pro snowboarder stances and binding angles

Pro Snowboarder Stances and Binding Setups [2024]

by Tom
Updated:

Finding your perfect stance is a right of passage in the snowboard community. 

But it ain’t easy!

In the early days, I remember adding +3 degrees to my front foot and swearing I would stomp a 720 (I didn’t) or straight-line a black diamond (I couldn’t). 

If you’re currently in the stance-finding battle, I feel you. It’s one of the more frustrating aspects of snowboarding!

So, inspired my our friends over at Whitelines, I put together a list of pro snowboarder stances and binding setups.

Maybe it will offer a little inspiration.

Pro Snowboarder Stances Table

Pro Stance Width Front Binding Angle Back Binding Angle Set Back
Ben Ferguson Regular 22″ 15 -10 Reference
Benny Urban Goofy 20.5" 9 -6 Centered
Billy Morgan Goofy Reference 15 -15 Centered
Bode Merill Regular 23.5" 15 -3 Centered
Boris Mouton Goofy 20.5" 18 -12 Centered
Bryan Iguchi Goofy 22" 15 -6 1" Setback
Chloe Kim Goofy Reference 15 -12 Reference
Christian Haller Regular 23" 15 -12 Reference
Clemens Millauer Regular 22" 16 -14 Centered
Dan Brisse Regular 23" 15 -15 Centered
Danny Davis Regular 22" 9 -9 "Slight Setback"
Danny Kass Regular 22.5" 15 -12 Reference
Desiree Melancon Regular 22" 15 -3 1.5" Setback
Dusty Henricksen Goofy 21" 15 -15 Reference
Eiki Helgason Regular 23.5" 15 -15 Centered
Enni Rukajarvi Regular 20" 15 -9 2cm Setback
Eric Jackson Regular 22.5" 18 0 "Yes"
Gigi RĂĽf Regular 22.8" 18 3 0.5" Setback
Hailey Langland Regular Reference 11 -9 Reference
Halldor Helgason Regular 24" 18 -18 Centered
Helen Schettini Goofy 21.25" 15 -6 1.5-2" Setback
Iouri Podladtchikov Goofy 23.5" 12 -9 Reference (or near enough)
Jake Blauvelt Regular 22.5" 21 3 Reference
Jamie Anderson Regular 21.5" 12 -12 Centered
Jamie Nicholls Goofy 22" 15 -15 Reference
Jared Elston Regular 21" 12 -3 Centered (sometimes pushed forwards)
Jenny Jones Goofy One Back From Reference 18 -9 Slight Setback
Jeremy Jones Regular 22" 24 5 Depends On The Board
Jess Kimura Regular 20" 15 -3 Reference
JF Pelchat Regular 21.5" 18 -9 0.5-1" Setback for powder.
Katie Ormerod Goofy Reference 18 -12 Centered
Kazu Kokubo Regular 21.75" 15 -15 Centered
Kjersti Buaasn Regular 21" 21 -6 Centered
Louif Paradis Regular Reference 18 -6 Slight Setback
Marcus Kleveland Goofy Reference 7 -3 Centered (except in powder)
Mark Mcmorris Regular 22" 14 -7 Centered
Max Parrot Goofy 21.5" 13 -13 Centered
Mikkel Bang Regular 24.5" 20 -5 Reference
Nicolas MĂĽller Regular 22.5" 18 0 Centered
Nicholas Wolken Regular 20.5" 21 6 Centered (when not in powder)
Nils Arvidsson Regular 21" 12 -9 Reference
Pat Moore Regular 21.5" 21 -3 1" Setback from Reference
Peetu Piiroinen Goofy 21.5" 6 -6 Slightly Setback from Reference
Red Gerard Regular Reference 15 -15 Reference
Romain de Marchi Regular 23" 15 -9 Reference
Roope Tonteri Regular 22.5" 15 -9 2-3cm Setback
Sage Kotsenburg Goofy 22.5" 15 -12 Centered
Sami Luhtanen Regular 22" 6 -3 Centered
Scotty James Regular Unknown 12 -9 Centered
Scotty Lago Goofy 25" 15 -9 Reference
Scott Stevens Regular 22.75" 18 -6 Centered
Sebbe de Buck Goofy Reference 12 to 15 -9 to -12 Varies
Seppe Smits Goofy 22.75" 15 -12 Reference
Shaun White Regular 22" 9 -3 Centered
Silje Norendal Regular 20.5" 12 -9 Reference
StĂĄle Sandbech Goofy Reference 12 -12 Centered
Stephan Maurer Regular 22.5" 18 -6 Centered except on powder boards
Terje HĂĄkonsen Regular 22" 21 9 2.5cm Setback
Tor Lundstrom Goofy Reference 15 -9 Slight Setback
Torah Bright Goofy 21.5" 18 -9 Centered
Torstein Horgmo Regular 21-22" 3 (15 in Pow) -3 (0 in Pow) Slight Setback Sometimes
Travis Rice Goofy 22.75 - 23.25" 18 -6 0.5-4" Setback
Tyler Chorlton Regular 21" 18 -15 1" Setback
Victor de le Ruen Regular 22" 15 3 "Big Setback"
Wolle Nyvelt Goofy 22-23" 12 to 15 0 to -3 2-5cm Setback
Xavier de le Rue Regular 23.25" 18 3 Reference
Yuki Kadono Regular 21.5" 6 -9 Reference
Zeb Powell Goofy 22" 9 0 1.5" Setback
Zoltán Strcuľa Regular Reference 12 -12 Centered

Analyzing Pro Snowboarder Stances

As you can see, I’ve compiled the most comprehensive list of pro snowboarder stances on the internet. 

This was not easy!

I hassled every pro snowboarder on our contact list, and even asked them to quiz their friends. For those who didn’t reply, I stalked their previous interviews for all the juicy details. 

The thing that surprised me most… the lack of consistency!

There is clearly no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to stance and binding angles. However there are a few classic trends:

1. Park Riders

As you might expect, most park riders adopted a duck stance – with varying degrees of severity.

Torstein Horgmo swears by a near-neutral +3/-3, whilst Tyler Chorlton rocks an impressive +18/-15 (my knees ached reading that one).

Here’s Olympic medal winner Mark McMorris talking us through his own stance setup and hardware choices. 

2. Freeriders

The classic forward-facing freeride pros have stuck to their guns (for the most part).

You’ll still find big-mountain GOATs like Terje HĂĄkonsen and Jeremy Jones riding positive stances… like +21/+9 and +24/+5 respectively. 

(Although both admitted to adopting more relaxed binding angles when tackling less-gnarly terrain). 

3. The Outliers

Certain pro snowboarders use some pretty bizarre stance setups. 

I don’t mean to call him out… but Yuki Kadano’s binding angles of +6/-9 are mind-boggling. His feet literally point more towards the tail than the nose! 

I gave them a try… Sadly I wasn’t able to replicate his back-to-back triple cork 1620s. Different strokes for different folks I guess.

What Can We Learn From This?

Aside from being hella interesting (I’m super nosy), the massive variation in stance and binding angles demonstrates the importance of experimentation. 

Everyone’s preference, style and knees are different. What works for me, might not work for you. 

Adjust your stance and binding setup gradually, no more than 1″ or 3-degrees at a time. You’ll soon find your perfect angles and width.

Calculating Your Own Stance Width

I’m sure this article has left you questioning your own stance setup. Have you chosen the right width, the right angles, the right setback?

The easiest way to get an idea of your ideal width is using our specially designed charts (link below). 

I’ve also previously talked about the best binding angles for beginners. That’s a good place to start if you’re lost. 

Brief Snowboard Stance Explanations

I won’t go into too much detail here; we’ve covered this plenty in our previous guides. But here’s a quick recap of some common stance variations.

1. Regular vs Goofy

Super simple. If you prefer riding with your left foot forward, you’re regular. Prefer the right foot? You’re goofy (sorry). 

2. Stance Width

This is the distance between the center of your front and back foot. Stance width is largely a matter of personal preference, but it can significantly influence balance and maneuverability.

As a starting point, many snowboarders set their stance width roughly equal to the width of their shoulders. 

  • Wider Stances: Offer more stability. Often preferred by freestyle riders as it helps with balance when landing tricks. However, too wide a stance can be painful and limit carving ability.
  • Narrower Stances: Allow for quicker, more responsive turns. But going too narrow can compromise balance and stability, especially at higher speeds or during landings.

3. Binding Angles

This refers to the angle at which the bindings (and therefore the feet) are set on the board.

  • Duck Stance: Both feet angled outwards. This stance is popular among freestyle riders as it allows for easy switch riding (riding in the opposite direction to your normal stance).
  • Forward or Positive Stance: Both feet angled towards the front of the board, often used by alpine riders who focus on carving and speed.

4. Stance Setback

This refers to whether the stance is centered on the board, or set back towards the tail. A set back stance is common on freeride and powder boards as it helps with float in deep snow.

5. Reference Width and Setback

This is just the width or setback recommended by the specific snowboard manufacturer. It’s designed to allow the board to perform optimally. On some boards, the reference settings will be centered, on others it will be setback. 

Final Thoughts

As we’ve seen, there’s no “one size fits all” approach when it comes to the perfect stance setup. 

Even the world’s top riders don’t adhere to a single standard. They experiment, they adjust, they customize.

For the rest of us, the real takeaway isn’t to simply copy pro snowboarder stances and angles. Instead, let it inspire you to find your own unique setup.

Consider your riding style, comfort, and the conditions you usually ride. Remember, small changes can lead to significant improvements in control, comfort, and performance.

Happy riding!

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