Board Length

This is one of the most important features of a snowboard. The length is measured from the tip of the nose to the end of the tail. It is usually measured in centimeters and usually abbreviated to just the last two digits. Length can vary from 100 to 180 cm.

 

How do you determine your board’s length? Although there are no hard and fast rules when selecting your board length, there are a few guidelines that will help:

 

·        Short boards reach somewhere between your collar bone and chin. These boards are easier to maneuver, are great for training, and preferred by snowboarders who do tricks, park, and halfpipe activities.

 

·        Medium length boards reach somewhere between your chin and eyebrows. These boards are preferred by snowboarders who are intermediate to advanced who ride a variety of terrain, including parks and steeps.

 

·        Long boards reach from your forehead to several inches over the top of your head. These types of boards are used for high-speed carving and deep powder.

 

Your weight is also a very important factor. In general, lighter people should have shorter, more flexible boards. A lighter person will have difficulty controlling a board if it is too long. For a person of average weight, the board length should reach somewhere between the chin and nose. Heavier people should have longer, less flexible boards. Freestyle snowboarding is usually done with a shorter board to allow better maneuverability; freeriding and alpine snowboarding is usually done with longer boards.