Surface Blanks

For discussions related to ski/snowboard construction/design methods and techniques.

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NinetyFour
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Joined: Fri Jun 01, 2012 5:54 pm

Surface Blanks

Post by NinetyFour »

New ski released from Surface called the Blank, and basically it's a dirt cheap version of the No Time. I'm curious as to what they mean by having polyurethane floormats underfoot, and what the rubber top sheet is like. It can't be a clear top sheet though, or they have a veneer underneath it because I can't see any sidewalls or tipspacers. Looks like a steal for $250 though!

http://www.surfaceskis.com/hardgoods/ti ... index.html
twizzstyle
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Post by twizzstyle »

Looking through the specs, I don't see anything that isn't plain-jane normal ski construction? It's a poplar core, with sidewalls, and some kind of topsheet. What am I missing? What makes it "bomber"?

That is damn cheap though, but since it costs me about $200 in materials to make my own skis, I wouldn't call $250 a steal :)
NinetyFour
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Post by NinetyFour »

I think it's the PU floormats and rubber topsheet that make it bomber and durable. Not sure how these floormats are incorporated into the ski though...? Would like to see these rubber topsheets aswell. You would think that they get sliced up easily.
skidesmond
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Post by skidesmond »

My guess is the floor mats are thin sheets (well, it has to be thin :-) ) acting as a dampening system, just a guess.
NinetyFour
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Post by NinetyFour »

skidesmond wrote:My guess is the floor mats are thin sheets (well, it has to be thin :-) ) acting as a dampening system, just a guess.
Yeah, must be. PU paint has always seemed rubbery and soft from my experience, but that has been my only PU experience before. Isn't that the same stuff that gore-tex uses to stay so waterproof? Will be cool to see what comes of it at the end of the season, hopefully there will be some good reviews and feedback on them as the season progresses.
NinetyFour
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Quality Control.

Post by NinetyFour »

Hopefully the whole batch of them are not like this but...

A kid posted this picture of his brand new Blanks up on NewSchoolers today:

Image

Looks like the grain of the wood itself has separated internally inside the ski!? Be interesting to see how this batch is through the season.
amidnightproject
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Post by amidnightproject »

Park and Urban skiing are progressing at an alarming rate. Broken skis are inevitable and replacing them is expensive. We've taken the blank skateboard deck concept and applied it to skiing. The Blanks Program is simple, a bomber park ski direct-to-you for an amazing price keeping you on the snow rather than waiting for warranty replacements and customer service call-backs. Built with full wood cores, Carbon stringers tip-to-tail, Polyurethane Floor Mats and super durable TPU-Rubber top-sheets. Forward thinking concept from a forward thinking brand.
Exactly what my park rider and I were talking about doing. It's a disposable ski. That's all there is to it. The cheapest of cheap construction core wise, some basic composites and some sidewall.

That core separation will be fine as long as it doesn't get slammed into a box. But anyone buying these at $250 won't care if they break.

My guess is the urethane floor matts are for dampening underfoot like steve mentioned. Not a bad idea really.
Jekul
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Post by Jekul »

I still would NEVER put my name on something so crappy. Even if you sell it as a disposable ski. It will just give the rest of their line less credibility.
amidnightproject
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Post by amidnightproject »

Yea I agree completely.

Something that big didn't happen in the press either. It was like that when they placed it. You can't tell me someone didn't notice that!
Jekul
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Post by Jekul »

I'm sure they did notice, and decided they wanted to make some money, which meant they couldn't throw away crap.
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