Lesser Known Board Technologies
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In a world of a million camber profiles, what else has been happening in the last few years to set certain boards apart from the norm? Here are some interesting technologies in boards that you might not have heard of or maybe just haven't had a chance to try yet.
Asymmetric: Known as "Asymm" by GNU or "Off Axis" by Burton, the idea behind asymmetric boards is that while you are standing with you toes angled out on your board, your feet and body are not symmetric, so why should your edges be? In GNU boards, there is a visual difference in the side cut with an elongated toe side edge. They are true twins, but there is a notation on the board of what side your heels and toes should be on. When Burton does off axis, it is not quite as noticeable to the eye, but they lay the wood to a different angle in the core of the board. The cut or wood lay in these boards should allow for easier turning and transitions. Asymmetric boards are best for people who stand pretty duck footed (like myself) and have equal or close to equal angles on each foot. If your front foot drastically angles out further than your back, you should probably avoid these boards.
Girls Asymm Boards:
GNU Ladies Choice (my personal fave and you saw Jamie Anderson killing it on this in the Olympics)
GNU Pickle
GNU Smart Pickle
GNU Pickle Stallion
(Burton only puts it in a couple guys boards, but who knows, maybe one day in the girls stuff)
Nug Reduction: Burton released Nug Reduction tech a season or two ago. The idea behind it is elongating your effective edges and shortening the actual board. Your effective edges are from about where your boots are to the end of the sidewalls, before they angle to the tip and tail. Real Nug Reduction allows you to down size your board 8-10cm. There are also some boards with nug reduction where you would only downsize around 4-6cm. Although, I find these boards a little more beneficial for big guys, they still allow for some aggressive and playfulness in the ladies boards as well. You will see a lot of these in the park and they ride like big boards, but I see the biggest advantage for most people riding them in trees or tight terrain.
Full Nug Reduction: Burton Nugget
Semi Reduction: Burton Sweet Tooth
Magne-traction: Most of us know what this is already, but I am surprised how many people come into the shop I work at and are not familiar with it. To make a long story short, if you look at the edges of Mervin boards (Lib Tech, Roxy, Gnu), the edges look wavy. What this is is extra contact points (7 extra on most boards) to add extra grip in crappy conditions like ice. It sounds like a bit of a gimmick to some, and doesn't look extremely crazy, but I swear by it. You can find magnetraction on all GNU boards and every Roxy board except the Sugar.
Asymmetric: Known as "Asymm" by GNU or "Off Axis" by Burton, the idea behind asymmetric boards is that while you are standing with you toes angled out on your board, your feet and body are not symmetric, so why should your edges be? In GNU boards, there is a visual difference in the side cut with an elongated toe side edge. They are true twins, but there is a notation on the board of what side your heels and toes should be on. When Burton does off axis, it is not quite as noticeable to the eye, but they lay the wood to a different angle in the core of the board. The cut or wood lay in these boards should allow for easier turning and transitions. Asymmetric boards are best for people who stand pretty duck footed (like myself) and have equal or close to equal angles on each foot. If your front foot drastically angles out further than your back, you should probably avoid these boards.
Girls Asymm Boards:
GNU Ladies Choice (my personal fave and you saw Jamie Anderson killing it on this in the Olympics)
GNU Pickle
GNU Smart Pickle
GNU Pickle Stallion
(Burton only puts it in a couple guys boards, but who knows, maybe one day in the girls stuff)
GNU Ladies Choice
Full Nug Reduction: Burton Nugget
Semi Reduction: Burton Sweet Tooth
Magne-traction: Most of us know what this is already, but I am surprised how many people come into the shop I work at and are not familiar with it. To make a long story short, if you look at the edges of Mervin boards (Lib Tech, Roxy, Gnu), the edges look wavy. What this is is extra contact points (7 extra on most boards) to add extra grip in crappy conditions like ice. It sounds like a bit of a gimmick to some, and doesn't look extremely crazy, but I swear by it. You can find magnetraction on all GNU boards and every Roxy board except the Sugar.