Top Five Tips for Choosing the Right Snowboard

You saw Shaun White and Hannah Teter wow on the half-pipe at the winter Olympics and it got you thinking that snowboarding looks like a lot of fun (jumps and twists and flips, oh my!).  And while you would like to take up what has become one of the most popular extreme sports in the world, you’re not really sure where to get started.  If you ski or live in a wintery region, you may already have some of the protective gear you’ll need to withstand the weather, but the only difference you can pick out between snowboards is the wicked art.  So how do you pick the one that’s right for you?

1. Shop for size.  Like skis, you’ll want to match your snowboard to your size (height, weight, etc.) to ensure that you don’t end up with a piece of equipment that’s too big or heavy for you to handle.  Most sporting goods stores can help you to size a board, but you can also check out online snowboard sizing guides that will use your input not only to calculate the proper length and width of your ideal board, but will also make product recommendations based on your gender, ability level, and preferred board style.

2. Don’t overdo it.  If you’re a beginner, you don’t want to jump onto a black diamond run with a pro board, so don’t let someone up-sell you a board you can’t handle.  Be honest about your abilities so that you get a board that won’t dump you off a cliff on your first run.

3. Differentiate styles.  There are a few different types of snowboards, and they are generally categorized by the terrain they’re intended for.  All-mountain is the most popular variety because it is designed to run on almost any terrain, making it extremely versatile, whereas freestyle boards are better suited for doing tricks on the pipe (flexible and made to maneuver turns and jumps) and freeride boards are designed for parks (fairly stiff and designed for downhill riding).  But within each style, there are many variations, such as directional orientation (one end wider for increased speed and handling) vs. twin style (if you’re switching directions on tricks), or camber (a concave underside for better handling) vs. rocker (convex bottom for better “float” on powder).  While choosing the correct style can be difficult, a little research and some well-intentioned advice from other riders can help you choose the one that’s right for you.

4. Set a budget and know your brands.  Obviously, you don’t want to shell out the big bucks on your first board (when you really aren’t sure what will suit you).  But you don’t want to go super cheap, either.  The best overall big-name brand seems to be Burton (although you will find that experienced riders all have a favorite), but for the beginner who needs a quality board on a budget, Palmer seems to be a good alternative.

5. Take it for a test run.  If you’re really not sure about what might work for you, try out some renters to see what feels good (you can find them at most ski resorts).  Renting a board before you buy is probably the best way to ensure that you don’t end up spending a lot of money on something you don’t want.

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