According to a recent poll, women made up roughly 45 per cent of all snow sports participants aged six and above in 2017. Women made up 38 per cent of all snowboarders, 40 per cent of freestyle skiers, 44 per cent of cross-country skiers, and 44 per cent of alpine/downhill skiers when broken down by sport. According to these figures, women constitute the fastest-growing segment of the snow sports business. Between 2009 and 2017, actually, the number of women participating in snow sports climbed by 7.2 per cent to 4.7 million. So, have you been trying to figure out which women’s snowboards are best for you? If you spend your days on the mountainside riding the steeps or boarding in the snow park, this article will break down what to check for when looking for a new one to discover the right board.
What’s the point of a women’s-only snowboard?
Many outdoor gear makers have adopted a callous and unthinking approach to producing female-specific outdoor gear, reducing it to a smaller size, painting it pink, and slapping on some flowery designs, being about the extent of their efforts. Unsurprisingly, this has earned female-specific equipment — including snowboards — a terrible rap, as all of those pink and floral paint colours were frequently accompanied by an incomprehensible price hike. But, in recent years, this has changed. More and more companies are conducting extensive studies and launching genuinely wonderful features specifically made for women, taking into account the physiological and biomechanical differences between men and women while developing their gear.
Which board should you purchase?
Although many hybrids and boards blur the lines between categories, snowboards are generally divided into three categories: freestyle/park, all-mountain, and freeride. In an ideal world, you’d have one of each to choose the best board for the present conditions and terrain you’re about to ride. However, most people’s riding styles are unrealistic; therefore, it’s crucial to consider your riding style. Powder skiing may be your absolute favourite, and you adore the notion of a board that excels in the deep stuff. Still, if you only get to ski powder a few times a year and spend the rest of your time on the groomers — if you can only afford one board.
Freestyle/park
Riders who want to linger in the park – walls, rails, jumps, or flat ground — will enjoy freestyle boards. These boards are usually more flexible and shorter, allowing for a more enjoyable ride and greater control when jumping or jibbing. A twin or uneven twin shape is common on park boards, allowing you to land switch in style.
Freeride
Freeride boards are for people who want to carve groomers when the snow is fresh and ride powder when it isn’t. These boards are generally larger and have a stiffer flex than freestyle boards. For carving through hardpack and cutting through ice, freeride boards feature a sharper edge grip than other boards. However, to carve the groomers, this board style makes certain compromises when it comes to snowboarding powder; thus, it can’t compete with a specialised powder board in some of the deepest snow stashes.
All-mountain
Select an all-mountain board for the best of all worlds. An all-mountain board is designed to seamlessly transition between various conditions to switch from powder to park without blinking. This is the board for you if you want to hop between large groomers, tree runs, and park laps all in one day. For most people, an all-mountain board is advised as a starting point.
Hopefully, this has clarified any misunderstandings about the differences between men’s snowboards and women’s snowboards, the various types of snowboards available, and what to check for when buying a new snowboard. So, in this article, you learnt about how snowboards for women are different from men’s snowboards and also the types available.
