How to pick the right-sized snowboard

Q. I’m going snowboarding and need to know: What’s the correct way to pick the right-sized snowboard for me?
– Ainsley Snowbound, Portland, Ore.

A. With the board standing on its edge, you want it to come up to somewhere between your chin and eyes. Go shorter (for more maneuverability) if you plan on spending a lot of time in the terrain park, doing rails and the pipe. Pick a slightly longer board if you’re more interested in riding the mountain and doing powder runs. Snowboard lengths are measured in centimeters. So a rider who is 5 feet 4 inches tall might want to ride a board that’s between 140 and 145 centimeters long.

Another thing to consider is the width of the board. Make sure your board is wide enough so the toes of your boots don’t hang over the edge too much. Ideally, your feet should be flush with the edge of the board; if the board is too narrow, your toes will catch the snow and you’ll wipe out.