Women's snowboarding gear: More than pinking up

In the ski world, Jeannie Thoren conducts clinics for women, as a representative of Dynastar. (I met Thoren a few years ago, and wrote a few words about my visit.)

Would women benefit from gender-specific snowboards and bindings? Thoren (who has tried riding a time or two) said yes. I don't know enough about the design or physics of either bindings or boards to have an informed opinion.

But one thing I do believe is that you've got to have something that's not just simply "pinked up."

Last winter I received a press kit from ski-doo USA, one of the leading manufacturers of snowmobiles. A description of one of the company's helmets had this groaner: "Women riders will also be drawn to the pink version of the new" helmet.

Really? I know plenty of women who like pink, but many who don't. It will take more than "pinking up" to reach women.

But to get back to snowboarding, here's a question for the ladies: Have you tried women's snowboards or bindings? Do you see any value in them? If so, how does the gender-specific nature of the gear help you?