When choosing a snowboard, there are a number of different factors that go into our choice, including:
These two questions will determine what shape, flex, and profile of snowboard will serve you best.
No matter what your level, once you’ve done the research and chosen the board that has the right shape, flex, and profile that you’re after, the next spec to consider is board size.
Find your board: Check out our Snowboard Size Calculator, designed to accurately recommend the right sized board for you!
Board size recommendations can vary, based on the following factors:
- Your height;
- Your weight;
- Your goals.
In this article we’ll go through these main factors and by the end of it, you'll feel confident in knowing how to choose the best snowboard size for where you’re at in snowboarding.
Height vs weight when selecting a snowboard
Within snowboarding there is a long held debate as to what is more important to consider when selecting a snowboard; height or weight.
In my 30+ years of snowboarding I’ve come to believe that height is the most important consideration, unless you’re on the heavier end of the spectrum.
Keep reading as I add my thoughts to the height vs weight debate.
Why rider height is important in selecting a snowboard
In a nutshell, if you get a board that is too small, it will feel more unstable. If you get a board that is too tall, it’ll feel more difficult to control.
I recommend getting a snowboard with a length that comes somewhere between your nose and your shoulders when held up in front of you with its tail on the ground.
I’m recommending a range and not a specific height, because whether you choose the shorter or longer end of that range ties directly into your snowboarding goals, which we’ll explore a little later on in this article.
I think that rider height should be the guiding principle if you’re of an average weight or light for your height, like me.
If I were to strictly follow snowboard height dictated by recommended weight, I would be riding a 152cm long board which would arrive somewhere in the middle of my chest.
A 152cm board would sink in the powder and wouldn’t give me the stability I need for the expert terrain and speed that I ride. I’ve found that a 159cm, which comes to just above my collar bones, strikes the best balance between agility and stability for my height, weight, and riding style.
Recommended weight and why it’s important in snowboard selection
You’ll notice that one of the first items on the spec sheets of many snowboards is the recommended weight range. It’s there for a good reason.
The rule of thumb is, the heavier you are, the longer of a board you want. Think of the following to help you understand why:
Picture a heavy weight sitting in a boat on the water. The heavier the weight, the bigger boat you need to keep the weight afloat. If the boat is too small, the weight will sink.
Now picture that you are that heavy weight, the boat is your snowboard, and the water is fresh, deep powder. To stay afloat, you’ll need a big boat … or board.
When do I size up or down within the recommended ranges for snowboard size?
Within the recommended size range for your height and weight, it is possible to choose a snowboard that is closer to the shorter end of the range or one near the taller end; but why?
If your riding style is more playful, precise, or park oriented, then a shorter board will give you more agility. This can come in handy when making smaller turns in choppy terrain or in the trees.
If you like speed and hard-charging down the mountain, then a longer board will make you feel more stable as you cruise through terrain at higher speeds.
The other reason for getting a longer board is body weight. If you’re on the heavier end of the recommended weight range, you might want to think about sizing up to make sure you float and don’t sink.
It ultimately comes down to your riding style, your ability level and body type. Now you know why you’ll want to make certain choices when it comes to board size.
Conclusion
Before considering snowboard size, it’s important to consider shape, profile, and flex to match your riding style and ability level.
Once you’ve made those choices, then you can move onto choosing snowboard size. I recommend using your height as a starting point.
Within your shoulder-to-nose range, I recommend choosing a board towards the shorter end of the range if you want agility, and towards the longer end of the range if you want stability; choose something that matches your goals.
Lastly, make sure that your actual body weight falls within the recommended weight range of your chosen board to ensure you’re going to float and not sink in powder.
If you want to go a little further down the rabbit hole of choosing board sizes, check out our article, “Volume Shift Snowboards – What Are They?”
