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Selecting Boarding Equipment & Clothing
 
Selecting suitable equipment is critical to success.
If your purpose is to maximize learning, go faster, or increase your enjoyment, then you need to accurately communicate the following information to a salesperson:
  • Your intended purpose in boarding and what you realistically expect to do by season-end.
  • Your height, weight, strength, and age
  • Your level in relationship to speed and turn radius
  • The terrain conditions you like to board.

Selecting a board shop
Pro shops train their staff to understand product and service equipment.  Most of their sales personnel will be able to clearly explain why you should select one product over another.  Almost every manufacturer makes a range of equipment which is appropriate for your skill level and goals.  A skilled salesperson will make several recommendations and provide sound reasoning for their choices.  Expect this kind of treatment or find somebody else to help you.
 
Most boards need to be tuned
Professionals do not use a new board until it has been tuned.  A board must be flat-filed, edges beveled and sharpened, waxed, and bindings adjusted to your boarding stance.
 
Check your footedness
Do you perform best with your right or left foot forward?  If you don't know, a salesperson will give you a little test.  They may stand behind you and gently shove you forward.  The foot you step forward with is usually the foot you will place in the forward binding.  People usually step forward with the foot that maximizes balance
 
Selecting boots
Boots should be comfortable for the recreational boarder and should maximize balance and efficiency.  Listed below are some basics about boots.
  • Stiffer boots respond more quickly but are less forgiving over uneven terrain.
  • Softer boots respond more slowly but are more forgiving over uneven terrain.
  • A more upright upper boot shaft allows a taller stance, more skeletal support, and causes less muscle fatigue.  It provides a greater range for flexing and extending and promotes a stronger stance for resisting forces in a turn.  However, it is a weaker position for creating rotary leg movements.
  • A more flexed upper boot shaft promotes a stronger stance for leg turning, but causes greater muscle fatigue from the flexed stance.  It limits flexing and extending movements and lowers the center of gravity.
  • When the heel of the footbed is raised it makes it easier to pressure the heel edge.  This reduces calf tension, but may increase being off-balanced.
  • When the heel of the footbed is lowered it makes it easier to pressure the toe edge and more difficult to pressure the heel edge.  It also causes more calf tension at flexion.

Selecting bindings
There are many excellent well-known bindings.  Step-ins are becoming very popular but tend to be more expensive. Consult your local shop for expert advice or do some reading. A binding that seems to work well in town may be difficult to manage on the snow.
 
Safety strap or leash
This strap is required in order to ride lifts.  It attaches to the board and wraps around the leg.  It is used to control the board so it doesn't fly off downhill.  Many a boarder has walked long distances in deep snow to recover their board because it got away.
 
Selecting a board
Boards fall into four general categories:  (1) beginner boards which usually are shorter, (2) sport boards for recreational boarders, (3) versatile high performance boards for advanced/expert boarders, and (4) competitive boards for racing, boardercross, or half-pipe.  It is difficult to discuss board design in detail without writing another book.  However, listed below are a few general guidelines about boards.
  • Shorter boards are easier to turn, better for tricks and the halfpipe, and less stable at higher speeds.  Longer boards require more effort to turn and are more stable at higher speeds.
  • Softer boards turn easier but are less stable as speed increases.  Stiffer boards require more effort to turn but are more stable as speed increases.
  • A softer tip is more forgiving.  A stiffer tip is more responsive.
  • A softer tail more forgiving and a stiffer tail holds the turn better.
  • A board with more sidecut is easier to turn by just standing on it.  However, it wanders more while straight running.
  • A concave base tracks better while a convex base allows the board to turn easier.  Most boarders tune their board so the bases are flat and the edges are at a 90 degree angle or slightly beveled.
  • Waxed boards are much easier to turn than unwaxed boards and waxed boards protects the base.
 
Selecting clothing
  • Layer.  It is better to use a shell parka and layers of sweaters with T-necks and underwear than one heavy parka.  This is called the "layering" principle which is most effective in controlling body temperature.
  • Helmets to protect the head when a rough fall occurs (not if but when)!!!  It also provides additional warmth during cold or rainy weather.  A considerable amount of body heat is lost through the top of an exposed head on cold days.  A good helmet also can be vented when you get hot.  A good helmet does not restrict your hearing.
  • Thermal socks.  Your feet get wet because of perspiration and sometimes snow gets inside the boots.  Thermal socks are somewhat water repellent and maintain enough dead-air space when wet to act as insulation and keep the feet warm.  Cotton socks should be totally avoided.  Cotton wicks moisture into the boots.
  • Thermal underwear has the same characteristics as thermal socks.  It is warm even when wet.  Underwear constructed with polypropylenes wicks perspiration away from the body so the moisture does not cool the body.
  • Pants are loose fitting, reinforced in the knees and seat, and extremely waterproof.  Boarders sit on the snow a lot.
  • Turtlenecks and sweaters should be lightweight.  One or several may be worn depending upon the warmth of the boarder.  As it gets colder more sweaters could be worn to create greater dead-air space which provides further insulation against the cold.
  • Shells (parkas) are usually unlined and are usually worn in warmer weather or with more sweaters or vests.  When fitting a parka, pay particular attention to the cuffs. The cuffs should butt right up to or fit snugly so the wrists are not exposed.  Also look for a high collar since it may be zipped or snapped up around the neck and chin for additional protection and warmth.
  • Mitts are warm since all four fingers are encased in one area and touch one another (it's warmer in a crowd).  Fingered gloves allow greater freedom of movement so the hands may do more things without taking off the gloves.  In both cases a thermal liner adds to the warmth.  Gloves should be sprayed with a waterproofer or sealed with a water repellent wax.  Mitts should always be worn while boarding, even on sunny days.  They protect against cuts caused by the roughness of the snow during a fall.
  • Goggles protect the eyes from the wind and snow.  Light-colored lenses are recommended because they are usually worn during cloudy, stormy weather.  Thermal lens goggles (like thermal pane glass - two lenses) or coated nonfog goggles are available and work the best.  A "no-fog cloth" may also be used to make ordinary goggles fog-free for a short period of time.  Those who wear glasses should select goggles specifically designed for use with glasses.
  • Sunglasses protect the eyes from the intense ultra violet light of the sun which is predominate at high altitudes and reflected off the snow.  Select shatterproof sunglasses with a very dark lens.  They provide additional safety and protection for your eyes.
  • Raingear.  Plastic raingear keeps the rain out and the perspiration in.  Fabric raingear is better because it allows perspiration to escape.  All clothing should be sprayed with a waterproofing substance.  Trust me!