The Snowboard
By Jan
Monday, January 29, 2007
A snowboard is a board ridden in snowboarding to descend a snow-covered slope. It is similar to a surfboard or skateboard, except that the rider's feet are attached to the board with bindings. Snowboards generally have a length between 140-165cm, a width of around 25 cm, and are constructed with a laminated wood core with a steel edge. A variety of types of snowboards exist to suit specific body types and riding preferences.
Snowboards are constructed of a wood core and laminated with fiberglass. The front or "nose" of the board is upturned, to help the board glide over uneven snow; the back or "tail" of the board may be more or less upturned to enable backwards (switch or switchstance) riding. The base (the side of the board that touches the snow) is covered with a plastic called p-tex, which is typically sintered to help it absorb wax, which helps it slide faster. The edges of the base are fitted with a steel edge, just a couple millimeters square, which helps the board grab the snow when tipped up on edge. The top of the board typically sports graphics designed by board makers to attract riders to their boards. Flite Snowboards, an early and often underquoted designer, pressed the first closed-molded boards from a garage in Newport, RI in the mid-80's, well before Burton did it. Snowboard topsheet graphics can be a highly personal statement and many riders spend many hours customizing the look of their boards.