Racers use EC settings now!

[rilliet]

It seems that some racers have totaly change their riding philosophy and think now that the most efficient setting is soft, in the same way we (at Extremecarving.com / Swoard) recommend for many years.

Have a look to this thread on BOL: http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/s ... 336&page=2

Especially this post from yyzcanuck:

I've witnessed the progression of boot/binding changes with our National Team. Riders there have made nearly a 180 degree change in their equipment. As metal boards progressed, some riders have gone from the stiffest DeeLuxe 'team only' boots (INDY and Lemans 325's) to standard INDY, then Suzuka, now Track 325's and Track 700's. Binding selection changed too. All metal construction has been replaced with what might be considered soft or more forgiving plastic and Titanal.

I consider myself privileged to be able to ride the latest COILER metal boards due to my friendship with Bruce, to have the financial means to buy a Hangl-Spirig, VIST and S-Flex just to play with, and have the industry connections to allow me to use boots of my choice. I can say with all conviction... softer is the way to go if you can afford it. It means the whole package, not just the board, or the bindings, or the boots.

Now you might ask what do I actually ride? How about this... a 5 season old COILER RC180II, standard construction, Raichle (yeah, Raichle!!) SB325 boots, and F2 INTEC Ti bindings. Soft? Nope but it works as a package. If I ever make the transition to a new Titanal board construction it will include an isolation plate system, standard bindings and boots with more flex.

Seems just incredible to me!

Jacques

[fivat]

softer is the way to go

Yes, I can't believe it too

That’s cool, things are evolving... I remember the times in 2002 when we were criticized about our settings, boots/bindings modifications, advices/tips, etc. (not by yyzcanuck, who is a cool guy I met in Aspen, but by others). But no problem, it was OK and normal debate. Now we feel less alone

Damn, it's really cool if the brands are going now to make better hard boots and alpine bindings (less stiff, etc.)!

Patrice Fivat

[Hans]

Damn, it's really cool if the brands are going now to make better hard boots and alpine bindings (less stiff, etc.)!

I have noticed some lateral flex in my new Track 700 T boots due to the thinner and flexible material. I just have to see the experiences in the snow......

[erik]

Track 700 = topmodel???

It has a 5-position system

Even the indy had a springsystem (not the best but it' something)

[oliv]

From what I have heard, some soft boots riders are looking for stiffer and stiifer gear while hard boots riders looking for softer ones. Should reach a point of convergence soon !!!

[Hans]

Track 700 = topmodel???

It has a 5-position system

Even the indy had a springsystem (not the best but it' something)

The 5-positioning system I just directly throw it away. Just a BTSkit with my own springs.

[skywalker]

From what I have heard, some soft boots riders are looking for stiffer and stiifer gear while hard boots riders looking for softer ones. Should reach a point of convergence soon !!!

Many hard softboots have been harder than most hardboots already years ago (preventing riders from bending ankles properly).

BTW this trend to softer setups to me does not seem too new. many riders were on bail bindings all the time for better lateral flex. Many also still are riding on Northwaves or modified other boots. To me only the change of "the rest" seems something new...

skywalker

[fivat]

Many also still are riding on Northwaves or modified other boots.

Most racers were using the yellow Northwaves that are much stiffer, with no modification.
Jacques Rilliet was one of (or the?) first riders, in my knowledge, who has modified the spring system efficiently and in a softer setup on the grey Northwave 900. Everything has been shown and explained by Jacques in this Forum / Website since 2002.
In consequence many riders have then wanted the same and have bought the remaining stocks of Northwave... or have bought used boots on e-bay. The "spring modification" / RAB trend with many custom models has then started too...

I don't explain this for you Tom (you know all story from day one) but for newcomers to this Forum... and for history.

Patrice Fivat

[The Blitz]

Finally this year I really could increase my setup comfort with several option's (like XXL Big Mac) :

-Titanal material
-Catek shock absorber
-Vist plate
-F2 S-Fex
-Bomber Suspension Kit
-Bomber TD2 soft

[Schneewurm]

Which riding philosophy is now new ? Perhaps the fact that some riders from US or Romandie are now on late evolution?

It was on the avalanche-winter 1999, everybody talked about softer setups with raceboards and hardboots for smoother ride; from Adelboden (west part of Switzerland) up to the Mungäfigger's (east part of Switzerland), from stores up to well known custom shapers. More then about 60 % of all plate-bindings where comming with more forgiving plastic, even also 60 % of all Step-In systems! And the freecarving board (Raceboard-Shape) Crazy-Banana FC in 160 cm was comming with 10.2 m radius, effective edge 140 cm, in 23 cm width! (but cost only SFr. 320.- and was reachable in every Ochsner-Sport store!)

[rcrobar]

Here is another thread that is discussing how racer settings are now becoming similar to EC settings.

http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/s ... hp?t=17530

It is my understanding that guys who are racing, especially at the upper levels, are going with a little wider boards and lower stance angles.

The schoch brother appear to be riding in the high 40's.

Interesting Discussion

[fivat]

Wow, lower binding angles too Finally!

I can't believe it... That's cool!
I understand now why we get so much snow this season in the Alps...

Patrice Fivat

[Felix]

Racers (allways) used lower angles than most freecarvers. Till now 55/50 or 53/48 were about the most common angles AFAIK (during the last 5 years). If they now move down 5° there getting pretty close to Extremecarving.

Unluckily they won't need so wide boards, as they don't get the same angulation we get while extremecarving, but boards up to 21cm were very frequent anyway.

[xyxx]

I might well be greatly mistaken, but this all seems to me as a continuation of the same trend born together with the ugly parallel format when the same track is ridden more times all in all and many more times by a given racer. More ruts on the course and more tiredness in racers legs. Thus, a softer setup allows for better edgehold in these conditions and for less power spent on going through all the bumps. Transition times (narrower board waists) get far less important than edgehold, which is clearly stronger with lower angles. Should the race format change to one where a racer can afford spending all the power on a given run and possibly to go through less ruts, transition times will get more importance, and stiffer setups with narrower waists will come back. I really do hope that the format changes. PGS/PSL is UGLY.

[pokkis]

I have to agree that last statement.
I really hope that due politics change from GS to PGS would never have done. I would really rather see tarcks going more round so carving style would be fastest way thru cource.
We here, far away of civilization, run our own races with such setup, and we have fun. 3 runs, time of 2 fastest ones together on roundish and gs:ish track, that is pure fun for old farts like me