Swallowtail Review
The technology of the swallow has been discovered and now copied.
What has distinguished the Swallow all these years? Rocker. You’ve heard that rocker is the new solution. But the Swallowtail had it in 1976 (that’s 33 years ago) when Dmitrije Milovich designed it to turn like a rockered surfboard in bottomless Utah fluff. Rocker is a big deal with today’s snowboard and ski companies, but the Swallowtail has had nose rocker from the beginning.
The whole front of the board all the way to the front foot is rockered. This gives incredible lift, so you when you lean forward in powder and drive your turns it’s almost impossible to go out the front or dive your board. Watch people ride powder leaning back with most of their weight on their back leg. What’s that about? It’s the worst possible riding position and I laugh at people complaining about how their back leg is sore from riding powder. The Swallowtail’s nose lift gives the board the drive to glide through powder. There’s no slogging or plowing. Just ease and enjoyment.
So now you add the rest of the features the Swallowtail has: taper, sidecut, a little camber, and of course the swallow itself. These combined features give the board smooth easy tracking through the snow. There’s no catching edges while pointing down the hill. With the camber in the back of the board you get a stable ride without chatter and good edge pressure through any turn. The sidecut allows quick turns when you need them, like for riding the trees. The Swallowtail, along with taper, allows the tail of the board to sink in powder to carve out the kind turns you dream about. At the same time the rocker and nose shape lift you right back on the snow, accelerating easily out of each powder turn.
So now for what Winterstick did to improve the ride this year:
- First we narrowed the nose by a couple of millimeters to help you keep the board on edge in crud and hardpack. This makes riding easier at a resort or on hard snow.
- Then we fine-tuned the flex pattern, making for easier turns especially on the crud and hardpack.
- Third, we improved the durability with fully wrapped edges even through the inside edges of the swallow; we added a thick base material and sidewalls. This construction also gives the board great damping and it does not vibrate.
Add all these together and the new Swallowtail rules the mountain.
Who should ride a Swallow? Anyone headed for deep powder riding. The design teaches a new powder rider the powerful graceful carving technique that would be used in any conditions, and performs to incredibly high standards for the veteran expert. Dare to try one. It could change your life.
