Splitboard.com Forums

it seems like trends in snowboarding are cyclical.
not saying that it's bad or anything but is there really that much "progression" in our industry. granted we have new materials and construction methods, but the designs are largely the same.

-boards without bindings(noboards etc..)
-no highbacks
-hardboots
-directional boards

all of these things were popular back in the day. they hit a lull in the late 90s-2000's and they seem to be picking up again.

what are some of the things from the past that you would like to see come back and stuff that should never come back?

my list
come back:
1. a refined clicker system, K2 had a good idea if someone would clean it up, make the boots lighter and tech fitting/crampon compatible, and tweak the system a little(ok a lot) I think that would be the closest thing to a perfect boot/binding set up.

2. big neon scott sunglasses.

die:
1. Strap bindings. I mean they work, but really is that the best we can do? that shit hasn't really changed in 20 years.

2. wearing goggles backwards/sideways. you don't see this too much in the backcountry. But I actually went to a resort a few times last year and my god, there it was. someone with a backwards hat and goggles. put them over you eyes or leave them in the car. not that hard.

3. giant clown shoe snowboard boots. what's the point?

Dude why do you tempt me so... This post just begs a big ass soap box rant freakout get everyone on SB pissed off at me hissy fit..

You are right none of the first list is new. Its the core, pre-skate stuff... Not better just different...
Ironically the no-board guys are bringing incredible skate skills that none of us old binderless directional farts even dreamed of... Rad!!!

Clicker is alive and well and advancing every year in Japan under several brands...

ComeBack:
(real)Swallowtails
Large radius, compound radius boards
Edges on the edges, not the tail and nose
No edges
Art, vibe, chill, imagination, fun

Die:
Hard talk to describe everything (killed, destroyed, owned, ruined) This is the last shit to cross my mind when I'm in the outdoors...

Don't bring your fucking stereo in the backcountry! Its bad enough some dudes dress like they just got out of clown class, but blasting tunes on top of the bozo costume just makes you look like a god damned train wreck. (Oh and it cancels out what I said about hard talk )

Weird bulky seventies looking patchwork coats with giant buttons, balloon pants and clown boots... Are we going to Chuckee Cheese or are we going riding?

Like I said let the and ensue....

Bring er back:

Style:
Oakley Blades
'Locals Only' Bad-ittudes (think 80's Mt. Baker vibe)
Spandex, preferably neon
Aging hippies as industry spokesmen
Dirtbag vibe
Craig Kelly (from the dead)

Quipment:

YES for revised clicker system. Dynafit techness + soft boot comfy FTFW!!!!
Penis-shaped directional boards (venture storm!!!!)

Sorry y'all, but hard boots are not 'back.' They are dead. Deader than Damian Saunders's sb career. He was the #1 proponent of old school hard booting. Where is he now? Exactly. That's where you'll be if you keep it up with the hard boots.

Kill it dead:

Snowboarders dressing like fucking clowns (ok I was guilty of this once. Before I hit the trees and found the light)
Moto-X bro-vibe in snowboarding
Strap bindings. Skiiers have it so much easier on a sketchy ledge clicking in. We need something that is designed for the sketchy situations, not sitting on a groomed bunny hill.
Shaun White
Gingers in general
X-games
That dude with dreads who anchors the X-games
Manmade snow
Lift tickets that can't be bootlegged/copied/handed off in the parking lot
Dudes that lord over how much more 'real' they are than everyone else. If you're wondering if this might be you, then it probably is.

Hah, this is too fun and too easy. Don't take it serious! Specially you hard booters, you know I love ya...

Just keep your damn ball out of my yard!!!!

"I said, well daddy don't you know that things go in cycles" - Q Tip


Agreed: big props to the noboard snowsurfers up in North Utah, even the bails look fun. Reminds me of falling off truckless skateboards trying to slide down snowy golf course hills in NJ.


Agreed: "The mountain allowed us safe passage," rather than "We just slayed that route," is the sentiment of my favorite backcountry conspirators. It's not as if there's some secret karmic mountain force that will come back to harm you if you say that you "slaughtered" that run; but seriously, the way you think and phrase your thoughts creates your reality, and if you express, and therefore synaptically imprint thoughts of respect for your surroundings, then it really does change your relationship with them, blahblahetc. (However I do recognize that some of the folks on this forum DO for real (metaphorically) kill shit way more than me when they ride, so of course to each their own.)

What I would like to see come back/continue in splitboarding in 2012:
-DIY, handmade, homemade, localmade, collaborative, startups
-Going up hills that I have not been to before
-Snowfall in the Wasatch

I have heard of at least one U.S. company that died because when they tried to improve on the Clicker system, they got the snot litigated out of them. Are the Japanese brands changing the design or just using the interface? I would like to see some improvement in that area too, my BC setup before my (new to me) splitboard was Clicker bindings and snowshoes with the clicker interface. Worked pretty well, but I think the performance was not up to snuff with the strap bindings. Everything feels more stable and forgiving when the bindings flex at the straps rather than on the boot for some reason.

Seconded on the hard talk though. To add a few words: slay, weapon, quiver. I get the quiver thing, as I can't really think up a better word for a person's collection of snowboards or skis, but still, they aren't arrows or weapons of any kind.

1. Low-Backs. Please bring back Low-Backs!!! For the love of God I hate high-backs jabbing into the back of my leg...

2. Baseless or semi-baseless bindings. I is soo nice to feel the snow under your feet and not have a dead spot on you board (also breaking boards right at the binding) A few companies are already reviving this idea.

3. Switch bindings! Clickers always sucked. They were a Shimano bicycle pedal adapted for snowboarding. Always a bad idea. My Switches still rule when I go out on resort days...

4. Agro-punkrock vibe... Where has all this family feel-good crap gotten us? I don't what us all to just get along...

5. Gaitors! I hate wearing jeans now! I keep getting snow in my boots!

Not good when your old enough that the old shit is cool again. Damn it!!

Clickers: These were perhaps one of the best boot/binding combos in my opinion. Light, minimal, quick in and out. I ran them for a while till the boots broke. Can't complain about them, they lasted for a number of years. Wally at Voile was trying to make a deal with the newer Japan renditions but it didn't happen. (more on boot binding combos in a separate thread coming soon)

Directional Boards: Yup

Edges on the edges: 10 4. Ditch the inside edge as well. Dudes who are into powder don't need 'em. Also, with a little practice you'd be amazed how you can traverse hard surfaces with no edges.

Aging hippies as industry spokesmen: How about aging rednecks? I don't think I'm a hippy.

Wait a minute there buckaroo. Didnt I see you pullin up to a trailhead on a MOTORCYCLE ? with, a SPLITBOARD strapped to it?



Hippy

A long time ago, when i was riding a gnu pharoah with baseless low-back bindings and still used the terms 'fakie' and 'switch' (correctly) I had a burton fannypack which included a nifty shoulder-strap board carrying harness system for slogging your board up bootpacks. It seemed dope at the time. Now, i can't tell if that was the stupidest thing ever, or if Burton were totally ahead of their time.

...er...did i just admit to wearing a fanny pack? Delete this post, somebody.

create your own style - inovate not imitate.....
thats riding at first time


markus

What crusty bunch of curmudgeons. No wonder I post here.



Bikers refer to their mess as a stable, my wife simply refers to it as a whorehouse.

As for me, I'd like to bring back the huge bag of weed I left on the back a toilet at a colorado resort. I'd like to bring back the honey I rode with but never rode me. I'd like to bring back the nuts I had 15 years ago.

I'd like to ditch the ski patrollers that were dicks to me (some females in there too). I'd like to ditch $70 lift tickets (oh wait, I have a splitboard, duh). I'd like to ditch golfers at the damn golf course.

I'm a grouchy bastard but at least I still got punk rock!

Looking at this list I'm pictuing some guy with big neon sunglasses wearing afanny pack and gaitors riding a penis shaped swallow tail in hard boots with a. Punk rock mohawk...