A snowboard binding for fastening a snowboard boot to a snowboard includes a baseplate adapted to be mounted on the snowboard and side walls projecting vertically upward. An instep element is mounted over the baseplate and adapted to reach over the instep of the snowboard boot. A tread element is coupled to the instep element and movable downward a displacement distance for moving the instep element into a closed position. Flexible tensile elements couple the tread element to the instep element and the flexible tensile elements are mounted on respective sides of the instep element. Deflection elements engage each of the tensile elements. Each of the deflection elements are positioned above the baseplate a distance at least as great as the displacement distance.
