math in snowboarding

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Every element of snowboarding has a mathematical concept hidden behind it. Starting with the size of a board, to the parabola that is created when a rider goes off a jump, or the angle that the board makes during certain tricks. Snowboards come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and the length is usually measured in centimeters. Also, boards range from flexible to stiff. Sizes are based on height and weight a board should come between a person’s chin and nose. Weight plays a major factor in buying a board. The heavier a person is the stiffer the board should be. The board should be more flexible the lighter the person is. Jumps are common features in terrain parks. Every time a rider goes off one a parabola is made. In order to land a jump successfully, the rider needs to calculate the speed they need to travel over the flat part of the jump. This depends on the weight of the rider, heavier rides will need less speed and lighter riders will need more. This is due to the friction that is created under the board. When going off a jump the snowboarder’s body will be fighting gravity that wants to pull him or her down. There are many different rotations that can be preformed off a jump like rotating 360 degrees in the air. For every rotation that does not make a complete circle (i.e. 180 degrees, 540 degrees etc.) the rider is going to land opposite of their default riding stance. Half pipe is another common feature in the terrain park. A halfpipe is usually the length of two football fields and the walls of a halfpipe become vertical towards the top. When riding halfpipe the rider wants to keep there body perpendicular to the walls of the pipe creating a 90 degrees angle. When airing out of the pipe, once again a parabola is formed. Snowboard tricks differ by the angle that the board makes on a box or rail. A boardslide is when the snowboard is

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