Comparison Santa Cruz Powerlyte 166 2016 /2017 vs Santa Cruz Barbed Wire 157W 2015 /2016

The general riding style for which the board is designed.

Modern snowboards can be combined into 4 main styles: freestyle, all mountain, freeride ( and slalom / carving. Here is a detailed description of each of them:

— Freestyle. Snowboards designed for performing various tricks, primarily related to jumping and aerial acrobatics. They have a relatively short length, low rigidity and, in most cases, a non-directional shape (symmetrical true twin, see below). Some models of such boards may be specialized for a specific type of freestyle: for example, boards for jibbing (sliding along railings, parapets and other edges), without an edge, for halfpipe (tricks in a half-pipe), big air (long-distance jumping from a springboard), etc.

— All mountain. The name of this variety largely speaks for itself: universal snowboards are suitable for different types of snow surfaces (prepared, unprepared, flat, bumpy, etc.) and different riding styles. However, it is worth remembering that in each case such models are inferior to specialized boards - for example, on an all mountain you cannot turn as quickly as on a slalom board. In general, their main purpose is descents in simple conditions, although this is not necessarily limited to prepared runs - universal snowboards are also suitable for backcountry/freeride. This option is considered optimal for in...itial learning to ride a snowboard. In terms of design features, all mountain boards are generally similar to freestyle snowboards (see above). However, among them, there are not only true twin, but also other shapes (including fishtail).

— Freeride. Snowboards specifically designed for off-piste riding. They can be either soft or stiff and also have different shapes. However, freeride snowboards have a fairly large length and width to increase the contact area with the snow, as well as the maximum length of the edges.

— Slalom/carving. Snowboards for high-speed riding with sharp turns on prepared runs (slalom is usually called a sports discipline, and carving is a riding technique used in both sports and recreational riding). A common feature of all such models is high rigidity, as well as long length combined with small width; the design is usually directional. Within this style, there are several subtypes: for example, giant slalom snowboards are longer than “regular” slalom snowboards, models for different carving styles can vary in size and shape, etc.

The approximate level of skill a snowboard is designed for.

— Beginner. Equipment designed for those who have no or little experience of skiing and are learning the basics of snowboarding.

— Progressive. Models for those who have mastered the basic skills of riding, but for confident use of the snowboard still needs practice.

— Average. Models for amateurs who ride regularly and in large quantities, but in relatively uncomplicated conditions.

— Experienced. Models for those who have surpassed or intend to surpass the experience of the average snowboarder (go to more difficult tracks, learn new tricks); also suitable for the initial training of athletes.

— Expert. Professional models designed primarily for athletes.

The more “professional” the snowboard, the more features it provides, but the price for this is the complexity of management and the need for special skills. Therefore, when choosing according to this indicator of skating, you need to soberly assess the level of the rider. Also, note that some models may be suitable for several levels at once. For example, an advanced board can be comfortable enough for beginners, or vice versa, quite advanced and suitable for an intermediate level.

The length of the snowboard is also called the size because the main selection criterion for this indicator is the growth of the rider. However, this is not entirely true — it is also necessary to take into account the weight of the rider, the purpose of the board, the desired degree of manoeuvrability and control, and some other factors. Therefore, it is worth choosing a model according to size in each case separately, consulting with special sources or professional snowboarders. You should not neglect these recommendations — at best it will be inconvenient to ride, at worst it is also dangerous.

In general, a longer board (ceteris paribus) is more stable, including at high speeds, it behaves better in deep snow but is less manoeuvrable and agile.

The smallest width of the snowboard in the middle.

The ratio of the width of the "tip", "tail" and "waist" directly determines the radius of the side cutout (see above). In general, the width of a snowboard affects stability, handling and suitability for loose snow: a wider board is more stable and falls less, but turns worse and is more difficult to edge over. Another important parameter that determines the choice of a snowboard in width is the size of the rider's shoes: if the boots protrude too far, the board cannot be edged at a large angle. This is especially true for slalom (see "Terrain").

There are special techniques for choosing the optimal snowboard width.

The year, or more precisely, the season for which the snowboard was released. Each winter season is at the junction of calendar years, so the model year is indicated by two numbers - for example, 2019/2020 or new items 2023/2024.

The range of snowboards is constantly being replenished, and existing models are being improved. Accordingly, newer boards are considered more advanced. But the updates may not correspond to the rider’s preferences ( the 2020/2021 model may be in no way inferior to the 2021/2022 or 2022/2023 model), while the new models are noticeably more expensive than the old ones.