Figuring out which snowboard stance is right for you can be tricky. How do you find the right stance? Am I goofy or regular? What angle of the bindings is right for me? The answer to all these questions is different for every snowboarder, depending on the body build, riding style, skill level, and most importantly, personal preference.
If you want to improve your snowboarding skills quickly, figuring out what is the ideal stance for you can save you a lot of frustration.
In this guide, we look at how to determine the perfect snowboard stance for you. From finding the best binding angle for you to choosing the right stance width.
Understanding the Importance of Snowboard Stance
Your snowboard stance setup is an important thing that every snowboarder should consider.
Having the wrong stance makes it difficult to improve. This is because your snowboard stance does not fit your riding style, your skill level, and most importantly your body.
However, keep in mind that finding the perfect snowboard stance for you may take some experimentation. There is no right stance for everyone.
What to do to get the right snowboard stance?
To get the right stance you will need to understand and set up a few things:
- Figure out if you are goofy or regular
- Choose the right stance width
- Set a setback or centered Stance
- Choose the right bindings highback angle
Let’s start!
#1 Are you goofy or regular?
The first step in setting the perfect snowboard stance for you is to figure out whether you are goofy or regular. Goofy riders have their right foot forward, while regular riders have their left foot forward.
Not sure which one you are? Check out our guide on how to figure out if you are goofy or regular easily!
#2 Choose the right stance width
The stance width is the distance between the center of the front binding and the center of the rear binding.
It is important because it affects snowboarding behavior.
A stance width that is too narrow, thus with the feet too close together, gives low stability. However, it makes it easier to transition from edge to edge.
A stance width that is too wide, thus with the feet too far apart, gives low control and responsiveness.
How to find out the right one:
Since the stance width best suited for you also depends on your preferences and your body, experiment with different widths.
However, as a starting point take a width a few centimeters (cm) wider than your shoulders. Then change it to find the perfect one for you.
Note: the stance width is from the center of the front binding to the center of the back binding. So if you decide to measure it with a meter, take the center of your feet as your reference.
My example: I am 185 cm tall, my shoulders are 45 cm wide, and my stance width is 60 cm.
Indicative table:
Use this chart to get an idea of the stance width in proportion to height. Don’t copy and paste, test different widths!
| Height | Suggested stance |
|---|---|
| < 155 cm (5’1″) | 43-48 cm (17-19″ ) |
| 156-163 cm (5’2″-5’4″) | 48-54 cm (19-21″ ) |
| 164-172 cm (5’5″-5’8″ ) | 48-56 cm (20-22) |
| 173-184 cm (5’9″-6′ ) | 53-58 cm (21-23″) |
| 185-193 cm (6’1″-6’4″ ) | 56-61 cm (22-24″) |
| > 193 cm (6’4″) | 58-63.5 cm (23-25″) |
#3 Setback or Centered stance?
There are two main snowboard stances to choose from: the centered stance and the setback stance. Choosing between the two depends on your riding style and personal preference.
Let’s dive deeper into each stance to help you decide which one is best for you.
Almost always the snowboard stance is combined with a different shape and camber. So, I recommend you to check the different snowboard shapes and camber profiles first.
Centered Stance
The snowboard has a centered stance when the bindings are mounted in the center of the board, with an equal distance between the nose and tail.
Who should choose this stance?
If you like freestyle you should choose this stance. It allows you to ride in switch easily and have more stability in tricks and jumps.
This stance is also excellent for all mountain – freestyle.
Setback Stance
A snowboard has a setback stance when bindings are mounted slightly toward the tail of the board.
Who should choose this stance?
If you are a freerider you have to go for the setback stance. This stance puts more weight on the tail, so it lifts the nose and gives more flotation in powder.
The setback stance is also a good choice for all mountain, all-mountain – freeride.
#4 Choose the right binding angle
The correct binding angle is essential for having the perfect snowboard stance. Snowboarders have three main choices when it comes to binding angles: Positive/zero (+/0), positive/positive (+/+), and positive/negative (duck).
Each binding angle offers unique advantages and disadvantages and different adaptability to riding styles and skill levels.
Therefore it’s important to find the one that works best for you.
Positive/zero (+/0):
When the front binding has a positive angle, and the rear binding is positioned at 0 degrees, meaning it’s perpendicular to the snowboard.
Positive/positive (+/+):
When both bindings have a positive angle.
Positive/negative (duck):
When the front binding has a positive angle, while the rear binding has a negative angle.
For more information, I recommend reading our guide on how to find the perfect binding angle for your style and skill level.
#5 Choose the right bindings highback angle
The last step to complete your snowboard stance setup is to adjust the angle of the highback.
The highback is the part of the bindings that support the back of the leg. It works as a big lever and allows you to control your snowboard through movements.
How to adjust it:
Usually, the highback of bindings is adjusted by the screws located behind the binding. However, it depends a lot on the model of the binding.
Note: Sometimes bindings do not have highback adjustment!
What angle should you choose?
The choice depends on riding style and skill level, but in general:
- The more the highback is angled toward the boot, the faster the snowboard’s response to one of your movements and thus the higher the responsiveness.
- With the highback little tilted toward the boot, you give your leg more freedom of movement at the expense of responsiveness.
Note: overdoing it both ways, besides making riding more difficult, can hurt you.
If you are a beginner, I recommend having a high back with a slight forward angle. This is because errors in movements do not immediately lead to a snowboard reaction.
Same for freestyle, so that you have more freedom in your movements when landing jumps.
For freeride and backcountry, especially with aggressive riding, I recommend a greater angle, to have maximum responsiveness.
For all-mountain, I recommend tilting it fairly toward the boot, that way you get responsiveness.
I recommend you read our guide to learn more about what highback angle you need to set.
Which setups are used by professional snowboarders?
Here is the snowboard stance of some professional snowboarders.
I am providing these setups so that you can take a cue from them. Don’t copy and paste, but always experiment with different setups.
| Pro | Goofy or Regular? | Stance Width | Front Foot Angle | Back Foot Angle | Stance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Benny Urban | Goofy | 51.5cm (20.3In) | +9° | -6° | Centered |
| Enni Rukajarvi | Regular | 51cm (20In) | +15° | -9° | Setback (2cm) |
| Kazu Kokubo | Regular | 55.3cm (21.8In) | +15° | -15° | Centered |
| Max Parrot | Goofy | 54.5cm (21.5In) | +13° | -13° | Centered |
| Nicholas Wolken | Regular | 52cm (20.5In) | +21° | +6° | Centered |
In conclusion, finding the perfect snowboard stance can greatly improve your overall performance and allow you to progress quickly.
By following this guide you have found the right snowboard stance for you. However, take the time to experiment with different stances until you find the one that feels most comfortable and natural for you.
Remember to listen to your body and make adjustments as needed. With the right stance and practice, you can take your snowboarding skills to the next level.
Now, go hit the slopes and have fun!
What to do next…
Now that you know which stance is right for you, find out:
FAQs
How to measure stance width on a snowboard?
To measure the stance width of your snowboard, you need to measure from the center of the front binding to the center of the rear binding.
How wide should a snowboard stance be?
There is no right snowboard stance width for everyone, but the one that works best for you. To start, set a width a few inches (cm) wider than your shoulders. Then expand or narrow it to find the best one for you.
