Ever wonder what the difference is between an all mountain board and a freestyle board? Maybe you are wondering why that brand new board you bought doesn’t handle or react the way you thought it would? Well we are here to help you out.
First let us go over the types of boards there are to choose from. There are 3 types of boards available, which would be all mountain, freestyle, and alpine. Each one has its own attributes that make it different than the next.
An all mountain board, which is also a good as a starter board, is a directional board meaning there is a front and a back to the board. Although it can be ridden regular or fakie your feet are positioned slightly to the back side of the board. The nose of the board has a slightly wider and more lifted tip to it while the back of the board is more slender without as much lift. The board is also stiffer than a freestyle board which allows for higher speeds and better handling while carving hard lines.
A freestyle board is the best board for a beginner to start out with. It is a non-directional board meaning the front and back of the board is exactly the same, so technically there is no front or back. This board is the lightest of the 3, the most flexible, and very stable due to its width. The downfall to this board is, it is the slowest and when going fast you lose some of the stability and handling that the board has to offer. When the speed is just right and the skill is there you will find yourself flying through the air making that board work for you.
The last type of board, the kind you don’t see very often if at all (except by that hard core old guy that still has his wooden plank skis) is the alpine board. This board is a directional board and can only be ridden as such. This board basically looks like a giant ski with the nose of the board being wide and lifted while the back is flat. This board is the fastest of the 3, has the best handling, and is the stiffest board which is what gives it it’s superior handling.
So after deciding on what type of board you may want to buy, you should know how to find the one that is the perfect size for you. For the longest time we all picked our boards by using the lip trick, which is when you stand the board up in front of you the tip of the board should hit your top lip or just under your nose. Using this trick will almost guarantee you will end up with the wrong size board (unless you got lucky). The proper way to size a board is by your weight. Make sure you refer to the sizing label that comes with the board or ask the sales representative for assistance. Board manufacturers use their own size to weight ratio meaning that a Burton 153 might be for someone that weighs between 130-160 lbs. while a Rossignol 153 might be for someone that weighs 150-180 lbs. (these numbers are purely fictional). Once you have found the right board for your weight then you can choose to go a little smaller for for more control while pulling moves or something a little longer for some more speed and handling. Also if you are on the low end of the weight scale, let’s say you weigh 130 lbs. for the Burton 153 that means the board will be stiffer for you than someone who weighs 160. So when you are out trying to find that perfect board to show off, keep these tips in mind and you can’t go wrong.
This is a great rundown. Nice job!