By John Chorlton

November 1, 1999

Boards built for pipes, spinning, and jibbing. The freestyle board is built for progressive riders who want to shed ounces in order to decrease swing weight so spins come with ease. Performance features, like carbon stringers and rubber dampening devices, bring an edge to freestyle riders' technical game.

Stiffness in the tip and tail offers better pop for getting into the air and more stability for landings. A freestyle snowboarder needs deep sidecut to allow for quick edge-to-edge transfers. Freestyle boards incorporate the newest technology because, like the riders, the designers are driven to innovate-making boards lighter and stronger while constantly searching out new manufacturing techniques and materials. This year's high-tech boards will expedite the growth of freestyle riding to new levels as we move into the next millennium. -John Chorlton