Jasey Rides the C4 and Answers Your Questions!

I'm guessing we're supposed to post our questions here then?

• When and why did you get into board building? 
• What's your take on the lack of directional asymmetrical boards in the production board segment now that carving is starting to regain popularity compared to asym true twins where there's a reasonable selection of boards?
• What type of riding do you like to do now that you've finished your career as a racer? And what type of riding did prefer to do when you were racing? 
• Do you think more (softboot) snowboarders should try hardbooting just to experience the difference?

Thanks @superfelix!

This video was supposed to go live last night on YouTube but I couldn't get the thumbnail I wanted so I just it posted here unlisted. 

We'll probably only get to five or so questions total.   Maybe he'll take questions on a livestream too.

Really enjoyed that Q&A Jasey gave out a lot of great information. I found the 9° difference between feet for carving interesting I normally ride about 15° difference. I think I’ll try closer angles and see how it feels. I realise Jasey said his angles change depending on terrain and conditions but I’m very interested in some examples of the angles he rides

@chris-h Yeah me too, 15 degrees of splay. 

This week I've been riding Jasey's angles to try something new and so that we can switch boards mid run and test just the board (norhing else changes: same bindings on both, same angles, same risers).  

9 degrees splay is fine, we comprimised at 18/27.  I have no trouble with it for carving and the steeper back foot reduces boot out.  I find it less versatile though for all mountain riding where I have to skid and make jump turns.

Trying lots of new things this week and learning so much!

@wild-cherry thanks for that info. Did you find hip rotation easier with a closer splay?
Also you mentioned risers, are the cantered risers far off being available in the store?

Posted by: @chris-h

↑

Did you find hip rotation easier with a closer splay?

I adapt quickly to whatever I'm riding.  It's not always easy to verbalize the subtle changes I'm making.  But yes, I think so.

Certainly the canted risers will make that hip rotation easier, especially for those with tight hips.

Posted by: @chris-h

↑

Also you mentioned risers, are the cantered risers far off being available in the store?

I have 12 sets in my house right now.  Three have been sold and shipped.  I'm waiting on one more part to make them easier to install but they're good to go and they ride great!  Email me if you want a set that's slightly harder to install...  [email protected] 

The discussion was so great! So much knowledge that you can turn into actionable advice. 

Two big takeaways for me was

1. the importance of heel lift, and
2. to try a smaller amount of splay. I have 15° now so I'll go down to 12° and see if I notice a difference.

I've also bought a mudflap to do the poor mans heel lift.

As a person with not the greatest mobility (ankle and hips) I think both of these things will help a lot, especially with the heel side turns. I did try to do two layers of rubber (2x5mm) standing in the living room and that was very noticeable, so I'll start with 5mm and try it out tomorrow and see how it feels. I put rubber from just behind the pivot point on the Jones bindings I have, with a bit of a chamfer in the rubber to make the transition smoother.

I also noticed that when doing heel lift by adding to the foot bed I had to increase the forward lean of the highback since the heel lift is tilting the entire boot relative to the binding. So if you've already maxed out your forward lean a riser with lift may be the way to go.

It seemed like that tight splay was very common for old-school racers.  

I never raced, but in the late 90’s I settled on +18/+15 and rode that for decades.  But more on the front foot is easier on my ankle (and makes the hip shift easier), and less on the rear seems better for tapered, pow-camber boards that drive more off the rear foot.  

I’ll go 21/+6 on a pow board, and like 24/+12 for carving. Going steeper helps the hip shift for up-unweighted turns, but diminishes the ankle steering I like at lower speeds or for more down-unweighted turns.

I’m only mondo 260, so I don't have as much leverage over the board as some do…  But I’m definitely not as flexible as some either.  There’s always a compromise, and everyone’s different.