You've always wondered how a snowboard is composed, what are the differences between the different types of snowboard, such as the camber? Providing more details on the subject, Philippe, Snowboard Product Manager, will explain everything!
When choosing your snowboard or talking with fellow snowboarders, it is important to familiarise yourself with some technical terms such as shape, rocker, flex, torsion and pop.
The shapes
When speaking of "shape", this is in reference to different snowboard shapes. There are two main shapes, with extremely different features:
DIRECTIONAL SHAPE
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TWIN TIP SHAPE
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For - GREATER GRIP - GREATER DIRECTIONAL CONTROL |
For - RIDING IN BOTH DIRECTIONS - REMAINING BALANCED WHEN rotating |
NOTHING IS SYMMETRICAe |
EVERYTHING IS SYMMETRICAL |
1 - The nose is straighter
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1 - The width of the nose and tail is the same |
2 - The setback is X mm, hence
- The board points of contact with the snow are set back by X mm in relation to the board
- The bindings are also set back by X mm
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2 - There is no setback
- The board points of contact with the snow are set back by X mm in relation to the board
- • The bindings are centered
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3 - The rigidity (or curve thickness) is not symmetrical
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3 - The rigidity (or curve thickness) is completely symmetrical
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THE CAMBERS
There are 3 main types of cambers: All other cambers on the market and which you may hear of are based upon these (camber wave, flying V...).
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CLASSIC CAMBER
The basic camber with convex bend (curved upwards). Under pressure, it serves as a spring providing stability at great speed, grip on hard snow and a pop for jumps.
STABILITY / GRIP/ POP
When you reach a certain level in fresstyling, a classic camber is much appreciated in order to jump high.
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REVERSE CAMBER
A later addition to the snowboard, this camber is designed for Freestyling as it facilitates turns. It also provides great buoyancy in powdery snow.
MANAGEABILITY / TURNING / BUOYANCY
On the contrary, it is less stable at great speeds, provides less grip on hard snow and has less pop.
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FLAT CAMBER
The perfect compromise between the classic camber and the reverse camber
Compromise
The rocker
Regardless of camber, rockers can be applied to boards. The long nose enables increased buoyancy in powdery snow and sets the point of contact between the board and snow back, which increases manageability and reduces the contact surface.
easy to ride ON-PISTE & OFF-PISTE / BUOYANCY
The flex
The longitudinal flex primarily serves with carve turns
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Flexible
beginner
Margins of error
Grip and hold with turns at great speed
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rigid
advanced / carve
Grip and hold with turns at great speed
Rapid carving
Margins of error
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medium
compromise between the 2
The torsion
The rigidity (or flexibility) between the feet.
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Flexible
beginner / jibbing (snowpark)Very responsive, very manageable with FS (the 2 feet move separately, almost like a skateboard!)
Plenty of margin for edge errors
Grip and hold with turns at great speed
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rigid
advanced to expert / carving or freerideing
Grip and hold with turns at great speed
Margin for edge errors
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medium
Compromise
The pop
The rigidity or flexibility of the nose and tail.
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flexible
beginner / flat freestylingAt slow speeds, the board bends and provides rebound = good pop
At high speeds, (or great energy), the board bends greatly but does not rebound = no pop
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rigid
expert, heavy weights / freestyle jib, big air
At slow speeds, the board is impossible to deform = no pop
At high speeds, (or great energy), the board bends, and is strong enough to provide a spring effect = good pop
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medium
Compromise
The different bases
The two main manufacturing processes::
Extruded base:
Provides standard glide, and good resistance over time.
Sintered base:
Provides good glide, much more than the extruded base as the manufacturing process includes a higher density polyethylene. It is also more resistant.