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What color are your 09 sfb bases?

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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
So every online retailer has pictures of the sfbs with black bases, however Pollard and a few members of NS that I have noticed have white bases on their sfbs. Anyone know whats up with this?
Mine are black by the way.
Sep 23 2008 12:59AM
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Kev-Hal
Posts: 1297 - Karma: 91
Nice thread.

And yes Mine = WHITEClick for larger image
Sep 23 2008 1:04AM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
oh and the sfb bases at my local shop are all white aswell.
Sep 23 2008 1:08AM
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Kev-Hal
Posts: 1297 - Karma: 91
Well take a pic of yours and post it when you get a chance... just because I haven't seen an actual picture of the black bases yet.
They probably look pretty damn good too
Sep 23 2008 1:18AM
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yeahitsdave
Posts: 1315 - Karma: 10
mine are white, they usually do opposite bases with everything else, so it makes sense.
Sep 23 2008 1:23AM
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Pklink04
Posts: 5608 - Karma: 392
they do it to conserve base material, they use both pieces of base that they cut, so one part makes the white trees for the black base, and the other makes the white background for the black trees
Sep 23 2008 6:54AM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7821 - Karma: 21,850
^shit, of course thats what it is! Thats pretty cool.
Sep 23 2008 9:06AM
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Piste.Off
Posts: 11586 - Karma: 1,860
Click for larger image
Sep 23 2008 7:34PM
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Brodie133
Posts: 109 - Karma: 14
ive noticed the same thing with ep pros. ive seen lots of pictures with white bases but mine are black.Click for larger image
Sep 23 2008 8:17PM
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Brodie133
Posts: 109 - Karma: 14
anyone else have black bases for there ep pros?
Sep 29 2008 12:00AM
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no_steeze
Posts: 23992 - Karma: 4,272
the meathead's had a pair of the 09 sfb's a long time ago and they had white bases, it's just like the prophet 100's, half were made with green bases, half with black bases, line always does that
Sep 29 2008 12:07AM
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Love_Wins.
Posts: 5536 - Karma: -1
I love those, better than the white ones if you ask me.
Sep 29 2008 12:39AM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
Crazy. I had no idea that they did that. So smart. I like the white bacon bases better than the black ones.
Sep 29 2008 12:46AM
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ryanwar6
Posts: 1134 - Karma: 114
you will find that with a lot of skis. I know this specifically with K2 and Line, but I am sure other companies do this also. It is not a special run of them, it is just so they don't waste a bunch of base material.

Think of it this way, if they make 100 EPs with mainly white bases, they then have 100 white trees left over along with 100 black tree negatives (or the remainder of the base). So to make sure they are making the most of their money, they just use the stuff that was the by product of the first run of skis to make bases that are the opposite. I hope that made sense.

Cheers,
Ryan
Sep 29 2008 1:42AM
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Gomer_GSX
Posts: 326 - Karma: 35
I picked up my 2009 SFBs a month ago and the bases are black too:

Click for larger image
Sep 29 2008 1:44AM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
Where are Line skis made nowadays?
Sep 29 2008 3:06AM
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DHogg
Posts: 3462 - Karma: 237
China
Sep 29 2008 7:25AM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
.... and there goes any possibility of me buying a pair.
Sep 29 2008 1:39PM
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Deletedtoday
Posts: 4060 - Karma: 398
different sizes
Sep 29 2008 1:56PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
Nope, Bacons only come in a 182, and I think the EPs only in a 185? Either way, both skis only come in one length.
Sep 29 2008 2:05PM
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chazz.
Posts: 2721 - Karma: 23
why? correct me if im wrong, but i thought most skis are made in china, so it makes them affordable for us buyers and the companies. only a few brands i think are made elsewhere, like moment.
Sep 29 2008 2:20PM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
I personally try to avoid "made in China" whenever possible, its personal preference, I don't want my skis coming from China. That's why I'll continue to support companies that don't jump on the China bandwagon.

And another thing, I'm fucking sick of seeing the "made in China" label justified by affordability. There skis are costing just as much as when they were when made in Canada, there's no price difference! By that same logic, if skis made in China are so affordable, then Armadas should be around $1200 a pair since they're made in the EU. But they're not, which throws the "China makes it cheaper for us" argument right out the window. Its simple business, cut costs (move productions to China) and maximize profits (for the higher ups at K2). I won't be a part of that. They don't even spend money on athletes anymore besides Pollard.
Sep 29 2008 3:00PM
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Love_Wins.
Posts: 5536 - Karma: -1
I thought K2s and Line were still made on the island, no?
Sep 29 2008 5:31PM
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camohard
Posts: 343 - Karma: 22
i dont get your argument. i generally avoid china (not china in particular, but you get the point; basically the further away something is made from me, the less I like it). that said, if you're looking at it from a quality point of view, outsourcing isn't necessarily bad. lots of 'chinese' made goods are extremely high quality; the problem is it's hard to know if a product comes from good or bad manufacturing practices. anyways, you said that "skis are costing just as much as when they were when made in Canada". not true, one, and two you then said that the choice to move operations is a good business move in order to increase profits. are you saying that the price we, as a consumer see is relatively static regardless of where they are made?
Sep 29 2008 6:33PM
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ryanwar6
Posts: 1134 - Karma: 114
yes, as I stated above, that is precisely what they are doing.
Sep 29 2008 7:12PM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
I failed to see any significant overall drop in price of K2s and Line skis when production was moved to China. They seem to be just as expensive as ever, while quality went to shit (remember the invaders?).

Sure its a way to run a good business as far as profits, I understand that. I, however, would rather contribute my money to a company that is not maximizing profits by exploiting the dirty cheap factory labor in China. Nor do I want to contribute in any form to China's GDP. During the Gilded Age all the factory owners were running good businesses by maximizing profits while treating their workers like scum. Its no different in present-day China, we just don't mind it because its out of sight.



I fail to see how a company like Armada can produce their skis in Europe, while K2 needs to take the dirt cheap route of Chinese labor. Sure you can say the Chinese have "strong quality control" but I won't believe you for a second. Lead coated toys, and poisoned food is their "quality control", who knows what other weird shit finds itself into our chinese-made products.
Sep 29 2008 7:16PM
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SK1ERDUDE
Posts: 1365 - Karma: 51
those bases are SICK!!
Sep 29 2008 7:18PM
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Commonwealth
Posts: 3729 - Karma: 11
Same. I went to Wal-Mart to pick up an AMERICAN flag and it said "Made in China" on the tag.

But it was Wal-Mart, so what did I expect
Sep 29 2008 7:39PM
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SirFryanator
Posts: 11149 - Karma: 1,415
nope.
Sep 29 2008 7:46PM
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Fish_Sandwich.
Posts: 9108 - Karma: 16
Oh grow up, nobody gives a shit that you buy goods made in a different country, we won't think you are any less patriotic, don't worry.  The quality won't be any different for the most part.
Sep 29 2008 7:49PM
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thefilmerguy
Posts: 2847 - Karma: 55
mine are white, but then again i have a factory sample.
Sep 29 2008 8:08PM
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camohard
Posts: 343 - Karma: 22
I don't disagree, and like I said I avoid 'made in china as well (id be willing to bet i have more north american made products than you, and many other people). i didn't really have experience with pre-china K2s, so I can't compare. i also recognize that in general, you would be an idiot to say that china has good quality control regulation. i am not supporting china for one second here (believe me, i have been in many heated arguments against china). what i have found however, is that people now assume that anything made in china is no good, which is not true. what i have found through significant research and experience is that many chinese factories produce extremely high quality (even better than american or canadian or european products) products, and yes, they do give the company the option to lower prices (whether they do or not is up to them).
i definitely would rather support the NA economy (especially right now) and people who do like to actually involved in their company, put in hard work to put out a high quality product. I would also rather not have products shipped all over the place. i think one of the problem of quality is so much decided by where the product is made. rather it depends on the manufacturing style. it just happens, that china has a number of quantity focused factories and north america and to an extent europe have more involved, smaller production. if you find a canadian made product from a big company that is focused on quantity and takes an assembly line, time reducing approach, the quality will be low.
while some workers remain in poor conditions, this was a much larger concern in the past decades.
i ride a pair of armadas, and do think that the quality is quite good; however, I would say that is a result of the materials armada chooses to use (which are more expensive than K2s) and not the fact that they are made in Europe (in another company's factory in austria (?? i believe)).
i have no problem with choosing not to buy from a given country for the right reasons. in this case, quality could be a fair reason, but i just dont think we can say that all chinese products are crap, anymore. china has really stepped up their game (so have the companies that are using their cheap labour) though a lot of shit still comes out of the country. i think our countries should also step up the regulation for what they allow to come into our country.
to be honest though, im glad you don't buy chinese stuff. it's a lot better than the many people on here that only look at the price of products as far as their own wallet is concerned.
Sep 29 2008 8:11PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Exactly. Give China a chance to become a superpower, the same way the rest of us did.
Sep 29 2008 8:14PM
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jcjs
Posts: 136 - Karma: 64
i just picked up a pair for myself, my first pow ski, my question is where should i mount them? recommended and what is the recommended?
Sep 29 2008 8:16PM
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pat_in_the_hat
Posts: 3019 - Karma: 2,695
you guys should trade a ski. that would be sick to have one white and one black. i tried with my anthems, and the kid thought i was weird. especially since we had different sizes.. bindings and size feet
Sep 29 2008 8:26PM
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LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Recommended is 6.5 back of true centre, 6 back on running length centre.
Sep 29 2008 8:30PM
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jcjs
Posts: 136 - Karma: 64
wow didnt realize it was that far back i told them to mount them at -4, should i tell them to mount them  6 back or do you think 4 is fine
Sep 29 2008 10:06PM
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JTL
Posts: 2275 - Karma: 338
in the freeskier buyers guide in the first whistler blackcomb peak 2 peak ad, on the right side that guy has black bases on his sfb's.
Sep 29 2008 10:23PM
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JTL
Posts: 2275 - Karma: 338
in the freeskiers buyers guide on the first whistler peak 2 peak ad, the guy on the right has black bases on his sfb's.
Sep 29 2008 10:27PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
I'm pretty sure that the horrible invaders were during the first year the factory was in operation. They've gotten pretty good now, and K2 is pretty much the most durable company making skis right now. Quality has stepped up big time.
Sep 29 2008 10:54PM
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Love_Wins.
Posts: 5536 - Karma: -1
I dunno about that...and K2s are heavy as all get out.
Sep 29 2008 11:28PM
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Kevski
Posts: 7056 - Karma: 2,785
Well the heaviness thing is part of the design... It's not really a quality thing so much, and apparently they've changed up the materials this season to be less heavy too.
Sep 29 2008 11:31PM
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Campeador
Posts: 7516 - Karma: -1,227
Why would I want China to replace the US as the world's superpower? Then we'd truly be in the new Dark Ages.
Sep 30 2008 1:41AM
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MarkieR
Posts: 5337 - Karma: 98
those were mine... le tear. i really really wish i wouldn't have decided to sell those, you lucky bastard.
Oct 20 2008 6:29PM
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