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Archive for June, 2009


Transition From Skis To Snowboard

Published June 8th, 2009 in Snowboards | No Comments »

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

Published June 1st, 2009 in Snowboards | No Comments »

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.