Depending on your riding style and skill level, you will need different equipment to help you improve and enjoy riding.

• Choosing The Right Equipment
• Running Length
• Width
• Sidecut
• Camber
• Center of Balance
• Boots and Bindings
• Stance
• Foot Angle in Reference to the Board

    The first step is to carefully consider the 4 following aspects:

1.Riding Skill

    When first learning rent a softer, shorter board.  This will aid the learning process, though quickly outgrown.  Generally, the more edge length you can handle the better.

2. Intended Use

    Three types of boards exists:  all around, freestyle, and slalom/race.  The local ski areas and your preferred style of riding (half pipe, moguls, slalom, giant slalom) will decide your choice of board type.

3. Foot Size

    The width of the board should fit the length of the foot without any part of the heel or toes overhanging.  The preferred stance for freestyle tends to position the feet(especially the back foot) more perpendicular to the board while in slalom, the feet are more angled.

    Narrower boards are more responsive, so you should choose the narrowest board possible according to your desired stance and use.

4. Your Size and Weight

    Snowboards designed for your weight will be much easier to handle will allow you to get the most out of the board.  Here is a general guide:

    This table shows fairly basic data and it is crucial to note that manufacturers have their own data for their different models.

Running Length:

    This is the actually measure of the functional length of the board - the length of the edge that is in contact with the snow in a turn.  Commonly, it is measured as the distance from the widest point in the tail to the widest point in the nose.

    The extra length is in the tail and the nose and added with the running length, we get the overall length.  Freestyle boards have more overall length compared to its running length and race boards have less extra length to reduce the swing weight.  A ratios being set, a longer board will be more stable, faster, and better for carving at higher speeds.  A shorter board will be quicker, snappier, and easier to initiate a turn.

Width:

    The overall width of the board is the distance from edge to edge, usually measured in 3 places.

Nose(or Shovel): The width of the board at the widest point in the nose.

Waist: The narrowest point in the middle of the board.

Tail: The widest point in the tail of the board.

    The width of the board determines how fast the edge to edge transfer can be made in a turn.  Wider boards will require more time and narrow board will require less time.  Beginners and freestylers will benefit with a wider board since it provides extra stability.

Sidecut:

    The difference between the waist width and the nose and tail widths.  This cut is in the shape of a circle's edge.  The radius of the sidecut can be calculated by finding the radius the the circle.  The comfortable turning radius of the board is directly related to the the radius of the sidecut.

Camber:

    The camber is the space between the floor and the middle of a board when it is lying flat.  On most boards, the nose and the tail will be touching the floor and the middle can be anywhere from a couple of millimetres to a couple of centimetres off the ground.

    The camber serves 2 purposes during the turn:

1) it maximizes pressure at the ends of the board, and this allows better edge control, especially on hard pack conditions.

2) it provides a strong release or projection - during maximum compression the board is deformed, and then springs back to its original shape when the compression is released.  Slalom boards have the greatest amount of camber to enhance rapid, short, carved turns.  Freestyle boards have the least amount of camber and some may even have negative camber.

Center of Balance:

    The center of balance of a board is located between the middle of the narrowest part of the board.  This area is the middle of the sidecut and where the camber is the greatest.  The center of balance is not necessarily the middle of the board.

    Slalom boards have the center of balance in the overall middle of the board to improve performance on hard packed and icy conditions.  Board with the center of balance slightly toward the tail perform better in soft snow and on rough terrain, like moguls, due to the slightly longer front portion of the board.

    When installing bindings, usually they are mounted at an equal distance in front and behind the center of balance point.  If greater floatation and absorption by the front of the board is desired, the rear binding may be mounted further back.

Boots and Binding:

    2 major things to consider when buying boots and bindings are:

1. Safety

2. Comfort

Boots:

    Different riding styles require different boots:

• freestyle
• all around
• alpine/race

    The speed at which you like to ride will also play part in your selection.

Soft Boots - For freestyle and all around riding at slower speeds, soft boots provide ample stability and comfort.

Hard Boots - For all around and alpine/race riding at higher speeds, hard boots provide far more support and stability.  They also provide a quicker and more precise response when turning.

Bindings:

    After boots are selected, compatible bindings need to be chosen.

1. Soft bindings for soft boots.

2. Plate bindings for hard boots.

Soft Binding:

    Soft bindings differ from each other according to:

• the number of straps
• the height of the back support
• the stiffness of the back support
• the adjustments for the back support

    Freestyle

    To facilitate ankle movement which is crucial for freestyle, only two straps are used.  One to keep the heel in place and the other to keep the top of the foot firmly in place.  The back support for freestyle riding is relatively soft and usually does not have any adjustments.

    All Around

    For all around riding, a third strap is added to stabilize the ankle and thus enhance turning, especially at high speeds.  A more rigid and adjustable back support also enhances turning at higher speeds by allowing the rider to assume a more dynamic basic body position.

Plate Bindings:

    Plate bindings provide a rapid and solid attachment for hard boots.  Although they are all similar, there are significant differences insofar as options and adjustments are concerned.  These differences are mainly in the ease of adjustment and type of adjustment available.  Some features to look for are:

• easy to install
• easy to adjust for boot size
• adjustable heel lift
• adjustable toe lift
• adjustable lateral inclination

To determine the proper angle for the toe and heel lift and lateral adjustment:

1. Ask advise from qualified technicians
2. Experience with different angles while standing on the board with your boots on.  Make the necessary adjustments so as to relieve all pressure points
3. Your style of riding will also influence these adjustments

All bindings must be equipped with a safety leash that is securely attached.  When choosing your boots and bindings, choose a combination that is:

• appropriate to your style of riding
• easy to adjust
• safe

All these factors will enhance the quality of your performance.

Stance:

    The stance is the distance between your two bindings and varies according to:

1. The size of the rider

-A taller rider normally has a wider stance then a shorter rider.

2. The skill level

-A wider stance provides more stability, which will help beginners

3. The type of turns(short or long radius)

-For short radius turns, a narrow stance is preferred.   For longer radius turns, such as giant slalom, a wider stance is chosen.

A narrow stance brings our feet closer to the center of balance of the board, thus causes a greater deformation and thus improved shorter radius turns.

A wider stance brings the feet further away from the center of the board and reduces the amount of potential deformation, improving long radius turns.

Foot Angle in Reference to the Board:

    For slalom boards, the foot angle varies according to the length of the board and the desired use.

• For slower riding, less foot angle is beneficial since it provides greater stability and comfort.
• At higher speeds our balance is enhances by the centrifugal force exerted in each turn, we can therefore maintain a forward upper body position.   Thus more foot angle is desirable at higher speeds.
• In freestyle riding, very little foot angle is used and depends largely on the type of freestyle being done.