Snowboarding has grown into one of the most recognized extreme sports. Freestyle snowboarding is featured in the Olympics as well as big-name contests including the Winter X Games. As of 2011, snowboarding consists of numerous subgenres including freeride and freestyle. Freeriders use a special design of the snowboard to carve across the untouched landscape of backwoods trails.
History
Primitive designs of the snowboard began to pop up in the United States throughout the 1960s. Freeride snowboarding developed out of necessity. According to ABC-of-Snowboarding, in the early days of the sport, snowboarders were not allowed to ride on the groomed runs found in ski mountain resorts. Snowboarders ventured out onto the untouched landscape of backcountry trails and slopes. As the sport has become more integrated into mainstream culture, ski resorts have allowed snowboarders to hit their groomed slopes. Some die-hard snowboarders still prefer an off-piste terrain.
Freeride Snowboards
While freestyle riders prefer a compact snowboard for increased maneuverability, freeriders require an elongated board design. Freeride snowboards share a few defining characteristics. According to the snowboarding specialists at REI, the freeride board often features a rigid construction that offers better stability at high rates of speed. Freeride boards are equipped with a wide waist that prevents you from descending into large deposits of powdered snow. The sharpened edges of the freeride snowboard are reinforced with lightweight metallic alloys.
Transportation
When snowboarding on recreational skiing slopes, you have the option of riding the ski lift to the top of the mountain. Freeride snowboarders have developed innovative ways to travel across the rugged off-piste terrain. According to ESPN, professional freeriders are dropped off at the top of untouched mountains with the help of a helicopter. For a more conventional approach, some freeriders use high-powered snowmobiles to navigate through wooded areas.
Safety Gear
Freeride snowboarders run a higher risk of being caught in the destructive path of an avalanche. To prevent serious and fatal injuries, freeride snowboarders use a few special pieces of safety equipment. Avid freeriders often carry a tracking device that allows fellow riders to pinpoint your location in the event of an avalanche. Freeriders often don a fiberglass or carbon fiber helmet to stay protected from falling debris. Off-piste snowboarders generally wear insulated jackets that feature a breathable design.
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