Snowboarding is a famous winter sport that many people do because of their love for snow. In this, you surf and go downhill covered with snow by using a snowboard specially made for this purpose.
People who are new to snowboarding want to know many things about snowboarding because, without its assistance, you will not surf over snow-covered mountains. Mostly asked question is how to measure a snowboard for perfect riding style.
In the mountain, snowboards are used for skiing and surfing, which come up in various sizes. The snowboard length is also available in different dimensions, which depend upon various factors which should be considered.
Sometimes, it becomes difficult to get the needed snowboard for riding in the snowboard world. That’s why you should know many things before going to buy a new snowboard for the coming winter sport.
Snowboard size methods:
After much research and experience of various professional snowboarders, it has become very easy to choose the right size snowboard according to rider height and weight. Various methods are used for measuring snowboard size.
There are some traditional snowboard sizing methods in which you stand your snowboard and then measure it from chin to end. On the other hand, snowboard sizing formulas and calculators are also available.
Although these methods have been used for a long time, they are not 100% accurate because some cover some important factors, and others leave some factors behind. You can guide yourself by following the snowboard size charts.
Important Factors for measuring snowboard size:
Snowboard length according to height:
Traditional method:
You can do it according to your height and weight for determining board length, but at first, we will talk about rider height. For measuring snowboard length according to your height, you can use the traditional method for sure.
Shorter board length:
In this method, some snowboarders believe that measurement should be done between your chin and collar bone, especially for the shorter board. The shorter board length proves to be good for beginners.
If you are a freestyle rider on snow, then a shorter snowboard length will help you a lot.
Longer board length:
On the other hand, the longer board is measured from your nose to your head or a little higher from your head. The longer board is best for high and powder speed. So if you want a high speed on the mountain, snowboards will be your companion.
snowboard length calculator:
If you feel that the traditional method is not accurate, then you can use this method. Usually, the snowboard size comes in 85 to 92% of your height. So there is a simple formula for calculating it easily.
Your height in inches x 2.54 x 0.88 = your required snowboard length. The answer you will get from this formula means you have to start from that point to pick a mountain snowboard for your new ride.
Snowboard size length according to weight:
This is considered the most important factor in determining your snowboard size because you should have a board easily compatible with your weight. Otherwise, snowboarding will end in an accident.
If the snowboard is according to rider weight, then he/she will not lose their balance over the mountain snowboard. If the rider’s weight is heavy and has a shorter board, he will face less control over high speeds.
Sometimes, the riding style comes in with the snowboard size without keeping the weight of the rider in mind, but this is not valid every time. Some snowboarders need light snowboard because it will help in their riding style.
The rider’s weight is connected with their riding style because it matters a lot. If your weight is heavy and you want to powder snowboard, you should buy a longer snowboard size to get stance width.
Snowboard Width measurement:
The riders typically overlook this factor because they feel that height and weight measurements are only important to calculate. The width of the snowboard is important for getting the ideal snowboard size.
The perfect board width is measured from its narrowest point, the center of your board. For this purpose, you see that either your boot size corresponds with the snowboard’s center directly or not.
If you do snowboarding, you have snowboard boots. Bring them and measure. For correct snowboard waist width, the snowboard boots must hang over the board’s edges. It should be a slightly longer board waist width.
This factor in knowing the correct snowboard length is important because you can achieve maximum edge control and keep the toe and heel drag away. That’s why you should measure it carefully.
The snowboard manufacturers say that if your boot size is not directly corresponding to your snowboard, then there are high chances of losing edge hold, which will certainly lead to heel drag. If the narrower snowboard is compared to boot size, then it will happen.
Remember, if you think that your board size can be wide from your snowboard boot size, then it will also cause a problem for you. In that case, you will not adjust the angle of binding. That’s why your size of boot matches your board’s waist width.
Snowboard sizes according to rider’s Ability Level:
Beginner riders:
The snowboard sizing chart indicates different things according to your ability level. If you are new in the snowboarding field, then you are a beginner. As a beginner, you should avoid choosing standard snowboard width, body weight, and length, which snowboard companies give.
The beginners should choose softer boards because it can help them to soft flex over the downhills. With its help, you can control your board easily with less effort. The stiffer flex boards are also available.
But those boards require extra muscle and exertion, but you can choose them according to your own personal preference. You can make a proper snowboard waist width by having soft snowboards tend.
In length, if you choose a snowboard by determining its lower end of your size range, then it will permit you to control your board in a better way. It also aids in making your links fluent turning.
Even though you are a beginner, you want to take a board according to your height and weight but check it out properly because snowboard-sized down boards vary from model to model and company to company.
Intermediate riders:
If you have crossed the stage of a beginner rider, then congratulations that you are now ready to take new adventures with the snowboard shapes. This stage enables you to become a pro in your riding style with new tricks.
So if you want to boost up your snowboarding skills this season, try to choose an all-mountain freestyle board that usually comes in the middle size range in the snowboard world. It can be used for freeride or backcountry use.
A freestyle board can be used in this stage in order to get dialing-in hits. On the other hand, if you are using park snowboard tend, then this will be a common choice for sure. A freeride board can also be used in this stage very easily.
In the intermediate stage, riders enhance their skills in the new field, and they are progressing over new things, which will be helpful for them in the near future. So they can choose any board, including freestyle boards, burton snowboards, etc.
Advance/Pro riders:
The professional riders have years of experience and have become advanced in edge control, and they can easily handle various types of boards. Stiff boards can be used by advanced riders very effectively.
Now you haven’t park riders from the past because you have become a pro in this field, and now this time, you know which board will help you in your riding style. As a pro player, you can easily choose a board by seeing its technical specifications.
Snowboard flex is needed because it is a factor that has polished your skills in snowboarding. The different board has different snowboard flex ratings. You will see other things at this stage rather than only focusing on width, length, etc.
As a professional rider, start looking into factors such as fiberglass, sidecut, carbon bars, profile shape, and many more. In this stage, you will pay attention to the details which can enable you to have more fun in the mountains.
Types of the snowboard:
Even though every snowboard is designed to work out well in the winter season in the snow-covered mountains, all of the snowboards are highly versatile and can be used for various riding switches.
Freestyle snowboard:
They are also known as park snowboards which are a bit shorter in length. It prevents you from toe and heel drag and proves good for jibs, rails, terrain trees, and trash cans. In this method, you cannot place your foot forward.
It falls in the category of all-mountain type freestyle snowboard, which is highly versatile. With its help, you can have a true twin in an asymmetrical shape. If you love doing terrain parks, then you should choose this snowboard.
Powder snowboards:
The snowboard flexes vary significantly with various snowboard types. This type of snowboard is used for surfing in deep snow. It comes up with a narrow tail and a wider nose. The tip and tail of this snowboard are best for new conditions.
Freeride snowboards:
If you are a rider of snowboard who loves to do varied terrain and groomed runs, then this snowboard is made for you. It has stiff flex and is available in longer sizes compared to freestyle boards.
They feature with unidirectionality because they are designed in that way. So it suits best to the professional riders for sure. It stabilizes the rider’s weight automatically according to the direction.
Splitboards:
This is a special type that is mostly used by advanced riders. It can easily be used for tall rider height. It is designed so that the snowboard is separated into two halves. This type of snowboard is best for uphill travel with climbing skins.
If you want to travel downhill, you can reconnect those halves and ride normally. To use this snowboard, your skills should be polished. A lot of things should keep in mind while traveling mountains with this snowboard.
Snowboard binding:
The snowboard bindings partially determine your riding experience because they play an important role. The snowboard hole patterns are connected with bindings, and they transfer your muscle power to the snowboard to move.
This is considered crucial because if your binding is perfectly matched with your snowboard, then you will be able to get a great riding experience which you cannot get in any other case without snowboard hole patterns.
Kids snowboards:
Anybody can ride on the snowboards, but kids need some special attention while riding the snowboard in the mountains. If your kid loves this sport, then you should buy them a new snowboard.
If you find out the perfect snowboard for your kid, then it will enable them to progress faster in this regard. The softer snowboards are used for kids, which are quite easy in taking turns and learning new techniques.
Along with snowboards, your kid also needs a snowboard boot size view because it is a necessity that should be followed, and it also helps in getting the best snowboard and prevents them from toe and heel drag.
Women snowboards:
The only difference that occurred between men’s and women’s snowboards in the past was the graphics and designs. But now, companies have sized down the design only because they have introduced snowboards that focus on the female rider’s needs.
Women’s boots’ weight, height, and size are different from men’s, so they usually use a narrower board. The snowboards used by women riders contain various features, including soft flexes and thinner profiles.
Conclusion:
Snowboards depend upon various factors, explained in detail in this article. The average snowboard length required depends upon the rider’s ability level and its style of riding. Average snowboard length can be determined according to your needs.
Men, women, and kids have different average snowboard lengths required, which is measured by various methods. Once you know all the important factors, then it will be no difficult for you to get the accurate and perfect snowboard for you.
For achieving maximum edge control with park snowboard tend, you should carefully choose the new snowboard. We hope this article will help you in getting knowledge about measuring snowboards in detail. Best of luck!
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