Finding the right
board.... how to choose the correct size boogie board
for your height and weight.
Courtesy of eboardboarding.com
Here are some simple guidelines to
help you when making your decision.
1.
Length - Your board, when standing on it's tail
(the back end) should come up to roughly within an inch
either side of your belly button. If you normally ride
small waves, an inch above, big waves, an inch below.
I'm 5'8" (173cms) tall and weigh 165lbs (70kgs) and I
ride a 41.75 inch board in all waves. If you are a big
person that isn't that tall, you need a board that is
shorter and wider.
PLEASE NOTE: These are only GENERAL guidelines and
don't apply to every single person.
Use this chart to determine the ideal bodyboard length
for you. Remember, these are just general guidelines:
|
Board Length |
Your
Weight |
Your
Height |
|
36"-38" |
65-85 lbs. |
4' -
5' |
|
39" |
85-115 lbs. |
4'6"
- 5'2" |
|
40" |
110-130 lbs. |
5'3"- 5'6" |
|
41"-41.75" |
125-170 lbs. |
5'7"
- 5'9" |
|
42" |
145-180 lbs. |
5'9"-6'0" |
|
42.5" |
160-190 lbs. |
5'10"-6'2" |
|
43" |
170-210 lbs. |
6'1"-6'3" |
|
44" |
180-270 lbs. |
6'2"-6'4" |
|
45" |
195-255lbs. |
6'3"
- 6'6" |
|
46" |
200lbs + |
6'4"
+ |
2.
Width - You should be able to hold the board
comfortably under your arm and against your side without
much if any slack between your armpit and the rail.
Again, the type of waves you ride may help your
decision. Wide boards for smaller stuff, narrower for
bigger waves. Big rider? You need a wider board. Fill
out the form for recommendations.
3.
Nose and tail width, and template - To keep it
basic, if you're a beginner, the tail design doesn't
really matter much. If you're more into the sport, bat
tails are the choice of most prone-only riders, and
crescents are the choice of most DK-only riders. If you
are both, then consider what your ratio of prone to DK
is, and go with the tail design that covers how you ride
more (prone or DK). On templates, most prone riders like
a board with the wide point closer to the nose, and most
DK'ers like it further back. We have several of each of
these types, and many boards that are made for both
prone and DK.
4.
Rails - Don't worry too much about this. Most
companies use a 60/40 configuration as the standard and
go from there. That means that 60% of the rail is on the
bottom side and 40% is on top. Some riders like 50/50,
but most companies make their boards with 60/40 rails
and to be honest, most riders can't tell the difference.
5.
Materials - If you want the most durable combo,
it would be polypro core with double stringer. This is
also the most expensive combo. We carry several polypro
boards with two, just one, or no stringers which makes
for a lighter, cheaper board. If you ride in very cold
water most of the time, consider a Dow/polyethylene core
board which will stay somewhat flexible no matter what
the water temps. |
