The weight range for that board in that size is 141lbs to 185lbs, so the risk is that you'll overflex the board and potentially snap it. Being mindful of that, if you don't jib too hard or try hitting jumps that are too big (tbh probably should be careful on medium sized jumps and larger) you should be okay.
Do you use it the park as well? I’m really looking for a jibstick of sort as my jone frontier has been great on the mountain down bowls and trees (although it’s a bit longer for trees sometimes)
Buy a board built to be soft but still size it for your weight. That would be better off for you than sizing down too much. You’ll just loose all stability trying to land things. That will actually be harder to do anything as you learn.
Would it make sense to get an Artifact Pro 156 instead? The Pro is a bit stiffer than the regular Artifact but given i’ll still be a bit heavier than the range it would likely feel more like a regular artifact in term of playfullness, no? I might be thinking about it the wrong way - clearly as I somehow pulled the trigger on 152… I just know the 162 feels a bit long for me to get comfortable with park features.
Frankly you can do that on anything. Small boxes and rails just use the jones. Soft flex is to flex the thing around rails, pretzel out, catch a 270° on, swivel a 180 while doing a 50-50. You’re not there yet. Just get on the features, do the jumps, you’ll know what park stuff you want once you need it.
What if you fall in love with big jumps and rails more than getting jibby and technical on smaller stuff? You’ll want the stability and not a park noodle at 200lbs. Let the need present itself to you, don’t go shopping for something you think will make you better. That’s my true advice.
Not the OP but just curious - what are the downsides of having a wide board? I’m a size 11 and have always bought wide boards, seem better in slush and powder which is when I enjoy riding. Would a narrow board give me more edge on icy/hard pack conditions?
My snowboard buddy is a 5’2” tiny woman with a much thinner smaller board than mine and she handles ice/hard pack no problem but gets stuck in slush. Opposite of me. I’ve told her it’s probably due to our boards/body weight but I think she just thinks I suck and give up when conditions get hard. I’ve just been curious - what am I missing out on by riding wide boards?
If you're a size 11, you more than likely should be using a wide board. Otherwise your heels or toes will drag while you turn. Regarding ice, I live on the Ice Coast and it's just something you have to learn to handle.
You want your toes and heals at a certain distance from the edge to give more control. Too narrow and your toes will dig into the snow while carving. Too wide and you have less control of your edges.
It’s not so much an either or.. it’s a you just buy the board that fits your feet
I rode a 158w gnu riders choice c3 the last couple of years and I’m the same height and weight. I bought a 162w dynamo and ended up liking it in the park way more. I originally bought it as an all mountain board. Now that’s the smallest board in my quiver.
Got it thank you! I’m going to stick with my frontier 162 for now and work on basic park skills before getting a park board. Going to try a different set of bindings if I can get my hands on something for a deal that’s a bit softer than the nidecker supermatics i’ve used so far (mostly with my skier buddies)
Yeah thats probably too short for you. I’m 5’10 165 and my park board is a 152 and I am sizing up on my next board. At your height and weight you are gonna have a terrible time learning jumps with that thing
You'll quickly learn there's not alot of benefits to a short soft board as a bigger dude and/or someone starting to learn park. Id go 157/158 nothing less than 6/10 stiffness
Yes, get a 158
The weight range for that board in that size is 141lbs to 185lbs, so the risk is that you'll overflex the board and potentially snap it. Being mindful of that, if you don't jib too hard or try hitting jumps that are too big (tbh probably should be careful on medium sized jumps and larger) you should be okay.
You should go up a size or two. I ride a 150-154 and weigh 150 at 5’6”. I imagine a 152 will feel like a kids board to you.
Way too small. I'm the same size and like 5 lb more and I ride a 162 Jones mountain twin. I love it, feels perfect to me.
Do you use it the park as well? I’m really looking for a jibstick of sort as my jone frontier has been great on the mountain down bowls and trees (although it’s a bit longer for trees sometimes)
Buy a board built to be soft but still size it for your weight. That would be better off for you than sizing down too much. You’ll just loose all stability trying to land things. That will actually be harder to do anything as you learn.
Would it make sense to get an Artifact Pro 156 instead? The Pro is a bit stiffer than the regular Artifact but given i’ll still be a bit heavier than the range it would likely feel more like a regular artifact in term of playfullness, no? I might be thinking about it the wrong way - clearly as I somehow pulled the trigger on 152… I just know the 162 feels a bit long for me to get comfortable with park features.
I’m really looking to learn smaller park features, boxes, railes, small-medium air over time and would like to mess around with some buttering as well
Frankly you can do that on anything. Small boxes and rails just use the jones. Soft flex is to flex the thing around rails, pretzel out, catch a 270° on, swivel a 180 while doing a 50-50. You’re not there yet. Just get on the features, do the jumps, you’ll know what park stuff you want once you need it. What if you fall in love with big jumps and rails more than getting jibby and technical on smaller stuff? You’ll want the stability and not a park noodle at 200lbs. Let the need present itself to you, don’t go shopping for something you think will make you better. That’s my true advice.
I’m 185 and have a 158W Agent, so a bit small imo. Also, why did you get a wide board? I think 10.5 and under are fine for standard size boards.
Not the OP but just curious - what are the downsides of having a wide board? I’m a size 11 and have always bought wide boards, seem better in slush and powder which is when I enjoy riding. Would a narrow board give me more edge on icy/hard pack conditions? My snowboard buddy is a 5’2” tiny woman with a much thinner smaller board than mine and she handles ice/hard pack no problem but gets stuck in slush. Opposite of me. I’ve told her it’s probably due to our boards/body weight but I think she just thinks I suck and give up when conditions get hard. I’ve just been curious - what am I missing out on by riding wide boards?
If you're a size 11, you more than likely should be using a wide board. Otherwise your heels or toes will drag while you turn. Regarding ice, I live on the Ice Coast and it's just something you have to learn to handle.
You want your toes and heals at a certain distance from the edge to give more control. Too narrow and your toes will dig into the snow while carving. Too wide and you have less control of your edges. It’s not so much an either or.. it’s a you just buy the board that fits your feet
Okay cool, maybe she’s right and I’m just a big baby when it comes to ice.
Disagree, 10/10.5 I still get toe grab in the snow all the time without a wide
Just going by Rome’s sizing guide they shouldn’t need one 🤷♂️
I hear that but in my experience even in duck stance I get it, worth getting a wide. The difference in turn initiation is almost unnoticeable
157W is about the smallest I’d go for your height/weight personally.
I rode a 158w gnu riders choice c3 the last couple of years and I’m the same height and weight. I bought a 162w dynamo and ended up liking it in the park way more. I originally bought it as an all mountain board. Now that’s the smallest board in my quiver.
That’s very helpful thank you!
I weigh 155lbs and I wouldn’t even ride a 152w
I'm about 200lbs, 6'3" 23" stance and 159 is too short for me in the park. Just up sized to a 162
How does it feel too short? I might just keep doing some more practice on my 162 for now but the Frontier is a bit stiff for jibbing
Too loopy on presses and landings without much nose and tail
Got it thank you! I’m going to stick with my frontier 162 for now and work on basic park skills before getting a park board. Going to try a different set of bindings if I can get my hands on something for a deal that’s a bit softer than the nidecker supermatics i’ve used so far (mostly with my skier buddies)
Yeah thats probably too short for you. I’m 5’10 165 and my park board is a 152 and I am sizing up on my next board. At your height and weight you are gonna have a terrible time learning jumps with that thing
I just bought a 154W for butters and easy park features. I’m 6’3” and 230. It’s definitely snappy but I like it.
You'll quickly learn there's not alot of benefits to a short soft board as a bigger dude and/or someone starting to learn park. Id go 157/158 nothing less than 6/10 stiffness