When deciding on your winter setup there are quite a few things to consider. In this blog I will go over the different types and profiles of solid snowboards that will be paired with bindings. Oftentimes, most people will choose a snowboard based on length alone, setting them up for failure, as that may have the smallest impact of anything on this list to how the board is actually going to ride for you. Stick with me to understand in-depth, how a board's tech and specs can impact the ride for you, helping you to truly narrow down your decision making process. In this first blog I will give you an easy to break down system for picking the right STYLE of snowboard you will be choosing from. Generally speaking you will be told that there are four styles of snowboards to choose from, those types being:Park, Powder, Freeride or All-Mountain. I’d like to try and dissolve this idea that you need something super specific to your goals of riding on the mountain, as most snowboards, as long as the specs actually fit your size and weight, you can usually do all of the above with any snowboard. Beyond that though, there are snowboards that will absolutely excel in certain areas over others. Lets jump into the four different styles real quick, as you have probably heard this information before, I won't go too far into depth. This will allow you to get into a better headspace of the style of board you want. Freestyle Boards are designed to be even when ridden in both directions, meaning that the feeling under your feet will always be the same even if you landed your trick switch. Another defining feature would be the softer flex that park boards generally have. Softer flex allows the rider to execute tail/nose presses and initiate a turn quicker. If you are planning to ride massive jumps on a freestyle board, you generally wouldn't want the flexier specs because it wont allow you to absorb as much impact in the instances you don’t land the jump perfectly. Most Freestyle oriented boards will still be fun and playful in the powder, although if you plan to ride steeper and more aggressive terrain, it is highly advisable to get a stiffer board that can help reduce the chop you are going to experience in these types of terrain. Also having a tail the same width and length as your nose will typically set you forward when landing in powder, reducing your ability to land evenly over both your feet when trying to land a trick.