Winter is coming; snurfing is taking off!

Winter is coming, and "snurfing" is taking off!

Yes, we're back and there's a lot to share. We knew the time was ripe for snurfing to return, and it's doing so in a big way, with even more companies issuing boards since our last newsletter in March. In addition to the Novak Snurfboard, Grell Board, re-issued "Snurfer" brand, and Burton's "Throwback", four more boards have joined the club! The Snow Surfer Pro was made by the rider who appeared in the first TV ad featuring snurfers back in the 1970s (actually a beer ad for Labatts). I said "was made" because they hit a snag and supposedly won't be selling boards this winter. We did get one, however, and it rode well, with aluminum fins on the bottom to keep from sliding sideways (an idea from the original "racing" Snurfer). Signal Snowboards, a resort-board company from California, introduced "Mr. Fun" via their popular "Every Third Thursday" YouTube series (super creative series to check out). Yup, we got one of those too and...had fun! Next, a skateboard company from Pennsylvania, ECC Longboards, has just issued their dyed wood version, with a smooth p-tex base. We added one to our collection and are awaiting the first snow to test it! Finally, you may recall that Burton claimed to be more about the future than the past...but then released their retro "Throwback". Well, they just released another version,"The Neighborhood", which appears to be the same board with different graphics...and a $320 price tag!! I guess the neighborhood they're talking about is Beverly Hills....but I don't think they get much snow! Anyway, as fun as these other snurfers are, only the PHNX has the added control and safety of the Rip-Cord Binding/Brake System.

PHNX Pow Plow?

In large part due to encouragement from riders out West, development of the longer, wider PHNX for deep powder conditions continues. We've been searching for a new supplier of laminated bases to press the new shape, looking for a company that can also finish the boards in order to save money and time. Getting things produced in the US is expensive enough; it is imperative to be as efficient as possible. Finding suppliers of components who will work with small orders is also challenging. We had to pretty much beg a metal company to create "just" 250 drilled 2" rods that go inside the clear binding tube in the Rip-Cord Binding/Brake System (which replaced two flat pieces). We're also refining the binding and reducing the number of parts. We designed and ordered 100 two-piece stainless steel binding sets from a local metal fabricator and are awaiting delivery this month. Integral to the binding is a torsional spring, and custom springs (at $4.60 each!) are on order as well. We're considering incorporating the new binding into Trailblazers if they are ready before the new boards, but in the meantime we've been building the inventory of Trailblazers to keep those shipping. We'll keep at it, because more and more people are joining the Retrovolution and we believe PHNX Boards offer more features for more riders. Here's a sneak peak at the new binding: