There IS such a thing as a PHree Ride!

More details about the PHree Ride!

Here's another look at the PHree Ride prototypes. The biggest difference between the Trailblazer and the PHree Ride is going from the two-layered Board-2-Ski base to a more traditional single layer (by layers we mean two layers of 7 plys versus one layer of 7 plys). The two-layered Trailblazer base allows for an overall narrower board because it raises your feet off the snow so they don't drag when leaning into turns. With a wider board, we don't need to raise your feet as much since your boot doesn't overhang as much, thus one layer is sufficient. The Trailblazer is going to be better in shallower snow (2 to 12 inches), while the PHree Ride will excel in deeper snow (12 + inches). You'll notice that a Trailblazer was used in our Drone video mentioned above.

Another difference in the prototypes is that one of them has a Ptex base. Ptex adds protection against scratches, and the channeled (technically called structured) surface of Ptex can make for a faster ride. We're still deciding which way to go, but leaning toward all-wood because we just love wood, and it's a more ecologically-minded choice. To help an all wood base glide better, board wax usually does the trick, and deep scratches can always be sanded and refinished. -- Shallow scratches don't really damage the board anyway and are proof that the rider is hitting all sorts of terrain! What do you think? Send us an email at info@phnxboards.com.

The PHree Ride binding:

The photo above shows the new stainless steel components of the Rip-Cord Binding/Brake System. The new setup reduces the total number of parts, replaces zinc with stainless, is easier to assemble, and has a more sleek look. Unfortunately, it's also more expensive to make. Getting anyone to make a run of 100 sets of laser cut and bent steel anything for less than a fortune is a challenge. We were lucky to find a local metal company who happened to think our product was cool enough to help us out.

Springs:

If you've read this far, you're probably an engineer, or at least someone who is curious about how things are made. What would seem to be a simple thing - a spring for the PHNX Binding- is actually quite complex. Finding a stainless steel spring with just the right amount of tension is not something you'll get at Home Depot. Again, we had another local company help us out, and after a good amount of work we achieved the right number of coils, the right thickness, and the right tension. A lot of work to make a "simple" PHNX Board snurfer, but an incredibly interesting journey!