Which Way Up ?

[Bad Wolf]

This may be one of those stupid questions, but is there a quick, easy, fail safe way to tell which end of a skiboard is the front (tip)?

Some boards are truly center mount
Some boards really are symmetrical
Some graphics are so random you have no clue
Some have writing in all directions
Some base graphics go in both directions
Some have company logos on both ends
Sometimes the images online are random

Is there a way to line up the serial number to tell?

I guess if I've tried all of the above and I still can't tell the difference, maybe it doesn't matter; but it would be nice to know.

[Gromit]

I usually go by the way that Greco lines up the skiboards here on SBOL.
For example, the 2013 Sherpa.
If you click on the image at the top of the listing then you'll see a larger shot of the the boards lined up - left, right and base.
For boards which are no longer available new, if you click on the Skiboard Specification Chart at the top of the main skiboards for sale page then click on a particular board, on the left, such as the Condor then you'll see the specs and pictures of all of the boards through the preceding years.

[sempai]

Are there specific boards you can't figure out? If they are symmetrical, twin tips with the same tip and tail height, it doesn't matter which end is front and which is back. If not, the wider and/or higher tip is the front of the board.

[Gromit]

Are there specific boards you can't figure out? If they are symmetrical, twin tips with the same tip and tail height, it doesn't matter which end is front and which is back. If not, the wider and/or higher tip is the front of the board.

The SBOL Skiboard Specification Table also has the tip and tail heights and in addition, the width at tip, waist and tail for each model.

[Bad Wolf]

Are there specific boards you can't figure out? If they are symmetrical, twin tips with the same tip and tail height, it doesn't matter which end is front and which is back. If not, the wider and/or higher tip is the front of the board.

I just received a pair of the Slapdashes to demo. The tips and tails seem the same height, they are symmetrical and center mounted, the kids doodle graphic makes no sense to me and I can't work it out from the bases or logos. I just hoped there might be a clever way to work it out without having to go online and look at a picture.

[Gromit]

If they are 2012 Slapdashes.
Lay the boards on the floor side by side, a few inches appear. The red part of the graphics, near the 4x4 inserts, should form a circle across the width of both boards. The tip of the board with the yellow graphic is the rear of the right-hand board.

[sempai]

If they are 2012 Slapdashes.
Lay the boards on the floor side by side, a few inches appear. The red part of the graphics, near the 4x4 inserts, should form a circle across the width of both boards. The tip of the board with the yellow graphic is the rear of the right-hand board.

You can also figure it out by the parts coming together to form the two arrows.

[Bad Wolf]

If they are 2012 Slapdashes.
Lay the boards on the floor side by side, a few inches appear. The red part of the graphics, near the 4x4 inserts, should form a circle across the width of both boards. The tip of the board with the yellow graphic is the rear of the right-hand board.

I did reference the images to try work it out, but the "link" image shows the boards facing sideways, right to left or left to right? Then the product image shows them in an up down configuration, with the tips up. The other point this brings up, by matching the two boards to complete the pattern, is that they are designed to be specifically left or right boards, if you want the graphic to make sense.

[Bad Wolf]

Are there specific boards you can't figure out? If they are symmetrical, twin tips with the same tip and tail height, it doesn't matter which end is front and which is back. If not, the wider and/or higher tip is the front of the board.

I really screwed up with my Summit Customs. They came with a bamboo/dragon/logo graphic making it clear which end was the tips , but when the edges chipped (sidewall construction), I camphered the edges, sanded off the design and painted them white. They looked great but I couldn't tell which end was which anymore!

They are very symmetrical and center mounted, but there is a tiny difference in tip/tail height. It's almost impossible to tell by eye, so you have to flip the boards over and lay them down on a flat surface to see which end is higher. I have a sticker by the inserts to point to the tips now.

[Wookie]

.....is that they are designed to be specifically left or right boards ......

Strictly speaking, and particularly for release bindings, you should have left or right boards, or more accurately left and right bindings, mated to the corresponding left or right boot. When bindings are calibrated a good ski shop will test with the boots and mark them right or left. The logic is that your boots could potentially be different in outside dimensions and for your bindings to work properly they need to be adjusted to each boot's particular size.

My ski shop goes beyond just marking the bindings with a LEFT or RIGHT sticker they actually have a disclaimer on the service agreement that speaks to it. For most skiboarders with release bindings I guest we could swap the bindings around to reduced uneven wear on your boards. I do this with my Spruce 120s as I will wear down the "inside" edge faster from skating.

[Bad Wolf]

Strictly speaking, and particularly for release bindings, you should have left or right boards, or more accurately left and right bindings, mated to the corresponding left or right boot. When bindings are calibrated a good ski shop will test with the boots and mark them right or left. The logic is that your boots could potentially be different in outside dimensions and for your bindings to work properly they need to be adjusted to each boot's particular size.

My ski shop goes beyond just marking the bindings with a LEFT or RIGHT sticker they actually have a disclaimer on the service agreement that speaks to it. For most skiboarders with release bindings I guest we could swap the bindings around to reduced uneven wear on your boards. I do this with my Spruce 120s as I will wear down the "inside" edge faster from skating.

Interesting.

I can't tell any difference on my Risers but definitely can on the non releasable Line FF Pros; I use the leash to identify left and right.