How to strap into a snowboard

Strapping in is something you will repeat at the top of every run, so it pays to build a routine. The short version of how to put on a snowboard:

1. Stop somewhere flat and visible, with the board across the slope.
2. Attach the leash if your board has one.
3. Clear snow from the binding and your boot sole.
4. Slide your front heel right back into the heelcup.
5. Fasten the ankle strap, then the toe strap, snug but comfortable.
6. Add your back foot only when you are ready to ride down.

The sections below explain each step and what to do when something will not seat properly. Strapping in comes right after choosing your stance in our step-by-step beginner path, and before you learn to move on the board.

Where you put on a snowboard matters as much as how. Look for a flat or very gentle spot at the side of the run, out of the way of people arriving from above and away from lift exits and busy paths.

• Keep the board across the slope. If there is any slope at all, lay the board across the hill, not pointing down it, so it cannot start sliding. The NSAA’s Your Responsibility Code asks you to prevent runaway equipment. If your board has a leash, attach it first; see leashes and stomp pads explained.
• Sit, kneel or stand, whichever is steadier. Most beginners find it easiest to sit on the snow on the uphill side of the board. Once you are more confident you can strap in standing up, or kneeling on the uphill side facing the slope.
• Stop where you are visible. Do not sit below a ridge, a bend or anywhere people above cannot see you.

Before your foot goes in, knock any snow out of the binding with your gloved hand: the baseplate, the heelcup and under the straps. Then clear snow from the sole of your boot, especially around the heel, by tapping it against the binding or the edge of the board.

Even a small lump of snow can stop your heel sitting fully back in the heelcup. You may not notice until you are riding and the boot moves around, or the strap will not tighten. If the highback has been folded down for carrying or storage, flip it back up now.

Open the straps fully so you can slide your boot in without fighting them. On most strap bindings you do this by lifting the ratchet’s release lever and pulling the strap out.

1. Ankle strap. Feed the ladder (the toothed strap) into the ratchet and ratchet it down so the padded part sits centered over the front of your ankle. Doing this one first helps pull your heel back into the heelcup.
2. Toe strap. Fasten the toe strap the same way. Depending on the binding design, it sits over the top of your toes or wraps around the front of the boot (a “toe cap” style). Your binding manual shows the intended position.
3. Check the fit. The straps should be snug enough that your heel does not lift when you rise onto your toes, but not so tight that they cause pain or numbness. If you cannot get them comfortable, the strap length may need adjusting as described in your binding manual.

Repeat with your back foot when you are ready to ride down. With both feet in, bend your knees, check you feel balanced and look uphill before you set off.

To take off your snowboard, stop somewhere safe first and turn the board across the slope. Lift each ratchet’s release lever and pull the ladder strap out, ankle and toe. Lift your heel out of the heelcup and step free.

At the bottom of a run or before the lift you normally release only your back foot, so you can push along with it; skating with one foot free covers that. When you take the board off completely, keep hold of it or lay it upside down, bindings into the snow, so it cannot slide away.

If a ratchet is jammed with ice or will not release, do not force it. Knock the ice off, work the lever gently and ask a rental or repair shop to look at it if it keeps happening.

Some bindings let you clip in without straps. These systems need boots and bindings designed to work together, so always follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your system.

As one example, Burton explains that its Step On boots and bindings are only compatible with each other, with binding sizes made to match specific boot size ranges. Its guide says to press your heel back into the heelcup until you hear a click, press harder for a second click, then lean onto your toes so the toe cleats snap into the side hooks, and roll side to side to check both are locked. To get out, Burton describes pulling up the lever on the outside of the heelcup and lifting your heel while twisting it slightly, rather than straight up.

Other brands use different mechanisms, so check your own manual rather than assuming every step-in works the same way. Whatever you use, the next move is learning to push and glide with your front foot in.