The nice people at Shred Betties emailed me for an interview to which I happily obliged.

http://www.shredbetties.com/riders/story/doctor_snowboard/

They wanted to know about my work and the project with True Snowboards which is great as it means more people are taking a keen interest in the science of snowboard design.

One of the questions that I thought was particularly relevant to recent ‘technology’ in snowboards was reverse camber. I was explaining about my thoughts on this to a snowboarding friend who didn’t have the slightest idea what camber actually does and realised other people might be in the same boat so I would stick up a little diagram of snowboard camber pressure distributions.

Please excuse my poor sketching but this is the basic principle of it that the camber of the snowboard alters the pressure distribution shape underneath the snowboard. If you would like to read more on this I recommend Lind and Sanders book the physics of skiing. On that note - it was actually skis which camber was invented for! Now the thing with skis is they are thicker so have a greater second moment of area and therefore stiffer (also they use stiffer materials in their construction in some models). The details of that I will save for another time but basically all you need to understand is the effect camber has on a ski will alter the pressure distribution a lot more than it would on a snowboard which is softer in flex. I can flatten my snowboards - even a ‘uber’ stiff Girls Burton which was the last snowboard I actually brought before starting true, with one finger. This therefore implies to me as a scientist and engineer that the effect this camber has on the pressure distribution map will be minimal, whatever the camber direction, with most snowboards on the market.

Where I believe the real key to reverse camber lies is in offpiste snowboards which are stiffer. Powder acts as a liquid essentially so having a reverse camber is beneficial - just look into any research on surfboards, wakeboards and some on boat hulls A stiff board for powder coupled with the reverse camber will induce a more ’surf’ like feel, or at least that is my hypothesis.

I hope to prove this hypothesis soon using a special paper which when applied to a surface will alter its properties with the pressure distribution. The paper is then scanned to generate an image which can be analysed.

Far more important to the feel of a snowboard is the quality of its materials used in manufacture and the cohesion between the structural layers - again this is my hypothesis which I hope to prove through some dynamic and structural analysis of ‘dead’ snowboards compared to new ones.

So you may ask…why does True Snowboards have any camber in their snowboards if I have just mentioned it having minimal effects on the snowboards performance from a theoretical standpoint? Well because a positive camber is still conventional and at True we are about proving in peer reviewed literature any alterations to convention that we make. Until I can prove my theories correct - or otherwise, we will not be making changes to our range from a camber perspective. A 74% medal win rate at the 2008 BRITS proves our boards are not doing too badly for the time being

The opinions I have made here are my own based on my scientific and engineering knowledge - they are yet to be proven and subjected to peer review, but hopefully will allow more people to understand a bit about how camber works and what it was designed for as I see so many misinformed people passing on information to others. The sketches are for illustration purposes only and are not a true pressure distribution map - there are some really good ones in the Lind and Sanders book. Once I have any peer reviewed literature links to it will be published on this site

Filed under: Testing and Analysis, Camber science, Cranfield University, Doctor Snowboard, Girls, Hypothesis, Knowledge, liza brooks, negative, postitive, Reverse, Shred Betties, snowboard, Snowboard Camber, Snowboarding, Snowboards, Theory, True Snowboard, true snowboards, University | Post a comment

Just realised I have not posted the graphics of the new graphics for this season on this site! Probably because it was all top secret before the launch

Anyhow here they are:

Filed under: True Snowboards News, 2008, 2009, Deviant, Expression, liza brooks, New Models, Range, true snowboards | Post a comment

Marcus from goneboarding sent me this pic of all the True Snowboards he spotted at the ski show this weekend.

They were there with John Nike Leisure Centres who use our snowboards as their rental stock. A statement to how dryslope proof our snowboards are

Filed under: Events, Goneboarding, JNL, Ski Show, True Snowboard | Post a comment

the ETB lauch is now complete so I am free to post information about what I am doing with them and hopefully get a few of my readers interested!

Ok so I have been employed by the ETB to travel to schools and colleges anywhere in the UK (inc NI) to talk about my job in Engineering. Speciafically discussing snowboard design my route into this career and why engineering is NOT boring!

Who can apply? Well anyone pretty much provided you are doing a physicsy, mathys, engineeringy, technology type course at GCSE, A - Level, AS - Level or college ND, HND etc…

What do you have to do? Go and check out this website link and see what it says in my section. If your still interested get your college or school teacher to visit the home page remember I am a speaker for ‘any region’ or alternatively send them straight to the booking page.

What will it cost? for you, nothing. This is a government funded scheme run by the Engineering Technology Board.

Who am I aiming this post at? Well if your at school or college then obviously you! But also parents, grand parents, friends, cousins etc… who think I would be good to have teach your friend or family member about engineering. These talks are aimed at inspiring young people to go into engineering and complete their courses for those that are already in courses.

Whats in it for me? Well obviously engineering is a career I feel passionate about. I am sick and tired of the devaluation of the title engineer and its misuse in this country. An engineer is a professional person who is registered with an engineering council. They will have completed a degree or a high level HND or apprenticeship. These individuals need the recognition they deserve. I want to challenge the stereo types. Its not dirty, smelly and full of fat old men - just look at me I want to make more people realise that engineering is such an exciting and rewarding career choice that isn’t poorly paid. There is a global shortage of engineers puts you in a fairly strong position I’d say! I also do get a small fee for doing the lecture, which as I am actually still a student myself, is very nice.

Below is my ’shop window advert’

Liza

Snowboard Design Engineer

I’m 24 years old and I am half way through my engineering doctorate (EngD), the world’s first in advanced snowboard design. I got to this point through 6th form, further education at college and an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. When I was 22 I became the Technical Director of the UK’s biggest snowboard company, True Snowboards, which I co-founded with two colleagues. By the time I’m 26 I want to have a GB rider win an Olympic medal on one of my snowboards and hopefully to be a millionaire. Engineers Change the World…I just happen to do it for snowboarders. I would like to draw upon my experiences within engineering and identity the huge variety of avenues and jobs on offer. Using real world examples such as snowboards, footballs and even hair straighteners, which students can relate to, enabling me to excite and inspire them into a dynamic engineering career.

Filed under: ETB, Collegees, ETB, Lecturer, liza brooks, Schools, true snowboards, Visiting, you | Post a comment

There are going to be some changes to the True Snowboards team structure. We are proud to announce a joint venture in the new structure with our north American sector which is designed to sponsor more riders and encourage more to enter into this exciting sport at both a competitive and socially active level.

There will be several tiers to the structure from Grom right up to Pro. There is not going to be a set limit to the number of riders eligible for the scheme and each individual will be assessed on their own merit. Anyone can apply for the scheme and for more details on it and where you might fit in then visit the Team page.

That said we are not looking for people that only go away for their annual holiday and nothing more, we are looking for dynamic individual with a desire to promote True Snowboards and improve their competitive results and rider profile.

Filed under: Team Information and Results, Cody, Doctor Snowboard, Grom, liza brooks, North America, Pro, riders, Sam, Structure, Team Information and Results, Tiers, True Rider Support Scheme, true snowboards | Post a comment

Well after much fiddling I managed to make it spin out of control…sadly not quite the result I was hoping for. I think there is something wrong my my array of zeros for my M-file which runs the program but I think I will have to wait and see what my supervisor says

Its been a busy couple of days and I was gutted I could not go to the Chatham Halloween fancy dress night. Follow that link to read about it on SnowCorps.

Filed under: Testing and Analysis, analysis, Dr Snowboard, liza brooks, Lumped Parameter Model, Mathmatica, Science, simulink, Snowboarding, Technology | 2 Comments

Well after a day or two off recovering from the Metro Ski show and having my MRI scan done for my car accident in July I am back on track with work. I have now submitted my end of second year report and was in the office yesterday catching up on emails and investigating what was about. I also read a few interesting articles in the New Scientist which was good.

I have decided to work at home today as there is currently a course running most of the academic staff I work with are involved in and have been making process with a proper working 14 degree of freedom software model for a snowboard. I have been modifying a model I began the alterations to before the metro show. I have basically split the snowboard into 5 rigid sections and I can apply various constraints to those sections. This will enable me to predict likely ride characteristics of different snowboards if we were to say alter one of the materials used in the construction. My aim for today is to get a virtual snowboard spinning around in a circle so watch this space if I do it expect to see a picture of a circle on here I get very excited about.

I am also excited about the new True Snowboards website which goes live on Saturday. Customers will be able to pre-order snowboards direct on there for delivery at the start of December.

Anyways thats my 10mins tea break finished I’ll let you know how it goes

Filed under: Testing and Analysis, True Snowboards News, analysis, doctorsnowboard, engineering, liza brooks, Mathmatica, Science, simulink, snowboard, Testing and Analysis, true snowboards | Post a comment

I’ve just been invited to be a contributor on snowcorps (possibly soon to return to stomp-it) by Craig Swatton and Alex Spence.

Snow Corps Website

I’ll be sticking lots of true related info on there as well as on here but with less of a technical edge - not that everything on here is entirely Dr Snowboard orientated. From where you can find our riders to when out boards will be available.

Make sure you check it out to keep up to date with the UK seen.

Filed under: UK Scene, contributor, liza brooks, Snowboarding, True Snowboards Doctor snowboard, UK Scene, website | Post a comment

First off a big thanks to everyone that came over and spoke to us on the stand, we weren’t in the best location so it was a bit quiet at times especially on the first couple of days!

An even bigger thank you to everyone that pre-ordered a snowboard with us taking advantage of the 20% show discount True Snowboards was doing.

Early indications are that the new True Deviant is going down a storm with loads of customers opting for the true twin tip design over a directional twin as we have seen in recent years….either that or their impressed with the medal winning stats its predecessor the True Competition had over the directional boards.

True Snowboards Stand

Cody Hierons and Sam Rogers both did us proud on friday by demoing on the big air kicker all day. If anyone has any photos of video they would be willing to send me that would be awesome!!!

Cody at the Metro Show - Photo Ben Bull

We have to give Sam a special shout for being the first EVER girl allowed to compete at the Metro Show on the kicker (or in previous years the Quarter pipe). Cody was also repping True at the LG Freeze on Thursday. Henry Shackleton was down to ride at the LG Freeze sunday but I’ve not heard yet whether that happened due to the rain? We’ll see.

There were a lot of stands there this year and it was nice to see all the new boards on offer. Shame none of the bigger stores were doing discounts as that seems to have upset a lot of people and detered them from attending the show next year. The show did seem quite quiet at times but as I said previously we were tucked at the back so might not have seen the brunt of it.

I’d like to shout Whitelines and SnowboardUK for giving me some free mags and bits defo kept me entertained and updated on the recent news on the snowboard scene.

I’m a bit wiped out this morning from emailing all the contacts I met during the show Also I have lost my voice today…so looks like I’ll be spending some more time reading those mags and watching the DVDs.

Thanks to Ben Bull for supplying the photo of Cody

Filed under: Events, True Snowboards News, Doctor Snowboard, liza brooks, London, Metro Show, Sponsored Riders, Trade Show, true snowboards, UK Scene | Post a comment

Here is the link for the article in the Daily Telegraph so you can read it if you wish.

LINKY!!!!

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Filed under: True Snowboards News | Post a comment