All About Snowboarding Equipment

by Jason Davis

Snowboarding is a highly popular sport in the 21st century, and as with any sport, it is important to know what kind of equipment you should use, in order to have the best possible experience while snowboarding, as well as to maintain a high level of safety. The following are several important items of snowboarding equipment. We will not get into specifics as to brand, but will leave that up to the individual snowboarder to choose for themselves.

Snowboards originally were styled much like skateboard decks, albeit somewhat longer. As interest in the sport grew over the years, specialization took place that reflected the three main disciplines within the sport - freestyle, all mountain, and snowboard racing. Prices for snowboarding equipment varies widely; the biggest difference is between snowboards and boots used for the three main types of snowboarding:

Freestyle - uses a shorter, more flexible board and soft boots.All Mountain - uses a somewhat longer board than freestyle, and soft boots.Snowboard racing - uses longer boards and hard boots that are much like downhill ski boots.

Snowboard bindings differ depending upon several factors. Probably the most important piece of snowboarding equipment , bindings should reflect the ability level of the rider as well as what type of snowboarding they will be engaged in. There are two basic types of bindings:

Two strap (also known as rear entry) - has a toe strap and an ankle strap. This is the most common type of binding in use today.

Step-in bindings - used only in alpine or all mountain snowboarding.

It is important to note that snowboard bindings will reflect the boot size of the rider, and come in three levels - small, medium and large. Small bindings fit men's sizes from 3-9 and women's sizes from 4-9, and on up the size ladder. Binding straps can be adjusted to fit the individual. Bindings also include highbacks which help to stiffen the rider's boot and lend greater control on the slopes.

Discussed earlier, another crucial piece of snowboarding equipment is the boot. These come in two basic styles:

Soft - less responsive to your foot movement, but possibly better for the hobbyist or less active snowboarder.

Stiff - these are great for the more skilled rider and those who are larger. This allows faster response to the rider's movements, but take care that the boots are not overly stiff, as that can limit ankle flexion, which can cramp your riding style.

Your snowboarding equipment should include goggles and a helmet. Goggles should fit well and be free of scratches, as well as protect the rider's eyes from damaging UV rays and foreign objects. And of course, a good helmet will prevent any head injury. Make sure that your helmet is relatively new and has not been through a crash previous to your ownership. Now, get out on the slopes and shred!

About the Author:

This Author is a Big Fan of Snowboard Equipment and Burton X8 Snowboard.