How to set up a snowboard
How to set up a snowboard is not obvious to everyone. For those of us who have been snowboarding for years it's very straightforward, but for those who have never done it before it can be challenging to do properly. An incorrectly set up snowboard will make it harder for you to learn and progress while also damaging your confidence and enjoyment when riding.
Snowboarding is about having fun. When your board is set up correctly, it will be more enjoyable. Below are the things you should consider when setting up your bindings on your snowboard.
At the bottom of the page is a video where Nitro team manager Knut Eliassen explains how to mount bindings on a snowboard correctly.
-> Which foot should be the front foot?
-> What angles should the bindings be positioned at?
-> How wide should I stand?
-> Mounting guide - How to set up a snowboard? (video)
Stance:
Which way should you ride? Left or right foot forward?
Goofy/Regular
The first question you should ask yourself is which way you should stand, and which foot you want to put forward in the direction of your riding. This decision determines if you are “Goofy” or “Regular.”
Goofy = Right foot forward
Regular = Left foot forward
There is no right or wrong way to choose your front foot. It comes down to personal preference. Just because most snowboarders ride "Regular" (left foot forward) does not mean that you do.
- The direction that feels most comfortable is the correct decision and the best direction for you.
How do I know which foot to use as my front foot?
It can be difficult to decide which foot to use as your front foot, or which stance is more comfortable. For some people it's more obvious than for others, and there is no right or wrong way to decide. It is what feels best that is correct. One could ask the question: What foot do you put first if you were to slide across the floor? You can also ask someone to push you unexpectedly from behind. The foot you choose to put forward first to keep your balance is the one you should choose as your front foot. If you have you done any other board sports, you will usually find that you will travel more comfortably in one direction on all types of boards (skateboard, surf, longboard, wakeboard), but this is not always the case.
Angles
What angles should I mount the bindings at?
Snowboard bindings are most commonly attached to the board with mounting discs located under the feet. These discs usually have degrees of rotation engraved on them for your reference. Zero degrees is when they are at right angles to the direction of travel. Bindings can also be angled towards and away from the preferred direction of travel, and many small adjustments can be made to them to increase your comfort.
"Duck Stance" is the most common set up for both beginners and more experienced riders. This is where both bindings are angled slightly away from each other. The front binding should have a positive angle pointing slightly towards the nose, and the rear binding with a negative angle pointing towards the tail. A standard set up is around + 15 ° on the front binding and somewhere between 0 ° to -6 ° on the back binding. This is a good reference stance to learn to balance and develop turning techniques as it forces you to distribute your weight correctly.
Once you know how to ride and turn, you can then experiment with the binding angles to feel the differences and discover what you like more. Again, it comes down to comfort and personal preference.
Stance Width
How wide you stand on the board is a matter of taste and varies from person to person. Your stance should feel natural and comfortable. But if you are not sure we have made a table that you can use. Many boards also have a recommended stance width that you can also use.
Stance width is measured from the center of one binding to the center of the other.
NOTE: This table is only a recommended stance width (personal preference is best).
| How tall are you? | Stance Width |
| 155cm or shorter | 43-45cm |
| 156-162cm | 45-48cm |
| 163-172cm | 48-50cm |
| 173-182cm | 50-53cm |
| 183 or taller | 53-58+ cm |
Hole system - What hole system do you have on your snowboard?
Unfortunately, not all snowboard bindings fit all snowboards. It is important that you find out what hole system your board has. This can be determined by the pattern made be the screw inserts built into the top of the board. Most brands today work with a 4-hole system. Either 4x4 or 4x2. There is also a 3-hole system (3D) and a Channel system (EST) primarily used by Burton. Some bindings are made with additional discs to increase the compatibility with other hole systems. These may need to be ordered or purchased separately. It is essential that you have a binding disc that fits the hole system on your board.
Hole systems:
2x4 -The most common hole system. 2cm between the holes horizontally and 4cm between the holes vertically.
4x4 - 4cm between the holes vertically and horizontally. Common on older boards.
Channel - Burton's “channel”. You may need to purchase a channel-compatible binding disk separately..
3D - Burton's 3-hole system. Be sure to check that the bindings fit.
Contact us if you are unsure of which binding suits your board.
How to set up a snowboard? (Step by step guide)
1. Start with the front binding. (Left binding if you ride “Regular” and right if you ride “Goofy.”) The bindings should always be mounted with the buckles on the outside of the foot when they are tightened.
2. Set the angle on the front binding. Around +18 to + 15 ° is a good start. Each "notch" or mark at the counter on the binding is 3 degrees. If you are not sure which is the front and back of your snowboard, you can see if there is any text vertically across the width of the board. The text will be the correct way up when the nose is up and tail is down.
3. Place the disc above the holes at the desired width (follow the table above if in doubt). The bindings should not stick out or overhang the edges too much and any overhang should be split equally between the toes and the heel. When your foot is in the binding it should be positioned in the middle of the board.
4. Insert all screws loosely through the binding and into the board. A little at a time on each screw. Make sure the threads are level on the board before fully tightening. Do not over-tighten as you could damage the board or the binding.
5. Then repeat with the back binding. A good angle to start with is somewhere between 0 ° to -6 ° for your back foot. Measure and determine the width of your stance. The distance between the bindings should be neither too far apart, or too close together. You may need to test it yourself to find the most comfortable position. When you have finished mounting the bindings, the front binding should be more angular than the back binding, and they should point out slightly. Trial and error is the process - You will learn from your mistakes!
6. Go snowboarding and have fun! Tip: Take all your friends with you :)
Contact us if you are unsure how to mount your bindings on the board. We will guide you.
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