Re-enabling the old forum

[Snurfer]

I don’t mind the site at this point and don’t won’t to go back, more as a matter of not having another change.. Personally I’ve grown accustom to looking at the time stamp on the main categories and browsing from there. I use the mouse over with the actual topic a lot. That and I’m far less interested in whats going on and generally have very little to offer the community.

As far as traffic dwindling, I think the forum change is the least of the factors. For one thing splitboarding has matured and many have moved on, become part of the business, gone pro, etc. Also many have gotten jaded for one reason or another, while others still have begun to see growth of the sport as a negative to the experience they originally sought.

More than anything it just doesn’t snow much or very consistently anymore 🙁

Shark Snowsurf Chuna
Voile V-Tail 170 BC
Voile One Ninety Five
Spark R&D Arc

[schwalbster]

Very good points by Snurfer. I think they are all very true.

For me personally it’s very on and off, depends how into it I am. Sometimes more than others. Took a season off last year, due to becoming a father and miserable conditions in the Sierra. Did not snowboard at all for the first time in 25 years and barely visited the forum either. Total opposite this year, probably over compensating.

After much research, experimentation and consideration, I have decided adulthood is not for me. Thank you for the opportunity.

[Incalescent]

The new forum is beautiful, props.
I miss the “View Active Topics” a lot.

http://goldenincalescent.blogspot.com/

[MHolmes]

I much prefer the old forum and visited more often. Not being able to view new posts is a PIA. I use my ipad 90% of the time so have no mouse over etc. This setup looks great, but is a step back in functionality IMO.

There will be more stoke and more posts when there’s more snow, but I still won’t find it any easier to find them and keep track of the threads that I’m into…

[buckchow]

I’ll chime in another vote here for returning the forum to its previous state, if possible, whenever for reasons including:
-new format displays photos in posts significantly smaller than before
-new format lacks crucial “View Active Post” button; checking out “what’s new” now requires navigating byzantine directories
-new format features overly robust mouseover/popups
-new posts I have made to threads are not showing up in those threads
-what users like me see as the actual key content of the forum, which are the text and photos in the posts, now has less than 50% of the screen space on my monitor. The rest of the screen space goes to ads and space-eating formatting.
Not trying to be whiny – I offer these suggestions in the spirit of being constructive – I really appreciate Chris G and any other sb.com admins for providing this space for our tribe to share experiences. But I haven’t been using the site lately, partly cuz it’s become more fatiguing to me to navigate and participate in its new format. Lack of snow, plus improvements in competing social media (fb, instagram, etc) are certainly other factors.

[ieism]

I hardly post or even look here anymore. It’s a shame because this place has a lot I like, good people and a lot of info.

I can’t get over how laggy it feels, and the lack of an “active topics” function means I don’t even visit anymore. I’m still very active on other forums, and very actively splitboarding so it’s not that.
Just my opnion, I really want the old forum back although I love the added conted to the main site.

http://flatlandsplitfest.com/

[bshubpow]

I used to check in and read things about boards, gear, trip reports on a regular basis. I’d read whatever was going on, because it seemed that quality people posted worthwhile things. I even bought my board from someone in the classifieds.

In my opinion the new format sucks. The new format has turned me off so much that I hardly ever visit the site anymore. I just changed my password to be able to send this post.

[powslash]

@bshubpow Be specific. What browser? What device? What sucks exactly? What do you like? The more specific the feedback the better Chris and crew can respond. The functionality is coming back.

When it comes to worthwhile content…. It is what you make it.

[Skijor AK]

Snurfer wrote:

I don’t mind the site at this point and don’t won’t to go back, more as a matter of not having another change.. Personally I’ve grown accustom to looking at the time stamp on the main categories and browsing from there. I use the mouse over with the actual topic a lot. That and I’m far less interested in whats going on and generally have very little to offer the community.

As far as traffic dwindling, I think the forum change is the least of the factors. For one thing splitboarding has matured and many have moved on, become part of the business, gone pro, etc. Also many have gotten jaded for one reason or another, while others still have begun to see growth of the sport as a negative to the experience they originally sought.

More than anything it just doesn’t snow much or very consistently anymore

Snurfer brings up some points worth discussing.

I have some similar thoughts on the subject. I think the community is torn for reasons not having to do with this site. For one, I think many of our desires are becoming more and more paradoxical as splitboarding exponentially increases in popularity. For instance, I want new and improved technology but I don’t want the sport to be industry driven. I believe that splitboarding is a great way for people to get out and experience life in the wilderness (which might motivate people to actively save that wilderness), but also hate crowded backcountry zones. I really don’t care about people “pushing the limits of the sport,” but learn a lot from the people that do. I want to keep my lines a close secret, but also want to show them to the internet. I hate seeing the sport grow into an industry, but love riding with new friends. I wince at each splitboarding movie that comes out, but I definitely watch each movie too.

This rapid commodification, while placing us splitters in a chain of contradictions, is also dangerous. If our experiences don’t match up with those on TGR movies or Patagonia ads, somehow our day was a failure. This guy, for instance, got caught because he just wanted that perfect shot, probably a shot that could help make a career out of his hobby.
http://www.tetongravity.com/video/snowboard/gigi-ruf-survives-avalanche

Anyway, I think these are issues that the community, a community that was tinkering in their garages and hand-sawing boards in half just a few years ago, needs to address–especially as our meager trip reports and reviews get saturated by big-budget movies, Jackson Hole elites, REI credit cards, and Patagoochie advertisements.

As for the site? I think the old one had that “in your garage” kind of feel. The new one…well the new one is still trying to figure out what it is. I don’t think it is bad (it actually looks great on my computer), but I think it triggers some nostalgia and confusion about what splitboarding was, is, and is becoming.

[lewmt]

I kinda doubt it’ll matter if its old forum or new. Its a dead duck ’round here. Been sucky for 2-3 years & getting worse all the time. If you’re not in the Wasatch or Cali – there’s just no point. I can’t remember the last time I got a response of any kind to anything I posted & some of the video & kiting links I’ve posted were damn good – lots of views – but no responses…F-it here

[EBwest]

word

[UTAH]

^^^Hey lewmt,

I always appreciate your posts. I think it’s easier to read than post, as simple as it is to post a quick response. For example I really appreciated your post about the “Crazies”, all of my family originates from the Bozeman, Kalispell areas. I visit every summer but it’s hard to visit in the winter time. I remembered a recent documentary I saw that highlighted the importance of public lands and protected areas in Montana. As I watched the video I thought to myself I can’t believe Montana struggles with the same issues relating to “access” as Utah, since Montana is so much bigger in terms of it’s population distribution and mtn ranges. I meant to find that documentary and post it to your thread but life stepped in and I never got a chance and then……excuse, excuse. We need your Montana perspective on this site and appreciate it. I really appreciate the homegrown stoke on this site. I don’t care so much what some big production company is doing (I enjoy watching it for free of course) in Alaska so much because the reality of my life is such that I will probably never get to take a plane into some crazy zone in Alaska. However, take a motor home around and tour off the road…now that might happen( Thanks Rico,Taylor, Summersgone, etc.). Honestly, I’m pretty content shredding the same zones I’ve shredded for the last 15 years. I am inspired to see what guys working 40-60 hrs a week are doing with their limited free time and passion for what they love. Anyways, I hope guys realize maybe we lost some of those over the weekender posers more interested in pushing a product or getting free stuff and looking to make a career out of a passion but notice the guys posting before the JJ mainstream take over are still doing their thing whether it’s popular or not and we appreciate each other and support each other and it’s fun to post up some stoke from your day out.

[equilibrium]

Great stuff here. Nice to feel the community vibe well up!

My vote: Keep the new site, but one more request for the ‘active thread’ button to return.

[fustercluck]

I’m feeling a bit stoopid for never noticing, much less using, this “active thread” button that everyone is so worked up about. Can’t believe I’ve been doing it wrong all this time!

[Taylor]

What Utah said. The commercial stuff–meh. What I dig here is real authentic homegrown stoke–authentic reports, reviews, etc.– from riders riding for the pure love of it from all over the world.

@sun_rocket

[philip.ak]

I think the new format blows. It probably has the most wasted screen real estate of all the message boards I visit, and the navigation of the forums is awful. I had a list of gripes but I don’t care enough to type them in here. This is my first visit back in about 3 weeks and I used to check in pretty much daily before the switch. I need to try to activate the ‘recent topics’ function to see if it redeems this forum, but I’m not optimistic. Boogers.

I feel incredibly guilty complaining because BCrider is dealing with real stuff in contrast to my whiny first-world bitchathon over a message board not catering to my every whim. Stay strong man, and take care of yourself. Only listen to my complaining if you get bored. :^)

[powslash]

@Skijor AK Yes. I’m with you on the nostalgia/ garage tinker thing.

[bshubpow]

@powslash

Well I guess the first thing I notice in the new format is the grayscale coloring. In my opinion it’s just too much gray in the text, boxes, everything. I liked the contrast of the old format better. It was easier to read.

The recent threads thing everyone is talking about isn’t a big deal to me, apparently I didn’t use it.

[powslash]

@bshubpow Yeah the grayscale takes a minute to get used to. The font color can be changed by enclosing your text in bbcode brackets like: {color=green}your text{/color} just replace the parentheses with square brackets. Does this black look better?

[Rico in AZ]

I still check in daily. Still getting used to the new format, slowly learning how to use it.
Know that photos can be clicked out to full size makes me a lot happier, however, it makes it a little harder to follow the narrative.
I just wish I had something to contribute. Come on snow!

+1 for keeping the new.

[Author]

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