What should be the height of my snowboard?

What is the right snowboard height for me.?

• My dad told me that i could get a snowboard for christmas. ive snowboarded for 4 years now and i know the length of the board should be between your chin and nose but the board i want ...show more

• Answer:

  There are many factors one has to look at when choosing the right snowboard. I will list the important ones and you can choose a board based on what is best for yourself. BOARD LENGTH Board length is typically connected to both a rider’s height and their boarding style. In order to find the right length for your needs, start by holding the board upright to compare it to your own height: Short boards will come up to somewhere between your collarbone and your chin. Because shorter boards are easier to maneuver, they are great to learn on and are preferred by riders who do a lot of trick, park and pipe riding.Medium-length boards will come up between your chin and nose. If you are an intermediate-to-advanced rider who prefers a variety of terrains (parks and slopes), this could be the right size for you. Long boards range from eye-level to several inches over the top of your head, and are best for high-speed carving, deep powder and big mountain terrain. EFFECTIVE EDGE A few riders might get away without an edge on their board – just point that nose straight down the mountain and go. For the rest of us, however, the ability to make turns and carve is pretty essential to our enjoyment of the sport. Whether you are riding on ice, packed snow or in powdery bowls, you’ll need to feel comfortable with the way your board grips the surface. A longer effective edge means greater stability at high speeds and more edge hold during turns. A shorter effective edge makes for quicker and easier carves, spins and directional changes. Choose a board with an effective edge that best suits your individual needs. RIDER WEIGHT It’s essential to keep your weight in mind when buying a snowboard. In fact, some people will tell you that it is the most important rider characteristic to be considered. The reason? While a snowboard has no clue how tall the person standing on it is, it does know their weight. That’s why you should generally adhere to the manufacturers’ suggestions concerning rider weight, as their boards have been carefully designed with this factor in mind. When a heavy rider buys a board that is too short, the board will have a tendency to perform poorly, especially at higher speeds. On the other hand, when a light person rides a board that is too long, they will usually have trouble controlling their board and initiating turns. Pick out a board that matches your tastes and style, but be sure that it will be as good as it can be on the slopes by shopping in your size. FLEX/STIFFNESS A snowboard’s responsiveness is the product of its flexibility coupled with its rider’s weight. In order to find a good fit for you, make sure you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for board weight classes and know what type of terrain you’ll be riding. There are two different flex/stiffness classifications: longitudinal (horizontal) and torsional (vertical): Longitudinal flex: There is a high correlation between longitudinal flex and rider weight that must be considered when shopping around. For a light snowboarder, a stiff board is too difficult to control and won’t be very responsive, making riding on icy or bumpy snow dangerous. Assuming that you find a board with the right weight recommendations, a stiff board does have some perks. They tend to perform better on groomed slopes and they are more effective at holding an edge. Boards with softer flex lengthwise are better for freestyle riding, landing jumps and jibbing. Torsional flex measures the stiffness of a board from its heel edge to its toe edge. Softer-flex boards are easier to turn and are much more responsive to rider input. They are ideal for bumpy or soft snow. Stiffer side-to-side flex is, again, better for edge grip, and is preferred for groomed slopes and deeper powder.