The latest tests with the new Swoard 2008 génération 3
Moderators: fivat, rilliet, nils
- rilliet
- Swoard & EC founder
- Posts: 714
- Joined: Tuesday 26 March 2002, 10:39
- Location: Lausanne, Switzerland
- Contact:
The latest tests with the new Swoard 2008 génération 3
Patrice and myself spent quite a lot of time tuning the beast during summer on the glacier of Saas-Fee (Switzerland).
The latest version has reached a balance of the overall parameters that I totally love. In my opinion it easily outclasses all what we had before.
It combines performance, easiness and comfort.
Thanks to:
1. An incredible gliding ability. Toward the second generation, subjectively 20% to 30% better strait down, 100% better crosswise.
2. A much better progressivity during the edge grip. Despite the grip was already excellent, it tended to bite too early at the start of the turns and during skidding.
3. A better dampening that gives the feeling that the snow and the ice are smoother. This also allows the edge to work nearly without parasitic vibrations. On ice, the carving is super precise with very few scratching feeling and vibrations under the feet.
4. A very healthy reactivity that invites you to play with the board.
5. In extremecarving, a perfect grip and stability (even on the very difficult ice of the glacier!) that never failed during our tests.
In short, I had the feeling that I could do what I wanted with a Swoard whose only desire was to swing under my feet.
When I think that at the beginning our goal was to equal this second generation that worked already so good! I'm so happy!
I would like to thank a lot Henri Nidecker « The Big Boss », Thierry Grillet « Processman », Gwenola Girard « Materialgirl » and the whole Nidecker team for their professionalism, availability and kindness. It's really great to work with them!
I can't wait for winter!
Jacques
The latest version has reached a balance of the overall parameters that I totally love. In my opinion it easily outclasses all what we had before.
It combines performance, easiness and comfort.
Thanks to:
1. An incredible gliding ability. Toward the second generation, subjectively 20% to 30% better strait down, 100% better crosswise.
2. A much better progressivity during the edge grip. Despite the grip was already excellent, it tended to bite too early at the start of the turns and during skidding.
3. A better dampening that gives the feeling that the snow and the ice are smoother. This also allows the edge to work nearly without parasitic vibrations. On ice, the carving is super precise with very few scratching feeling and vibrations under the feet.
4. A very healthy reactivity that invites you to play with the board.
5. In extremecarving, a perfect grip and stability (even on the very difficult ice of the glacier!) that never failed during our tests.
In short, I had the feeling that I could do what I wanted with a Swoard whose only desire was to swing under my feet.
When I think that at the beginning our goal was to equal this second generation that worked already so good! I'm so happy!
I would like to thank a lot Henri Nidecker « The Big Boss », Thierry Grillet « Processman », Gwenola Girard « Materialgirl » and the whole Nidecker team for their professionalism, availability and kindness. It's really great to work with them!
I can't wait for winter!
Jacques
Your test reports tempt me to buy the generation 3 model even if I already have both the 1st generation (3D) (edges almost worn out) and 2nd. Crazy, but everything for still looking good (hopefully) on the slopes and compensating for the brutal decaying of aging. Congratulations with 3rd generation.
harald
- fivat
- Swoard & EC founder
- Posts: 3012
- Joined: Thursday 21 March 2002, 13:13
- Location: Geneva, Switzerland
- Contact:
Re: The latest tests with the new Swoard 2008 génération 3
Jacques is a terrible perfectionist. He is rarely satisfied and has always new ideas (while sitting at his desk or while testing the prototypes on the snow). Indeed, as an excellent shaper-extremecarver (I would say the best, because he invented both extremecarving and the Swoard in parallel), he can feel and understand everything theoretically and practically with his sensitivity about etremecarving and snowboarding in general.
Very humble, he rarely expresses himself in the Forum about his own boards. Thus, this message from him is an excellent sign: if he is very happy and says that the 3rd generation outclasses all what we had before, you can guess how good the boards are And I can confirm along to my own tests done on the glaciers this summer... You will feel this by yourself soon! It's damn great and I can't wait for the season start anymore!
A very good thing is the excellent atmosphere in which Jacques could work at the factory: the people there are very likeable, humble (not arrogant despite 25 years of experience, like Jacques by the way), patient, and professional. They are listening to us and following our tight specifications and constraints. This implies an incredible reactivity! We were sometimes able to make new prototypes right after a test and could go back on the slopes after only one week.
This excellent atmosphere, all the tests (sometimes I was carrying 6 boards in the lift for the comparisons!!) and the amazing performances exceed our hopes.
Patrice Fivat
Very humble, he rarely expresses himself in the Forum about his own boards. Thus, this message from him is an excellent sign: if he is very happy and says that the 3rd generation outclasses all what we had before, you can guess how good the boards are And I can confirm along to my own tests done on the glaciers this summer... You will feel this by yourself soon! It's damn great and I can't wait for the season start anymore!
A very good thing is the excellent atmosphere in which Jacques could work at the factory: the people there are very likeable, humble (not arrogant despite 25 years of experience, like Jacques by the way), patient, and professional. They are listening to us and following our tight specifications and constraints. This implies an incredible reactivity! We were sometimes able to make new prototypes right after a test and could go back on the slopes after only one week.
This excellent atmosphere, all the tests (sometimes I was carrying 6 boards in the lift for the comparisons!!) and the amazing performances exceed our hopes.
Patrice Fivat
161...
I realize that the production of the 161's are delayed but in general since neither Jacques nor Patrice nor Nils rides the 161 how is the correct shape and flex determined? Is it merely scaled down from the larger boards? or is there a small rider development guru somewhere helping with the correct flex and shape characteristics that might come up with a smaller board? I'm happy that the 3gen is a success so far and can't wait for the smaller board to be available. Thanks.
Donek Incline 160, Catek Freerides,
O-Sin 4807 168, F2 Proflex Titanflex,
Raichle 224's (lots of mods)
O-Sin 4807 168, F2 Proflex Titanflex,
Raichle 224's (lots of mods)
- fivat
- Swoard & EC founder
- Posts: 3012
- Joined: Thursday 21 March 2002, 13:13
- Location: Geneva, Switzerland
- Contact:
Re: 161...
Yes the 161's are delayed for cost reasons. The demand is not as high as for the 168's and 175's. Indeed in a first step the flex is scaled down from the larger boards and from our experiences in the preceding generations. Moreover we have some riders who can test the 161's like Peter Vu (excellent Swoarder here), or José from Zinal, or even Jacques' sister
Note that many (most) brands even don't do any test before winter (while we have made more than 10 prototypes at Swoard this summer). It often stays on a theoretical level. The shapers are not riders and the riders are not shapers in many many situations. And not extremecarving specialists neither...
Patrice Fivat
Note that many (most) brands even don't do any test before winter (while we have made more than 10 prototypes at Swoard this summer). It often stays on a theoretical level. The shapers are not riders and the riders are not shapers in many many situations. And not extremecarving specialists neither...
Patrice Fivat
- nils
- Swoard founder
- Posts: 3043
- Joined: Friday 22 March 2002, 19:22
- Location: Lyon, France - Swoard team
- Contact:
Kelvin
to answer precisely to kelvin:
Yes smaller sizes or flexes that are differents are extrapolated from flexes and sizes we know.. The 161 are special because we dont ride them really because we are too big and fat, but we make sure they are tested by very good riders ( indeed peter vu is one of the testers ) and their feedback is taken in consideration. There is rarely surprises when scaling down models you know precisely and adapting the flexes for those sizes. We even have access at nidecker's to complex flex/torsion machines that can confirm if needed our questions in case...
as for the absence of the 161's in the first months...( cant really give a schedule) it is due to the smaller amount of riders using them...But the 168S can sometimes be used as a very good substitute for those who really cant wait....
Nils
Yes smaller sizes or flexes that are differents are extrapolated from flexes and sizes we know.. The 161 are special because we dont ride them really because we are too big and fat, but we make sure they are tested by very good riders ( indeed peter vu is one of the testers ) and their feedback is taken in consideration. There is rarely surprises when scaling down models you know precisely and adapting the flexes for those sizes. We even have access at nidecker's to complex flex/torsion machines that can confirm if needed our questions in case...
as for the absence of the 161's in the first months...( cant really give a schedule) it is due to the smaller amount of riders using them...But the 168S can sometimes be used as a very good substitute for those who really cant wait....
Nils
Nice to hear that your boards work so well.
Funny that you are celebrating yourself, without anyone of your customers has ridden one of your new boards.
I was totally amused to read your announcement Are you sure, that you are sure, what you are telling your customers there?
Wish you all the very best!
I really hope for your customers, which are believing in you that you
fullfill what you promise!
See you in Zinal!
Funny that you are celebrating yourself, without anyone of your customers has ridden one of your new boards.
I was totally amused to read your announcement Are you sure, that you are sure, what you are telling your customers there?
Wish you all the very best!
I really hope for your customers, which are believing in you that you
fullfill what you promise!
See you in Zinal!
Shut up and ride!
Who is Virus
First of all: If a guy like Jacque, who's been snowboarding for some 20 years and who is - according to the opus videos - one EXCELLENT Extremecarver thinks that a board works well or almost perfect for a certain riding style, then I don't have doubts about his honesty or his expertise .
If Jacque and Patrice are not only saying that their board works well but also are telling us about their positive experiences they made while practising the prototype, then I truly believe what they're saying.
If Jacque and Patrice are not only saying that their board works well but also are telling us about their positive experiences they made while practising the prototype, then I truly believe what they're saying.
Swoard 2D 3rd Gen 175H + F2 Race Titanium + Raichle 423
F2 Silberpfeil 162 + F2 Intec Titanium + Raichle 125
F2 Silberpfeil 162 + F2 Intec Titanium + Raichle 125
Re: Who is Virus
You are telling definetly the truth, but remember, they have to earn money with it! What would you do if you have invested a lot of money in a new product. On all the spirit they want to share, THEY WANT YOUR MONEY,nothing else, they don´t want to have a fair competition against all the other brands which are also producing very good boards.Ironmike wrote:First of all: If a guy like Jacque, who's been snowboarding for some 20 years and who is - according to the opus videos - one EXCELLENT Extremecarver thinks that a board works well or almost perfect for a certain riding style, then I don't have doubts about his honesty or his expertise .
If Jacque and Patrice are not only saying that their board works well but also are telling us about their positive experiences they made while practising the prototype, then I truly believe what they're saying.
You can see it how aggressive their marketing strategy against all others is: SWOARD IS THE BEST FUCK THE REST!
Time will show how good the board is and the more have tested different boards for extremecarving, then we will see how good it is against all the other brands!
If I would present a new board I would let the people try it and the should tell their experiences with the board!
Shut up and ride!
well...probably you ignore the fact that they have other jobs from which they make a living... I know for sure that in the first years what they made was enough to pay their snowboarding season... Sure, if money comes all the better...but to me it looks like that it was passion that drove them to put so much time and energy in this sport.
I would like to point out that I have seen P&J giving free classes of EC in more than one occasion, while they could charge as much as they wanted..and I have never seen them avoiding people riding boards that were not swoard (many friends of ours ride virus - I have 2 myself - or other boards even before virus started producing the 2D).
The community itself so far has been centered on passion rather than profit..
In terms of their review, you are right in underlying that no one of their customer has tested the board. However, I have witnessed both of them developing the board and testing it against the old board. For many days at Saas Fee on all different snow conditions they did a few tracks with the new ones than they switched to the old board and then back on the new ones for days. BOTH of them, who are the best ECers around.
Honestly I am tempted by the great look of some other EC boards that have been developed with titanal, but who did test ride those boards to develop them for EC????
Furthermore...why just get one board when u can get many?? So buy yourself a gladiator for fast stable rides and a Swoard to carve low!
I would like to point out that I have seen P&J giving free classes of EC in more than one occasion, while they could charge as much as they wanted..and I have never seen them avoiding people riding boards that were not swoard (many friends of ours ride virus - I have 2 myself - or other boards even before virus started producing the 2D).
The community itself so far has been centered on passion rather than profit..
In terms of their review, you are right in underlying that no one of their customer has tested the board. However, I have witnessed both of them developing the board and testing it against the old board. For many days at Saas Fee on all different snow conditions they did a few tracks with the new ones than they switched to the old board and then back on the new ones for days. BOTH of them, who are the best ECers around.
Honestly I am tempted by the great look of some other EC boards that have been developed with titanal, but who did test ride those boards to develop them for EC????
Furthermore...why just get one board when u can get many?? So buy yourself a gladiator for fast stable rides and a Swoard to carve low!
Francesco Swoard (1G175M 3G175M020 e 168H054),Wingergun205,Shaman193,TTubeS1/174GS,F2 (RS183'08 e'06/Lancelot/Slbpfl),Virus (Hurric./Dragon),Pogo (Hardc./Imp.),Burton (FP/Speed/PJ/CustomX),WildDuckFantasy, Duret168, OxygenProton168GS
you should know that (for a company) if you lied once no one will trust you again.VIRUS 1 wrote:If I would present a new board I would let the people try it and the should tell their experiences with the board!
The risk to fool customers is much to high for a small company.
SWOARD has a good credibility among its customers.
And I guess they want to continue selling boards for 09 season an the following.
SWOARD and the past 4 ECS brought my riding technique into levels I never had dreamed of before. I owe them a lot. (rode Pogo Hardcore and Overdose since '97)
X-| nüscht
There are many sessions with a lot of riders I enjoyed too, but I always missed Zinal, so I think its time to come and see all the Supercarvers!janM wrote:you should know that (for a company) if you lied once no one will trust you again.VIRUS 1 wrote:If I would present a new board I would let the people try it and the should tell their experiences with the board!
The risk to fool customers is much to high for a small company.
I don´t say that the board is not better than the 2 D ( which could have been much better spending a few Euros more in material!)
SWOARD has a good credibility among its customers.
And I guess they want to continue selling boards for 09 season an the following.
So that´s why I wish them good look in the future in a good and fair competiton against all other brands!
SWOARD and the past 3 ECS brought my riding technique into levels I never had dreamed of before. I owe them a lot. (rode Pogo Hardcore and Overdose since '97)
Shut up and ride!