Head Force i KERS - 2011

Quick
stats: Recommended for park riding.

The Head Force I KERS has more top secret space-aged technology than the Pentagon. Further development on the Head Intelligence system has helped to create KERS technology or Kinetic Energy Recovery System to any tech geeks out there. KERS technology picks up the vibrations you get when you ride harder and faster and turns the kinetic energy into an electrical current, this current is fed back into the fibres towards the tail of the board stiffening up the fibres and making the tail more punchy. But this in a freestyle snowboard and you can create a snowboard that rides soft and forgiving in the jibs and stiffens up for sketchy backcountry kickers and creates dynamite pop for leaving pipe lips. You’ll also get an extra tasty little kick out of carves

Manufacturer's Description:

Head aren’t doing descriptions for their 2011 range, so you’ll have to make the most of the feature descriptions:

- Freestyle Directional Shape: Dedicated to the aggressive park and pipe riders.
- Kers: Giving you that extra pop needed after each edge-to-edge transfer.
- Intellifibers: Stay in control no matter what speed.
- Make It Yours: Personalize with your very own set of Edding markers.

Pro Guides:

Buying a Park
Snowboard » Buying a Rails
Snowboard » Buying a Pipe
Snowboard »

Year: 2011

Available Lengths (cm):
149, 153, 156, 159, 162

Riding Style:
Freestyle/Park

Specifications:

Kevlar stringer reinforcements
Carbon X reinforcement
High grade sintered base
Low density Poplar core
Directional twin shape
KERS ICT technology
Standard camber

SB-RV Review

Head have been experimenting with intelligent fibres for a few seasons now and the Head Force I KERS is the most extreme version of this technology. The Force I is a cambered directional twin which has a very soft longitudinal flex when moving slowly and jibbing, but when you pick up speed the intelligent fibres stiffen and the board turns into a stiffer board that grips more effectively on turns and is more stable. The intelligent fibres also add pop to the board, Head claim that the Force I pops and absorbs landings like a much stiffer board.

So, does this technology actually work? Well yes…..kinda. If you’re expecting the Force I, which is actually a fairly soft board, to transform into a really stable and solid board like the Burton Vapor then you’ll be very disappointed. The transformation is actually far more subtle, but is noticeable. When jibbing and hitting rails the Force I is very playful; easy to press, easy to control at low speeds and poppy at low speeds. When you pick up a bit of speed and the board starts to vibrate then the board stiffens a little bit; in fairness it changes the Force I from a board that would potentially have difficulty holding a strong edge and would feel unbalanced at higher speeds to a board that can do all of the aforementioned.

In all honesty I believe there are other boards with hybrid camber/rocker profiles, such as Amptek and Wavelength, that have these characteristics without using intelligent fibres. Nevertheless if you’re looking for a cambered board then the Head Force I is up there with the most versatile cambered decks on the market. This board would suit riders of any level but would favour park riders and piste jibbers that don’t want to be constricted to low speeds and skidded turns.

Posted by Tom Ewbank in • Head

User Reviews

Want some advice, or have a question about the Head Force i KERS snowboard, or whether it is right for you? DON'T POST HERE! Head over to our snowboard forums and our community will be happy to help.

Seriously - READ THE ABOVE..., the snowboard forum the best way to get your question seen by all of our community and an answer, rather than just those who happen to view this page.

However, if you have ridden this snowboard and want to share your feedback, then please add your experience below. It helps to add as much detail as possible, e.g board length you used, bindings, rider stats etc.

neal on December 12, 2010 at 04:56 PM

hey, i’m looking for a new board that will help me progress in the pipe but still take me everywhere I usually ride like the powder, park, glades and hardpack. I have an older cambered board from a couple years ago and it doesn’t hold up in the powder at all, in fact, its not really good for anything except jibing. Should I wait until the end of the season and buy this when I can afford it, or go with the head team i or maybe the Burton TWC standard? I’m an advanced rider and live way out in Maine where we dont get that much powder, actually, we have less than half an inch of snow right now and the resorts havnt even opened up yet.

luckybeanz on February 06, 2011 at 12:25 AM

Hi,

I am thinking of getting a new board, I currently have a 2008, 157 Lib Tech TRS MTX and have found that it just doesn’t have much pop and I don’t feel as confident in spins with it. I mainly freeride with the occasional bombing down the slopes, but if there is a little kicker I head to it like a heroin addict to a needle. As an intermediate rider I have not spent time in the park yet, but would like to start hitting the odd box or two. I am mainly attracted to getting air off anything that can be jumped. The board sounds like it could be what I am looking for and help me progress my boarding or do you think that something more all mountain would be better? I was also looking at the skate banana, which seems to have much more talk around it than the head. Also what size? I am 175cm and 72kg wear a UK 9 boot.

Thanks for the input and the great resource.

Connect: