Alpine Snowboard Plate Systems

[Boarder_Ted]

Just wonder, why you did the elaborate wing shaped bases? Bigger dead spot and potential to point load a board with metal top sheet...

Two reasons: Weight and pressure distribution. I originally had a large rectangular base in order to help spread the load. I don't know how much good it would have done but my gut told me it would be better than a small footprint. The size was based on the footprint of an average plate binding. I then cut them down a bit to save some weight and felt the smaller points would flex a bit rather than create a "point load". And technically it's not a metal topsheet board.
All in all, it's a combination of experience, instinct and winging it! I'm certainly no engineer but I have built a lot of things and nothing's fallen down yet. lol
I plan to take it easy and see how it goes. Like you, I feel what's the worst that can happen?

[BobD]

what's the worst that can happen?

A quick lesson in mini boarding?

[Boarder_Ted]

A quick lesson in mini boarding?

I've always wanted to take up a new sport!

[powdahbonz]

I for one would love to try both and while not feasible now for Sean and Fin, it would be great to see something in the way of a demo/rental/swap project that would allow perhaps some regional trials and comparison for us. I am interested in feeling the performance and getting a chance to try the advancements. Looking forward to riding with you both to get your feedback. Projected 1st turns first week of December

[~tb]

I for one would love to try both and while not feasible now for Sean and Fin, it would be great to see something in the way of a demo/rental/swap project that would allow perhaps some regional trials and comparison for us. I am interested in feeling the performance and getting a chance to try the advancements. Looking forward to riding with you both to get your feedback. Projected 1st turns first week of December

I don't think im letting any kind of hat out of the bag here. . . . Sean has already talked to me about shipping a spare plate with both 4X4 and UPM hardware so I would have it available for people to try, either on a spare donek demo board, or their own board.

I live west of boston, but will likely be at:
stratton
sunapee
Wachusettes (possibly in the gates)
Ward (USASA) and
Nashoba (5 minutes from my house)

Other arrangements can likely be made.

[powdahbonz]

tb-

I think that's great! I'm going to have a few more opportunities this season for some mid-week riding which I'm looking forward to. I hope to get at least one day where I can try a plate. I've never tried a hangl or vist and have been more turned off by the additional weight they bring with-

[pokkis]

We need snow now

[Scorpio]

Sport plate version can be mounted to a 4x4 hole pattern. Glad to hear that it can be easily mounted.

http://www.apexsnowboard.com/news.html

[Jack Michaud]

It's going to be hard to adhere to EC doctrine when your board no longer bends.

[bobdea]

It's going to be hard to adhere to EC doctrine when your board no longer bends.

good point.
evolution! between the new shapes and the latest interfaces it kind of reminds me of the early 90s.

[bobdea]

Sport plate version can be mounted to a 4x4 hole pattern. Glad to hear that it can be easily mounted.

http://www.apexsnowboard.com/news.html

any UPM compatability for the sport plate?
would be nice, 1099 is steep even if you own a kessler. the sport they claim is 500 CAD, awesome!

[Buell]

It's going to be hard to adhere to EC doctrine when your board no longer bends.

How does a plate keep the board from bending?

[leeho730]

It's going to be hard to adhere to EC doctrine when your board no longer bends.

Actually, that's what I'm hoping for when I attach the plate to the 168 soft flex...

[Jack Michaud]

How does a plate keep the board from bending?

Well, I meant "the thing that your feet are attached to no longer bends".

[I_LOVETT]

It's tough getting anything past Buell

[Buell]

Well, I meant "the thing that your feet are attached to no longer bends".

Ah yes. The photo of a plate on a swoard did look a little strange but maybe it will work well.

[Buell]

It's tough getting anything past Buell

Hmmm. What are you trying to say Kipp.

[kieran]

so. indoor slope, 200m long*. 184GS with 14-20 radius. too much board for the location. too much board for the rider as well.

fun? yes. weird being higher up? a little. having your feet stay in the same relative position all the way through a turn is an odd sensation to begin with. feeling the board mould itself to the terrain during corners equally so.

it's a lot smoother, and thus easier to go faster. much easier.

* 1/3rd of the top section to gather speed, swing across the slope, tip the board into wide C turn, then another, stop. grin. repeat.

[philw]

so. indoor slope, 200m long*. 184GS with 14-20 radius. too much board for the location.

Any reaction from the locals? I don't think most people will have seen anything like it. Which slope are you using that on?

I'm waiting for my Kessler SL to arrive, which may work a bit better on 15 degrees of 160m long ice, but it has no plate so I should not mention it here.

[Transistor Rhythm]

It's going to be hard to adhere to EC doctrine when your board no longer bends.

Back to cants and lifts?

[kieran]

Any reaction from the locals? I don't think most people will have seen anything like it. Which slope are you using that on?

braehead. the locals are used to me on my F2 at this point.

the donek got looks of suspicion, and then disbelief. just as it started getting busy and i switched to the f2, one of the lifties commented that perhaps it wasn't a board best suited to 'our little slope'. they were pretty impressed with the mechanics of the plate though, and most could understand its purpose.

[kieran]

Come to Colorado and bring the plate clad fruit stripe rocket back here where it was born. Here you will have plenty of pitch and vert to get that thing up to cruising speed.

i've always resisted going abroad for my snow, mostly because i try to support the 5 places we have here. and really, on the f2 they're enough.

however, only 2 really have any terrain that will give me the entry speeds for making this thing bend like a banana. i may need to get on a plane.

[kieran]

Yep, come on over we will show you the goods! Come to the SES and your eyes will swim in your nogging. The largest collection of demo gear you could ever imagine, with all the latest and greatest offerings.

your intentions are quite transparent to me. you just want some turns on the fruit-bar rocketboard, don't you?

[www.oldsnowboards.com]

i've always resisted going abroad for my snow, mostly because i try to support the 5 places we have here. and really, on the f2 they're enough.

however, only 2 really have any terrain that will give me the entry speeds for making this thing bend like a banana. i may need to get on a plane.

Photo of setup please?

fruit-bar rocketboard

Now that Snowman has made such a point of it. Curious

[kieran]

Photo of setup please?

clicky

Now that Snowman has made such a point of it. Curious

i think he means the base

[Cyrus the virus]

I stopped water skiing years ago because I hated what 2 cycle motors left behind, but I gotta tell 'ya that thing would be a blast in the water.
Take the straps off and noboard it.
BTW did Kildy make it?
What's it's nick name... Clavicle Slayer?

And guess who got it for 60 Euros!!!!!

[~tb]

I need to extend those props to Todd Brown. He also has had quite a bit of imput on the development of these systems.

Think Snow!

You are far to kind here.

If you start throwing my name around recklessly like that, we would also have to give an equal amount of credit to all the testers (which I know you were a significant part of) and tinkerers who where lucky enough to be part of the on snow evolution of both the new shapes and plate systems.

I just sat at the other end of a computer screen (much like I am now) throwing some ideas out.

Hope we get to make some turns together this year!

[Donek]

I had the distinct pleasure to get out and ride the Bomber ______ plate (pre-production) today at the Basin. Conditions were variable with super firm man made below and 5 to 6 plus inches of fresh being pushed around on top. This thing will slice and dice anything. I found myself having to back off on the nose because the plate performs as a force multiplier, if you drive it like a glass deck mounted sans plate, your gonna dig a hole to the center of the Earth. Once you get yourself conditioned to the extra juice this thing provides, you can put it to effictive use and enjoy a ripping fast ride. We have pretty fast and soft condtions here in Colorado (not a bad thing) so I am anxioius to get it out on some super firm. One sticking point is slow speed handling is well, strange, don't assume that a plate is meant to be ridden slow. Freerideability, absolutely! I pushed it as hard is I could all day and not a hicup. From a free ride standpoint, probably going to be more of a long board thing, from a racer standpoint more than likely a must for all disciplines BX included! Cam Farrell has been out pushing a custom built Donek BX plate at the Basin for the last few days and if Cam can't break it, no one can. Once again, hats off to all involve in the development of this highly effective and beautifully crafted system. Big crew riding at the Basin tomorrow under a bluebird Colorado sky and 5 inches of fresh to mix into the gnar, conditions are going to be fantasic. Nice to see 30+ hard booters on the mountain day after day.

I'm bringing something a bit more current than that white thing tomorrow. You should enjoy it a lot more.

[Ladia]

Does have Bomber plate only one set of holes for binding or it is just an optical illusion?

[SunSurfer]

I pushed it as hard is I could all day .........

And how do your quads feel at the end of the day, compared with a full day without a plate??

SunSurfer