Snowboard binding angles will affect the way you ride. How you have these set up will depend partly on your riding style and ability and partly on your personal preference and what feels right for your body type.
Below I will be taking a look at binding angles for 4 different styles and abilities:
- Beginner stances;
- Freestyle stances;
- All mountain stances; and
- Free-ride stances
These should be thought of as starting points – from there you can experiment until you get the angles that feel perfect for you. Most people find that they have a “sweet spot” where it feels just right.
First let’s quickly look at what binding angles are all about.
Snowboard Stance Angles
Your stance angle refers to the angle of your feet on the snowboard. A zero degree angle refers to your feet being completely straight across the width of the board (perpendicular). An angle where your toes are pointing towards the nose (tip/front) of the board is a positive (+) angle and a negative angle (-) is when your toes point towards the tail (back) of the board.
Different styles are more suited to certain stances because it can make it easier to perform what is needed for that style. Most riders, based on personal experience and research, seem to ride somewhere between +15 and +24 for the front foot and between +6 and -15 on the back foot.
Snowboard binding plates (which attach the bindings and the board together) have angles already set into them – so you won’t have to get out your protractor for this! Phew! They go up in multiples of 3° angles.
What Else Should You Think About for Your Stance?
Other than bindings angles there are a couple of other stance set up considerations. For more on your stance – such as stance width, set back and high-back angles, check out the link below.
Which Binding Angles Suit You the Best?
I have outlined the most common stance angles for 3 different styles plus the most common for beginners. Your exact stance will come somewhat down to personal preference. NB: All stances illustrated in a regular stance (as opposed to goofy).
Not sure what style you are? Check out the article below:
>>What’s Your Snowboarding Style Type?
Beginner Stances
There is a lot of different advice on what stance you should start out with. And I guess that’s because there is a bit of scope. However, there are two main schools of thought here.
The first school of thought is: because you are just learning then you want to make it easy to ride in one direction, so you should set up your stance to make turning easier whilst still feeling stable. The most common setup for this is to set the front binding to +15 and the back binding to +0 or +3.
The second school of thought is: because you may still be figuring out whether you are goofy or regular then you should start with a duck stance (see below) so that you can ride in both directions for a while until you decide which is easiest and then change to a more forward stance (as above).
I would suggest going with the first school of thought if you know whether you are goofy or regular and then play around with it from there until you find your most comfortable set-up.
Freestylers
Freestylers generally go with either a mirrored duck or slight duck stance.
A mirrored duck stance is where the positive (+) angle of the front binding is matched by a negative (-) angle in the back binding. The most common mirrored duck stance is +15/-15.
A slight duck stance is any stance where the back foot is on a negative angle but on a different angle to the front foot. There are a few combinations here and these are commonly used by freestylers & all mountaineers and everyone in between.
Some common set-ups include +18/-12, +15/-9, +18/-9 & +15/-6, but there are a large number of combinations you could try. However, usually this is somewhere between +21 and +12 for the front binding and -3 to -15 for the back binding.
It is not recommended to go beyond -21 on the back bindings as this probably isn’t very comfortable or good for the knees.
Again you should experiment to find what works best for you.
All-Mountaineers
All-Mountaineers usually ride with a slight duck or slight forward stance – as always it will depend on your personal preference and you should experiment until you find what’s most comfortable for you.
If you like to ride a lot of switch on the mountain then a slight duck stance is probably the best way to go. A +18/-6, +15/-6, +18/-3, +15/-3 – and the list could go on. Experiment and find what feels the best for you.
If you are not so concerned with riding switch then a slight forward stance is probably the best option. A +18/+3 is a common one for this and a good starting point.
Free-riders
Freeriders typically ride with a forward stance. This means that both bindings will have positive angles. Common stances include +21/+6, +18/+6, +18/+3.
For freeriding you will probably find some form of forward stance to be most comfortable but you don’t need to restrict yourself to these examples. Experiment and find the stance you like most.
As some reference your front foot is likely to be somewhere between +24 and +15 and your back foot somewhere between +3 and +9. However, some people do prefer more extreme angles.
What Angles do you Use?
I’m always curious to know the set up of other riders so it would be great to know your preferred angles and what style you ride with those angles.
I personally usually ride with a +15/-15 these days but whenever I get on a freeride board, I rend to move into a more forward stance – usually something like +18/-6. I used to play around a lot more with angles, depending on the board I was on but I like to keep it fairly consistent these days, especially as I’m testing gear a lot and want a consistent feel on each deck. So I only really change it up on a freeride board.
Knowing your binding angles can also help when choosing the width of your board. For more about choosing width, check out the link below.
>>Snowboard Width Sizing And How to Get it Right
Hey I like this Post a lot. I have been snowboarding for years and I am always changing my angles trying new things and this post was able to break down all the and show me all the different angles for different style riding. I Like the pictures as well showing the set up so you know from the nose to the tail. Thank you for this i will be sure to share it with a few of my beginner friends so they can learn the different angles.
Thank You Anthony
Hey Anthony – thanks heaps for the input. Yeah I’m starting to experiment a bit with my binding angles now. Should have done it a while ago but better late than never!
Hi (Nate?)
Having done downhill skiing for some years I find this subject quite fascinating. I see many more people on the slopes now using snowboards. Not sure I want to switch but perhaps you could include here some more descriptions about the different types of snowboarders. I’m sure it comes naturally to you but a bit more description of who, for example, “free-riders’ Are would be useful I think.
Hey Glyn – thanks for the suggestions. I have info about the different snowboarding styles but didn’t link to it above but will do so now – thanks for pointing this out. Never too late to switch from the double planks to the single!
I’ve been snowboarding for 26 years now and have ridden almost every stance imaginable. This year I am blessed to be working at a resort that gets a ton of snow, so I find myself setting my stance more for freeriding. Ive been experimenting a lot and have found my optimal powder stance to be +24/+3, and one setting more narrow than my freestyle stance (+15/-15). Good article! And indeed, everyone will have their own preference, so find what is most comfortable for you!
Hey Rick
Thanks for your input. Always good to hear what angles others ride. Enjoy the powder!
Thanks a lot for this articles. I am riding for 5 years and still trying to find my stance. I started from +15 and -9. Now I am riding at +24 and – 15. It fells more comfortable and stable, but I am not shure, that these angles are good for knees. What do you think of that?
Hi Pavel
Thanks for your message.
I haven’t tried angles like this before. In general I don’t recommend too great a negative angle on the back binding but -15 degrees is fine. I’m not sure if having a greater positive angle on the front binding makes it worse on the knees as I’m not an expert on anatomy but if this feels ok to you then in terms of riding then go with it.
In terms of what it’s like for your knees I can’t really say if it’s ok or not.
I’ve been riding 24 and 15 for 20 something years. I found last year when I started splitboarding and riding a more directional longer board turning my back binding to -5 helped alot since I rarely ride switch in the backcountry and if I do its for short periods of time.
A part of your riding stance and width will depend on the geometry of your hips. My hips require that I take a wide stance and slight-duck stance. I’m riding a +21/-12 right now. I’m an amateur powerlifting soccer dad mountaineer that enjoys powder days. So what’s comfortable in the gym for me typically translates to what works on my board.
Agree that different stances make sense for different styles. Duck for freestyle, forward for freeride. While angles should be comfortable, they should be as minimum as possible to max edge pressure on heel and toe sides. Stance width? With a tape measure in hand, walk at a normal pace for 6 to 10 steps, suddenly stop, keeping feet on ground turn them to your stance angle and measure width. Do a couple of times taking an average.
Hey DP
Thanks for your input. Appreciate it. Hadn’t heard that one for stance width before – will have to try it and see how it feels.
This sounds like the “sock drill” for Stance Width. Stored in the banks. And to be implemented this weekend.
Hey Nate,
which angle do snowboard rentals use ?
Hey Eric
I’ve seen rental shops use all sorts of angles. Sometimes they go with a mirrored duck stance – that way they don’t have to worry about if you’re regular or goofy (assuming they are renting true twin shaped boards).
But the most common I’ve seen is +15 on the front foot and -9 or -6 on the back foot.
Hey Nate,
You recently helped me pick out my first board and I decided to go with the 2016 Garage Rocker from Rome. I would really like to work on my switch riding (I usually ride regular). I’d like to get to the point where I’m equally comfortable going down the hill or park either way. I would consider myself an all- mountaineer since I spend more time on the slopes than the park, although usually a third of my day is in the park. Would a mirrored duck stance help me progress my switch riding faster? Or should I just stick with a normal all-mountaineer stance (+15/-6 etc.)?
Hey Tom
Good question. Some people recommend going with a mirrored duck whilst others say you should ride your normal angles because you’ll be eventually riding switch in your preferred angles at some point.
Personally I would try riding with a mirrored duck and see how you like it. If it feels ok then you could use this stance for a while whilst you are learning switch. If it feels really off for you, or you find it puts too much pressure on your back knee (which some people experience with a +15/-15 mirrored duck), then you could rotate the back leg a bit to -12 or -9 until it’s comfortable.
I would say you want at least -6 on your back binding and preferably at least -9. When you are riding a lot of switch whilst you are learning then this will be your front foot a lot of the time. Especially since you want to be equally as comfortable in both directions then that will be your front foot a lot of the time.
One thing I did to improve my switch riding was to ride a whole day in switch a couple of times. Basically treating my switch direction as my natural direction. So I did everything switch – even skating and getting off the lifts. In this case I used a mirror duck. But you could even set up your bindings the other way around as if this was your natural direction.
Even assuming you’ll go back to an all mountain type stance, I think it helps to get comfortable riding switch in a stance that feels comfortable in that direction first. Once your comfortable riding switch then you can adjust to riding switch with other angles that might be less suited to switch – if that makes sense!
So yeah I’d go mirrored duck or close to whilst you get comfortable riding switch. And maybe even switch your stance around as if you were the opposite of your natural stance for a day (i.e. ride as if you were regular if you are goofy or ride as goofy if you’re usually regular).
I hope the Garage Rocker is treating you well.
Great article. I have been riding +21/-6 with a 1″ setback which is great in powder. But now Im finding I need more edge control on the front end for piste riding (I ride goofy) so Im going to try +15/-6 and experiment. I still want the setback in case of powder so Ill see how it goes.
Hey Dave
Thanks for the input. Definitely try those new angles and see how it feels. I’m definitely one for experimenting to see which works better. If you like the new angles on piste and still want to switch back to +21/-6 for powder days it’s not too hard to change back.
Riding with a 1″ (25mm) setback on piste is all good too. I tend to ride on whatever setback the board I’m riding is made to have. I find that’s normally the best ride. Which means some boards I’ll ride with a 0.75″ to 1″ setback on piste. You can ride as far back as 2″ or more on powder.
Hi Nate,
Your articles have been very helpful in choosing the right board & now finding the right stance for me. I’ve been riding for about 5 years but still consider myself a beginner to intermediate rider since I’m only able to go a few times a year. I recently purchased the GNU B-Nice since it had magnetraction and banana rocker technology. I live on the east coast so we have a lot of icey conditions which make riding very difficult. At any rate, I tried my new board yesterday on slush & actually did very well. I ride reg so I set my stance at +15 / -6 center. I once in a while end up in switch position but not by choice..lol. My question is, Do you have any suggestions for my stance, degree & if I should set back at all? I’m 5’2, 115lbs. My board is a 142cm. I’m an all mountain rider and just like to cruise the mountain with maximum control & stability. Thank Nate!
Hi Tanya
First of all, I think that you have chosen a good board for your ability, style and conditions and also in a good size for you – good work!
In terms of setback I always suggest to stick with the setback that the board is designed for. The B-Nice is designed for a cenetered stance, so I would stay centered on it in typical situations. If you find yourself on a really deep snow day, then you could set it back a bit for easier float over powder. But otherwise I would stick to centering your stance. The main benefits of having a setback stance is for better float in powder. If you don’t ride switch or ride that much freestyle, then it doesn’t hurt to have a mild setback – but there’s no need unless you ride a lot in powder or like to get on really steep terrain.
In terms of your stance, I think what you are most comfortable with is the best way to go. Certain stances are better for certain styles (like if you are a more aggressive downhill rider, then a forward stance is usually better, and if you ride switch a lot, then a mirror duck can be a good way to go) but even within those styles people have personal preferences. For you I would just go with whatever feels most comfortable. If you want to experiment this is how I like to go about finding that perfect stance.
1. Start with a mirror duck – +15/-15
2. Then ride with a forward stance – +21/+3
3. If you like the Mirror Duck the most then try something like +15/-6. If you prefer the Mirror Duck, then stick with it, if you prefer the +15/-6 then go with that or try out something like +18/-6 or +15/-9 or the likes.
4. If you prefer the +21/+3, then experiment with some stances around there – like +21/+0, +18/+3, +18/-3, +18/-6, +18/+0 etc.
But if you’re happy with your +15/-6, then you could just stick with that too.
Hope this helps
Hi Nate,
Thanks for the article. I have been snowboarding for about 5 years now but only go once a year, so very much an intermediate, just enjoying carving down the mountain and making my way through the different routes. I don’t ride switch at all.
Need to book equipment for my up coming trip. Ski rental places generally give you very little diversity when booking (Beginner, intermediate, expert).
So, Question 1 is when picking up my board are there any must haves or must not’s that I should ask for when getting a board?
Then on stance, based on the above, would I be in the All-Mountineer category? My natural stance, just when just standing normally, is quite open (duck like) and pretty sure that my back foot was slightly open on last trip approx +15/-3 ( beginner setup). I was thinking that more open (mirrored duck stance) might be more comfortable but see that is more for freestylers which I understand to be guys doing tricks and on half pipes etc. which I am not going to be doing.
So my question is if I am just going to be going down slopes should I try a more free riders stance +18/+3 or is it ok to go more open stance, possibly +15/-6 or -9?
Thanks
Hi Francois
Rentals are typically very limited in my experience unfortunately. That’s why I usually recommend buying – but if you’re not going that often I can see why you would want to rent.
You don’t have to ride freestyle to have a duck stance – it’s just something that those riding freestyle often prefer. I think whatever you find most comfortable is the best – this post is just designed to give you some starting points. I find it’s a good idea to experiment. But if you have limited time on the mountain and don’t want to use that time experimenting, then something like a +15/-6 or +15/-9 is a nice in between stance that should be comfortable. If you don’t have the time/inclination to experiment I would go with one of those. If it feels really uncomfortable, then you could try a +18/+3 or even try a +15/-15 but if it feels o.k. then you could just stick with that.
Hope this answers your questions and I hope you enjoy your trip!
Hi Nate,
I’m a Park/All Mountain rider. I like to ride +15/-12 as I often land switch.
I noticed you don’t recommend this combination very often, it’s usually +15/-9. Is there any reason for this?
Cheers
Hi Andrew
No real reason to recommend +15/-9 except that it’s a comfortable stance and a bit of a middle ground being going mirror duck and going with something that’s more of a forward stance. I usually like to recommend it for those who aren’t sure about what stance to take and don’t really want to experiment too much.
But there’s certainly nothing wrong with a +15/-12 and if you’re landing in switch a lot, then it’s a good way to go – particularly if you don’t like or don’t want to go full mirror duck.
Hey Nate,
Just want to leave a quick comment to thank you so much for your many many articles on all things snowboarding for beginners. The thoroughness and information in your articles helped me so much and lead me to make my first snowboard set up purchase last night. I went for the 2017 Salomon sight 150cm board, 2017 Salomon rhythm binding and the 2017 Salomon launch snowboard boots. I live in Japan and decided the investment would be worth it!
I am a beginner but seem to be progressing really fast even on rental boards and boots (mastered the switch 180 on my fourth outing ever snowboarding) so your advice on the salomon sight board helped me to find the board that would keep up with my seemingly fast progression.
This information on the binding setup and stance is also helpful. I’m goofy and like to try tricks and switching all of which you covered in this article.
Thank you again mate for your amazing advice. I’ve bookmarked your site and return to it nearly everyday!
All the best mate!
Hey Jesse
You’re very welcome. And thanks for your message. Really glad you’ve had so much use out of the site. Awesome that you are progressing so fast too – switch 180 on your 4th outing is amazing! Keep it up and hope the rest of your season is even better
Excellent article! Thank you for the info.
I noticed you haven’t mentioned any stances where the front foot is less than +15 degrees. I was wondering if there’s a reason riders don’t prefer a more parallel stance.
I am curious because lately I have been riding +9/-9. I injured my ‘front’ knee skiing a few years ago – not too badly, but it aches after riding for 8 hours. It feels like reducing that front angle takes some of the stress of my knee, but I wonder if I am somehow limiting myself with this kind of stance. Is this a bad idea?
Thanks again!
Hi Mark
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with less than 15 degrees on the front foot. It’s definitely not a hard and fast rule. In fact 12 degrees at front isn’t that uncommon. I haven’t seen too many people with 9 degrees at the front and can’t say I’ve ever tried it – but I don’t know of any reason why you can’t do that. If you are comfortable with it, then I think it’s ok. The only thing I could think is that it makes it more difficult to initiate aggressive turns but that would just be a guess.
I think so long as you don’t have a more acute angle on the back foot than the front foot you should be ok – so something like +12/-15 or +9/-12 would be a no-go.
Have you tried +12/-12? Or is that +9/-9 the sweet spot that alleviates the pressure on your knee?
The reason I landed on +9/-9 is I started with +15/-9 and kept dialing the front foot back over time due to my knee aching – the back foot has never moved. I will give +12/-12 a try tomorrow – I like staying with a mirrored stance but it sounds like a wider angle will help with my turns.
Thanks again – I enjoyed the article and appreciate the help 🙂
You’re welcome Mark.
Let me know how you get on with the +12/-12. If it does cause you pain and the +9/-9 doesn’t, then I would move back to the +9/-9, even if you feel it’s not as good for turns – better to be comfortable, I reckon. And if it allows you to ride for longer, then that’s also a good thing.
I was curious about this. I always rode around +15/-6 to -9 but I ended up with knee pain in my 30s (ya I get it I’m not 16 anymore). I did what you did and dialed it back until I felt no pain and landed at +9….but duck felt weird. I ended up at +9/-3……and I now feel like a grandma on the hill with hardly any angle. Soon I’ll need a walker and be on the hill at 0/0.
ha ha 😉
This cracked me up. I can’t say I’ve seen to many with a +9/-3, but if it feels good on the knees, then I don’t see any problems with it.
I once tried and stuck with a very exotic +13/-18, so basically bigger angle in the back. Mostly freestyle on every terrain possible. Anyone else tried and/or prefers similar setup? I kind of find it easier on the back knee. I recently tried the more traditional bigger angle in front and it felt uncomfortable. It’s hard, however, to separate old habit from true best angles. Cheers,
It’s usually suggested to never have a bigger back foot angle than front foot – but if it’s what you’re most comfortable with and doesn’t cause you any issues, then I guess it’s fine. I would also be interested to hear if anyone else has tried or uses this kind of stance and their experience with it.
Nate, this is awesome! Thanks for all of your great advice!
I’m a beginner…been out 4 times so far. I decided to take the plunge and buy my own gear. The board and bindings arrived today. I have the Burton EST system, so I can accomplish just about any angle. I stood on my board and kept adjusting my stance until it felt the most comfortable to me. Then I tightened up the screws and stepped off the board. To my surprise I was at +24/-19. I suppose I naturally tend to stand with my feet at a wider angle, but I’m worried that this might be too wide. What do you think?
Hi Chris
This is quite a wide angle – +24 is wider than most people go with on front foot and -19 is wider than most go with on the back foot. But that’s not to say that it’s a no-go. But I would probably start with something a little bit narrower. Maybe a +18/-15 to start with – and then experiment from there.
You might find that those angles aren’t as comfortable to ride on as they are for standing on the board. But you never know. But yeah, I would start with something narrower and ride like that for a while and then, push them out and see what you find more comfortable. Maybe start +15/-15 and then move out to your +24/-18 and then see which you prefer when actually riding the board. If you do prefer the +24/-18, then maybe try something in the middle – say +21/-15 and compare that.
Always a good idea to experiment.
Hope this helps
This article made riding so much fun! I started out at 6 and 0 at the recommendation of random rider, i switched to 18, -6 after reading your article and it was the most fun I had riding. I might switch to a 15, -15 for the full duck stance just incase I choose to ride switch (I figure it’ll be easy to transition to switch if I already ride duck). I just left sunshine village at Banff and most of the snowboard instructors recommended riding duck 15, -15 as it is a more natural stance. What is your take on that?
Hi Rasheed
Glad you’ve found a new set of angles that you like!
I think people are more and more recommending a mirror duck stance – but I think more and more people are riding more freestyle-like. Personally I don’t think that there is one set of angles that is good for everyone. Some people prefer to have less angle on the back foot and some people even prefer a positive angle on the back foot (forward stance) – though this is becoming less common, except with racers.
I think it is best to experiment. So change to that +15/-15 and see what you think of it. If you prefer it then you can keep it. If you prefer the +18/-6, then go back to that or even try something in between – like a +15/-9 or something. There’s no one set of angles fits all, IMO.
And you can still ride switch without going with a mirror duck. Mirror duck feels most natural for riding switch – but if you get used to riding switch with a +18/-6, you can definitely do it and do it well.
+6/0 is an odd stance – I haven’t heard of too many riding that one! Glad you found something you like more. And like I say, keep experimenting. It may be that +18/-6 is your sweet spot and it may be that you like something even more.
Hope this answers your questions.
Hi Nate,
This is a great article! The best one I have found 🙂
I currently ride +18/-9. I ride mostly park, pow/backcountry whenever I get a chance, and of course the inevitable slopes in between. I have been snowboarding forever and only started to ride park some 6-7 years ago. I started out with positive angles like many did at the time. I have been gradually changing to my current +18/-9 from +21/-9 last season, +24/-9 the season before that and so on. I am now also experimenting with +15/-9.
Just a few personal observations from my experimenting. Firstly, too positive angles (particularly for the front foot) throw me off balance on jumps, boxes and rails. The chest is “too open” when riding regular and it feels like a constant battle not to land on your back if loosing balance. It can be pretty unpleasant doing straight airs on bigger jumps with steep kickers. Secondly, with a mirrored duck stance the nice feeling of going backward/fakie when riding switch is lost since it is a symmetrical stance. When just cruising the slopes I pretty much always ride switch because of that nice riding backwards feeling. Thirdly, I still find that a slight duck stance (and riding regluar) works better for me in the backcountry than a mirrored duck stance, but maybe it’s just me being old school.
Thanks again for this article
Hi Daniel.
You’re very welcome. Thanks for your input!
I’m the same when it comes to the backcountry, I don’t like to go mirror duck either. I do like it in the park and in the resort but I also like a slight duck in the rest of the resort too.
Good observations about the chest being too open for hitting jumps with that big front foot angle. I never liked anything over a +18 on the front foot so I can’t remember ever going over a jump like that – but it makes sense that it might make it feel weird.
This is coming to me at an interesting time. New board, I’m 5’10” 200# but athletic, no gear with size 13 boot. Setting up the Boa boots on Flow bindings in a goofy dominant 75/25. +18/-12. My biggest problem has been trying to get the board to butter easy and still be mountain ride-able. I am now narrowing the stance width and have brought the back in one last time up and the tail press was much easier. Nose was not so much. Ergo today on the way up to loveland I brought the nose in one. Lets see what happens now…..
Do you have any advice on kids stance? I’m talking ages 9 & 7
Hi Gerry
I don’t know that much about setting up for kids boards – but I would say that something like +15/-15 or +12/-12 would be a good way to go. Most people seem to ride with a duck stance these days, so that’s probably a good place to start. And that also sets them up for riding switch, if they are doing that or are likely to get into that.
Hope this helps somewhat
Hi,
Hi, I have been riding for last 10 years bordercros board with +18/+3. Now I have bought a race board and which I want to try but do not know what stance to use. What do you think about +25/+10 , would that be ok?
Thank you in advance
Hi Mladen
I don’t really have any experience with race boards so I couldn’t say for sure. But certainly racers do tend to go with quite an aggressive forward stance, so something like that could be a good way to start. And then you could experiment from there to see what feels best for you.
Hi,
I have a Capita Kazu Pro 2018 154, Burton Ion and a Burton Genesis.
I love going trough the trees into the powder and off the groomer. I don’t do any tricks I am just not interested in them. Do you think the +24 /+3 will be good for me or to much?
Thank you in advance
Hi Thomas
You could try +24/+3 and see how it feels. Also see my reply to your other comment. I always think it’s a good idea to experiment to see what feels good to you.
Hope this helps
Hi I just came across your articles and they have been super helpful so far.
My stance has always been somewhat difficult for me to figure out. The reason being is that I am naturally extremely duck footed from an anatomy perspective. With my feet square and parallel, my knees point in quite a bit, much more than most.
So, even though I’m more of an all mountain rider I tend to run a duck foot profile. I’ve tried +15/-15, +18/-12 but I still get some torsion in my knees. I always felt weird going up to +21 or +24 or more negative than -15.
What do you think? I think my natural stance would put me somewhere around +24/-21 but that’s a total guess. I worry about control against the high back of my bindings going more duck footed though.
Hi Kyle
A lot of all-mountain type riders go with a duck stance these days, so it’s definitely doable. These days I use a +15/-15 most of the time. It’s only really when I get on a freeride board that I adjust it a bit.
If +15/-15 is still uncomfortable you could try +18/-18 or something like that. I don’t usually recommend going more than -15 on the back foot, but if you naturally go that way and it feels comfortable for you, then it might be worth a try. Or +21/-18 or something like that. I would experiment with it. I can’t say for sure, as I’m no anatomy expert, but if you’re body naturally goes that way, then it might be more comfortable. You could also try +12/-12 but it sounds like that might be more uncomfortable from what you’re describing.
I really like the stance I’ve finally settled on after countless tweaks and experimenting (+23, -5). Ive mostly gone not by what feels “right” but rather what seems to be most effective for getting up on edge and carving smoothly (I ride strictly backcountry and groomers, and I try to stay in areas where typically only the skiers can hang ?) Anyhow I’d also like to back my stance up with a bit of logic and explanation. I’ve come to realize that both feet play very different roles for anyone using proper form and technique. The front foot’s main role is turn-initiation, so I like to have it angled towards the front of my board as much as is tolerable in order to help open up the hips, but most importantly, to allow myself to lean forward which is very key for turn initiation (try putting your front foot at 0 and then try leaning forward, it’s nearly impossible) Now onto the back foot, which is predominantly used to get the board up on edge after a turn is initiated to allow the tail of your board to perfectly follow the line the front of your board is on. The straighter your back foot is (the more perpendicular) the easier it is to get your board up on edge on both toe and heel side because it gives you the most leverage possible on both sides. Try putting your back binding at +20 or even just your foot on the ground angled as such and then try rocking your foot backwards as though you’re trying to carve heelside, again you’ll find this is nearly impossible to do. The only reason I have my back binding at -5 instead of 0 is because as you know our feet are naturally canted outwards a little bit so rocking your foot toe to heel and vice versa is actually easier and more natural feeling at -5 as opposed to 0. Combine the two and carving like Ryan Knapton is a breeze (that has been my experience anyhow) Snowboarding is still a relatively new sport and I think many will catch onto a lot of this and adapt is time goes on, but why not be ahead of the curve? ?
Hi Kevin
Thanks for your input and your insights. Very interesting and some good points there.
This sounds so logical. I also agree that the back leg is more for controlling and the front leg is more for steering. Just like a skateboard. The difference is, with a skateboard you have much more grip on the ground. A snowboard can slip away much easier. That’s why for beginners it’s easier to start with a mirrored duck stance (+12/-12 , +15/-15) to get a sense of grip and to learn how to keep yourself stable. As you get more stable, you can gain preference towards one side (regular/goofy) and you can choose to stabilize your stance by adjusting your back foot angle more inwards. If you want more steering power you can adjust your front foot angle more outwards. Doing both will also turn you body more forwards aiding your overview (free-riders). Don’t adjust your front foot angle outwards without adjusting your back foot angle inwards because your legs will be turned open too much, and you will lose stability. Freestylers prefer a more centered stance because the moment they land they can stabilize more easily. With free-riding you’re not choosing to turn that much in the air so you can focus more on direction, if that makes sense. Good read!
this is a really great
thread! Thanks, Nate, for the article, very helpful. I was just about to ask in the comments if anyone could explain the effect of angling front/back foot and their relationship to each other on form, turn initiation, knee fatigue, exertion, etc. in a more scientific manner. Most articles I’ve found about binding/stance angles tend to detail what setups are used most frequently by different styles of riding and encourage experimentation, but I’ve yet to find something that goes more in depth as to the mechanics of how those rotation angles and the front back angle difference affect riding, but some of these comments and responses help a lot. So thanks Kevin and YlaDaKilla for contributing and if anyone has any more resources or insights about how stance angles affect riding please share. and thanks for this great site!
Thanks guys!
You’re very welcome Irina. Thanks for visiting the site
Hey all!
I’ve just begun snowboarding and decided to start with +15/-15, centred (I want to learn ride switch as well as normal and do some tricks along the way). After 2 days on snow I noticed that the more I open duck stance the more are hips ‘locked’ (can’t twist them as much as I can with 0/0). Anyways, I managed to get me some second hand board, set it to somewhere between +9/-9 and +12/-12 (not exactly sure because I improvised; Rossignol bindings with Burton freestyle 3D discs), and I hope all works well the day after tomorrow when I’ll be hitting slopes for the 3rd time 😀
Hi Jaka
Thanks for sharing your experience. Everyone has different anatomy’s so some angles can feel better/worse depending on that. Nothing wrong with going around +12/-12 / +9/-9, if that feels good to you. Also, you don’t necessarily have to go completely duck to learn switch. So if you wanted to go with a bit of a straighter angle on your back foot compared to front that’s doable too.
Wow, knew I was different just didn’t realize how much. Female, 5’-9” been riding a 163 for over 20 years with +35 +5 and bindings as far apart as the holes on my old Eldorado will allow. Whether carving, moguls, steep, deep, chutes, or whoop-de-do’s on a traverse I’ve never liked any other stance. The wide stance allows me to throw the board around anywhere I like in steep terrain and hop or spin on obstacles and moguls. At the same time I can carve on the front of the board’s side cuts or the back. I do notice that unlike a lot of boarders I don’t turn my upper body much, My shoulders are always square across then fall line like a skier and I can’t imagine how on earth I could ride duck footed. I guess that’s what happens without any lessons. I tried to take an advanced lesson a few years ago. Instructor had no idea how I was doing what I was doing and it was a waste of money.
Hi Meredith
Thanks for your message. Always interesting to hear how others ride.
Does sound like you have a very unique approach. But it sounds like it works for you – so, all good!
Really struggling about 15/ 15 or 12/ 12.
Could you tell me what the big difference is. I like to snowboard as I would ride a skateboard. Just playing around the slopes..
Hope you can help!
Cheers,
Steve
Hi Steve
Not a big difference between the two, I wouldn’t say. On a subtle level, you’re in a less aggressive stance on +12/-12 but +15/-15 isn’t aggressive at all, it would be a very subtle difference. I’d say it’s noticeable but only just. I would experiment between the 2 to see which feels the best for you. Mostly, this will come down to personal preference and what you like the feel of better.
Thanks for updating this arricle. I’ve been having issues lately trying to decide what to put my angles at. All I ride are rails in the park, not much of a jumps guy. For the last 6 years I’ve been riding comfortably at +9/-9 mirrored but lately I’ve been having issues so I switched to +12/-12 and it seems to feel pretty good. My other issue, and what I would like to get your input on is how far apart do you think bindings should be exactly? I usually use the wodest stance possible because I can control my stability of rails much easier but I gotta say, it kills the knees. Any suggestions?
Hey
Thanks for your message.
Yeah, usually quite a wide stance if you’re riding a lot of rails. But doesn’t necessarily have to be as wide as you can go – so, if you’re having issues with knees, then I’d say to bring it in a bit narrower. You can still go wide but maybe you don’t to go as wide as you currently are. As for a specific number, it would depend partly on your height as to what a good stance width would be for you. But yeah, best thing to do is to experiment until you find your sweet spot. A happy medium between happy knees and getting that stability.
Hey Nate! Great article, and it’s awesome that you have continued to reply to comments over almost 4 years. I’ve never thought much about my angles in the past, but just built a new setup for the upcoming season. My style tends to be all-mountain or free-ride since I rarely venture into the park or ride switch, and I live for fresh pow. My new board is directional, and I’ve currently got the angles set at +15/-6 and I plan to try +18/+3. Let me know what you think. Thanks!
Hi Dylan
Yeah personally I like more of a forward stance than a duck stance if I’m going to be freeriding, not riding any switch. I personally like +18/+3 for that purpose, but everyone is different, so it’s great that you’re experimenting. Some still even just ride duck, even when not riding park/freestyle, just because they prefer it.
I would almost go even just a little more extreme to start with – maybe like a +21/+3 or something to see if you like it. If you prefer that to the +15/-6, then you could compare the +21/+3 to a +18/-3 or something. And if you prefer the +15/-6, then you could again try a +18/-3. Something like that – basically starting from the edges and working in until you find your sweet spot.
Hope this helps
I visited this page last year and here I am again, but this time I’ll ask a question–thanks for continuing to reply over the years!
I’ve been wanting to learn switch for the longest time and tried playing with my stance (I ride +15, -5) but if I change the back foot to anything more angled than -5, my turns go real whacky. I usually end up facing downhill, perpendicular to the slope, like my back foot is trying to move to the front. I took a jump and completely wiped out. (I was probably trying something like +12, and -10 to -15.) And this was riding normal, just with a different stance!
If I leave my stance +15 -5, then if I go switch I end up with a back foot that’s too angled and a front foot at only 5.
I’m wondering if you or anybody else knows the physics of why angling my back foot more (to get mirrored duck) would mess up my turns so much. I’m super comfortable with speed, features, and moderate jumps with my normal stance, I just don’t know how to alter my riding in order to handle the wider angle in the back. Maybe you just can’t teach an old dog new tricks…
Hi Christine
Thanks for your message.
Yeah, it’s probably mostly down to the fact that you’re not used to it. And possibly your technique has developed in such a way that it only works properly at certain angles. I’m not an instructor so I couldn’t say how you could change your technique accommodate more of a duck stance. I would highly recommend getting a lesson and an instructor could take a look and suggest something.
A lot of people learn to ride switch with a non-mirror duck stance. But if you’re using the same technique when you’re riding switch, then it sounds like it might not work that well, sticking with something like you have. The only thing is if you were riding +12/-15 then that would probably feel a bit weird. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden with a greater angle on the back foot than the front (unless riding switch of course – but I’m used to slightly weird angles riding switch).
The only thing I would suggest trying is something like +12/-9 or +12/-12 and see if something like doesn’t feel too weird – but otherwise (and in any case) I would look at taking a lesson to help with your switch riding. If you get a good instructor, it’s sometimes remarkable what they can tell about your technique with just a couple of turns.
Hope this helps somewhat
Thanks for the article. It has been super helpful. I don’t believe I’ve got it dialed yet, but I’m getting closer to a stance I’m comfortable with.
Hey just received a board for Christmas, it’s a 165 lib tech skunk ape hp wide. I am 6’3” 240 lbs and size 13 burton boots. I am debating going up to the 170 ultra wide, or would I be good on this board? I don’t want to take it out if I can exchange it for the right size.
Hi Brandon
Thanks for your message.
If you’re riding angles similar to +15/-15, something with a reasonable amount of angle on the back foot, then I think you would be OK on the 165, with Burton boots. But would be pushing it with a straighter back binding angle.
Length-wise, I think 165 would be a good length for you. Anything around 167, give or take, assuming a relatively advanced level.
If you like to lay really deep carves and have a straighter back binding angle, then the 170UW might be the way to go, if you think you would be comfortable with that length.
Hope this helps with your decision.
Hi I ride some extreme angles, I ride a +33 back foot and a +51 front foot. I love carving and feel completely comfortable in the air. I have tested everything from 15 -15 to +60 +50, I have never really thought about how crazy my stance is, seeing this article made me understand why i get so many questions on the lift. Have you ever ridden anything in this range?
Hi Jonah
Thanks for your input.
No, I’ve never tried angles that extreme. I don’t feel comfortable with anything more than 21 degrees on the front foot. But everyone is different, for sure, and some find those more extreme angles more comfortable or find that offer more performance – especially for carving and racing. I’ve certainly heard of those kinds of angles for racing. So yeah, if they’re comfortable for you and you like the performance you get, then all good. But yeah wouldn’t see those angles too often in the resort, so I can understand why you get questions.
Hi Nate, thanks for article! I experimented a lot with angles and found +25 on the front and -18 to 25 on the back (still playing with it) to be most comfortable.
People can’t believe I ride such extreme angle haha but I have very flat feet and I guess that results in being really duck footed idk.
Anyway my question was in regards to stance width. I heard either it should the distance of your knees from your heels or it should be exactly shoulder width apart. What’s the best way to get the right stance width distance?
Thank you!
Mike
Hi Mike
Thanks for your message.
I had never actually heard of the distance from your knees to your heels thing before, but when I measure that distance I get 580mm (22.8″), which is a stance I like and am comfortable width. Shoulder width would be too narrow for me. I think these things are nice starting points, but everyone has different body shapes too. So someone might have really narrow shoulders, or are really short between their knees and heels, comparatively and the stance might feel too narrow. And others might have really long shins, and end up going wider than is comfortable for them. I have heard slightly wider than shoulder width (which isn’t very specific) – but any of these things, IMO, are just starting points. And from there experiment to see what feels the best.
But also, IMO, proximity to reference stance on the snowboard is also a consideration. The reference stance is typically where a board has been designed to be ridden. Moving slightly narrower or slightly wider is all good, but I don’t like to go too far from reference stance. I find that my stance width actually changes depending on the board I’m riding for this reason. And I feel comfortable in stances between 540mm (21.3″) and 580mm (22.8″). I don’t usually going wider or narrower than those ranges but I’m happy in that range, depending on the board.
Also, it can depend on riding style as well. If you’re riding a lot of freestyle a wider stance can be a good way to go for more stability – and if you’re riding in trees a lot a narrower stance might work better for more maneuverability.
So, I think it’s mostly something to feel out, like with binding angles, and it does, IMO, depend somewhat on the board too and riding style.
Hope this helps
Thank you for this article! I sent my board for tuning and it came back with the stance off. It’s been a nightmare trying to get it back to way it was and its awesome to see a complete breakdown of the stances, degrees to set at, and abilities ie what you want to do. NOTHING I’ve found on the internet comes close to what you’ve detailed. thank you thank you thank you
You’re very welcome Kaylee. Glad it has helped! Thanks for visiting the site.