The bindings serve the essential function of keeping your feet strapped to the fiberglass deck of the snowboard. If your feet begin to fall asleep after a long day on the slopes, you might want to adjust the fit and position of your snowboard bindings. Numbed feet might cause you to lose control of the snowboard, resulting in painful falls and high-speed slide outs.
Racing Bindings
Downhill snowboarders participate in high-speed races that take place on steep courses and carved-out trails. Snowboards designed for racing are equipped with a specialized pair of bindings that help to increase your turning efficiency. Racing bindings feature a rigid design that allows you to effectively transfer energy between the edges of the snowboard. As these bindings restrict the movement of your ankles, they might cause your feet to fall asleep over an extended period.
Slope-Style Bindings
Slope-style snowboarders spend their time practicing aerial flips and rotations. Unlike the stiff design of the racing model, slope-style bindings feature a soft flex that provides an increased range of motion. Even when fastened snugly around your snowboarding boots, the slope-style bindings should not cause your feet to fall asleep. The padded retention straps of the slope-style bindings fit comfortably around your boots and can bend slightly to absorb the shock of high-impact tricks.
Binding Position
The position of your bindings will directly affect the comfort of your snowboarding stance. A stance that is too wide might cause the edges of the bindings to dig into the side of your boots. Over time, this could restrict the blood flow and cause your feet to fall asleep. To prevent your feet from getting numb, choose a snowboard stance that roughly corresponds with the width of your shoulders. Transworld Snowboarding recommends measuring the distance between your kneecap and heel and installing your bindings that far apart.
Adjustments/Fit
If your boots have not been properly aligned within the confines of the retention straps, the snowboard bindings might cause your feet to fall asleep. Perform a few simple adjustments to ensure a proper fit. Lift the corresponding release mechanisms to loosen the binding straps. ABC-of-Snowboarding recommends placing the heel of your boot flat against the highback plate of the snowboard binding. Align the toe strap around the front end of your boot and the ankle strap across your boot laces. Upgrade the size of the bindings if your toes hang over the edge.
