Looking for a new snowboard, whether it be in a real store or online, you will come across a few descriptive terms about the boards that may be a little confusing. One of those words when talking about a quality of a snowboard is flex.

Flex describes how easy it is to bend a snowboard when you try to bend it along its length. You will find that some boards are stiffer than others and it takes more force which usually means the board has a thicker core. Boards that are harder to flex usually grip the snow better and are more stable. They exert greater force on the surface of the snow.

Because of the greater grip and maneuverability they provide racers and heavier riders will have a preference for stiffer boards.

On the other hand, softer-flexing boards are more suited to lighter and less aggressive riders as well as the type of snowboarders who enjoy performing freestyle tricks. Boards that are softer flexing have thinner cores and are generally lighter.

A snowboard also has what is known as a flex pattern which refers to the amount of flex that the board is capable of at different points. A board may be soft at in the front and stiff at the heel or vice-versa. The combination of the different flexes to the board is the flex pattern. The various types of materials used in the construction of snowboards allows for a variety of flex patterns and consequently the performance from one board to the next will also vary.

First you should work out what type of rider you are - aggressive or non-aggressive, light or heavy - and then the type of snowboarding you want to do - mountain, freestyle or freeride. This will help you in deciding the type of flex you will be looking for in your new snowboard.