did I get the right board?

I recently received my first board and bindings as a birthday gift,
but I'm unsure if the specs are going to work for me. I'm 6'2",
190lbs, size 10.5 feet. The board is 163cm long, with a waist width
of 26.3 cm. I haven't purchased boots yet, but when I stand on the
board barefoot at comfortable angles, my feet are about 1cm short of
the edge on both sides. A salesman at my local sporting goods store
said that my feet should be flush or slightly over for maximum turning
control. Is this correct? Should I exchange the board for one with a
25 cm width?

Thanks!

On Mon, 15 Nov 2004 05:22:43 GMT, (BigWaveDave)
allegedly wrote:

I recently received my first board and bindings as a birthday gift,
but I'm unsure if the specs are going to work for me. I'm 6'2",
190lbs, size 10.5 feet. The board is 163cm long, with a waist width
of 26.3 cm.

You don't state your level of riding ability... but I assume you're
either a complete beginner or a low intermediate.

I haven't purchased boots yet, but when I stand on the
board barefoot at comfortable angles, my feet are about 1cm short of
the edge on both sides. A salesman at my local sporting goods store
said that my feet should be flush or slightly over for maximum turning
control. Is this correct?

That's good enough, but applies when your boots are on. Obviously the
size of the boot is bigger than your feet. You need that compromise
between being big enough such that you can pressure the edges of your
board, but not being so big that you have too much overhang.

Should I exchange the board for one with a 25 cm width?

Probably not. Get your boots sorted (they should be the first things
you buy), then see how the board shapes up. Check the FAQ (URL below)
for more information on board widths.

- Dave.

--
The only powder to get high on, falls from the sky.
http://www.vpas.org/ - Snowboarding the worlds pow pow -
Securing your e-mail

The Snowboard FAQ lives here - http://rssFAQ.org/

(BigWaveDave) wrote in message . com...
I recently received my first board and bindings as a birthday gift,
but I'm unsure if the specs are going to work for me. I'm 6'2",
190lbs, size 10.5 feet. The board is 163cm long, with a waist width
of 26.3 cm. I haven't purchased boots yet, but when I stand on the
board barefoot at comfortable angles, my feet are about 1cm short of
the edge on both sides. A salesman at my local sporting goods store
said that my feet should be flush or slightly over for maximum turning
control. Is this correct? Should I exchange the board for one with a
25 cm width?

Thanks!

Yes, your board is too wide. Get 25.5 maximum. A little tow everhang
won't hurt you.

Should I exchange the board for one with a
25 cm width?

The rule about having a little overhang applies with your boots on. So it
all dependson on what size and model boot you wind up getting, how deep the
sidecut is on your board, how wide you like your stance, and what stance
angles you like - in other words, too many variables for us to give you a
definitive answer on.

Select your boots and then try the experiment again! Measure the overhang
and post the results here.

Mike T

I'm interested in the answer you get as well. I'm barely past a
beginner, a lifelong Florida surfer though; and I just bought a Cruzer
164 wide, 26.2cm waist. My size 10s are a couple CMs over the heelside
and just past the toe side. I'm considering bringing the binding
closer to the toe side to even things up, but I frankly don't know.
It feels pretty good, but I haven't been down a mountain in it yet...

My size 10s are a couple CMs over the heelside
and just past the toe side. I'm considering bringing the binding
closer to the toe side to even things up, but I frankly don't know.

I would adjust your bindings to even things up. IMHO this is especially
important at the beginner stage.

BigWaveDave wrote:

I recently received my first board and bindings as a birthday gift,
but I'm unsure if the specs are going to work for me. I'm 6'2",
190lbs, size 10.5 feet. The board is 163cm long, with a waist width
of 26.3 cm. I haven't purchased boots yet, but when I stand on the
board barefoot at comfortable angles, my feet are about 1cm short of
the edge on both sides. A salesman at my local sporting goods store
said that my feet should be flush or slightly over for maximum turning
control. Is this correct? Should I exchange the board for one with a
25 cm width?

I've found that heels and toes flush with the edges when barefoot in
your normal stance is a good guide. On that basis the board's a little
wide. But as others have pointed out, what matters is the overhang once
you're in your boots and bindings.

Iain

(BigWaveDave) wrote in message . com...
I recently received my first board and bindings as a birthday gift,
but I'm unsure if the specs are going to work for me. I'm 6'2",
190lbs, size 10.5 feet. The board is 163cm long, with a waist width
of 26.3 cm. I haven't purchased boots yet, but when I stand on the
board barefoot at comfortable angles, my feet are about 1cm short of
the edge on both sides. A salesman at my local sporting goods store
said that my feet should be flush or slightly over for maximum turning
control. Is this correct? Should I exchange the board for one with a
25 cm width?

Thanks!

Sound like the board should be fine from a width standpoint. With
boots on, the toe and heel will be slightly past the edge of the
board. About 1/2 inch or so is normal. If you're a beginner, I
probably would have gone with a slightly shorter board, like a 158,
which would be easier to learn with, but the one you have should work
fine.

"BigWaveDave" wrote in message
om...
Should I exchange the board

Yes, get a set of skis ;-)

Michael

While pondering the Universe, (BigWaveDave) wrote
:

I recently received my first board and bindings as a birthday gift,
but I'm unsure if the specs are going to work for me. I'm 6'2",
190lbs, size 10.5 feet. The board is 163cm long, with a waist width
of 26.3 cm. I haven't purchased boots yet, but when I stand on the

The length should be good for your weight when riding in powder. If you
are an absolute beginner you might want to ride your first few outs in a
158ish board to get a better feel for turning. As for the width, with
10 1/2 feet that should be fine. Go try on a lot of boots and find some
that are comfortable (and snug!). Adjust your bindings with your boots on
- you want to position your foot more than the binding and depending on the
boot and heelcup you may find it needs to be moved more than whats obvious.