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Snowboards Nitro 

Snowboards: specifications, types

Terrain

The general style of riding that the board is designed for.

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

— Freestyle (stunt). Snowboards designed to perform various tricks, primarily related to jumps and aerial acrobatics. They have a relatively short length, low rigidity and, in most cases, a non-directional shape (symmetrical twin-type, see below). Some models of such boards may have a specialization for a specific type of freestyle: for example, boards for jibbing (sliding along railings, parapets and other edges) that do not have an edge, for halfpipe (stunts in a half pipe), big air (long jumps from a springboard) and etc.

— Universal (all mountain). The name of this variety speaks for itself in many ways: versatile snowboards are suitable for different types of snow surface (prepared, unprepared, flat, bumpy, etc.) and different riding styles. However, it is worth remembering that in each individual case, such models are inferior to specialized boards — for example, you cannot turn as fast on an all mountain board as on a slalom board. And in general, their main purpose is descents in simple conditions, although the matter is not necessarily limited to prepared tracks — un...iversal snowboards are also suitable for backcountry / freeride. It is this option that is considered optimal for initial learning to ride a snowboard. In terms of design features, all mountain boards are generally similar to freestyle boards (see above), however, among them there are not only twin types, but also other forms (including dovetail).

– Freeride (free style). Snowboards specially designed for off-piste skiing. They can be both soft and hard, and also have a different shape. However, anyway, freeride boards have a rather large length and width to increase the contact area with snow, as well as the maximum length of the edges.

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

Age and gender

"Gender" and "age" belonging of the snowboard.

- Unisex. Boards intended for adults (as well as adolescents of appropriate height) regardless of gender. Usually, they have a relatively neutral design, the size may be different.

- Women's. Snowboards designed for women are slightly smaller than unisex models. In addition, they are often made in a characteristic design.

- Baby. The main feature of children's snowboards is their short length, which allows a child who has not grown up to "adult" height to comfortably ride them. Also, these boards stand out for their colorful design with bright colours.

Ability level

The approximate level of skill a snowboard is designed for.

— Newbie. 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 board 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 board, 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.

Size (length)

The length of the snowboard is also called the size due to the fact that 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.

Effective edge

The length of that part of the snowboard (more precisely, the edges of the snowboard) that is in direct contact with the slope during the ride. Other things being equal, a longer edge makes the ride stable and smooth, but reduces understeer; less long — increases the manoeuvrability of the board and allows you to make sharp turns, but requires more serious skills to keep on course. Detailed recommendations on the length of the edge for different types and styles of riding can be found in special sources.

Sidecut radius

The radius of the curved line that forms the sidecut of the snowboard.

The larger the radius, with the same length, the less curvature of the sidecut, the more stable the snowboard on the snow and the more “reluctantly” it turns and turns over. Conversely, a smaller radius makes it easier to turn in a small arc, makes the board “responsive” and, accordingly, demanding on control precision and rider skills. Detailed recommendations on the optimal radius for different types and styles of riding can be found in special sources.

Bend

The type of camber is determined by the shape the snowboard has when unloaded (when viewed from the side)

Classic (camber). Boards with a classic deflection rest on the surface with the front and rear edges, while the centre is raised. This design reduces the likelihood of stalls and drifts in the turn, which is especially important when driving at high speeds.

Reverse (rocker). Also known as "banana" or "reverse camber" — the opposite of the classic: the snowboard rests on the centre, and the edges are raised. Due to the less stress on the edges, rockers are well suited for spinning tricks, riding in soft snow and some other special tasks, but they are less controlled at high speeds than the "classic".

Without deflection (flat). Boards that do not have a deflection and rest on almost the entire base. This option is considered perfect for some types of stunt riding, in particular slopestyle — extreme movement along an inclined track with various obstacles, ski jumping, sliding, etc. At the same time, flats are more stable than rockers at speed, although they are inferior to classics.

Mixed. This category includes all models that combine the types of deflections described above in their design. Specific options for such combinations can be very diverse — from the simplest, like a flat boa...rd with edges bent in the manner of a rocker, to wave-like structures with 2 – 3 "waves" corresponding to a different type. Each of these varieties has its own specific application, so the features of the mixed deflection in each case should be specified separately.

Shape

Shape is determined by how the snowboard looks from above.

- Twin-type (symmetrical). Fully symmetrical boards in which the "nose" and "tail" have the same shape, deflection and stiffness, and embedded parts are also located symmetrically. Thanks to this, you can ride in any stance, including easy to change while driving.

- Directional twin-type. In such boards, the shape of the “nose” and “tail” is the same, however, the board is not completely symmetrical: for example, the nose and tail can have different stiffness, the nose can be bent higher than the tail (so that the board does not burrow into the snow), embedded parts can be shifted back, the deflection may be asymmetrical about the middle, etc. Thus, the board is optimized for movement in a certain direction, however, if necessary, it can also go in the opposite direction.

- Directed (directional). Snowboards with a pronounced nose and tail. The front and back have a different shape, the nose is usually softer than the tail, and the embedded parts are shifted back. This form is found mainly in fairly advanced boards.

- Dovetail. A variety of directional boards (see above), in which the tail has a characteristic V-shaped cut. It is used mainly in universal models and freeride boards (see "Riding style"), because. considered optimal for rid...ing on untouched snow due to its stability.

Tip width

The greatest width of the snowboard in the area of \u200b\u200bthe front.

The ratio of the width of the "nose", "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 "Type of riding").

There are special techniques for choosing the optimal snowboard width.

Waist width

The smallest width of the snowboard in the middle.

The ratio of the width of the "nose", "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 "Type of riding").

There are special techniques for choosing the optimal snowboard width.

Tail width

The widest width of the snowboard is at the rear.

The ratio of the width of the "nose", "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 "Type of riding").

There are special techniques for choosing the optimal snowboard width.

Flex rating

The stiffness of a snowboard is indicated in arbitrary units from 1 to 10 ( the larger the number, the stiffer the board). Soft boards are convenient for jumping, because. they absorb shock well. But for high-speed driving, rigid models are recommended that are not so prone to vibrations.

Accordingly, the choice for this indicator directly depends on the planned use of the snowboard. For example, for freestyle and freeride boards of small and medium hardness are best suited; soft boards are also considered the best option for beginners. For slalom, the stiffness must be high.

Base

A slippery base is a surface that is in direct contact with the snow while riding. The standard base material is polyethylene, sometimes with additives. However, the difference between different types is not in composition, but primarily in manufacturing technology:

extruded. Polyethylene base produced by extrusion and rolling. Such a material is noticeably cheaper than sintered, but it is not so strong and slips worse, and it absorbs paraffin grease rather weakly. On the other hand, the performance of extruded polyethylene is quite sufficient for most riding styles, and when riding "dry" (without lubrication), it even outperforms unlubricated sintered polyethylene. Also of the advantages of such slippers, it is worth mentioning the ease of repair.

Sintered. Polyethylene obtained by sintering. This procedure makes it possible to obtain a high-quality durable material with a porous structure that absorbs paraffin grease well and is much better sliding than extruded polyethylene. The main disadvantage of sintered polyethylene is the high cost; in addition, without regular paraffin treatment, it loses its sliding properties, and such slippers are more difficult and expensive to repair. The use of this material is typical mainly for high-quality high-speed boards.

Sidewalls

The design of the board determines the arrangement of various materials around the core, in other words, the cutaway view of the board.

Sandwich. In the "sandwich" (or "sidewall") design, the sidewalls covering the core are made separately from the top "cover". In the context of such a board has the form of a rectangle with clearly defined corners. The advantages of sandwiches are resistance to extreme loads, as well as ease of repair. These boards are softer than caps, which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage, depending on the riding style. But of the unequivocal disadvantages, it is worth noting the greater weight and higher cost.

Cap. In boards of the cap type, the core is covered from above and from the sides by a continuous protective sheath, without separate side inserts, so a trapezoid with rounded upper corners is obtained in the section. Due to this, snowboards of this design have less weight and greater rigidity than "sandwiches". On the other hand, under heavy loads, the board can delaminate, and in general, repairing the “cap” is a very complicated matter.

Bindings type

The type of embedded parts provided in the snowboard. These parts are used to install fasteners; on the outside, they look like bolt holes — or other recesses for fasteners, depending on the type. The types are like this:

Classic. Traditional mortgages in the form of holes arranged in two rows along the board. Used in the vast majority of modern snowboards

3D. A specific variant used in Burton boards. The holes are arranged in the form of a rhombus, which provides additional options for choosing the position for fasteners.

Channel. Another original solution from Burton: embeds are made not in the form of holes, but in the form of two narrow slots (one per mount) oriented along the board. This option is designed for branded mounts with some specific functions.

Without mortgages. Snowboards that are not equipped with mortgages at all and do not provide the installation of bindings. The rider on such a board is held only by friction (similar, for example, to riding a skateboard). This allows you to perform some tricks that are not available with classic bindings, however, for any more or less complex riding, specific skills are required. Therefore, this option is found mainly in two varieties of snowboards: the simplest children's models for beginners, as well as some trick boards.

Bindings mounts (per side)

The number of pairs of mortgages provided for the installation of one fastener. These data are necessary to select snowboard bindings with the classic type of inserts (see above): bindings are made for a certain number of pairs, and if they do not match, compatibility is not guaranteed.

Release year

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.

Country of origin

As a manufacturing country, usually, they indicate not the country of actual production of the snowboard, but the “homeland” of the brand under which it is presented on the market. Most of these brands come from "solid" countries with a developed snowboarding culture — Austria, Germany, France, USA, Switzerland ; at the same time, the factories where the boards are actually produced are not necessarily located in these countries. Thus, by indicating the country of origin of the brand as the country of origin, the sellers go to the trick, making snowboards more attractive in the eyes of the buyer. At the same time, this cannot be called an unambiguous deception: large brands, usually, strictly control the quality of products, regardless of the country in which they are produced. Therefore, it is worth evaluating boards primarily by brand reputation, and not by the country of origin indicated in the characteristics.
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