Wide Board?

[boarda]

Hey frost,
my parents just got me a burton custom wide size 162 for my birthday. before i go on my trip i wanted to clarify with you.

i believe the 162 is the right size for me. it touches just below my lower lip when upright. im 5'11" 190 pounds with a size 11 foot.
the only thing im worried about is the Wide Board.  I heard that it is harder to carve and turn with one. This could be a problem because I would say I am only an intermediate rider.  I personally haven't seen boots on my board, but my dad said they stick out a little. I've ridden boards in the past that stick out and I don't remember a problem...
What should I do?

[Josh]

I cant really answer the first part of your question but I can say that over hang is normal(though too much will result in toe/heal drag).

[boarda]

what are the problems with toe drag..sorry im not good at this crap

[Josh]

Its not crap its snowboarding ...Drag is when your boot sticks off the board too much and causes your foot to touch/drag on the snow during a turn.  Not good.

[Frosty]

It's kinda hard for you since IMO a size 11 boot is right between a wide and regular width board.  It is true for a wider board it is harder to carve.  A larger foot size helps generate the leverage necessary to put a wider board on edge.  Personally I would never want to ride a wide board since my boot size is 9 1/2 US.  My friend though, he has a size 13 boot and wide boards are the way to go for him.

Here is some help gaging of the board is the proper width (keep in mind that this is snowboarding and the word "proper" really doesn't belong, so let's just say ... um... ... reasonable).

Take your boot strap it in to your binding (if you do not have bindings on the board, that's alright, just place it on the board, right where the boot would be if it were strapped in).  Now turn the board so the base is facing you. 

- If you see a quarter inch to an inch of overhang on toe and heel side, you are good to go. 
- If you see less than a quarter inch or no boot at all chances are your board is too wide. (loss of leverage = bad)
- If you see greater than an inch of overhang, your board might be to narrow.  (chance of drag = bad)

note:  Most setups are done so that there is an equal amount of toeside and heelside overhang.

I hope this helps you bro.

[Josh]

Wow thats smart frosty.  nice.

[EhobaX2]

I'm basically the same size as you boarda and had the same problem.  Wide boards are too wide, and regular boards are too thin.  Luckily some companies do make mid-wide boards.  I picked up a Burton Triumph last season which fits my boots perfectly (and rules).  Unfortunately, they stopped selling them this season.   However, your local snowboarding shop may still have some leftover from last year.  Also, I've previously ridden a K2 Illusion mid-wide and that was one of the best boards I ever had.  Unfortunately, too many off-trail runs (and trees) busted it up pretty badly.

If it's not too late to do a return, you could look into mid-wide options.

[Josh]

Ya I was lookin in the Burton catalog and they make some...  Definately check the one you have now first though. (wat Frosty said)