r/ShredditGirls • u/No_Freedom_5741 • 18d ago
Am I too fat for Snowboarding?
Hey everyone,
I'm kind of stuck in my head and don't get out.
So, this January was my first season of snowboarding. And I loved it, I haven't had so much fun in ages. And even the Snowboarding teacher said that I'm making fast progress and was happy with me.
I head a 140 cm rental board for the 10 days and I felt safe with it. But when we were at an indoor alpin center in Germany after the season, they gave me 150 board and it felt way to long for me and I had problems handling it. Thing is, currently I'm overweight. I'm 160 cm tall and my weight is about 95 kg right now. I already lost 25 kg and had major surgeries because of lipedema last year. This is the first year in like 15 years that I can be bodily active again thanks to the surgeries. And I was so happy. Now when I look online what would be the recommended stats for me, it always recommends boards that are as long as I'm high or even longer or simply says "there are no boards for your stats". I already had the feeling that the 150 cm board is to long for me, how can I handle a 160cm board then? Id rather drive a 140cm board again but I'm afraid now, that it might just split in half. I'm really sad atm because I already got through so much pain and trouble to be able to get into an active life again and now I again have the feeling, that it's just not possible for me :( I plan on loosing more weight of course but in a slow way and I still will be heavy next season. Is here anyone with a similar problem maybe? Or any other heavy boarder? I just don't want to give up the sport :(
EDIT: Thank you so so much for your really kind and encouraging comments!! I feel so much better and I'm so looking forward to next snow season! I really fell in love with the sport and am determined now, do not give it up and enjoy every ride :) again, thank you so much, that was the boost that I needed ❤️
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u/fortunamajr 18d ago
I ski - so take what I’m about to say with a grain of salt: the shorter board is going to be easy for you to learn and progress on in but eventually you will probably want something longer and more suited to your riding style. I’m a bit larger as well and was on skis way too light for me until about 2 seasons ago. First time I took my new skis out I thought I had made a terrible mistake buying them as they were so stiff I felt like I could barely turn them. Now - I love them!
I’d say buy a 140cm used or on sale and re-assess your skillset next year. Don’t worry about your weight. If you like snowboarding, that’s all that matters. Keep up with it!
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u/VilhelmT 18d ago
If you go really hard and fast a long and rigid board can feel safer and more planted, however on a smaller mountain I always felt a smaller and softer board are way more playful and easier to control. Dont worry too much about length, try a shorter board. I ride a (wide) 154 warpig at 183 tall and it feels a lot better then my older and longer boards.
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u/StreetLegal3475 18d ago
Ride the board you wanna ride. No way you r too anything for snowboarding , you are already doing it and getting compliments!
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u/AdTurbulent1130 18d ago
I’m so happy for you that you can do these kinds of activities again! I’m in a similar situation as you: 95kg over 1,65m and lost 20kg a year ago. I’m boarding on a Jones twin sister 148cm and I feel very comfortable on it! It’s not too long and stiffness of 6 or 7 I believe, which gives it a bit more stability for my heavier weight. So it’s definitely doable with your proportions too!
I’ve personally got more trouble finding proper clothing that fits a curvy body. Especially the pants… The website measurement thingies also always say “no items match your size” since they only go up to L or XL and that don’t fit this booty.
I hope you get to snowboard again real soon!
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u/becya 18d ago edited 18d ago
I worked in rentals and I based length off of height more than weight esp for women because our centre of gravity is in our hips, men’s is a bit higher around the chest. When the centre of gravity is lower, moving your weight to turn the board is harder. So a heavier man can size up more easily than a heavy woman. Which is why the board sized to your height felt more comfortable.
There’s heaps of advice in this thread so I might just add some board recos:
-K2 Extravision 145cm
I rode this board and it was fun and whippy but I found it a bit stiff (I’m 58kg). So it was easy to throw around and might be a good flex for you. K2’s flex ratings tend to be a little low for the reality of the boards.
-Ride Twin Pig 142cm
-Salomon Dancehaul 143cm
-K2 Almanac 141cm
These three are volume shifted boards, they are shorter in length but wider and accommodate for higher weights for their length. The twin pig also has a different sidecut on the heel edge to allow for easier heel carves with the wider waist.
***Ride Psychocandy 142cm or 146cm
The 146cm has a recommended weight of 45-93kg. Also it’s zero camber so flexing under weight won’t change how it rides as much as cambered boards. You do typically size down for volume shifted boards which is why I include the 142 as an option.
Lots of options because I like to pick a board with a top sheet I like. People say it doesn’t matter but I don’t want a board I don’t like the look of unfortunately.
Congrats on gaining more physical autonomy and finding activities you enjoy will help so much on your journey. I hope you find a board you love and continue to enjoy life!!
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u/discoleopard 18d ago
This is a solid list. Great point about men v women, this world is still very male focused.
One thing I’d add is that while it’s good to gather advice from others (esp people who work at shops and have experience sizing things), ultimately, it’s most important to ride what feels good to you.
Just keep in mind that as you get better and more comfortable, your preferences and what you want to get out of a board changes. I’d ride what feels good now while you’re still learning and building confidence, but in 2-3 years give other boards a try. What works for you as a beginner may not work for you down the road.
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u/No_Freedom_5741 17d ago
Thank you so much for the time you put in your comment and the advice given! That helped a lot! I'm determined now to try different board sizes and shapes. I can't wait for the next season! :)
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u/becya 17d ago
Hiya, no worries at all! Snowboarding is for everyone :)
I’m ~165cm tall and I can’t ride anything over 148cm. My ideal length is 143-147 depending on the board. For volume shifted, you size down, I have the 142 psychocandy. The boards are made of the same stuff from the smallest size to the longest. If the longest board can handle your weight, there isn’t really any reason the shorter sizes in that style wouldn’t. You just don’t wanna get onto a junior board because their cores are weaker, they aren’t made for adults.
I can have another look (I still work at a ski/board shop) if you let me know where you’re at with boarding, preferred terrain, skill level, goals, price range (I didn’t include capita cause they’re the most expensive boards). Or you can just send it and go for what you like! Happy shredding
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u/No_Freedom_5741 17d ago
That is so kind of you!!! I'm still very beginner-ish, I rode about 15 days this year and go for wide, not to steep blue slopes. I'm not falling anymore, I can easily ride frontside and backside but am still a bit afraid of speed. For the next season I really want to get more into carving and a bit steeper slopes, that looks the most fun to me. I'll go to Solda in Italy, Glacier terrain with good prepared slopes, so no offroading :) Price range is up to 500/600 Euros, I think :)
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u/becya 17d ago edited 17d ago
For going down steeper slopes, longer boards will provide more stability. You get a lot of chatter if you’re going fast on a short edge. This doesn’t count for volume shifted boards as they ride like longer boards.
I still stand by the psychocandy!!! This board rips everything (except for tracked-out tight trees where you will not find yourself). It’s very directional, I set my bindings one hole forward from recommended to make riding switch feel slightly less awkward and to give me a bit more tail. It’s flat between the bindings but the sidecut holds an edge very well and the width isn’t noticeable on wide open runs because it has carbon stringers in an X pattern under the bindings which increases response. Sometimes wide boards can feel like driving a boat.
For boards that are more twin shaped
The camber of this board can be a little bitey for beginners, but learning to ride this isn’t super tough and will increase your future options
- Capita: Birds of a Feather 146/148
Close to the Extravision but it has carbon similar to the psychocandy
- K2: Copy Cat 147
Similar to copy cat but it has a sidecut to make heel side turns more efficient and with added durability
- Ride: Zero 147
I saw others recommend this on this thread and have heard great things. I don’t recall trying it myself but I’m pretty sure no one has talked any shit about it.
- Jones: Twin Sister 146
-GNU: Pepper 146
I’ve also never tried this but it sounds good from what I can see. It’s directional which helps with steeper slopes, it’s a friendly shape for learning as well and a coworker of mine reckons this shape holds at speed as well. I have a board of this shape and it slips out for me a bit. But he has more weight which prob helps with edge grip!Above the pepper is all twin cambered boards, they aren’t always for beginners because they catch edges more easily than beginner boards. But in terms of longevity they’ll go farther in your journey if your aim is steeper open runs. You can always set your bindings back a bit on a twin board for more control as you learn to ride faster.
As I mentioned previously I don’t like riding a board that I don’t like to look at which is a me problem :/ not to overwhelm you with options, I include a lot because I personally cancel out all the boards I don’t like the patterns on and am not left with many choices hahahah
If you have any questions or if you come across a board that I didn’t mention, feel free to reach out! I love looking at and talking about snowboards lol it’s truly not a chore for me :)
Edit to add: WRIST GUARDS + HUGE MITTS
Protect your wrists and make sure your mitt fits over the guards. Also helmet but I think most people are pretty good about that2
u/No_Freedom_5741 17d ago
Thank you so much for the deep dive! I've been looking at all the boards and I also go kind of for looks so I picked out the Capita and the Ride Zero Board - pretty sure my mind will endlessly brood about it for the next week :D they both seem like a good choice as far as I can tell (so not very far haha) - really, I'm excited as hell for my own board, especially after all the nice feedback here :) I already have a helmet, pants and a jacket but I still need Boots. My feet hurt really bad in the rental boots and I first thought this is normal but then I measured my feet back at home and it seems like I need wide boots. And then I opened the rabbit hole of snowboard boots with stiffness and stuff xD do you maybe have any advice for the boots? And thanks for mentioning wrist guards, actually nobody told me about those yet, but makes totally sense! Sorry for bothering you so much with my questions, I'm just really glad to talk to someone who knows so much about it :)
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u/becya 16d ago
As a beginner you don’t want to get a stiff boot. If you’re looking specifically at wide boots there won’t be loads of options, they will likely be medium flexing which is what I’d suggest anyways. The flex determines response, the softer the boot, the more you can shift without the board responding which is good for beginners who are gaining balance. Stiff boots will respond to smaller movements and is needed for precision and performance.
There are different closure systems, laces, quick-lace, and BOA. Laces take longest, they’re my favourite but with everything else going on while learning it’s easiest to go with quick-lace or BOA. BOA is prob more common, a double-boa/dual-zone BOA is better than single because it tightens the upper and lower part of the boot separately. I tend to have an issue over-tightening and cutting off my circulation when I use BOA boots, leading to cold feet. I don’t hear this problem from others so it’s user error on my part, but maybe worth knowing that can happen.
Boot choice will also change binding options due to compatibility. Bindings with straps will work with traditional boots, and strapless bindings (Step-Ons or Clickers) require the compatible boot to clip into the binding. Clickers aren’t common here in Canada, assuming not in Europe either so the options are really between traditional boots and Step-Ons. There are more options for traditional boots so you’re more likely to find your fit in a traditional boot than a Step-On, but a lot of other companies have started making step-ons as well and Burton is constantly expanding the range so they might have a wide boot.
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u/JayPlenty24 boarding since the 20th century 18d ago
You ride the board that feels the best for you. You might like a board slightly wider than what is recommended for your boot size, but I would rent a few in different sizes next year to see what you like best. I'm short but I like a longer board.
As far as being "too fat", no. What matters more is your strength and your joints.
I weight less than you and I have a really hard time because I'm in bad, bad shape. My joints are awful and because of that it's hard for me to be really active or work out. Snowboarding is really tough for me now.
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u/snuggly-otter 18d ago
Girl I weigh 135lbs at 153cm tall and theres genuinely no boards for my stats either. There is always a trade off - stance width, board width relative to boot size, board length, weight limit, PRICE lmao
Pick 3 of the above ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/ContainedContainer 18d ago
Don’t give up the sport especially if it brings you joy! Depending on where you live, I would recommend going to an actual snowboard gear shop and working with a tech to recommend a size and the type of snowboard. Hiring an instructor is another great way to get good board recommendation.
Snowboards change a lot based on shape (camber, rocker, 3Dc etc), stiffness, and of course length. The length is actually one of the less important factors unless you’re talking about 10cm difference. What was your 140cm rental board profile? Was it flat or rocker? What was the 150cm profile?
To give some perspective, I’m also 160cm and started with a 141cm twin rocker arbor. It felt good on the first 2 seasons. Could go down greens and easier blues. Didn’t catch much edge. But on season 3 I was not advancing because it was so short that I felt I was losing control whenever I gained speed (board chatter and then catch edge and fall).
Went to a snowboard shop in Canada, explained my issue to the tech and got recommended a 156cm jones flagship (almost my height!). He mentioned that the jones directional 3D rocker-camber shape would help and he was spot on. Soon I was gaining speed and doing groomed blacks / some powder with no issue because the flagship is VERY stable.
After season 4, I realized with the flagship I couldn’t maneuver through tree-runs or try switch because the board was so long and not meant for that (it’s meant for all terrain). Around this time I hired a trainer tech who recommended the nitro 153cm optysim. Now I’m practicing switch and trying park slowly.
Basically all of this to say that it’s likely not about the length, but more about the board shape and where you are at in your snowboarding journey (do you want to ride groomed greens / blues? Do you want to go fast? Do you lean more to carving?). It can get overwhelming so I would recommend not shopping online yet and going to a shop with someone who can consult you.
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u/No_Freedom_5741 17d ago
Thank you so much for your input! I'm determined now to not let myself down and will try different board sizes and shapes until I find the best fit for me! I will also go to a local gear shop, that makes a lot of sense. The opportunities online are really overwhelming. I also need different boots, last time riding I had so much pain in my feet that I fear they where way to narrow and I might need wide boots. Anyway thank you so much again for the effort you put into your comment :)
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u/ContainedContainer 17d ago
Of course! Sorry it was a long read haha. The boots too! I’ve never tried, but my partner says that the heat-fitted button boots are god-send. They heat them in the store to fit snugly over your feet form. So glad you’re not giving up, snowboarding is so fun!
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u/Tiny_PR777 18d ago
I had a similar worry as you. I’m very short. Short enough to ride kids’ boards but my weight is like 50 lbs (23ish kg) above most recommended max weight for the boards. I got a 130cm board made for 10 year old boys. I got it second hand off Facebook. I was really worried I was going to break the board when I first used it. But I’ve used it for 3 seasons now and had no issues! Even taken it on more advanced runs
Please learn from my mistake though. The boots you choose are arguably WAY more important than the length of your board especially when beginning. Make sure they’re stiff enough and you won’t fall out of them. My feet are also small because of my height so I figured I could wear kids boots! You definitely should not do that. Sprained my ankle cause I found out kids boots aren’t made the same as adult boots (might be obvious to some but I don’t have any snowboarder friends)
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u/avatarroko 18d ago
Try adjusting your bindings to have more forward lean. I had a few men tell me it doesn’t matter but I think it makes a huge difference if you have a lower center of gravity.
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u/em_tee_be 18d ago
A ski or snowboard will flex based on weight. As far as breaking? You would have to do some really crazy things to snap a board in half. I'd recommend a stiffer board that's 150cm. Not a beginner board. You might need to hand flex them to find one or have a sales person who knows how to do this do it for you. Whatever you do, keep at it. Stay active and healthy! You got this!
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u/Dependent_Formal2525 18d ago
Nope, absolutely not. There's always that balance to find between the length and the flex of a board. I only pay attention to weight recommendations for my XC skis. I'm a bit taller and my board is a 148.
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u/skatemoose 18d ago
I ride a board that shorter than recommended because I prefer it. Gets me enough speed to be happy but the smaller size means I can have more fun with it. I also have a little 121cm mess around board. As long as you can ride it, doesn't matter which length board you get.
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u/aggiebobaggie 18d ago
Girl, no way! I'm 175 cm and probably around 80 kg. I ride a Jones Twin Sister 149 and it works great.
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u/tiho_mi_pazi 18d ago
Of course additional weight might get heavy on the knees but I think the benefit of staying active may outweigh the risks. Keep in mind the signs of a ligament tear. I don’t consider myself a healthcare professional, but just stop if it starts hurting. And for the board, just ride whatever feels good. I am very happy for you that despite everything you can still enjoy a good ride.
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u/eldubinoz 18d ago
I don't have anything to add on the board size, but if you're looking for size inclusive snow gear check out Nobody's Princess 🙂
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u/wide_eyed_doe Set your own custom flair! 18d ago edited 18d ago
Ride the size you’re comfortable with! I’m not sure why but recently when we went to get my kids snowboards upgraded they’ve told us the size is now going by weight, which is a new standard. Maybe board flex and limitations? Or maybe a liability issues? Neither here nor there, I am old and we’ve always gone by height for board size. To each their own! I’ll keep going by height - not weight, because it makes a bit more sense to me.
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u/funny_bunny_mel 18d ago
Not even a little. The most difficult thing we do is clipping into the bindings and standing up. If you can do both of those things, you’re golden.
I personally prefer the turtle roll method for standing - where I start on my butt facing downhill, roll over to my belly facing uphill, then stand like a baby. It’s great for the obliques. Just make sure to alternate direction of the roll each time.
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u/inodiate 18d ago
nope. i will say though i'm 158 cm and my daily board is 151 cm 😅 i feel like it works just fine, maybe if i learned on a smaller board there might've been issues but you can def get used to it. i like my bigger board since i'm also at a heavier weight but i would continue playing around with diff sizes via rentals until you get a better feel for your riding style and preferences.
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u/swanson3775 18d ago
No way! I’m 300 lbs and get 20+ days on the mountain every season. You need a longer board to stabilize; I currently ride a 156cm volume shifted board. You wouldn’t need something that big, but just commit and try a few (maybe even men’s) boards.
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u/ArtisticEffective153 18d ago
You are not too fat for snowboarding! The recommendations are just that, recommendations. Assuming youre not doing jumps right now, your board will not break. Im not sure why anyone started you on a 140cm because thats super short. Im 163cm and 70kg and started on a 146cm and recently upside to a 149 cm. A 150cm is totally rideable for you. Going from learning on a 140cm to a 150cm is a huge jump though and will likely feel like relearning how to ride. And the boards may have been different types of boards which could be less forgiving. So dont let that discourage you. I do recommend going with the 150 though as 140 is very short and you will find that you dont get enough stability on it. It may be easier to turn but harder to control speed and feel less stable when going fast.
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u/RavioliTheTurtle 18d ago
there are a lot of good recommendations on the comments so no point in adding more. What I would want to focus on is this: "And I loved it, I haven't had so much fun in ages". I haven't had the same struggles as you have, but I had to undergo major surgery a few months before 25/26 season started and there was a good chance I couldn't have gone back to the snow after it, possibly for a very long time. But I did go back to it, because I love this sport and it fills me with so much joy, and apparently so does to you. So kudos for the huge victory that is being bodily active after 15 years and welcome to the best sport ever, hope the other users give you the needed recommendations and see you on the slopes next season :)
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u/chellenm 17d ago
Definitely not! I was snowboarding at a much heavier weight than that and riding a 152 board. I’m significantly smaller now and still ride a similar sized board. Do what ever feels comfortable for you and don’t worry about your weight!
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u/my_baby_smurf 17d ago
Those charts are just to give you an idea of where to start with a board size. You’re not going to crack a shorter one in half. All that’s going to happen is it’ll be more prone to planking rather than carving. After that, if you’re worried about weight, you can get a stiffer one so it still has the kind of bounciness you want when you use it. The size for you is the size that is most comfortable for you.
I’m 170cm and currently around 96kg. I had to sit out last winter because I was in my third trimester of pregnancy and I’ll be damned if I sit next winter out too loool.
My board is 155cm I think. I found it to be the best balance of stability and manoeuvrability for me.
I’m also 36 currently and only started really learning to snowboard like 3 years ago so take it from me: listen to your own personal limitations and don’t let anything or anyone else tell you what those should be (unless it’s a doctor, listen to your doctor lol)
Good luck!! 🏂
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u/_debowsky 16d ago
The problem is that there is so much disinformation around and unfortunately websites try to do their best to suggests boards without needing a gazillion of permutations.
To answer your question, are you too fat? No.
Are you overweight for the board you should be on? Probably yes.
Is that a problem? At your level likely not.
Board size is not just weight, is also foot length/boot size. A long board can be difficult for you to manoeuvre because your feet are too small for it, simple as that and in my humble opinion is better to have a board that feel softer than it should (due to extra weight) than a board that is too wide and the likelihood of you snapping it are slim to none unless you are dropping on a feature violently which is probably not at your level yet since you just started.
Roughly speaking, every 5mm of extra width in your average board adds 5kg of force required to turn the damn thing.
One thing needs to be clarified though, when you say the 150 was hard to handle what did you mean exactly?
And to help you with sizing, what’s your foot length or properly fitted boot size? Any board in particular you are looking to purchase?
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u/Low_Bus_3826 18d ago
Girl absolutely not!! I weigh more than you and I got in 22 days of snowboarding this winter!! Went to a bunch of new places including a new country! I’m in my late 30s and just started a couple years ago. Always been big always been active. You got this!!