subject: Snowboard Sizing Help [print this page] Snowboard sizing is one of the most important decisions to make when you are contemplating which snowboard you are going to purchase. There are many different aspects that you should take into consideration when deciding which snowboard size is the best one to buy.
The simplest way to decide which snowboard sizing is the most accurate one for you is to lay down on the floor with the snowboard beside you to determine whether or not its length is appropriate is for your height. It is much more accurate to determine snowboard sizing this way instead of holding the snowboard straight up, but no matter which method you decide to use, this is the easiest way to roughly determine the perfect snowboard size. This method is the best method for beginner riders that wont be attempting to snowboard extreme terrain.
However, this method of snowboard sizing is not accurate enough because it does not factor in your weight and snowboard style. There are differences that affect what snowboard size you will be using depending on whether you will be spending time in the park, all over the mountain or in powder,
A park snowboard is much more flexible than a regular snowboard would be, because they are designed to have a lot more pop in them in order to make hitting boxes and jumps much easier than it would be on another board. Besides the flexible design, the snowboard sizing for a park board is smaller than all mountain or powder boards, making it much easier for the rider to control the board. It is through this snowboard sizing that a rider will be able to successfully maneuver the park. A jibbing boards' snowboard sizing should be somewhere along these lines:
If you are more interested in spending time all over the mountain, the snowboard sizing will be a little different than a park board. Here, an all mountain board would be a little bit stiffer and longer than the park board design. These boards are designed in this manner because the riders have a different use for their board. All mountain riders spend more time on the groomed hardpack of various difficulties. Refer to this chart to decide which snowboard sizing for an all mountain snowboard is right for you:
If you feel that you want to spend time chasing powder and enjoying the natural wonders of the backcountry, then you will need a snowboard sizing that is even longer than the all mountain snowboard design. Powder boards were developed to be the longest style snowboard to create the most stability when you are waist deep in freshies. Since the snowboard sizing is much longer, the board is much faster, making it easier to get down the mountain without getting stuck in excessive amounts o powder. Since snowboard sizing varies so drastically, at the end of the day, it is all about your own personal preference. However, depending on what you feel is best for you, your powder snowboard sizing should be 2-3 centimeters longer than an all mountain board or 7-8 centimeters longer than a park board
While people don't really think that snowboard sizing holds that much importance to how they ride, it actually does make a difference. Once you determine what type of riding you will be doing, choosing the snowboard sizing will be that much easier.
