Are PHNX Boards progressive?

Are PHNX Boards actually progressive?

In 2013, we contacted Burton to help us develop PHNX Boards. We didn't speak with Jake, but a representative told us: "I actually think Jake would say 'yeah, that looks like the BB1s I was making in '79.' No offense intended, but I think that'd be his reaction. We dig grassroot efforts and just about anything that slides sideways on snow, but we are also dedicated to progressing the sport and the technology like no other." OK, fair enough; Burton is about the future, right? Well, you can imagine our surprise when this winter Burton released a limited edition, no-binding "Throwback" board, with the tagline "You need to know where you've been to know where you're going". Amen to that...I guess they've come around and officially joined the Retrovolution! Could it be that progress includes rediscovering the original spirit of snowboarding...but with a better board?

Our PHNX shop photo below shows an original Snurfer on top, the "new" Burton Throwback (120cm kiddie version and 140cm pow version) and three other boards we mentioned on PHacebook back in November; a yellow replica Snurfer, blue striped "Nomad", and clear polycarbonate Novak "Snurfboard". Though each of these boards are fun in certain conditions, we believe the PHNX Trailblazer offers the most innovative, versatile combination of features for best performance in most snow conditions...for most people!

PHNX + Throwback = PHrowback?

In our last issue, we mentioned development of a deep pow PHNX. While the PHNX Trailblazer is the go-to board for most snow conditions (the 2-12 inches most common in the Northeast & Upper Midwest) we've also been planning a PHNX for really deep snow (the 12-24 inches usually found out West). With the release of Burton's retro powder board ahead of our own production, and the big snowstorms in Boston this winter, we took the opportunity to modify some boards to include the PHNX Rip-Cord Binding/Brake System. The Burton "Throwback" is light and wide for good float, but we found it too flexible, with too much rocker (and of course no binding) and thus harder to control in anything but the lightest un-tracked snow. Our first modify included the Rip-Cord Binding/Brake System without our stiffening binding platform, but the board remained too soft and squishy. With a full modify, cutting out the Throwback (sorry, Burton!) to give it the full PHNX Board-2-Ski treatment, AND adding the Binding/Brake System with the platform, we found the "PHrowback" to perform much better: more controllable in the shallow and cut up snow and more stable in the deep snow and over jumps. Our on-snow testing made us even more excited to continue development of the PHNX pow board for next winter (sneak peak of the base design below). p.s. it won't be called a "PHrowback"...any ideas for a name?