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by Staff Writer
You've bought comfortable boots. You've picked out some cool bindings. Now you just need to pick out your snowboard. Choosing a snowboard is easier than selecting your other snowboard gear. Buying a snowboard is all about matching your snowboarding style to a board that is designed to let you ride at your best.
Length: Two main factors will play a role in how long of a snowboard to buy. You will want to consider your weight and riding style. Heavier riders typically use longer boards that provide more loft and stability when riding. But you also want to consider the type of snowboarding you plan to do. If you plan to spend a lot of time in the backcountry in deep powder, you will want more length on your board, again for loft. But if you plan to spend your time snowboarding in the terrain park, you'll want to shorten up on your snowboard for quicker responsiveness.
Style: The three main styles of snowboards are all-mountain, free-ride and free-style. Free-ride snowboards tend to be stiffer than other styles and are designed for backcountry riding. Free-style boards are designed with the park and half-pipe in mind. They tend to be shorter and more flexible than free-ride boards and are usually not directional. All-mountain snowboards are in-between free-ride and free-style boards, having qualities that make them good, but not great, for every type of riding. All-mountain boards are a common choice for beginners.
Width: The width of a snowboard is something that isn't a concern for many snowboarders. But if you have big feet, a wider board will help keep the toes of your boots from scraping the snow when riding on your toe side. If you have very small feet, you will want to get a narrower board so you can get adequate leverage to twist your snowboard.
Flex: Stiffer snowboards tend to be more stable at high speeds than more flexible boards. Stiffer boards also tend to get through bumps and crud more easily than a softer board. More flexible snowboards will be better for quick turns and in the park because the flex makes the board easier to maneuver.
