Jack M

Sure thing.

Then I don't see how the mounts can possibly hinge without deforming the plate and board. Maybe there can be some sliding going on, but I doubt hinging. In the offset configuration, the plate seems to become a huge flex modifier, more than a suspension system. Good thing the mounts can be arranged traditionally. Wish we had more info.

Ha, that would be funny. :D But I dunno, the pic of the plate in action shows it bending quite a bit.

The distance the front mounts slide and the degrees through which the front and rear mounts pivot are relatively small, but they have a large effect. When my Boiler plate is mounted on my board it is very close to the board when the board is relaxed. 1cm tops. In my living room I can bend the board with one hand and fit my other hand between the plate and the board with wiggle room to spare. That's a lot of travel. The small pivoting/sliding movements of the mounts are what allow that. I believe it is this action that has made the Karl style plate so successful.

It is a suspension system, travel is important. I think the fact that the Karl design is so successful is due in no small part to the fact that it has the most amount of travel of any system to date. If in fact the mounts cannot hinge, I think that is important. Would be great to have some answers on this.

would be great to have you there, but should this thread be over here... http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?f=61 ?

Actually, for a moment let's consider only the rear set of pivots, or hinges. As far as I know, the job of the rear mounts are only to hinge, while the front mounts need to hinge and slide. Are the rear hinges concentric? That is, do they share one axle? Or if not, are their axles on the same axis? Or are they offset? Without a photo of the bottom of the plate and hardware, it is unsure. But if they are offset, I think they would not be able to hinge. In this case the rear of the plate will be "locked" in place, relative to the board. You can imagine a simple door where the hinges are not concentric by a few centimeters. The door won't be able to open without seriously stressing something or ripping a hinge out of the wall. I'm just curious as to what's going on under there.

The asymmetric mounting points confuse me. His offset pivots look like they will affect the board flex in an odd way. Even if he has no actual axle, there is still a virtual axle created by the plate, and it runs diagonally across the board. Think about the plates we have seen thus far to date - if you place the axle under the toe of the front foot, the heel will be further away from the board when the board decambers. That is, the gap between plate and board will be larger under the heel than the toe as the board bends. If you were to place the axle under the heel of the front foot, (not that you would) the plate under the toe would probably collide with the board. Jasey Jay's plate connects to the board under the heel and toe. This will load the board diagonally when it decambers. The offset connection points will force the gap between the plate and board to be constant under the whole foot. This is confirmed by the enlarged photos posted by SunSurfer. I'm not sure what effect this will have as JJ obviously likes it and he would know better than me, but it certainly is curious. I'd love to know the intentions going on here. (I realize it's not quite exactly under the heel and toe, but it is still offset diagonally)

Is this set-up a measure to further reduce plate flex....?

Is this so you can switch between your skis and your board during the day? If so, be careful. Even if you could modify the ski boots to accept Fin-Tec heels, the non-DIN beveled shape of the heel would not engage the ski binding properly. You would have to reach back and lift up the heel lever of the binding in order to latch in. I know this because I force my Deeluxe's into my ski bindings, just to ski slowly with my kids. I have released appropriately from them, but who knows if it's legit? I wouldn't bet on it.

I really do! Best show ever.

love that topsheet.

Ha! Some good ol' Maine boys in that vid. Good luck with the new endeavor. I might be able to join you for the filming but chances are slim.

Technically the carving in Board With The World is in a little sub-movie at the end called Pachemama, by P&J. Your download may or may not include that. Even if it doesn't, BWTW still has beautiful freeriding by the one and only CK.

Welcome Vyvsdad! Check these links in my signature for some tips on getting started. Also did you know we have a classifieds section of the forum? Good luck!

Sounds like you could use the 180. I don't think it's too wide, but I dunno - I use a 21cm wide board and my boots are size 28 mondo.

There is also some fun to watch, though dated, carving in the Burton movies Snowrules, Chill, Board With the World, Hear No Evil, and Scream of Consciousness. Chill is the origin of the Jean Nerva quote "Carving... you carve you carve you carve you carve, and you cannot slide, even if it's icy." Warren Miller borrowed that footage in Tweaked and Twisted.

The Donek Blade 170 may work too if you are not already an expert softbooter. I'd say go for the 180 if you are a strong, fast freerider and can carve your edges on your existing gear on easy slopes. If you've never carved a thin line in hardpack snow, the 170 would probably be the better choice. Good luck!

Donek Blade 180. http://www.donek.com/blade_crv.html As for bindings, I am biased, but for good reason.

Ha! There you are Rob!

very impressive! the guitar player rocks too!

yeah, I noticed that nose on the Fernandez board!

Hardboots on page 8. Racing on 11, and throughout. Letter from Chris Karol on 10. http://www.issuu.com/transworldsnowboarding/docs/twsnow-vol_025_01/7

Cool idea and nice colors! I'd make the dragon bigger, meaner, and bolder. I'd like to see it take up 1/2 or 2/3 of the board, and don't worry if some of it gets cut off by the outline of the board. Just my 2 cents.

That's a great board - nice find! If you are about 175-200lbs it should work for you. Check out the links below to get started.