I’ve been riding my brand-new Swoard 2D 175m for three days.
The first day, the snow conditions were hard. After the first turns, I remembered the incredible edge grip of the swoard. (You must know, the grip of my old 3D 175S has been gone after 2 years of riding. So I almost forgot about this feeling). But now, with the new 2D the good feeling was back again.
On wide steep slopes, I could perform nice EC-carves. I got a backside feeling that I had only with my 3D when it was new. What I mean is that I felt very save in the BS-turn.
On narrower slopes, or on more crowded slopes or when just trying to easy-carve (no EC), I felt the limitations that I had with the new 2D. It took me a high effort to bend it into the turn; i.e. it’s just too stiff for me! Before buying the board I had an email-discussion with Nils and I knew that there was this risk. However, because there is no 2D-soft model available, I decided took the risk and bought the board anyway.I’m about 72kg and my opinion is that you should be @least 80kg for the 2D 175m. On the Swoard-homepage there is written, that the board fits from 74kg. I think this is too optimistic - but it’s just my personal opinion and of course depends on each owns preferences.
The second and third day, there was a lot of fresh snow and the snow conditions were very soft. Because of the relative stiffness of the board, it cut the snow like an arrow and it was hard to push the board into a turn. The tendency was to go straight ahead (like an arrow) instead riding a turn.
In the moments, where I felt the limitation caused by the stiffness, I also wished that the board had a smaller radius. This would have given me the chance to carve it easier. But I think this is a sideeffect of the stiffness. I think stiffness and side-cut goes hand in hand.
Other impressions beside the stiffness:
Even if it was manufactured by virus, it does not show this typical virus-rebound that catapults you out of every turn. I think Jacques and Frank have done a good job here. I never liked this virus-rebound behavior, because I want to control the board and I do not want that the board controls me at the end of every turn. Like always it’s just my personal opinion and it may be totally different from yours. I know that many excellent virus rides like this rebound. If you are forced to drift the board (e.g. on narrow passages), it is easy possible. The top sheet has a little structure (=it is rough), so you don’t need an extra rubber pad. I liked this very much. The manufacturing quality looks excellent (virus-style).Summary:
All in all, it’s an excellent EC-board for people of at least 80kg (my opinion). With EC-board I not only want to say that you can do nice laid-turns, but also that you should have wide slopes.
For me, it’s too hard and therefore I think I’m going to sell it. Maybe there will be a soft model available next season.
Maybe I'm also going to wait until the EC-crew produces a soft one and then I'm going to change it with someone else.
Best Regards
Olaf
PS: I’m interested in other riders opinions about the stiffness.
. : A hard flex for "standard" use on every slopes, because I like speed, and a medium flex for EC on hard snow.
