Stepchild Snowboards: Going Green?
The trend for 2010 in the industry seems to be towards the green movement. Eco-friendly materials and recycled construction. Stepchild too claims to be going green, and by green, they mean the colour green. That’s it. Stepchild founder Sean Johnson sums up the decisions to take a jab at companies claim green by saying “…It’s not poking fun at the companies that are really making a difference in the world today with the environmental issues. It’s more aimed at the companies that claim to be green for the sole purpose to increase sales….If you take this catalog too seriously, you need to lighten up – it’s snowboarding.”
If anyone understands snowboarding, it’s Stepchild. Since day one, they’ve been about putting the shred before the paper pushing. Entering their seventh year of business, the continue to look into more eco-friendly materials and construction methods. In the meantime, they promise to reduce their footprint by wearing smaller shoes and building boards that last longer. Here’s a peek at the boards they’re talking about for 2010.
First of all, it’s worth mentioning that select models will be available with RETT (Round Edge Tapered Tuning). Team rider JP Walker describes RETT as “The board comes from the factory with the option of pre-dulled edges between the bindings that gradually gets sharper as it reaches the nose and tail. Basically, you can put bindings on it and dive into your local double kink without any hesitation.”
Stepchild’s entry level board, the Latchkey, is geared towards park and rails. It’s got a soft flex and a true twin shape. If you’re looking to dive into park next season, take a look at the Latchkey. It rides great and have an affordable price tag to boot.
Slightly stiffer flexing than the Latchkey, Everything Sucks is next years version of the Powder Sucks board from this season. They graphics are sick and you know it’s legit when a company can say they suck with ease. The board also names a bunch of other things that suck, but don’t get distracted while riding.
New for next season is the Chi Borg. This twin tip board features 6mm of reverse camber to keep it buttery and give you smoother pop. It’s got a medium flex rating, but falls more on the softer side of medium when riding. Perfect for all you mountain needs, it handles itself well in the park but also in the deep, fluffy stuff.
The Jib Stick is back next season with 3 different sizes of reverse camber corresponding to the size of the board. The 148 will feature 4mm rocker, the 153 will have 6mm of rocker and rounding the line up with 8mm of rocker will be the 156. Once again, this is a medium flexing board, but feels much softer when you’re actually riding it. Specific to the Jib Stick is the Trojan rubber…strip inserted into the sidewall for shock absorption purposes. It also has the option of RETT. PS: I love this board.
JP’s pro model for 2010 features a new mini 138 and a 157 in the size line up. This board is a twin tip, but it designed with a Kicker III core, basically meaning that it can cross over from street to backcountry with no problems. It’s also got a 14 hole insert pattern on each foot so you can dial your stance in. No need for Buton ESTs!
Long time team rider, Simon Chamberlain’s new pro model should remind a lot of you about those good times as a kid, playing with Lego. Simon went with a directional nose shape this season to stay above the snow in the pow, but has a centered stance and a twin core shape, to keep it riding like a twin in the park. The carbon stringers in the core add hecka pop!
Everyone’s doing collabs, so why not Stepchild? Upcoming is the Thirty Two/Stepchild collaboration using the Everything Sucks board. It comes in a limited colourway and Thirty Two will be putting out its Lashed boot in a matching, collab colour too!
On the women’s side of things, Stepchild offers you two boards. The Harlequin, which is the entry level twin tip with soft flex, or the Moustache Rider, a narrower twin tip featuring Kicker I core (Read: smoother flexing and poppy!) for those with small feet and a slightly stiffer flex.
Thanks to Perry Pugh at OB1 Enterprises for helping me out and allowing me to take a Jib Stick out to the hill for some testing. Like I said, I loved the board. Keep your eyes peeled for all the product reviews to start falling in a matter of days.
Hit the foam pits!
Sam
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Office Booyz!
The good folks over at Malakye are bringing the Office Booyz contest series out to Grouse Mountain on Thursday, April 9th. All you shop boys and girls out there are invited and riding in free for the first 100 enterants. Incidentally, that’s also the rider cut off, so get there between 8-10:30 am to get registered. The contests goes till 2 pm, or till whenever you get tired of riding. This is a good chance for all of you out there that are looking to connect with some industry people, have a good time or sneak some free donuts to do any or all of those things. There should be an update on the event from one of the other bloggers. I’ll be missing out, but I’m sure it’ll be a great time, so make sure you get up there to check it out.
The reasons I’m missing out is that fellow blogger CJ and I are headed to Big White for the day. I’ll be riding some 2010 Stepchild product, so be sure to check back near the end of the month when all the goods we tested will be started to get posted! Sorry, final exams get in the way of writing and riding.
Get out on your skate if you can’t get on the snow!
Sam
Ride Snowboards: Always DFC
The folks at Ride Snowboards have always been down for the cause (DFC). They even took it as far as making it a limited line of DFC product for a couple seasons. I was reading the early winter issue of Snowboard Canada and saw a letter published in the reader mail section. This guy was saying that it seems like Burton is the only company to progress the sport. Dear sir, Burton is making exclusive gear for their boards. Buy their boards, buy their bindings. It’s simple marketing. EST isn’t progressing anything. But I digress.
All I have to say to this guy is look into Ride. 2009 isn’t done yet, but the upcoming 2010 line up from Ride contains more tech than a full 4 year engineering degree. The theme for the line up is light. As in lightweight. Be prepared to get your mind blown by the little things and the big things Ride is doing to make riding more fun for everyone.
Boots
Ride Insano featturing BlownLight Meta soles and Closer lacing system
Select boot models, namely the Insano, RFL and FUL for men and the Cadence for women, for the upcoming season contain ultralight blown insoles. Traditional soles take rubber and compress it into a mold, compressing the rubber and making it dense. BlownLight Meta soles have a shell of full phylon (read: super light!) injected with foam in select pockets, leaving room for a support shim in the arch and a super cush gel pad for your nimble heels. What’s more, they’ve got ice picks of hardened plastic under the toes for making hiking the park easier. In terms of liners, they’ve done away with the ankle strap and put velcro on the tongue, so it just stick in place. Simple, fast, light and snug. They’ve also profiled their liner to their boot, using contact points to attach the liner to the boot for a better fit, less heel lift, and, best of all, a light, comfortable feeling that’ll make you think you’re walking on water. The Closer system on Boa Coiler boots ensure that the force along the lace line is spread evenly, giving you a tight, comfortable fit all the way down to your toes. For you picky people, there is a Focus Boas system on the men’s Crew boot.
Bindings
How wide is your stance? If you’re like me, it’s full maxed out. Looks good, makes some tricks easier, but also spells the death of your knees. Not with the new Ride binders! They’ve cantered footbeds, angled towards the center of your board. They come in a variety of degrees for a fully customizable stance. Try the Wedgie 1.0, 2.0, 2.5 or 4.0. Check your degrees, son. Also, the Contrabands are back this year as Nitrane Contrabands, fetureing a gel V-net between the forked opening. It looks good, and it provides extra grip on your boot to make it fit nice and snug into the bindings. Who thought Wedgies could be this comfortable? Also available on women’s bindings. Oh yea, did I mention the women’s Bandita Contrabands? No web toes on these yet, try back in a couple seasons. For the guys out there looking for a truly unique looking bindings, Ride has the EX for you in the Franken colourway. No single piece is the same colour. EVER!
Left: Men's EX and Nitrane Contraband. Right: Women's Bandita Contraband
Boards, Boards, Boards
Last season, Ride featured their Lowrise rocker on one DFC model board, the Crush. This season, the DFC line has been done away with, and the Crush is going on the main line. You’ve seen boarding companies do art collaborations with huge LA firms for limited edition bards. Ride took their art team to the poorest elementary school art program in Seattle and got Pam Neithercott’s 3rd period grade 7 art class to draw a mythical creature consisting of two other animals. The results can bee seen on the top sheet of the Crush…BUT! only when it gets cold. That’s right kids, the top sheet is a blank piece of lined paper at room temperature, but drop that deck in the cold and the ink changes colour and the prints are visible in black. Mood Changing Inks!? Legit collab!? High five! All proceeds from the collaboration go to Danny Way Middle School. Speaking of Mood Changing Inks, the Ride Kink also features this tech. Solid colour it your house, fully inked on the hill. Also featuring the Membrain topsheet, so light, it’s almost paper thin!
The big news for this season is the Ride Machete, featuring Lowrise Rocker. This board is couples rocker with a Blenz sidewall for a hook free ride. The top sheet was desgined by the folks at Morning Breath Inc. and is influenced by grafiti culutre, creating an intense pop art/street graf fusion. You could frame it and stick it in a art gallery when you’re not riding it.
Ride x Morning Breath Inc. bring Brooklyn to you
The DH2 is back this year with matching plaid Ltd edition Contrabands. The big news with the DH2 are the limited edition DH2′s. No one knows what these boards are going to look like. Shops are going to have to order all three versions without even so much as a sneak peek. The DH2.1, 2.2 and2.3 are slated to be released on Oct.1, Nov.1 and Dec.1, respectively. This one time release graphic is sure to be sick, but the only issue lies in which will be the sickest. I’m collecting wagers all summer. $50, 7:1 odds that it’s DH2.2. Also features Membrain.
The women’s line also feautres a Lowrise rocker on the all new Compact with Membrain topsheet. How else do you think that sparkle on the topsheet is possible? Lowrise is also on the Canvas, a full Ride/Matix collaboration. The complete kit features the Sigma MVMNT binding and Cadence boot, all in a matched out colourway.
Left to Right: The Machete, Compact and Crush
True to form, the folks at Ride stuck to their world renowned die cut bases. To change it up next season, Ride put solid graphics on the bases then overlayed them with die cut patterns which are semi transparent. Bascially, it’s a front to back artistic bonanza.
There you have it. A quick overview of Ride’s lineup. Jason and Myrosha were nice enough to give me a tour of the showroom and let me take a few pictures. Thanks a lot guys! They are also hooking us up with some product to test out, so we’ll be better able to inform you on a bunch of park boards, bindings and those super light boots! Stay tuned for the reviews from Dan Jonas, Alice Gorton and yours truly.
Let the kids ride for free,
Sam
2010 Preview!
Its 2009, but already, previews of next year’s line ups are already popping up on tons of forums, blogs and websites.
Here is a preview of:
Thanks to the guys at Snowbroader.eu!!
-Dan
Late Release Capita HORRORSCOPE Flat Kick
The Horrorscope is Capita’s reverse camber/rocker board for this year. It was a mid season release so these boards were shipped even later than the already late Capita line to stores. These were a very limited run as only 500 were made. I managed to snag one of the first ones without having to pay! Props to Capita for their handling the warrantee on last years Capita Stairmaster, which some of you may or may not know that they had problems with using the wrong epoxy and delaminating topsheets were used as ice breakers around the world.
Now, to get started, I would classify myself as an above average(not professional by any means) rider. I have ridden all sorts of terrain including groomers, park, deep pow, choppy crud, slush, rocks and hit runs at both Grouse Mountain and Whistler Blackcomb. I have taken it off 20+ foot cliffs and a couple park jumps, but that is because of the lack of tables in the early season, but with the coming jump lines being finalized the horrorscope will soon see its fair share of jumps.
I am riding Union Forces and Vans dk5 boots with this board.
The first thing I would like to say is that Capita’s rocker/reverse camber technology is called FLAT KICK technology where there is zero camber (flat) between the inserts, and then kicks up, much like a skateboard.
I found the Horrorscope to ride true to its size or even a little smaller. One issue that has risen with all reverse camber boards, is its ability to hold an edge.
What camber does is it allows you to ‘pop’ out of your carves, and it applies pressure to hold an edge. with reverse camber there is no pressure on the edge, becuase when you stand on a regular camber board, it pushes flat and when you step off, it returns to its original position. This is what gives you ‘pop’ out of your carve. Libtech’s solution to this was magnatraction which give the edge seven edges instead of one.
I found the horrorscope to hold an edge quite well, but definately noticed that it was not as good as regular camber boards. I find myself washing out but not enough to deter me from wanting to ride the board. It is something you get used to over time.
Regular camber also gives a board its pop, using the same principle when you apply pressure to the board, when you let go it will want to return to its original position, the faster/more powerful it does this, the more pop it has. Now, this board has ALOT of pop, I find it very very fun, and can load the tail or nose and (n)ollie to the moon. Love this board.
grab TINDY!
The flex of this board is very similar to that of a stairmaster. The reason it rides like a really soft board is because of the flat kick. The flat kick turns the board in a very soft board, pressing it is like cheating.
Took it into the pow a whole bunch when it was dumping that week before Christmas. The board is soft, but it handles the pow all right. The flat kick lets the board float with ease, but felt really squirrely goin fast in choppy conditions. I would not want this for a pow specific board at all, it can ride pow for sure, but is a tad soft. It is fine if you want to ride some pow on the side if you are not way past the weight range. I’m 13olbs and on a 148, so for me, it rides like a regular sized snowboard, not a jib board.
This is a pure park/jib board but is still tons of fun when you take it out. It destroys rails, jibs, bonks, ledges, walls, and bamboo poles.
Another thing I would like to add is the skate style influence this board has on the rider. With the flat kicks, it is very easy to loop out and landing on the “trucks”/inserts is a must or you will be on your ass alot.
This is a very fun board and will be a jib board for many people because of its soft flex similar to that of a k2 www, rome artifact or ride kink. Good luck finding some, refer to Sam’s Boards, Boards, Boards! post if you are still looking for one. From what I have heard, the 48 and 56′s sold out in a heartbeat.
I love this board, its a great fit for me because I am a small guy, and this board I can take anywhere. For others, pure jib/park specific. This is a very fun, playful and forgiving board. Great for playing around on, not so great for pow or bumps.
Next review will be for the Bataleon Airobic and TRIPLE BASE TECHNOLOGY! YEAH FOR IT!
Shout out to grouse local Rodrigo Caula and his fast expanding company: Choice Clothing; get them quick! they are selling out fast!
Another note to add is a friend of mine, Matt Munn from Alberta is putting out webisodes of his snowboarding antics where ever he goes. Check it out, MEAT MAGIC!! check it out!! lots of sick sick riding.
-Dan Jonas
Boards, Boards, Boards.
I’ve been told to stay off the hill just a couple more days, so today I figured I’d go look at getting a new board. I’ve been thinking about this for a while now and had settled on getting something with Banana or Rocker Tech. Due to the mad Christmas rush, EVERYTHING is gone. I had a list in prioritized order. Here’s what’s going on on the local scene. I called reps, distributors, company headquarters, stores, everything. Here’s some info you, if you looking into any of these boards.
Capita Horrorscope FK
Good luck finding this one. Your best bet is going online and even those are selling out fast. I found the 148 at The Source. Only 5% tax, on sale and free shipping. Win win! There are a few other online stores with the 152′s and 156′s. Take a look. Your best bet would be to find a friend who lives in Washington, get the free shipping and then drive down to pick it up. So go ride Baker and get a few numbers! If you can wait, Pacific Boarder will have some more coming in January, at the earliest. You can go in and see if they can hold one for you, or call and ask to speak to one of the managers.
Rome Artifact 1985
I shouldn’t be sharing these secrets with you because this is the board I want, but I’m a nice guy. Pacific Boarder has this one in a 153 and a 156. The price has been knocked down to $459.99+tax for Boxing Week. Go out and have a look. If you’re looking for the smaller 147′s and 150′s, once again, check The Source, they’ve got them for $450.
Lib Tech Skate Banana or Box Scratcher
The Skate Banana is nowhere to be found, but after some phone calls, I found out that the Boardroom in North Vancouver has a 152 sitting around. They pulled it out of the back when I called. It’s gonna go fast, so if this is the one you’re looking form hurry over, or call dibs over the phone.
The Box Scratcher was MIA at all the places I called and went to, but staff at the Boardroom assured me they’d be getting more in soon. If you’re willing to buy this deck used, there’s a guy selling it on craigslist for $400. He’s never used it, so it might be worth checking out.
Also, none of the Lib Tech stock is on sale. They’re the money makers this year!
Nitro Sub Pop
Comor has a few of these at various locations around Vancouver. The one on West 4th had one left in a 154. They’ve got it marked down to $399.99, making it one of the cheaper Rocker boards out there.
K2 World Wide Weapon Rocker
If you can stand the glaringly bright top sheet, then Comor also has this baby stocked. Like the Sup Pop, there’s only one left at the West 4th location in a 154. I’d assume the other locations are left with slim pickins too. The tag on this one reads the same as the Sub Pop.
Stepchild Jib
One word. Coastal Riders. Okay, so two words. This is the only rocker Coastal has left. They’re gonna go pretty quick, so I’d pay a quick visit to their shop or warehouse to check them out.
If you’re wondering what I picked up, my answer is nothing. As marked down as these boards are, it’s still too much for a poor student like me to afford. However, I am accepting donations in the form of monetary value or information on where I can get the Artifact 1985 for cheaper!
On a happier note, I’m heading off to Whistler for a few days, so be sure to check back over the next couple days for some fantastic pictures and words about how tricks are up there.
Also, for all you girls out there, don’t forget about the MGT Snowboards camps running on Grouse Mountain on January 3rd and 4th. There’s still spots left and it’s going to be good times. It’s even in the name! (More Good Times, if you were wondering.)
Keep it real,
Sam