I have goltes race plates (
http://www.goltes.si/Snowboard_trgovina ... ce-Plate-2) and i have tried MK2 snowboard carving plates on thursday and friday.
On thursday I was on cerkno, Lom slope and for 2 hours i've ridden Kessler 180/r17m snowboard without plates. The board is really great, owsome grip, basicly it rides for itself. after 2 hours, the slope became hard and the was so grab and release, not suitable for EC anymore.
Then I mounted MK2 snowboard carving plates and went testing. the tehnique with plates is little bit different like without. the is not that much weight needed on front leg in backside turn and little bit more weight on the front leg in frontside turn.
with MK2 plates basicly board has alot more grip, no release in any turn, when you get comfortable with tehnique (I needed 3 rounds) you gain thrust in the equiptment and it rides for itself, you just tilt your body and the bord follows.
On friday i have tested MK2 plates on mi coiler ( i don't know the model, but the board is 6 year old, wood core, 175cm/r12m) and basicly the results are the same, board gains grip, it becomes predictable, thrustable, fun to ride. I had to put the plates back (let some other people to test it) and the we had group picturing (yes, friday was slovenian EC meeting) and the all the riders went down the slope and 2 cameramen recorded us. I had to put my bindings without plates on my coiler and when I came down the slope I was sorry that I did that. My riding was owful, I really acustomed riding with plates, so without it was wierd and basicly unenjoyable.
I don't know how much the plates cost, but if you want to gain these properties listed higher I recommend buying it!
lp, Mazyk