Snowboard

Abstract

Some embodiments are directed to a board for riding on a snow surface, comprising a base having a first snow engaging element, a second snow engaging element, and a third snow engaging element positioned on a bottom surface of the base. The first snow engaging element can be positioned beneath a user's front foot during operation of the board and positioned entirely on a forward half of the base. The second and third snow engaging elements can be positioned such that a fore portion of each is positioned beneath a user's front foot during operation of the board and extends toward the rear portion of the board at least to the user's rear foot. In some embodiments, the snow engaging elements can be protrusions, depressions, or otherwise, and can be removably supported by the base.

1 . A board for riding on a snow surface, comprising:
 a base comprising side edges, a top surface, a front end, a back end, and a bottom surface; and   a first snow engaging element, a second snow engaging element, and a third snow engaging element each positioned on the bottom surface of the base;   wherein:
 the first snow engaging element is positioned approximately along a longitudinal centerline of the base and so as to be at least partially beneath a user's front foot during operation of the board, the first snow engaging element being positioned entirely on a forward half of the base; 
 the second snow engaging element is offset from the longitudinal centerline of the base and is at least positioned under the user's rear foot; and 
 the third snow engaging element is offset from the longitudinal centerline of the base and is at least positioned under the user's rear foot. 
   
     
     
         2 . The snowboard of  claim 1 , wherein the first snow engaging element is positioned such that a fore portion of the first snow engaging element is closer to a front end of the base than either the second or third snow engaging elements. 
     
     
         3 . The snowboard of  claim 1 , wherein each of the first, second, and third snow engaging elements have a linear shape in a lengthwise direction. 
     
     
         4 . The snowboard of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third snow engaging elements comprises a depression formed in the base. 
     
     
         5 . The snowboard of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first, second, and third snow engaging elements comprises a protrusion projection away from the base. 
     
     
         6 . The snowboard of  claim 1 , wherein the base of the board comprises at least one channel formed therein, and at least one of the first snow engaging element, second snow engaging element, and third snow engaging element are removably supported within the at least one channel. 
     
     
         7 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the second snow engaging element and the third snow engaging element are approximately symmetrically positioned about an axial center of the base. 
     
     
         8 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the profile of at least one of the first, snow engaging element, second snow engaging element, and third snow engaging element defines a curved snow-contacting surface. 
     
     
         9 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the first snow engaging element, second snow engaging element, and third snow engaging element is discontinuous along the length thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the second snow engaging element and the third snow engaging element are each curved in a lengthwise direction, the curvature approximately matching a curvature of the side edges of the base. 
     
     
         11 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom surface of the base is convex or reverse cambered. 
     
     
         12 . A board for riding on a snow surface, comprising:
 a base comprising side edges, a top surface, a bottom surface, a fore portion, a rear portion, and a mid portion between the fore portion and the rear portion, wherein the fore portion and the rear portion of the base are each upwardly curved away from the bottom surface of the base; and   a first longitudinal protrusion, a second longitudinal protrusion, and a third longitudinal protrusion extending from the bottom surface of the base;   wherein:
 the first longitudinal protrusion is positioned beneath a user's front foot during operation of the board, the first longitudinal protrusion being positioned entirely on a forward half of the base; 
 the first longitudinal protrusion defines an axial centerline that is collinear with the longitudinal centerline of the base; 
 the second longitudinal protrusion is positioned such that a fore portion of the second longitudinal protrusion is positioned beneath a user's front foot during operation of the board, the second longitudinal protrusion extending toward the rear portion of the board at least to the user's rear foot; and 
 the third longitudinal protrusion is positioned such that a fore portion of the third longitudinal protrusion is positioned beneath a user's front foot during operation of the board, the third longitudinal protrusion extending the rear portion of the board at least to the user's rear foot. 
   
     
     
         13 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the base of the board comprises at least one channel formed therein, and at least one of the first longitudinal protrusion, second longitudinal protrusion, and third longitudinal protrusion are removably supported within the at least one channel. 
     
     
         14 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the second longitudinal protrusion is positioned beneath a user's front foot. 
     
     
         15 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the second longitudinal protrusion and the third longitudinal protrusion are approximately symmetrically positioned about the axial center of the base. 
     
     
         16 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the profile of at least one of the first longitudinal protrusion, second longitudinal protrusion, and third longitudinal protrusion defines a curved snow-contacting surface. 
     
     
         17 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one of the first longitudinal protrusion, second longitudinal protrusion, and third longitudinal protrusion defines cutouts along the length thereof configured to permit cross-flow of snow through the cutouts in a direction that is lateral to the length of the protrusion. 
     
     
         18 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first longitudinal protrusion, second longitudinal protrusion, and third longitudinal protrusion comprises a plurality of segments, each of the segments being spaced apart from one another. 
     
     
         19 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the second longitudinal protrusion and the third longitudinal protrusion are each curved in a lengthwise direction, the curvature approximately matching a curvature of the side edges of the base. 
     
     
         20 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the first longitudinal protrusion, second longitudinal protrusion, and third longitudinal protrusion are integrally formed with the bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         21 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the first longitudinal protrusion, second longitudinal protrusion, and third longitudinal protrusion are attached to a bottom surface of the base. 
     
     
         22 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the second and third longitudinal protrusions terminate under the user's rear foot and extend aft of the user's rear foot. 
     
     
         23 . The snowboard of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom surface of the base is convex or reverse cambered. 
     
     
         24 . A board for riding on a snow surface, comprising:
 a base comprising side edges, a top surface, a bottom surface, a forward end portion, a mid portion, and a rear end portion, wherein the forward end portion and the rear end portion of the base are each upwardly curved away from the bottom surface of the base; and   a first longitudinal protrusion, a second longitudinal protrusion, and a third longitudinal protrusion extending from the bottom surface of the base;   wherein:
 the first longitudinal protrusion is positioned closer to the forward end portion of the base than the second longitudinal protrusion and the third longitudinal protrusion; 
 the first longitudinal protrusion being positioned entirely on a forward half of the base and defines an axial centerline that is collinear with the longitudinal centerline of the base; 
 the second and third longitudinal protrusions are positioned such that a rear portion of each the second and third longitudinal protrusions are closer to the rear end portion of the base than the first longitudinal protrusion; 
 at least one of the first longitudinal protrusion, second longitudinal protrusion, and third longitudinal protrusion defines a profile that is curved in a widthwise direction.