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

I stood on the sting of the catwalk, trying down on the moguls under me. I bounced experimentally on the air shocks beneath my toes, which compressed slightly 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 totally different I nonetheless wasn’t fairly positive what to make of it.

I pushed over the sting and dropped into the run. Up to now, 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 pace and hit the moguls exhausting.

That might grow to be a sample all day. I went into that demo with an open — however very skeptical — thoughts. And time and again, as I skied round Vail, ShredShox stunned me.

I wasn’t about to drag out my pockets and purchase one for each pair of skis I personal, like some folks have already, in line with Jarrod Krisilioff, head of name at ShredShox. However by mid-afternoon, I discovered myself on the lookout for 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. In addition 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 tools, ShredShox might be a enjoyable improve to your setup. They impacted my snowboarding expertise in methods I didn’t anticipate.

ShredShox Full Suspension Platform: First Look Assessment

With regards to downhill ski gear and tools basically, I are typically 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 attempting out genuinely artistic and revolutionary gear. It’s cool when manufacturers swing for the fences with new know-how. Typically, it falls flat, crashes, burns, and will get left behind. Different occasions, although, it adjustments the way forward for a sport or exercise, because the pin ski binding system did for backcountry snowboarding.

After 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 have been off. I hit the slopes, able to see what this eye-catching new know-how was all about.

The First Few Turns

Clipping into the ShredShox system is not any totally different than entering 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’ll be able to really feel the burden 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, instructed GearJunkie that he goals to cut back that weight by ~0.6 kilos within the manufacturing fashions.

Sliding on flat terrain and transferring 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 pace and began slashing into my carved turns more durable, the rebound clearly returned a number of the vitality I put into the skis. Popping out of the apex of a flip, I might really feel better 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 pace, the ShredShox system engaged, and it was recreation on. The trip was clean. It was enjoyable to actually lay right into a flip and really feel the rebound beneath me. I had nice management of the skis, and the turns have been nonetheless clean and got here naturally.

Uneven Circumstances & Variable Terrain

That is the place the system shined, in my view. When I discovered myself selecting up pace 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 meant.

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

Equally, when ripping by moguls, the shocks damped the influence. 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 toes. After using on ShredShox for a day, I wouldn’t examine it to a full-suspension mountain bike. You continue to really feel the bumps and terrain underneath your toes. You’ll be able to nonetheless really feel the impacts and altering snow circumstances. And that’s factor. If these shocks completely muted the foot really feel, it could be like carrying a blindfold and attempting 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 definitely do, however I didn’t discover that to be the case. The truth is, I discovered leaping to be more durable due to the numerous extra weight.

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

Lowering Fatigue

ShredShox additionally claims that this technique can enhance a skier’s endurance by lowering muscle and joint fatigue. I ski so much and have a tendency to have excessive endurance, so it’s exhausting for me to weigh in on this one, particularly having solely ridden the ShredShox someday.

The model claims that its system is simpler in your physique, making it potential to ski longer and more durable than you usually would. I agree that ShredShox might assist on this regard, particularly for lowering influence and returning vitality on carved turns.

Nonetheless, the burden of this technique additionally must be thought of. You might be snowboarding with a considerably heavier setup in your toes, 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 find out how to set that on its web site.

The rebound additionally makes an enormous 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 best for bumps and extra variable terrain. That took me a minute to wrap my head round.

Krisiloff defined that if you happen to depart the shocks in gradual rebound mode and attempt to slash high-angle carves, you may really feel such as you get caught within the flip. Vice versa: if you happen to 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 need extra edge really feel and rebound whereas holding and releasing an edge, you need to enhance the damping setting. In the event you’re fatigued by bumps and crud, you need to lower your damping setting within the rear to cut back vibration suggestions.

For true gearheads and ski nerds, this might be loads 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 potential and luxury degree might assist some folks so much.

For purists and minimalists, although, it might be a significant turnoff. Personally, I don’t need to regulate my skis each time I modify the terrain. However it can actually depend upon the skier.

Enhancements Coming

Earlier than I get to the “Crucial Suggestions” part, I need to word once more that I used to be using a pre-production prototype of ShredShoxs (Gen 6). The model is at present 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 transport.

In accordance with Foster, the manufacturing fashions might be lighter, use extra composite supplies, and have a barely totally different profile. On prime of that, ShredShox might be utilizing a special air shock from one other respected model.

ShredShox Full-Suspension Platform: Crucial Suggestions

One of many first issues I questioned after I noticed the system was, “How will ski retailers tune this stuff?” Certainly, after I requested a store supervisor, he stated skis with the ShredShox system wouldn’t match on retailers’ 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 know-how. However for now, it’s so new and totally different that ski retailers should do some workarounds. By the identical token, if one thing goes unsuitable with this technique, you could 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 seen that the perimeters weren’t hitting the binding however the shock on the entrance. I couldn’t assist however marvel if that would 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 so far.

Lastly, I’ve received 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 just like having a rifle over one shoulder, carrying a pair of ShredShox skis seems like carrying a bazooka.

It’s heavy, and there’s no solution 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 prone to seize consideration, and it could or might not be the form of consideration you need on the hill or within the raise line.

In the event you’re a kind of “dance like no person’s watching” of us, nicely, rock on together with your loopy self. However if you happen to’re slightly extra self-conscious, these may be a bit extra of a press release than you’re prepared to make, soft 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 probably the most fascinating exams I’ve executed 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 know-how.

True purists, minimalists, and most price range skiers will scoff at this technique. However for skiers who actually prefer to nerd out on techy gear, or for many who want to cut back the influence of the game on their our bodies, I believe this might be a promising new know-how. After all, there are nonetheless some kinks to work out. However any know-how 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-known 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.