Snow Sport

 

Do You Want To Feel Like Flying?

Do you want to have a skiing experience that makes it feel like you’re flying? Well that’s what Palmer Snowboards is aiming at when they developed their FLF shape designed skis. This snowboard company knows about skis and what makes a high-performance ski that ensures that the confidence is maintained by reducing the chances of catching an edge that could trip you up.

The idea is that the skis are made with smaller sidecuts to aid the turning experience. The technology has been dubbed FLF which stands for “Feels Like Flying” and are meant to make turning easier while not being too aggressive which would put undue pressure on the knees.

Palmer has used its snowboard experience to develop a ski that puts the skier in control the entire time. Control and performance is paramount and FLF delivers both. The edge is in contact with the snow at a rate that is more optimal, reducing nose edge pressure easing the chances that the nose will be pushed into the snow. There’s less snow resistance and the power is transferred to the edge of the ski letting you maintain your speed and your control.

It is said that you can actually feel FLF work as you power through the turns, giving you the control to increase the ability to accelerate and brake when necessary. It sounds as though this snowboard company has brought its reputation for innovation to the ski industry with the kind of ski that many should be clamoring to get hold of.

Keep Your Eye Out For Jeenyus Snowboards

The snowboards that were produced by the Jeenyus Snowboard company were very popular boards indeed, admired by snowboarders who appreciated the technology that had gone into them. These boards were not flashy and did not go in for the showy graphics that other companies added to their boards.

The snowboards produced by the company were impressive enough that the large name in the industry, Burton Snowboards, bought the company out in 2004. They have since taken over the Jeenyus technology, integrating some of the design features into subsequent boards.

Some of the popular snowboards to have come out of the company include the Jeenyus Fester, Wedge, Eddie Wall and Kevin Jones. Each of them looked understated but they are performance machines and they still stand up to anything that is currently being produced today.

It’s worth the hunt, although it may be a little difficult to find them, but there are still Jeenyus snowboards around to buy with various models showing up in various on-line auctions. Look for them if you want to get a board from a company who knows exactly what a snowboarder really wants.

Transition From Skis To Snowboard

A skier looking for a new challenge after conquering the experience of two skis might turn to trying to learn to snowboard, but it will necessitate a somewhat quick shift of basic skills. Balance issues shouldn’t exist because you would already be used to moving across the snow while bound into skis. But there are key differences concerning the two disciplines that the skier will have to get used to.

The transition from two skis to a single board may take a small bit of getting used to. Instead of being able to broaden the load across both feet which may stand as wide as you need to keep your equilibrium the snowboarder must stand relaxed with their weight on one edge or the other.

The fact that there are no ski poles to catch yourself with may also take a bit of getting used to. Therefore one of the first vital steps in the learning process that the beginner snowboarder should become proficient at is how to fall. Sure, most of us get a lot of training in falling when we start out snowboarding, but doing it right will lower the number of bruises and tender joints that you may suffer.

The bindings of snowboards are different to ski bindings, too. They are not standardized like ski bindings but there are two more common kinds. The first are bindings used with the soft snowboard boots that are minimal looking strap bindings that ratchet over the top of the boots. The second are step-in bindings that are more high-performance and use a quick release lever. Normally in order to use step-in bindings you will probably be forced to purchase step-in boots from the same company.

As you get to know more about snowboarding you will possibly develop your own favorite snowboard maker, one that I specially like is Atomic Snowboards.

The stance is obviously a big alteration that skiers will have to adapt to as well. The clear distinction is that the snowboarder is placed with their feet sideways to the board in a surfing position. Less noticeable is that there is no set stance for the snowboarders. You can elect the width between your feet on the board and the degree of angle of each foot.

While a skier may have a head start over the raw novice when starting to snowboard, there are going to be some adjustments to be made. Doing some snowboarding training ought to rapidly have you picking up the basic moves so that you will be self-assuredly shredding the groomed trails, at the very least linking a few turns together shouldn’t be beyond you without taking a tumble.

After mastering the essentials of learning to snowboard you will most likely want to move on and perhaps buy a cheap snowboard. At some point you will find out that there are a lot of special styles of snowboards as well as subtle differences that will mean that one snowboard will suit you better than the next.

Close Up To A Freestyle Snowboard

The choices of snowboards are many, even among the 3 main styles of snowboarding. The most common is the freeride board which is the snowboard that most first time riders would use. The speed freaks who love shredding the groomed hard-packed trails use Alpine snowboards. But the adrenaline junkies who want to grab as much air as achievable and test themselves with tricks and radical boarding will get themselves a freestyle snowboard.

A freestyle snowboard is shorter, fatter and more stable than other boards. The board will is often made to have twin tips which means that the tip and the tail are equal in nature. Lastly a freestyle board will be lighter than other boards, ideal for grabbing sufficient air for the aerial tricks, half-pipe moves and rail slides that the freestyler loves to execute.

You will find that there will be the opportunity to buy a freestyle snowboard from any of the major snowboard manufacturers such as Atomic Snowboards.

The boots worn with freestyle snowboards provide a reasonable amount of flex giving the rider a better feel for their board. Things have changed over the years and they have become more like the freeride boots in terms of added stiffness, a good mix of comfort and performance.

In the freestyle board class there are also a pair of dissimilar styles of boards to cater for the different ground upon which the tricks are going to be performed. You can either buy a snowboard particularly for half-pipe which will be more flexible so that it is able to bend to the curve of the pipe. Or tricks that can be performed.

All of the major snowboard makers carry a wide range of freestyle snowboards so one of the most difficult decisions the snowboarder is going to have to make is which one to choose. Brands are occasionally so evenly matched that decorations or graphics may be the deciding factor.

Buying a snowboard will mean that you should first think about the kind of snowboarding you’re going to want to do and then buy the type of snowboard that suits that mode. If you plan on executing tricks or riding the half-pipes of your local snowboard park you’re going to have to select yourself a freestyle snowboard. There are plenty of used snowboards to choose from and some really good quality bargains to be found if you look hard enough.

What Is A Freeride Snowboard?

A sort of snowboarding that refers to a basic snowboard style that encompasses just about any environment and situation. The snowboards used are so versatile they can be suitable for beginners and veteran riders equally. The philosophy behind freeride snowboarding is to basically get out and slide down the hill. It epitomizes the laid-back attitude of the sport

The type of snowboard you will need to buy will depend on a lot of factors such as your weight, height or your foot size. It will also depend on the kind of snowboarding you are proposing on doing. There are 3 broad categories of snowboards. Freestyle boards, aka technical boards, Alpine boards which are on occasion referred to as carving boards and finally freeriding boards, also called all-mountain boards.

Whether you have heard about Sims snowboards and would like to try out one from their range or simply know that you want a wide snowboard there is much research to be done.

Freeriding snowboard are the most accepted types of boards and are probably the kind of snowboard you are handed if you are snowboarding for the first time and have lobbed into a hire shop. The freeride board is a good multifaceted snowboard that will allow you to accomplish some basic tricks and will also give you good speed down the hill. In other words this kind of board has been intended to suit the widest range of snowboard skill as possible.

In general, the freeride snowboard is an average sized snowboard with average rigidity neither soft-flexing nor stiff making them apt for a range of snow situations. They are also designed with the tip and the tail somewhat turning up making it possible for them to be ridden forwards or, for over brief distances, backwards (which is termed fakie) if that’s the kind of thing you want to do with your board.

If you are hoping to buy a new snowboard you must first think about the kind of snowboarding you’re going to want to do and then buy the type of snowboard that suits that style. If you plan on simply enjoying the diverse types of snowboarding options to be tried at a ski resort} then possibly a cheap freeride snowboard is the board for you.

Early Snow In New Zealand

The New Zealand ski resorts are preparing for an early start to the ski season with harsh weather warnings in the region of Otago and the Southland being lifted soon after a cold snap that has brought a good deal of snow to the area. Around the Queenstown area, the ski field operators have jumped into action in preparation for a strong early season.

Ski fields in Otago such as the Remarkables Ski Area have previously received around 2 feet of snow before the official season opening on June 20. Snow has fallen and is lying on the ground down to approximately 700m. Ski resorts such as Coronet Peak has had some good dumps and is looking good for its June 6 opening with snow machines likely to be in operation from May 22.

It’s a promising start to the season but with opening day still weeks away, ski field operators aren’t getting too animated just yet. However you’d prefer to see snow and colder temperatures now than not.

A Sidecut Varies from Board to Board, But Why?

In many of the catalog descriptions that you read when explaining bits about a snowboard, such as a Rome snowboard for instance, is the sidecut of the board. It all depends on what the snowboard was intended to be used for and how maneuverable it needs to be.

The sidecut of a snowboard refers to the degree of curve in the contact edge of a board. The depth it is calculated by is the radius of a loop in meters should the arc in the side of the snowboard be extended. This gives you an idea of the turning circle that the board is intended to make if it follows the curve of the boards arc. The difference concerning the nose and the tail width compared to the waist width of the board is an added way of specifying the board’s dimension.

As stated earlier, the difference that the size of the sidecut makes from one board to the next is in the radius of the turn that the board is capable of making. The shorter the radius, the tighter the turn and this will quicken the board’s turning reaction in the snow. On the other hand a wider sidecut will give the board a wider turn.

This then translates into the type of snowboarding you’re keen to try out. If you want to go pipe riding or carry out tricks you will need a snowboard with a low sidecut. Somebody who wants to go mountain riding will be more apt to select a board with a deep elliptical sidecut to give them more constancy at the faster speeds they are possibly going to be going.

Several assorted snowboard manufacturers set their boards up differently and keep to separate designs. Some of them will prove more fitting to your riding style than others consequently you will have to shop around to find the board that performs best for your body type and weight.

There are many factors to ponder when buying a snowboard and finding the type of board that is suitable for you is a decision that could take some time, although there are plenty of good used snowboards to choose from.

Snowshoes

There are many pieces of specialized footwear for travel over snow and ice. One of the needed innovations that was required to save lives in such regions was the snowshoe.

The examples for the first snowshoes came from local animals whose feet were adapted to the setting for over-land travel. A snowshoe rabbit’s hind feet were motivation for a pair of distinctive styles of snowshoe.

For those who like categorizing objects the snowshoe can be broken down into 5 basic categories: Ojibwa, Yukon, beavertail, bearpaw and Western. This doesn’t take into account the various different sizes or overlaps in regional names which can blur the lines between the various types.

Snowshoes can be made either as wood-framed or the more modern metal-frame. Early models were webbed with animal hide and were made to look like animal tracks such as those made by the bobcat or lynx. Some were also made to be like bear tracks, although bears left much deeper tracks than those made with snowshoes.

For over-land travel through soft, deep snow, there was not anything that could beat a well made pair of snowshoes.

A Snowboard Leash Is The Safe Way To Go

As opposed to wearing skis snowboards have a tendency to slide away if they are not properly attached to your boots. A piece of safety equipment that is essential for snowboarders to wear at all times is the snowboard safety leash. You might ride a Lamar Snowboard but that doesn’t make you immune.

A safety leash is a strap that is fastened to the snowboarder’s lead leg and is designed to avoid runaway boards if your bindings let go for any reason or if you let go of the board while you’re buckling or unbuckling the bindings. The snowboard leash is designed to be worn at around knee height which will mean the snowboarder can keep it attached while hauling the board back up the slope when walking.

The idea of the leash is to reduce the dangers that arise from runaway snowboards. Getting into and out of the snowboard bindings can occasionally put the snowboarder in an awkward spot chiefly when attempting to do so on a steep mountainside so the likelihood that the board will slip away is more real than some people will credit. A runaway board can harm an unsuspecting person below or can be scratched itself if it runs into a solid object.

The wise option is to take out the risk of injury or damage completely by wearing the proper snowboarding equipment. In some cases you won’t have a choice with some resorts enforcing a no leash – no ride rule.

When you go out to buy a snowboard you should seriously consider putting the snowboard leash on the list too. They’re fairly low-priced and they could wind up saving you a lot of money in the long run.

Preventing Wrist Injury While Snowboarding

Areas of the body such as the wrist, knees and ankles are all prone to getting hurt either from a fall or a hard landing while snowboarding. Though snowboarding is a very agreeable pastime the truth is that there is a distinct possibility that it can end in injury regardless of whether you use Ride Snowboards or any other quality snowboard for that matter.

There are ways to avert injuries as well as prudent protective equipment to use and wear, but regularly no matter how aware of the dangers you are, on occasion accidents just occur.

There’s no suggestion that you ought to avoid going snowboarding. On the contrary it is still quite a safe winter sport. As with all activities the more care you take the less likelihood you’re going to get injured.

The most usual types of injuries you can get while snowboarding are wrist injuries. For people who are new to snowboarding, falls are usual and the most common are those where you fall backwards and instinctively put your hands out to lessen the impact. When you fall, try to get into the habit of not catching yourself with your hands, but rather keeping your hands out in front of your body and allowing yourself to fall onto your elbows. Your elbows will be able to soak up the impact a lot more readily than your more fragile wrists.

An answer that is even safer is to try to keep your arms close to your body and allow yourself to hit the snow and roll with the force. By going with the fall there will be a lot more surface area with which the force will be dissipated. Sure, you’ll get more snow on your body but your wrists will remain safe.

If you don’t think you’ll be able to stop from throwing out the hands to catch yourself get yourself a pair of wrist guards. Some gloves are made with wrist guards built into them, but if you have some skating or skateboarding guards, use them beneath the gloves. They are the best technique for preventing wrist injury and if it’s an image thing you’re nervous about no-one needs to know if they’re under your clothes.

For the first week of snowboarding in particular you ought to be very aware of the hazard to your wrists. A modest bit of deterrence could save you weeks or months of pain as you find yourself laid up and recovering from a break.