It can sometimes be confusing when you come to, for example, buy a Forum snowboard, whether it be in a real shop or online, you will encounter a few expressive terms and phrases about the boards that may be a little confusing. One of those words when talking about a attribute of a snowboard is flex.
Flex means how hard or easy it is to bend a snowboard when you try to do so along its length. You will find that some boards are stiffer than others and it takes more force which by and large means the board has a thicker core. Boards that are harder to flex by and large grip the snow better and are more firm. They impart better force on the surface of the snow.
Because of the superior grip and maneuverability they offer, racers and heavier riders will have a liking for stiffer boards.
On the other hand, softer-flexing boards are more suitable to lighter and less aggressive riders as well as the type of snowboarders who go out performing freestyle tricks. Boards that are softer flexing are made with thinner cores and are in general lighter.
A snowboard also has what is referred to as a flex pattern. It is actually talking about the level of flex that the snowboard is capable of at several points. A board may be stiff at the tip and soft at the heel or vice-versa. The pattern of the numerous flexes to the board is the flex pattern. The assorted types of materials used in the production of snowboards allows for a selection of flex patterns and accordingly the performance from one board to the next will also vary.
First you ought to work out what type of rider you are – non-aggressive or aggressive, light or heavy – and then the type of snowboarding you want to do – mountain freestyle or freeride. All of these factors will help you in choosing the type of flex that will suit you in your new snowboard.
There are a lot of snowboard makers in the industry so the task of buying a snowboard could be a difficult ordeal. Snowboards HQ looks at many of the makers out there as well as the range of snowboards accessible for sale.