Snowboards Features Comparison

Freestyle and all-mountain boards are a good investment for beginners, because they allow snowboarders to find their footing in almost any environment. The boards on our list are soft and flexible, so they are easy for new riders to control. Most low-cost snowboards feature an extruded base, which requires very little maintenance -- riders won�t have to wax it or tune it up very often. Extruded bases are also inexpensive to repair, unlike their more costly sintered counterparts. Camber, or the profile of a snowboard when it�s flat on the snow, determines the springiness of the board and the likelihood its rider might catch an edge in the snow and be thrown off-balance. Rocker, or reverse camber, helps beginners avoid that, and flat camber gives riders the added advantage of increased stability. A true twin, which is the same shape on both ends, lets snowboarders ride comfortably in either a regular stance, with the left foot in front, or a goofy stance, with the right foot in front. A directional twin also has a symmetrical shape, but the tail of the board is stiffer, so this type of snowboard is recommended primarily for riders who already know their preferred stance. Directional twin is a versatile shape that can take riders from powder to groomed runs to the park.