DEVELOPMENT OF ALLFLEX ANTI-VIBRATION
SKI AND SNOWBOARD PLATE
INTRODUCTION
Engineers and developers of ski and snowboard manufacturers have been constantly improving ski and snowboard plates through the years with the objective to increase speed and slidableness and decrease vibrations in turns. Slovenians contributed a big part in worldwide development. The biggest movement happened on February 2, 2000, when Marjaž Vrhovnik won World Cup slalom in Adelboden as the first skier in the world cup to use skis with decreased sidecut radius. Decreased sidecut radius was first used in snowboard before this technical novelty was transferred to skis.
First Allflex plates

Ski plate

Snowboard plate
EQUIPMENT
New ski plate construction changed skiing technique, making it necessary to also change the rest of equipment. Constructors put much attention to the shoe sole, which got narrower, and ski plate, which expanded by a couple millimeters. Main novelty was a platform between the ski and ski binding. Market was instantly flooded with baseplates that were all shortcoming because they obstructed bending of the ski. Even if the plate was made in two parts, it became practically unitary as soon as the shoe was clamped in. The shoe limits bending and creates circle section, which, because of the plastic deformity of ski, demands almost maximal firmness in attachment of ski bindings to prevent the ski binding from opening in extreme bending of ski. I solved this problem with the invention of plate, subject to the 2002 patent file (SI patent 20309 A »Conjunction of ski or snowboard plate and binding for ski boot«), which partially cancels out vibrations.
TECHNIQUE
Ski schools started inventing new skiing techniques because of the reduced sidecut radius, but they were all wrong. Their main mistake was broken stance, without control, causing shoulders to turn perpendicular to movement direction. Weight, distributed on both skis was probably another mistake. The only difference between skiing with old skis, called “spears” and new skis, called “carving” is that with old skis, tales would scatter in turns while with new skis, turns are carried out on edge of outer ski. Skeleton composition and angles in turns are exactly the same.
MEDIA
In 2003, reporters for sports daily “EKIPA” invited me to a world cup race in Sölden as an expert in the field. Until 2014, I wrote columns for “EKIPA” where I commented and analyzed male and female alpine skiing world cup races, which I occasionally continued to do even later on. On January 29, 2010, during broadcast of Kranjska gora world cup, I introduced Allflex plate, for which I’ve two years prior received European patent Sitar F (2008) Platform for mounting a ski binding on a ski. European Patent Office, EP2285457, PCT/SI2008/000068, E.P. Office.
DEVELOPMENT
After seeing introduction of my ski adapted product on television, father of Rok Marguč, Metod, obtained my phone number via “EKIPA” editor Jurij Završnik. On February 2, 2011, I received a call from mr. Marguč, asking if it was possible to make a plate like thisfor snowboard. I said yes and immediately put myself to work. I had to achieve the same mechanical effect as with the plate adapted for skis but with a couple changed mechanical elements. I delivered and Rok Marguč used “Allflex” plate for snowboard in Vancouver Olympics. Because I didn’t use material of adequate quality at the time, some elements twisted.
COMPETITORS
I produced same plates made of more durable materials that Rok Marguč used in 2011/2012 competition season, where Rok Marguč started gaining success with my coaching support. Foreign competitors took notice and I started making plates for Vic Wild and some others. In 2013 we parted ways with Metod Marguč because of disagreements. That was when I offered to collaborate with Rok Flander and before the Sochi Olympic games every world-class competitor wanted the plate. Rok Flander and Žan Košir have a lot of credit for that. I collaborated with both in practices because the technique with Allflex plate is changed. For Sochi Olympics I made plates for Vic Wild, Rok Flander and Žan Košir that were personalized for their individual riding styles. Vic and Žan reached their maximum but Flander did not.
GOAL
Because Allflex similar plates are appearing on the market I want to give notice that no one cooperated in development of plates “Platform for mounting a ski binding on a ski”. Ski plate was developed in 2000 and the first model of snowboard plate, that is still being sold today, includes all elements of ski plate. The only difference is in width adaptation. This fact confirms that all claims made by counterfeit manufacturers are false. Alflex d.o.o.” which is a only legal owner of concession and authorized for distribution.
Sincerely, Aco Sitar