Bindings
Placement and Stance
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| Stance
refers to how and where you stand on the board.
It also involve the width at which the feet
are apart and the angle at which they point.
This varies over levels of riders. In most
cases, bindings are set apart by the width
at which your feet land naturally on the ground.
Usually, it is your shoulder width. Moreover,
you have to determine your leading foot i.e.
the foot you use to catch a fall.
The
boards and the baseplates (the plate on
which the boot rests) come with multiple
pre-drilled holes to allow easy changes
of angle and position of the bindings on
the board.
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Beginners
Stance
Place
the bindings at about shoulder-width with
the rear foot slightly farther back (closer
to the rear fin) to aid stability and ease
of navigation, as shown in following diagram.
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| Back
Binding: Set at 0 degrees at the backmost
position on the board.
Front
Binding: Pointing towards the front of the
board at a 15 - 27 degree angle (2-3 holes
from the center of the binding plate). Place
at a natural distance from the rear binding.
(i.e. shoulder width apart).
This
stance is great for learning deepwater starts,
forward riding, turning, as well as basic
jumps and hops.
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Intermediate Riders
As
you've mastered the basics and improved
skills like edging, you may need to moving
the bindings a bit forward to accomodate
more tricks. Generally, tricks tend to be
easier with the bindings nearer the center
of the board. A centered stance allows learning
of riding fakie, spins or other tricks much
more easily. Overtime, you have to reduce
the angle degree of the front foot gradually.
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| Back
Binding: Set at 0 to 9 degrees (usually, 1
hole from the back).
Front
Binding: Approximately 18 degrees - about
4-5 holes back.
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Advanced Riders
Once
you feel comfortable riding the board, and
making jumps and spins, you are ready for
a more neutral stance i.e. slightly back
from the center of the board. As if you
are standing on land, have your feet sligthly
angled outward, somewhat like a duck's stance.
This stance enables you to perform same
going either direction.
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Back Binding: 9 degrees - about 3 holes from
the back.
Front
Binding: 9 degrees - about 4 holes from
the front.
Stance
varies from person to person. The above
is only a rough guide. It is important to
make sure your stance feel comfortable.
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