Snowboard Rental Guide: Length, Stance and Boots

Renting a snowboard is similar to renting skis, with a few important differences: the board is sized differently, you need to know which foot goes in front, and the bindings don't release — they hold your feet in place. This guide prepares you for every question the shop will ask.

How to choose snowboard length

Stand the board upright: its tip should reach roughly between your chin and nose. That is the general rule for all-mountain riding.

• Beginners should go for the short end of that range, around chin height. A shorter board turns more easily.
• If you are heavier, or you ride fast with wide turns, a slightly longer board near nose height is more stable.
• For park and jumps, boards are usually chosen a little shorter — but most rental boards are all-mountain.

Just as important as length is width. With large boots, your toes and heels may hang over the edges of the board, drag in the snow when you turn and make you fall. If you have big feet, ask the shop for a wide board.

Regular or goofy?

On a snowboard one foot leads. Riders with the left foot forward are regular; those with the right foot forward are goofy. It isn't directly linked to being left- or right-handed.

If you don't know which you are, try these:

• Run and slide across a slippery floor in socks; the foot that goes in front is your front foot.
• Notice which foot you lead with when climbing stairs.
• Ask someone to give you a gentle push from behind; the foot you step forward with to catch yourself is usually your front foot.

The shop will set up the bindings for your stance. If you are unsure, say so — the staff can help with a couple of quick tests.

Binding angles

Bindings are mounted on the board at set angles. The most common beginner set-up is a relaxed stance with the front foot angled slightly forward and the back foot straight or angled slightly back. A "duck stance", with both feet turned outward, makes riding in both directions easier. If you don't know which you want, leave it to the shop — what matters is that it is set up for your stance.

The distance between the bindings (stance width) should be roughly your shoulder width. Strap in and bend your knees a few times on the board; the stance should not feel forced.

Snowboard boots

Snowboard boots are much softer than ski boots and comfortable to walk in, but the fit rule is similar: toes lightly touching the front, heel staying put when you bend your knees. There are traditional laces, quick-laces and dial (BOA-type) systems; for rentals, dial or quick-lace boots are the most practical. The detailed fit tips in our ski boot guide apply here too.

Protective gear

Beginner snowboarders fall forwards and backwards a lot. A helmet is a must; on top of that, wrist guards and padded impact shorts make a real difference in the first days. Ask in advance whether the shop rents them. See our helmet and protective gear guide for more.

Where to rent a snowboard

Most rental shops at Turkey's ski resorts also rent snowboard sets. At resorts close to Istanbul such as Kartepe, day-trip snowboard rental is common; at Uludağ, the in-hotel rental desks offer snowboard sets too. You can see which shops rent snowboards under "Services" in our list of rental shops.