SNOWBOARD SIZE CHART
Use the formula below for Height, Weight and Ski Ability to equal the SNOWBOARD LENGTH.
BOARD LENGTH BY WEIGHT
Your weight is the most important factor in determining board length. Having a board that cooperates with your body weight will allow you to ride your best and not have to worry about losing control. If a heavier rider gets a board that is too short, the board tends to get loose and less controllable at higher speeds. A board that is too soft and short can also result in over-flexing and possible wipe-outs. It can go the other way as well. A lighter rider who gets too long of a deck will have a tough time maneuvering and flexing the board. There are some cases when riding style comes into play where it is acceptable to size down your board for a lighter setup and added mobility to help throw down those heavy ass tricks. Freestyle riders who spend most of their time in the park or in the street tend to use sized-down boards for a more skate-inspired style and feel. If you’re on the heavier side, or looking to just ride powder, or both, scaling your board up a bit may also be appropriate. A slightly longer board will help you keep that nose above the snow line, allowing you to float across the fluff at faster speeds. A longer board will also provide a stiffer board response for added stability. Check out the chart below, it’s a guide to the average snowboard length required for a given rider’s weight. It’s also always a good idea to read the manufacturer’s specifications for each deck because every board is designed for specific functions and each model can vary greatly. |
BOARD LENGTH BY HEIGHT
Using the traditional method, some believe a shorter board for your size range should come up between your collar bone and your chin when the board is stood on end. These shorter length boards are good for beginners and freestyle riders. A longer board could reach from your nose to just over your head. The longer length boards are good for powder and high speed. These are very vague guidelines to live by and not as accurate as some of the other methods available, but still a solid rule of thumb that many riders like to implement into their board buying decision. Some snowboarders like to use snowboard sizing calculators. Since most snowboarders ride a board that is 85% to 92% of their own body height, plugging a couple numbers into a simple formula can tell you the board length that might fit you best. The formula is as follows: Your Height (in inches) X 2.54 X 0.88 = Your Recommended Board Length. While this formula may seem like the absolute answer because it involves numbers, math and a bit of homework, it doesn’t mean you’re stuck with the number you get as a result. It is really meant to be used as a starting point when picking out a new deck.
So height is an important variable, but don’t forget to factor in your weight, riding style and the manufacturer’s tech specs for each board as well. With that said, use the chart below as a guide to find the average snowboard length required for a given rider’s height. |
SNOWBOARD SIZE BY SKILL LEVEL
BEGINNER
If you’re still learning how to link turns, you’re a beginner. Beginners should abide by the standard weight, length, and width requirements for snowboards, but you might want to check out some softer boards on the shorter side of your size range. A softer board can help get beginners down the hill quicker by flexing softer. This allows you to have more control over the board with less effort. Stiffer boards require a bit more muscle and exertion, and learning how to ride is already tough enough. It is possible for a board to be too soft. Too soft of a board can actually decrease your ability – the key is finding a balance between flex and stability. As for length, a board on the lower end of your size range will allow you to maneuver the board easier and can also help you link those turns fluently. Scaling down the size of your board will give you more control by slightly slowing you down too. It won’t affect your ability to keep up with your friends necessarily; it just gives you a little extra time to regain control before taking a nasty spill into the woods. Remember, you’ll still want to get a board that is in your size and weight range. Be sure to check out the technical specifications for each board because it varies from company to company, model to model, and year to year. And don’t forget to factor in your personal preference, which is important when developing your style of shred. |
INTERMEDIATE
It’s been a couple seasons now and you’re ready for more. You ride the tow-ropes like a champ, ollie the “closed run” ropes for freshies, and have made friends with all the locals. As an intermediate rider, you can now start to hone-in your skills towards a style of riding you like best. While trying to stay in your snowboard size and weight ranges, look into a board that is suited specifically for the type of riding you do most or would like to improve upon. If you like to do it all and would like to keep that versatility under your feet, then sticking with an All-Mountain type of board in the middle of your snowboard size range is your best bet. If you’d like to start spending more time lapping the park and dialing-in hits on those boxes, a Freestyle board on the lower end of your board size range is standard issue for almost all park rats. Do you really like to get after that pow on the backside of the mountain? A freeride board at the longer end of your size range is a solid choice and will hold up nicely in the deep. If you want more details on these types of boards and others available, please check out the board type section of this reference guide. And once you find a board that you think fits the bill, be prepared to progress because having the right board for the right job can make a huge difference. |
ADVANCED
You know the drill. You’re a seasoned vet with a bag full of tricks, years of experience and a preferred riding style. With this hard-earned experience, you have no problem picking out gear that works for you, but it’s time to start focusing on the details in your riding and on your setup. By now you know the type of board you need and the relative size it should be, but do you really look at the technical specifications to see how they can improve your overall abilities? If you don’t,you should. Now it’s all about fine tuning your already advanced skills so you can have the most fun possible. Start looking at things like sidecut, profile shape, fiberglass, and carbon/kevlar bars. These topics are considered irrelevant by most novice riders; they just want a board with sick graphics and a brand name. True shredders go a bit further than that and actually pay attention to detail. If you would like to know more about these snowboard construction details, refer to the appropriate section of this reference guide. Experiment with several combinations of each subject to find the perfect board to make your session righteous. |