Which snowboard suits me?

Table of contents

• A brief introduction
• What is your level?
• The most important properties of a snowboard
• What terrain do you want to snowboard on?
• Which snowboards can you choose from?
• What is your budget?

A brief introduction

Some key terms explained

To help you properly, it is important that we speak the same language first. Therefore, we will very briefly go over some terms that you will frequently come across in this blog and that are important in the world of snowboards. These terms will not be new for the advanced skier, but for a beginner they might be.

• Carving: carving refers to making long turns at high speeds on a groomed track.
• Buoyancy: this indicates a board's ability to stay "afloat" in snow. Buoyancy becomes especially relevant when you seek out powder snow. The larger the surface area of the snowboard, the higher its buoyancy. The weight of the snowboarder also affects a board's buoyancy. The heavier the user, the lower the buoyancy.
• Pop: by pop we mean the suspension of the snowboard. Specifically, the suspension created in the board when you apply pressure before jumping. A good pop allows you to jump higher.
• Tip, tail and waist: the tip is the front, or nose, of the board. The tail of a snowboard is the back, or tail. The waist refers to the middle of the board.

Introduction of existing snowboards

There are different types of snowboards, each designed for specific activities and terrains. Below, we briefly name the five most common boards so you are already familiar with the names:

• All-mountain boards: versatile boards suitable for all terrains and riding styles.
• Carve boards: specially made for long turns on groomed slopes.
• Freestyle boards: ideal for tricks, jumps and to use in the fun park.
• Freeride boards: designed for off-piste adventures, backcountry terrain and steep slopes.
• Split boards: for backcountry adventures where the board can be split into skis for climbs.

In a moment, we will discuss these types of snowboards in more detail. For now, it is just important that you know a little bit about what is meant by each type of board.

What is your level?

You will often come across the terms beginner, Intermediate or expert in this blog. This of course refers to the level/experience of the snowboarder, of you. It is important that you know exactly what we mean by each of these levels, so that you can determine which group you belong to (according to our classification). You then know with which glasses you should read this blog.

Beginner

• Has little to no snowboarding experience.
• Feels comfortable on easy slopes, but still needs time to develop control and balance.
• Can or is learning basic skills (such as heel and toe slides, J and S turns) and getting off a ski lift without falling.
• Still needs a lot of guidance and instruction to improve techniques.

All snowboards for beginners

Intermediate

• Has some experience and comfort on different types of terrain.
• Board with more confidence and control.
• Can make different types of turns and vary speed.
• Often tries more challenging slopes and terrain, such as black runs or off-piste areas.
• Can refine techniques and begins to learn more Intermediate skiing techniques, such as carving.

All Intermediate snowboards

Expert

• Has extensive experience in various terrains and challenging conditions.
• Is highly skilled and comfortable on steep slopes, in deep powder snow and in challenging conditions.
• Has knowledge of advanced techniques, such as deep carves, jumps and tricks.
• Can control the board with precision in different conditions and can react quickly to (unexpected) changes.

All snowboards for experts

So, which group do you belong to? We will now look further into the different characteristics of snowboards. And more importantly, what all these features do to the behaviour of a snowboard.

The most important properties of a snowboard

Snowboard profiles

The profile of a snowboard says something about its flex. Each profile has unique properties that affect the board's performance, buoyancy, manoeuvrability and stability.

Camber: a camber profile has an upward-curved centre section, with contact points close to the tip and tail of the board. The camber profile provides plenty of pop, responsiveness and good edge grip. It offers stability at high speeds and strong turns. Ideal for riders who love carving, freestylers who need lots of pop and precision, and designed for fast, powerful turns on groomed slopes.

Rocker: also called reverse camber. A rocker profile indicates a reverse camber, so the contact points are closer to the centre of the board and the tip and tail are curved upwards. Rocker boards offer easy turning, higher forgiveness and better buoyancy in powder. They are less aggressive and offer more control in turns. Ideal for beginners because of their forgiveness, riders who like to go off-piste, or for easy turning in parks and on flat terrain.

Hybrid: By hybrid we mean all profiles between camber and rocker. There are a huge number of different hybrid profiles. So one hybrid profile is not the other. A hybrid profile combines features of both camber and rocker. This can vary, such as rocker in the tip and tail with camber between the bindings. Hybrid profiles are often found in all-mountain boards.

Snowboard shapes

The shape of a snowboard says something about - you'll never guess it - the shape of a snowboard. Where the snowboard profile looks at the side view, the snowboard shape describes the top view. Each unique shape also does something to a snowboard's riding characteristics. Below, we discuss the three shapes you may encounter at Twinseasons:

Directional: with this shape, the board has a distinct front and back. The tip is wider than the tail, and is designed to board mainly in one direction. The bindings are mounted a bit backwards, so the nose is longer than the tail. The Directional shape is mainly used for carve boards.

True Twin: also known as Twin Tip. In this, the front and back are symmetrical. A True Twin snowboard is ideal as a freestyle board, as this type makes it easier to perform various backward switch tricks, such as landing or riding in the opposite direction. With this shape, the bindings are located in the middle of the board.

Directional Twin: this shape is almost identical to the True Twin shape, but the bindings are mounted a bit backwards, just like the directional shape. This means you still see a distinct front and back, but you can snowboard both ways. Although they appear symmetrical, they have a slight preference for the forward direction. Many all-mountain boards have a Directional Twin shape.

Snowboard length

The length of a snowboard is not just a matter of size. For instance, relatively short boards are easier to turn. So they are more manoeuvrable than the longer boards. For a beginner, this is fine. After all, a beginner still has a bit more difficulty with control and balance. A shorter snowboard then helps develop basic techniques and this gradually gives the boarder more and more confidence. Longer boards generally offer more stability at higher speeds and provide better buoyancy in powder. Intermediate boarders and experts have more experience and control over their movements on a snowboard and therefore more often prefer relatively long boards.

Besides experience and preference, your own height and weight are the most important factors in choosing the right snowboard length. Generally, it is recommended to choose a snowboard that reaches between your chin and nose when the board is straight on the ground. However, this rule is dropped for specialised boards such as a freeride board or carve board. It is therefore always advisable to get personal advice from an experienced snowboarder or a specialist in a shop like Twinseasons.

Snowboard width

The width of a snowboard is also important. Especially for riders with big feet. A wider board prevents toe drag (the phenomenon of your toes hitting the snow) and offers more stability, especially when making sharp turns. It also improves your buoyancy in powder. Freeriders can get through deep snow more easily with a wider board. Heavier riders can also benefit from a wider board, as they will not sink into the snow as much.

The flex of a board

Flex, says something about the stiffness of your board. The degree of flex (indicated by soft, medium or stiff) has a big influence on the riding characteristics of a snowboard.

Soft: a snowboard with a softer flex makes it easier to turn and manoeuvre. Such boards are also more forgiving. This makes it an attractive choice for beginners. But also for freestylers who want to practise their rail and box tricks in the park.

Medium: A medium flex is commonly found in all-mountain boards. This flex is a compromise between a soft and a stiff flex and is the most popular choice. It offers a bit of both worlds.

Stiff: a snowboard with a stiff flex generally offers more responsiveness and control at higher speeds. It provides a more efficient connection from rider to board, resulting in more precision when carving and taking sharp turns. Snowboards with a stiff flex do require powerful boarders. So not for beginners.

What terrain do you want to snowboard on?

The terrain where you expect to snowboard a lot should have a lot of influence on your choice of a new board. But exactly what types of terrain do we distinguish?

Groomed piste: the groomed piste is the terrain for everyone. Here, beginners make their first metres, while experts race past them at high speed.

Funpark/Freestyle: this area is for those who want to focus on tricks and jumps in the funpark.

Off piste/Powder: the domain of the freerider. The name says it all: it is located off the groomed slopes, in powder snow.

Backcountry: this terrain overlaps with the freeriders' terrain. However, it is further complemented by all areas that require climbing. The sky is the limit.

Which snowboards can you choose from?

We've just briefly discussed them and you've come across them a number of times, but now that your knowledge about snowboards and its features has increased a lot, we can also take a closer look at each type of snowboard. What are the characteristics of each type of snowboard? What terrain are they suitable for? In short, which type of snowboard is the most logical choice for you?

All-mountain boards

All-mountain snowboards are versatile and suitable for different terrains and riding styles. The board feels at home in many environments: from groomed slopes to off-piste areas. Usually, these types of boards have a medium flex, making it suitable for both carving and smooth turning. Because of its versatility, the all-mountain board is a suitable choice for beginners.

• Suitable for a wide variety of terrains.
• Often a medium flex and a hybrid profile.
• Great for beginners, but also for intermediates and experts.

Carve boards

Carve boards, as the name suggests, are designed for long, powerful turns on mainly groomed slopes. Its features focus on stability and precision when making sharp turns. These boards are stiffer than average to provide stability at high speeds and in sharp turns. Usually a directional shape for better control and grip while carving. The narrow tail and wide tip promotes stability when initiating and executing turns.

• Made for the piste.
• Often a stiff flex and directional shape.
• Not suitable for beginners.

Freestyle boards

Freestyle boards are designed for boarders who love tricks, jumps and the fun park. Its features focus on manoeuvrability, pop and manoeuvrability in the park and on flat terrain. Usually, freestyle boards have a soft flex, making them forgiving on landings and easy to flex for tricks. These boards actually always have a symmetrical shape, so the board performs equally well in both directions.

• The fun park specialist.
• Agile and manoeuvrable.
• Usually a soft flex for more forgiving landings.

Freeride boards

Freeride boards are made for adventure off the groomed slopes. So with a focus on off piste. The features focus on high buoyancy and providing stability and control in challenging terrain. The flex is stiffer than in freestyle boards for more stability and control at high speeds and in rougher terrain. These boards often have a directional shape for better buoyancy in powder and to make turns easily. Freeride boards are often a bit wider.

• Made for powder snow.
• Relatively stiff flex.
• Suitable for Intermediate and experts.

Splitboards

Split boards are unique in that they can be split into two skis, making them (combined with riser skins) ideal for climbs during backcountry adventures. These boards are usually stiffer than average and offer more stability for descents after climbs. You do need special bindings for this board.

• Splits into two skis.
• Made for climbs and descents in the backcountry.
• Not suitable for beginners.

What is your budget?

Your budget is obviously an important factor when choosing a snowboard. When looking for a snowboard within your budget, it is important to find a board that suits your specific wishes, needs and experience. Entry-level boards in lower price ranges are great for beginners, but may not perform as well in more challenging terrain. Mid-range snowboards offer a good balance between performance and price for a wide audience. More expensive specialised models target experts or competitive snowboarders. It is important to consider your personal needs as well as expert advice when making a good choice within your budget.

So which snowboard is best for me?

A lot of facts have passed by now, but we can imagine it's still hard to make a choice. Which components are specifically most important to you right now? In summary, we want to go through all possible considerations one more time:

• Experience: properly assessing your own skills and finding a snowboard that matches them is the most important tip we can give. Therefore, use the "Experience" filter found on our snowboards page, so that you are only left with snowboards that are suitable for your level.
• Terrain: the terrain where you want to snowboard is also a very important factor for your final choice. Are you looking for a specialist board for the fun park or off piste, for example? Or do you want an all-rounder that can hold its own everywhere? Make sure the type of snowboard you choose fits the terrain you want to board.
• Yourself: what is your height, what is your weight, how big are your feet? Make the right choice in terms of board length and width.
• Budget: How much can you spend and how much of that do you want to spend on the board?
• Advanced wishes: flex, profile, shape. Do you know exactly what your future snowboard should look like? Then use our handy product filters and instantly find the best board for you.

Hopefully this blog has helped you in your search for a new snowboard. However, if you still have a question or need advice tailored to you. Don't forget that our customer service and in-store staff will be happy to help you. So stop by or contact us.