Extreme Sports

Finding the appropriate snowboard attire is essential especially as the climate for this activity is cold. To be able to get pleasure from a day out on the snowy mountains you need to remain dry and warm. Check exactly what you are choosing as your clothes can make the difference between a wonderful day and a miserable one. Snowboard clothing is all a matter of multiple layers.

The base layer is perhaps the crucial layer. Cotton should definitely be avoided. This type of fabric will absorb any and all moisture it comes into contact with, leaving the wearer wet and cold. Naturally this should be avoided in order for you to have a terrific snowboarding experience.

The best sort of materials to wear directly on your skin when snowboarding are synthetic fabrics. Polyester and polypropylene are good options. Long underwear and long sleeved shirts are recommended as well as one pair of knee-high socks. The reason that only one pair of socks ought to be worn is that if you wear more than one pair the elastic can become tight and could make you feel very uncomfortable.

The next layer is what will make sure your body is insulated. Depending on the climate, either a jacket or vest can be worn. Man made fabric should also be worn on this layer.

The final layer should be a robust and comfortable jacket or coat. It is essential to wear clothing that is sufficiently strong to shield you from water and wind, however it should also be comfortable enough to allow you to move around unhampered.It is advisable to purchase pants with belt loops for your top pant layer. The movement involved while snowboarding can pull your pants down if you aren’t wearing a belt.  Read more...

Choosing a skateboard deck can be a tough decision when you are just starting out. There are so many different brands with different logos that come in different sizes. If you are serious about skating, it would be wise to avoid purchasing a generic skateboard (such as the ones sold at Wal-Mart). You are better off going to a skate shop and buying board with some potential. There are tons of online skate stores you can order from, or you can always do a search for skate shops in your area.

The type of board you ride will ultimately depend on what you plan to be doing with it. You may want a board for transportation, for street skating, half pipe skating, or for something else. If you will be using your board strictly for transportation a.k.a. “cruising” you may consider purchasing a long board, or at least a board with bigger, softer wheels. Bigger, softer wheels will ride smoother, which is ideal for cruising. The down side of having a long board is that is may be harder to pull off tricks. For instance, a longer board may make it difficult to simply Ollie up a curb when necessary. If you are planning on mastering 360 flips, then a long board probably isn’t the best choice for you.

If you plan on skating street, you will be better off with a standard size board. By a standard sized board I am referring to a skate deck that is 31-32 inches in length. For street it is common to ride boards between 7.5-8.5 inches wide, although some prefer sizes beyond these ranges. A skater’s favorite street terrain usually dictates their preference of various skate deck widths. For example, skateboarders that are into large gaps, stairs and handrails may feel the need to ride a wider board (8.0-8.5) for more stability and strength. On the other hand, manual pad and tech masters might enjoy using narrow boards (7.5-7.75) because they are lighter and easier to flip.  Read more...

Snowboarding is a great winter sport and in the past few years has attracted many new fans to the slopes. One common phase that all of these new converts go through is walking into the pro shop for the first time and choosing a snowboard. What are the important features to look for?

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 0.

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.

 Read more...

Snowboarding is one of those sports that can get expensive very quickly, so you want to make sure to choose the right gear for your style. By careful searching, you can save yourself from spending 0 on the wrong type of snowboard… and still enjoy the riding that you like to do.

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.  Read more...

When a person is choosing a pair of skis, the question about how hard skis should be may pop up, and rightfully so. The stiffness of a pair of skis or how hard skis should be is an important factor when it comes to choosing skis to use or buy since the hardness of your skis will help determine your performance as well as your safety on the slopes. You should be aware of the flexibility and hardness of the kind of skis you will need and choose accordingly.

The Two Types of Ski Stiffness or Hardness

When talking about how stiff or hard skis should be, there are actually two things to consider – the torsional stiffness and the longitudinal stiffness of these boards. Here is a primer on what these things actually mean and why they are important to consider:

▪ Torsional Stiffness. This helps determine how resistant to twisting your skis are. You can actually test the torsional stiffness of your skis by twisting it yourself. Just hold the tail of your skis in between both your feet then take the other tip and hold it firmly with your hands. Try to twist the ski and you’ll find out just how much torsion the skis has. Softer skis will twist slightly as compared to really skis that are hard.

▪ Longitudinal Stiffness. This stiffness of your ski refers to how hard skis are when bent or flexed lengthwise. A pair of really hard skis will not bend as easily as flexible skis. The harder a pair of skis is, the better it can support the weight of a heavier skier.

How a Ski Stiffness or Hardness Affects Performance  Read more...