Wed, 02/24/2010 - 12:15pmKnow your jib snowboard

Whether you ‘live for the feeling brah’ or like to geek off looking at the latest toe straps; if you snowboard, you will have to get involved with the world of kit.

Jibbing DNA
Shape

Jib boards will only ever be symmetrical, true twins in shape. As powder riding isn’t really top of the list for a jib deck, you aren’t going to need a big floaty nose but will need a centred position and the ability to ride switch easily into and out of different features.
 

 

Sidecut radius

Shallow is the name of the game here, creating a mellow turn arc and thus creating a stable platform that won’t be twitching on entry or landings.
 

Length and waist width

Length-wise, jib boards are generally ridden shorter than your regular steed, making spinning a lot easier and offering more control at lower speeds by generally having less board to get in the way. Waist widths are also typically a bit wider than your average, creating a solid platform on rails and landings.
 

Camber

Increasingly so this year, we’re seeing reverse camber creeping into the jib fraternity. Reverse camber decks have reduced contact areas in touch with snow typically creating a skateboard feel. On rails this makes for much reduced chances of catching an edge and allows for some cracking buttering action on the snow.
 

Flex rating

In a word... low. True jib decks are pretty floppy to create a forgiving ride – useful for recovering sketched out landings.
 

Topsheet

Less expensive biaxial fibreglass is usually used in jib weapons. This also helps to create a softer predictable flex, although in some more technical jib boards you may see triaxial weave used to create a more lively freestyle ride.

 

Base

Extruded is the norm, being inexpensive and super easy to repair, if a bit slower than more tech sintered materials. Some brands are opting for sintruded bases, a halfway solution that offers greater speed with easy repair characteristics. True jib decks are usually pretty poppy.
 

But what is jibbing?

Check out some blogs from Document’s expert blogger Tom Honey – be prepared for tight pants and long hair and dirty steeze!

 

Back to Document's Gear Finder

---

Related stories:

Snowboards

• An intro to buying a snowboard
• Jib snowboards
• Freestyle snowboards
• All mountain snowboards
• Freeride snowboards
• Backcountry snowboards
• The shape
• The topsheet
• The base
• The sidewall

Boots

• Buying a set of boots

Bindings

• Buying bindings

Back to Document’s Gear Finder

---