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Taking Care of Your Snowboard Between Sessions
Taking Care of Your Snowboard Between Sessions
If you are wondering how to care for your snowboard, there are a few basic steps to follow that will help keep your board in excellent shape between sessions. Your local snowboard shop in Ridgefield will carry the supplies you need to care for your board, and will often provide snowboard maintenance and repair services as well.
Wax Your Snowboard Regularly
A good rule of thumb for keeping your board in good condition and protected from the snow’s moisture is to wax it after every three trips. Using a scraper intended for snowboards, carefully remove the previous coat of wax. Next, take your snowboard wax and use an iron to warm it just enough for it to melt – if it’s smoking, the wax is too hot. Allow the wax to pool on your board and then use the iron to spread it evenly over the base. Finally, use your scraper to gently remove any bumps, and an abrasive pad made for snowboards to smooth the surface.
Store Your Snowboard Properly
After snowboarding, wipe down your board with a cloth to remove any dirt or debris that might be lingering on the surface to prevent it from getting scratched between uses. If you find that your board has been gouged, scrape off the wax and clean the area before melting repair wax into the hold to fill it. Never store your snowboard on cement and instead, hang it on a wall using strong supports.
Sharpen Your Board as Needed
Snowboards can be sharpened at a snowboard shop with a sharpening machine, or with a whetstone and file. First, use your whetstone to smooth out any scratches, snags, or patches of rust, keeping the stone flat against the surface. Next, run your file along the length of the board, keeping it at a 30º angle. The side and base edges require regular sharpening, but how often depends on the softness of the snow it was used on, so check your board for dullness between trips.
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The Essentials of Snowboard Maintenance
If you want to keep your snowboarding gear near Westport in top shape for as long as possible, you are going to have to provide it with the right type of maintenance. Proper maintenance will help you maneuver your snowboard with ease and prevent it from deteriorating when you are off of the slopes for a while. Three of the most important aspects of snowboard maintenance are sharpening, waxing, and finding a safe place to store your board. Continue reading if you are interested in taking a closer look at the essentials of snowboard maintenance.
Sharpening
Although skill plays an irreplaceable role in snowboarding, the quality and condition of your gear are important factors as well. When it comes to your board, you’ll want to have it sharpened whenever necessary; it can be tough to tear it up on the slopes with a dull board. Regular sharpening helps you clean off any blemishes and cosmetic issues as well as remove rust from your board. Many choose to take their snowboards into ski and snowboard shops to have them sharpened by the pros, but seasoned veterans are often able to sharpen their snowboards themselves.
Waxing
Those who have just started snowboarding may not know what to do with wax, but hobbyists and professionals are intimately familiar with the process of waxing their snowboards. You won’t want too much friction when you go out for a session, and wax can help to keep you gliding smoothly. Pick up some wax from your local ski and snowboard shop and iron the wax until it drips onto your board. You can remove any lumps and excess wax buildup as you smooth it out across the surface of your snowboard. It is a good idea to wax your snowboard regularly, after every three trips or so.
Storage
While sharpening and waxing are both hands-on maintenance requirements, some aspects of snowboard maintenance are more passive. After you have cleaned off your board and began the trek home, remember to refrain from storing it on a cement surface. You should also support it if you choose to hang it up.
A Look at Some Common Ski and Snowboard Repairs
A Look at Some Common Ski and Snowboard Repairs>/h1>
Regardless of whether you hit the slopes every single weekend during the wintertime or once or twice a year, you will need repairs from a ski and snowboard shop to keep your gear working the way it should. Prior to the start of the season, you should take a look at your ski and snowboard gear in Westport to see what kind of service it might need. Here are some of the most common repairs.
Dry Base
Every year, you should have the base of your skis or snowboard waxed. This will eliminate the friction that exists between them and the snowy surfaces that you will encounter. If you do not wax your skis or snowboard, you could risk injury and do further damage to the base of your skis or snowboard. You will know your base is too dry if the color of it begins to fade and it feels fuzzy when you touch it.
Base and Side Damage
As you begin to use your skis or snowboard more, you will likely see chips, cracks, gouges, and other blemishes on the bottom of them. Cosmetically, it won’t look good, and it will also increase the chances of your skis or snowboard suffering damage that may require replacement. You should have a ski and snowboard shop take care of the base and edges of your skis or snowboard and return them to like-new condition.
Bindings and Buckles Damage
The last thing you want is for the bindings or buckles on your skis or snowboard to break while you’re in the middle of skiing or snowboarding. It could lead to serious injuries to yourself and others. If the bindings or buckles on your skis or snowboard appear to be damaged, you should have them fixed right away. This will prevent an accident from taking place later. You should also check to make sure your boots fit you at the beginning of every season, and purchase new ones if you find that you have outgrown your old ones.
Regardless of whether you hit the slopes every single weekend during the wintertime or once or twice a year, you will need repairs from a ski and snowboard shop to keep your gear working the way it should. Prior to the start of the season, you should take a look at your ski and snowboard gear in Westport to see what kind of service it might need. Here are some of the most common repairs.
Dry Base
Every year, you should have the base of your skis or snowboard waxed. This will eliminate the friction that exists between them and the snowy surfaces that you will encounter. If you do not wax your skis or snowboard, you could risk injury and do further damage to the base of your skis or snowboard. You will know your base is too dry if the color of it begins to fade and it feels fuzzy when you touch it.
Base and Side Damage
As you begin to use your skis or snowboard more, you will likely see chips, cracks, gouges, and other blemishes on the bottom of them. Cosmetically, it won’t look good, and it will also increase the chances of your skis or snowboard suffering damage that may require replacement. You should have a ski and snowboard shop take care of the base and edges of your skis or snowboard and return them to like-new condition.
Bindings and Buckles Damage
The last thing you want is for the bindings or buckles on your skis or snowboard to break while you’re in the middle of skiing or snowboarding. It could lead to serious injuries to yourself and others. If the bindings or buckles on your skis or snowboard appear to be damaged, you should have them fixed right away. This will prevent an accident from taking place later. You should also check to make sure your boots fit you at the beginning of every season, and purchase new ones if you find that you have outgrown your old ones.
Factors to Consider When Buying a New Snowboard
Factors to Consider When Buying a New Snowboard
There are a lot of factors to consider when buying a new snowboard, especially if you are new to the sport. No matter what your skill level is, a ski and snowboard shop in Westport can help you pick out the best new board to get the most out of the season. Some of the most important factors to consider when buying a new snowboard include: 
Ability Level
For starters, consider your riding ability. Even if you’re a beginner, consider a higher spec board since you’ll be improving on a daily basis. Snowboards aimed at intermediate riders tend to be a little stiffer to cope with more aggressive riding, while advanced snowboards are constructed to give ultimate response, pop, and performance.
Riding Style
After you determine your riding ability, identify the kind of riding you’ll be doing most. Freeride boards are directional in shape and flex, more often with an oversized nose and shorter, stiffer tail to enhance float. If you are an advanced rider and enjoy jumping, spinning, and sliding, look for a freestyle board with true twin shape and flex to ensure the same ride regular or switch.
Length and Width
Snowboard manufacturers provide suggested weight ranges for their lengths; ideally, you should be somewhere around the middle to get the best out of your new board. Experts recommend your toes and heels overhand the edge by approximately 1.5 centimeters—more than this and you’ll get toe and/or heel drag, and much less and you won’t get the edge control you need.
Board Shape
The ideal board shape is largely determined by your riding style. Twin boards have a symmetrical shape and core, making them ideal for trick riding and freestyle artists. Directional boards have a longer nose and a shorter tail for great performance in a variety of different terrains and riding styles. A tapered shape means the board’s nose is wider than its tail. Tapered boards are great for speedy downhill snowboarding.