Participants of the top model in Russian after the project. Maria Lesovaya - winner of the show "Top Model in Russian": biography, personal life

Like transistor radios and pocket watches, skis have their place in history, and, like any other phenomenon, fade into oblivion. Today the slopes are filled with snowboarders and their extreme, reckless lifestyle. A sport like snowboarding is growing in popularity every year of the new millennium, so there are more and more options and opportunities for descent. All-Mountain, Freestyle, Park and other snowboards today have a huge number of variations, and sometimes you come across such wild hybrids that you are amazed.

We tried to find the absolute cream of the crop, the best of the best in the world of snowboarding for those who cannot imagine life without descents from hills and snow-capped mountains. Naturally, each of the models presented has many options depending on your style, so you won't have a hard time finding something you like. On that note, we present to you 5 best snowboards.

Never Summer Prospector – in stock

Pros: lightweight
Cons: quite hard
A good backcountry snowboard is an investment in peace of mind. Prospector- this is a handsome man who walks through the snow like clockwork, is very easy to maintain balance on, and on top of that, he is able to conquer most rural bumpy paths. It has quite a nice appearance with a flared curved design. It works especially well when you go into touring mode, where the snowboard acts almost like a pair of snowshoes in that it keeps you grounded in the snow and gives you better traction on steep climbs. When you're racing down the slopes, the rubber damping system dampens vibrations, while the special shape helps the rear end sink into the snow and keep the snowboarder on the surface. The rigid design is great for climbing and gaining speed, but you won’t be able to ride with it in the park. It performs well on extreme turns.

Price: 47,000 rub.

Arbor Westmark - for beginners

Pros: Opportunities for growth
Cons: not suitable for high speed enthusiasts
A snowboard for beginners is something that is always difficult to choose, because you don’t know what success you will be able to achieve. Do you want to become the best backcountry snowboarder, plan on tearing through the trees, or do you see your destiny as seeking glory on the local park and halfpipes? Whatever you choose, Westmark Either way, it's worth spending the money on. The smooth, curved shape gives more curved edges, which in turn allows you to control the board without being too aggressive (no complicated training required to learn how to use it). The body is more balanced compared to most of its counterparts. True, you won’t be able to ride at high speeds, since the vibration is incredible (unless you’re a fan of aggressive descents). Works great in any terrain, from snowy hills to rails.

Price: 18,600 rub.

Völkl Coal BX Race – fan of speed

Pros: fast
Cons: works well only on good tracks
Not many manufacturers still make alpine snowboards these days. Since 1999, Burton has been one of the leaders in the production of such boards, moreover, it still has not given up its position and is the manufacturer of the best snow boards that can be found on the market. Völkl still makes racing style boards so that on this day and at this hour you can be the king of the slopes. BX Race is designed for one purpose - speed. What does it have to do with speed capital letters. This breathtaking weapon has a great shape that will allow you to enjoy a smooth, fast ride, while at the same time providing maximum control. Don't even think about trying to ride this snowboard. It is based on wood, which gives the snowboard rigidity (which is very typical for a racing board). The body is thin but balanced, and there is a system to reduce vibration. All-mountain riders and freecarvers may not like it because it's built like a Ferrari - it can also be ridden on straight sections and groomed slopes. Before you get on this snowboard, be sure to get a helmet, because the speed will be literally crazy.

Price: 45,000 rub.

Burton Name Dropper - a pipe dream

Pros: Equally good when riding in different conditions
Cons: it feels like the snowboard is only made for tricks
Made especially for freestylers, Name Dropper- This beautiful creation, which will help you perform even the most difficult tricks with ease. It has great flexibility, which allows you to make excellent jumps; it will be convenient to ride on such a snowboard both in the most ordinary park and in places with unusual terrain. The special curved shape allows for a stable and lively ride, which at the same time prevents the board from accelerating to stunning speeds. The main feature of the Name Dropper is its asymmetrical Filet-O-Flex technology, where the main profile at the front is paper thin (which, by the way, does not compromise performance or endurance levels). It feels like the snowboard was created exclusively for tricks, but in principle you can just ride it.

Price: 19,700 rub.

Nitro Blacklight Gullwing – versatility, versatility and more versatility

Pros: very versatile
Cons: does not have a narrow specialization
If you are looking for a board that will allow you to conquer all the mountains and plains, then this is just the one for you. It certainly won't be able to meet all your every need in different conditions, but at the same time you won't have to sit on the lift and whine about how there's too much snow on the slope and you're falling through, or the slope is too uneven. The special curved shape works well when you have to ride in deep snow, and it will also help you gain good speed. Nitro inherited it from its “big brothers”, along with the so-called power modules located directly under the feet and designed to soften the blow. The snowboard also boasts good level control when cornering, even when performing difficult tricks. The Nitro Blacklight Gullwing is one of the few boards that can offer so many features and appeal to almost everyone. The price is pretty good, especially if you don’t want to buy several snowboards for different conditions.

Price: 30,600 rub.

Naturally, in an attempt to create the ideal, board manufacturers are constantly working on equipment and their models. We invite you to get acquainted with the market representatives who contributed to modern form boards make the biggest contribution and offer excellent equipment.

Burton snowboards

Initially, it is important to consider that before purchasing a board you need to pay attention to your riding style. Depending on the specifics of skating and variations of the sport, several classes of boards are distinguished. “Burton” presents precisely the models, each of which combines best characteristics for the selected style. Additionally, equipment designs showcase options for riders of all ages.

For freestyle and park, the brand produces excellent “twin” and “directional” shapes. In this case, symmetry is preserved, as well as increased rigidity of the nose/tail. To meet the needs of fans of a variety of racing locations, a range of directional boards and softer noses are available. By the way, in our rental of snowboards, boards of this brand are the predominant quantity.

This season the brand is also showing a model range of boards with several deflection options. There are also flats with zero degree of arc, that is, flat, suitable for intermediate-level athletes. Classic options It is important to use for high-speed driving or jibbing, these are universal designs. Maneuverability on freshly fallen snow and high degree Hybrid deflections demonstrate stability on rolled surfaces.

Burton's main bet this season was on sandwiches, that is, structures made of several layers. The advantage of this arrangement is ease of repair and the ability to cope with significant loads. The core is created from solid wood, it is covered with plastic on two planes, and a composite is applied from the resulting ends. Most often, fiberglass is used for outer layers, which can withstand mechanical stress.

It is worth emphasizing that the core itself is multicomponent. Due to the complex design in several sections, it is possible to combine the complex positive features two or more breeds. A system is created from several elements that are located in certain parts of the plane. This achieves power and rigidity, and also reduces the weight of the entire structure.

This season's advanced models of the brand most often have sintered sliding surfaces. The basis is polyethylene in granules, which obtains a porous structure with high rigidity. It should be treated with special lubricants to improve the parameters of the equipment. Stamped structures, which are produced using polyethylene in a molten state, can eliminate processing before races.

Among the innovative systems, we highlight Carbon-i-Beam, which is used for expensive models. It implies the use of a carbon fiber rod, which combines high strength and minimal weight. It is mounted along the board, which allows you to increase rigidity, set deflection and reduce weight.

As for the pricing policy, then the company demonstrates a flexible view and a range from 6-7 thousand for budgets and more than 50 thousand for professionals.

The weak side of the brand can be called the prohibitive price tags for some models. There are offers priced at over 110 thousand! This situation is often called unfair, since there are a number of more affordable alternatives.

+ Pros:

- at prices you can find the best option for any wallet;

- there are models for any riding style.

- Minuses:

- the price tags of some models are too high compared to alternatives;

- the narrow specialization of a number of products will not allow them to be used in a variety of conditions; it will be necessary to create several models to suit all conditions;

- the simplest options have average qualities that will not allow you to achieve high results in professional skating.

Solomon boards

Among professional athletes, you can most often find fans of the Solomon brand. Many publications in the sports world believe that this is the leader among equipment suppliers. The company has come especially far in the field of design and innovation in recent years.

Brand engineers have been searching for a long time perfect shape and equipment design. Thanks to this, a number of models have appeared, each of which demonstrates high load resistance, optimal characteristics for style and an interesting design execution.

By using sandwich technology when creating cores and the surfaces themselves, it is possible to combine handling, control, minimal weight and strength characteristics.

At the same time, the brand is constantly improving its methods, which is largely due to the large number of engineers and experience. The company is constantly expanding, which allows it to combine the knowledge and technologies of many brands.

But there is also a weak side. The fact is that the brand began producing boards not so long ago, and therefore is inferior in a number of indicators to market representatives who are focused specifically on development of this class equipment. The lack of sufficient experience of engineers is partly compensated by the large number of acquired companies that were engaged in the production of boards.

Thanks to modern equipment of production facilities, it is possible to automate processes to a large extent and optimize them. This fact makes it possible to seriously reduce the cost of boards, for example, budget Solomon models cost about six thousand, and premium ones - in the range of 30-40.

+Pros:

- a famous brand is a plus in the athlete’s style collection;

- wide range of prices;

- more economical in comparison with many analogues.

- Minuses:

- sandwiches are quite heavy, although this parameter increases due to increased strength;

- some market representatives have extensive experience, which is noticeable when driving professionally;

- During storage, optimal conditions must be strictly observed.

The best GNU boards

The headquarters of the GNU brand is located between the United States and Canada. The first board was created under the brand in 1977, the author of which was Mike Olson. He perfected his brainchild for seven years until he graduated from college and created small company. At that time, they began producing a carving model together with a friend, which became the best-selling type of board at that time.

The main difference between the models of that period that were created in Mike's workshop is the absence of external radii. Further development Their methods were to give the profile internal deflections. The technologies invented in this way made it possible to expand the capabilities of riders and interest many young athletes.

When developing new models, the company's heads are guided by the opinions of famous riders. Many competition champions have taken part in creating the brand's best boards, like Mark Lendvik or Travis Rice.

Brand products are handmade, which is produced by experts and athletes. The fact is that outside the factory gates there are lovers and masters of snowboarding, since the love of skiing is prerequisite for hiring. Naturally, this allows you to create masterpieces, but you have to pay for them, for example, The simplest boards will cost 20-25 thousand rubles and more, up to 60-70 for professional boards.

Price tags are considered the main problem of the brand; handmade work is very expensive. For this reason, not every rider, even if they want, can afford to ride models of the brand. As for the budget class of products, if most manufacturers create a collection of this class, then GNU practically do not have such boards in their assortment.

+Pros:

- riders make equipment for riders;

- attraction large number world-famous athletes;

- narrow specialization, which invariably affects capabilities and quality.

-Minuses:

- price, very expensive in comparison with analogues;

- a minimal selection of budget models that are suitable for beginner athletes;

- require careful care in order to serve as long as possible and show their potential on the slope.

Finally, let's look at Mervin and Arbor

In general, it is worth noting that modern manufacturers are actively working on cutouts. The revolutionary invention has become the most important piece of equipment these days and is constantly being worked on. If at one time they selected radii, now we are talking about microscopic factors that affect the behavior of the board. Therefore, the structure of the material, the shape of the edges and their design are analyzed. The companies that were especially successful in this were Burton, Mervin and Arbor. Most often, the bends are directed inward, and sometimes the ends of the board spread out significantly in width.

Serious work was carried out by Mervin experts, which led to the creation of Magne-Traction technology. In essence, it involves applying a special pattern to the surface of the slide. The technology is vaguely reminiscent of plane milling, with the only difference being that the result is almost impossible to see with the naked eye. It is aimed at interacting with the surface of the slope, in particular gaining speed and holding on ice and dense snow. Thanks to special processing, the plane acquires a number of notches that increase the number of contact points. Many brands simply acquired a license to produce analogues using the brand method, and some also modified the methodology.

Arbor, unlike competing companies, has created its own version of the technology, Grip Tech. The design is a three-radius cutout, that is, several arcs are made on the sides of the board. This geometry not only increases the number of contact points, but positions them so that they are in optimal locations. IN in this case the position of the points are embeds.

Burton proposed a technique more reminiscent of the previous option, since it allows you not to lose speed in turns. The differences in the radii of the arcs in this case are minimal; they are literally difficult to notice with the naked eye on some models.

It should be noted that analogues of the methodology are used by almost all market representatives. Snowboards are becoming more and more technologically advanced, despite their apparent simplicity. Naturally, this also affects the availability of equipment, for example, Arbor's price range fits into 15-50 thousand rubles, and Mervin's starts at 6-7 and ends at 50.

It is worth considering negative side high technology. Firstly, models with such slides tolerate injuries very poorly and the slightest chips or damage to the plane can seriously worsen performance on the slope. At the same time, repairing boards is much more difficult and expensive.

+Pros:

- brands offer affordable boards that riders of any income can afford;

- advanced solutions are used that allow you to fully utilize your boards and skills on the slope;

- exists wide choose highly specialized and universal models.

- Minuses:

- the complex structure of the coating requires careful maintenance;

- damage can seriously affect the behavior of the board on the slope;

- repairs, if necessary, are quite complex and expensive, not every service can implement.

Be sure to check out what's new this season before you hit the slopes! And in order to personally try some brands, come to our snowboard rental , we have almost all brands represented with many various models and sizes!

Snowboarding is one of the most cool views sports on the planet. However, like any other sport, it requires quality equipment if you want to get the maximum dose of adrenaline without sacrificing your own safety.

The most the best models Snowboards are considered to be those that have passed the annual Good Wood test from the authoritative publication Transworld. This year, the magazine's experts tested the best men's and women's options snowboards. And we have organized them into categories to make it easier for you to make a choice.

We present to you the best snowboards of 2018-2019. The rating is aimed at different levels abilities and different kinds snowboarding.

1. Dinosaurs Will Die MAET

average price— 16,900 rubles.
Deflection—Lowrider Camber
Rigidity — 3/10
Rostovki— 148 — 158cm
Waist Width— 25.2-26 cm

The best men's board for the winter season 2018-2019 carries the true spirit of the DWD company, which produces fun and at the same time high-quality models, without resorting to aggressive advertising and sensitively listening to testers of each size.

This snowboard features a mid-wide waist, a symmetrical True Twin construction and an extruded base.

Thanks to its stability at speeds and predictable behavior, DWD MAET can be called the ideal choice for the rider who prefers riding in a large snow park or on one of them.

2.Stepchild Latchkey

average price— 11,544 rubles
Deflection— Camber Between Feet; Flat Contact Points
Rigidity — 6/10
Rostovki— 148 — 159cm
Waist Width— 24.6-25.2 cm

This snowboard with a sintered base requires careful maintenance, but will give you unrivaled gliding quality.

“I loved the simplicity of this board,” said one Good Wood tester. “It’s basic, but not fluffy – that’s what snowboarding should be.”

A special feature of the product is carbon streamers, which improve torsional rigidity and increase the durability of the flexible profile. Thanks to its rigidity, the Stepchild Latchkey is suitable for a snowboarder who prefers to move at high speeds, but also does not forget about jumps.

And the discreet colors and low price make this model a good gift for the New Year for a professional freestyler.

3. GNU Headspace

average price— 31,000 rubles.
Deflection— C3 Camber
Rigidity — 4/10
Rostovki— 149 — 158cm
Waist Width— 25-25.5 cm

Testers compared the feeling of this snowboard with an extruded base to driving a beautiful car. You meditate and tell yourself, “This is exactly how I want snowboarding to feel.”

The asymmetrical shape of the GNU Headspace, coupled with sufficient softness and a noticeably pronounced camber along the entire board, ensures stability both when moving quickly in a straight line and when cornering. At the same time, the snowboard performs well in deep snow.

The only difficulty that testers reported was the need to part with GNU Headspace.

Also included in this top are the following models:

• YES. Greats UnInc.
• CAPiTA Defenders of Awesome.
• SIMS Juice.
• Academy Propacamba
• Interior Plain Project Harrow
• Lib Tech Box Knife
• Signal Super Park Series
• DC 156
• Public General Public
• Burton Free Thinker
• Salomon Assassin

The Best Women's Snowboards for the Park 2019

1. Salomon Gypsy Classics by Desiree

average price— 39990 rubles.
Deflection- Rock Out Camber
Rigidity — 5/10
Rostovki— 138 — 151cm
Waist Width— 23.8-24.7 cm

The best women's snowboard of the 2018-2019 season. was created in collaboration with the famous snowboarder Melancon Desiree, hence its name. It features a sintered base and a fully ambidextrous True Twin design that allows you to ride either rack or switch.

Thanks to the Quadralizer sidecut, the board turns smoothly even in difficult areas. It provides fast acceleration and a soft landing. None of Transworld's experts could find a flaw in Gypsy Classics.

2. Burton Rewind

average price— 40,538 rubles.
Deflection— Pure Pop Camber
Rigidity — 6/10
Rostovki— 141 — 152cm
Waist Width— 23.7-24.5 cm

This True Twin shaped model will appeal not only to cat lovers, but also to those who need a responsive and well-handling snowboard. The Burton Rewind is suitable for both freestyle and powder riding, giving guys a head start. Thanks to the increased edge area under the bindings, the snowboard can be controlled predictably on icy slopes.

Overall, the Burton Rewind earned praise from testers for its comfort and stability. The only drawback that can be noted is its harshness.

3. Arbor Cadence Rocker

average price— 41,280 rubles.
Deflection—System Rocker
Rigidity — 5/10
Rostovki— 139 — 155cm
Waist Width— 23.15-23.95 cm

The experts ranked the Cadence Rocker as the softest women's snowboard they tested this time around. This fully ambidextrous model has excellent balance, is fast, flexible and durable. Four Grip-Tech contact lugs facilitate rotation and promote maximum stability.

However, the Cadence Rocker lacks versatility, it is an excellent snow park board and don't ask for more from it.

The best women's snowboards also included:

• CAPiTA Space Metal Fantasy.
• Dinosaurs Will Die Bogart.
• Signal Ambient.
• K2 Lime Lite.
• Never Summer Shaper Twin

The best snowboards 2019 in terms of price/quality ratio

1. Dinosaurs Will Die MAET

average price— 16,900 rubles.
Deflection—Lowrider Camber
Rigidity — 3/10
Rostovki— 148 — 158cm
Waist Width— 25.2-26 cm

Look at most of the representatives of the ranking of the best snowboards for snow parks 2018-2019. and you will understand why the MAET model was in first place in terms of price and quality ratio.

Good reviews of the Canadian brand’s products indicate that “dinosaurs” are great for both beginners and experienced riders. They may look a little childish due to the funny prints and small size, but they can easily withstand 2-3 seasons and are popular with athletes from all over the world.

2. K2 Broadcast

average price— 38,640 rubles.
Deflection- Directional Camber Baseline
Rigidity — 6/10
Rostovki— 153 — 163cm
Waist Width— 24.6-26.6 cm

Second place in the top 3 best snowboards in terms of price and quality went to the universal male model with sintered base. It is equally good on soft snow as on pistes and jumps.

This is a newcomer to the K2 line, but its flexibility, excellent quality materials and thoughtful design are precisely the qualities that make the American company's products one of the best on the snowboard market.

3. Arbor Cadence Rocker

average price— 41,280 rubles.
Deflection—System Rocker
Rigidity — 5/10
Rostovki— 139 — 155cm
Waist Width— 23.15-23.95 cm

This is the best female model snowboard for snow parks in terms of cost and capabilities. Its rocker camber allows you to make confident landings and spectacular takeoffs, and gives good control at speeds. And the poplar core gives the board responsiveness for two or more seasons.

4. GNU Klassy

average price— 35,990 rubles.
Deflection— C2X
Rigidity — 5/10
Rostovki— 145 — 155cm
Waist Width— 23.9-24.7 cm

And this is the best women's universal snowboard model in terms of cost and quality for the 2018-2019 season.

Experts found the GNU Klassy, ​​with its smooth ride, ideal for riding in fresh powder. On the line of lateral radii, the snowboard designers placed seven smooth protrusions. They are most noticeable in the area of ​​the fastenings, where the center of gravity is located. This gives the board owner more control and power where she needs it most.

Stylish design, classic shape with long nose, special shape flex, aggressive riding and agility make the GNU Klassy the preferred choice for snowboarders craving fun and adrenaline.

The following also passed the Good Wood price-quality test:

• Endeavor B.O.D.
• CAPiTA Birds of a Feather.

The Best All-Purpose Men's Snowboards of 2019

1. GNU Müllair

average price— 41,990 rubles.
Deflection— C3 Camber
Rigidity — 7/10
Rostovki— 155 — 164Wcm
Waist Width— 24.8-26.5 cm

It was very difficult for the experts to find any flaw in this board. It has a lightweight and incredibly dense core made from aspen and Columbian Gold (a very resilient wood), a sintered base glide, and camber that provides speed and stability in deep snow.

However, don't think that the GNU Müllair is a "single-tasking" snowboard. It is equally well suited for digging deep trenches in the first spring slush and for casual freestyle in the snow park. The board is stable when cornering and downhill, and will be the best friend of a professional who knows what he wants from a snowboard.

2. Salomon Speedway

average price— 41990 rubles.
Deflection—Backseat Camber
Rigidity — 9/10
Rostovki— 155 — 170cm
Waist Width— 24.9-26 cm

We can safely say about this board: “The more, the better.” While many snowboards tend to go shorter distances, the Speedway will go further than you'd normally expect.

Featuring an ultra-light core, long nose and directional tapered shape, this snowboard excels in high-speed turns. One tester called it a "very firm and stable ride."

3. Jones Ultra Mountain Twin

average price— 47,500 rubles.
Deflection- CamRock
Rigidity — 8/10
Rostovki— 154 — 164Wcm
Waist Width— 25-26.2 cm

This elegant snowboard with a sintered base is designed for lovers of fast and aggressive riding. Carbon fiber stringers provide extreme torsional rigidity, allowing the board to be used on hard slopes.

The rocker on the tip and tail of the snowboard provides a smooth feel, while the camber underfoot gives you control and stability for tricks and fast riding.

“I found this to be the perfect rest board for most guys,” said one tester. “It tears up the whole mountain and is definitely park-friendly—even for rail riding.”

The manufacturer rates this board an 8 out of 10 for firmness, which means it may take you a while to tame this restless beast.

• Hightide MFG Grease Gun.
• Weston Range.
• Burton Skeleton Key.
• K2 Broadcast.
• SIMS Kidwell RT2.
• Endeavor B.O.D.
• Dinosaurs Will Die Kwon.
• Nitro Squash.
• CAPiTA Kazu Kokubo Pro.
• Lib Tech T. Rice Orca.
• RIDE MTNPIG.

The best all-around women's snowboards of 2019

1. Burton Feelgood

average price— 49,550 rubles.
Deflection—Camber
Rigidity — 6/10
Rostovki— 142 — 152cm
Waist Width— 23.8-24.4 cm

Designed to solve any snowboarding problem, the legendary Feelgood is back as the ultimate all-around women's snowboard.

Among its main advantages: classic deflection, allowing complete control of the board even at high speeds, directional geometry with a long nose for stable performance on the trail and a core made from a combination of soft and hard woods that give it flexibility without sacrificing strength.

Burton Feelgood is suitable for any type of riding, and is the best choice for experienced and beginner snowboarders.

2. GNU Klassy

average price— 35,990 rubles.
Deflection— C2X
Rigidity — 5/10
Rostovki— 145 — 155cm
Waist Width— 23.9-24.7 cm

A good universal women's snowboard has already won an award in the category “best in price and quality in 2018-2019.” And it’s not surprising, because it is manufactured by Mervin Manufacturing, which has professional riders who understand what the right board should be. All GNU Klassy models are made by hand.

This snowboard's directional shape ensures it will keep your nose above the snow no matter how deep it is, and the GNU Magnetraction edges allow you to respond instantly to hard surfaces and fast turns.

3. RIDE Hellcat

average price- 35,000 rubles.
Deflection- Directional Hybrid Camber
Rigidity — 7/10
Rostovki— 143 — 154cm
Waist Width— 24-24.8 cm

This beautiful board, made in black and red tones, can be ridden both on a prepared track and in the forest. It is created for ladies who are not afraid of extreme speed.

Testers chose the RIDE Hellcat for its fast performance and durable sintered base, but admitted it was too stiff for new riders.

Experts also included in the top universal snowboards for women:

• Lib Tech Cold Brew.
• Salomon Pillow Talk.
• Rome Winterland.
• YES. Hel yes.
• CAPiTA Birds of a Feather.

The main factors when choosing a snowboard

The two most important factors to consider when purchasing a snowboard are your skill level and your preferred type of riding.

There are three types of snowboarding - universal, freestyle and freeride.

First suitable for those who want to experience everything the mountain has to offer - from simple descents to simple tricks. An excellent choice for beginners who have not yet decided on their favorite style.

Freestyle- this is the choice of people with good athletic training. Jumping, tricks, grabbing a snowboard while jumping, a sea of ​​adrenaline - it's all about freestyle. What you need here is a board that is flexible and soft enough to withstand the impact of landings.

Freeride- skiing on soft snow (“powder”) on mountain slopes, usually far from busy routes. This requires tough and long board with a curved nose that will not stick in the snow and will glide along it smoothly.

Snowboard length and width

The length of a universal snowboard is 15 centimeters shorter than your height. The length of the freestyle board is 8-10 centimeters shorter than your height. And the length of a freeride snowboard is 10 centimeters shorter than your height. But it is also important to consider weight. If your bone is wide, this is plus 5 centimeters to the length of the board. If you weigh little, remove an additional 5 centimeters from the length.

On the websites of many snowboard manufacturers there are tables from which you can find out what length of board you should choose according to your height and weight.

As for the preferred snowboard width, it depends on the size of your feet. If you have a small foot, then models with a narrow waist are suitable - from 250 to 260mm and a hem width of up to 300mm.

And if you wear size 44 or 45 shoes, choose wide snowboards - with a waist of 260mm and a brim width of 300mm.

Summing up

If you are new to snowboarding, you may want a short, all-around sports equipment that has a thin waist (the narrowest point of the board) and is soft enough. Hard boards mercilessly punish any mistakes and careless movements.

Advanced riders Those who need stability at freeride speed prefer hard and long boards.

Some experienced snowboarders(for example, those who enjoy jumping and tricks) will prefer a softer, shorter board that is easier to manipulate. You can stand on this one either facing forward or backwards.

Despite the fact that most snowboarders in our country prefer equipment from well-known foreign brands, the Russian snowboard market has existed for more than 20 years. What is he?

New technologies increase the cost of good snowboard equipment every season. In Russia, the jump in exchange rates also provoked an increase in prices for boards, boots and bindings. It is possible that this is the only chance for domestic producers to successfully enter the market, where everyone was fine without them. They started producing snowboards in Russia in the early 90s; quite a lot of domestic brands were introduced to the market - Gromel, Primus, Double Black and other board manufacturers were copying foreign brands, but never entered mass production. In the early 2000s, thanks to their low cost, snowboards from two Russian companies became widespread: BlackFire and Atom. Experienced riders usually say that they are bought by beginners who have little understanding of technology and have never even heard of it. “The main motivation for releasing the first snowboards was the desire to make quality equipment at an affordable price,” BlackFire disagrees.

The company first produced snowboards in Austria, then moved to China and Taiwan. The first batches were no more than 1000 boards. In the best years, they made 10,000-12,000 snowboards. They sold only in bulk. In retail, BlackFire snowboards cost up to 9,000 to 18,000 rubles. In addition to snowboards, the company also produced bindings and boots, also placing contract orders under its brand in Chinese factories.

“The technology for producing snowboards is not that complicated,” says BlackFire. - The manufacturer at the factory has a fixed set of molds - templates. Minced meat and filling are added to any template. There are a couple of dozen options to choose from. You just need to have experience in snowboarding to figure out what combination will “go”, and then put a design on it.” Theoretically, you can make your own template, it costs €6,000-8,000. BlackFire did not create its own template and worked in the low-cost segment, and could not afford the extra costs.

When BlackFire needed more money to develop, the company began collaborating with the Kant chain of stores popular among riders. The joint snowboard company has existed for almost 10 years, but is likely to close this year. “There have never been any losses in any year,” explains a BlackFire representative. “But after the dollar rose, income became less and we do not see the need to continue the business.” Large chains also have their own brands of snowboards - Sportmaster and Trialsport. They are sold in the 10,000 - 20,000 rubles segment.

China - the birthplace of snowboards

Prices for Joint snowboards range from 12,000 to 26,000 rubles. This is cheaper than popular foreign snowboards like Burton, but more expensive than other Russian snowboards. The owners of Joint claim that the quality is not inferior to foreign brands. Snowboards are sold mainly wholesale to sports stores and boardshops. It also has its own online store. Investments in the business amount to 15 million rubles. The founders of Joint are not ready to disclose sales volumes, but they talk about annual production growth of an average of 30%. “It’s difficult to calculate our real market share, since according to customs data, not all snowboards are imported into Russia legally,” explains Anastasia Grineva, co-owner and development director of Joint. - According to our calculations, we occupy no more than 2% of the total market share. But the company is profitable. Otherwise we wouldn’t be doing this.”

To promote the Joint brand, the Grinevs hold annual competitions in Russian cities, support snowboard camps, sponsor professional riders, make films about snowboarding and travel with their premieres. Having your own team of riders is the global practice of many snowboard manufacturers.

It is possible to produce snowboards with financial, organizational and human resources, market participants believe. But if in China it is more or less clear and predictable with prices, quality and deadlines, then in Russia it is quite difficult to create a stable production facility with acceptable quality and a reasonable price. “In my opinion, the main problem in Russia is the lack of a work culture,” complains Yuri Rudchik, managing partner of PRIME Snowboards. - When you come to China to visit factories, you find yourself in a parallel universe: everything goes as it should. Factories and machines are not working at random, clean, tidy, normal work process.”

Most of Rudchik and his partner Alexander Chizhov's snowboard production is located in China. But there is a small production facility in Moscow at the DAR Research Institute. All four engineers and technologists are snowboarders. The partners spent 3 million rubles on equipment. The share of manual labor here is still large. Wood, fiberglass, glue, carbon and consumables are purchased in Russia. Everything else is in Germany, France, China. " The main problem was to prove that in Russia it is possible to produce snowboards that are not inferior in quality to foreign ones, says Yuri Rudchik. - At first, I took the board myself, participated in competitions, took videos and photos proving that you can ride cool on our snowboards. It worked."

TRSnow and Prime Snowboards snowboards are presented in 65 stores in 30 cities in Russia, as well as in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Australia and New Zealand. There is a service for making custom snowboards with your own design. The price range of boards at retail is from 12,000 to 22,000 rubles. The company’s partners also designate their share of the Russian market as “no more than 2%.” Behind winter season In 2016/2017, the company's turnover reached 25 million rubles, 1,900 snowboards were sold. Annual growth is 35-40%. A year ago, Rudchik launched a collection of bindings and boots, again in Chinese factories. To completely switch to production in Russia, partners need to purchase more machines and equipment. Rudchik is looking for an investor.

Craft snowboards

It will be difficult for a Russian product to enter international markets, snowboarders believe. Therefore, the option to enter the market is collaboration, when in the creation of a new foreign brand participate and Russian citizens. Mikhail Beloglazov, a member of the Moscow snowboard team, conducted in-depth market research and quickly convinced an investor from Europe that new snowboards could occupy a niche in the market. This is how the Again snowboards brand appeared in 2016. The company has been looking for a good factory for production in China for a long time. As a result, an agreement was concluded with a factory whose owners are American, working with well-known brands. The 2016-2017 season was a test season, only 100 snowboards were produced, and it’s too early to talk about commercial success. Snowboards are sold through the website, but in the next season the company plans to cooperate with Russian chain stores.

This season, Again snowboards cost 26,000-30,000 rubles. It is correct to compare the Again snowboard with the top Burton models, Beloglazov is sure. And the new brand has one trump card: snowboarder Mikhail Matveev, a member of the Russian national snowboard team, managed to win several titles riding Again snowboards in last season. These are two gold medals at the Universiade in Almaty, gold and silver medals at the Russian Championship.

Nevertheless, Denis Tikhomirov, President of the Russian Snowboard Federation, Head Coach of the Russian snowboard team reminds that in professional sports boards Russian production practically not used: “In parallel disciplines or “hard” snowboarding, the undisputed leader is Kessler; Apex, Oxess, SG are also used. In acrobatic disciplines the most famous brands, which everyone knows, Burton, Roxy, Nitro.” Anna Kolesova advises Russian brands to focus on beginners and occupy the economy segment: “If one of them manages to provide acceptable reliability and controllability of boards, allowing you to ride without extra effort, that will be half the success. But, if someone can achieve an increase in the owner’s prestige in the eyes of others, this will be a success. And only then will it be possible to talk about some kind of future for Russian snowboard companies.”

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