What is the correct snowboard size and style for me?

Question

Hello. Im sure you all get a lot of questions like this so I appologize. I went snowboarding yesterday for the first time and i had a really hard time with turning. I think the board might have been too big, but thats what they sized me up with at the resort. One thing that might have made it difficult was that there was a lot of ice, and very little snow. Im 5'11", size 11 or 11.5 shoe, and only 145 lbs, give or take a few. From what ive been seeing i should use a 155cm size board. The resort gave me a 159cm wide board. Anybody have any ideas on what i should get? I just want something for practicing, or learning i should say.
Thank you.

Answer 1

It sounds like a perfect example of someone using your height to judge the length of your board instead of your weight. A 159 could actually be a great snowboard for you as you advance and if you intend to be more of a big mountain freerider. But as a beginner it is a bit long. One issue here could be your size eleven feet. It is quite possible the shop you rented from had a limited selection of wide boards to choose from and that may be why they gave you the longer length (and I have to say they were probably right to do so). Size 11 is right on the cusp of needing a wide board. If you intend to buy a board I would suggest a "mid-wide" board. Anything with a waist width around 25.0 to 25.5 would do you right.

Answer 2

Both the answers are very good and are good answers. Before you buy a board take into consideration what you are going to do with it. If you are in the pipe you will want a much shorter board that can spin easily and if you like to just carve it up then you want a long board which will give you stability. Generally when you buy boards they will have a weight chart on the back that tells you what weight range that particular board has. Go on the longer side of the chart or shorter side depending on where you choose to ride.

One fact that I do want to cover for you is you sound like you got a little frustrated with it your first time. Many beginners do not understand the learning curve of a board vs. skis. Skiers from the very beginning are doing something natural: two skis are facing forward just like you normally walk and they tend to pick things up quickly. Boarding is totally unnatural. You have to teach your body to go sideways with both feet strapped onto the same piece of equipment. I tell most of my students to give snowboarding a try at least 4 or 5 times until they really start to pick it up. Good news though!! When you do get the hang of it that 4th time... your progression is much much faster then a skier.

I highly suggest taking a lesson. The classes go step by step on what to do, and although it may seem slow you will learn the basics which are very improtant and you will fall much less.

Good luck!

Answer 3

hi-

There is alot to consider with a snowboard purchase. The one you have is VERY long for a beginner (which at a resort isn't surprising they just want to get you out of there as fast as they can)

there are three things to consider with a board

Length, Width, and Flex

If you're just beginning you should rent a few times to see what kinds of boards you like riding. You have already ruled out a BIG Mountain board for now which is fine. I'd recommend riding a shorter board. I too have big feet so they always tried to set me up with a WIDE board. Now that I own a couple boards I have risers on them (made by Palmer USA) and my feet don't drag at all. With your weight you can ride a softer board (more flex) as a stiffer board will toss you around. There is no magic formula as to length. They say between mid chest and chin for length. I ride a very short board when I ride park that's 149 cm (I'm 6'1 260)

It's best to make friends with people who work in the stores who sell stuff. Depending on your location (I'm in CO) relates to the kind of quality that you get from your snowboard shop people.

You're looking to get Large or XL bindings for your feet.

But keep on renting and keep with it. There are also "demo's" at mountains where a vendor (i.e. Burton) will set up a tent and let people ride their boards for an hour to see if you like them; many stores will rent brand new boards as demo's which are a little more expensive but you can buy a great board for cheap at the end of the season. I hope this helps. E-mail me if you'd like more information!

Answer 4

The board is suppose to be from the middle of your neck to the top of your nose. The style is going to depend on the kind of snowboarding you do. If you like to go for speed you'll want to go with a long skinny board and this board might need to be as tall as you because it will be longer. If you like to go off jumps and do those kinds of things on your snowboard you'll want to get a board thats again between the middle of your neck and the top of your nose and it should probably be about a quarter of an inch think and its width the size of your foot with your toes just barely hanging over the front.