Plates... Naked truth :-) PART 1 (season 2010-2011)

[sabestian]

Of course it's true. I would even say it is a cliche.

Sabestian,
I don't believe that any kind of gear (plates or other) could help you to improve. You need mainly some good advices, then a lot of practice.
Try to join any session of the Swoard Demo Tour and you will make more progress than with any new system.

BTW, I would like to try the plate system during ECS.

As I said before, there is no way to practice more than a week a year for me, and even that in poor snow conditions. So I have no chance to become a perfect ECer.

I imagine a plate to be just like full suspension on my mountain bike that gets me through rough terrain with more ease and pleasure. It is not better, it is different and more suitable for me, my style and my preferences.

I don't want the plate to change me into Mr Fivat. I just want to explore the possibilities to ride with even more pleasure. That's why we have all the gear, BTS, matrixes, cores, fibres, etc. Of course you can EC without them.

[starikashka]

I don't want the plate to change me into Mr Fivat. I just want to explore the possibilities to ride with even more pleasure.

http://www.bomberonline.com/store/acces ... _Plate.cfm

What an incredible marketing solution to sell pleasure for just $749 ))))

I just got back from Soelden and was completely dissappointed by what i`ve seen there.
Almost all hardbooters were riding like turtles. There were just two guys out of about 30 spotted hardbooters who were a pleasure to look.

Why not spend this money for training course with good instructor rather than buy plate? Why people are buying the expensive equipment that is difficult to master? There is a ski availiable.

It`s a soul cry Do not have intention to offend somebody.

[Chromex]

Because alpine snowboard courses arent anywhere...sometimes you got to learn all by your own.

[Transistor Rhythm]

I just got back from Soelden and was completely dissappointed by what i`ve seen there.
Almost all hardbooters were riding like turtles. There were just two guys out of about 30 spotted hardbooters who were a pleasure to look.

In the weekends in Soelden you'll see masses of adult people from the greater region just riding the best boards and boots for riding groomed slopes. You don't have to be skilled to enjoy riding a hard setup, it can be done by total beginners.

But I think it's a shame they don't sell a lot of intermediate snowboarder's alpine boards. It's all advanced riders boards or softboot boards. I still really enjoy my Hot Special, especially in the start of a week of boarding when I don't have the leg power yet to ride the Swoard. A very friendly board for a beginner!

Maybe you would be better off buying a second hand €50 intermediate board off eBay.de than a €500 plate.

[pokkis]

How many of those turtles were riding with plates?
Anyway i assume none was on Bomber plate due deliveries will start on 31.12
I have now 10 days on Donek plate and i'm fully happy even i'm not yet on turtle level yet, but hope to be there before Zinal

[starikashka]

How many of those turtles were riding with plates?
Anyway i assume none was on Bomber plate due deliveries will start on 31.12
I have now 10 days on Donek plate and i'm fully happy even i'm not yet on turtle level yet, but hope to be there before Zinal

Pokkis you and your wife would be another hardbooters who are pleasure to look if your airline managers be more competent

I did not spotted plates on any of those boards. Even swiss guy riding Kessler had no plates.

Because alpine snowboard courses arent anywhere...sometimes you got to learn all by your own.

It is not true You should search better!
But i agree that you got to learn by your own. All you need is a competent advisor who can help you with mistakes identification and fixing solution.

[Abrax]

Pokkis,

Can You post us Your first impressions, what has changed, what is worse / better, how does it work, what about edge grip or does the snow freeze between plate and board etc.

[pokkis]

Disappointments ( to what i expected):
- no problems with slow speed
- no change how nose of board is loaded
- kickin board on flat is more painfull due extra height

I love:
- my favourite board get even better
- even more stability and even less load to my feets
- extra edge hold
- switched from TD2+extra suspension kit to F2 Intec race and this feels more stable ride even rough surface, so i can sell all my suspension kits away

I will continue with fiddle with plate setups to see if i could get even more out of it.

[Hans]

Why so sceptical about the plate system?

A few years ago, nobody rode a SWOARD and now there are some believers here.

I think the plate system is a new beginning of a start of new board/plate/binding technology

[ChironWSC]

Yeah I have been thinking the same thing reading all the posts. As an engineer I can see how these plates can really help my riding. Only issue I can see is kicking the board when going slow etc but I am sure we will learn new way round that problem.

[pokkis]

Only area where i've seen any negative aspects is when you must kick board on flat surface but for me that is no major issue. All other areas it works very well.
I have not tried powder yet but i would assume that it is not optimal tool there

[starikashka]

Yeah I have been thinking the same thing reading all the posts. As an engineer I can see how these plates can really help my riding. Only issue I can see is kicking the board when going slow etc but I am sure we will learn new way round that problem.

i`m an engineer also but too conservative I see that developing myself is a proper way to help my ride It`s a second opinion

[Zanci]

Like the plates, but hated when landed flat, can easily pop a muscle

[Hans]

Will try the BBP UPM this season. Hope I will get it in time.

[pokkis]

12 days on plate this season
Got my setup tuned for 4x4 version now.
UPM will be done soon, but i'm pretty sure that it is close to 4x4 setup

EDIT Hans you look better and better nowadays in pictures