A board? designed to be strapped to the feet and ridden down [dry ski slopes]? or snow covered slopes. Feet are strapped into bindings? and no [ski poles]? are used. |
This is the primary article of equipment for snowboarding?. A board? designed to be attached beneath the rider's feet and ridden down [dry ski slopes]? or snow covered slopes. No [ski poles]? are used. Most snowboards are constructed of a wood core, laminated with fiberglass. The front of the board (the "nose" in snowboarder parlance) is upturned to help the board glide over uneven snow; the back of the board may be equally upturned, less upturned, or pretty much flat, depending upon how much time the snowboarder plans to spend riding backwards. 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 slider faster. The edges of the base are wrapped 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 to offend adults and skiers. Snowboard designs differ primarily as follows:
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