Dimpled bases (like a golf ball)? - Snowboarding Forum

Toecutter · 02-14-2011, 03:51 PM

Does anyone know if any manufacturer has experimented with making a snowboard (or ski) with a dimpled base similar to the design golf balls use to improve flow through media (in this case, snow)? Adding some texture to the base while waxing helps break surface tension on wet snow, so it seems as if it would be the same principle. Discuss.

mbesp · 02-14-2011, 03:53 PM

arbor does, and i think i remember someone saying that all boards made somewhere have the same or similar base.

Toecutter · 02-14-2011, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbesp

arbor does, and i think i remember someone saying that all boards made somewhere have the same or similar base.

Arbor does currently? Which model? I don't quite understand the second part of your sentence though.

mbesp · 02-14-2011, 04:04 PM

haha well i suppose i havn't seen the current model years but mine has it, maybe they quit doing it?
Also I was reading on some forum and people were talking about the dimpled bases on arbors. anyway they said that there is a board factory that makes a few different brands of boards and they all have the same base. I could be wrong though on both accounts.

Toecutter · 02-14-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mbesp

haha well i suppose i havn't seen the current model years but mine has it, maybe they quit doing it?
Also I was reading on some forum and people were talking about the dimpled bases on arbors. anyway they said that there is a board factory that makes a few different brands of boards and they all have the same base. I could be wrong though on both accounts.

Which model do you have? In your experience how does it function compared to a standard base? Do you have to do anything special when waxing it?

Triple8Sol · 02-14-2011, 04:18 PM

Arbor started doing it a few years ago. A couple models of Stepchild boards have it now, as do a couple DC models. It's called a Structurn base. Arbors that friends and I owned with that base were all pretty fast. Not sure how much of the speed was from the sintered material used or this tech, but it definitely wasn't any kind of drawback.

Prime320 · 02-14-2011, 04:19 PM

I read a post here a while back talking about this. I think Snowolf was pretty high in the knowledge on that one. Maybe he will chime in.

Toecutter · 02-14-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triple8Sol

Arbor started doing it a few years ago. A couple models of Stepchild boards have it now, as do a couple DC models. It's called a Structurn base. Arbors that friends and I owned with that base were all pretty fast. Not sure how much of the speed was from the sintered material used or this tech, but it definitely wasn't any kind of drawback.

Interesting. I wonder if there are any drawbacks? I suppose it is more difficult to manufacturer (maybe -- I don't know). Are there any scenarios or snow conditions in which one would definitely not want a dimpled base?

conwayeast · 02-14-2011, 04:27 PM

I can imagine it would be a pain in the ass to wax wouldn't it? Once you laid the wax down wouldn't it just fill it all the dimples and almost render them useless?

Toecutter · 02-14-2011, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by conwayeast

I can imagine it would be a pain in the ass to wax wouldn't it? Once you laid the wax down wouldn't it just fill it all the dimples and almost render them useless?

I was thinking that too.

02-14-2011, 03:51 PM	#1 (permalink)
Toecutter Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Mt. Bachelor Posts: 1,512	Dimpled bases (like a golf ball)? Does anyone know if any manufacturer has experimented with making a snowboard (or ski) with a dimpled base similar to the design golf balls use to improve flow through media (in this case, snow)? Adding some texture to the base while waxing helps break surface tension on wet snow, so it seems as if it would be the same principle. Discuss.

02-14-2011, 04:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Triple8Sol Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 3,686 Blog Entries: 1	Arbor started doing it a few years ago. A couple models of Stepchild boards have it now, as do a couple DC models. It's called a Structurn base. Arbors that friends and I owned with that base were all pretty fast. Not sure how much of the speed was from the sintered material used or this tech, but it definitely wasn't any kind of drawback. __________________ 14 NeverSummer Proto HD . 13 Never Summer Cobra . 12 Gnu Rider's Choice C2PTX 14 Now Drive . 13 Now IPO 13 NB x 686 580

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02-14-2011, 03:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
mbesp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 354	arbor does, and i think i remember someone saying that all boards made somewhere have the same or similar base.

02-14-2011, 04:04 PM	#4 (permalink)
mbesp Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Minnesota Posts: 354	haha well i suppose i havn't seen the current model years but mine has it, maybe they quit doing it? Also I was reading on some forum and people were talking about the dimpled bases on arbors. anyway they said that there is a board factory that makes a few different brands of boards and they all have the same base. I could be wrong though on both accounts.

02-14-2011, 04:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Prime320 Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 84	I read a post here a while back talking about this. I think Snowolf was pretty high in the knowledge on that one. Maybe he will chime in.

02-14-2011, 04:27 PM	#9 (permalink)
conwayeast Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 208	I can imagine it would be a pain in the ass to wax wouldn't it? Once you laid the wax down wouldn't it just fill it all the dimples and almost render them useless?