Nowadays there are many snowboard shapes, and the asymmetrical one is one of the most revolutionary. But how does it work and what are its features?
Here are asymmetrical snowboards explained to help you understand everything you need to know about them!
What is an asymmetrical snowboard?
A snowboard is called asymmetrical when it does not have both sides exactly equal.
Three factors combined in a particular way make a snowboard asymmetrical.
They are:
- Sidecut
- Flex
- Contact points
What is the goal of asymmetrical snowboards?
Asymmetrical snowboards have been invented to compensate for the asymmetry of our bodies.
Stand in the same position as the image below and look at yourself in the mirror. You will immediately notice that you are symmetrical on both sides.
However, when you are snowboarding, you are positioned to the side. If you now stand in the riding position and look at yourself in the mirror you will see that there is no line dividing you into two equal parts.
And this is where the idea of asymmetric snowboards came from!
Because of our body’s asymmetry, movements on the toes while riding are generally more difficult than those on the heels.
Therefore, this type of snowboard makes the movements we make on the toes equal to those on the heels as if we were symmetrical.
How do asymmetrical snowboards work?
Asymmetrical snowboards to make the riding “symmetrical” have different sidecut, flex, and contact points on the two sides.
Sidecut
The sidecut is one of the factors that influence the way a snowboard turns. To make it easier to initiate turns on the toes, on asymmetrical snowboards the sidecut on the toe side is deeper (so the sidecut radius is longer).
This is a rather complex topic. That’s why I recommend you read our guide on how snowboard sidecut work.
Flex
Asymmetrical snowboards have a softer flex toward the toes. This is because more flex allows for more maneuverability. And it is important to facilitate turns on the toes.
I recommend you read our guide to learn more about snowboard flex.
Contact points
This type of snowboard has wider contact points on the toe side (Usually the difference is a few centimeters).
This is to ease the movements of the toes.
Look at the picture below for a better understanding.
Common feature of asymmetrical snowboards
Asymmetrical snowboards always have a true twin shape.
But why is this?
To work properly, asymmetrical snowboards must have the features explained earlier always on the side of the toes.
If, for example, it has a directional shape, it cannot be ridden in both goofy and regular, since the nose must always be the directional part.
With the true twin shape, this problem is avoided!
Who should choose asymmetrical snowboards?
Asymmetrical snowboards can be considered as simple true twin snowboards in which it is easier to turn on the tips.
For this reason they are great for freestyle and switch riding.
They certainly make things easier for beginners, but I recommend starting with a classic snowboard and then trying out new boards as you learn.
What to do next…
Now that you know how asymmetrical snowboards work, I recommend you look at:
If you need help or have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us either in the comments below or by email. I will be happy to help you!
FAQ
What are the benefits of riding an asymmetrical snowboard?
Asymmetrical snowboards facilitate turns on the toes, which are usually more difficult than on the heels due to the asymmetry of our body while riding.
