camber & Backcountry: A buyer's Guide to Snowboards

Camber and Back country: A Buyer's Guide to Snowboards Picking the perfect snowboard can be as tricky as a tail block, but Sport Chalet has years of experience providing adrenaline junkies and amateur enthusiasts alike with just the right board for their buck. A quick look at our customer preferences should help you put your best foot forward. Beginners Abound It's easy to feel intimidated when you hit the slopes the first few times, but you might be surprised to learn how many consider themselves beginners. 52% Intermediate 32% Beginner 16% Expert 52% A Mountain Freentde 26% Snow Stylin' If you're new, you'll probably want to go for an All Mountain board, but there's more to the 18% sport than ski resorts and shallow slopes. Freestyle 4% Backcountry Freeriding, sometimes called "the soul of snowboarding," is when snowboarders leave the beaten path to explore the terrain. No rules, no regrets. Freestyle is the art of landing tricks and rotations, and typically takes place on man-made terrain, such as halfpipes, railing, and artificial platforms. Backcountry boarding is only for the advanced. Like freeriding, it involves some exploration, but backcountry takes it to the next level. Helicopter drops are common. Rocker Vs. Camber The shape of the board is also important, and can have an enormous effect on how it handles. Rocker is becoming more popular, but camber still has its place. Choose wisely! Rocker: 43% Pro: Forgiving ride Con: Weaker edge grip, instability at high speeds Hybrid: 38% Pro: Well-balanced Con: Sacrificed proficiency Camber:19% Pro: Extra pop on jumps, better edge hold Con: Catching edge Best of the Boards We couldn't leave you without a selection of our most popular picks. Here are three of our most popular makes, brought to you by Burton. Custom Flying V "Great flex, pop and feel with a spring-loaded blend of camber and rocker zones." Ride Agenda RIDE "High-end performance and the latest in rocker shaping. Best freestyle value all around." RIDI GNU Ladies Choice "Easy to ride, maximum performance, hand-built by snowboarders in the U.S.A." SPORT CHALET Powered by Sport Chalet (http://www.sportchalet.com/category/winter/snowboarding.do) Based on approximately 2000 customer preferences GNU