| Author |
Message |
NessyUK 
|
|
Post subject: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
 Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 03:43 PM
|
|
First post: Jan 02, 2007
Total posts: 42
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
|
|
Name: Contract Cobra
Cost: £370
Year: 2012
After riding a Bataleon Evil Twin (156) for a couple of seasons I decided to try a new setup for 2012. I had previously paired up my E.T with Burton CO2 bindings, so decided to go with a softer setup on my new board. My pairing ended up being a Contract Cobra (156) with Flux DS30 bindings.
My stats: 82Kg, 5'9", Size 10 feet (9.5 burton boot).
First impressions was that the board really stood out (in a good way), and then physically holding it was taken back how light it seemed. I picked up a few similar sized boards whilst on the slopes and could tell the difference (to the point friends made comments when they picked up my board to load/un-load from our vehicle).
I tend to ride all over the mountain, I don't do rails (although I plan to), a few small jumps, basic boxes - but mostly have fun on and off piste.
Within one run I could notice the difference, the board felt very stable, very comfortable and held its edges really well. This particular trip saw some extreme cold temperatures hitting europe, so some of the runs were really iced up, the board ate them up and I had a big smile on my face.
Previously I always struggled on the flats with my E.T, having to put effort in to ride them and not catch an edge. With the Cobra I found I could simply flat-foot it and cruise through these sections (and past many other struggling boarders). If I wanted to pick up speed then I could simply tail press and the board would accelerate (note: the board was really easy to tail and nose press).
Contract push their 'Snake Transition' technology. Basically when looking at the board its wobbly in the middle. Add to the fact it is positive camber and what you end up with is a board with lots and lots of 'pop'. Rolling over features the board will happily spring up if you want it to. This 'tech' also adds to the edge holding power when flying down the reds and blacks.
Apparently there is also an area in the nose and tail where they have slightly lifted the edges to help stop edge-catching (they call it T.R.I.P). This was slightly similar to my E.T. except rather than running the entirety of the board, it's simply in two (crucial) areas. I know there were a couple of times when I was riding probably a bit 'too' quick and had moments of 'this is gonna hurt', only to find that the board didn't catch and I was able slide out and continue on my downward journey. I didn't catch one edge - happy days.
In summary, I really enjoyed riding this board and I'm glad I was shown it (and made the subsequent purchase), because you don't see them in the shops (nor on the slopes in Europe) which is a shame, because they are fantastic boards.
If anyone wants to see the board close up, then I made a little video with some close-ups. I figured this would help anyone that can't get their hands on one to view before purchasing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTHtcoREG2Y |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
ChasKi
|
|
|
Post subject: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 05:31 PM
|
|
First post: Mar 04, 2009
Total posts: 2601
Location: Plymouth/Stroud
Status: Offline
|
|
Do like the aesthetics of your setup and am intrigued about 'snake tech'. Guess it's one of those things though - without riding one, I can't tell if it's hype, marketing blurb for we put in a wiggly section or genuinely decent tech.
Will have to try and get a demo some day ^_^ |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
greigroy
|
|
|
Post subject: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 05:45 PM
|
|
First post: Jul 16, 2009
Total posts: 1207
Location: glasgow
Status: Offline
|
|
Great Video Mate,  |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
NessyUK
|
|
|
Post subject: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 06:42 PM
|
|
First post: Jan 02, 2007
Total posts: 42
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
|
|
|
ChasKi wrote:
Do like the aesthetics of your setup and am intrigued about 'snake tech'. Guess it's one of those things though - without riding one, I can't tell if it's hype, marketing blurb for we put in a wiggly section or genuinely decent tech.
Will have to try and get a demo some day ^_^
Quite true - if you can try one then do. Who knows what the board would be like without snake. I suppose one of the biggest things for me was hitting the last red into Schutdorf (Zell am see). Anyone who knows Zell will know this run is fairly steep (ok), but very icey... to the point many people just catch the lift down. Last year I would run it, but had to be quite steady... this year I absolutely battered it as the board just dug in on the turns when I needed it to (whilst I watched other boarders sliding on their bums)... It's not geared up as an all-mountain but it certainly rode like it.
Any board is personal preference, but I guess I want people to be aware of these boards because I was not until a few weeks ago (not that I want everyone having the same gear as me on the mountain!). |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
NessyUK
|
|
|
Post subject: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 06:43 PM
|
|
First post: Jan 02, 2007
Total posts: 42
Location: Southampton
Status: Offline
|
|
|
greigroy wrote:
Great Video Mate,
Cheers, hope it helps a few people out. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
227angrydonkeys
|
|
|
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 06:54 PM
|
|
First post: Dec 08, 2007
Total posts: 1393
Status: Offline
|
|
| Those wiggles in the board when its on an edge will basically work like magnetraction i guess in that it will provide several concentrated contact points so thats going to be pretty good. |
_________________
www.minus-nine.co.uk
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
ChasKi
|
|
|
Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 07:17 PM
|
|
First post: Mar 04, 2009
Total posts: 2601
Location: Plymouth/Stroud
Status: Offline
|
|
|
227angrydonkeys wrote:
Those wiggles in the board when its on an edge will basically work like magnetraction i guess in that it will provide several concentrated contact points so thats going to be pretty good.
I was thinking that as well, though figured it would still be different to magnetraction in a way because the wiggle is vertical instead of horizontal! |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Yeahboards.com
|
|
|
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 07:44 PM
|
|
First post: Dec 27, 2011
Total posts: 30
Status: Offline
|
|
Hey Guys,
Nice review NessyUK and cool vid.
Snake Tech provides a couple of advantages;
firstly it separates torsional from longditudinal flex resulting in a board that can be flexed and pressed like a freestyle board but is torsionally much stiffer so able to carve and hold an edge much better. I've seen the boards tested alongside standard boards at the factory, Contract claim their boards are up to 15% stiffer torsionally.
Secondly the wave pre-stresses the board, literally loading it with energy, resulting in boards with incredable pop and response.
A further advantage is that the wave makes the boards stronger (think corrugated iron) so Contract can build their boards a bit thinner and therefore lighter but with the same strength as regular boards.
Check out the Contract site for more detailed info. Or any more questions just ask.
Cheers. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
ChasKi
|
|
|
Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 08:12 PM
|
|
First post: Mar 04, 2009
Total posts: 2601
Location: Plymouth/Stroud
Status: Offline
|
|
|
Yeahboards.com wrote:
Contract claim their boards are up to 15% stiffer torsionally.
That's actually a lot less than I was expecting!
I 'spose it's entirely enough to make a noticeable difference, and allow for the decrease in weight, which is always nice for my tastes. I figured it would be more though.
Is this because they can't make the waves too tall (vertically) or long (horizontally) without distorting the board shape so far it effects other attributes/riding rails etc? |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Yeahboards.com
|
|
|
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Feb 08, 2012 - 08:39 PM
|
|
First post: Dec 27, 2011
Total posts: 30
Status: Offline
|
|
You can definitely notice it. You gotta think twist a Contract board tosionally, now twist another board another 15% - it's actually quite a bit! Along the length they claim up to 35% increased flex for freestyle fun, so your actually getting more flex along the length, but with better torsional performance. It's win win 
You're right making the waves too big would distort the board and handling too much. Too long and would mess with your bindings.
On the more park focused Citizen Shred they have introduced Snake Tech Nano this year. Which is basically more smaller waves in the same space (between the bindngs) has the same effect as the regular Snake Tech, but is billed as being more rail friendly.
Cheers. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
bong69uk
|
|
|
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Mar 08, 2012 - 08:10 AM
|
|
First post: Nov 27, 2007
Total posts: 618
Location: edinburgh,scotland.
Status: Offline
|
|
| nice review, has made me consider a Contract board as my next one. I currently ride a Bataleon Goliath and was looking at a Gnu Riders choice, YeahBoards what would you suggest to be Contracts All mountain freestyle board then? is it this one? |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
charlie
|
|
|
Post subject: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Mar 08, 2012 - 09:17 AM
|
|
First post: Oct 11, 2004
Total posts: 9478
Location: York
Status: Offline
|
|
|
Yeahboards.com wrote:
On the more park focused Citizen Shred they have introduced Snake Tech Nano this year. Which is basically more smaller waves in the same space (between the bindngs) has the same effect as the regular Snake Tech, but is billed as being more rail friendly.
That's exactly what concerned me about these boards, they're bound to be hooky on rails. Are they likely to be at the board test this year? |
_________________
Photography
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Yeahboards.com
|
|
|
Post subject: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: RE: REVIEW: Contract Cobra
Posted: Oct 29, 2012 - 04:38 PM
|
|
First post: Dec 27, 2011
Total posts: 30
Status: Offline
|
|
| [quote="charlie"]
Yeahboards.com wrote:
On the more park focused Citizen Shred they have introduced Snake Tech Nano this year. Which is basically more smaller waves in the same space (between the bindngs) has the same effect as the regular Snake Tech, but is billed as being more rail friendly.
ThatSorry been away for an age! They are not really that hooky our man Jason Molyneux had a Cobra out in Avoriaz all season and was doing everything on it, but the Cobra has positive camber and regular Snake Tech so if you mainly ride domes or just love hitting rails I'd go for last seasons Citizen Shred or the 2013 Circus as that's what they're designed for. There are a couple of Circus doing the rounds (mainly at Hemel) now and if you find the right person I'm sure you'll be able to jump on one. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snowboard Club 
FAQ
Search
Register
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
Maximize
RSS Feed
