What Snowboard Size is right for me?
Choosing the right snowboard size can be difficult. Often opinions vary on how long or how short to go. Here at Melbourne Snowboard Centre we have come up with a simple solution to finding your perfect board size.
Firstly, try not to get overwhelmed by all the tech talk of cambers and flex ratings, there's so much information out there but initially you need to consider four main points: weight, height, ability and where you spend your time riding.
Most manufacturers give a recommended rider weight for each snowboard in their range. We have tried to include this data on all of our snowboard pages to make it easier for you to consider your options and find the right board. The range is really only a suggestion and if you find yourself outside the range, that's fine too. It also comes down to personal preference and if you find yourself below the range, the board may feel a bit stiffer and if you're above the range you might find it rides a bit softer.
Weight & Height
If this is the first board you're purchasing and you previously hired, you'll be used to the rental place sizing you up and putting you on any board that falls roughly anywhere from your chin to your nose. This is fine for an average height/weight rider however, it doesn't take into consideration the most important factor when choosing the correct size snowboard, your weight.
When you're riding your snowboard, you're using your weight to control the board, it determines how the board will flex, your board will never know how tall you are.
This is why we always recommend choosing a board on weight and height rather than height alone.
Where You Ride
This is important because some styles of riding require longer or shorter boards. If you spend more time in the park it is helpful to size down slightly to make quicker turns, faster spins and have more control while buttering through boxes and rails. If you prefer chasing powder and traveling overseas you may want a slightly longer board. The added surface area will help you float above the snow much like a surfboard in water. Typically for the average rider in Australia we recommend a slightly smaller board compared to what we might recommend to someone traveling overseas.
We recommend following the general size guide below for snowboard sizes, however you should always follow the size guide specific to the snowboard you are looking at for the best match.
|
Weight (kg) |
Average Board Size (cm) |
Board Size Range (cm) |
|
27 |
95 |
90-100 |
|
32 |
110 |
105-115 |
|
36 |
120 |
115-125 |
|
41 |
130 |
125-135 |
|
45 |
138 |
135-140 |
|
50 |
141 |
138-144 |
|
54 |
143 |
140-146 |
|
59 |
146 |
142-148 |
|
63 |
147 |
144-149 |
|
68 |
149 |
146-152 |
|
73 |
151 |
148-154 |
|
77 |
154 |
151-157 |
|
82 |
155 |
152-158 |
|
86 |
156 |
153-159 |
|
91 |
158 |
155-161 |
|
95 |
160 |
157-163 |
|
100 |
162 |
158-165 |
|
105 |
163 |
159-167 |
|
110 |
164 |
160-168 |
Do I need a wide board?
Wide boards are designed for people with larger boot sizes, and this is generally around size US 11.5+ in mens. For more information regarding wide boards, take a look at our Wide Board Guide linked below:
If you are still having trouble figuring out what size snowboard to ride, come visit the shop and we would be happy to go over it with you. If you aren’t near Melbourne you can also email any questions or call us on (03) 9470 1822.