How to Find the Right Size Snowboard

Whether shooting the half-pipe, grinding a rail or nailing a 360 on the downside of your jump, you cannot become the awe-inspiring air dog you strive for if you don’t start with the basics. Good equipment that’s sized to you and your skill level is the only way to make it down the mountain in style.

Things You'll Need

• Snowboard Shop

Instructions

Snowboarding Basics

1. Be honest about your skill level. Before you can choose a board, you need to understand a little about the range and style of different boards, their construction and flexibility, how they hit a mountain and what you can expect from their performance. However, if you’re asking how to find the right size board, clearly this is all new territory. So, being a beginner, you’ll want to start with a beginner board. The good news is that beginning boards are less expensive; the bad news is that if you have an awesome learning curve, you may be trading up before the season is over.

2. Choose a beginner freestyle board, with a deeper side-cut. It’s a good place to start and what it basically means is medium flexibility, with a thickness that will make it easier for the beginner to turn.

3. Stand straight and hold the board vertical to you. The top of the board should just clear your chin. This is the basic rule of thumb; your build and weight are also factors in choosing a board. If you’re a big guy, on the heavier side, you would want a longer, more rigid board than your smaller, lighter counterpart. Also, shorter boards allow for easier maneuvering. If you think you’re going to start out as a hotdog, you may want to consider going a little shorter than typically recommended.

4. Place the board on the floor and stand on it. Considering the size of your foot versus the width of the board is important. The larger your feet, the wider the board you will need. While there is angling when the bindings are attached to the board, it only does so much. For some, a double-wide board is the only realistic solution. Men generally have wider boards than women.