Snowboard Science

Snowboard Sidecut

Radial

A simple circular sidecut which results in a predictable ride. The shorter the radius the tighter the turning circle. Look for a deep sidecut (shorter radius) for riding pipe and a large sidecut radius for long freeride carves.  A shallow sidecut also offers a more stable ride with smooth ‘easier’ turn initiation; a deep sidecut will produce an aggressive and lively ride.

Multi-radial

Using a number of radii blended together, a manufacturer can tailor the feel and turn of a board. A blended sidecut for freeriding might feature a shallow radius at the start of the sidecut to initiate carves easily with a less catchy feel and a tight sidecut near the tail to power the board out of turns and encourage rear foot steering in low speed deep powder turns and slashes.

Asymmetric

A serious throwback from the 80s and early racing board design. Asymmetric sidecut design means that the depth of the sidecut varies on each edge. Elan pioneered the use of the asymmetric sidecut last season, now Mervin Manufacturing have joined the party with the GNU park pickle and YES are using the technology on their 156 for 2009/10. The idea behind the concept is that heel-side turns require more effort to crank. For freeriders the simple solution is to introduce a little forward lean to your bindings, for park and rail riders, this isn’t the best solution as forward can lead to edge catching and an unbalanced centre of gravity. It makes sense to ride Asymmetric when you’re getting your freestyle thang on.