Board Selection

Beginner

Selecting a board as a beginner can be quite simple. Older schools of thought recommended board lengths based on your height but physics seems to dictate that weight has a greater influence on the pressure sent into the board. Height and body geometry both influence this as well, which is apparent in the stance width of the rider. As a beginner, you don't need these overbearing details and can look for a board that is rated for your weight, consider even sizing down a few centimeters so that it's easier to control.

One of the more important attributes you will want to look for is a soft flex, which makes the board more forgiving of your mistakes and can make learning much more enjoyable. Consider demoing a few boards before making a purchase, but as a beginner, the board graphic is probably the second most important factor.

My first board [Burton Supermodel 163cm]
...not advisable for beginners
...too big, very stiff, not very nimble :(

Intermediate

If you're new to the sport but see yourself as "athletic" you may want to skip the beginner zone and head straight onto an intermediate board. Do you have good body mechanics when falling? Great, then this may be a good place to start if you're ok hitting the ground a bit more often as you learn the basics.

Intermediate boards are going to be a bit less forgiving and tend to extend well into Advanced rider territory so picking the right board may take a bit of research, but it shouldn't be too time consuming. A medium or medium-soft flex is a safe choice and you will want to avoid boards that are "catchy". Consider a twin or directional-twin shape so that you can start learning how to ride switch, as it will transform you into a much better boarder.

My second board [Burton Custom Flying V Twin 156cm]
...fairly forgiving and great for learning switch

The In-between

A lot of riders may fall into this category after a few years of consistent progression. As your finances allow, this is a great time to start demoing boards and looking for a second or even third board. Keep in mind that each board has its own personality and that you may want to get a board that you can still ride every now and then outside of its intended use. For instance, buying a powder board that you'll only use a couple days each year may not be a great investment, but it may make for great wall art. Having a plan for your progression will help in board selection. For example, I bought a park board and committed to getting into the park every fourth or fifth day on the mountain... but since it happened to be great on ice as well, I would take it to the steeps when the snow cover was thin. Versatility is a factor worth weighing in when selecting a secondary or tertiary board, so that you get the most out of it.

My third board [Gnu Headspace 155cm]
...very aggressive and unforgiving with excellent grip on ice

Advanced & Expert

Got your turns on lock, do you? Perhaps you have even settled on a specific riding style. You probably already know which board you want or at least have it whittled down to a handful. I'm not sure I can offer any advice to you, as you more than likely already own a few boards.

Advanced boards tend to be catchy and very unforgiving and I haven't found any clear distinction between advanced and expert level ratings on boards. The subtlety of foot placement and weight distribution will determine whether or not you get slammed mercilessly to the floor in an instant. Bad habits are accentuated and attention to detail (or video footage) will help you work through these efficiently. It will take some time to familiarize yourself with the quirks of your board... but you are probably already planning on spending tens of days on the mountain each season anyway, so what's an extra day or two in the classroom?!

Personal Experience

As an aspiring ambidextrous rider, I tend to bias towards well-rounded boards that perform well in both directions. I started out with a very stiff board but have found that medium flex boards offer a lot more play and are great to goof around on... while still being able to provide the response I need on the steeps. At this point, footwork is more critical to my riding than board flex... as I have addressed several poor habits uncovered on an Advanced board and have learned to adjust my technique mid-catch before I get sent to the ground for punishment.

Recently, board width has become an important factor as I find myself on very steep terrain where my toes tend to drag a bit in the snow. Shorter, fatter boards have also caught my attention as they can often maintain similar surface area but reduce the chance of toe and heel drag while providing a significant boost to the nimbleness required to navigate the woods. I hope in the upcoming years, there are more volume-shifted boards with more of a true twin shape. Weston Hatchet Pow Slayer (2021), I've got my eye on you *-*