How to Determine a Snowboard Stance

To snowboard like a pro requires, you need a stance that maximizes your snowboarding ability. There are a few different factors to take into account when figuring out your stance, and each of them has a significant impact on your snowboarding style. Follow these steps to determine your correct snowboard stance.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Figure out if you're "goofy" or "natural." You're "goofy" if you put your right leg first. A "natural" places the left leg forward. There is no correct way to ride, only what is most comfortable for you.
2. Get the stance width correct. Finding the right width between your feet requires your striking a balance between stability and flexibility. Start on the board with your feet roughly shoulder width apart, and then experiment with different widths. You'll find that as you increase the width you increase stability but decrease maneuverability. Decreasing the width makes you more flexible but also more prone to falling.
3. Discover at what angles you should place your feet on the board. For your front foot, experiment with 15- or 30-degree angles, while limiting the back foot to the lower end of the spectrum.
4. Find the right posture so you can use your entire body to fluidly maneuver the board down the hill. You should have a small bend in your knees, but your back should remain relatively straight. Keep your shoulders are loose and your arms out for added balance.