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Choosing the right board is easy with a bit of knowledge and guidance!

For close to 10 years we have helped literally thousands of riders find the perfect snowboarding gear to fit their individual specifications, riding style and budget. From this experience, we have some tips and guidlines to help you narrow the choice down and identify the ideal board and/or gear for you.

If after reading this guideline you are still unsure which board is right for you, contact us and we'll happily help guide you through the decision.

1. Beginner's Boards vs Advanced Boards

What's the difference?

Boards that are more responsive and lighter are generally considered "advanced boards". They tend to utilise more composite materials such as carbon and kevlar, together with other technolgy that enables the rider to achieve a higher level of performance.

Without question, getting a board that's a pleasure to ride is key to your enjoyment, and it's worth shelling out a few extra bucks to get a quality board.

If a board is particularly responsive, this can be a negative for a rider just starting out with the sport as it will react very quickly to any mistakes the rider makes. As a result, the initial learning stages can be a bit more trying. If you're a bit slower picking up new physical activities, go for a more forgiving board. You know yourself. But either way, if you're an absolute beginner and looking to give snowboarding a serious go, try to buy a board that's a step above your current skill level so that it can still come up with the goods once you've progressed past the very early stages and are starting to push your board harder. You'll only be an absolute beginner for a 1-2 days.

2. Board Length

How long should my board be?

Use our snowboard sizing chart below as the starting point, but there's quite a bit more to it than the common misconception about a board simply needing to be around the same height as the rider's chin. That's a myth that has been made popular by lazy rental store staff that want to get you in and out as quick as possible rather than spending time and care to ensure you're getting the correct board.

Snowboard sizing chart

Suggested Snowboard Length Guide
Rider's Height (ft/cm)	Board Length Range (cm)
4 Feet - 122cm	109cm
4'2" - 127cm	114 - 120cm
4'4" - 132cm	115 - 130cm
4'6" - 137cm	118 - 135cm
4'8" - 142cm	120 - 140cm
4'10" - 147cm	125 - 145cm
5 Feet - 152cm	130 - 150cm
5'2" - 158cm	135 - 154cm
5'4" - 163cm	140 - 156cm
5'6" - 168cm	145 - 158cm
5'8" - 173cm	147 - 161cm
5'10" - 178cm	151 - 163cm
6 feet - 183cm	156 - 165cm
6'1" - 185cm	158 - 167cm
6'2"+ - 188cm+	161cm+

A rider's ideal board length is actually determined by balancing a variety of factors, mainly: the rider's weight, height, skill level, general sporting ability, preferred riding style, and the terrain.

Shorter boards are more maneuverable and easier to turn. It's recommended that beginner to intermediate riders start on a shorter board as they are easier to learn on and control. They are also more suited to Australian snow conditions where we often have hard packed and machine made snow.

Advanced riders wanting to do Freestyle riding should also look towards a shorter board as it will be easier to control in half pipes and terrain parks.

Longer boards are faster and are more controlled at high speed. In addition, longer boards are preferable in powder conditions as they can "float" more due to their increased surface area.

3. Rider's Weight

How does weight effect which board I should get?

A rider's weight is an important consideration in choosing the right board size.

Lighter riders should choose a shorter board within the range applicable to their height (see table above). A lighter person on an excessively long board may have problems controlling the board and initiating turns.

Heavier riders should choose a longer and stronger board within the range applicable to their respective height (see table above). When a heavier rider purchases a board that is too short, the board may perform poorly at higher speeds.

4. Board Width

Does width really matter?

In selecting the ideal board, board width is as important, if not more important, than the length.

A board that is too narrow in relation to a rider's boot will cause toe and heel drag.

Some degree of boot overhang is fine, even preferred in many cases for the added leverage. A boot length that is 3 - 4 cm longer than the width of the board is usual, but more than that can begin to cause problems.

Use the following chart to gauge the relationship between your foot size and respective recommended board width.

Snowboard width chart

Suggested Snowboard Width Guide
Men's Boot Size (US)	Women's Boot Size (US)	Recommended Snowboard Waist Width Range (mm)
5 - 6 .5	6.5 - 8	225 - 240
6.5 - 8.5	8 - 10	235 - 250
8.5 - 10.5	10 - 12	245 - 260
10.5 - 12.0	12 - 14	250 - 265
12.0 - 15	14 - 16	260 or larger

5. Budget

How much do I need to spend?

As with the purchase of just about anything, budget is an important consideration. A rider does not have to have the most expensive equipment available to become a good rider and to enjoy the sport, but it does help to have nice gear!

All of the snowboards and gear listed on our site is going to be vastly better and more enjoyable to use than most hire gear, and with snowboarding gear, it's often okay to save a few hundred bucks by buying last years model or a quality brand with less marketing clout. Discount Snowboards specializes in dealing in end of season stock from Europe and USA. Hence, you get great equipment from the leading brands at a fraction of what you'll pay for the equivalent at a retail store.

 

 

NOTE: This size and buying guide is only a suggested guideline. If after reading it you are still unsure about which equipment is best suited for you, e-mail us at info@discountsnowboards.com.au and we will be happy to further guide you through the process of choosing a board best matched to your needs.