Jobe Snowboards/Bindings ???

[james....@lmco.com]

Anyone have any experience with this company? They sell these boards
premounted with ratchet bindings at Costco in sizes - 155, 160 and 165
cm. When they came out last fall they were priced at $199.....they
are now $99. They look like pretty good quality.

What do you think?
Jim

[hardie.mohrlang]

Here's what HO Sports had to day about the boards. They manufacturer Jobe
snowboards. I was curious too and wrote the company after finding the HO
Sports logo on the board.

RESPONSE TO FIRST EMAIL:

Mark,

Thanks for inquiring about our snowboards. We have been making snowboards

for about five years under various brands. We have made boards under many

brand names such as Type A, Evol, Naked, Hyperlite and Jobe. The boards
are
made in the same presses that make our wakeboards for Hyperlite. These
presses are much bigger and have much more pressure then needed for
snowboards. Most companies that use a wet wrap set up like we do, don't
have the pressure available in the presses to squeze out the resin like we

do. Therefore, we get the benefits of using a wet wrap layup but also get
a
light board.

All our boards are full tip to tail and side to side wood cores. They
have
360 degree wrapped edges and PBT tops. The boards are very good.

Let me know if you need any additional info.

Thanks again,

Brian

RESPONSE TO MY SECOND EMAIL

Mark,

The thing about selling to Cost-co, is the perception that people have
about
the quality or level of performance an item may have because they sell
things so CHEAP. Their concept of charging a membership fee and then
selling at a very reduced margin is fantastic for most people.

The Jobe boards that they are selling are intermediate to advanced in
performance. A true beginner board would be much softer to help you turn
without catching an edge. The Jobe boards are on the stiffer side and
would
be great for your notorious hardpack. We have the same hardpack here, we
call it Cascade concrete. The Jobe boards are also a "directional twin".
This means that the stance is back from center about an inch and the tip
is
wider and the tail a little stiffer. This gives you more of an cruiser
board and not a pipe board. I know that seems very convenient, because
that's the style you have but its true.

The bindings on the board are also excellent. They have a lifetime
warranty. The double stainless racketed foot straps make it much easier
to
tighten and don't slip at all.

Normal retail for one of our blank boards is around $350.00.

Brian
______________________________________________

One of my office buddies bought the 160cm. I haven't ridden with him yet,
so I don't know how he likes it. My research suggests these are identical
to Hyperlite Steep series boards. You can't beat the price, eh? You
decide ...

The Binary Edge