How much do those graphics cost?
One of my pet peeves about the snowboarding industry, as long-time readers of this blog may know, has to do with the graphics of boards, both on the top sheet and on the base. If I had time to do it, I’d rummage around online to find examples of art that produce one response in me: “I’d never be caught dead riding that!” Whether artwork of it’s skulls and other dark themes, women in g strings (there’s a time and place for everything, people!), something that looks like it came from out of a bad LSD trip or the mind of a 9-year old boy who is just getting started in art, snowboarding graphics are routinely unappealing.
At least they are to me, who, admittedly, is part of a relatively small segment of the market: people 35 years old and up. My first board had a blue band around the tip, a black tip around the tail, and a few splashes of both colors near the bindings. That’s it. The rest of the topsheet looked something like the the planks of wood that make up a lane at the bowling alley. Simple, classic, uncluttered. The prominence of the wood is like Prairie Style architecture (which I also like): Solid, clean, offering a subtle appeal rather than screaming for attention.
I like Flow bindings, and recommend them all the time. So I was interested when I saw that Shannon Johnson did an interview with Eric Luthardt, a produce manager with Flow, at her site, Shayboarder.
Luthardt casually mentioned something that I found distressing.
Shay: Is building a snowboard a collaborative effort?
Eric: Totally, a lot of people have a lot of input and we have a couple of guys who do the graphics, which is a huge part and is the most expensive part. I help the other categories and they help me.
The most expensive part? Yikes!
I followed up with a question (which you can find at the link), and received some answers, including what appears to be one from Luthardt. It’s been an informative exchange.
September 17, 2009 @ 9:11 am
I'm 45 and I really like cool graphics. I'm looking at the Capita's Mid Life Photo and Indoor Survival this year for park and butters type stuff. And their Charlie Slasher pow board is so sick. I choose boards based on feel and the terrain I'll be using them on but graphics definitely play a big role in what I purchase. I think the art aspect of the graphics is one of the things that sets snowboarding apart from other sports. Granted there is a lot of stuff out there that's not intended for someone my age (like Forum or Nitro graphics) but there's a good number I like. The Endeavor High 5 this year looks great as does the Signal Matt Hammer series. If you really like the way your board looks you're probably going to have more fun riding it.
September 17, 2009 @ 10:44 am
Hey Kruger, any relation to Freddy Kru(e)ger?
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts. I took a look at the Capita line just now. Ah. Nothing I saw that says "THIS is a board I'd like to be seen with."
You may be right that graphics are one thing that make snowboarding distinctive, though not (IMO) in an appealing way.
The appearance of a board shouldn't affect its performance (flex, stability, what have you). But I would agree that I'm more likely to have a more positive attitude toward a board if I like its graphics.
September 17, 2009 @ 11:13 am
Somehow that user name got carried over from another blog I usually post on. It's comes from the character Mr Kruger on the Seinfeld show. Though I've never actually watched an entire episode of Seinfeld we're all supposed to have names from characters on that show. I usually go by mjd.
Anyway, you're not even diggin' the Mid Life Photo- that's a pretty clean looking board.
you said: "THIS is a board I'd like to be seen with." Funny, sometimes I think "this is board people will hate… I want it."
September 17, 2009 @ 11:36 am
Ah, Seinfeld. Like you, I never saw entire episode. But there was a season of life in which I watched The Tonight Show (the first 20-30 minutes) on a regular basis. Sometimes I would turn the TV on a bit early and I'd watch another station show the last 5 minutes of a Seinfeld episode from syndication.
But I never watched an entire show–until the finale. Oddly enough, I "got" many of the jokes, just from those last 5-minute doses and overhearing office conversations.
—
As for capita mid-life photo, do you have a link? I've seen one link that appears to be it, but it appears, at best, to be nothing more than a bunch of graffiti. That doesn't do anything for me.
September 17, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
That's last years Midlife Lost. I'm not crazy about that one either.
Here's the Midlife Photo
BTW what's your take on die cuts?
September 17, 2009 @ 12:23 pm
Not bad, especially the 151. But WHAT is in the middle of the graphic? It looks like the open door of a blast furnace.
Die cuts? You mean stickers that you to the top sheet? I've never seen a need for them. Though I've received a couple as swag, I've never put them on a board.
September 17, 2009 @ 3:54 pm
That one is just daylight coming in through a window.
Die cuts: get them on there- the cougars will think you're pretty tight.