When it comes to freeriding, it’s good to review a bit of snowboarding history!
The first snowboards were only used in fresh snow.
They had no attachments or edges, but only a non-slip material where you can rest your feet.
With the evolution of the sport, edges, bindings/boots and technological materials have arrived that have allowed riders to use snowboards even on the ski slopes and in the snowpark.
However, this has allowed us to maintain the soul and above all the philosophy for which snowboarding was born; In fact, the descent in fresh snow remains, always and still today, the desire and dream of every fan of this sport!
At this point it is important to make two clarifications.
The splitboard category, given the success it has enjoyed in recent years, is considered a category in its own right and deserves – today – a specific in-depth study that we will deal with in our next article “SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTORS’ TIP 6.9”.
The category of freeridesnowboards is very wide and often to choose the most suitable board it is necessary to consider these elements: terrain performance, flex, shape and blend/profile.
In the last “SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTORS’ TIP 6.9” we talked about these terms.
If you don’t know them or don’t remember, we invite you to take a look!
First, however, an important aside.
You can also go off-piste with a beginner/intermediate, freestyle or piste board.
If you have just started, with the help of an instructor, after a good snowfall, you can do an easy edge of the slope without having to change snowboards!
If you are an expert and want to do more… You should pay attention to two things!
The first is to consider the terrain, because it can often hide “pitfalls”.
The second is that if the edge of the piste is too easy for you and you are always looking for more challenging off-piste, you may need a more specific snowboard!
What is meant by “pitfall“?
Freeriding is not like the piste or the snowpark; it is an unbeaten terrain where you find no indications and where there are no signs indicating or signaling any dangers. The dangers are there and vary depending on whether there are stones, trees, roots, holes, sheets of ice, etc.
Also remember that to freeride it is mandatoryto have Arva, shoveland probe with you.
You have to know them and above all you have to avoid having to use them!
In freeriding, it is important to know how to assess and recognize dangers, avoid dangerous days or places and, on some occasions, to know how to give up tackling an off-piste.
A snowboard instructor specialized in freeride and a Mountain Guide can help you with this!
At this point a nice freeride board fits all in!
You can choose an All mountain or freeride also oriented to the piste so that you only have one board. Or a “pure” freeride but you will need to have a second board if you also like to do a bit of park, freestyle and slope.
In the first case, check that the terrain performance is distributed more on the freeride but that there is also some on the other categories you would like (track, freestyle, park).
Flex: Medium. Shape: directional or directional twin.
Bend/profile: camber is good for everything, rocker especially for freeride and park, flat for piste/freestyle/park and a bit of freeride.
With hybrid profiles, you can find even more situations!
If, on the other hand, you are oriented towards a “pure” board, the terrain performance must be all about freeriding.
Medium/stiff flex. Directional shape and bend/profile: camber, camber/rocker, flat/rocker are the most used.
Our tips can really help you.
Then there is one last aspect to consider: the budget you want/can spend. This is known to be a strictly personal aspect. In fact, everyone has their own, but it is advisable to fix it from the beginning to make the choice easier.
Also remember that, at the beginning of each winter season, many national and international companies that sell snowboard brands, or even just snowboard shops, organize events on the snow to let you try the equipment.
It is therefore very important to know and try the material so as to have a clearer idea of what you want to buy!
Know, try but also get advice and help! We, in this regard, will organize zoom evenings with our snowboard 6.9 instructors to talk about piste equipment, freestyle, freeride / splitboard!
We leave you here to fill out the formand let us know your preferences (one/two or all) and then receive by email the info related to your passions!
For more advice contact us or you could participate in our snowboard camps or lessons.
Master 6point9
Matteo Mentasti