One of the first things you’ll need to figure out when learning to snowboard is whether you’re regular or goofy.
It’s pretty simple. Regular riders lead with their left foot, while goofy riders lead with their right. And despite the unfortunate name, there’s nothing actually wrong with being goofy. Apparently.
Neither stance is better, although us regular riders might tell you otherwise.
Here’s how to figure out which one you are.
What’s the Difference Between Regular and Goofy?
There are two main snowboard stances:
- Regular: You ride with your left foot forward and your right foot at the back.
- Goofy: You ride with your right foot forward and your left foot at the back.
That’s it. Nothing to do with ability, technique or how experienced you are.
Most snowboarders ride regular, but there are plenty of goofy riders out there too.
And just to clear something up, your stance has nothing to do with your binding angles. You can ride regular or goofy with a duck stance, positive/positive stance or pretty much any other binding setup.
How to Tell if You’re Regular or Goofy
If you’ve never snowboarded before, there are a few easy ways to figure out your natural stance.
1. The Sliding Test
This is probably my favourite method.
Find a slippery floor, put on some socks and take a little run-up before sliding across it.
Whichever foot you naturally put forward is a good indication of your snowboard stance.
Left foot forward? Probably regular.
Right foot forward? Welcome to the goofy club.
2. The Skateboard Test
If you’ve ever ridden a skateboard, longboard or surfboard, think about which foot you naturally put forward.
Most people use the same stance across board sports, although there are exceptions.
If you’re comfortable skating with your left foot forward, regular is probably a good place to start.
If you naturally ride with your right foot forward, try goofy.
3. The Push Test
Stand with your feet together and ask a friend to give you a gentle, unexpected push from behind.
The foot you instinctively step forward with might give you a clue about your preferred stance.
It’s a popular little test, although I wouldn’t rely on it completely. The foot you use to catch yourself isn’t necessarily the one you’ll prefer at the front of your snowboard.
And make sure your friend understands the word gentle. Some people take this test far too seriously.
Regular vs Goofy Diagrams
Ok, so you’ve done the tests above… here’s a reminder of what they mean. Plus I think you deserve a diagram after reading me waffle on for several paragraphs.
Does Being Left or Right-Handed Matter?
Not really.
You might assume that right-handed people should ride regular and left-handed people should ride goofy, but it doesn’t work like that.
I’m sure there’s some relationship between foot dominance and snowboard stance, but it’s not reliable enough to tell someone how they should ride.
The same goes for which foot you kick a football with.
Your dominant foot might give you a clue, but it doesn’t automatically determine your stance.
The best way to find out is to actually stand on a snowboard and see which direction feels more natural.
If you’re taking lessons, your instructor will usually help you figure this out before you start riding.
Is Regular Better Than Goofy?
Obviously. That’s why they called it regular.
Joking aside, absolutely not.
Being regular doesn’t make you a better snowboarder, and being goofy doesn’t put you at any disadvantage.
Snowboards, bindings and boots work equally well for either stance. Most directional boards also have mirrored mounting options, so they can be set up for regular or goofy riders.
There’s no real performance difference.
You’ll occasionally hear people claim that one stance is better for certain tricks or riding styles, but that’s largely nonsense. Some of the best snowboarders in the world ride goofy.
What if You’ve Chosen the Wrong Stance?
Don’t worry. You’re not permanently committed to whichever foot you put forward on your first day.
If you’ve started learning regular but everything feels strangely awkward, it might be worth trying goofy. The same applies the other way around.
Snowboarding is difficult enough when you’re starting out, so don’t make it harder by forcing yourself into a stance that feels completely unnatural.
That said, don’t assume you’ve chosen the wrong stance just because you’re struggling.
Your first few days on a snowboard are going to feel awkward regardless. Falling over, catching edges and wondering why you paid money to do this are all fairly normal parts of learning.
Give yourself time to get comfortable, ideally with a qualified instructor, before deciding your stance is the problem.
And if you do want to swap, your bindings can usually be adjusted without much trouble.
Can You Ride Both Regular and Goofy?
Absolutely. In fact, I think every snowboarder should learn to do it.
Riding with your opposite foot forward is called riding switch.
If you’re regular, riding switch means putting your right foot forward. If you’re goofy, it means leading with your left.
It’s particularly useful for freestyle riding, but I think it’s a skill worth developing even if you’ve got no interest in the park.
Just be prepared to feel like a complete beginner again.
I’ve written a separate article about why every snowboarder should learn to ride switch, including why practicing it under a chairlift is one of the more humiliating experiences in snowboarding.
Final Thoughts
Regular means left foot forward. Goofy means right foot forward. Neither is better, and there’s no complicated science you need to understand before choosing.
Try the sliding test, think about how you’d naturally stand on a skateboard, and see what feels comfortable when you get on a snowboard.
If you’re still unsure, don’t overthink it. Your instructor can help you work it out.
And if you discover you’re goofy, don’t worry.
Some of my best friends are goofy riders. I try not to hold it against them.
