Computer Technology's Impact on Snowboards

In the 1960s and 1970s, snowboards weren't designed as much as adapted from other sports equipment. Early designers modified skis or mimicked surfboard shapes to create their snowboard models, but the 21st century snowboarding industry is more technologically complex. Computers play a role in design, manufacturing and in scientific research on snowboards.

  1. Design

    • Computer software is a standard tool for designing snowboards and snowboard accessories. Burton Snowboards, for example, recommends that anyone who wants to design Burton snowboard boots have experience working in Photoshop Illustrator. Using computers, snowboard designers create detailed drawings, illustrations, artwork, or blueprints, as well as figure out the aerodynamics of different designs. Omatic Snowboards lets snowboarders try out the company's product in return for feedback, then uses a computer to compile users' reviews in order to improve the boards.

    Manufacturing

    • As snowboard manufacturing becomes more sophisticated, computers play a key role. Palmer Snowboards, for example, uses 100 layers of wood in each of its boards, using computer-controlled equipment to cut the boards to fit the specifications of each model. Computer-guided manufacturing also pre-impregnates glass or carbon fibers used in Palmer's boards with epoxy resins. The company says "prepreg" allows it to distribute the resin more precisely than hand-applying liquid resin does, improving the boards' strength-to-weight ratio.

    Research

    • Researchers studying snowboard and snowboards rely on computers to help collect data. A 2003 Stanford University study used computers to calculate the mechanical characteristics of snowboards -- bending, stiffness, flexing -- and relate them to the use of wood, foam, fiber and polymers in the boards' composition. A 2009 University of Auckland study set up a force plate to measure the energy generated by snowboard jumps. The researchers then used computer calculations and digital imaging to calculate the impact on snowboarders' feet and legs and the potential for injury.

    Novelties

    • Signal Snowboards, which has created snowboards with built-in boom boxes, paintball guns and electric guitars, came up with a new idea in 2011 as a tribute to Apple founder Steve Jobs: a snowboard with an iPad built into it. The company built the "iShred" snowboard with a one-piece aluminum body, then worked on the design.