Tech Talk: Arbors System Technology

With the almighty alternate camber revolution still in full swing the guys over at Arbor Snowboards sent over this press release to break it down for you on what they have going on with their camber and sidecuts. It’s a nice long write up of what you can kind of expect from them. But if you need to see how they rode check out my reviews of the Coda and Draft. Look for one of the Westmark coming soon.

Rocker snowboards exploded onto the market because they’re fun to ride. They deliver alternative performance not found in traditional camber designs. Rocker, also known as reverse camber, is created by replacing camber, the lengthwise positive arc of a snowboard, with a reverse shape similar to the profile of a surfboard. This eliminates the leverage required to release and reengage a snowboard’s traditional outside contact points.

When done right, a “true-rocker” board (no added camber or flat zones) delivers the widest range of alternative performance benefits, including improved turn initiation, seamless performance, and more fluid spins, slides, presses and butters. Unfortunately, early designs did not provide enough edge hold, so they washed out at speed, in the steeps, and during landings. As a result, designers around the industry have been working to improve the edge performance of their rocker designs. In some cases, this has meant putting camber back into the nose and tail. This “hybrid” design does improve edge control, but it sacrifices some of the benefits of riding true-rocker.

In response, Arbor developed The System design to provide riders with an amazing amount of, on demand, edge hold in a design that preserves the full range of true-rocker performance benefits. “We did this by perfecting the true-rocker profile, while building in real edge control through a unique sidecut,” says Arbor co-owner, Bob Carlson. “In our opinion, the award winning “System” has proven to be the best rocker design yet offered.”

Building upon the dramatic success that Arbor saw with the introduction of The System on its 2010 Draft snowboard, they have now created the System Series, which includes seven models across three technology combinations. Each deck in the new line is a true-rocker design built using the System’s two principle technologies, Grip-Tech and Parabolic Rocker. Each board is also made with Arbor’s signature wood or bamboo Power Ply technology. Adjustments are then made to the board’s flex, twin shaping, nose profile, and edge material to tune it to a specific type of riding. The new Draft, which is offered in two color ways, features the Jib System. The new Westmark and women’s Cadence are built around the Park System. While the new Element RX, Coda, and Formula are created using the Mountain System.

“We really want to get people to try The System technology and our True-Rocker snowboards,” says Arbor’s marketing and team director, Brad Farmer. “When snowboarders ride them, they get it. They experience firsthand why Arbor’s rocker designs stand apart from the rest. Take for example our team rider, Nick Visconti. He was a camber guy and dead-set against riding rocker boards. We convinced him to give them a try and now he only rides The System decks including the Draft, Westmark and Coda.”

Arbor Team rider Nick Visconti Photo Terren Gomez

“Arbor is 100-percent committed to producing the highest quality Austrian-made snowboards with new technology that truly provides the best riding experience for snowboarders. For Arbor, it’s not about jumping on bandwagons, it’s about engineering, research and development and delivering products that work,” says Carlson.

GRIP-TECH: A sidecut design that creates four additional contact points under foot for significantly improved, more direct edge control. The new contacts also create heel and toe pivot points that make turning faster and more efficient. Grip-Tech enables Arbor to offer a “true-rocker” profile with powerful edge control, and thus preserve the full range of associated performance benefits. Grip-Tech also allows riders with larger feet (up to US men’s 12) to ride standard width shapes.

PARABOLIC ROCKER: A “true-rocker” design based on the parabolic arc; a shape that allows us to gradually reduce the amount of rocker toward the tip and tail. This ensures that the outside contact points are close enough to the snow to reengage when maximum edge control is needed: loaded turns, higher speeds, and bigger landings. Arbor’s Parabolic Rocker provides an additional layer of on-demand edge control without having to sacrifice any true-rocker performance.

For more information on Arbor Snowboards visit them online at: http://arborcollective.com/snowboards/
For the complete breakdown on Arbor’s System Technology and True-Rocker design: http://www.arborcollective.com/2009/07/the-system/

ABOUT THE ARBOR COLLECTIVE
Arbor was founded in 1995 on the assertion that solutions to many of today’s most difficult snow, skate, and apparel design challenges exist in the natural world. For 14 years, Arbor has built on the belief of replacing, environmentally harmful materials with ecologically based, natural alternatives. Arbor’s goal is to create a higher level of function and relevance in the most responsible way possible. The end result must be improved style and performance, with significantly reduced impact on the environment. “We all need clean air to skate, clean water to surf, and snow to ride…”