Wide Snowboards vs. Regular Snowboards
By
User:AllieCashel @timeAndDate(1280953450)
If you are a person with large feet (size 11 or larger), then you probably experience toe and heel drag when you snowboard on a regular sized board. Not only does this inconvenience impact your turning ability, it slows you down and increases your chances of falling forwards, which is an easy way to break a wrist or damage a knee. When many people hear they need to switch to a wider version to prevent these snags, they often feel hesitant, worried that a change in width will negatively affect their riding style. Although there are some differences, for the most part people see no disadvantages when they transition from a regular board to a wide onein fact, some even prefer the wider versions!. If you are dealing with toe and heel drag, switching is really a matter of safety and should be done as soon as possible. That said, you should still understand the differences between your these products before you get out on the hill.
Picking Out a Board
When you are trying to select your board, you will want to stand on a flat surface and strap yourself into the bindings. If you see that your toes and heels are not close to the edges, you will not be able to provide enough pressure on your edges when you are trying to turnHelmets'>helmet, right?). Ideally, your toes and heels should be flush with the edges or just a bit over.
The Differences
You may think that switching to a wide snowboard will be like night and day, but think again.
*It probably goes without saying that wide boards must accommodate people with bigger feet, and are therefore wider. It is important to note, however, that the width of the board will not affect the side cut.
*Many people believe that purchasing a wide snowboard means sacrificing the edge cut they are used to, but this is simply not true. The side cut you have on your regular board is exactly the same on a wider version.
*One difference that does exist is the stiffness. Because more material goes into the wider versions than the regular ones, they tend to be slightly harder, heavier, and less forgiving out on the slopes. If you are an advanced rider this shouldn't be problematic for you, as stiffness is necessary when moving at higher speeds.
Other than the width, weight and stiffness the make is basically the same, but these factors will play a part in the way you ride.
Riding Impact
Because of the changes in the make of a wide board, your experience on the slopes is slightly affectedsome find it to be better, some find it to be worse. For the most part, a larger width tends to make maneuvering slightly more difficult. Nonetheless, if you are dealing with overhang on your regular size right now, maneuvering is probably already an issue. The edge to edge response on wider snowboards also tends to be a little slower than it is on regular ones. On a more positive note, they are more stable at high speeds and float much better in powder and over the bumps than an average sized product.
You can always rent a demo before you buy to make sure that you feel comfortable riding with a little more width, but if your toes and heels are clearly hanging over the side, safety should be your primary concern.
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