Snowboard Info
Snowboards must be flexible, the proper length, a major brand in order to ensure quality, and be no more than 5 years old. Having the appropriate snowboard for your Powderpig’s skill level as well as for their appropriate height and weight will determine whether or not they will get the most out of their lessons. Control is another important factor to consider. A child with a snowboard that is too long or stiff will have trouble making turns, while a child with a snowboard that is too short or flexible will have trouble balancing and finding stability. Snowboard technology can be complicated, so it is important that you understand how to select the right board for your student.
Length
Proper snowboard length is determined by two factors—weight and height. If your child is in between sizes or there is a great variation in suggestion between height and weight, lean towards weight. Boards of the correct length typically fall between the nose and chin when compared to the height of your child, but this may not be true for all children.
Height | Weight | Snowboard Length |
in | cm | lb | kg | cm |
37 | 94 | 34 | 14 | < 80 |
40 | 102 | 37 | 16 | 80-90 |
43 | 109 | 42 | 18 | 85-95 |
45 | 114 | 46 | 21 | 90-100 |
47 | 119 | 50 | 23 | 95-105 |
50 | 127 | 57 | 26 | 100-109 |
53 | 135 | 63 | 29 | 105-119 |
55 | 140 | 70 | 32 | 110-125 |
57 | 145 | 79 | 36 | 115-129 |
59 | 149 | 89 | 41 | 125-135 |
61 | 156 | 100 | 46 | 130-145 |
65 | 164 | 112 | 51 | 140-149 |
Board Direction:
Boards come in multiple shapes that are impact which direction they are intended to be ridden in. "Twin", "True Twin" and "Asymmetrical Twin" are all terms that indicate that a board can be ridden with either tip facing forward. "Directional" indicates that a board is intended to be ridden in with a specific end of the board as the tip and tail. "Twin" and "True Twin" boards are typically recommended for beginners.
Passing Boards Down
If you are passing snowboards down through the family, especially if the “inheritor” will no longer be a beginner when they are to use them, a more advanced model of snowboard should receive strong consideration – especially when the inheritor of the snowboard is an aggressive athlete. Those older, stiffer, and harder to edge snowboards become an increasing liability as speed increases and terrain becomes more challenging. This is a very important thing to consider as you make plans for snowboards for younger siblings who already are snowboarders.
New Skis for "Old" Skiers
Remember, once you have outgrown your beginner skis you will never be a beginner again and you will need more advanced skis. Beginner skis are designed to be easy turning and very forgiving on gentle slopes at moderate speeds. With steeper slopes and faster turns those neat little skis that did such a good job in the earlier stages make for very unstable skiing and can take the joy right out of more challenging terrain. When an experienced skier tries to take “entry level” skis into steep and/or bumpy terrain his/her performance, confidence and enjoyment can be destroyed. Check with your sales representative to make sure that new skis are not “entry level” or beginner skis. If you are passing down beginner skis, make sure they are going to a beginner skier and not to a younger experienced skier.
Snowboard Bindings
Unlike ski bindings, snowboard bindings can be easily mounted and adjusted with a screwdriver. A recommended "neutral" stance has bindings mounted on the middle of the screw hole pattern on the board, with feet shoulder-width apart. Feet should be slightly angled towards the tip of the board that they are closest to, with the most common angle being 9 degrees in either direction. We suggest that your rider starts out in this neutral stance and adjusts it as their riding style develops and their skill level demands a more unique stance.
Snowboard Tune-Ups
New snowboards as well as used snowboards easily become “untuned” because of temperature and humidity changes in storage. Since having a flat bottom on a snowboard is essential to it performing properly, it is very important that a tune-up is performed BEFORE THE SEASON BEGINS. In a tune-up the snowboard is flat-filed or machine ground as well as hot waxed. Hot waxing conditions the bottoms by filling in the pores of the base material, thus preserving them and producing a surface that makes the snowboard easier to turn. AT LEAST ONE SNOWBOARD TUNE UP AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEASON AND ONE MID SEASON SNOWBOARD TUNE UP IS A REALLY GOOD IDEA. If you notice that your Powderpig’s snowboarding skills have begun to deteriorate, have their snowboard checked by an expert. Most often their snowboard has just begun to detune, and the problem is easily fixed with a tune up. Always keep snowboards well waxed.