1. Board Length
How long should my board be?
Board length is largely determined by your personal preference, taking into consideration your skill level, your weight and the terrain in which you will be riding your board.
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.
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Suggested Board Length Guide |
Rider's Height (ft/cm) |
Board Length (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+ |
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2. 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 a longer 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.
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3. Board Width
Does width really matter?
In selecting the right board for you, board width is as important, if not more important, than overall 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 boot size and respective recommended board width.
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Suggested Board Width Guide |
Men's
Boot Size (US) |
Women's
Boot
Size
(US) |
Recommended Board
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 - 12.5 |
12 - 14 |
255 - 270 |
12.5 - 14 |
14 - 16 |
260 or larger |
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4. Beginner's Boards vs Advanced Boards
What's the difference?
The main difference as the cost goes up in snowboards is that boards with more built-in technology, being lighter and livelier, are generally considered "Advanced Boards".
Advanced boards allow an advanced rider to attain a higher level of performance. However, advanced riders can still hop on even our least expensive boards and still have a good ride.
If you're a beginner but plan 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 as you begin to push it harder.
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5. Budget
How much do I need to spend?
As with the purchase of any sporting goods, budget is an important consideration. A rider does not have to have the most expensive equipment to become a good rider and enjoy the sport. With boards & bindings, it is often okay to save a few bucks by buying last years model or a quality brand with less marketing clout.
Discount Snowboards Australia specializes in dealing in end of season stock from Europe and USA. Hence, you get great equipment at a fraction of what you'll pay for the equivalent at a retail store.
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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.
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