| What's in a Board?
The eight main materials in a snowboard are the:
- Topsheet with printed graphic
- Fiber glass or epoxy
- Wood or foam core
- Steel inserts
- Plastic base, (p-tex)
- Metal edges
- Resin Sytsem (glue)
- Rubber Foil
Layers of Snowboard
A Snowboard is similar to a sandwich that is made up of many layers.
What follows are the components of a snowboard from top to bottom:
- The top layer of a Snowboard is a protective plastic layer called
a "topsheet." The topsheet does not only protect the
insides of the Snowboard from damage and exposure to ultra-violet
rays, it also provides a good surface for graphics. Although the
material used for the topsheet can vary, there are basically two
types of topsheets - the glossy and matte. Glossy topsheets usually
come with sublimated graphics. On the other hand, matte topsheets
in general have screened-on graphics.
- Inside the topsheet is a layer of "fiberglass". This
fiberglass lies on top of the core.
- The Snowboard's "core", which lies beneath the fiberglass,
is what the rest of the board is wrapped around with. The core
makes up most of the thickness of the Snowboard. This is usually
made of wood foam, honeycomb panels, or a combination of wood
and other composite materials, with sets of metal inserts needed
to mount bindings.
Cores made from honeycomb are lightweight and are surprisingly
strong. With a wood core, you can be assured of a smooth response
and lively flex from the board. Foam cores, in contrast, can sometimes
loose their flex.
- Next is another layer of fiberglass, "fiberglass reinforced
plastic" in particular. This provides stiffness and strength
to the Snowboard.
- Following the fiberglass are steel edges. These edges surround
the P-tex of the Snowboard, allowing the board to dig into the
snow while turning. There are actually Two Kinds of Edges: partial
steel edges that run only along the sides of the board, ending
at the nose and tail, and edges that wrap all the way around both
ends of the board.
- On the bottom is a layer of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene
material commonly called "P-Tex." This is a dense, abrasion
resistant plastic with low friction properties which provides
the slippery surface that makes the Snowboard slide on Snow Surface.
To keep your Snowboard running fast throughout the winter, you
need to add wax to this base layer.
There are basically Three Different Types of Snowboard Bases -
extruded, sintered, and graphite. Extruded bases are long lasting
and easy to repair. However, they are the slowest type of base,
and they hold less wax than the other types of bases. A Sintered
base is superior to the extruded base since it's more durable,
faster, and can hold wax better. Then again, it's more expensive
and difficult to repair. The graphite base, on the other hand,
is the fastest type of Snowboard base and has a higher capacity
to hold Wax. This Type of Snowboard Bases are always deep black
and are mostly found on fast racing boards.
If you're looking for high performance, opt for a Snowboard with
a sintered base. Then again, if you're on a tight budget, an extruded
model will do.
Snowboard
Buyers Guide
This guide will help you Choose a Snowboard that will not only
enhance your learning and performance in Snowboarding, but also
ensure your safety.
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