....... so ........ winter is coming ...... few more months ...... but is coming .......
......can't stop thinking about amazing sessions on snowy beach that start my kite mania ..... and Kitestorm ..... awesome.........

....... very lackey that we get tons of snow night before event otherwise the only option to ride would be black ice surface ....... and I am not good with skates ......
..... I found that device ..... switchblade that is mounted on you snowboard and let you ride on ice ..... good idea ... looks like it works .....
Did anyone use that before ?????????????
Anything I should know before purchasing ??????
Is it worth $200 ?????

Here is video of that product :


8RinQkAuiWU

Oh well... I tried...:sniff:

Click thumbnails for zoomed view in a new browser window

Switchblade Product Page Current Price = $220 (seems to include shipping, but not sure).

Yes, ~$200 is a lot of shekels, but "custom" machined parts are rarely cheap. Let's say you had 20 brilliant sessions on them in a season where you normally would have been skunked by black ice.... would that be work 10 a go to you? All metal construction, so I expect it would last many seasons.

Can't tell if they are aluminum or stainless steel. Hopefully the latter. Would be nice if they are stout enough to hold an edge for many sessions.

Don't look like they are particularly kind to the board, so you might be investing in a "beater" board and bindings.

ATB,
Sam

What about "ice blades" for the ATB ?

switch looks to be the ticket, smooth and in contact with controlled slides, the 4 blades looks like that could get nasty quick.

Original thread for the ATB Ice Blades

Flexboardz was also working on a rig and they might be further along now since the thread was from the beginning of the year.

ATB,
Sam

Those Switchblades look the job!

So the $220 is just for the kit or kit and board?

here is my switchblade!

Quote:

Originally posted by Bladerunner Those Switchblades look the job! So the $220 is just for the kit or kit and board?

I believe the $220 is for the kit alone.

Verbiage from their home page seems to bear this out:

MOUNTING: Mounting and sharpening instructions for the kit are included. Mounting the Switchblade on your snowboard will almost undoubtedly void the warranty on your board, so make sure it is one you are willing to devote to the kiting cause. It needs to happen this way till I find a board company willing to make boards with insert capabilities for the Switchblade.

ATB,
Sam

There's a local guy I met out on the lake this past winter and he swears by his Switchblade. It adjusts up and down for the ice conditions. You will have to drill holes through your snowboard so make sure it's a dedicated kiting board. Also, like ice skates, it will need to be sharpened from time to time. It should last your entire life, this guy's Switchblade was already 2 years old.

Quote:

Originally posted by indigo_wolf [ Yes, ~$200 is a lot of shekels, but "custom" machined parts are rarely cheap. Let's say you had 20 brilliant sessions on them in a season where you normally would have been skunked by black ice.... would that be work 10 a go to you? All metal construction, so I expect it would last many seasons. ATB, Sam

You absolutely right !!!!! So ...... lets say 200 sessions ..... is only 1$ per session lol......... THat logic thinking right there make my decision clear ....... switchblade is on my list .......
Thanks Sam


@ Midgaar ...... dedicated kite snowboard ???? because of straight heel side edge ???? I was hoping I get used cheap snowboard and dedicate it to switchblade so I have no regrets destroying it on ice ....... Kite specific cost over $400 ,,,,,

@mdpminc ..... I never get to ATB riding ..... so .... it will be probably easer for me to stay with more familiar feel of snowboard ......

below is a video that I have in my favorites since first time I read about switchblade few month ago ...... looks awesome .....

...... look at CAMERA mount that is been used for this video ....... did any one have idea who sell them ?????

Really is there any kite vehicle that doesn't cost $400? I just bought a pair of skates for right around that. I was saying kite dedicated because your going to be drilling 4 holes through the bottom of your board and adding a foot long hunk of metal to the edge. That would have to effect your downhill park snowboarding. Wouldn't want you ruining your expensive snowboard...

**Edit, I think you misunderstood me. I meant a snowboard you dedicate to kiting, not a kite specific model snowboard.

What size boot are you? A couple months ago I picked up a few snowboards from the local college campus for an amazing price, complete with board, boots, and step in bindings. Rossingol and Soloman boards various lengths. Send me a U2U if your interested. I could let one go for $100+shipping, complete.

FWIW: if you I would try to find some way to apply some sealant or waterproofer where you drill the holes to mount the Switchblade. If you board on ice that has any surface melt, it's just a matter of time until water finds its way past the metal unless you take precautions.

Quote:

Originally posted by Kober ...... look at CAMERA mount that is been used for this video ....... did any one have idea who sell them ?????

The video comments mention a cantilever arm, but makes no specific mention of brand. I highly suspect that it's because it's not a store bought item. You could always contact the maker of the video for details.

I suspect that the aspects of the video's viewpoint that you like are that:

• The perspective is offset from from the lines
• The relative angle of the camera remains fixed even though the angle of the flying lines, which the camera is attached to, varies in relationship to the horizon.

Both of these properties can be obtained using a KAP (Kite Ariel Photography) technique/apparatus called a picavet. Here are some links that you might find useful:

• Picavet Basics
  
• Picavet Suspension Rigs
  
• You can make your own Picavet Rig or they are available for purchase here (you can buy kits, parts or some combination, as needed).

Of the home made picavets, this is my favorite:

My hat's off to folks who can make things that are functional and functionally beautiful.

Hope that helps.

ATB,
Sam

Gack.... hit QUOTE instead of MODIFY.... sigh.

ATB,
Sam

The one question that comes to mind with this is how does kite size change when riding ice???? If I use a 12m on snow, in the same winds would you need to drop a couple sizes for ice????? Super fast I'd imagine.

Alternatively, memorize the phrase ...

"I am a leaf on the wind, watch how I soar."



ATB,
Sam

Whatch your local craigslist, you can get used snowboards for dirt cheap. You won't need the latest profile and flex for the ice ;-)

I know from my own build experience that the cost of material for small projects is huge , add to that the value of design and testing and you get a product that will cost more than what someone will pay for it. I just paid $115 plus tax for 5 feet of 1.5 x 3/16 stainless steel , so $200 looks like someone is making them for love of the sport. Not a lot of sales to be made there either , most boarders when they see ice head for the hills.
Shaggs when flying on ice you can size your kite according to how high you want to fly because horizontal movement is usualy the least of your issues. If there is no snow on the surface conditions range from slippery to extreemly slippery

yes it definitely works, buddy of mine got one last year and it worked really nicely. He mounted it to an old board. I have pictures that I have to try and dig up, it was fun, good way to keep busy during the winter.

I can't see using that device when I have ICE SKATES!

Ice skates on patchy ice with snow piles will cause injury to you quick. Todd's switchblade is one of my best investments. You can ride anything with it. Glare ice, transition to powder or hard pack. You can ride it all in style on your board.

........ thanks for all info ......
..... looks like this winter we will have video with me on switchblade snowboard ...... ordering soon ........

Man I miss Idaho.... stupid Oklahoma with your blistering summers and coolish winters.....

Now question is how did I end up on page 2 of the posts and find this old post just realized it lol.

...... Switchblade arrive few days ago ..... well designed and constructed device ......
.... can't wait to see some frozen lakes around here ........
.
Todd updated his website with more info ........

http://mnkiteboy.com/Switchblade.html

Please post a detailed review if you can after your first and second sessions.