Charax: A Unique Snowboard Design by Elliot Chaves

Bringing Dimensional Design to the Slopes

Charax stands out among other snowboard designs due to its unique physical features and dimensional design. Chaves has incorporated additional elements that enhance the overall look and feel of the board, bringing the art and brand to life. This innovative approach sets Charax apart from traditional snowboards.

The construction of Charax involves a combination of materials, including a wood core, topcoat, fiberglass, steel inserts for bindings, plastic base, metal edges, resin system, and rubber foil. The standout feature of the board, the butterfly thorax, is yet to be determined. Chaves is considering options such as a hollow or solid carbon fiber mold, or adding a hard rubber material after the board is constructed or casted as part of the board shape itself.

Charax is designed to cater to different user groups, including men, women, and children. The dimensions of the board will vary depending on the specific end user, ensuring a personalized experience for each rider.

While Charax does not necessarily outperform other snowboards in terms of functionality, its true strength lies in its innovation and dimensional design features. Chaves has successfully changed the overall look, style, and feel of snowboards without compromising their performance or functionality.

The entire design and realization process for Charax took place in San Jose, California, at Chaves' own residence. Extensive research was conducted on snowboard construction and materials, with a particular focus on developing the methodology and materials for the dimensional design feature. The challenge lay in ensuring that the butterfly thorax did not add significant weight or disrupt the board's performance.

Chaves, drawing inspiration from his background in apparel design, aimed to create a snowboard that is not just a piece of equipment, but a single design object. The next step for Charax is to determine the production direction and materials required to manufacture this unique addition to the snowboarding world.

Charax has garnered recognition in the design community and was awarded the Bronze A' Design Award in the Sporting Goods, Fitness, and Recreation Equipment Design category in 2016. This prestigious award acknowledges Charax as an outstanding and creatively ingenious design that combines art, science, and technology. It contributes to improving the quality of life for snowboarding enthusiasts, making the world a better place.