Let’s first examine the differences between that and what all mountain Vs freerider prefer doing on the mountain in order to respond to this topic. Two well-liked snowboarding subgenres are freeride and all-mountain. While they both entail mountain exploration and may really test your riding abilities, they also differ greatly in a few important aspects.
I’ve spent more than a dozen winter seasons as a licensed snowboarding teacher. I’ve used a variety of freeride and all-mountain snowboards, so I know the main distinctions between them from personal experience.
To help you decide which you might prefer, I’ll look at the key distinctions between freeride and all-mountain snowboards in this piece. Although riding any of these boards may be a lot of fun, one type is far more adaptable than the other. One is appropriate for riders of all skill levels, but the other should only be used by intermediate and experienced riders.
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Freeride snowboarding
Perhaps one of my favorite snowboarding sub-sports is freeride. Freeriding is, in a word, a style that emphasizes avoiding the resort. or at the very least the resort’s simple, groomed runs. Freeriders love to explore difficult and complex terrain that is frequently difficult to discover and even more difficult to access.
The term “large mountain riders” can also be used to describe freeriders. They act like they are riding an epic, which is why. They feel at home in the backcountry where they can ride steeps, chutes, tree runs, and everything else that will really pump up the adrenaline.
The freerider doesn’t even consider riding switch, the park, or anything else of the kind; if they do, they have a different board for that aspect of their snowboarding repertory.
This is a difficult technique that is not appropriate for novices. Although the ground can be varied, it is typically found off-piste or in less popular parts of the resort. You won’t be bringing grandmother out freeriding until she is proficient.
Because longer snowboards allow free riders more speed, stability, and edge hold while skiing in thick snow, the majority of free riders choose them. Find the “optimal length” snowboard for your type and then add 2 to 5 centimeters, according to the rule of thumb.
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All-mountain snowboarding
Such snowboards get a medium-stiff flex and can range in stiffness from 4 to 7 out of 10. As a result that these snowboards need to be adaptable enough to handle whatever you throw at them, the most popular bend including all snowboards is between 5/10 and 6/10. In other terms, they need to be responsive, good at holding an edge, and stable at speed, but they must also be forgiving.
This would be a very good all-mountain riding day if you did a few loops on groomers, chased high and tight lines until you were hungry, and then spent your afternoon in the park. Snowboarding on every terrain is enjoyable since almost anyone can do it and you may concentrate on your preferred mountain features without being constrained to just one. The phrase “all mountain” actually refers to the entire mountain.
The all-mountaineer wants a single board that can do all tasks since they want to be able to complete all tasks in a single day, if that is what they feel like doing, and they don’t want to have to switch boards mid-day.
What Sets Freeride Snowboards Apart From All Mountain Snowboards? Sometimes it’s difficult to distinguish what makes one snowboard style from another. Because of this, it’s wise to educate yourself on these issues so you can choose the greatest riding gear accessible to you. Due to these distinctions, free riders and all-mountain riders have quite varied demands for the specifications of their snowboards. Of course, a freeride board can also be on your shopping list if it’s a part of your quiver.
If you already choose a snowboard and would like to be able to do a little bit of everything on it, an all-mountain board is usually a terrific choice. Let’s examine the following specifications and compare them to those of a standard all-mountain board and a typical freeride board.
Different Between All Mountain Vs Freeride
- Flex
- Shape
- Length
- Profile
- Setback
- Base
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Flex
All-mountain snowboards will typically have a medium flex. These boards’ flex rating numbers will range from 4 to 7 upon this rating scale. You have good versatility and can handle a variety of situations with a medium flex. The flex of freeride snowboards will be stiffer. On the scale, the majority will fall between 7-9. The maximum rating you will often see is 9, and a 10 grade is quite uncommon.
The elasticity of freeride and all-mountain boards is one of their major distinctions. Flex refers to a board’s degree of stiffness or flexibility. On a scale of 1 to 10, lower values indicate smoother flex and stronger numbers, and a stiffer flex, respectively.
As stated in the freeride specifications above, it must have a nice edge, stability at speed, response, etc., but it also needs to have some mercy and flex for touching down jumps, hitting jibs, jars of butter, and other maneuvers, as well as for a less forceful, playful, and more informal feel that certain riders prefer. And that softer flex is extremely helpful for mobility at slower speeds when riding more leisurely and slowly.
Shape
Freeride boards almost usually feature a tapered or directed design. These shapes have been adjusted such that you would ride best in one direction. No consideration is given to switching riding. On any board, it’s still feasible to ride switch, although it’s more difficult.
All mountain boards come in a wide variety of forms, so you may customize what you receive to better suit your preferences. That instance, you might want to choose something with a directed form if you’re a more aggressive all-mountain rider. A genuine twin shape may also be a possibility if you lean more toward freestyle, however in most instances that means you’ll be buying an all-mountain-freestyle board.
Another distinction between freeride and all-mountain snowboards is shap. Even if this is your first time snowboarding, you may rapidly identify form variations by seeing a snowboard from an above perspective.
A directed twin or somewhat directed form will be present on all mountain boards. Freestyle lines may be explored by using a light twin form. The form of freeride boards will be clearly directional. As a result, the board’s tip and tail will have a distinct appearance. The finest performance will come from riding them in the direction that you find to be dominating. Switching on these boards is difficult.
Length
Depending on a rider’s particular preferences or height, the length of their snowboard can be customized. But depending on the riding style you want to emphasize, length also matters.
All-mountain snowboarders often utilize a normal length board, which, when the board is upright, comes up under their chin and nose. This board’s flexibility is aided by its “normal” length. The edge-hold, stability, and flow of a longer board are advantages that an all-mountain rider wants but does not want to sacrifice by choosing a board that is too short. Going too long might make the board harder to use or less suited for freestyle maneuvers like spins, kinds of butter, and side hits.
Freeriders typically opt for a length that is longer than “average.” This is because the added length improves edge grip, speed, and stability at high speeds, as well as helping the skier float in snow. As a general rule, determine your “standard length” and then increase it by 2-4 cm.
Additionally, freeride boards frequently have longer noses, but this additional length is outside of the snowboard’s contact points and has no bearing on its effective edge; it only matters in powder.
Typically, freeride boards are longer than ordinary. Because you can move quicker on a longer board, it might be advantageous in more difficult situations. Additionally, longer boards may be more stable and have better edge control. Many times, a bit of additional cutting edge is also required.
Profile
The form of a board when viewed from the side is called its profile. The two most frequently mentioned profile shapes is camber and rocker, both of which have a big impact on how a snowboard behaves on the snow. The hybrid profile of all-mountain boards will include aspects of rocker and camber. You float well in thick snow and have strong freestyle abilities with a rockered head and tail. Camber enables you to access greater power in more difficult circumstances.
All-mountain boards often favor hybrid profiles, as do the majority of boards nowadays, however, camber is currently making a comeback as I’m revising this article. Hybrid rocker, hybrid camber, and flat-to-rocker all have about equal shares of this, though the latter is often more common on all-mountain beginning boards. Although they are available in all profiles, flat, continuous rocker, and conventional camber are less popular, with camber making a more recent comeback.
Although freeride boards might push more heavily toward camber underfoot to provide you greater power and control at faster speeds, they will still have a hybrid profile. A directing design with a camber in the rear and a rocker in the forefront is another option for freeride boards.
This is because the feet have a camber, which increases stability and edge grip, and the tip has a rocker, which promotes floatation in powder. It makes logical that this should be the most typical profile as stability, edge-hold, and float in powder are three of the fundamentals of freeriding, though any profile is conceivable. And although this is not always the case, I have ridden several excellent freestyle boards with something like a hybrid rocker profile (rocker among the feet and camber towards the tip and tail). Base)))))
Both all-mountain boards with either a sintered base or those with an extruded base are widely available. Although less expensive or more novice versions frequently have extruded bases.
You may be required to compromise for an arched base if you’re seeking a less expensive board. To pick which foundation is ideal for you, Dual powdered and extruded bases are permissible for all mountain boards. Generally speaking, sintered bases are of greater quality and are more suitable for going off-piste or across more difficult terrain. Extruded bases are less expensive and more appropriate for parks.
A sintered base is nearly usually present in freeride boards. This increases the board’s performance and durability on difficult terrain, but it also raises the price. In my experience, an extruded base on a freeride board has never been seen.
Sintered bases are nearly often used in freeride boards. This contributes to the fact that freeride boards are often more costly than all-mountain and freestyle boards. In fact, I’d go so far as to argue that purchasing a freeride board including an extruded base is pointless. Don’t get me wrong; there are situations when an extrusion base is genuinely superior usually just through playground or jib boards, but not while freeriding.
Setback
All-mountain boards, you got it, typically sit around the middle. Freeride boards are often 20mm+ and freestyle snowboards are 99% centered. In reality, most all-mountain boards get a setback between 5mm (1/5′′) and 20mm (3/4′′), with very few being centered or having a setback and over 20mm (3/4′′).
All levels of riders are able to use all-mountain boards. A sweeter flex all-mountain board will provide you with the variety you need and be easier for you to manage if you are a novice.
Only experienced and advanced riders should use freeride boards. A freeride snowboard will also be manageable for some intermediate riders. These boards are substantially less forgiving and much stiffer. When necessary, this provides you excellent performance, but it may be too much for the typical rider to manage.
Snowboards designed for freeride terrain often have a significant setback, typically ranging from 20mm (3/4″). And occasionally up to 60mm (2 1/2′′) and more. The major explanation for this is that the setback makes it possible for the board to ride more easily in thick snow. Many riders also like a little setback when carving.
Base
Depending on the style it is created for, a board’s foundation will also change. Sintered and extruded bases are the two primary kinds. Either powdered or extruded bases are permissible for all mountain boards. Generally speaking, sintered bases are of greater quality and are more suitable for riding off-piste or through more difficult terrain. Extruded bases are less expensive and more appropriate for parks. Both all-mountain boards with something like a sintered base and those with an extruded base are widely available. Although less expensive or more novice versions frequently have extruded bases.
A sintered base is nearly usually present in freeride boards. This increases the board’s performance and durability on difficult terrain, but it also raises the price. In my experience, an extruded base on a freeride board has never been seen.
Sintered bases are nearly often used in freeride boards. This contributes to the fact that freeride boards are often more costly than all-mountain and freestyle boards. In fact, I’d go so far as to argue that purchasing a freeride board including an extruded base is pointless. Don’t get me wrong; there are situations when a molded base is genuinely superior (usually just through park boards), but not while freeriding.
What distinguishes snowboards in all-mountain & freeride?
All mountain boards get a medium flex that makes them more adaptable over the mountain, while freeride boards get a strong flex that corresponds to great performance in difficult terrain. All mountain boards may be used by anybody, however, freeride boards are not recommended for novices.
Can you go all mountain or with a freestyle snowboard?
Technically, sure, but I wouldn’t say that you should. You might be able to utilize a freestyle board in even more difficult terrain if you are an experienced rider. However, it will typically also be soft to travel at high speeds or enter regions that are more geared toward freeride.
Final Remarks
Having the right gear to suit your tastes is always preferable, regardless of the type of snowboarder you are. All mountain, freestyle, and freeride riders must adhere to this rule. Everyone will gain from using high-quality equipment because it is high-quality equipment. You may choose a snowboard that suits your skill level and preferred mountain terrain now that you are aware of the distinctions between freeride and all-mountain models. I guess you’ll obtain both of them eventually if you learn to enjoy the sport.
I hope this made the distinction simpler to comprehend. As always, the comments area below would love to hear from you.