Member of the Month

PartyBullshiit
March, 2024

Online

Welcome to the Newschoolers forums! You may read the forums as a guest, however you must be a registered member to post. Register to become a member today!

4frnt park skis are crap.

profile picture
spicyricky
Posts: 62 - Karma: 47
I've had a pair of switchblades since Christmas and I now have 14 edge crack and really close to losing my edge under foot on one ski. Now I know park skis are gonna get damaged over time but really I've had these skis for a little over 3 months. If ur gonna make a park ski maybe put a little stronger and bigger edge on them. This thread is just to tell people not to buy 4frnts if they mainly hit rails like me. But other then that they are a pretty fun ski.
Mar 16 2014 11:21PM
94 62
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 8620 - Karma: 32,327
Let's say an entire line of skis because of one pair. While we are at it.....hey guys! My fks suck because I cracked a heel piece. Never buy fks. Ever.
Mar 16 2014 11:47PM
15 3
profile picture
charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
yeah its a price point ski, it is what it is. maybe dull your edges before hitting rails all day.
Mar 16 2014 11:51PM
8 0
profile picture
Pudge
Posts: 3718 - Karma: 3,117
Idk he did specifcally say the park lineup. Although it lacked eloquence, I think OP was just trying to make a claim about the durability/edges.

That being said, people regard the Hoji and Renegade as some of the best skis in the world, for their specific purpose. 4FRNT does something right, it's making an enjoyable shape. OP is suggesting durability might not be their strength!
Mar 16 2014 11:52PM
3 0
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 8620 - Karma: 32,327
Yeah but he should have realized he was buying a price point ski. That's like buying a pair of squires and getting pissed when they blow up from skiing hard. It's just gunna happen eventually.
Mar 16 2014 11:55PM
1 2
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 8620 - Karma: 32,327
Jk didn't realize he said switchblade. Thought it was click.
Mar 16 2014 11:59PM
1 2
profile picture
Scotty_Boy
Posts: 777 - Karma: 1,449
I like my CRJs, 4FRNT makes some sick pow skis
Mar 17 2014 1:56AM
2 0
profile picture
lineskis413
Posts: 124 - Karma: 1,708
i gonna hop on the line skis dick real quick, i beat the shit out of mine daily and they have held up for years now. go buy line skis
Mar 17 2014 8:43AM
0 2
profile picture
spicyricky
Posts: 62 - Karma: 47
Ya I never said 4frnt is shit in general I think a lot of they're other skis are sick but for a ski that is labeled under a park series they should make a more durable ski and ya I wouldn't call a 500$ ski a price point ski
Mar 17 2014 9:20PM
3 1
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 8620 - Karma: 32,327
500 as a starting point for the ski is pretty cheap, but no it is not their price point ski. Still you shouldn't base their entire park series on the pair you had. Btw....did you detune before taking them to rails?
Mar 17 2014 10:36PM
3 2
profile picture
spicyricky
Posts: 62 - Karma: 47
Ya I detuned them with a gummy stone as soon as I got them. And well I sort of can generalize they're whole park series when all use the same edges.
Mar 17 2014 11:16PM
1 1
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 8620 - Karma: 32,327
A gummy stone does not detune....it de-burrs. You would have had to for over the edge like 100 times to effectively detune. Next time you get a pair of skis....use a file, then go over it with a gummy.
Mar 17 2014 11:26PM
2 0
profile picture
spicyricky
Posts: 62 - Karma: 47
I got them pretty dul with it but I will take ur advice but even they need bigger edges right now they only use 2x2mm edge which in no way is big enough for any park ski
Mar 17 2014 11:29PM
0 2
profile picture
last_tango
Posts: 2635 - Karma: 2,665
I think your switchblades have held up pretty good. You are slamming skis on metal rails and when you are doing that don't expect ANY skis to last more than a season with the edges intact.

I do however think park skis should have 2.5 edges.
Mar 17 2014 11:43PM
1 0
profile picture
dbchili
Posts: 2555 - Karma: 1,657
op is getting a lot of hate for nothing

4frnt park skis have always been notoriously shitty when it comes to durability. And yes, i've owned them and so have several of my friends. The edges crack quick. It's why almost no one rides them anymore

OP didn't say all skis are crap, just that their park skis should be more durable. Which is an incredibly fair statement. With over 10 years in the game you'd think the company would have figured out how to make a durable park ski by now, lots of others have

and no, unless you literally ride every day exclusively on rails, 3 months at a couple times a week is no longer an acceptable lifespan for a park ski.

so instead of hating on OP for stating an honest and fair opinion of a bad experience he had, how about lets go around aimlessly defending companies that have put out a poor quality products and insult people who try to warn others from making the same mistake?

oh and to OP, just do some research before you buy skis next time, for the 500 you paid you could have had umpteen other skis that would still be in one piece
Mar 18 2014 5:27PM
8 1
profile picture
Session
Posts: 5315 - Karma: 21,334
Your definition of De-tune sounds drastically different from what it really is.
Mar 18 2014 7:21PM
3 3
profile picture
pooptrack
Posts: 361 - Karma: 214
Honestly 4frnts have been the Most durable skis I've owned. Had mine for 2 seasons now v and have 1 edge crack. Really impressed since it's usually been a ski a season for me. Everyone skis differently so who knows.
Mar 18 2014 7:58PM
2 2
profile picture
spicyricky
Posts: 62 - Karma: 47
Have you ever hit a rail...
Mar 18 2014 8:41PM
4 4
profile picture
charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
just gotta come in to defend the kid. you detune using a file you use a diamond stone in conjunction with a gummy stone to debur and clean up your edges. a file is the only way to remove enough metal one way or another to sharpen or dull edges
Mar 18 2014 11:40PM
1 0
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 8620 - Karma: 32,327
What do you do then?
Mar 18 2014 11:46PM
0 0
profile picture
pooptrack
Posts: 361 - Karma: 214
Almost exclusively. These have become my dedicated rail skis actually. Done all sorts of shit like disasters, switch ups, lip slipes, 2's, urban and any combination of those previously listed. I'm a pretty big guy to at 6"4 so I'm really impressed. I think you just got a bad pair man, wouldn't stay sour over it.
Mar 18 2014 11:53PM
1 4
profile picture
SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,535
Why do you guys let trolls troll you in gear talk so often? Especially FT boot ones. You can always tell which ones are genuine and which ones aren't.
Mar 19 2014 1:42AM
0 0
profile picture
spicyricky
Posts: 62 - Karma: 47
Ok
Mar 19 2014 9:26AM
1 1
profile picture
Session
Posts: 5315 - Karma: 21,334
If I go to a shop, and have my ski's worked on. And I tell the tech to detune the rocker to the contact point. The WILL not use a fucking file. They will use a gummy stone, and de-tune it. De-tune does not mean completely dull.
Mar 19 2014 10:29AM
2 8
profile picture
DonNut
Posts: 74 - Karma: 70
I don't know about your ski tech, but i definitely use a file when de-tuning my edges for sliding rails and gummy stone for getting rid of any burs on the edge.
De-tuning with a gummy stone would take ages. Your edges are gonna get fckd anyways when hitting rails, so might as well use a file with a rounding motion.
Mar 19 2014 1:26PM
0 0
profile picture
spicyricky
Posts: 62 - Karma: 47
That sucks man and ya I ride 4frnt binding to but the only reason they're any good is Cuz there not even made buy 4frnt they're made by tyrolia
Mar 19 2014 3:51PM
0 0
profile picture
charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
uh.. I work in a shop and you bet your ass I'd use a file just like I use a file on every pair of skis that comes in.
get a clue bud.
Mar 19 2014 4:04PM
5 1
profile picture
MOGULS...
Posts: 505 - Karma: 194
So many things wrong with this thread... your bindings probably do suck because they are made by tyrolia.
Mar 19 2014 7:46PM
0 4
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 8620 - Karma: 32,327
I'm assuming he's talking about deadbolts. I love my Mojo 14s (same binding) and are IMO the most underrated binding out there. They kill it, and I have never had an issue.
Mar 19 2014 8:01PM
1 1
profile picture
Session
Posts: 5315 - Karma: 21,334
So if a customer asks brings say a pair of Bonafides in, asks for a tune, asks you to detune the rocker to the contact points you would use a file? I call bullshit. Or you work at a shitbag shop.
Mar 19 2014 11:10PM
0 5
profile picture
profa_212
Posts: 8620 - Karma: 32,327
There is a difference between detuning a rocker so it no longer catches, and de tuning underfoot for rails. No I would not do that do the rocker. Underfoot on a pair of park skis? Hell yes.
Mar 19 2014 11:17PM
3 0
profile picture
bnewbs6
Posts: 1919 - Karma: 1,462
It sounds like you just got a bad pair. I have been heavily using my Switchblades since november and havent had any problems. I have zero Edge cracks. The only thing that is wrong with them is when I smashed the side into the front of a rail. Other then that they have been extremely durable. (And yes I hit rails all the time).
Also I have the Wise as my Pipe ski. No doubt one of the best skis ever made.
Mar 19 2014 11:21PM
1 0
profile picture
SKI.ING
Posts: 2695 - Karma: 2,535
Shhhh don't tell them! I love still finding them for cheap.
Mar 20 2014 2:17AM
1 0
profile picture
tyler.minyay.9
Posts: 53 - Karma: 101
Call me crazy but i make a point of finding the cheapest park ski's at the begging of every season, it keeps you from giving a fuck when this kinda stuff happens, people are so concerned about swagging out on name brand ski's, let your skills do the talking... I found some Head mojo mixes for $170 bought two pairs who gives a fuck just thrashing them, still better then anyone at my park with $500+ shit.
Mar 20 2014 2:36AM
0 0
profile picture
.nasty
Posts: 10581 - Karma: 11,090
do you use the panzer body to detune? I've always felt that to be straight up rough on the edges unless it's for an athlete who just wants them to the point where they're almost gone which isn't uncommon haha. But I typically use a soft stone (not gummy, it's just too soft and takes un-needed effort but I can't remember it's exact name right now) in a clockwise motion til it's rounded perfectly without compromising the angles of the edge.
Mar 20 2014 2:38AM
0 0
profile picture
ZachAndCheese
Posts: 816 - Karma: 5,116
Odd I have had switchblades for like a year now and take them on rails a lot. Never had a problem , they're a super fun ski. The only problem that I've ever had was some minor topsheet chipping but I've had them for like a year so it's expected.
Mar 20 2014 6:47AM
0 0
profile picture
spicyricky
Posts: 62 - Karma: 47
Maybe you guys aren't having troubles with them Cuz you ride them on a mountain were you don't just hit rails all day and you ride the mountain and have more jumps in your parks were as me I live in a big city were all we have is small hills with maybe 1 or 2 jumps if your lucky so all I really have is rails to hit which is obviously why my switchblades didn't last long at all but even then they need a bigger stronger edge that should be able to withstand a lot of rails...ok
Mar 20 2014 1:47PM
0 1
profile picture
joriza.ski
Posts: 1651 - Karma: 2,165
My friends clicks were destroyed by the end of the year. I mean half the ski was missing. But you need to use a file to detune
Mar 20 2014 2:28PM
1 0
profile picture
tomPietrowski
Posts: 7098 - Karma: 17,031
Yep a fine file, folwed by a gummy and finished with a polish. Stanadard for all new ski sales. Files are not somthing to be scared of using. A file in the hands of a good tech will be one of the most effective tools when working on edges. But its inportant to remember its a 3 stage process, file - gummy - polish. Too many people try to do it all in one step.
Mar 20 2014 3:38PM
1 0
profile picture
OzzyJ
Posts: 723 - Karma: 927
Have you ever thought that yours might have been defects?
Mar 20 2014 3:56PM
0 0
profile picture
YungTabitha
Posts: 239 - Karma: 1,646
i got some 2014 atomic punx this season and i already have like 8 edge cracks underfoot. I love my punx but damn are their edges thin
Mar 20 2014 4:39PM
0 0
profile picture
Dr_Mantis
Posts: 64 - Karma: 86
neva been a bitch make edges round as fuck

Mar 20 2014 5:38PM
0 0
profile picture
ZachAndCheese
Posts: 816 - Karma: 5,116
Maybe OP just sucks at rails???
Mar 20 2014 6:56PM
0 0
profile picture
spicyricky
Posts: 62 - Karma: 47
Nah the simple fact that ur switchblades egdes are still holding up is shows that u probably never hit rails because you suck at them oh and by the way sick display pic...
Mar 20 2014 7:36PM
0 3
profile picture
charmander
Posts: 10636 - Karma: 372
this.

Mar 20 2014 11:06PM
0 0
profile picture
LC.
Posts: 5952 - Karma: 2,423
Blunt completely outside of the sidecut taper points and detune normally a inside of them 2-3 inches. Most skis have the rocker contact points further towards the centre of the ski than the widest part of the ski so if you detune to the rocker contacts you detune a lot of effective edge.

And start with a file or it'll take a long time.
Mar 21 2014 12:09PM
2 0
profile picture
BskiP
Posts: 1369 - Karma: 223
So much facepalm in this thread. pregrind your park skis kids, they last 10 times as long. All edge material regardless of brand is basically the same exact thing. having edge cracks when you ski park shouldnt shock you, it happens to EVERYONE. Can someone ban retarded people? this is next level.
Mar 22 2014 12:56AM
0 0
profile picture
Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
All park skis are going to have edge problems eventually.

That being said I no longer buy 4FRNT. Unfortunately I've never had a pair stay laminated long enough to care about the edges cracking though. This is not an isolated issue and 4FRNT's reputation has long been questionable when it comes to park ski durability or their.....let's say questionable business practices.
Mar 22 2014 2:03AM
0 0
profile picture
Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
This is the exact same pitch I've heard from countless 4FRNT reps who don't have the balls to admit their skis are CONSISTENTLY in poor condition much faster than several other popular brands.
Mar 22 2014 2:09AM
0 0
All times are Eastern (-4)