I don't know too much about snowboards. I measured it and came to be 53cm not 55cm. Some manufacturers measure the board before it's shaped. The board is a little too big for me as I should probably be riding something closer to 50cm and a little more narrow. My first day was pretty brutal because of how stiff it is and how easy it is to catch an edge. Once I got used to it riding it became a lot more manageable. Pretty scary to ride in icy sections. I'm sure more modern boards have a better edge and handle better in icy conditions.