Draft Snowboard 09-10

Systematic perfection. Arbor?s take on the rocker revolution - the new Draft is designed around The System, a fusion of interdependent technologies that support jib-specific performance.  Make no mistake; rocker boards represent a new approach to how snowboards function.  Rocker shapes require a total rethinking of long held ideas on technologies and how they interact. To that end, we offer The System.

 

Grip-Tech Sidecut: By not blending their standard, tri-radial sidecut design, Arbor has created two additional contact points under-foot.  This is done in response to the loss of edge hold that results when rockering a board, which lifts the outside contact points off the snow.  These new inside contact points provide the small amount of added edge grip required for successful rocker performance (patent pending).

 

Street Rocker: Arbor lengthened the apex of its rocker design, using a parabolic arc.  This improves edge contact between the feet.  As with ?Grip-Tech?, Arbor?s Street Rocker design provides an important amount of added edge hold.  An amount that?s critical when using rocker to provide enhanced JIB/street performance.

 

Rocker Specific Flex: Rocker alters board dynamics by lifting the leading edge off the snow.  As a result, flex is activated in a completely new way.  In response, Arbor developed a Rocker Specific Flex pattern that?s designed to address how riders experience board flex when using a rocker design.

 

Inlaid Power Spine: By adding a spine of sustainably sourced wood fiber above the core, Arbor is able to structurally enhance a board?s longitudinal pop.  This is critical when de-cambering a board with rocker, which often takes the pop out of a board; pop that?s normally created by camber.  Adding in this structural spine rebuilds that longitudinal return, thus maintaining pop for ollies, etc.  The company also designed a unique tapered shape for the Power Spine that allows the torsional flex to soften towards the tips for easier spins, presses, and butters.

 

Robusto Tips: A wider, more blunt shape that?s designed with a completely flat kick.  Robusto tips are a key feature in Arbor?s approach to rocker design and The System set of technologies.  The System brings the snow contact aspects of the board inward; creating in effect a small mini snowboard underfoot, which rides like a skate.  This alters the function of the tips.  Besides helping riders float over deep or choppy snow, the tips now work like wheelie bars.  They encourage a rider to roll onto their nose, while preventing them from going too far over.  Because of this change, the company designed its rocker board tips to specifically meet the needs of their more specialized role as platforms for presses and butters.

 

True-Twin: Arbor is using an updated twin-tip shape with a symmetrical nose and tail and centered stance to create the switch freedom required for all aspect, street-specific riding.  At the same time, the company knew that using a true-twin design would encourage riders to equalize their stance, more evenly balancing pressure on both feet.  This allows riders to activate the Grip-Tech contact points and Street Rocker design in order to effectively skate the hidden ?mini snowboard? that?s underfoot.

 

Mercy Edges: Using a softer bronze metal edge allows Arbor to create smoother, less catchy performance on rails and boxes.  This change was also an important tool for refining the feel of the board between and under the feet.  It balances the active edge performance created by The System?s parabolic Street Rocker design and Grip Tech contact points, both of which are needed for the rocker design to function when turning or at speed.

 

Sumo-Stance: Expanding the 2x4 insert system to 14-packs, allows Arbor to offer a huge 25.20" (64cm) stance without requiring riders to spin their disks or sacrifice micro-adjustability.  The design also allows riders to size down their boards for jib specific performance, yet still maintain a wide, skate-style stance.

 

ARTIST - Rex Holloway