SunSurfer Posted March 29, 2014 Report Share Posted March 29, 2014 (edited) <iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-nOMcl_rbgk" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe> Wax techs might well have bad dreams tonight. Heating the base of the board to ensure a water layer underneath appears to be within the FIS rules (p81). They don't seem to have ever conceived that someone might try this! Have to think it will be banned as soon as the FIS sees someone trying it. http://www.fis-ski.com/mm/Document/documentlibrary/Snowboard/04/36/62/SB_FIS_ICR13Snowboardincludingprecisionsfall13_clean_English.pdf Edited March 29, 2014 by SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 Wow. Gotta hand it to those guys! But this will sure not be FIS legal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John E Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 A statement early in the video states that there is a thin layer of water between the base of your board & the snow. I assume that they think that the water comes from melting the snow through friction. 1) How do you ever get going? No friction = no heat. 2) If friction created heat melts the snow then more friction = more speed (?). This heated base might work but I doubt it is for the reasons they state. I'd like to see a side-by-side test that can prove this is faster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailertrash Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 They didn't think to time a run? "It feels faster brahhhhh...." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieran Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 I assume that they think that the water comes from melting the snow through friction.every bit of commentary i've read on this topic says the melting is caused by pressure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffV Posted March 31, 2014 Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 I gotta hand it to these guys, they are very creative. Their test with a glass board was pretty cool a while ago. I wish they would have run the board through a course vs. just basing it off of "yeah it feels a lot after with 2 batter packs". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted March 31, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2014 (edited) The video is proof of the concept that you can heat a board's base. You can potentially reduce the variability in wax requirements with different temperature snow. I would have liked to see a formal trial of matching prepared boards with power on vs. off to see the actual performance gain too. But the concept is possible. That said, I think that the research to make it work to the optimum would be beyond all but the larger companies. The effect on the cost of a board would be likely to be considerable, and the effect of heating/cooling cycles on durability could be a significant issue. On the other hand, maybe Fin could develop Powertec heels that only deliver power to the board when you click in, within a battery back pack you wear under your jacket! Edited April 1, 2014 by SunSurfer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.T. Posted April 1, 2014 Report Share Posted April 1, 2014 every bit of commentary i've read on this topic says the melting is caused by pressure. Agreed, pressure causes the phase change. Same scenario as an ice skate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SunSurfer Posted April 2, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 Agreed, pressure causes the phase change. Same scenario as an ice skate. The difference in pressure between the edge of a single ice skate blade and the base of a snowboard, each bearing the weight of the rider, has to be several orders of magnitude different. Science of all sorts advances by currently accepted knowledge being challenged. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D.T. Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 The difference in pressure between the edge of a single ice skate blade and the base of a snowboard, each bearing the weight of the rider, has to be several orders of magnitude different. [sacrasm] Thanks Captain Obvious[/sarcasm] :) I understand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieran Posted April 2, 2014 Report Share Posted April 2, 2014 ideally we'd have a unrealistically efficient piezo generator in the body of the snowboard, connected to a supercapacitor layer also laminated in the body of the snowboard, which would then power heating elements along the running length of the snowboard edge. perfect for ice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdyno Posted April 7, 2014 Report Share Posted April 7, 2014 Great, straight liners with more speed. My guess is they saw this:http://www.thermabladehockey.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queequeg Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Wow - clever idea! I'm sure the battery doesn't last long at all but still - very smart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbat Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Cool. For the riding they're after, even if it wasn't any faster, if it just made glide more consistent it would be an advantage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gnarfy Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 only drawback... don't crash with lipo on your pocket, you will be a human fireworks.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.