Swoard base/edge wear..

[vkrouverk]

Being happy Swoard rider for 11 days now (2 days in Finland's hardpack/ice and 9 days in Aspen champagne/packed powder I noticed that board's base is weared a little bit out on the edges, right before the metal edge starting. On heelside it is weared out more ( , does it indicate, that I go stronger on heelsides now??), it is perhaps 0.5 mm distance between metal edge and base edge, on toeside it is less. (Hopefully my fuzzy explanation is understandable...)
Is it noticed on other Swoards also?
Should I file metal edge level to the base or can I leave it as it is? All the boards I had so far are fully covered with metal rails and such problem is non-existent, so I'm not sure, how to behave in such situation
Out of curiosity: why has Swoard such partially covered edges? Is it because it allows desired flex pattern? Or just for easier manufacturing (I imagine, that getting rear edges and nose covered with metal rail is considerably harder than covering running length)? Or is there some other reason?

[rilliet]

Have you any picture?

why has Swoard such partially covered edges? Is it because it allows desired flex pattern? Or just for easier manufacturing (I imagine, that getting rear edges and nose covered with metal rail is considerably harder than covering running length)? Or is there some other reason?

Before Swoard existed I made the prototypes for Patrice and me exacty in the same way exept that I didn't used any topseet or decoration. We never had any problem with our nose and heel. When we developed the Swoard I asked to the engineer at the factory if an edge at the nose and tail would protect them. He said that it would help with very small hits but there was a high risk if delamination in case of strong shock because the edge is stiff and the nose and tails are soft and want to bend. So in reality it is not so strong as it looks.
What he said remembered me a problem we had at the time I was working for Wild Duck. I had developed a new freestyle board (called Pro-Model). The maketing guys decided to add an aluminium heel part on both tips (without consulting me). When I discovered this I was furious because the board was much more heavy at the tips, that maked it harder to turn and rotate. During the following weeks, all the boards delaminated at their tips and Wild Duck had to change them all under warranty (about 350 boards)!
This means that any stiff protection you see in a soft part of a board represent a strong risk of delamination. Because of this we decided to keep our prototype system.

I think the only thing we should improve is a soft heel protection. We are working on it now but we have a few problems.
So at the moment, be careful not to bang the heel of your board and you should not have any problem. And if it should happen it is very easy to repare (see here: https://www.extremecarving.com/swoard/manual.html)

Jacques

[vkrouverk]

I've created macro image of given area:

This is image of front-end of my heelside (I'm regular, so it's left side).
Hopefully it explains better, what I tried to say. Of course it is not so big, as appears on image , but quite noticeable. I was worried, that if I start to ride in hardpack (as it usually is in Finland, where I ride most), then this wearing will be much bigger...
I noticed some wearing on my toe-side rear-end, but not so much. Base on toe-side front-end and heel-side rear-end is almost even with rails, so I guess that it kinda describes my riding habits (or mistakes )

[yoyoyo]

I guess the Swoards aren't as good as everyone says. You buy a board for over 790 euros and after a few days the first s**t starts to happen. I hope you have a warranty!

Good luck,

Yoyoyo

[yoyoyo]

Jacques,

I don't agree with your statement that's it's better not to have steel tips and tails. I own a Nidecker Tracer (model 1999) with both steel tips an tails and it turns like it's on rails. Furthermore, no delamination. The same goes for my F2 Speedster and Silverpfeil. So, i guess it's one man's opinion....

Greetinx,

Yoyoyo

[vkrouverk]

I guess the Swoards aren't as good as everyone says.

No, of course not, they are much better
Talking seriously, I agree with all the praise toward Swoard, I had tons of fun with it and my riding seems to be much improved since I switched from Silberpfeil to Swoard. Now I agree with folks, who say that for freecarving you should have wider board than for racing.
This wear is natural with such board construction and I don't think that I should complain or claim replacement under warranty. I just wanted to know, how is this wear handled by other riders and what should (or shouldn't ) I do. I'm sure that Swoard lasts another 90 days (as they say, average board will last 100 riding days) without problems.

[rilliet]

vbrouverk,

This wearing is normal and won't go too much further. The reason is that when the board is new, the base and the edge have the same sharpening due to the machine that sands the edge of the board. but of course, the base material is soft and won't stay sharp a long time.
When it is round this wearing stops.
This happens on every swoard and don't makes any problems.

Should I file metal edge level to the base or can I leave it as it is?

You can if you want but this is useless.

Anyway, if something bad should happen (you loose your edge or you base or anything else in a normal use) you have a one year warranty and the board will be replaced.

Jacques

[rilliet]

Hi Yoyoyo,

The Swoard cost 790 Euro because it costs about two and a half time the production price than any other standard board. When I was doing my prototypes I needed 4-5 days to build one board only!!!! Personnally I consider as a kind of miracle that it has been possible to build exactly the same board in a factory.

If you like a board that looks great and strong and beautiful, then please don't buy our board because what you will pay for is inside and can't be seen unless you cut it like a salami.
We have deliberatly made the choice to build a board that has no compromise on the performances but have the simpliest finish to keep a reasonnable price (yes, it is not so expensive if know how it is built and how it works).

Jacques

[ablazespy]

I can only second the statement of Jacques, because:
1. I own a Swoard, and it rides super
2. I know what hell of a job it is make even a reasonable snowboard.
3. I spoke to the guys of Swoard and know a little about the production process and I can tell you its more than you will ever expect!!

Cheers D

[vkrouverk]

This wearing is normal and won't go too much further. The reason is that when the board is new, the base and the edge have the same sharpening due to the machine that sands the edge of the board. but of course, the base material is soft and won't stay sharp a long time.
When it is round this wearing stops.
This happens on every swoard and don't makes any problems.

Thanks, that what I've thought but wanted to confirm. Now all I have to do, is to prepare for next event, carving camp. 6 days on snow, with Swoard. Damn, I luv it!