Are you passionate about snowboarding and curious to find out what freestyle snowboarding is all about?
You are in the right place!
In this article, we will explore the world of freestyle in detail and help you figure out if it might be the perfect riding style for you.
Let’s start!
What is freestyle snowboarding?
Freestyle snowboarding is a style of snowboarding that uses ramps, rails, and other “structures” to perform tricks.
That’s why freestyle is done in snowparks.
The image below is the snowpark in Livigno (Italy), where the Adventurer Hub team spent the last days of the winter season, it was great!
Is freestyle right for beginners?
Freestyle might be interesting for many beginners; I would advise against it at first.
This is because it requires a lot of technique and experience. A beginner would end up falling down all the time, risking injury.
So I recommend learning the basics and having full control of the board before jumping into a style completely.
Of course, you can try a few jumps sometimes but don’t fully dedicate yourself to it at first.
What gear should you choose for freestyle?
Snowboard:
Shape
The shape should be true twin, so that the riding is equal in every direction. This allows for switch riding, which is very useful during tricks (with the nose or tail in front).
Learn everything there is to know about snowboard shapes.
Flex
The flex should be continuous, so equal throughout the board. This makes the behavior of the snowboard always the same.
The value I recommend is between 1 and 3 if you want to focus on snowpark and more specifically on jibbing. While 4 to 6 if you want a snowboard suitable for high jumps but at the same time more versatile.
Read more about snowboard flex.
Bindings:
Flex
The perfect flex of bindings for freestyle depends on what you want to do. Anyway, it is recommended to be quite flexible, to give freedom of movement to the foot during tricks.
Learn more about snowboard bindings flex.
Boots:
Flex
Freestyle boots need to provide a lot of freedom of movement, so a I recommend a soft flex between 1 and 3.
Learn everything you need to know about the snowboard boot flex.
Which stance is perfect for freestyle?
Basically, stance is how you position and set your snowboard’s bindings. It’s super important because if you have the right stance, it will make riding easier and you’ll be able to improve faster.
That is why I recommend you read our guide on how to properly set up bindings for your style and skill level.
Freestyle Snowboarding Videos
In conclusion, freestyle snowboarding offers an adrenaline and creative experience.
So what are you waiting for? Grab your board and experience the thrill of tricks!
Discover the other riding styles:
- What is Freeride Snowboarding?
- What is All mountain Snowboarding?
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests, please feel free to contact us here in the comments or at support@adventurerhub.com.
FAQs
What is the difference between freeride and freestyle snowboarding?
The main difference between freestyle and freeride is the terrain where they are performed.
Freestyle usually takes place in parks equipped with ramps, rails, and other structures to perform tricks.
While freeriding is done off-piste, in the backcountry, and in deep snow. Tricks are also performed here, but using jumps created by nature and not on artificial structures.
Learn more about freeride snowboarding!
What should your highbacks be for freestyle park snowboarding?
The highback for the freeride should not be tilted too much toward the boot.
This is because having more space allows more freedom when landing from tricks and jumps.
