At the end of July we were able to conduct a 100% focused women’s snowboard test down in Mt Hood. Not only a great reason to get together and Ride, but also to conduct a true blind board test to get feedback that will directly effect our Ladies line for the 11-12 collection. The group consisted of our board engineers, Paul and Doug, myself (Casey, Marketing Manager), and 8 testers – 6 team riders: Hana Beaman, Silvia Mittermuller, Megan Ginter, Rainey Pogue, Jessika Jenson & Randa Shahin, Emily Kaelin ,our in house outerwear product developer, and special guest Molly Hawkins, the Community Manager at evo.
How the test worked:
Our board engineers, Doug and Paul, were there to mediate the testing session. This test was totally blind, featuring all the same top sheets and bases from the 1011 Canvas. Four of the boards were a park specific profile and four of the boards were targeted to all mountain freestyle, so 2 rounds of the test took place – one day 4 of the testers strictly rode each of the 4 park models, while the other 4 testers rode the each of the 4 all mountain freestyle models. All testers were surprised at how each variation rode completely different from one to the next, and the identical graphics gave testers a chance to tune into aspects on how the board rode versus pre-conceived notions. Doug and Paul are really passionate about using the right combinations of technology to develop the best boards for women, and this test really let us get those fine-tuned details dialed.
One of the clear rules of the test is that testers are not share opinions with each other until the testing was complete. Another element to the test was to try to have the testers take as close to exact runs every time to try to achieve the most accurate results as possible. Basically, if you hit a particular jump and bombed super fast through one section of the hill, then ideally the tester would do the same on the next test board so that the comments were really comparing apples to apples. Each test board was taken on a full run from the top of Palmer to the bottom of the Mile, allowing for lots of turns as well as hitting the public park where testers could jump and jib, putting these board models to the true test.
After each run the testers re-grouped at the picnic tables at the top of the Mile chair to fill out the test board questionnaire which included very specific questions requiring to rate different elements on a 1 to 5 scale. Then it would be on to the next test board, swapping out bindings and jumping on the next chair.
Results:
Well, we can’t divuldge all of our secrets here, but let me tell you there was some very interesting data in the end. The all mountain freestyle board over the two day test had and 8 for 8 clear winner, victory!
The park board didn’t have quite the same 100% clarity, but a solid direction came out of the test, and again, I love that we are actually to effect the new 11/12 line based on the feedback we received!
The group was so stoked, our follow up emails post-test resulted in some additional commentary…so to toot our own horn:
Randa Shahin: “The board is amazing and I recommend that everyone give it a chance in the future.” (which they will come 11/12!)
Megan Ginter: “I love that new board, I wake up excited every morning just to Ride it!” (Megan actually kept one of the test boards to continue riding it for the remainder of her summer Hood stay, needless to say she is one happy camper.)
Wrap Up:
Well, the test went off without a hitch and was a great session for us Ladies to get together and influence the product we all soon will be riding. With snowboarding being such a Male dominated sport, I am so pleased to be able to have such a solid group of ladies and supportive Ride guys around so that we can work toward improving our ladies Ride product. Thank you to Paul and Doug for orchestrating the test, and of course to all of the testers involved, without you this would not be possible. I look forward to the next time, here’s to the best women’s boards of 11/12!
Cheers,
Casey (And Randa, thanks for getting most of this write up together)
Here is the write up Randa did for Shredbetties, complete with more photo’s, check it!
Shredbetties Ride Board Test
