A snowboard (100, 110) with an automatically deployable retractable braking device, comprising: a) a board member with an opening through a bottom surface and a top surface of the board member, the top surface comprising a riding section of the board member; b) a first automatically deployable braking device attached to the board member adjacent to the opening, comprising: i) a first brake member reversibly pivotal through the opening in the board member; and ii) a pivotal connection between the first brake member and the board member; c) a brake deployment mechanism, d) an operative connection between the brake deployment mechanism and the first brake member, e) a pressure pad mounted on the riding section of the board member, the pressure pad being translatable between a raised position and a lowered position; and f) an operative connection between the pressure pad and the brake deployment mechanism, wherein the brake deployment mechanism comprises: g) a first slider slidably attached to the bottom surface of the pressure pad, h) a first linkage member having a first end pivotally connected to the board member and a second end pivotally connected to the first slider, i) a second slider slidably attached to the board member, j) a second linkage member having a first end pivotally connected to the first slider and a second end pivotally connected to the second slider, wherein the brake deployment mechanism holds the bottom surface of the first brake member below the bottom surface of the board member when the pressure pad is in the raised position; wherein the first brake member further comprises a cam, and wherein the brake deployment mechanism further comprises an actuator that engages with the cam when the pressure pad is in the lowered position and, wherein the actuator is disengaged with the cam when the pressure pad is in the raised position. a) a board member with an opening through a bottom surface and a top surface of the board member, the top surface comprising a riding section of the board member; b) a first automatically deployable braking device attached to the board member adjacent to the opening, comprising: i) a first brake member reversibly pivotal through the opening in the board member; and ii) a pivotal connection between the first brake member and the board member; i) a first brake member reversibly pivotal through the opening in the board member; and ii) a pivotal connection between the first brake member and the board member; c) a brake deployment mechanism, d) an operative connection between the brake deployment mechanism and the first brake member, e) a pressure pad mounted on the riding section of the board member, the pressure pad being translatable between a raised position and a lowered position; and f) an operative connection between the pressure pad and the brake deployment mechanism, wherein the brake deployment mechanism comprises: g) a first slider slidably attached to the bottom surface of the pressure pad, h) a first linkage member having a first end pivotally connected to the board member and a second end pivotally connected to the first slider, i) a second slider slidably attached to the board member, j) a second linkage member having a first end pivotally connected to the first slider and a second end pivotally connected to the second slider, wherein the brake deployment mechanism holds the bottom surface of the first brake member below the bottom surface of the board member when the pressure pad is in the raised position; wherein the first brake member further comprises a cam, and wherein the brake deployment mechanism further comprises an actuator that engages with the cam when the pressure pad is in the lowered position and, wherein the actuator is disengaged with the cam when the pressure pad is in the raised position.