What are snowboards made of?

The Burton Guides always receive a few repeat questions: What is my warranty status? What is my purpose in life? What are snowboards made of? And while we certainly have all the answers to those first two questions (your new gear is on the way, and your purpose is to have as much fun as possible), this overview is designed to answer that third question. Because if you strap a snowboard to your feet and huck yourself down a mountain, it’s reasonable to want to know what that snowboard is made of.

Pro tip: This article covers what snowboards are made of. If you’re interested in how snowboards are made, consider booking a free tour of Craig’s Prototype Facility in Burlington, Vermont.

Parts of a Snowboard

To begin with, let’s review some basic snowboard anatomy. A snowboard is made of several different components and each one of those components, each of which is made up of unique materials.

• Topsheet
• Core
• Fiberglass
• Epoxy
• Sidewall
• Edges
• Base
• Mounting System

Topsheet

The topsheet of a snowboard is the topmost layer that faces upward while it’s being ridden. Snowboard topsheets can be made of nylon, wood, fiberglass, aluminum, or polyurethane (or a composite of multiple materials) and may include graphics or textures.

How does the topsheet influence performance?

• Topsheet material can impact the overall weight of the snowboard (a fiberglass topsheet can be lighter than a wood topsheet, for example).
• Topsheet material can impact the flex of a snowboard (an aluminum topsheet will yield stiffer torsional flex, for example).

Core

The core is the inner layer(s) that makes up a snowboard. A snowboard core is usually constructed with strips of laminated wood and other materials. Common snowboard wood core materials include beech, birch, aspen, bamboo, and paulownia. Non-wood snowboard core materials include carbon, kevlar, and aluminum.

Note: Carbon and kevlar are mostly used as reinforcements within the fiberglass layer of a snowboard but are sometimes part of the actual core. With that said, other manufacturers take a holistic approach and include the fiberglass and any reinforcements when discussing interior materials; that is how we get “carbon core” snowboards.

How does the core influence performance?

• The core is the central component of a snowboard. It provides much of the structure, and broadly defines attributes like weight, strength, and flex.
• Different core materials provide different rides, so read the manufacturer’s description carefully to find a board that works for you.

Fiberglass

Most snowboards include two layers of fiberglass (or just “glass”), one on each side of the core. This fiberglass is made of woven or stitched glass strands, with different types of fiberglass distinguishable by the direction of the strand weave.

During the manufacturing process, shapers adhere the fiberglass to the snowboard core with a brushed-on epoxy. Carbon strands (stringers) are added to the fiberglass layers in higher-end snowboards for added stiffness and pop.

In snowboard manufacturing, there are three types of fiberglass: unidirectional, biaxial, and triaxial.

How does fiberglass material influence performance?

• Unidirectional: In unidirectional fiberglass, the glass strands are oriented in the same direction. In a snowboard, unidirectional fiberglass delivers high longitudinal stiffness and is typically paired with stringers or other technology to ensure torsional reliability (the stiffness from edge to edge across the waist).
• Biaxial: In biaxial fiberglass, the glass strands are weaved together in two directions at 90 degrees to each other. In a snowboard, biaxial fiberglass delivers soft and consistent torsional and longitudinal flex that is smooth and buttery.
• Triaxial: In triaxial fiberglass, the glass strands are weaved together in three directions, at +45 degrees, 0 degrees, and –45 degrees. In a snowboard, triaxial fiberglass delivers increased torsional stiffness with the same weight and strength as biaxial glass.

Science alert: Fiberglass is more flexible than carbon fiber, stronger than many metals by weight, and is non-magnetic and non-conductive.

Epoxy

Epoxy (or resin) holds everything inside a snowboard together and provides adhesion for the fiberglass layers. The epoxies used in snowboards are specifically engineered to be strong, flexible, and tolerant of low temperatures. However, they are often petroleum-based and can harm the environment and the people who use them, which is precisely why Burton partnered with Entropy Resins on Super Sap®, a resin formulated with bio-based materials that reduce its carbon footprint by 50% over conventional all-petroleum based epoxies.

Does epoxy influence performance? Different epoxies are unlikely to produce noticeable performance differences. But without them, there would be no snowboards to ride at all.

Sidewall

The area along the perimeter of a snowboard between the metal edge and the topsheet is referred to as the sidewall. Sidewalls are generally made from an outer layer of plastic or urethane and an internal layer of rubber, aluminum, or wood for additional shock absorption.

There are three types of sidewall construction: sidewall, cap, and half-cap. It is worth noting that cap and half-cap sidewalls are no longer common and most manufacturers favor sandwich construction for its durability and reliability.

How do the sidewall material and construction influence performance?

• Sidewall: The industry standard, sidewall (or sandwich) construction snowboards feature flat internal layers and a separate sidewall (made of plastic or urethane) along the edge to protect the core. Sidewall construction allows good power transmission to the edges.
• Cap: Cap construction snowboards feature topsheet/fiberglass layers that are rolled over the sides of the core down to metal edges. Cap construction is usually lighter and with a softer “poppiness.”
• Half-cap: A combination of sidewall construction and cap construction, half-cap construction snowboards feature an internal fiberglass layer that is rolled over the sides of the core down to the metal edges with the topsheet only wrapping halfway over and a separate sidewall (made of plastic or urethane) joining the topsheet to the metal edge. Half-cap construction is typically light and responsive.

Edges

The smooth metal sides that run along the perimeter of a snowboard are called edges. Think: No metal, no edge. Yes metal, yes edge. Full-wrap edges completely enclose a snowboard and partial-wrap edges only run along the sides where the snowboard comes in contact with the snow.

How do the edges influence performance?

• Steel: Steel edges are standard and can take a beating for the life of the snowboard, only requiring minimal maintenance like sharpening and cleaning.
• Stainless steel: Stainless steel edges provide the same level of performance with the added benefit of rust resistance.

Base

The base of a snowboard is the bottom layer that is in contact with the snow while it’s being ridden. Snowboard bases are typically made of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene—more commonly referred to by the tradename P-Tex. Polyethylene is well known for its low moisture absorption and low friction coefficient—both characteristics that are ideal for snowboard bases.

How does the base material influence performance?

• Extruded polyethylene: Characteristics of extruded base snowboards include low cost of ownership, low cost of repair, and less frequent maintenance.
• Sintered polyethylene: Characteristics of sintered base snowboards include higher speeds and increased durability. Sintered base descriptions may include a number (for example, sintered 5,000). This number indicates the material's molecular weight; the higher the number, the better quality the base is.
• Wax-infused sintered polyethylene: Characteristics of wax-infused sintered base snowboards include higher speeds and maximum wax retention for ready-to-rip action, every day.

Mounting System

Snowboard mounting systems are distinguished by the hole pattern they use for attaching snowboard bindings. Common hole patterns on snowboards include 4x4, 4x2, 3D, and The Channel®. The Channel mounting system from Burton is made of extruded aircraft-grade aluminum while most other screw inserts are made of steel or stainless steel.

How does the mounting system influence performance?

• The Channel allows for nearly infinite mounting options, since the snowboard binding can be oriented at any width, angle, or setback. Removing the stance hole patterns creates less resistance underfoot and when The Channel is combined with EST snowboard bindings, there is a much more accurate flex and feel.
• Non-Channel hole patterns allow for slightly less personalization but are generally suitable for most riders.

Pro tip: For more information on snowboard mounting systems, please review How to Mount Snowboard Bindings & Other Binding Basics.