Goofy or Regular — How to Find Your Snowboard Stance

One of the first questions a snowboard instructor will ask is "regular or goofy?" If you don't know, you're not alone. Here are three quick tests to figure it out.

What the Terms Mean

• Regular — Left foot forward.
• Goofy — Right foot forward.

Neither is better. Roughly 70% of people are regular. The other 30% are goofy. It correlates loosely with handedness but not strongly — plenty of right-handed goofies and left-handed regulars exist.

Three Tests

1. The push test. Stand normally and have a friend push you gently from behind. Whichever foot you step out with to catch yourself is your back foot. The other is your front foot.
2. The slide test. Find a slippery floor (wooden floor in socks). Run, then slide. The foot that goes forward in the slide is your front foot.
3. The skateboard test. If you've ever ridden a skateboard, surfboard, or kicked a soccer ball — the leading foot in those is usually your snowboard front foot too.

What If It Feels Wrong?

If your stance feels off after your first lesson, switch. Some riders truly are between. Most beginners benefit from picking one and sticking with it for a full lesson day before deciding.