YOUR AD HERE »

IVGID Tip: Choosing the right snowboard for Lake Tahoe’s slopes

Colten Dawson
Special to the Sun
A snowboarder catches air at Diamond Peak Ski Resort in Incline Village.
Courtesy Tom Zikas / Diamond Peak Ski Resort |

INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev. — Buying a new snowboard can be a bit overwhelming considering all of the different options that you have nowadays. There are different lengths and widths, different cambers and now even different side cuts.

So what is all of this technology and what difference does it make to you?

In terms of size, ultimately you want the snowboard to stand somewhere between the bottom of your chin and the tip of your nose, depending on your ability level and rider-type.



If you are just learning you should think about getting a longer snowboard in order to increase your stability and if you are intermediate then you might consider a shorter board for easier maneuverability.

Now, the width of a snowboard comes in two sizes, either a standard width or a “wide” width. The wide width is for the rider with a bigger foot and helps to reduce any heel or toe drag off the side of the board. Having the correct size snowboard, especially when first learning, will make a huge difference.



Then, there’s “camber.” The original camber is simply called positive camber, where the base of the snowboard is raised upward in between your feet emphasizing your board’s contact points and allowing for easier edging.

Reverse camber, or rocker, is when the base of the board is curved downward between your feet, raising your contact points and making for a more forgiving ride.

These are the two most common cambers; however, there are more than 170 different camber combinations out now so do a little research to see what brand and camber combination will work best for your ability and rider-type.

Visit our rental shop at Diamond Peak Ski Resort to demo different brands including Lib Tech and GNU. Our standard rentals are the Burton LTR (Learn to Ride) boards which are perfect for beginners due to their flexibility and forgiveness.

So don’t let the daunting task of purchasing a new snowboard stress you out. Just remember some of these tips when the time comes and you’ll be riding your new board in no time!

Colten Dawson works for Diamond Peak Ski Resort. Visit DiamondPeak.com or call 775-832-1177 for information.


Support Local Journalism

 

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Lake Tahoe, Truckee, and beyond make the Sierra Sun's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.