How to Buy a Snowboard

Knowing how to buy a snowboard will improve your chances of having more fun on the hill. Snowboarding with a board that is too big makes turning really difficult. On the other hand a board that is too small will wash out on your turns, not a good situation. The whole point of snowboarding is to make turns, so it is very important to get a board that you can turn easily with, but also stays stable enough to hold to the snow will turning.

The most important factor when learning how to buy a snowboard is weight. A snowboard doesn't know or react to how tall you are, but how much you weight. This is where many people are miss lead, they think that snowboard length is determined by your height. They end up buying a snowboard that is usually too big for them.

A lighter weight person should get a snowboard that measures between their collar bone and chin. This would be a good size snowboard for most riding styles and conditions. If you are going to ride a lot of powder you should get a board that measures to your chin or up. The extra length of the board will give you better float above the soft powder snow.

An average weight person should get a board that measure between their chin and nose. This size snowboard is good for all around riding. A Powder board for an average weight person should measure to the nose and up. A short board, which makes doing snowboard tricks easier, should measure to the chin and below.

A heavier weight person should get a board that measures between their mouth and nose if they are looking for an all around board. A powder board should measure to their eyes and above and a short board should not be any shorter than their chin.

The flex of a snowboard also makes a difference in what size snowboard you get. Some boards are very soft/flexible, while others are hard/stiff. Take the snowboards flex into consideration when buying a snowboard. For example if you are a heavier weight person and you don't want a board that measure to your nose, get a stiffer board that measure to your mouth and you should be good. Or if you are an average weight person and you want a board that is flexible enough to do tricks but also ride powder for when it dumps, getting a soft snowboard that measures to your nose will be a good compromise.

The width of a snowboard is also important because you don't want any toe or heel drag. Toe or heel drag is when your boots hang over the edges of your board and actually make contact with the snow during your turns. This is not a good situation. First of all it just looks bad, but it also will mess up your riding abilities and can cause you to wipe out. Measure your boots to the board and make sure the width of your board is enough so that you don't have any drag. Things like snowboard angle and toe risers can reduce the amount of toe or heel drag.

The side-cut of a snowboard also plays an important role in buying a snowboard. A deeper sidecut is easier and faster to turn. They are good for beginners and jibbers. A shallower sidecut is good for making longer sweeping like turns, instead of short quick turns. If you are into making nice big round turns a shallower sidecut is recommended.

Knowing how to buy a snowboard isn't that hard, especially now that you have a snowboard buyers guide. Reading a Snowboard Review before you buy is highly recommended. You can find better deals at an online snowboarding store, plus there are so many more size options available online. Good Luck and Have Fun!!!