This is a quick guide to help answer the first common snowboarding question: what size snowboard do i need?

People will usually ask: what length snowboard do I need? however, an often missed question, but just as crucial is the question: what width snowboard do I need? The length AND width are both very important with regards to finding and buying the right size snowboard for yourself.

When you become a more advanced snowboarder the right size snowboard also depends on the style of riding you intend on doing; tricks in the park, racing or back country powder riding for example.

Determine What Size Snowboard Do I Need: Length

Snowboard length is shown in centimeters and is often shortened to the last two digits only. For example, a Burton S-Series 62 Snowboard measures 162cm long (tip to tail). A small kid’s snowboard can be only 100cm in length whereas a long racing snowboard or power snowboard can reach 190cm in length and sometimes even longer!

To start determining the answer to your question: what size snowboard do i need?… begin by measuring the snowboards length against your height. When standing the snowboard up straight, a board that reaches somewhere around your collar bones and chin is a short board. Shorter snowboards are much easier to maneuver and throw about so they are good for learning on and lend themselves very well to tricks & freestyle riding in snowboard parks and half-pipes.

A snowboard that is of a medium length will reach between your chin and nose when stood on it’s tip or tail. This is a suitable length snowboard for intermediate to advanced snowboarders. These riders may take on a variety of terrains including steeps and snowboard parks.

What would be considered a long sized snowboard would reach from your eye level to anywhere within a few inches above your head. A long snowboards purpose would be for deep powder riding (snowboards should also be very wide for this too), big mountain terrain riding and high speed race carving.

If you are heavy for your height you can stick by these rules as well but you should also look at snowboards with a stiffer flex. So to the opposite effect of this if you are a light person aim for boards that have a softer flax. Keep in mind that this is a general set of guidelines to help get you going and individual preferences and riding styles may, and eventually probably will, sway your decisions as to what size board you prefer.

Determine What Size Snowboard Do I Need: Width

As previously mentioned snowboard length size can be determined with both the guidelines and some personal preference. With snowboard width size your options are less flexible as it is directly linked to the size of your feet. Snowboarders who’s feet are small require narrow snowboards and at the other end snowboarders with bigger feet need to use wider snowboards. Many manufacturers actually make snowboards specifically for individuals with larger feet. If you do have big feet be careful when choosing your snowboards bindings as some can add even more length to surface area your feet take up and if it is already an issue you want to minimise this as much as possible, not make it worse.

Again as with the length, the width of a snowboard is displayed in centimeters and you’ll find this information within the snowboards specifications as waist width. A snowboards specifications is usually found on the sales tag, manufacturers catalog, the brands website or even occasionally on the snowboard itself (usually between the two binding areas). To figure out the correct snowboard width, lay the board out flat and stand on it. Either strap-in to your bindings or just stand in them whilst making sure your stance is exactly the same as when you normally ride. This is crucial because if you increase the angle of your feet in your stance then less of your snowboards width is going to be taken up by your feet.

When you are strapped in on your snowboard and are in your riding position check to see how much ‘over-hang’ you get from your toes and heals. Your boots need to be either aligned with or a little over the snowboards edges. If you find your heels & toes are not coming close to the snowboards edge you will be unable to put proper pressure on your edges when making a turn plus your edge to edge control will suffer. If you find your toes and heels are hanging over the edges of your snowboard to much they will then be likely to ‘catch’ the ground during a turn causing you to loose your edge in the snow. This is called toe-drag. You want to aim for less than 1inch over-hang.

That concludes this guide for finding the right size snowboard. You should now be able to answer your question: what size snowboard do i need?