ShredShox First Look Evaluate: GearJunkie Goes Full Suspension on the Slopes

I stood on the sting of the catwalk, wanting down on the moguls under me. I bounced experimentally on the air shocks beneath my ft, which compressed just below my weight. This was my third run with the ShredShox platform system, and I used to be simply beginning to get a really feel for it.

It wasn’t throwing my snowboarding off — as I had admittedly anticipated. However the system was so completely different I nonetheless wasn’t fairly certain what to make of it.

I pushed over the sting and dropped into the run. Thus far, I’d solely skied on groomers with the ShredShox. However as I navigated the bumps, the system stunned me once more. My snowboarding was fast and pretty nimble descending over that terrain. I wasn’t slowed down too badly by the additional weight. Nor did I get bounced or bucked after I picked up velocity and hit the moguls onerous.

That may turn into a sample all day. I went into that demo with an open — however very skeptical — thoughts. And repeatedly, as I skied round Vail, ShredShox stunned me.

I wasn’t about to tug out my pockets and purchase one for each pair of skis I personal, like some folks have already, based on Jarrod Krisilioff, head of name at ShredShox. However by mid-afternoon, I discovered myself in search of causes (excuses) to take one other run with them.

In brief: The ShredShox binding platform system ($500) makes use of air shocks on skis, suspending the skier above their planks to soak up forces, lower chatter, and enhance one’s endurance. The system is heavy. Additionally they pose some logistical issues for ski store upkeep, transit, and ski rack storage. However for skiers who want a extra cushioned trip or gear heads who prefer to nerd out on high-tech adjustable gear, ShredShox may very well be a enjoyable improve to your setup. They impacted my snowboarding expertise in methods I didn’t anticipate.

ShredShox Full Suspension Platform: First Look Evaluate

In terms of downhill ski gear and gear on the whole, I are usually a little bit of a purist. I don’t want electrical rechargeable self-heating gloves. I like a tight-fitting downhill ski boot — no BOA, thanks. And I’ll by no means be capable to persuade myself to purchase a pair of app-pairing skis with digital trackers in them.

By the identical token, I really like making an attempt out genuinely inventive and progressive gear. It’s cool when manufacturers swing for the fences with new expertise. Typically, it falls flat, crashes, burns, and will get left behind. Different instances, although, it modifications the way forward for a sport or exercise, because the pin ski binding system did for backcountry snowboarding.

Once I wrote about ShredShox for GearJunkie final week and spoke with Krisiloff for the primary time, I used to be instantly intrigued and desperate to attempt the brand new system. So, Krisiloff met me in Vail for a demo day. He set me up with a pair of skis mounted with a pre-production prototype of the ShredShox system. I’m 170 kilos, so he set my psi to 70 within the entrance shock and 60 within the rear.

Then, we had been off. I hit the slopes, able to see what this eye-catching new expertise was all about.

The First Few Turns

Clipping into the ShredShox system isn’t any completely different than getting into a regular pair of downhill skis. The bindings are mounted on the ShredShox carbon platform underfoot, which is then mounted to the skis.

You possibly can really feel the load of the ShredShox system as quickly as you step into it. The prototype mannequin I used to be on weighed 2.75 kilos per foot. Nick Foster, the founder and designer of ShredShox, informed GearJunkie that he goals to scale back that weight by ~0.6 kilos within the manufacturing fashions.

Sliding on flat terrain and shifting slowly felt slightly sluggish with the ShredShox. However after about two activates the primary groomer, I felt the shocks beginning to interact. As I picked up velocity and began slashing into my carved turns tougher, the rebound clearly returned a few of the power I put into the skis. Popping out of the apex of a flip, I might really feel larger acceleration.

That was a sample I picked up on each run: The primary few turns weren’t particular. However as soon as I picked up some velocity, the ShredShox system engaged, and it was sport on. The trip was clean. It was enjoyable to essentially lay right into a flip and really feel the rebound beneath me. I had nice management of the skis, and the turns had been nonetheless clean and got here naturally.

Uneven Circumstances & Variable Terrain

That is the place the system shined, for my part. When I discovered myself choosing up velocity over chopped-up crud, chunder, and hardpack bumps, there was notable damping. At one level, I hit the lip of a ditch I hadn’t seen whereas going quicker than supposed.

Had I been on my common ski setup, I’d have felt my mind rattle inside my cranium (you already know the sensation). However the ShredShox damped that affect sufficient that I used to be unphased.

Equally, when ripping by moguls, the shocks damped the affect. I didn’t really feel fairly as nimble as I usually do. However I used to be additionally suprised by how little the additional weight appeared to have an effect on my management and agility.

Let me be clear, although: This doesn’t really feel like a waterbed underneath your ft. After using on ShredShox for a day, I wouldn’t evaluate it to a full-suspension mountain bike. You continue to really feel the bumps and terrain underneath your ft. You possibly can nonetheless really feel the impacts and altering snow circumstances. And that’s a very good factor. If these shocks completely muted the foot really feel, it could be like carrying a blindfold and making an attempt to ski.

Leaping

Going into this take a look at, I questioned whether or not these shocks might enhance one’s leaping capabilities. Mountain bike shocks actually do, however I didn’t discover that to be the case. In actual fact, I discovered leaping to be tougher due to the numerous further weight.

The place the ShredShocks did assist with jumps was on the touchdown. Once more, the shocks absorbed a lot of that affect, and I might instantly inform the distinction.

Lowering Fatigue

ShredShox additionally claims that this method can enhance a skier’s endurance by decreasing muscle and joint fatigue. I ski quite a bit and have a tendency to have excessive endurance, so it’s onerous for me to weigh in on this one, particularly having solely ridden the ShredShox in the future.

The model claims that its system is less complicated in your physique, making it attainable to ski longer and tougher than you usually would. I agree that ShredShox might assist on this regard, particularly for decreasing affect and returning power on carved turns.

Nonetheless, the load of this method additionally must be thought-about. You’re snowboarding with a considerably heavier setup in your ft, which might contribute to muscle fatigue.

Adjusting the System

Naturally, a techy system like this has some techy adjustment choices. I already talked about that the psi must be set for the rider’s physique weight. ShredShox has a desk explaining how one can set that on its web site.

The rebound additionally makes a giant distinction. A quicker rebound is extra lively and can take in extra pressure from chatter, bumps, and chop. Krisiloff defined that that is higher for on-piste snowboarding, carving on groomers, and snowboarding in comparatively clean terrain. A slower rebound is healthier for bumps and extra variable terrain. That took me a minute to wrap my head round.

Krisiloff defined that for those who go away the shocks in sluggish rebound mode and attempt to slash high-angle carves, you would possibly really feel such as you get caught within the flip. Vice versa: for those who use a quicker rebound in bumps, it might really feel such as you’re getting bucked or bounced round.

Then, there are the damping changes. I didn’t mess around with these an excessive amount of, however ShredShox has particular suggestions for various conditions. For instance, if you would like extra edge really feel and rebound whereas holding and releasing an edge, it’s best to improve the damping setting. In case you’re fatigued by bumps and crud, it’s best to lower your damping setting within the rear to scale back vibration suggestions.

For true gearheads and ski nerds, this may very well be quite a lot of enjoyable. Some folks get into dialing a system for particular terrain and circumstances. Likewise, when you’ve got joint issues, having an adjustable system you may dial to your capacity and luxury stage might assist some folks quite a bit.

For purists and minimalists, although, it may very well be a serious turnoff. Personally, I don’t wish to alter my skis each time I alter the terrain. However it can actually depend upon the skier.

Enhancements Coming

Earlier than I get to the “Important Suggestions” part, I wish to be aware once more that I used to be using a pre-production prototype of ShredShoxs (Gen 6). The model is at the moment providing the system on pre-sale, and the manufacturing fashions (Gen 7) will ship out someday in February. It’s aiming to get its first 500 deposits earlier than they begin delivery.

In keeping with Foster, the manufacturing fashions can be lighter, use extra composite supplies, and have a barely completely different profile. On high of that, ShredShox can be utilizing a distinct air shock from one other respected model.

ShredShox Full-Suspension Platform: Important Suggestions

One of many first issues I questioned after I noticed the system was, “How will ski outlets tune these items?” Certainly, after I requested a store supervisor, he stated skis with the ShredShox system wouldn’t match on outlets’ machines. Which means any ski with ShredShox have to be hand-ground by the store.

If ShredShox takes off, that may ultimately change with new expertise. However for now, it’s so new and completely different that ski outlets should do some workarounds. By the identical token, if one thing goes fallacious with this method, you have to ship it again to ShredShox for restore.

The one actual structural concern I had whereas snowboarding on ShredShox was damaging the shocks themselves. Skis generally bash in opposition to one another, and downhill bindings can take some severe beatings. With the ShredShox, I observed that the sides weren’t hitting the binding however the shock on the entrance. I couldn’t assist however surprise if that might current a structural threat in the event that they took sufficient harm over time.

Nonetheless, Krisiloff assured me they’ve had no structural points with the shocks in testing up to now.

Lastly, I’ve obtained to name out the problems with transport and storage. The ShredShox system doesn’t simply add weight to the skis; it provides bulk, too. If carrying an everyday pair of skis is much like having a rifle over one shoulder, carrying a pair of ShredShox skis looks like carrying a bazooka.

It’s heavy, and there’s no technique to carry it that isn’t awkward. As for storage, whether or not they’re on a ski rack or in your storage, ShredShox skis take up actual property.

The Cool Issue

There’s one main elephant within the room with the ShredShox: they’ve a glance. And whereas it’s usually good recommendation to not fear a lot about what others consider you whereas snowboarding, we’re all human. The ShredShox are more likely to seize consideration, and it could or might not be the type of consideration you need on the hill or within the raise line.

In case you’re a kind of “dance like no one’s watching” of us, nicely, rock on along with your loopy self. However for those who’re slightly extra self-conscious, these is perhaps a bit extra of a press release than you’re keen to make, comfortable skis or not.

ShredShox Full-Suspension Platform: The Remaining Phrase

By the tip of the day, I’d skied round 10 runs with the ShredShox system. It was one of the attention-grabbing exams I’ve accomplished in a very long time. There was a lot in regards to the ShredShox system to be aware of, I might have spent the remainder of the week with them. However even in a single day, it had damped my skepticism. I might see the potential on this system and why the model was pursuing the expertise.

True purists, minimalists, and most finances skiers will scoff at this method. However for skiers who actually prefer to nerd out on techy gear, or for individuals who want to scale back the affect of the game on their our bodies, I believe this may very well be a promising new expertise. In fact, there are nonetheless some kinks to work out. However any expertise like this wants time to get dialed, refined, and perfected.

After I’d returned the ShredShox skis, I took my common skis out for a management take a look at. It felt good to be again on a well-recognized feeling ski/binding system. However I’d be mendacity if I stated there wasn’t part of me that missed the sensation of the ShredShox.