... was also was my first day with new boots and bindings!
Equipment
Board Swoard Extremecarver 175 Hard Flex
Boots Northwave Point 900
Bindings Bomber Trench Diggers
Snow Conditions
Day1
15 cm of powder and chopped crud on top of a very hard base. The base on
some of the runs was relatively level. Most of the runs were very bumpy.
On steeper sections of the mountain, the snow was pushed completely away
by skiers and boarders doing skid turns, exposing a base that was as hard
as a rock.
Day 2-3
Groomed snow. The cold temperature (-20 C) made the packed snow very
hard.
The Rider
I am an average recreational weekend hardboot carver who was riding in a
freeride style. I am 6 feet tall, weigh 190 pounds and have feet that are
mondopoint size 28.5. I had my stance set at 54F and 48 R with a 50.5cm
stance width. I have been boarding for nearly 20 years.
Edge Hold
The edge hold was exceptional. The board would not slide out no matter
how fast or hard I tried to lean a turn over. It didn't matter whether I
was plowing through the crud, hitting the rock hard exposed sections or
carving hard groomed snow. The boards edges stuck like glue.
Stability
The stability and ride was super smooth at higher speeds. I have never
felt so relaxed and stable when cruising with speed. When riding at
slower speeds the board was very easy to turn, it felt agile like a much
shorter and softer board.
Easy to Turn
The board I selected was the hard flex. When testing the flex, by
grabbing the nose of the board and pushing in the center, the board seems
as stiff as many race boards. But, when riding at moderate speeds the
board turned very easily, as if it had a much softer flex.
I previously owned a race board with a sidecut radius of 13m. On many of
the runs at my local hill, I was unable to finish a carve with the race
board. I just could not turn the race board tight enough, causing me to
run out of room before finishing the turn. On the Swoard, which also has
a sidecut radius of 13m, I was able to complete and link my turns with
room to spare on the same narrow runs.
Snappy Flex
When doing smaller radius turns with moderate speed, I really noticed that
the board had a snappy feeling that popped the rider into the next turn.
Combine this with a timely leg extension and the Swoard felt like it had a
booster rocket attached.
When I was able to time it right, the sensation was dramatic enough that I
had to ask Jacques about this characteristic of the Swoard. He explained
that the edge grip and the snappy feeling was the ATC Matrix technology at
work.
Gliding the Flats
The way the board carried speed on the flats was simply remarkable! It
just seemed to keep on going and going with very little momentum required.
Width
I did not notice the extra waist width at all. One of my previous boards
was an all mountain carver with a 21.4cm waist. The transition to the
23.1cm waist was very easy and basically immediate. It was a pleasure not
have my feet sticking out past the edge of the board when riding with the
stance angles I prefer.
Top Sheet
The top sheet is the only concern I had. I have another board
with the same type of top sheet. You have to be very careful of other
peoples ski and snowboard edges when in the lift line.
Versatility
The Extremecarver has found a great balance between power and all mountain
versatility. At times I felt like I was on a race board that was tracking
on a rail. The next minute, when in deeper snow or mogals, I felt like I
was on an all mountain board that had a large nose.
Capabilities
Over the past few days of boarding, I rode as hard as I could. I gave the
Extremecarver everything I was physically able to. In the end my legs gave
out long before the board. It is going to take me many days of riding and
EC training to equal what this board is capable of.
Bottom Line
The Swoard Extremecarver is a great board that has the potential to become
a classic. It is a welcomed addition to any quiver.
A big THANK YOU to Jacques, Patrice and Nils for sharing their knowledge
and expertise. You have stoked the coals of desire.
Rob
