The characteristics of a powder board are obvious from its appearance, such as the long nose and split tail. But what exactly are these functions for? In order to highlight the ambiguous existence of a powder board, it is essential to understand its specifications. Then choose the best board that fits you in the shortest possible way. This time, I assumed a certain user and simulated the way they think when choosing a powder board. Please feel free to use it as a reference.
Interview cooperation/Murasaki Sports
POINT 1 Assuming powder beginners
Choosing a snowboard is greatly influenced by the skill of the rider, and if you want to choose a powder board properly, you need to consider not only the quality of the snow, but also the depth of the snow and the topography. Therefore, this time I assumed the following users.
・Intermediate person who rides a freestyle board
・This is my first time purchasing a powder board
・I live in the Kanto region and go skiing in Hakuba, Nozawa Onsen, and Niigata
・I don't really know what kind of style I'm looking for. First of all, I want to feel comfortable skiing on the uncompacted snow course on the slope. I would like to try backcountry in the future.
Now, let's move on.
POINT 2 How to choose a powder board
length? shape? The first step in choosing a powder board
Snowboarding was originally born 100% as a tool for fun. In other words, the fundamental question is how you want to enjoy it, and various specifications and technologies are adopted to achieve that. If you think about it, it's safe to say that when it comes to powder boarding, you should start by clarifying the way you want to play, rather than focusing on the details.
What specifically do you envision?
What I want to think about here is that the new board you are trying to acquire is
・Do you want to use that one bottle to handle all conditions?
・Do you want to get it as a special bottle for powder?
For example, if you mainly ski on uncompacted snow courses on the slopes, you may not necessarily be able to ski the ``best powder all day''. At times you will be forced to slide on rough, bumpy snow and traverse hard slopes. Of course, there are times when you want to enjoy a jump due to a side hit on a detour. If you want to handle these various situations, we recommend a model that can be used all around.
On the other hand, if you want to enjoy the best powder to its core, you should consider getting a powder-specific model. Get a powder board to focus on the best conditions and fully enjoy the ideal conditions. In other situations, I would do it on a freestyle board. If you assume that you will use it differently, you will want to aim for a model that specializes in powder performance.
The key is how to play. If you don't make that clear first, you won't be able to choose a powder board, or even a snowboard.
Highly versatile model NITRO team riders also like it
Versatile & 3D K2 Team Rider Favorite
POINT 3 Reason for shape and role of each part
What does nose length affect?
Simply put, it's buoyancy in the powder. In particular, if the nose is given buoyancy, it will be less likely to stall at low speeds or on gentle slopes, and it will be easier to gain initial speed when starting in powder. Regardless of the shape of a snowboard, once you get up to speed it will provide a certain amount of buoyancy even in the powder. However, for powder beginners, it is difficult to reach that speed. The idea was to choose a model with a long nose to make it easier to gain speed in powder.
By the way, in order to give buoyancy to the nose, other than making it longer, there are also methods such as ``widening it'' and ``introducing a 3D nose shape (like the bottom of a ship)''.
Longer nose
AMPLID | SNOMMELIER Size：166cm
3D nose
Why is the tail so short and thin?
Powder boards have shorter or thinner tails to increase the buoyancy of the nose. Among these, making the tail thinner is expressed as "tapering", and models with a taper are called "tapered". Tapered wheels improve maneuverability in powder, make it easier to grasp the cue for direction, and make turns easier, but they make it weaker in compacted snow. For this reason, some models seek sharper turning performance and have a side curve with a small radius on the tail side of the side curve to strengthen the sharpness in the latter half of the turn.
Taper 1.5 cm or more Small side cut in the tail
What does the shape of the tail affect?
When you hear the word powder board, what comes to mind is the tail shape unique to powder boards, such as swallow tails and fishtails. A swallowtail is a tail that is long and thin on the left and right sides, like the tail feathers of a swallow, and a fishtail is a tail that is shaped like a fish's caudal fin, with the left and right sides of the tail extending smoothly and in a curved line.
Both shapes are aimed at improving turning performance in powder, with the tail sunken appropriately in deep snow to ensure firm grip on light, soft snow. In other words, these shapes are used to control the snowboard while submerged in the snow. The swallow tail grips the snow softly, making turns feel more comfortable. Since the fishtail is short, it allows for responsive turns, and the tail shape is directly linked to the turning characteristics in powder.
swallow tail
Compact fishtail (nose 3D)
POINT 4 Flex tends to be soft
If you're an advanced rider turning at high speed on open burns in deep powder, you'll probably enjoy a stiffer flex. However, if this is your first time using a powder board, it might be more fun to choose a model that is a little softer.
The reason for this is that softer boards are easier to control at low speeds and are easier to ride on complex terrain. Also, the powder snow surface itself is soft. If the flex is too stiff, the board will be difficult to bend even in powder, and it will take time to learn the technique before you can enjoy a pleasant powder dart.
Of course, it's also designed to be used on the slopes, and if you want to be able to handle it in any conditions, you'll need a certain amount of flex. However, even in such cases, a certain degree of flex is required mainly in the feet. A model with a soft nose will be able to flex, allowing you to gain buoyancy in powder while also being able to smoothly handle fine natural terrain.
POINT 5 Rocker or camber?
If you only consider buoyancy in powder, the rocker shape is overwhelmingly advantageous. It is easy to obtain buoyancy, and it is also easy to control that buoyancy. On the other hand, if you value controllability on compacted snow or hard snow, a camber shape will be advantageous.
It can be difficult to choose which one to choose, but in recent years, hybrid shapes that combine the strengths of rocker and camber have become mainstream. For example, the design may include using camber underfoot while adopting a rocker shape in the nose and tail, or offsetting the camber underfoot toward the rear foot to create a more gentle rocker in the nose.
With these innovations, the number of powder boards that can be used in a variety of conditions is increasing, and many of them balance ease of sliding on powder with controllability on compacted or hard snow. It is also important to know that there are models that incorporate the merits of both, rather than a choice between the two.
plate shape
camber
The basic shape of a snowboard. By 2006, this was the only form available. It has a sense of stability and repulsion, and has excellent edge grip.
hybrid
There's camber under both feet, and a little rocker on the outside of the binding. A shape that maintains the stability of a camber board while improving operability like a rocker. Also, the shapes vary depending on the brand.
flat rocker
The binding is in contact with the ground (flat), and the nose and tail are largely floating. It has characteristics between camber and rocker. A rocker-based type that maintains operability and slightly increases stability.
Camber model offset towards the tail
POINT 6 Decide the length last
Select size from variations
When choosing a snowboard, the first thing to consider is the size. However, most models now have size variations. In other words, you can choose the size later. Therefore, among products with a concept that matches the style you want to ski, choose one with a flex that suits your ability, and finally choose a size that fits your body shape and the snow quality of the area you are skiing. This flow is correct.
If the width is the same, add about 5cm
If the waist width of the powder board you're looking at is about the same as the one you're currently riding, try choosing one that's 3 to 10 cm longer, with an extra 5 cm as a guide. The reason is that the length increases buoyancy, but even if it is longer, there will not be a big difference in maneuverability. This is because the nose of a powder board is curved up, so it almost doesn't touch the snow surface when it's compressed snow. Its length comes into play only in deep powder.
longboard
Patterns that are OK even if they are short are also acceptable.
Just as length affects buoyancy, width also has a large effect on buoyancy. If that's the case, you can understand that if you have a wide body, it's OK even if the overall length of the board is short. In fact, shortboards are exceptionally easy to handle. Even in rough powder full of trucks, which I had been weak at, I was able to turn with ease and enjoy a pleasant cruising experience.
In the end, snowboarding is all about balance. If you only worry about specifications such as the shape of the nose and tail, you won't be able to achieve a pleasant powder ride. The important thing is how to enjoy skating with a free mind.
Short & Fat & Fishtail
Camber short & fat
POINT7: If your feelings move, that's the board you should ride!
Perhaps due to the soft powder conditions and the free spirit that comes with it, powder boards come in a relatively wide range of designs compared to regular snowboards, and unique models are easy to spot. That's why the design is also a big factor when choosing a board.
If you come across a board that is the type of board you want to ride, even if it exceeds your skill level, I don't want you to throw away your passion and inspiration. There are various ways of thinking about how to choose a board. There are many ways to get to powder boarding in the quickest way and with no regrets, without wasting your money. Sometimes you may need to make a defensive choice that says, ``You can't go wrong with this purchase.'' But I want to ride! That feeling surpasses all advice.
As a skier, there is no greater happiness than finding a board that you want to ride. And riding on such a board is also an important experience. After that, reconsidering the specs and how to use it will lead to a deeper selection of boards.
Writing/Takuro Hayashi