the base of a snowboard is made of polyethylene plastic.
the base of a snowboard is made of polyethylene plastic.
what is the base of a snowboard made of?
polyethylene plastic
snowboards are generally constructed of a hardwood core which is sandwiched between multiple layers of fibreglass. some snowboards incorporate the use of more exotic materials such as carbon fiber, kevlar, aluminium (as a honeycomb core structure), and have incorporated piezo dampers. the front (or "nose") of the board is upturned to help the board glide over uneven snow. the back (or "tail") of the board is also upturned to enable backwards (or "switch") riding. the base (the side of the board which contacts the ground) is made of polyethylene plastic. the two major types of base construction are extruded and sintered. an extruded base is a basic, low-maintenance design which basically consists of the plastic base material melted into its form. a sintered base uses the same material as an extruded base, but first grinds the material into a powder, then, using heat and pressure, molds the material into its desired form. a sintered base is generally softer than its extruded counterpart, but has a porous structure which enables it to absorb wax. this wax absorption (along with a properly done 'hot wax'), greatly reduces surface friction between the base and the snow, allowing the snowboard to travel on a thin layer of water. snowboards with sintered bases are much faster, but require semi-regular maintenance and are easier to damage. the bottom edges of the snowboard are fitted with a thin strip of steel, just a couple of millimeters wide. this steel edge allows the board to grab or 'dig into' hard snow and ice (like the blade of an ice skate), and also protects the boards internal structure. the top of the board is typically a layer of acrylic with some form of graphic designed to attract attention, showcase artwork, or serve the purpose similar to that of any other form of printed media. flite snowboards, an early designer, pressed the first closed-molded boards from a garage in newport, rhode island, in the mid-1980s. snowboard topsheet graphics can be a highly personal statement and many riders spend many hours customizing the look of their boards. the top of some boards may even include thin inlays with other materials, and some are made entirely of epoxy-impregnated wood. the base of the board may also feature graphics, often designed in a manner to make the board's manufacturer recognizable in photos.
snowboard
modern snowboarding began in 1965 when sherman poppen, an engineer in muskegon, michigan, invented a toy for his daughters by fastening two skis together and attaching a rope to one end so he would have some control as they stood on the board and glided downhill. dubbed the "snurfer" (combining snow and surfer) by his wife nancy, the toy proved so popular among his daughters' friends that poppen licensed the idea to a manufacturer, brunswick corporation, that sold about a million snurfers over the next decade. and, in 1966 alone, over half a million snurfers were sold. later versions of the "snurfer" were flat planks of wood with a pointed bent upward tip with a rope connected to help keep control of the board and later models closer to the modern snowboard made up of various components.
snowboarding