Base - Bottom side of the snowboard, the part of the board that touches the snow. Snowboard bases are made in one of two ways: sintered or extruded. A sintered base is superior - it's more durable, faster and holds wax better than an extruded base. It's also more expensive and difficult to repair. If you're looking for high performance, go with a sintered base; for a board on a budget, an extruded model will do.

Bevel - The degrees of angle to which the edges of a snowboard are tuned.

Bindings - The two pieces that attach your boots to your board.

Boots - Kinda like shoes, snowboard boots lace up in one way or another onto your feet, offering support and control to allow you to manipulate your board, and help you avoid foot and ankle injuries.

Camber - The amount of space beneath the center of a snowboard when it lays on a flat surface and its weight rests on the tip and tail. This is the gentle arch the board makes when you rest it on a flat surface. It's closely related to flex: the higher the camber, the more pressure the board puts at the nose and tail. A Flat camber indicates a board may spin easily, which can be good for certain freestyle moves. In a used board, however, it may also be a sign that the board is worn out. In most new boards you want a slightly springy camber, which helps stabilize the board at higher speeds and on hard snow, and also makes it easier to turn.

Capped - defines a snowboard construction style where the top sheet wraps down over the top radius of the core all the way around the perimeter of the board. As opposed to Sandwich construction (see below).

Contact Points- The points at which the board contacts the snow with out the pressure of the rider being displaced on the board. This is also called the boards wheel base. The contact points can be found by placing the board on a smoothe, flat surface then slide a piece of paper under the center of the snowboard, slide it toward the nose or tail until it stops.

Edges - The length of metal that runs down each side of the snowboard.

Effective Edge - The length of metal edge on the snowboard which touches the snow; it is the effective part which is used to make a turn. Therefore, it does not include the edge of the tip and tail. The effective edge is in contact with the snow when the board is in a carved turn. A longer effective edge makes for a more stable, controlled ride; a shorter effective edge makes for a looser, easier turning board.

Flex - used to describe the stiffness and pattern of how a snowboard flexes. Flex determines how a board will go into and out of a turn. This is how a board absorbs to various snow conditions. Flex works in harmony with sidecut.

Flex Point- The flex point is located between the two bindings and is the point where the board begins or ends its flex and allows for sidecut radius contact.

Front Foot - The foot mounted closest to the nose. A regular-footer's left foot and a goofy-footer's right foot.

Frontside - The frontside of the snowboard is the side where the toes rest; and the frontside of the snowboarder is the side to which his/her chest faces.

Leash - A retention device used to attach the snowboard to the front foot so that it doesn't run away.

Length - Measured from the tip of the board to the tail, usually refered to in Centimeters (cm).

Nose- The front end of the snowboard, specifically the tip.

Nose Length- length of board from the widest part of the boards nose to the tip of the nose.

Nose width - the widest part of the board measured across the front tip or nose area of the board.

Overall Length- Measured from the tip of the board to the tail, usually referred to in Centimeters (cm).

Rocker - The opposite of camber, so when the snowboard is placed on a flat surface, it rests only on the center portion.

Running length - The range of the bottom of the snowboard that comes in contact with the snow.

Sandwich - defines a snowboard construction style where the layers of a snowboard’s composition are shaved along the edge, and a plastic or urethane sidewall is inserted to finish off the board’s construction. As opposed to Capped construction (see above).

Side Cut Radius - This is the measurement of how deeply or shallowly the boards cut is from the nose of the board to the waist (or middle of the board). This is what helps the board turn. The smaller the sidecut radius the tighter you will be able to turn. A board with a larger sidecut will make big arching turns. It is the radius of a circle that makes the hourglass shape of the snowboard and thus how it is defined and measured. It works in conjunction with the running length of the snowboard.

Side Cut Depth - usually measeured in mm. This is the actual amount of sidecut a board has. It is measured as the difference between the widest point and the narrowest point.

Sidewall – a piece of plastic or urethane inserted along the edge of a snowboard, enclosing the inner layers of the board’s structure.  Companies like Ride (check out their Slime Walls!) have gone to great lengths to optimize this piece of the board to maximize flex, durability, and otherwise alter and perfect a board’s characteristics.

Snowboard - A highly-technical piece of innovative artwork that helps you shred the fluffy (or hard packed, icy) white stuff. Not to be confused with skis, which suck.

Stance - The position of one's feet on the snowboard.

Tail - The rear tip of the snowboard.

Tail Length- length of board from the widest part of the boards tail to the tip of the tail.

Tail Width - the widest part of the board measured across the rear tip or tail area of the board.

Toe edge - The edge of the snowboard where your toes sit.

Top- Opposite of the base, top of the board is where the bindings are mounted and the rider stands.

Twin Tip - The board has an identical tip and a tail so that the board may be ridden similarly in both directions.

Waist Width - The narrowest point of the board. This is usually the middle of the sidecut, located between the bindings.

Weight of Board - The measurement of how heavy the board is when lifted up, some are lighter than others.