How to Buy a Snowboard for Children
Purchasing that first snowboard for your child can be quite difficult. If you've never ridden yourself, you probably have no idea what to look for. Luckily for you, children's beginners boards are quite simple and you really only need to focus on a few things.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Determine the type of snowboard to purchase for your child. Snowboards come in a variety of styles that are designed for different types of riding. Children's boards tend to be less discipline-specific, but you may run in to a few styles. For a first board, an entry-level freestyle or all-mountain freestyle will provide a versatile board that is easy to learn and progress on. For older, more experienced children, consider what type of riding they do (halfpipe, park, rails, freeride) and purchase a board accordingly. Better yet, get their input as to what board they would like.
-
2
Size the snowboard. The most important thing for your child's board is that it's sized correctly. Too long of a board and he'll have difficulty controlling it and the learning process will be tough. Too short of a board and he'll be unbalanced and unstable. As a rough idea, the board should come up to between the collar bone and nose when stood on the ground. Beginners will want a board on the shorter end, closer to the collar bone and intermediates could go with a board around the chin or mouth. Have your child stand next to the board to measure out or measure the distance with measuring tape. Board size is denoted in centimeters and children's boards generally range from the low 90's to around 145. Larger than that and you'll be looking at adult boards where your options will expand greatly.
-
-
3
Consider your child's weight. Snowboard size is based on weight in addition to height. Weight becomes particularly important if your child is over or under the average weight for his height. In this case, you'll want to get a larger board (overweight) or smaller board (underweight) than described above. Refer to the manufacturer's suggested heights/weights for the specific board to determine the best size.
-
4
Size up. Let's face it, children grow and they grow fast. Snowboards aren't the cheapest purchase that you'll ever make. Getting a snowboard that's a bit longer than your child's size will allow for some growing room. The problem with sizing up is that it means purchasing a larger board which will be more difficult to maneuver and harder to learn the basics on, especially if your child is just starting out. If you do decide to size up, only go to the next size up and never go above your child's nose. For best results, avoid the urge to size up--your child will learn quickly on the right board and need a new, better board in a year or two anyway.
-
5
Don't overlook width. This isn't usually as important with children's boards but it is worth checking. You want the width of the board to correspond with your child's boot size. The boots should sit across the entire width without hanging over. If there is a lot of room between the toe and the edge of the board, it will limit your child's control. If the toes hang over, it will also hurt your child's control of the board.
-
6
Stick with name brands. For a children's board, it's a good idea to stick with major brands like Burton and Ride. These companies offer a line of quality boards and have a good selection of children-specific boards.
-
1
