Wide, Twin, Banana, Mag...!!! Trackers have reported Banana Ape trails through the woods of Snoqualmie Pass and beyond...Visualized, designed and tested by the man-sized Onion boys Trevor and Kyle Phillips, and some select Summit based E-WA consultants. These big wide boards are the ultimate twin freestyle board for the larger footprint!
Overall length is the full length of the snowboard from tip to tail measured in centimeters (cm). When you hear that a board is a 155 or '55, it simply means that the overall length of the board is 155 cm.
Running Length
Running length is the length of the snowboard that is actually in contact with the snow. This is measured as a straight line from the nose contact point (where the flat base ends and the nose begins) to the tail contact point. A freestyle board may have a longer running length than a freeride board of the same overall length, this is because the freeride board has a longer nose length.
Effective Edge
The effective edge measures the length of edge between the nose and tail of the board that is in contact with the snow. It is similar to running length, but measured along the curved edge rather than in a straight line, making it a slightly higher number.
Sidecut Radius
Imagine a giant circle overlapping the edge of the snowboard. Depending on the radius of the circle, the sidecut will be tighter or more mellow. A higher number is typically less aggressive and more stable, while a smaller radius is more performance driven. Some companies have 'progressive' sidecuts which is a combination of more than one radius. This allows the board to have the characteristics of one radius to initiate the turn and another radius to complete the turn.
Waist Width
The waist width is the width of the snowboard at its most narrow point. It is basically the width at the middle of the board.
Stance Width
The stance width refers to the range of stances available on a particular snowboard. Here are some tips for determining your stance.
Snowboard Insert Patterns
Insert patterns can be (1) a slider system, (2) a proprietary system such as the Burton 3-hole pattern, (3) a 4x2 pattern or (4) a 4x4 pattern.
The slider system provides nearly unlimited stance options. The bindings are mounted to a track system and can be slid forward or backward to dial in the perfect stance width.
Burton uses its own 3-hole pattern. In the past, you had to use Burton bindings, but today many binding companies provide a disc that is compatible with the Burton insert pattern.
4x4 was the standard for several years with 4x2 becoming more common. They both use a 4-hole disc, but the 4x2 pattern offers more stance options because the inserts are closer together.
With over a year under its belt, overwhelming retail sell-through, rider support, contest victories, design awards and test results, it is clear that Banana Tech is truly a major step forward in the development/evolution of a truly functional snowboard geometry.
Banana Technology, like Magne-Traction before it, begins with the premise that a snowboard is not a ski. Banana Technology replaces camber with rocker “banana” between your feet. When you stand on your board, pressure is applied inward to the edge area at and between your feet as your weight presses out the rocker. The Banana Technology flex pattern is slightly stiffened at the tip and tail to increase pop and stability on big landings. Magne-Traction is incorporated into the Banana Technology creating Banana-Traction (as it should be on every freestyle snowboard) to improve edgehold and put even more control underfoot at your balance point. The end result is a board that is loose and catch-free, presses boxes, rails and jibs extremely well with the preset rocker, maintains pop with a stiffened tip and tail, and turns easily on hardpack and ice when the built-in rocker is put on edge. The built-in rocker curve makes the board float naturally in powder and the firm nose and tail prevent the board from folding in chunky conditions. The future is Bananas!
Magne-Traction takes the two contact points found on a conventional snowboard, and replaces them with seven contact points to create unmatched grip and control, whether you are on rails, groomed runs, ice or powder!
