Before you Snowboard - Gear Explained

Before you Start Snowboarding

You have decided to learn to snowboard, what do you do now? You have heard that its dangerous and are unsure of where to start. You will find snowboarding tips that will take you step by step from Newbie to Pro.

You can learn to snowboard here.

You can learn how to dress for snowboarding here.

We are now going to learn about snowboard hard goods

Hard Goods
Equipment: the right size and the right fit

Boots- Comfort, Comfort, Comfort
There are different choices and styles. Try on many brands and styles to find the right fit for you.

Snowboard Boots

• Snowboard Freestyle Boots: are soft flexible boots, mainly used with strap bindings.
• Snowboard Free Ride Boots: are mid stiffer boots, can be used with strap, step-in, or other binding types.
• Snowboard Carving Boots: are stiff hard boots, used with plate or step-in bindings.

Bindings- Quick or Control?

Snowboard Bindings

• Snowboard Strap Bindings: have an ankle strap and a toe strap you can adjust independently. Some say Strap Bindings provide the most control but a not so comfy fit, and take the most time to get into. Strap bindings usually have the best high-back adjustment.
• Snowboard Step-in Bindings: have the straps built into the boot. The boot has a binding fitting on the sole that clicks into the Step-in binding on the board. Some say Step-in bindings are the quickest and easiest to get into, but loose some control with the age and wear. Step-in bindings usually have the high-back built into the boot which provides no high-back adjustment.
• Snowboard Plate Bindings: are used with hard plastic boots. Some say Plate bindings have the most control when it comes to transfer from boot to board. The boot is hard plastic so no high-back is needed.
• Snowboard Flow Bindings: Flow is a brand but they are worth noting. Flows have a full foot cloth like cover that you adjust once to fit. You slide your boot toe first into the binding and then lift the high-back up to the boot and lock in place. Some say Flow bindings are a mix of quick, comfort, and control. Flow bindings usually have little or poor high-back adjustments(but they are improving their technology).

Boards- jibing,or speed

Snowboard's

• Freestyle Snowboard: is usually twin tiped with a soft flex and a centered stance. Used mainly with soft freestyle boots and bindings. Used in the park or for on the mountain Jibbing.
• Free-Ride Snowboard: has more of a directional cut and most often the tail is stiffer than the nose with set back from center stance. Used with a variety of boots and binding combination's. Used all mountain for park, pipe, bumps, trees, and groomers.
• Carving Snowboard: is stiff and narrower than other boards. Usually used with hard boots and plate bindings. Used mostly on groomers for carving at high speed, also for racing gates.

Also you will want to find a snowboard with graphics you like, so make sure to look around and get what will work for the type of snowboarding you will be doing.