Helvetico

Will these uncool boxes accomodate the rear spoiler on the Outback's hatch? This is what I'm talking about: http://rackattackportland.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/outback-2010-boxter-5.jpg A quick look at the Kamei website reveals nothing that will not obstruct the hatch, which means not getting it open.

Haven't got tired of watching it yet. Great cinematography and evocative music:

Amazing footage: a real-life horror movie.

Wow, lots of useful responses! No Yakima racks available here in Switzerland, so I'm focusing on Thule. I should also mention that I'm limited by low garage height: lots of indoor garages here have clearances at or just above 2 meters, so I have to measure and re-measure everything carefully, or I'll end up destroying not only the roof box, but low-hanging pipes full of God-knows-what. I've already screwed up once trying to take the cheap way out and buying a box from a giant local hardware/do-it-yourself chain: had to take it back after wasting time trying to install it based upon the advice of a clueless clerk. Going to have to go to a local specialist and lay out serious cash to get it done right. I like the kids-in-the-box threat, too. On the carrot end of things, I find double-DVD players hooked up to earphones do a fine job of shutting them up.

Definitely helpful. Thanks.

Got a pair of Yakima fat cats on the Outback and they're great, but the kids are starting to ski, so the equipment is accumulating. I can barely cram in all the stuff on long trips. Tried to get a box on before, but I can't find something that will both fit the car and accomodate my 200 cm Tanker. Yeah, it gets used only every great once in a while, but I love it. So I'll probably have to opt for a shorter box that fits the strange hatch on the OB and carry the Tanker inside the car. So here are my questions: besides more cargo volume, and greater theft-proofness, what are the advantages to boxes? Will keeping road grit and salt off the skis/boards reduce edge rust? Would appreciate replies from anybody with experience with both, especially a harried parent.

http://www.ralphcastelberg.ch/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=218:real-longboarding-2011&catid=8:snowboard-videos&Itemid=32

Since moving to Switzerland six years ago I've seen these cult boards around: all of them are made of carbon fiber. Got my eye on a Virus Lightning Team Edition, but I have to try Radical's freecarver first. Anyone ridden one? http://www.radical-sports.com/english/frame/f-snow.html

I understand titanal, or titanium, or whatever the nomenclature is: great damping and good ice grip: got me one of them boards and it works goodly. Can anyone out there explain explain the advantages/disadvantages of carbon fiber boards in layman's terms? Is this a replacement for or an addition to titanium?

+1 Level gloves. No problems in two seasons. I wear the full Biomex wrist guards under mittens on hideously cold days. I'd look into lower body protection if I were you: coccyx, hips and all that.

Rented the board at Sport Riml in Soelden and had a great day on it. turns on a dime (17.something waist width) upturned, rounded nose maneuvers well in bumps, crud and moguls stiff camber returns energy well, but doesn't overdo it Just for fun I compared it to two other boards. The first was a Kessler 168. Squared nose made it too grabby in mixed spring conditions. Effective edge feels a lot longer than the Virus. Great on packed powder slopes, I would imagine, but that's it. One-dimensional. Heavy. It's like lead, only denser. Tried the Virus 168 Lightning, which I liked the least. Grabbier than the Kessler, and less damp. Too much camber. I weigh 85 kilos (187 lbs), so this is saying something. I should have a third point here for the sake of parallelism, but what the hell. The Rocket required a little more alertness than my all-mountain board, but really, what's the point of being on the slope if you're going to tune out? Virus is a great builder with an obvious passion for hardbooting...and quality.

Why not start with hard boots on your current board? That's what I did before switching to an AM board. Be warned, though, the edge pressure could end up pulling the board apart. BTW, I live in Switzerland too...across the Roestigraben...and had Joerg at PB do my boot liners. He's good at what he does, but has some pretty fixed notions about what constitutes good equipment and what doesn't. What works for him may not work for you, so don't accept his biases (or mine) as empirical truth. Go out and try whatever you can get your hands on and decide for yourself. Check out your local Valais makers at Swoard (are they still around?) and our north-of-the-border friends at Virus.

Haven't had the softies out this season. Does it make sense to bother now that everything's granular?

Cool. Do the Doneks ride the same? Are the materials exactly the same, or are they a close approximation?

I wonder how it compares to a Kessler...maybe more forgiving of less-than-perfect conditions. It's the last snowboard on the right: the alpine one entitled "freecarver." http://www.radical-sports.com/english/frame/f-snow.html