Czech Short Ski Online Store
December 27, 2006
A online store coming out of the Czech Republic using the name “Skiboard.cz” sells Gaspo, Fischer, Sporten, GPO and some other crap that no one should be calling skiboards.
Ussually I try to keep my posts non-biast and objective but I can’t see how this is good for skiboarding.
PS.: This is not to be confuesed with skiboardS.cz which sells Revel8, Snowjam, Loken.
I assume you meant to say “skiboard.cz”, since “skiboards.cz” seems to be selling only high quality boards such as SnowJam, Revel8, and Loken? But anyways, yah, it’s unfortunate that there are entire skiboarding stores without any real skiboards in them.
Thanks for the info! i updated it.
woow…. dammit, they actually use poles, i see in pics, and, yeah, this is really CRAP shit web site. taking our good name skiboard and selling shit - this is crime!
And what´s the difference between GPO and Loken or Groove skiboards?
GPOs and other “snowblade” are small skis, narrow and asymetrical, They dont use the 4 hole insert pattern that is standard in the skiboard industry, they also are constructed with poor materials (foam and low quality plastics).
Loken, Groove, Revel8, Summit, Spruce and some SnowJams are skiboards, they are wide and symetrical(for stability and performance), they use the standard 4 hole insert pattern, and they are made of higher quality materials (wood core, sidewall construction some of them)
the 4 hole industry standard bindings gives the boards maximum flex, and the bindings made for this standard are ussually made of high grade aluminium.
the short skis bindings (GPO, Salomon ect.) use 8 screws to attach them to the skis, which reduces the flex enourmously (this hinders their performance), these bindings are also not sold seperatly, so if you want to change your bindings, or worse, if they break, you are out of luck.
Sorry for my english, I´m not american!
Well, I think the brand and design is for many riders more important than the real quality and performance. As far as I know, this high quality Loken and Groove skiboards are produced at the same factory as GPO (www.GasPO.at - specialists for garden furniture :-)). I know gaspo very well. The big boss is 80 years old and never saw any real skiboarder at all. I spoke with him and visited their factory many times. They are just looking for quantity and not for quality at all. Most of the snowblades/skiboards produced by gaspo is sold as the cheap shit (www.ebay.de). But here in US it is sold as the high quality sb. Viva marketing!!! The next thing is the 4×4 inserts. Salomon, Sporten, Hack with the plastic bindings are already equiped with a special plate (narrow at the ski side) which makes the sb flex enough. Plus for the plastic bindings is a low low price and you can buy a new parts if it breaks (and it is 2 years of warranty in EU). I think there is no real demand for expensive alu bindings in EU. Many new riders with this cheap shit is better than none with expensive ones. And anybody who finds this kind of riding interessting starts looking for some better ones.
And where are the Snowjam, Revel and Summit skiboards from? Does anybody know?
I think snowjam has their own factory, but i could be wrong. as for summit and revel8, no idea. but i know spruce and revel8 come from the same place.
you pretty much explain what is wrong with the snowblade/skiboard industry. people look at it as a cheap inexpensive way to get on the slopes, they dont care about quality, performance or the sport at all. people look at it as more of a toy then winter sports equipment.
the good brands that support the sport are stuggling (sj, revel8, loken, spruce, summit) because big brands like salomon with their huge marketing dollars have etch into the publics mind this false image of what skiboarding is all about. with cheesy lines like its “fun for the whole family!” and “user Friendly!” so everyone sees it as “beginner skis”
and i’ve seen thse “plates” to make them flex, they do help, but not nearly as much as having a 4×4 binding. besides its not only the bindings that are the problem, the sb are made a lot thicker height wise under the entire binding to accomodate these kinds of bindings. snowjam makes a very affordable 4×4 binding, its not alu, but its much better the the 8hole binding, combine it with a snowjam board, and you’ve got yourself quality that is almost the same price as buying low quality stuff.
and if people are buying skiboards based on the brand and the design over performance and quality, then there is a big problem. its like buying a ford fiesta that looks like a porche and thinking you have a sports car.
i’m not against snowblades, some people like them and thats fine. i hate the image that snowblades have given to skiboarding, and i hate how people buy GPOs or Salomons for 149.99 thinking they have the coolest thing in the world, when they can invest a bit more money and have a much better experience on the slopes with good quality equipment, and at the same time support the sport.
This problem could solve some skiboarding association, which makes rules and definitions. But the problem is, that skiboarding is not about rules at all. And there is also not enough information available (no tests, no reviews). Only huge producers with their marketing on one side and some small count of riders on the other side… Skiboarding in Europe is still a young child and we´ll see how it will grow up or (hope not) dies.
ofcorse, its just growing, the X games was like a FAKE push… now skiboarding grows for real and its STRONG - ok slow - but real growing - we are here to STAY!!!!!
I support brands, which bring progress into skiboarding, sponsor races and come with new boards!
Not firms selling short ski only as an addition to their products.
hi jose, i know you as bimbo from my old forum
http://www.skiboards.cz