports are different with snow boarding and for that reason alone it can be difficult to find an instructor that you are able to trust.

Does your instructor have any customers that you can speak with?

Ask your instructor if he has any past pupils that you are able to speak with. If he does then you will be able to ensure that he at least has some experience, and you can ask those pupils how they found the training that they were given. This is something that I consider with all my pupils. I ask them if they would like to speak with any ex pupils and give them their telephone numbers. Although most don’t bother calling them up, it gives them a certain level of confidence in my ability.

What rates or charges will you incur for instruction?

This is an important question and one that should be considered as a major factor in who you choose. If an instructor is charging more then it probably reflects on one major issue and that is his ability. If you are being charged more then this may be reflected in his service and experience and therefore it may be worth it. On the other hand, if you are mainly looking for the ability to master basic skills, then perhaps it is not worth paying extra. It is also imperative that you ask if the rates that you are paying reflect every cost element that you will incur. What do I mean by this? Some instructors may charge you an hourly rate, but then the course may ask for more in order to use the facilities or rent equipment. Be sure that you know about everything that you are paying. Another point for consideration is that if you intend to train on a better slope then the costs of tuition will surely be higher. I would say it is probably worth paying that little extra to learn on snow, and on a diverse and challenging range of slopes.

How well do you think you will get along with your instructor?

This is something that we must all consider before choosing an instructor, and although we cannot always tell, meeting them in person is a great way to get a feel for their personality. Many instructors choose to make friends with their pupils however this is something that I refrain from doing. In my opinion students attain the best results, when they have a relationship of mutual respect and understanding with their instructor. When the pupil and instructor become too chatty problems arise. However, this is just my opinion. If you feel more comfortable with a chatty instructor then this should be your choice. Think about what is best for you, and allow this to influence your choice of instructor.

The times the instructor is available.

If your instructor will only be available between the hours of 9-5 and this is when you will be working then the chances are that this instructor is not very well suited to you. Stop and discuss with an instructor when both of you are available and you will be sure to have a better working relationship.

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Snowboard Companies:

Burton

Burton is the pioneer of snowboards, located in Burlington, VT.
3 Styles of Boards - FreeRide, All Mountain FreeStyle and Park.
Prices Range from $299 to $999

K2 was one of the original big Ski companies. They have been a player in snowboards for years and are constantly making technology enhancements to their boards for the better ride.
K2 breaks their boards out into 3 categories: A.TL.A.S., Progression and Women’s.
- A.TL.A.S - This line is a mix of FreeRide and FreeStyle Boards.
- Progression -This line is made almost exclusively for the park.
- Women’s - This is women’s line and the major differences from the other categories are Graphics and a smaller Sidecut Radius.
Prices Range from $289 to $549

Ride

Founded in Redmond, WA with the mission to create a snowboard company “for the people”.
Ride has 3 Series of Snowboards: Mobility Collection, ATV Collection and Foundation Collection.
- Mobility Collection - The high end collection designed for the FreeStyle and Park.
- ATV Collection - This line is desgined for the FreeRide or all mountain boarder.
- Foundation Collection - The entry line for the new snowboarder. Great quality at a good price.
Prices range from $299 to $499

Forum

Based in Irvine, CA and has been making snowboards for over 10 years.
Forum does not break their snowboards out into Categories or Series like some of the others, they simply have it broken out by Mens, Womens and Youth.
- Mens - The mens line consists of 18 boards that cover the 3 major styles; FreeStyle, FreeRide and Park.
- Womens - The womens line consists of 5 boards coving FreeStyle, FreeRide and Park.
- Youth - Boards designed for the little riders before they can launch into the Mens or Womens line.
Prices range from $299 to $549

Avoiding Common Snowboarding Injuries

Snowboarding is a fun sport to undertake but it has its risks that you need to be aware of. Nothing would suck more that returning from a snowboarding trip with a broken leg or sprained wrist. There are a number of broad safety measures you can follow to diminish your danger of a snowboarding injury that we will discuss.

Make sure you're in shape to ski. Organize for your winter sports trip with a training programmed to progress core stability and muscle. Endurance and leg strength is predominantly vital to lend a hand in preventing injuries.

Wear suitable layers of clothing, that don't confine your movement. You do not want to be all bulked up and unable to move freely. If you cannot move then you cannot snowboard properly and the entire thrill aspect is gone.

Just like any other sporting activity, warm up and cool down. Before you hit the slopes take some time warming up and stretching to help train your body for action.

The top injury that a majority of the snowboarders receive is a wrist injury. Falls are more frequent during snowboarding. The natural response to a fall is to stretch out a hand to break the fall, and falls tend to occur more often in beginners. For this reason Colles fractures Scaphoid and fractures of the wrist are a relatively common feature, with around 100,000 wrist fractures worldwide among snowboarders each year. Snowboarders should wear wrist guards as they significantly reduce the incidence of wrist injuries during falls. Another common injury is head injuries which can lead to serious conclusions. Helmets are effective in reducing the incidence of minor concussions during low velocity collisions. Be sure to grab both of these when you do your shopping for snowboarding.

You may think this will save you money, but in the end it may cost u thousands in hospital bills. Don't borrow equipment from friends; it significantly increases your risk of injury. If you are hiring equipment make sure you hire from a recommended store. Ensure that all the equipment fits properly. This will help avoid serious injuries and unnecessary falls due to non fitting equipment.

Another good tip is Use 'multi-mode' release bindings if possible. The superior release available in modern bindings is just one factor that has helped prevent injuries. Rear release boots can significantly reduce the risk of ACL injury.

Self-test your bindings every day. Self testing of bindings is simple. Step into the binding and then twist to the side to release the toe-piece under the control mechanism. The heel can be tested by stepping into the binding and leaning forward, to release the heel-piece. Both the toe and heel should be able to release if properly adjusted.

The Final Suggestion is to follow the FIS Rules for Conduct in Winter Sports.

1. Respect for others

A skier or snowboarder must behave in such a way that he does not endanger or prejudice others.

2. Control of speed and skiing or snowboarding

A skier or snowboarder must move in control. He must adapt his speed and manner of skiing or snowboarding to his personal ability and to the prevailing conditions of terrain, snow and weather as well as to the density of traffic.

3. Choice of route

A skier or snowboarder coming from behind must choose his route in such a way that he does not endanger skiers or snowboarders ahead.

4. Overtaking

A skier or snowboarder may overtake another skier or snowboarder above or below and to the right or to the left provided that he leaves enough space for the overtaken skier or snowboarder to make any voluntary or involuntary movement.

5. Entering, starting and moving upwards

A skier or snowboarder entering a marked run, starting again after stopping or moving upwards on the slopes must look up and down the slopes that he can do so without endangering himself or others.

6. Stopping on the piste

Unless it is absolutely necessary, a skier or snowboarder must avoid stopping on the piste in narrow places or where visibility is restricted. After a fall in such a place, a skier or snowboarder must move clear of the piste as soon as possible.

7. Climbing and descending on foot

A skier or snowboarder either climbing or descending on foot must keep to the side of the piste.

8. Respect for signs and markings

A skier or snowboarder must respect all signs and markings.

9. Assistance

At accidents, every skier or snowboarder is duty bound to assist.

10. Identification

Every skier or snowboarder and witness, whether a responsible party or not, must exchange names and addresses following an accident.

With all these tips that have been shared with you, I hope you learned something and will have a very safe trip. Come home in one piece and start planning the next.

How to Buy a Snowboard

Buying a Snowboard isn't as trouble-free as it used to be. There are approximately 20 various types of Snowboards. With so many enormous choices, the snowboarder in the present day needs to be knowledgeable, so I put this list together in hopes that How to Buy a Snowboard will be an exciting and pleasurable experience.

There are many different types of snowboards available today. Here are the most common types of snowboards: Freeride boards, Freestyle boards, Backcountry boards, Park/Pipe boards, Kids boards, Women’s boards, Boardercross boards and Signature series boards. As you can see you, you have your work cut out for you in making a decision on what board to buy.

Snowboard buying necessitates a few central questions to be answered, but you’ll be encouraged in knowing that you, by now, have the answers. Your, height weight, riding style and foot size are the chief features that will classify the suitable width, shape, stiffness and height of the board you’ll buy.

Although there are other factors to be taken into consideration, a few of the ones you should be familiar about is your riding ability and riding style. The riding style you have a preference for will lend a hand in determining the sort of board you ought to buy. There are a lot of diverse opinions on the countless riding styles there are but I am going to split them up into three main categories of riding styles.

All Mountain and Freeride style-a freeride or all mountain snowboarder make use of the whole mountain. You enjoy catching air, carving and basically all riding aspects. This is the essence of snowboarding. While a clichéd expression in snowboarding, freeride is still the best way to portray the majority of snowboarders. These riders take pleasure in the whole thing about snowboarding: the imagination that can only be understood sliding the half-pipe, the astounding feel of carving a turn on slopes, the sense of flight you get at lift-off from the big-air jump, and the feel of freedom one gets sliding on new snow. It is still inconceivably first-rate fun on spruced slopes. For next in line we will present the following.

Freestyle or Technical riding- involves mostly jumps, trick riding, rail sliding, grabs, jibbing, spins and tearing it up. Technical freestyle riding is usually set up in the parks or near the halfpipe. For a beginning snowboarder, freestyle and technical boards are the best choice. This style is well-liked among the younger snowboarders. Many of today's technical freestyle riders come to snowboarding with an understanding as a BMX, in-line skater, skateboarder, or other action sports conditions. While the gear specific to this category of rider excels in park and pipe riding, it can also be very adaptable across the whole mountain at less than full-speed. We now will move on to the last category.

Carve/Alpine style-pulls together speed and deep turning and make the most of everything the mountain has to put forward. Alpine riders are repeatedly transitioning from one turn into the next. It is all about hard carving and high speed. Expert skiers who decide to learn snowboarding tend to like the performance of carving boards, although stiffer flex and narrower width can make them intolerant for beginners. These types of riders are recognizable out of the crowd; they are always seen laying a trench in the snow with each turn. These riders "use" a snowboards edge like no others, while using authoritative body movements and gravity as their friend, alpine riders enjoy the sport only when they are attached to the snow.

In conclusion, these are the basics of How to Buy a Snowboard. All the most important issues have been enclosed and hopefully the buying process will be simpler for you.

However please keep in mind that whatever you choose to buy, remember that it is your choice and that nobody has a right to influence you at all.