Board Selection

Author: George Cant - DesignCartel.com.au

Choosing the right board may seem like a daunting task, especially when you look at the vast variety of snowboards on the market today. The reality is that for a good days riding it’s not all that hard if you know the right questions to ask yourself while making your selection. The key to the process is to remember you need to choose a board that fits with your personal requirements first before being dazzled by fancy graphics and marketing jargon.

Personal Characteristics

Q1. What is your weight?

Your weight is going to closely relate to the flex and feel of a board. Most manufacturers specify a recommended rider weight range which they believe their products will perform best within. This weight range relates to the forces required by the rider to properly operate the board. As a general rule, softer boards will feel more playful and forgiving while stiffer boards will feel more responsive and stable. When comparing different board categories you’ll find that freestyle boards generally have softer flexes than freeride boards.

Q2. What is your boot size?

The waist width of your board will need to match your boot size. The general rule is that the larger your boot size the wider the board and vice versa. If you select a board that’s too narrow for your boot you’ll end up with toe and heel drag, causing your boots to dig into the snow when making a turn. If the waist width is too large for your boot then you may require more energy to get on your edge and into a turn. The positive to a wider board is that it can provide a little more stability which is great for beginners or rail riding. If you’re unsure, then you’ll be happier on a wider board than a narrower board.

Q3. How tall are you?

Your height will play a role in the board length that you select. Freestyle boards are generally ridden shorter in length than freeride boards. As a rule of thumb, if you select a board around your chin height and move up or down in length from there (depending on the type of terrain you’ll spend most of your time riding) then you should be pretty happy with the board length.

Q4. What type of terrain do you like to ride and what areas of the mountain will you spend most of your time riding?

Below is a list of typical terrain types with some suggestions of the board features generally desirable for such terrain.  

Street

Description: rails, boxes, urban jibs.
Board type: twin
Stance position: centred
Relative flex: very soft

Park

Description: kickers, big airs, tricks, jibs, groomed snow.
Board type: twin
Stance position: centred
Relative flex: soft

All Mountain

Description: mixed snow conditions, natural kickers and jibs, high speeds.
Board type: directional twin or directional
Stance position: centred or setback
Relative flex: medium / stiff

Pipe

Description: high speed, groomed snow, transitions, big airs, tricks.
Board type: twin
Stance position: centred
Relative flex: stiff

Backcountry

Description: powder, deep snow, surf style, big mountain.
Board type: directional
Stance position: setback
Relative flex: medium
 

Q5. What is your ability level?

Below are three of the most common rider ability levels. The suggested board features are typical of what a snowboard instructor may suggest for each category.

Beginner

Board type: directional
Stance position: setback stance
Relative flex: soft

The ideal beginner’s board should be one that gives you a feeling of control and confidence. It should allow you to maneuver the board under your feet and give you the forgiveness you need to enjoy and progress with the sport.

Intermediate

Board type: twin, directional twin, or directional
Stance position: rider’s preferred stance
Relative flex: soft / medium flex

Once you’ve grasped the basics and have a better idea of the type of terrain you like to ride, you may either choose a directional or twin board. The choice is totally up to you and you’ll have to take all the variables listed above into consideration. A soft to medium board is still going to give you a forgiving ride that again will let you enjoy and progress with the sport.

Advanced

Being a seasoned rider you’ll know what you like in a board and what you don’t. You may start to develop a quiver of boards that allow you to select a board based on the conditions. A directional pow board for a powder day or a twin for hitting the park and progressing your freestyle tricks.
 

Q6. What is your budget and what features / benefits do you get for your money?

An important question and one to be carefully considered when choosing a snowboard. These days snowboards are packed with features and the more you pay, generally the more features you get. New technologies, materials and processes tend to drive the cost of boards so it’s important to really understand these features and how they benefit you as a rider so that you’re not paying for features/benefits that you don’t need.

Within your budget choose the board that benefits you most, not necessarily the one that has the coolest graphic or the most features. To learn more about the technical characteristics of a snowboard and how they will influence your ride, read the article on board characteristics.

Q7. That’s all pretty technical, is there an easier way to select a board?

At the end of the day the easiest and best way to choose the right board for you is to ride a few and see how they feel. Demo days are one of the best ways to get an on-snow test run before making a selection. If this isn’t possible then your local retailer should be well equipped with the knowledge to help you choose that new board!

If you have any questions, ask one of our shop staff on the Boardworld Forums.