There are three varieties of snowboards on the market today: freestyle, freeride (all mountain), and Alpine (carving). Each board has its own manufacturing process and materials, as well as its own form, flex pattern, and size. The sort of snowboard you ride should be appropriate for your riding style. There are also different types of turns in snowboarding. You can do kickers, jumps, carves, or whatever else your little heart desires. Kicking is when you jump off one foot and land on the other while carving is when you slide on two feet with both heels touching the ground. Alpine boards are for more advanced riders who want a very specific type of turn. They are stiffer than other boards and have more edge-to-edge contact so they can handle more aggressive riding. Alpine boards are generally longer and narrower than other boards, and have an angle at the end called a nose that's usually less than 15 degrees. The noses of other boards tend to be more curved, with angles of about 30 degrees or more. Alpine boards are designed for high speed maneuvers on hardpack snow or ice. Because they're stiffer, they can hold their shape better during extreme maneuvers such as kickers or flips. Other boards might have more flexibility which would help them do better on softer surfaces but then they could lose control when you hit them hard during an attack.