Beginners often make the mistake of choosing a snowboard simply because they think the graphics are cool. When selecting a snowboard, you'll need to make sure the length and width correspond with your physical dimensions. This will allow you to maintain control of the snowboard while learning the elementary turns and maneuvers.
Height
The length of the snowboard will directly affect your ability to effectively transfer your body weight between its edges. Instead of consulting a complicated sizing guide, you can perform a basic fitting test to ensure the length of the snowboard corresponds with your height. According to REI, this hands-on fitting involves holding the snowboard vertically in front of you with the tail of the board touching the ground. The nose of the snowboard should sit somewhere between your nose and chin.
Body Weight
While your height is the most important factor when choosing a snowboard length, your body weight also should be taken into account. If you are overweight for your height, choose a snowboard that is a few centimeters longer than the recommended length. If you have a particularly lean build for your height, feel feel to downsize the length of the snowboard by a few centimeters. According to the Shred-O-Pedia sizing guide, a rider who weighs from 110 to 140 pounds should choose a snowboard with a length of 150 cm.
Freestyle
If you plan on riding the various obstacles of the mountain terrain park, you'll need to tweak the length of the snowboard slightly. When performing the fitting test, choose a freestyle board that sits just below your chin. The compact deck of the freestyle board offers increased handling during aerial flips and rotations. The shorter length also allows you to easily transfer your weight between the nose and tail of the board while sliding metallic rails and fiberglass boxes.
Backcountry
If you prefer to venture outside the confines of the mountain resort, you'll need a snowboard with a slightly longer deck. When performing the fitting test, the nose of the backcountry snowboard should sit parallel with your nose. The elongated deck of the backcountry snowboard provides the added weight necessary for powering through deep deposits of powdered snow. The longer deck also allows the nose of the snowboard to stay afloat during hairpin turns and aerial jumps.
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