Great for seasoned riders and those completely new to snowboarding, Burton's classic freestyle-oriented Mission Snowboard Binding gives you a seamless fit with minimal hassles--so you can focus on your ride or learning the basics. In the old days snowboard binding designers crafted their stuff with ultra-rigid baseplates made with metals. The metal baseplate approach was pretty unfriendly for beginners, and that's why Burton was one of the first to opt for non-metal binding baseplates because metal tends to be either too inflexible or too likely to bend out of shape. The Mission has a slightly rigid, lightweight baseplate design that features a blend of nylon and short glass fibers. EVA padding along the baseplate helps absorb the jolts and shocks associated with air landings. This season Burton created a modified Team Skyback for the Mission, giving the hi-back a relaxed forward lean that's ideally suited for new riders. The Mission also features a new Primostrap over the ankle that's