Winter X Games Equipment: What they use to become the best of the best

Snowboarding
Currently there are approximately 50 different snowboard manufacturers in the market making equipment. With almost 85 percent of the market share held by the top 13 brands competition is naturally fierce and it is not uncommon for a company to fail within the first year. The consolidation of snowboard manufacturers has therefore led to fewer brands to choose from and an overall higher quality of equipment produced.

Just as the popularity of the sport has exploded over the past ten years so has evolution of the equipment. Manufacturers today are focusing more on refinement and specialization. Because of this change, center fins, bolt-on metal edges and wide short bullet-shaped boards that were sold in the 80s are no longer available.

Snowboard clothing is designed to reinforce stress areas and provide padded support.

Snomobiling
The snowmobiles used in Winter X Games competitions are of the pro-open variety and are anything but stock quality. These super-modified sleds typically have a stock chassis and hood and from there, almost anything goes. The only requirements racers are held to are that of the World Snowmobile Association, which state that the snowmobiles must be a minimum weight of 435 pounds wet, must not exceed a maximum engine size of 800cc for SnoCross and 1000cc for HillCross. The skis on the sleds may not exceed 42.5 inches for SnoCross machines and 136 inches for HillCross machines.

Body protection is mandated in snomobiling. A rider must use a helmet, chest and upper arm protection and over the ankle boots. Riders use "motocross-style" helmets with visors, extended chin protection and goggles.

Moto X
The motorcycles used in the big air competition vary little from freestyle bikes and the bikes motocross racers use. Although some riders have been experimenting with extra foot pegs and handles on the seat, there are virtually no after market products designed specifically for big air competition. The riders do however make modifications to their bikes before they compete with them. Much like NASCAR, the bikes on which the top pros compete will often vary greatly from the stock model on the showroom floor.

Riders wear knee-high plastic boots, chest protectors, heavy nylon pants, and full-face helmets to protect themselves from the machine as they ride. Goggles gloves and racing jerseys are standard issue as well.

Skiing
All skis share the same attributes: length, side cut, camber, longitudinal flex, torsional flex, weight, swing weight, and dampening. The adjustments of these elements create different performance qualities in different skis. There are many different types of skis that all perform differently. Which ski one uses depends on choice and conditions. Ski choices include downhill, fat, giant slalom, mogul, slalom, and twin tips.

Racers compete in speed suits -- tight lycra / latex one-pieces that improve aerodynamics and can add up to 15 miles per hour to a downhiller's top speed.

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