This is the first in a series of articles where we will introduce beginning snowboarders to the different types of snowboarding equipment that is available. There are basically three different types of snowboards: Freestyle boards, freeride boards, and alpine or carving boards. The type of board you ride should correspond to the type of riding that you like to do. Drawing Courtesy Dan Graf Freestyle boards are typically used for riding the pipe or in the park. Most freestyle boards are either twin tip boards or directional-twin boards. Twin tip boards have a centered stance with a tip and tail that are exact copies of each other. Directional-twin boards look like a regular twin tip board, but with a tail that is stiffer than the nose. Most freestyle boards tend to have a softer flex than freeride or alpine boards, which makes them handle better in the bumps and easier to turn. Freestyle boards are good beginner boards because they are easy to turn and their twin tip design makes it easy to ride both forward and fakie (backward).

Directional / Freeride Boards																														Freeride boards are good all-mountain boards that are designed to float well in powder. They have a directional shape, which means that the tip is different from the tail (the tail is usually more narrow, flatter, and shorter than the tip of the board). Freeride boards can also be ridden fakie, despite their directional shape. Also, the stance on freeride boards is usually offset toward the tail of the board. The flex of freeride boards is still fairly soft, yet stiffer than a freestyle board. Freeride boards are also a good board choice for a beginning snowboarder. Alpine or carving boards are typically used by snowboard racers. Alpine boards have a very narrow waist with a flat tail, and a stiff flex. Alpine boards are quick turning, and almost look like an enlarged ski. An alpine or carving board is not a board for a beginning snowboarder Freestyle boards, freeride boards, and alpine or carving boards are the three basic types of snowboards. Remember that the type of board you ride should correspond to the type of riding that you like to do, and that both freestyle and freeride boards are good board types for beginning snowboarders.