Finding your perfect stance is a right of passage in the snowboard community.Â
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).Â
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.Â
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.Â
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 –Â 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.Â
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.Â
(Although both admitted to adopting more relaxed binding angles when tackling less-gnarly terrain).Â
3. The Outliers
Certain pro snowboarders use some pretty bizarre stance setups.Â
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!Â
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).Â
I’ve also previously talked about the best binding angles for beginners. That’s a good place to start if you’re lost.Â
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).Â
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.Â
- 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.Â
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!