nigelc

Thanks for the insight Sean. I strongly suspected that marketing was the primary reason and could see no justification for titanium as such. I am always prepared to be surprised however. I have always wondered, sometimes here in writing, why the behaviour of metal for torsion control could not be achieved with properly oriented fibres. I have always been told that the Titanal contributes considerably more than simple torsional strength.

i guess that makes more sense. Putting some of the material in shear rather than pure tension or compression. I had not considered thatthe metal was not just a flat sheet. Could the longer path for vibrations also affect the dampening?

triaxial cloth is at o, +60,-60 degrees, while double bias is at plus and minus 45 degrees.

my understanding is that the reason early metal boards delaminated is that it is very hard to stick anything to a non-absorbent surface. The epoxy will not soak in so there is an issue with bond failure in shear. What titanal offers is an efective chemical etching of the surface of the aluminium sheet to allow a much better bond, hence no delam. As for metal not stretching, it is far stretchier than most fibres. The justification for metal laminates that I have seen on these pages - quite reasonably - is that the metal laminate has a very different natural frequency to the composite and so performs some dampening of vibration. I had assumed when looking at titanium skis that this would be why such a very expensive metal with a strength to weight not much better than Aluminium would be used. Perhaps it has far superior dampening characteristics. Titanium certainly is better with fatigue.

Most of the boat composites I am interested in are carbon/nomex/carbon sandwich. Glass composites was a long time ago. I do see the occasional aluminium honeycomb core, or some pvc foam (like some old rossignol boards) on some cheaper layups. Also many different orientations of fibres to deal with the differrent stresses including often gluing unidirectional fibres in specific places to cope with rig loads. I haven't done an analysis of skis but I would have thought the stresses were relatively simple. From what you are saying I guess you think that titanium is just a gimmick with little or no real justification over aluminium/titanal. Shame. I thought we might be seeing a whole new generation of titanium boards

here is a table/spreadsheet showing strength to weight numbers: http://numsum.com/spreadsheet/show/18451 so back to my point that there must be another reason for titanium.

My apologies I am not looking to directly contradict you even if I came across that way. My statement should have been phrased as a question. Essentially I guess the expression "strength" is not specific enough - are we talking stiffness, tensile strength, toughness etc. My engineering is limited to some composite structures in a marine context, where mostly we are concerned with panel stiffness. Pure tensile strength is sometimes of concern in rigs, where PBO is used for rigging

if it was only strength to weight then kevlar, carbon, spectra, PBO or boron fibre would be better.

So what does titanium have to offer that aluminium doesn't? It is very pricey compared to Aluminium.

I have just spent a couple of weeks shopping for new skis for my wife, trying and comparing different types of skis from different manufacturers. I noticed that a few high end skis are boasting titanium innards. Do any other forum members know what this is all about? is it a metal laminate like the titanal in metal carving boards and there for the same purpose(s). If so what advantage does it offer over the aluminium laminate?

Hi Matiu I will be in CP from end of july - around 27th 28th for about a week, and possibly a few days 12th -18th. I sent you an email to your new address but it must have got lost in the spam filter. Are you bringing some of your new boards to NZ? I would love to try one. Looking forward to a good winter cheers Nigel

Hi Kip Yes I am definitely going to hokkaido in february and really looking forward to trying out some powder boards. No other updates apart from that and actually spending more time thinking about the upcoming NZ season than next feb, allthough by coincidence I am typing this from a hotel room in shibuya, tokyo. have you ever snowboarded in Japan? Are you still trying to manufacture shaw 6.5's with Lee? I havent seen him for a while now but used to work with him at ENL cheers Nigel

looking at MP 26.5

we don't get much real powder here in little old nz. I am so looking forward to trying out a swallowtail in deep light and fluffy. I think i will try and use my SB413's with the bomber spring things backed off to be very flexy at first and then try some softies after that. I don't want to start another soft/hard in powder thread - yawn - so keep your powder dry guys. if you know what i mean. I guess that the stiff end of soft boots are malamutes or drivers or even the top end raichle/deeluxe. What are good softies at the more flexible end?

so the gentem cafe/rental/demo are in hirafu?

That looks like a comprehensive range of boards with some powder specific shapes. I guess I am thinking that if the snow is powdery enough not to use my usual setup (prior wcrm 177) then i need something like a swallow tail or fish-like. I am happy - ish with the prior in shallow "resort" powder. Or will be after a day or so. So can I rent a swallow tail in hirafu. And what kind of soft boots do i go for in deep powder - stiff or the opposite end of the spectrum?

hirafu village

yup it is definitely niseko we are going to - so i will take one hard boot set-up but will be looking to rent a set-up for powder. What do i get and where do i get it?

I believe, and will confirm, that we are headed to hokkaido , possibly niseko

Some skier friends of mine are organising a trip to Japan so I may go along in February. From what they say the snow is predominantly powder so possibly not suited to hardbooting. I haven't been in soft boots for years and don't have good memories of them but may have to try. Anyway i think i will take one board/boots/bindings set and bank on trying to hire approriate gear Does anybody here have experience of the snowboarding scene up there? is there a possibility i may be able to hire something like a swallow tail or other powder specific board?

lynyrd skynyrd and the gratefull dead...... after '98? :):):):)

so I need to: learn how to selectively sabotage the lift and go racing see what a little lateral thinking does

I agree that the resorts do nothing to enforce this - last season I had a snowboarder jump onto a cat track leading into the lift line in full view of the lifty. He struck me in the side of the head. F*ing scary. Thank god for helmets. The lifty told him he was a naughty boy but refused to pull his pass. I lost it and smacked the offender a good right hand while telling the lifty that if he wouldn't do anything I would. The lifty told me i was a naughty boy. we carried on riding. I understand that what I did was not right but the resorts inaction render this sort of thing much more likely. On both parts I don't agree that it is untrained beginners causing the problem. To go that fast you have to have been riding for some years. There is no way that these dudes do not know that you give way downhill. However just waht that means appears to be lost. each time I have been hit this year I have been accused of traversing as if that gives them a license to hit me!

I hate being in accidents. I do a lot of road cycling and so I am familiar with being in the right while nursing injuries and the stupidity of that stance. The last one was $1500 damage to the front of the car that hit me and i was off the road for some time. I ride both my road bike and my snowboard very defensively. On the snowboard I look uphill every time i can while on heelside, which is most turns. I always wait for a gap before I start out and I am willing to wait a long time to reduce risk. The state of the art of the straight liner has developed to the point that they are going so fast that its impossible to avoid them every time. One of them will get you eventually. Two of my friends this year were hit while stationary at the side of the trail while in plain view. Neither moron even stopped. This has got much worse over the last few seasons.

you are right - there is no mention of traversing in nz now either. There used to be and i dont know when it changed. So even less reason for such appalling behaviour.