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Decambered Nose


Jack M

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A number of people are asking what this is about, so, here are a few thousand words on that:

(click to enlarge)

Traditional nose:

<a href="http://www.jmphotocraft.com/bomber/nose_decamber_01.JPG" target="top"><img src="http://www.jmphotocraft.com/bomber/nose_decamber_01.JPG" width="600"></a>

Decambered nose:

<a href="http://www.jmphotocraft.com/bomber/nose_decamber_03.JPG" target="top"><img src="http://www.jmphotocraft.com/bomber/nose_decamber_03.JPG" width="600"></a>

Traditional nose, middle of board flat on ground:

<a href="http://www.jmphotocraft.com/bomber/nose_decamber_02.JPG" target="top"><img src="http://www.jmphotocraft.com/bomber/nose_decamber_02.JPG" width="600"></a>

Decambered nose, middle of board flat on ground:

<a href="http://www.jmphotocraft.com/bomber/nose_decamber_04.JPG" target="top"><img src="http://www.jmphotocraft.com/bomber/nose_decamber_04.JPG" width="600"></a>

What I believe the decambered nose does, is it becomes part of the sidecut when the board is tilted on edge. It works <i>with</i> the sidecut instead of against it. The upward curve of the nose more closely matches the curve of the sidecut and the shape the board assumes when the whole thing is decambered in a carve.

As you can see in this picture, when a board is carving, the nose is engaged in the snow <i>well past</i> the end of the so-called "running length" of the board:

t1.jpg

Therefore the upturn of the nose becomes an active part of the sidecut and an active participant in the carve. A traditional nose shape that curves up abruptly will "plow" through the snow because it is trying to turn along the upward curve of the nose - a much tighter arc than the rest of the board. A low, decambered nose will "slice" through the snow better because its curve is more inline with the sidecut.

The decambered nose does not result in a huge reduction in effective edge length, because the board is still engaged in the snow along most of its length as we can see here:

attachment.php?attachmentid=16812&stc=1&d=1237861952

However the nose is now "unloaded" and not fighting the sidecut or the forward movement of the board.

Also the decambered nose helps with bumps and imperfections in the snow surface. Any impact to the nose of the board as it is carving will be more abrupt with a traditional nose, because the nose upturn is more vertical and curves up at a tighter radius. The nose has to climb up over the obstacle more quickly, in a shorter length of board travel. This creates a shockwave that travels down the board, compromising edge hold and possibly upsetting the rider. You can imagine an extreme example of a nose that quickly curved up to be perpendicular to the board - something like that could actually stop the board in its tracks. The decambered nose spreads the impact out more gradually, and the whole front of the board has more time to deflect more gently.

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Just a bit of fun here, these were 2001-2002 early Swoard days, when the nose and flex of the Swoards were thought to be ridiculous. What's out of fashion will come around again.

http://www.extremecarving.com/photos/02html/p08_02.html

http://www.extremecarving.com/photos/01html/j3_01.html

http://www.extremecarving.com/photos/01html/j7_01.html

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in other words, the nose is not as steep of an angle for the up turn....

A lot of powder boards had long progressive noses like this. The only concern is the board becoming a catapult if the front gets too weighted and sinks deep in snow and jams to a stop..... "BOINNGG !"

kinda like riding switch... and catching your tail LOL.

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The only concern is the board becoming a catapult if the front gets too weighted and sinks deep in snow and jams to a stop..... "BOINNGG !"

This is what I cannot get past here (I realize that trying is believing). Haven't demo'd any new boards in a while, but I'm thinking of purchasing something for next season. I know that I put a lot of pressure on the nose of the boards that I ride, and would be worried about burying it with a board such as a Schtubby or NSR. I also see the people that are riding these decks and can't imagine that would be the case for me, if they are not. True???

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I know that I put a lot of pressure on the nose of the boards that I ride, and would be worried about burying it with a board such as a Schtubby or NSR.

I find the decambered noses are harder to bury. Granted, I'm not riding much else these days - but when I go to anything else I feel like I'm about to bury the *those*.

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This is what I cannot get past here (I realize that trying is believing). Haven't demo'd any new boards in a while, but I'm thinking of purchasing something for next season. I know that I put a lot of pressure on the nose of the boards that I ride, and would be worried about burying it with a board such as a Schtubby or NSR. I also see the people that are riding these decks and can't imagine that would be the case for me, if they are not. True???

When the board is up on edge, the upturn actually has little to do with terrain clearance. You could theoretically carve a board with NO upturn, just a flat, rounded nose. But it would catch between turns when the board is flat on the ground!

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