Snowboarding technology keeps evolving, and it seems as though lately it has reached new levels. Matt Hauke, terrain park manager at Arapahoe Basin was recently spotlighted in a New York Times article for testing out what are known as hybrid boards, or “alternative camber” boards.

So what are they talking about?

Basically a ”traditional” camber is a mellow convex rise from the contact points of the tip and tail inward–curving at the midpoint. This downward pressure at the endpoints causes lively turns and provides continuous edge contact with the snow (which is good if you are just beginning).

This eventually gave way to the “reverse” camber (also known as a “rocker”) A reverse camber is where there the center of the board has a subtle concave plain and the two contact points curve upward, a side-view resembles the shape of a banana. Essentially it’s the opposite of  the traditional camber. The design is said to reduce pressure at the contact points by bringing the pressure inward and closer to your feet, helping with powder runs and nose/tail presses (good if you are more experienced).

There is also a “flat” camber board that is exactly how it sounds–flat. A board with flat camber will lay on top of a level surface and distribute pressure on snow in a neutral fashion. Some brands claim this creates a “loose” and “catch-free” ride similar to reverse camber while remaining relatively more stable and predictable.

So what exactly is a “hybrid board”? Well it is what happens when a number of companies combine camber, reverse camber and flat camber boards to create “[The] best of both worlds,” the New York Times quotes Liam Gallagher, author of a book about learning to snowboard, “You’ve got rocker [reverse-camber] to help you get through deeper snow and give you more float. The camber helps on groomers and high speed.”

So, what are you riding?

(You can find the entire NYT article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/fashion/28physical.html)

The best way to make sure that you can get the most riding out of your ski and snow gear is to routinely tune your board and skis. All basic snowboard maintenance, repair and tuning can be done at home with the right tools and some practice, however if your board has taken serious damage like deep gouges in your base, or if you have no experience tuning your own board or skis, you’re better off leaving the repair to the professionals.

You can always bring your board or skis into Outpost Sunsport (24 hour turn around service available) for tuning and repairs.
Our Rates:
Silver Tune
(Inclues ceramic side edge and machine wax.)   $19.50

Gold Tune
(Includes micro-finish belt grind, ceramic side edge and machine wax.) $29

Platinum Tune
(Includes belt grind, stone grind, minor base damage repair, and machine wax.)                $43

**Check our site for individual rates. http://outpostsunsport.com/tuneupandrepair.php

Riders, here are a couple of things to remember about your skis/board:
The base of your Snowboard should be totally flat. If your edges are higher than your base, then your base is convex. If the edges of your board are lower than your base, then your base is concave. You can easily check the rounding of your base by placing a ruler or flat object against your snowboard and checking if there’s light coming through the front view of your base. If your base is not flat then it needs to be ground, this should always be left to the professionals because done wrong it can seriously ruin your board.

Keep your edges sharp. Snowboard/skis with sharp edges will help you in turns and will improve your general grip and edge control in different textures and consistencies of snow. As you ride the edges will start to wear and become dull and burred. Maintenance on your edges is easy as long as you do it on a regular basis and keep your board from getting in too bad of shape.

Wax your skis/board regularly.
Wax makes it easier for your board or skis to glide over the snow. In addition to improving performance, waxing protects your base from damage caused by use as well as by moisture, UV rays, and dirt. It is definitely worth it to wax before you ride. There are several different ways to wax your snowboard, however if you have never done it before I recommend bringing it in- (Silver Tune includes a wax for under $20).