size is everything

So you have decided to take the plunge and buy a new board. You know what company and graphic you want, you're done right? Far from it my friend. You have just made the most common mistake in picking a board: branding-blinded ignorance. Graphics are only important to your ego, nothing else. The company is important as far as board design and quality assurance goes, but the trick to finding that perfect laminated friend is size. Your average boardshop crony will tell you your board should come to the bottom of your chin, plus or minus a few inches. This is the lazy man's board calculator and is not entirely accurate depending on a variety of variables.

The first thing you have to consider is terrain. Where do you mostly ride? If it on Midwest hardpack, you can go with the lazy man's calculator. If you are a seek and destroy park rider you may want to go a little smaller in length for ease of spinning and flipping. If you are a "Riders on the Storm" powder junkie, you are going to want to add at least a foot of length to your board, or else the powder will eat you up. For your average all-terrain shredder, I suggest selecting a board that when standing upright in front of your body (stand up nice and straight now!) hits somewhere between your mouth and the top of your head.

Another thing to consider is that for every ten pounds overweight you are, you should add a couple inches to board length. It is important to properly distribute the weight to your nose, tail, and edges. If you have clown feet, you may have to find a wider board for less toe/heel drag. On the other hand, if you have the feet of a porcelain china doll; look for a board that offers a narrow design in the length that you are comfortable with. If you are a little weak in the physical strength department, dial down the board length a few inches for a more comfortable ride.

These are the essential questions to ask yourself prior to investing hundreds of dollars in your new ride. Check out the companies' websites for complete board offerings and sizes. Make a list of the available boards in the size range you want with a graphics you like and call local shops for prices and availability. This way you can eliminate any ridiculously expensive boards and narrow down the pack to a few select choices.