First off ask yourself how you stand if you surf, skateboard, or engage in some other sideways sport. You'll probably want to use the same stance as in the sport you've already done.

(Following written by Crispin Cowan (crispin@cse.ogi.edu). It answers the question: Am I regular or goofy footed?)

It's my observation that correlations between which way one snowboards and other handedness tendencies are weak at best. This is why there are so many "tests" for which way one should ride, and they all inevitably fail for some people.

I prefer the "linoleum" test: in stocking feet, run towards your kitchen and skid across the linoleum floor. Observe which foot goes forward. Put that foot forward on your snowboard. This test can also be administered hillside by directing the student to the nearest icy sidewalk.

Unlike other tests (shoving, jumping, kicking, baseball batting, cartwheels, etc.) this one *directly* tests you for your preferred stance in a balance sport (balance sport: something where you stand sideways on a deck, e.g. snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, etc.).

Editor: Footedness is inevitably a trial and error decision when you start snowboarding. Unless you are sure what the correct stance is, try it both ways, it will be easy to decide after that. Even if a "test" suggests one way you may end up being more comfortable the other. There are 5 or 6 tests which could be listed here but some would show you should be regular and some would show you should be goofy.

(Following compliments of Pete James. It addresses stance angles and widths.)

First off, there are about 20 schools of thought and one needs to figure out which is for them, try something close, then dial it in. A newer board with the Burton 3 hole or F2 4x4 hole patterns or some types of adjustable plates make it real easy to adjust stances; these allow for maximum and easy stance changes.

From Transworld Snowboarding here are the average stances of pro riders from different snowboarding disciplines: