Buying snowboards is as difficult as buying skis. There are a lot of things that you have to keep track of in order to find the right board for yourself. At Brugteski.dk, we have created a Snowboard guide which can help you on your way to finding the right snowboard.
This guide contains the most important aspects when buying Snowboards from us:
1. Length, 2. Level, 3. Type/Style & 4. Flex
After reading this guide, you can be sure that you can find a proper snowboard that suits your needs!
Length of your snowboard
The rule of thumb is that your board should go to your chin, but there are many other aspects that also have an impact on the length of your snowboard. It depends on your level and the type of board you are standing on.
Below is a table for beginners who want to get better at snowboarding.
| Weight (Kg) | Height (cm) | Length of snowboard |
| <40 | <145 | <125 |
| 40-50 | 145-150 | 125-130 |
| 45-55 | 150-155 | 130-135 |
| 50-60 | 155-160 | 135-140 |
| 55-65 | 160-165 | 140-145 |
| 60-70 | 165-170 | 145-150 |
| 65-75 | 170-175 | 150-155 |
| 70-80 | 175-180 | 155-160 |
| >80 | >185 | >160 |
If you are mostly into riding rails and spinning around on your board, you can advantageously choose a short board, as this is much easier to turn around on. If, on the other hand, you are into jumping and more speed, you can advantageously choose a slightly longer board.
Level
When you have to find the level of your snowboard, it is incredibly important that you look inward and say to yourself, "How good am I really?".
If you choose a board that is a little too difficult for your abilities, you will end up spending too much energy on controlling your board, rather than getting good at snowboarding. Here at Brugteski.dk, we have divided our boards into three categories; Beginner/practiced, Practiced & Practiced/expert.
If you buy a board that is slightly better than your level and then think that you can use it for many years, then it is a stupid mistake. Better buy a board you can get really good at, and then sell it and buy one of the slightly more advanced snowboards.
Beginner/practiced
As a beginner, it is good to choose short and soft boards because it makes turns and tricks easier at first. Here an All mountain board is obvious, as it will help you get started and learn faster and easier. Even if you may not be a complete beginner, it is still important to buy a board you can learn on, rather than one you can use for many years. This is a stupid mistake that many beginners make!
Practiced
At this level, you don't lie down so much anymore, and can really start exploring the different places on the mountain. Now you can choose a board that is intended for an experienced, and start to get a little more speed in your snowboard and be able to do some slightly cooler tricks in the fun park. All mountain boards are good here, as well as all freestyle boards, which you can use in the park but also work really well on the slopes.
Experienced/expert
Now you can call yourself a real snowboarder and you feel at ease on the whole mountain. There's nothing you can't get down from. The choice of snowboard is entirely up to you, as you will be able to stand on them all. However, it is most advantageous to find a board that is intended for an experienced/expert. Here you get the best boards on the market, and can push them much more in the turns!
Type/style
When you have to find out what type of board you are looking for, you have to say to yourself; "Where do I like to stand the most?". Is it in the off-piste, in the park or on the whole mountain?
Off-piste
These boards are intended for driving out in the powdery snow, and are best just for this. If you love Off-piste, which is also known as Freeride, then you will get huge advantages from these boards. Their shape and profile help keep you afloat on top of the soft snow, making standing out there a breeze!
Park
Park snowboarding is for you who feel at home in the park and want to spend whole days learning new tricks. Park snowboards, also known as Freestyle boards, they make it just a little easier to ride on kickers, rails and halfpipe.
All-mountain
If you can't decide where you want to ride, whether it's in the park, off-piste or just on the piste, then an All-mountain board is just the thing for you! Here you get huge versatility, and can ride freely on the entire mountain as you wish. Both for beginners and experienced, All-mountain boards are often the preferred choice. If, on the other hand, you are an expert on a snowboard, you can consider whether you should have several boards to ride on, so that you have some that are good for different areas on the mountain.
Flex
Flex tells you something about how stiff your board is and how much energy it takes to control and turn the board when you control it. The stiffer the board, the more force it takes to bend. Where a softer board requires less force to bend. Snowboards Flex is displayed in a table from 1 to 10.
Soft boards 1-4 flex
If a board is in the category between flex 1 and 4, then it is suitable for beginners and the Park. The soft board makes it much easier for beginners to take their very first turn, and it is also a lot more forgiving when you make mistakes. This means that with a softer board you will find it easier to stand and not fall over all the time. In addition, the board is also suitable for rails and box tricks.
Between boards 5-7 flex
A flex of between 5 and 7 is what most people will choose, and is super good for your All-mountain board. Here you get both a board that is soft enough to be forgiving, but also stiff enough to be able to carve on the slopes.
Rigid boards 8-10 flex
The stiff boards are clearly the boards you want to be able to stand on the fastest, and not lose control at high speed. A rigid board is suitable both on and off the slopes where you have used for maximum control over the snowboard. However, be aware that a stiff board requires you to be really good at snowboarding. It is only for those who really control it!
Ready to find the right board for yourself!
If you have read and understood everything in this guide, then you are ready to go out and buy a proper snowboard that is right for you! It is incredibly important that you have control over all four aspects - Length, Level, Type/style & Flex - and that all four aspects suit your needs. And remember that it is always most important to buy a board that suits your level, so that you can develop yourself, rather than spending all your energy on controlling a board that is a little too difficult.
