How to choose a snowboard?

What kind of ride are you interested in?

Are you thinking about buying a snowboard? Before you buy the perfect board you need to decide what kind of riding you are interested in. You can choose between classic technical riding on runs of various difficulty and freeride, which is riding off-piste on unprepared snow. Other types of skiing are snowpark and jibb, i.e. snowpark skiing with a focus on jibbing and flatground stunts. This type of board is suitable for people who are just beginning their adventure with snowboarding. The last type of riding is snowpark, kicker or halfpipe, which means riding in a snowpark with a focus on jumps or pipes. It is also important to determine your level of expertise. If you already know what type of riding is best for you and how to handle yourself on a snowboard, we can move on to the next point.

The four main board constructions

Another important point is the profile of the board. There are 4 different designs of snowboards. These are: rocker, camber, flat camber and hybrid. What are the characteristics of each construction? We explain!

• Rocker - its construction resembles a banana. This shape makes the board more forgiving while riding. It is also easier to bend the board when riding on jibble obstacles, doing tricks and turning. Rocker construction is ideal for the beginning of your snowboarding adventure. It speeds up the start of almost every beginner.
• Camber - the oldest construction of snowboards. Camber is characterised by two points of contact between the board and the snow and a raised centre. This construction helps you to maintain stability even when riding fast. It is ideal for people who aim at big snowboard jumps.
• Flat camber - something between rocker and camber. The whole length of the board is made of a flat core. A flat camber board has a slightly lower tolerance for errors than a rocker. However, flat camber will give you more stability when reaching speed on the downhill. It is a good construction for people who use various snowboard obstacles.
• Hybrid - a combination of all of the above. It has 2 cambers, which makes you have a bulge under both feet. When riding, these 2 cambers flatten out so there is more tension in the board. This tension is released during a jump, for example, providing an even bigger bump.

Make a note of your personal sizes

Before going to the shop, measure yourself carefully and weigh yourself. It is important to know your height, weight and shoe size. The length and width of the board are based on these. There are plenty of tables that help you quickly and easily determine how long your snowboard should be. Many manufacturers even put them on their boards to make it easier for customers to choose the right size. There is one way to check if your board is the right size. If the board is placed vertically on the ground and reaches its user up to his chin, then you can say that the board is well-fitting. When you are in a snowboard shop you should try on every piece of equipment and get to know it. The width of the board is also important. Put on your snowboard boots and step into your snowboard. If you see that your foot sticks out a few centimetres from the board, this is a sign that you need a wider board, the Wide versions. If you are not sure whether your feet fit properly or maybe they stick out a bit, ask your dealer.

Don't be afraid to try!

It's good if you know how your board should theoretically look like. But theory is not always the same as practice, so try on different models. If you can, try out a few different boards. You might be surprised to find out that a board you didn't even consider is better for you. Good luck with choosing a snowboard! If you have any problems, do not hesitate to contact our specialists. They will be happy to advise you in all situations.