The first decision you have to make is are you going to get a cheap board or are you prepared to pay for a more expensive quality board? Many beginners believe that they will eventually graduate beyond the novice stage so why should they spend good money on a beginners snowboard. The answer to that is that a beginners board will not give you the same experience as a good quality board. A cheaper board will be made of cheaper materials and will not be constructed as well. A good decision is to go for the best quality board you can reasonably afford. A good beginners board should not cost you more than about $500.

Also, keep in mind that there is an after market for used snow boards – and a quality board will fetch more money and sell faster than a cheap board. When you are ready to move up to intermediate level and want to get a new board, you have a choice. Either resell your snowboard or pass it down to a younger sibling, relative, or friend.

The second decision you will probably make is whether you should get a men’s snowboard or a woman’s snowboard. For men and boys, the decision is simple – get a men’s snowboard. Women, however, have a choice. Many of the better quality women’s board were built specifically for women, for their shape. In addition, many of these snowboards were designed with input from women pro snowboard riders. But everyone is an individual and you may feel that the men’s boards suit you better. The best way to resolve the question is to RENT both a men’s snowboard and a women’s snowboard. Take to the slopes and go with whatever feels more natural to you.

Thirdly, you will have to decide what type of snowboarding you will be mainly participating in. Different snowboards are build for different terrains and different styles of riding.

Freecarve – This type of riding is equivalent to alpine sking. The focus is on speed racing and carving turns. Freecarve snow boards tend to be the stiffest. This lets them really bite into the snow and make turns with ease.

Freestyle – Like to do tricks on you snowboard? Spins? Halfpipes? Then you want more of a freestyle board. These boards tend to be short and very maneuverable.

Freeride – This is the “in-between” board. It’s good for a little bit of speed racing, but not as good as a freecarve board. It’s also good for doing some of the more common snowboard tricks – but not as good as a freestyle board. This type of board, also known as an all-mountain board is one of the most popular boards sold to beginners.

Now we look at some of the more minor decisions. Pick up the board and feel the weight. All things being equal, you’ll want the lighter board. It’ll be more maneuverable. You’ll be able to handle it better and it’ll be lighter to carry.

What about the length of the board? Manufacturers post suggested heights and weights on the back of their boards. But these are just suggestions. Ultimately you want the board that feels most natural to you. As a general rule, however, a longer board will give you more stability at high speeds while a shorter board will let you spin and do tricks easier.

Also, factor in the stiffness of the board. As a beginner, you will probably want a soft-flexing board. One that is forgiving of mistakes.

And lastly, don’t forget style. Pick the most stylish board you can find and enjoy yourself on the slopes.

The Different Types Of Freestyle Snowboarding

It is hard to believe but even in a mixed up sport such as freestyle snowboarding there are different categories and they are: half pipe, jump, power snow driving and border cross. Each of these categories has rules and regulations on how to be performed, which is strictly followed by the snowboarder.

Freestyle snowboarding requires a great deal of practice even if the name itself does not suggest so; it gives you the opportunity to express yourself but at the same time within the rules and regulations of the sport. Freestyle snowboarding has become so competitive and popular that it is an official Olympics game as well with a high number of extremely talented followers and fans.

The Right Gear

Freestyle snowboarding is a lot of fun mostly because it brings the highest number of thrills a game can offer, which also makes it a very dangerous game. Of course if you ask a snowboarder he/she will not agree to the same but a professional snowboarder will also ensure that he or she is well equipped before getting on the snowboard.

Probably the most important piece of equipment you will require is the helmet that protects your head. You will see many snowboarders practice with just a wool hat over the head but, you will never catch a professional snowboarder without a helmet. If you will ever fall when snowboarding, the helmet is the only piece of protection between your head and the hard ground. Therefore, wear a helmet better to be safe than sorry.

You can also find professional snowboarding gear in specific stores or if you choose not to invest in purchasing professional gear, you can also rent it at the snowboarding resort where you should easily find a number of stores for the same. You can rent for the day or several days, depends how long you plan to stay but do not attempt to get on the slopes without being fully and properly equipped for the same.

Helpful Tip

Freestyle snowboarding can be as fun as you want it to be while letting your imagination run wild. Try it yourself today and find out why so many have turn to freestyle snowboarding and if you are a beginner make sure to get an instructor who can assist and teach you the tricks of the trade.

About: Chicks Who Carve, snowboard women’s is the one place on the world wide web where lady snowboarders can come together, talk, share, play, sell, have fun and buy the top products for the best prices. Snow conditions, news, blogs, videos, reviews, etc. can all be viewed at http://www.snowboardwomens.com . Its a place for all ladies to chill and learn about the great sport of snowboarding and become active in the community. Best of yet, they can find the best prices and the best gear…at the same time. Join the email list and get coupons that don’t get you deals but steals! Visit Chicks Who Carve, snowboard women’s and get everything you need for the whole season from snowboards to jackets to wax. Now hit the slopes….

         What size board do you intending on buying or what size board do you own? Do you just get any board based on how cool it looks? I hope not. I wouldn’t think you’d go out and get a board that’s two feet over your head nor a board thats below your waste, am I right? You already know some type of range that is reasonable but did you know that even a few inches will make a huge difference and for some experts just a few millimeters means either have a good day of shredding or a not so good one…

 First of all, you need to know a little bit about yourself, you need to know what’s comfortable and reasonable. Another great idea is to know a little bit about how a snowboard is designed and it’s aerodynamics. I would suggest doing just a tiny bit of further research and just looking at the basics of how a snowboard is designed. It might really help you on selecting a board and what style board would work for you. There are three major skill level: beginner, intermediate and advanced/expert. All levels may require a different type, style and size board. The length of your board is so important! It can’t be stressed enough, because if you have the wrong size then it’ll be you who will be stressin’ on the mountain. We don’t want that, now do we?

         If you have a long board, thats fine! We’re talking about a longer board than you need, thats not always the best….If its too long, than it will be so much harder to turn and carve, not too mention stopping. Oh my! It will be a learning curve to go over jumps again because the board might be heavier and it will be lengthier. On the plus side it is a tad bit more stable, but the point isn’t to be stable all your snowboarding life. The point of it is too fall, learn from it and get back up.

         If your board is too short, your weight might be too much for it and your board might get out of control. You literally might spin out of control. If its not incredibly short but still short it will be much easier to turn, spin, jump and control but you still may not have total control of the board at times.

Some people actually prefer slightly shorter or longer boards, its a personal preference. *TIP*– Try renting boards before you buy a new one or your first one.  Its worth the money to rent and find a length that you enjoy and can handle before you buy one that may not work…at all.

         Boards just don’t go by length, they go by level, weight, style, design, flexibility, material, price and width. Yes, width is another great contributing factor. Have you ever tried snowboarding on a ski? Maybe but I don’t think it works out to good. Huh? If your boots hang off your board too much, you may be in some trouble. Your boots will get stuck in the snow and it will be hard to carve and turn as your toes will dig into the snow. If you’re a heavier person, getting a wider board will benefit you also. *TIP*–If you already own a board and your boots hang off a little more than you like, try adjusting the angle of your boots.

         *TIP*–Usually the more expensive the board, the higher quality. Don’t get the cheap ones just because of their price. Usually for a little more money, the board you’ll get will go the extra mile for you.

So What’s My Size?

                  The size of your board depends on your height and weight. Most people depend just on your weight but it should be around your nose in height also. Snowboards go by centimeters. It really depends on feel and there’s no definite answer. All I can say is that YOU NEED to make sure it is the right size for you, check out some sizing charts or even a snowboard calculator (they help, they put all kinds of factors into it so you can get a good size board).

So in Conclusion:

-  Snowboards depend on weight and height and its important to talk to a professional to get the right size for you

-  If a board is too tall or too short, snowboarding won’t be in your favor.

-  If you just want to ride down the mountain with some speed, a tad bit longer board would be best.

-  A tad bit shorter board will be best if you want to do tricks.

-  Get a wider board if you have big feet or if you are a heavier person.

-  Get the right size so instead of falling down the mountain you can carve down it with ease!!

Thanks for reading, we hope you know now that getting the right size is so important. I wouldn’t use my kid sisters’ board. We suggest that you visit http://www.snowboardwomens.com to read reviews and have some fun. The reviews on them might help you pick one out. Also just for reading this we’re going to tell you a secret on how to become the best snowboarder in the world. Yes you’re going to have to pull your wallet out, BUT it will do SO many favors in return. Are you ready? Okay here is the link, http://cwc12.matt4444.hop.clickbank.net/ Also if you join the emailing list, we can suggest products that would be just for you, give you exclusive reviews, coupons, info on the latest gear and sales. We hope you visit Chicks Who Carve, snowboard women’s and realize the joy that snowboarding brings. And always remember….hey chicks….start carving!!

There is speculation that the first snowboard was a version of a skateboard, flat on the bottom, with a rope to hold on to for control. There were no “traditional” bindings but you had a way of adhering your boots to the board. Talk about having to learn to use your balance to keep yourself steady! What a way to learn! During the late 70\’s and throughout the 80\’s, snowboarding really took off, causing the design to evolve to more of what we see today.

In looking at the history of snowboarding there were many concepts in finding the right design for a board that would give proper control and function in snow. In 1972, a company called Winterstick, pioneered by a surfer named Dimitrije Milovich, began to develop snowboards deriving from the basic concept of the surfboard. In the mid 70\’s a couple of Welsh skateboarders developed a plywood deck, with a smooth polished bottom and boot bindings, which was shorter than snowboards used at the time. Although this concept allowed it to move quickly over snow, it offered little control to the rider.

The Pando Ski Lodge in Grand Rapids, Michigan hosted the first World Snurfing Championship in 1979 and was the beginning of taking snowboarding to a competitive level. Snurfing as it was originally called was a combination of surfing and snow. Competition evolved in 1982 to the first National Snowboard race held in Woodstock, Virginia and the first World Championship Half-Pipe Competition in Soda Springs, California, held in 1983. In 1985 it became recognized as an official sport in the first World Cup held in Australia. In 1994, the International Snowboard Association was founded and began to develop official rules for competition worldwide.

Snowboarding has gained fans worldwide via broadcasting of events such as Winter X-Games, the Olympics and the US open. Many of today\’s resorts have special areas for snowboarders, with features like various snowboarding rails, half-pipes and jumps specifically designed for the pleasure of accomplished riders. Now that you know the history of snowboarding and how it all began, aren\’t you tempted to get out there and experience it for yourself? What are you waiting for?

A great place to find good deals on snowboards is at your local snowboard shop (if you have one in your area). You can also check shops near your favorite snowboard locations. It is also good to look on the internet to research prices and manufacturers and ratings of the various snowboards.

After snow season, mainly during the spring and summer, you can find good deals on snowboards (since they are not being used much). Oftentimes, during the off season, rental shops ugrade their equipment and you can find good deals on their used stuff. Also, you might be able to find a good deal on a snowboard by checking the classifieds at the local college or university school newspaper.

In snowboarding, there are three main styles. Freestyle, Freeride and Freecarve-Race. Snowboarders are fairly divided between Freestyle and Freeride, and Race boards are fewer, as you’d probably already know if this is your style. The manufacturers design these boards for an intended style of riding, so once you know what style you like, you can narrow you choices to that style of snowboard. Knowing this in advance can save you a lot of money.

One of the things to do is to try different styles by renting the various equipment for a day and try riding. See what you like… and if you want to invest in your own equipment… go for it!

Here’s a brief description of each style.

Freestyle

Freestyle riding is whatever you feel free to do at the time. It focuses on tricks, jumps, rail slides, halfpipes and switch riding. Snowboard videos usually show freestyle riding; since it is easier to film, it’s entertaining to watch and gives the snowboarder the chance to really showcase their skills. Also… the most popular snowboarding events are freestyle competitions. And… many places will have a snowboard park for the freestyle riders, with halfpipes, rails and some jumps.

Freestyle boards have a soft boot and are comparatively shorter. This helps the maneuverability for doing tricks, jumps and getting airborne. Some freestyle boards are designed for a speciality, such as the halfpipe. If you can afford a board for every occasion, these specialty boards will ride extremely well in the condition for which they were designed — but are not likely to perform well outside of that specific terrain.

Freeride Style

Of all the styles of snowboarding, Freeriding is the most general. Freeride equipment also uses a soft boot. Boards in this category are relatively longer and more directional in their shape. If you don’t know what kind of surface terrain you like, or you like everything, this would be for you.

This is where you get to experience all of the mountain for yourself. You can snowboard through open terrain, hit backcountry chutes, get the fresh powder, and manuever through trees. This is where the rider and the mountain can come together, with no one else to interrupt.

Freecarve – Race

Freecarving is done on hard pack or groomed runs and focuses on hitting the ultimate carving turn. Usually here, there’s not much jumping. In contrast with the other two styles, Freecarve equipment has a hard boot and the boards are narrow, long and stiff. This style can have competitions that are similar to skiing events, with the snowboarders going around poles.

So what type of snowboard should you get? In making a choice for the right equipment for you, if you are just starting out, get a general all-around design snowboard, setup for freeride or freestyle.

Try renting some equipment that is not highly specific to any one style. This will give you the chance to try out a variety of your skills, so you can see what you like before spending the money on any specific board (or if you like a couple different styles, and can afford it… get a couple different boards).

Just be sure to understand riding styles before you buy, then look for equipment that meets your needs.