If you're a freestyle rider who prefers to ride in a snow park rather than on the ski slopes, you'll want a board with a milder flex. This improves maneuverability when performing spins, tricks, and other techniques. We recommend selecting a board with a 1-2 soft flex score. A softer board is better for freestyle riding. If you're a skier or snowboarder who also enjoys surfing, skateboarding, or dancing then you'll want a board that's more rigid. A more rigid board provides greater stability while boarding down the mountain or at the park, which is important when doing flip tricks, long rides, or jumping off jumps. We recommend choosing a board with a 3-4 hard flex score. A harder board is better for more aggressive riding. Flexibility is also important for safety. The more flexible the board, the less likely it is to break if you fall. There are several factors that go into determining a board's flexibility rating including its material, age, and history. For example, a wood board will always be more flexible than a plastic board of the same size and shape. Also, a younger board will usually be more flexible than an older one. Finally, a board that has no history of breaking down will be more flexible than one that has experienced this damage before. There are many different types of materials used to make snowboards, from aluminum to wood to carbon fiber.