Which would you prefer on chop/ice conditions...grip or damping - Snowboarding Forum

EC99SS · 12-22-2011, 12:32 PM

I was in a discussion with a buddy in regards to hard charging a groomer when it's just chop,crud and ice. We both agreed the fear (at least in us) is the board jumping around which can cause the catching of an edge more easily. So the discussion moved to different decks and the topic of one deck having great grip with decent damping vs great damping with decent edge hold.

So which would be better in the chop,crud, ice in terms of the deck not getting thrown around and slipping right under you? Greater grip or greater damping?

earl_je · 12-22-2011, 03:00 PM

I you are bombing down on icy conditions, chances are you wont notice the ice much at all. Yes, you would need some amount of dampness on choppy conditions but once again if you're bombing down it would be hardly noticeable. Skill would factor in. On a side note, I never feel too confident bombing with a banana board but I can do it all day, any condition on my Smokin with a mellower Magnetraction. My smokin board has a bit better dampness though. My omatic board I am actually more confident with it on faster speeds than taking it slow on icy conditions.

Sick-Pow · 12-22-2011, 03:11 PM

Skill aside, dampening is more important, as grip is relative to skill? Not sure.

lilfoot1598 · 12-22-2011, 05:02 PM

For me, dampening makes a huge difference. My Gnu B-street had little dampening and it threw me all over the place. It was really hard to stay upright in any kind of chop. My current Never Summer Pandora is far more stable.

Of course, chop can be hard for me because I never seem to bend my knees enough, so I'm sure a rider with good technique would say that dampening and edges don't matter - the rider does.

Blah blah blah, give me my dampening and vario grip, please!

12-22-2011, 12:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
EC99SS Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 142	Which would you prefer on chop/ice conditions...grip or damping I was in a discussion with a buddy in regards to hard charging a groomer when it's just chop,crud and ice. We both agreed the fear (at least in us) is the board jumping around which can cause the catching of an edge more easily. So the discussion moved to different decks and the topic of one deck having great grip with decent damping vs great damping with decent edge hold. So which would be better in the chop,crud, ice in terms of the deck not getting thrown around and slipping right under you? Greater grip or greater damping?

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12-22-2011, 03:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
earl_je Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Keystone, CO Posts: 824	I you are bombing down on icy conditions, chances are you wont notice the ice much at all. Yes, you would need some amount of dampness on choppy conditions but once again if you're bombing down it would be hardly noticeable. Skill would factor in. On a side note, I never feel too confident bombing with a banana board but I can do it all day, any condition on my Smokin with a mellower Magnetraction. My smokin board has a bit better dampness though. My omatic board I am actually more confident with it on faster speeds than taking it slow on icy conditions.

12-22-2011, 03:11 PM	#3 (permalink)
Sick-Pow Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,229	Skill aside, dampening is more important, as grip is relative to skill? Not sure.

12-22-2011, 05:02 PM	#4 (permalink)
lilfoot1598 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 799	For me, dampening makes a huge difference. My Gnu B-street had little dampening and it threw me all over the place. It was really hard to stay upright in any kind of chop. My current Never Summer Pandora is far more stable. Of course, chop can be hard for me because I never seem to bend my knees enough, so I'm sure a rider with good technique would say that dampening and edges don't matter - the rider does. Blah blah blah, give me my dampening and vario grip, please!