Determining Your Basic Snowboard Size

• 1). Choose the right vendor from which to purchase your snowboard. First-time riders are often encouraged to go to a snowboard shop to get the right feel for their first board, as opposed to purchasing boards unseen from an online vendor.
  
  
• 2). Choose a style of snowboard. There are three common snowboard styles: "freestyle," "freeride" and "freecarve." Freestyle boards are shorter to allow better maneuverability. Freeride boards are designed for deep snow. Freecarve boards--recommended for more advanced riders--are lighter to maximize speed.
  
  
• 3). Choose the correct snowboard width. Riders with a shoe size larger than 12 should consider "wide" widths. You'll want to choose a board that's wide enough so that your toes don't hang off the edge of the board, as this could inhibit your control.
  
  
• 4). Choose a basic board length based on your weight. Snowboard USA recommends the chart below in determining your freestyle snowboard size.
  
  A rider who weighs 100 lbs. should have a board 138cm in length. The length of the board should increase 3 inches for every 10 lbs. This formula is applicable for riders 220 lbs. and less.
  
  Weight / Board Length
  100 lbs / 138cm
  110 lbs / 141cm
  120 lbs / 144cm
  130 lbs / 147cm
  140 lbs / 150cm
  150 lbs / 153cm
  160 lbs / 156cm
  170 lbs / 159cm
  180 lbs - 220 lbs / 162cm
  
  Specialty board lengths for heavier riders can go up to 171cm.