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Snowboard

A snowboard is the main piece of equipment used in snowboarding. It is a board designed to be attached beneath the rider's feet with bindings, and ridden down dry ski slopes or snow-covered slopes. No ski poles are used.

Most snowboards are constructed of a wood core and laminated with fiberglass. The front of the board (the "nose" in snowboarder parlance) is upturned, to help the board glide over uneven snow; the back of the board may be equally upturned, less upturned, or relatively flat, depending on how much time the snowboarder plans to spend riding backwards. The base (the side of the board that touches the snow) is covered with a plastic called p-tex, which is typically sintered to help it absorb wax, which helps it slide faster. The edges of the base are fitted with a steel edge, just a couple millimeters square, which helps the board grab the snow when tipped up on edge. The top of the board typically sports graphics designed by board makers to attract riders to their boards. Snowboard topsheet graphics can be a highly personal statement and many riders spend many hours customizing the look of their boards.

Snowboard designs differ primarily in:

Bindings

Though bindings are not strictly part of the snowboard, they are necessary for its use. The bindings are affixed to the board, and the booted feet are then held in place in the bindings using a variety of systems. Behind the heel and up the calf area is a stiff molded support called a "highback." This allows the rider to lean back and effect a "heelside" turn. Unlike ski bindings, snowboard bindings do not release. There are several types of bindings: