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4frnt: Worst ski construction ever?

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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 19
So my edge ripped out of my TNKs, which should not have happend, especially on my first day riding.  The skis had not been abused in any way, and good care was given to them. 

Upon inspection/comparison of the edge I noticed that they used a different kind of edge, one with no anchoring rivet things in it, which differs from all other skis I have ever come across. 

I took the ski into a shop today and they said they could not repair it in the traditional way because they couldnt ancor the edge to a drill.

My question:  Why did 4frnt skimp on the quality?

This is aimed at anyone who is thinking about going with  4frnt, as an urge NOT TO.  I am extremely dissatisfied.  When I called about a warrenty, they told me that my warranty was void a month before the incident, and they could not even look at the ski.  The damage was not even rail related.

Please do not buy 4frnt, as survival of the fittest ski should prevail to ensure a competition of quality product in the industry.
Dec 1 2008 5:01PM
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Silence
Posts: 16030 - Karma: 149
Interestingly, someone was talking about some Elan MO2's with an edge ripout the other day and they don't seem to have flanges underfoot? only towards the nose (and i assume tail of the ski), but the edges mentioned in this thread would have the least reinforcement i have ever seen

https://www.newschoolers.com/web/forums/readthread/thread_id/399666/
Dec 2 2008 6:36PM
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jhackbeez
Posts: 2136 - Karma: 258
You do make some valid points on your pointless rant on here. 


My first response is that you could not possibly know what every ski edge is made out of.  There are a lot of company's that use that edge in there skis, and its not because they are "skimping out" and saving money.  Look at any ski websites warranty section, not one out there warranty's edge damage from using them on anything besides snow, you hit one rail and your warranty is fucked.  no ski will ever be made to hit rails and not break, its just how skis are.  I suggest you stop crying about loosing your edge from an "error" made by the company for not making it "100%"  because that is just bullshit.  Its your own fault your edge ripped out, and not the skis or the company's for trying to "piss you off"  Thats just my thoughts on you crying about your passed warranty skis you hit rails with and cried about for not getting money back.
Dec 2 2008 10:23PM
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coolhandluke
Posts: 4465 - Karma: 153
which other companies use anchor-less edges?
Dec 2 2008 10:26PM
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jhackbeez
Posts: 2136 - Karma: 258
There are a lot of european companies that use this edge. just off the top of my had, amplid is one of them.
Dec 2 2008 10:28PM
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phishfood
Posts: 2542 - Karma: 298
really? i thought amplid was way durable?

mahh threads
Dec 2 2008 10:32PM
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jhackbeez
Posts: 2136 - Karma: 258
you can't say a company is way durable, there are probably 10 people on this site that have amplids.  and you can't talk until yuo have ridden a ski, everyone skis diffrent, especially on rails.
Dec 2 2008 10:39PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 19
Dont the new Salomon Suspects and Dumonts have threading going from edge to edge in the ski to hold them together?


Dec 2 2008 10:45PM
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blindside
Posts: 5619 - Karma: 1,199
ummm atomic has edge reinforcement on their urban punx....and I know some other companies are doing this same thing. Even elan has the "third edge" thing going on.... Ski companies know that kids are using their skis to hit rails, so obviously they're going to make certain efforts to design a ski that meets these demands.
Dec 2 2008 10:49PM
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phishfood
Posts: 2542 - Karma: 298
chill i'm not saying they are, i'm just saying i've heard the amplid park skis are bombproof. and i'd be really surprised if they used that type of edge and earned that reputation.
Dec 3 2008 7:08PM
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b-kul
Posts: 4350 - Karma: 1,111
those edges look like tinsel.
Dec 3 2008 7:16PM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 19
We use Rockwell steel edges that are pre-shaped to prevent any delam.

As far as reinforcement, the Antidogma uses our Abuse Base Technology. "ABT" is a metal grid laid underneath a sintered Hyper Dense Base. It distributes and lowers the heat (from friction) which occurs when sliding a rail or box. This allows the base molecules to quickly return to their original state preventing heat deformation.


That is straight from Amplid themselves, they also said that they use the T based edges.





Just accept that 4frnt skimps.
Dec 3 2008 8:38PM
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nekBeard
Posts: 262 - Karma: 96
this is fucking great...if he doesnt already work for 4frnt they should prolly hire him...
Dec 4 2008 2:50AM
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skiP.E.I.
Posts: 7605 - Karma: 20,104
uh oh, my little brother got the original TNKs with the jeans on them, we will see how they last I guess....
Dec 4 2008 7:27AM
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fresshhhh
Posts: 792 - Karma: 9
http://www.4frnt.com/index.php/lang-en/construction-specs



full wrap metal sidewall, might just be this years


Every pair of armadas from the first two years had these edges, i have 5 pairs with proof
Dec 4 2008 2:40PM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
The part that sucks the most is that you bought them STRAIGHT FROM 4FRNT.  so not only do they make an amazing margin of profit since there isn't a middle man, but they're saying your warranty was up a WHOLE MONTH ago?  wow  They should at least send you something, OR AT LEAST LET YOU SEND THEM IN SO THEY CAN EXAMINE THEM FIRST HAND.

I've worked in shops for the past 5 years and have seen skis mounted more than once with obvious rail damage, that are a season and a half old, that have been sent back to K2.  Instead of "too bad, your a whole month late"  (when in fact it's more like 6 months,)  K2 sent the guy a free pair.  They weren't the same exact model ( since it was a discontinued model) but at least they were a new pair that were the same length.  Then again, K2 has been around forever and could afford to do such a thing.

The edge in those pics are pieces of shit. Thats like back in grade school where you paste construction paper together but instead, they uses steel edges and epoxy.  Those T anchors make a fucking world of difference, especially for a jib specific ski.

4frnt should send you a new pair and then you should create a new thread about your GREAT experience.  I guess that's too much wishful thinking though...
Dec 5 2008 4:27AM
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SHastatahoe
Posts: 3414 - Karma: 19
I have been staying off of those skis for most of this season since the incident.  today, on my second run, this happens to the other ski:


Click for larger image


These skis officially super suck. 
Jan 4 2009 6:53PM
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iggyskier
Posts: 10434 - Karma: 9,753
BWAHAHAHAHA that is fucking pathetic.

I have talked to several other people about this edge design.  It was used in older race skis and for them worked fine because there is not rock or rail impacts to push the edge around.

For the kind of skiing most people here do, they are vastly inferior. 

I cannot believe they are even using it.
Jan 4 2009 7:50PM
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Squirrel_Murphy
Posts: 2195 - Karma: 1,165
Oh shit, I didn't know that was the other ski!  looks like they both need a fresh hot wax
Jan 4 2009 7:59PM
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CTD
Posts: 6300 - Karma: 348
yea thats weak as fuck man. ive had a ton of expeirence with them, and its def been a love hate relationship lol.

i had 2 sets of first gen STLs, and those were some of the most indestructable skis ever. ive got 4 years on the one pair, almost all the edge, like no delam, etc. however, the wood just wasnt dry enough in those cores, and they are like all rockerd to shit now, (which is def. fun tho.) they were light as shit, and really bombproof other than some of the cores. i also had a set of the topogrophy ones, and they still are the best riding skis ive ever been on. light as fuck, poppy, perfect flex. but the construction was horrible, they were delamed on the 4th day, fairly badly, and by the end of the season, my sidewall was torn off the core, had about 12" of edge missing, a snapped tip, edge pullout and delam in the tails, etc. i too bought them from 4frnt, and they gave me the same BS hard time about a warrenty, like i didnt still for them.

sucks, cause at first they were really great skis, but when they started outsourcing thier construction their 3rd season, it was all downhill.

this industry rewards good service and good quality. when companies start cutting corners and ignoring quality and CS, they deserve to be cut out, and i think thats happening to them. you cant try and be a 4skiers by skiers comapny and try and pass off garbage like that as top of the line gear (which they def were at one point). that no edge tab shit is rediculous, both in terms of the construction, and the warrenty BS like your story and so many others.
Jan 4 2009 8:35PM
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mmallender.
Posts: 5805 - Karma: 936
i want to hear what someone from 4frnt has to say about this. mythreads
Jan 4 2009 9:08PM
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