Do plate systems have a place in BX?

[Erik J]

Just curious. I've only ever seen things like Palmer risers on BX boards.

[earthsurfing]

I used to race BX alot, and -depending on the course- would often ride full alpine gear (Factory Prime).

For qualifiers/ time trials, etc. always an advantage.

If you can get the hole shot in the beginning, also an advantage.

If you're in a crash or any kind of scamble, the compromised ability to hop and correct from impact, etc. is a serious disadvantage.

Also, rider needs to be comfortable hitting large tables, riding pipe, switch, and of course getting *large* air in a race setup.

The biggest advantage comes if your alpine gear enhanced speed lets you turn doubles into tipples, or otherwise gap obstacles that others might have to slow down for.

[bobdea]

not a plate system?

I'm betting at some point you'll see a lighter lower version of the Vist plate or that funky composite thing the canadians are riding for BX.

or at least something better than the current offerings

[philfell]

First soft boot equipment is getting so good that many of the old "advantages" of riding alpine gear in SBX are pretty much gone.

Second the courses now are not very hard boot friendly. They typically have very techinical start sections. This is to create seperation in the riders and cause less collisions going into the first turn. Because the starts are more technical it puts hard boots at a bigger disadvantage.

Third risk of injury is higher in hardboots than soft boots.

I would really like if a plate system was developed for SBX. The biggest thing holding back plate systems in SBX is the added weight. It's so important to be able to make powerful quick moves through varied terrain, when you add the weight of a vist plate or hangle plate you loose so much of this quickness that you loose out on any advantages that a plate gives you.

[jtslalom]

First soft boot equipment is getting so good that many of the old "advantages" of riding alpine gear in SBX are pretty much gone.

I think this statement is right on. I have soft boots and bindings from about 4 years ago. It is so stiff for soft gear that when compared to my Burton Wind boots and physics bindings, I don't think it is all that much softer.

[DiveBomber]

I think this statement is right on. I have soft boots and bindings from about 4 years ago. It is so stiff for soft gear that when compared to my Burton Wind boots and physics bindings, I don't think it is all that much softer.

thats true.... they still suck....

ive modified my winds and put my malamute liners in them so they are about as soft and have as much flex as the malamutes to begin with, buthtye just dont and have the slop of an SB, but with the race plates i have enough flex i can do nose grabs etc, but still the comfort and input of the BH interface.

PS i hate soft boots....

I could see something like an S flex being used

[bobdea]

thats true.... they still suck....

ive modified my winds and put my malamute liners in them so they are about as soft and have as much flex as the malamutes to begin with, buthtye just dont and have the slop of an SB, but with the race plates i have enough flex i can do nose grabs etc, but still the comfort and input of the BH interface.

PS i hate soft boots....

and what I'd like to know is how you're qualified make that statement that goes against PRETTY MUCH ALL THE RESULTS I'VE SEEN THIS YEAR AND ANY OTHER I CAN REMEMBER?

are you basically making the argument that none of the people that are winning know what they are doing and their gear sucks? they just win by chance?

[jburrill]

Remember the last olympic final in SBX? Half alpine, half freestyle. But, softboot set ups and SBX boards have changed for the better.

[bobdea]

Remember the last olympic final in SBX? Half alpine, half freestyle. But, softboot set ups and SBX boards have changed for the better.

even at that time it was somewhat unusual

[Rob Stevens]

What are the bigger SBX riders using for soft bindings?

[philfell]

Baum is about as big as they come and he is using cartels.

Other big guys are on C60's or C02's, pretty much everyone is riding Burton bindings.

It also seems like most of the guys on Oxess are not riding risers, and the guys on Kesslers are on risers....Mostly just personal preferance.

I don't thing you will see any hardboot/softboot showdown at this years Olympics. It will be an Oxess/Kessler grudge match though.

[Rob Stevens]

Thanks for that, Phil.

I'm surprised... It's not what I would have expected. Maybe I need to give the cartels a chance. Don't think I'll be going back to the C60's though. I sheared both the highbacks off in one run with that new "jackshaft" FLD built into the highback. Not much material holding those in place.

Burton, of course, would not hear about a warranty replacement, so I put my old C16 highbacks on the new baseplate. "Sweet as a nut" as my Aussie wife would say.

[jburrill]

Yes, C60's and C02's are the same baseplate material. The highbacks are very similar in stiffness. Ive tried both and think that Cartels are the way to go. Cartels flex a little more and that makes for a smoother ride. Yes you can rip turns with stiffer bindings but it makes for a bumpy ride. I find that stiffer highbacks tend to give me boot bang right in the area of the top of the highback. Usually it hurts to the point of having to switch to an alpine setup for a couple of days. Phil is right. Most racers are using Burton Cartels or something similar. Funny to see all the Cartels on a bunch of Kesslers Oxess and SG boards. Youd think that Jake would produce a board to compete with these other brands. But then again, Jake hates sbx and alpine.

[lowrider]

Any chance of posting pics of your plate setups????

[lowrider]

I assume everyone is blacking out untill after olympics?