Snowboards & Sidewalls 😉 - Frosty Rider Snowboarding

This topic has 5 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 7 months ago by Frosty.

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January 20, 2006 at 7:44 pm #52
slipknot69
Participant
uhhh, I have an Albin Chaos Freestyle ( i’m a girl ) and it is basically made more for jumping, hence the title. but i’ve been riding for only about a month now, ( even though i can do everything ) is it an ok board, and umm, it has a sidewall, and my old board did not, well what difference does it make anyways? 😕
January 30, 2006 at 10:53 pm #2198
Frosty
Keymaster
Some boards have sidewalls (sidewall construction) and some have caps (capped construction). There is not much difference between them. There used to be only a sidewall construction, where the different layers of material that make the snowboard were like a sandwitch and a sidewall was glued onto the sides to fill in that space. Then a few years back, they came out with capped, where the topsheet wrapped over the side down to the edge, thus eliminating the need for the sidewall material. At this time, some manufacturers claimed increased performance from their capped construction models and that may have been true but it really depended on the model and the preference of the rider. All-in-all though it really doesnt matter as far as performance or anything; in fact, it is mainly cosmetic.

Seems like many of todays baords are incorporating a

Some boards have sidewalls (sidewall construction) and some have caps (capped construction). There is not much difference between them. There used to be only a sidewall construction, where the different layers of material that make the snowboard were like a sandwitch and a sidewall was glued onto the sides to fill in that space. Then a few years back, they came out with capped, where the topsheet wrapped over the side down to the edge, thus eliminating the need for the sidewall material. At this time, some manufacturers claimed increased performance from their capped construction models and that may have been true but it really depended on the model and the preference of the rider. All-in-all though it really doesnt matter as far as performance or anything; in fact, it is mainly cosmetic.

Seems like many of todays baords are incorporating a “slantwall” construction except it is shaped more like a “_/” than a “_|“. Some even have a hybrid sidewall which is like a straight side and a slant in one. No biggie. Just like all other industries, the evil marketing people need to find excuses to charge more and more $$ for newer models.

Ride on,
Frosty R

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April 19, 2006 at 5:06 am #2258
pdx82
Participant
My first board was a capped board. My next board was a sidewall (or I guess a slanted wall) and I never have and never will go back. I think sidewalls are more responsive and hold their edge better. The guys I ride with feel the same way. Sorry Frosty, I love your tips, but I have to disagree with you on this one.
April 19, 2006 at 6:58 pm #2259
Frosty
Keymaster
Thanks for sharing that pdx82, but how can you be sure that the sidewall construction is the one and only thing that makes your newer board a better board for you? Is it not possible to be by chance that you like the newer baord more?
April 19, 2006 at 7:14 pm #2260
pdx82
Participant
The more I snowboard, the more I figure out what I like. Such as a stiffer board, twin tip, etc. But I do think that sidewall vs. capped makes a difference. I may not be as experianced as some, but the guys I ride with are pretty good and have been riding for a long time, and they think it makes a difference too. I don't know, I guess it probably has a lot to do with the rider and how they ride. But the people I know, including myself, all feel that there is a difference.
April 20, 2006 at 6:58 pm #2261
Frosty
Keymaster
Good observations. For me, it depends on the board. Sometimes I like sandwitches and sometimes I like burritos 😆
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