Need some extra help deciding what board and ball combo to get? Try these steps:

Get your stance measurement - Stand on your board or on the ground in your normal and comfortable stance. Measure the distance from the outside of each foot. This is your ride stance measurement. You can also stand with one foot against the wall and measure the distance to the other foot. Compare your ride stance measurement with ours listed for each board.

Put a tape measure or yard stick on the ground and mark the dimensions of the board and the ride stance range. Get into a stance within this range and do a couple of squats or similar maneuvers. If squatting is difficult or too wide the board may be too large. If squatting feels too narrow the board may be too small. The ride stances listed are as wide and narrow as possible for a safe range on each board.

Think about the type of balancing, ride, skills and exercises you want to practice. Consider a board that fits in your ride stances and the ball size to meet your needs..

Things to consider:

Ride Stance

A narrow stance is easier to control. A wider stance requires more leg strength and endurance like a wide squat. The larger the board the wider the ride stance and greater leg strength required. Comparably, the Starter Boards have a larger range of ride stances. We use the same board size for the Original and Starter Boards but with a slightly smaller rail on the Starter Boards. The Surf and Powder boards allow a larger range of ride stances compared to our elliptical shaped models. If you always have a wide stance you will develop leg strength with slower board movements. If you have a narrow stance you will develop coordination with less leg strength. 

For example, Ryan is 6’ tall and loves to ride the Si-klone for quick coordination and an extended session. Ryan rides the Si-zmik if he really wants to tire his legs in a short amount of time. Ryan doesn’t like the Si-dkik because his stance is too narrow and uncomfortable. Elysia is 5’4” and can ride all day long on the Si-dkik because her stance is narrow and comfortable. Her favorite board is the Si-klone because it requires more leg strength and she can ride for about 45 minutes. Elysia rides the Si-zmik, requiring a wide stance, for a total leg burn and can last about 20 minutes. The Surf is similar to a Si-klone and the Powder is similar to a Si-dkik- both with the narrowest stance on the board.  These boards have unique rides discussed later.

Ball Speed

Fast speeds require lots of coordination and response. Slower speeds are graceful and require more strength for control. Larger balls move slower because there is a larger surface area touching the board and ground. Larger balls are also heavier and require more leg strength to move and once you get the ball rolling, the momentum again requires leg strength for control. The smaller the ball, the lighter and faster the speed while keeping you close to the ground to stop easier. Beginners prefer the smaller balls because they are closer to the ground. The transition to a larger ball is easy once you develop quick coordination on a small ball. You can place a padded carpet under the ball to slow the speed if you are a first time Si-Boarder.

Board Tilt

This is the angle of the board when one side touches the ground and the other side supports the ball. Little tilt requires you to keep your hips level making it easier to ground the board to stop. You can turn with a smaller ball by keeping your hips level. This is challenging in itself and requires a little more fine tuning compared to a larger ball. It is also easier, with less leg strength, to get up on the board with a smaller ball. We recommend less tilt for beginners. Lots of tilt means you get extremely steep angles and can carve turns without touching/grounding the board to a stop. The steep angles can be intimidating for beginners. You may see us safely jumping off these board combos rather than grounding to stop. As you progress with your ride ability you may want to get a larger ball to get more extreme turning. When doing upper body movements, a greater board tilt gives you more range of motion with your arms and allows you to make the exercise more difficult.

Forward and Backward Motion

The more forward and backward motion you have the more difficult it is to learn. This motion requires greater coordination of your hips and feet and can feel awkward at first. Smaller balls have more forward and backward motion compared to larger balls. While the smaller ball will ride faster and with greater motion, the board is closer to the ground allowing you to stop easier with less tilt. It is also easier to control the board with a smaller ball. Comparably, the difference in ball size and amount of motion is not restrictive and does not inhibit you from getting full range of motion with larger balls. 

Rail Size and Height

The rail size and rail height effect the amount of tilt and rolling space for the ball. All Original Boards have a steel rail secured a total of two inches off the board. All Starter Boards have a one inch high urethane rail. Comparably, when you have the same board and ball combination on the Original and Starter Boards the amount of board tilt is greater with the Starter Board. The Starter rail does not touch the ground as soon as the Original rail. When balancing on the Starter Board with a 3” Mini ball it is very similar to balancing on the Original board with a 5” ball with slightly less range of motion. The Starter Boards on a 3” Mini ball have little tilt and are a great starting point for beginners. Because we have large rail sizes and solid balls to resist deformation, you won’t be able to get a combination where the ball is constantly restricted under the center of the board- you get full range of motion.

With Si-Boards there are different advantages to the combos and no easy answer. While some boards are quicker on smaller balls, they are lower to the ground with less tilting. Vice versa, a large ball gives you lots of tilting but is a little slower and requires more leg strength. It depends on how you will balance and ride and what type of training effect you want. If you are primarily riding for lower body strength get a board that fits your ride stance. If you are primarily balancing on two balls and doing upper body or full body movements you may want to get a larger board. Some combos are not mentioned because they either don’t work well or are just too insane.

Sorry if we managed to confuse you but here’s our take on the combos...

Si-chi: (18” x 10”) requires a 10” – 16” ride stance. 

Ride this board with the 2.5” micro rubber ball or use the Si-chi Half-Ball. This is great for kids under 100 pounds and with smaller feet. The Si-chi is a great starter board to get your little ones coordinated and share some exercise time together. This is comparable to an adult balancing on the Si-dkik. Riding the Si-chi as an adult is really fun and unique at the same time. You have to keep your feet narrow while the movement comes from your pelvis and abs rather than your hips and knees. This board size is very similar to smaller traditional balance boards on the market with the advantage of jumping to the next generation on a ball.

Si-dkik: (27” x 15”) Requires a 15”-26” ride stance on the Starter Board and a 17”-26” ride stance on the Original Board.

A great board for riders under 5’5” and beginners, but may be too small for riders over 6’. A good board for upper body movements but may feel too small for full body exercises (Bucking Bronco and Going Crabbin). Similar board size to the larger traditional balance boards on the market. Size of the board allows a taller rider less leg stress for an extended ride.

1. Mini 3” Ball: Use with the Starter Board. Offers a super fast ball speed while staying close to the ground with little tilting. You’ll keep your hips level while changing your weight distribution to each foot. Wider range or ride stances to change your feet positions as you progress. Stand wide for more board control. Tons of forward and backward motion but very controllable with the smaller and lighter ball. Balances well with two balls with a unique feel keeping level and twisting your hips. Not the greatest for upper body movements requiring a lot of board tilt. Great combo for beginners.

2. Tiny 5” Ball: This combination with the Starter Board has a very fast ball speed and gets you high off the ground. The shorter rail height gives you a steep angle with lots of board tilt and forward motion so you can carve turns easy. Good combination for upper body movements with board tilt. For an intermediate rider.

3. On the Original Board the ride is very fast, stays low to the ground with little tilting. Tons of forward and backward motion. Riding with two balls has a ton of forward and backward motion, is also a good starting point. For beginner riders.

4. Medium 6.5” Ball: On the Original Board the ball speed is fast, with great tilting, and lots of forward and backward motion. Combo puts you up pretty high and grounds at a steep angle. Requires more leg strength to get started and to control ball momentum. Riding on two balls has lots of forward and backward motion. Awesome combo for upper body movements with tilting. For intermediate riders.

Si-klone: (36” x 18.5”) Requires a 19”-34” ride stance on the Starter Board and a 26”-34” ride stance on the Original Board.

Our most popular board size fits the majority of people. Great board for upper body movements because you can get into a wide shoulder stance and a pretty good board for full body movements. Tall riders 6’ and over may feel a little cramped doing full body movements unless you have good flexibility.

1. Mini 3” Ball: With the Starter Board the ball speed is super fast and close to the ground. Because the board size is large, you have to keep your hips level to get your body movements. Stops/grounds easily while giving you less tilt. Has a large range of ride stances so multiple heights of users can get into a comfortable stance. Has a ton of forward and backward movement but easy to control with the small ball. A unique feel on two balls keeping level and twisting your hips. Not the greatest board for upper body movements requiring a lot of board tilt. A great beginning board to progress to a larger ball.  For beginners.

2. Tiny 5” Ball: Use on the Starter Board with very fast ball speed and a lot of forward and backward motion. Good combination for upper body motion requiring a lot of tilt although, the narrower rail size may restrict your full range of motion with a wide hand stance. Full body motions on two balls may make the ball come out from under the board because the balls are closer to the center rather than at the ends of the board. Combo is for intermediate riders. When on the Original Board this combo keeps you low to the ground and gives you plenty of range of motion. Keep your hips level and fine tune your coordination. Little tilting, tons of forward and backward motion and will ride very fast. Not the greatest combo for upper body movements or turning requiring a lot of board tilt. For beginner riders.

3. Medium 6.5” Ball: On the Original Board this is the best combination for a fast ball speed with great tilting, good forward and backward motion and less leg strength. Works well for upper body motions if keeping level but you may ground the board when doing some exercises. Great combo with two balls. For intermediate riders.

4. Bigs 8.5” Ball: On the Original Board this is the best ball to get high off the ground, quick board movements and strength training to control the ball weight. Requires a lot of leg strength to get started and has good forward and backward motions. Works extremely well for upper and full body movements and full range of motion with a wide hand stance. Good combo with two balls. For advanced riders.

Powder: (41” x 15”) Requires a 15”-38” ride stance on the Starter Board and a 17”-38” ride stance on the Original Board.

Great for riders under 5’5” when using a narrow stance. Our snow inspired board has a very unique ride compared to our elliptical shaped models. The rail size is the same as the Si-dkik and you get a whole lot more board space for your ride stance. The wide ends stabilize the board while the skinny middle moves fast. It really feels like you are floating on air. The Powder lets you keep a narrow stance similar to snowboarding or you can get stretched out into a super wide squat. The Powder isn’t very stable for full body movement sequences with two balls unless you keep a very narrow weight distribution. When the majority of your weight is at the ends, the board may pop up when shifting your weight.

1. Mini 3” Ball: Use with the Starter Board for a super fast ball speed while staying close to the ground with very little tilting at the ends.  Keep your hips level to change your weight distribution under each foot. Huge range or ride stances to change your feet positions. Stand wide for more board control and easily carve turns when the ball is in the center. Tons of forward and backward motion but very controllable to ground the board. A very unique feel on two balls to keep level and twist your hips. Not the greatest for upper body movements requiring board tilt. Great combo for beginners.

2. Tiny 5” Ball: The best combination on the Starter Board with a very fast ball speed and gets you high off the ground.  The shorter rail height gives you a steep angle with lots of board tilt and forward motion so you can carve turns easy. Good combination for upper body movements with board tilt but the narrow rail may limit your range of motion if using a wide hand stance. Using two balls for full body movements may make the board pop off the balls. For intermediate riders. On the Original Board the ball speed is very fast, stays low to the ground with little tilting. Tons of forward and backward motion and very quick in the middle. Riding with two balls has a ton of forward and back motion. Not the best board for upper body movements requiring a lot of tilt but you can get into a wide hand stance. This is a great board to start with and progress to a larger ball. For beginner riders.

3. Medium 6.5” Ball: Best combo with the Original Board this is the best combination with a fast ball speed, great tilting and lots of forward and backward motion. Combo puts you up high and makes grounding at a steep angle when going forward or backward.  Grounding to the side is easy. Turning is super fun with this combo because of the unique ride. Good combo for upper body movements with tilting. For intermediate riders.

Surf: (42” x 18”) Requires a 19”-38” ride stance for the Starter Board and a 26”-38” ride stance for the Original Board.

Great board size that will fit most people. This unique board shape creates stability at the fish/swallow tail and ease of carving a turn at the pointed nose. You will definitely feel the one way ride. The surf is definitely a fun board to ride and get a different feel under each foot. The wide range of ride stances allows you narrow and wide positions. A great sized board to practice pop-ups and full body motions without having a wide foot stance. The Surf Starter isn’t very stable on two balls when doing full body movements because the narrow rail keeps the balls closer to the center. With the Starter Board if you have weight distribution at the very ends and you do full body movement sequence you may pop the board off the balls. 

1. Mini 3” Ball: Use with the Starter Board and the ball speed is very fast and close to the ground. The large board size and weight keeps the ride a little more stable than other boards. Keep your hips level to get your body movements. Has a large range of ride stances so multiple heights of users can get into a comfortable stance. Has a ton of forward and backward movement but easy to control with the small ball. A unique feel on two balls keeping level and twisting your hips. Not a good board for upper body movements requiring board tilt. This combo is a good start but best to progress to a larger ball. For beginners.

2. Tiny 5” Ball: The best combo with the Starter Board with very fast ball speed and a lot of forward and backward motion. Good combination for upper body motion although the narrower rail size may restrict your full range of motion with a wide hand stance. Full body motions on two balls may make the ball come out from under the board because the balls are closer to the center rather than at the ends of the board. Combo is for intermediate riders. On the Original Board this combo keeps you low to the ground and gives you lots of range of motion. Easy to get started and keeps your hips level to fine tune your coordination. Little tilting, tons of forward and backward motion and will ride very fast. Good board to practice pop-ups with two balls while being close to the ground. Not the greatest combo for upper body movements or turning requiring a lot of board tilt. Good beginner board to progress to a larger ball. For beginner riders.

3. Medium 6.5” Ball: On the Original Board this is a great combination for a fast ball speed with good tilting and forward and backward motion. The board weight and size make the ride feel stable yet fast when turning. Works well for upper body motions if keeping level but you may ground the board when doing some exercises. Great combo with two balls for a lot of forward and backward motion. For intermediate riders.

4. Bigs 8.5” Ball: On the Original Board this is the best ball to get high off the ground with quick board movements and strength to control the ball weight. Requires a lot of leg strength to get started and has good forward and backward motions. Works extremely well for upper and full body movements and full range of motion with a wide hand stance. Good combo with two balls and for practicing your footwork. For advanced riders.

Si-zmik: (43” x 18”) Requires a 34”- 43” riding stance or for someone 5’5” and above. 

This board offers a large range of motion and is great for whole body moves.  The weight of the board and balls will keep you steady and also kick you around once you build momentum. Riders over 6’ tall will feel the most comfortable on this board especially when doing full body moves compared to the Si-dkik.

1. Medium 6.5” Ball: Ball speed is very fast with little tilting and a great amount of forward and backward motion. Easy to get started and to control the board. Two balls give lots of forward and backward motion but low to the ground. The board will ground easily for upper and body movements while tilting. Great combo for beginners.

2. Bigs 8.5” Ball: Ball speed is fast with good tilting and a good amount of forward and backward motion. Requires a lot of leg strength to get started and to control the ball momentum. Longboard surfers like this ride with two 8.5” balls. The best all around combination for upper and lower body movements. Get enough tilt for turning without the added momentum of the ball compared to the 10” Super Deluxe. For intermediate riders.

3. Super Deluxe 10” Ball: The ball speed is slow with great tilting and can be scary at first because you are so high off the ground. Two balls has little forward and backward motion. Requires a lot of leg strength to get started. The momentum of the board with this 20 pound ball requires a lot of leg strength to control the board. Great combination for upper body movements and full body exercises because you get a lot of board tilt. For advanced riders.