Wednesday, March 19

Jibtastic! Wait, Am I in a Time Warp?

By Glen Seelenbrandt
EXPN.com

Looking at the setups that some of this year's US Open Rail Jam riders were rockin' made me feel like it was 1993 all over again. Sure guys have been riding "jib" setups with dulled edges and cut down noses and tails for a while. This year, however, it seems like companies are actually focusing on making boards with specified urban attributes. I saw Jeremy Jones walk by with his new Burton Dominator rig and could not believe what I saw (see below).

"Yeah, I'll taking my highbacks off next week."

He was riding a board that has to be no bigger than a 148cm with a 24 inch stance ... I thought it was decided a few years back that these kinds of setups were useless? Well, I guess we'll have to rethink our positions.

With so many riders seeking out more and more inner city skateboard inspired destinations, instead of mountainsides, certain snowboard conventions seem more assailable.

These new short boards with little to no side cut are very specialized and have one purpose -- rail and park domination. With less swing weight, softer flex patterns, indestructible bases, and the all-important recessed edge, these new sticks are more maneuverable and more malleable.

Could you make a turn on this thing? Don't need to fool!

It seemed that many others had equally interesting setups. I remember Ali Goulet (above) riding a similar board at the Open 10 years ago. I guess I'm just really surprised as to how far the jib-stick movement has come full circle.

It's interesting, however, to see guys like Shaun White and Travis Rice still riding all-around freestyle boards and absolutely killing it. So the question remains, function or fad? I guess all we can do is wait and see.