Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25245
5 SHAPING THE MEANS BY WHICH WE SURF MOUNTAINS, SNOWBOARD COMPANIES INTEGRATE NEW TECHNOLOGY TO DELIVER BETIER-THAN-EVER 2003 LINES TEXT: ROB REED Snowboarding's emerging technologies continue to shape and improve a simple-yet- all-important aspect of riding: the turn. Carbon-fiber torsion rods, composite cores, stainless-steel edges, wax-impregnated bases, progressive sidecuts, koa topsheets- are all created and added in the name of the turn. Being able to carve and link turns is a function of many things, not the least of which is know-how. Beyond this bit of skill, a board's flex pattern is the prime factor. Longitudinal (lengthwise) flex influences how a board will carve and how much effort it will take you to do so. Torsional (twisting) flex comes into play when linking turns. Here, your feet are twisting one against the other to initiate a turn-just before you link them together. A board that's too stiff will feel as though it's fighting against you, while one that's too soft will feel unstable. Finding the right flex pattern, then, is an all- important goal, one that can be achieved only by riding before you buy. Our reviews are the result of an on-snow test one perfect spring day at Mammoth Mountain in California's Eastern Sierra. We sessioned 25 boards, eight bind- ings and plenty of boots in conditions ranging from a constant of corn snow to ice, crud and a bonus powder day. These are the best of our test. Ratings are one to five stars. < r~*:*~.~Y~~PICK *,*' - -- - ---- -- - - - --.------- ----- - - -----.-..-.... ----.- - F~~G:''':''' -;, ""'-". .. ,.,. n' _, 1 , > ~ l,~~.$It~ .... .. : , . =~.II'::.~a:":'l"::'I The world's most aesthetically pleasing snowboard claims top billing as the finest all-mountain board we've ever ridden. In years past the tail used to falloff slightly when finishing a turn. Added longitudinal integri- ty now makes it snap (finish) more confidently. It's still torsionally supple between the feet, making transitions flow naturally. In other words, you don't need to muscle this board from edge to edge, but when you get there it has solid edge hold. A signature Hawaiian koa topsheet adds to the overall performance, functioning as an extra layer of fiber- glass, and there's a length (and width) available for any adult rider. ***** Sizes: 144, 149, 154, 158, 159W, 162, 163W, 166, 167W Arbor, www.arborsports.com. $430 58