Buying Your First Snowboard: Tips on Finding the Ideal Type

So you’ve just decided you want to get out of the snowboard rental game and buy your first snowboard. Great! Renting can only take you so far in terms of saving money, and eventually, you’ll probably figure out that you’ve spent more money renting your gear every season than you would if you bought a snowboard as soon as you got hooked. If you’re relatively new to snowboarding and know little about the details that make each board unique, picking your first model may be a bit overwhelming, which is why you need to know the subtle variations between different snowboards before you make your final decision.

That being said, before you enter a snowboard shop, you first need to determine the type of snowboarding you’ll do most and then look at the different boards that are made for that type of snowboarding. Snowboards are divided into a few different categories, namely: freeriding, all-mountain riding, freestyle riding, and jib riding. All snowboards you’ll come across in any online snowboard shop will belong to one of these riding categories. Here’s how they differ.

Freeride Snowboards

Freeride snowboards are designed for handling hard drops and pillows or gunning it in one direction. They feature an oversized nose and a stiffer tapered, shorter tail which prevents you from going over the handlebars and enhance your float. They’re also directional in flex and shape.

All Mountain Snowboards

All-mountain snowboards are ideal for riding in almost every style. They usually have a directional flex with either a twin or a directional shape. What this means is that hauling forward should be your main agenda, but you won’t have problems doing switch takeoffs and landings either.

Freestyle Snowboards

Freestyle snowboards are designed for spinning, jumping, bonking and sliding. The freestyle category is very broad, but most snowboards that belong to it have a true twin flex and shape that make it ride the same switch or regular. You’ll come across models that feature pointy and blunt tips, and if you want to do some riding the jib line or do some mini-shredding you’ll want to look for a softer flex, while if you want to boost out the pipe or send it deep, then look for a stiffer board.

Jib Snowboards

Jib snowboards are all about riding walls, boxes, rails, and nipples. Basically, if you’re into anything that’s not snow, you should probably look into jib snowboards. These boards feature a true twin shape and a soft flex so you can press out easier. They oftentimes come with low-maintenance bases and reinforced edges that are short and effective.