Head AK SC i - 2011
A lot of people overlook Head Snowboards because they associate the brand with Skis and tennis rackets, basically not a core snowboard manufacturer; the fact that the Snowboarding side of the business is almost a completely independent entity formed from the ashes of Blax Snowboards means Head is just as ‘Snowboard’ as any other brand. The AK SC i is the brainchild of the Head and long time pro freerider Eric Thermel. The concept behind the new AK is a strange camber/rocker hybrid called Snake Camber. I won’t spoil the review but Head might need to take Snake Camber back to the drawing board, because the AK out of the deepest of powder is like a fish out of water.
Manufacturer's Description:
Head aren’t doing descriptions for their 2011 range, so you’ll have to make the most of the feature descriptions, but they do explain the new S-camber, as follows:
The snake Camber shape moves the camber to the tail of the board, under your back foot to give you that impressive floating ability and ease in initiating turns with a great edge grip. This unique camber design naturally pushes the nose of the board towards the sky as soon as you strap in. All these features combined with a high tail for riding switch, make the S-Camber the most fun board to ride in every snow condition.
And the rest of the features:
.
- Super fast Sintered Base: Never stop on flat spots anymore.
- Cross Carbon Inserts:Quick edge to edge response.
- Intellifibers: Rock solid and stable at high speeds.
- Higher tail: Ride switch with ease.
- Long Directional Shape
Recommended for freeride riding.
Recommended for big mountain riding.
High cost $
Rocker Construction.
Freeride Specific.
Year: 2011
Available Lengths (cm):
155, 159, 163, 167
Riding Style: Freeride
Specifications:
S-Camber
Nano Sintered base
Cross Carbon reinforcement
Intellifibres
Long directional shape
Tapered shape
Similar boards: Compatriot Commissioner - 2011 Never Summer Raptor & Raptor X - 2011 Nitro Pantera - 2011 Salomon Burner - 2011
Snowboard Review:
There’s something awry at Head, their design team must be partaking in some mind bending narcotics because the new AK shape is completely Looney. To call it a rocker would be to pigeon-hole the AK with a huge number of other nondescript reverse camber snowboards, the AK’s profile is completely unique. The AK’s profile is essentially a pivot V-shape at the centre of the stance, from which the back half is cambered and the nose angled up camber-less. Loading your weight onto the tail causes the nose to rise from the centre of the board to about 4-ish cms above the ground. I did get fresh snow to put the AK through its paces; unfortunately it was heavy and wet. Carving hard on soft groomers the V-shape rocker tended to work against the natural fluidity of carving, instead of a smooth carve radius I had half the board traveling in one direction and the other half trying to travel in a completely different direction… it is an acquired taste, like burnt mustard.
The AK kind of finds its flow in the deep stuff. Riding in heavier late spring snow, shifting an extra 10% of my weight onto my back foot kept the nose well out of the deep stuff, straight line stability was ok, but cutting across chop and previous tracks with my weight back in a carve I could feel the board skidding again, it was a bit hairy. Keeping the nose well out of the snow meant a lot of the steering was through the back foot, great if you’re in tight trees but not ideal for long carves. Where I was most impressed with the AK was stomping rock and cliff drops. Planting two feet 50/50 weight distribution didn’t result in the usual nose catching and cart wheeling, the nose stayed up regardless. So if you’re freeriding on pillows where you’re skimming the snow, the AK will be great! The Head AK is a quiver board designed for deep days, on the piste it’s really bizarre, but in deep snow with trees the AK almost works… almost. However, take it across chop or even partially ridden pow and you get the whole issue with the AK skidding instead of carving.
The Head AK really is a specialist snowboard. It didn’t really carve on groomers and it was equally awkward in anything but untouched pow. In pow it was capable but not outstanding. To be honest, I was disappointed, I really wanted the AK to rock as it looks so nice and despite the tennis racket and race ski heritage, the snowboard side of the business is run by cool people who are extremely passionate about what they do. Unfortunately I think Head need to go back to the drawing board with the AK.
Posted by Rich Ewbank in • Head
User Snowboard Reviews
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on October 31, 2011 at 06:15 PM
What the price of this board :) ?
