valmorel
09-06-2007, 04:16 AM
Good question, and one I am often asked. If you intend to use your boards pretty much park only, there is no need to set bindings back, but if you want to use them "all mountain", then the situation is quite different.
For all mountain riding, think of your boards this way: the front half is your suspension, and the rear half is your support. For all mountain riding, it is usually beneficial to improve suspension, even at the expense of support. Let me explain. When you hit a bump of any size, some of the resistance will be absorbed by the front half of te board flexing upward, whilst the remainder is transmitted to the rider, causing slowing and a forward pitch. Up to a point, the softer the front half of the board, the more resistance is absorbed, and the less transmitted to the rider, giving a comfortable, and in some ways less tiring ride. Moving the binding back has the effect of lengthening the front of the board, which makes it feel softer, simply by virtue of being a longer lever. Thus the board rides like a longer pair would. BUT, of course the tail is effectively shortened by this exercise, reducing support. Well, not quite as much as you might think, because this shorter tail is effectively stiffened, by virtue of being a shorter lever. Thus, when landing jumps etc., there still feels like good support.
Up till now, it has been quite difficult to set bindings back, but the introduction by Revel8 this season of the KTP changes everything. Now you can mount bindings centre to ride park, giving the classic 100cm length park board, or mount 40 back for all mountain, giving a ride pretty much the equivalent of a 110, but in 100cm format. Add to that the extra width this board has for flotation on powder days, and this begins to look like the very best 100cm EVER! Three boards in one. Park/centre, all mountain/40 back, powder/40 back. Add to that the sidewall construction and great graphics, and a Pro signature too.......how could you not want a pair??????
For all mountain riding, think of your boards this way: the front half is your suspension, and the rear half is your support. For all mountain riding, it is usually beneficial to improve suspension, even at the expense of support. Let me explain. When you hit a bump of any size, some of the resistance will be absorbed by the front half of te board flexing upward, whilst the remainder is transmitted to the rider, causing slowing and a forward pitch. Up to a point, the softer the front half of the board, the more resistance is absorbed, and the less transmitted to the rider, giving a comfortable, and in some ways less tiring ride. Moving the binding back has the effect of lengthening the front of the board, which makes it feel softer, simply by virtue of being a longer lever. Thus the board rides like a longer pair would. BUT, of course the tail is effectively shortened by this exercise, reducing support. Well, not quite as much as you might think, because this shorter tail is effectively stiffened, by virtue of being a shorter lever. Thus, when landing jumps etc., there still feels like good support.
Up till now, it has been quite difficult to set bindings back, but the introduction by Revel8 this season of the KTP changes everything. Now you can mount bindings centre to ride park, giving the classic 100cm length park board, or mount 40 back for all mountain, giving a ride pretty much the equivalent of a 110, but in 100cm format. Add to that the extra width this board has for flotation on powder days, and this begins to look like the very best 100cm EVER! Three boards in one. Park/centre, all mountain/40 back, powder/40 back. Add to that the sidewall construction and great graphics, and a Pro signature too.......how could you not want a pair??????