flex board?

[afi1014]

im just curios from my point of view n from most of the video of slalom that i watch
most of the racer dont use flex board anymore....
why?
sorry for the stupid question

[glideronfreerides]

I think it has mainly to do with the advent of better truck systems. now that they get so much turn, the need for the deck to provide 'suspension' if you will is diminished (or can even be a hindrance - maximum transfer of energy to the trucks is ideal imo). but, I'm just speculating, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[afi1014]

Originally Posted by glideronfreerides

I think it has mainly to do with the advent of better truck systems. now that they get so much turn, the need for the deck to provide 'suspension' if you will is diminished (or can even be a hindrance - maximum transfer of energy to the trucks is ideal imo). but, I'm just speculating, someone correct me if I'm wrong.

suspension?
maximum transfer of energy to the trucks ? i dont understand...please explain

[glideronfreerides]

Originally Posted by afi1014

suspension?
maximum transfer of energy to the trucks ? i dont understand...please explain

well, camber/flex kind of work as a kind of suspension (not really sure if that's really the correct term, but it seems analogous to cars/motorcycles, so that's where I'm coming from with this) providing increased turning performance - the deck twists and snaps back, making for a different kind of ride.

currently, it seems like most riders are focusing on the truck system as the main mechanism for 'suspension'. In other words, flexy decks and turny trucks both do the same sort of thing (increase turning) but they get there in different ways, and they're not typically complimentary. flex can sap energy that could be put to better use going to the trucks.

now, that's not to say there's a general consensus that stiff = better or anything- I think lots of riders use decks that have some flex - just not a much as in the past (again, speculating, I sure as hell wasn't around to know).