This article will walk you through setting up your snowboard in a few easy to follow steps. What I like most about snowboarding is the simplicity. A person, a snowboard and a new line is all you need to have the time of your life. Simple modifications to your gear and stance can really affect how your board performs and ultimately how awesome the ride can be. Here are some quick tips for the perfect snowboard setup, so that next time you’re out on the mountain you can strap on and shred without restriction.

Boots

The first point of contact between you and your board. Soft boots are good for freestyle riders as they are more forgiving at low speeds. Stiff boots are better for freeriding and carving as they provide more support at high speeds and a stronger connection between you and the board. If you have a stiffer boot, but want to experience what a soft boot feels like, try loosening your boots and doing a few laps.

Next, getting the fit right is essential. The toes should touch the end of the boot and when you apply pressure to the tongues through the shins, the toes should slide back slightly, but still have light contact with the inside. There should be NO heel lift as you press your shins against the tongues. Remember that your boots will ‘compress’ or expand on the inside as they wear, so it’s best to start with something a little snug as they will loosen over time.

bindings

The next point of contact with the board. The first consideration here is the position of the bindings on the board. For normal and freestyle riding, you want a more centered stance, meaning the nose and tail are the same length. This will allow you to ride regularly and change easily and is the most versatile. When riding in powder snow, most people prefer a rearward stance. By moving both ties back about 1 inch, you are effectively lengthening your nose and shortening your tail. This will move the center of gravity towards the rear of the board, raising the nose and helping the board stay above the surface in deeper snow.

stance width

The distance between the center of both fixings. Quite simply, the wider your stance, the more stable you will be, but the narrower your stance, the easier it will be to initiate a turn. The super steely kids in the park might give the impression that the wider the stance, the cooler it looks, but this is not the case. If you’re at an intermediate level or higher, you really won’t need as much extra stability and it can slow down the start of your turn. I’m 5’8″ and usually ride a 155cm board with a centered stance. I think the most successful stance width is around 21.5″. Take a screwdriver to the mountain or use the complimentary tools provided at lift stations at most resorts. Start with a stance that feels comfortable and wide and then, every two runs, lower it by 1/2 inch or so. I guarantee you’ll notice how much easier it is to start a turn with a narrower stance. Play around with it for a couple of hours until you find the sweet spot that suits you best.

binding angle

It’s important to do it right so you don’t put unnecessary pressure on your calves and knees. You will generally find that people with a centered stance will ride 15/-15, 12/-12, or 9/-9. Having your binding angles mirror each other will help you change riding and allow you to be more versatile. Although some people who don’t switch as often and just want to charge powder with a rear stance will be more comfortable with a slight angle in the front and less in the rear, eg 15/-9. Finally, you need to consider the angle of your high backs. Almost all bindings will have some way to adjust the angle of the high back. Freestyle riders prefer less to no angle, which will be more forgiving when sliding boxes and rails. Increasing the angle so that the high back points more toward the back of your leg will give you more support as you initiate a heel turn. This can make a big difference if you’ve never tried it before.

It is important to make any changes to these settings one at a time. Decide on a centered or set back stance, then tweak the width, then the angles. It will be worth it and you won’t have to worry about finding the perfect configuration for your board again. Now, with the perfect setup for your snowboard, you can focus on improving your ride, safe in the knowledge that your setup won’t hold you back! If you are interested in reading more useful winter sports articles or want to book your next ski/snowboard trip, visit our website here.