Snowboards are made of various materials, including wood, metal, plastic, and fiberglass. The core of the board is almost always wood or laminated wood. The edges are metal, and plastic resin holds it all together.
I’ve been snowboarding for most of my life, and I love everything about the sport. I’m fascinated with how snowboards are made and have researched what materials they are made of.
In this post, I’ll explain what snowboards are made of. I’ll explain what each material helps accomplish, and some design features you might want to look for with construction in mind.
Let’s get after it.
Contents
Snowboard Construction
Every snowboard model has a somewhat different construction. But many of the same materials are used in this construction. It’s worth exploring what each element is and what it does to give you a better understanding.
First off, snowboards are not boards. While they are a single plank, this takes a while and many different materials to reach the end result. No one rides downhill, on a plank of wood, although that might be fun to try.
Here are the various parts of snowboard construction:
The Core
The core of a snowboard is usually made of wood but sometimes made of foam. Various types of wood can be used here, and there are advantages to one species of lumber over another. Many boards use a laminate or composite core that involves multiple types of wood.
Sometimes strips of wood or glued together, similar to how some furniture is made. This can help create the ideal flex for the board because of the different strengths of the wood used for the core.
Fiberglass
A layer of fiberglass usually goes around the core. This material provides additional strength and holds everything together. It’s a lightweight material that is glass and plastic, providing lots of strength without affecting the wood core much.
P-Tex
The base of your snowboard is usually made of P-Tex, which is a very strong type of plastic. This material provides something for your snowboard wax to stick to and is pretty easy to repair if you hit a rock or other obstacle.
Steel and Metal
Most snowboards also have steel inserts on the top of the board. This gives a place for the bindings to attach to and includes screw holes or other necessary mounting equipment.
The edges of a snowboard are also made of metal. The metal increases the digging or biting ability in the snow to provide more control.
Resin
Resin, or glue, is another material used throughout the snowboard construction process. This holds everything together and is a very important component. Some resins are more environmentally friendly than others.
FAQs
Here are a few quick answers to some of the most commonly asked questions relating to what snowboards are made of.
What are snowboards coated with?
Most snowboards are coated with some type of resin. This is usually ade with a liquid plastic material like polyurethane. Every company has a somewhat different recipe or approach to what it coats its boards with.
What are the four types of snowboards?
The four types of snowboard are all-mountain, freestyle, freeride, and powder. All-mountain boards are versatile to go just about everywhere. Freestyle boards are for the park. Freeride boards are for more technical terrain. Powder boards are for powder.
Are snowboards made of carbon fiber?
Some snowboards do have carbon fiber in their construction. But not every model does. Carbon fiber is a lightweight and strong material that can be ideal for snowboard construction, but it can also be pretty expensive.
Are snowboards made with metal?
Yes, nearly all snowboards have at least some metal in their construction. Every snowboard has an edge that is crucial in allowing you to stay in control and turn. These edges are made of metal to give you good dig and bite in the snow and ice.
Final Thoughts
Snowboard construction is pretty cool, and it’s worth looking into how your favorite model is made if you are interested. Every board has a slightly different construction that makes it stand out from the others.
If you ever have the chance, take a tour of a snowboard factory. This will get you up close and personal with the construction process and provide a better understanding of how they are made.
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