todd

There is always the US Ski Team Gold Medalion: Donate $6K, (mostly tax deductible), and you can ski almost every resort in the country - free. No lift ticket. No waiting in ticket office lines. And best, totally transferable, anyone you want to let use it, no problem. Just wish I could afford one.

That's 132.75 mph. Think I hit 78 in a downhill once. Helmet was being pulled back off my head by the wind. Pinged out of one ski, and all I saw was lots of snow as I tumbled. I can't even handle close to half that speed on one ski. 132 is awesome!

Was out yesterday with my son. The groomers at the top were great, nice firm base under a small amount of soft snow. The snow was super fast even though warm. Copper gulch was great all morning. Just don't venture off into the bumps until they have had a chance to sit in the sun a while. Overall great conditions. Only 2 days left (unless they open the top for Memorial day again). Only had to avoid a couple of dirt spots starting to show thru right at the base of the gondola.

What a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11 Thanks so much for letting me join you guys. Great people, snow, and weather. What fun to ride with a group of about 20 great riders from around the world. It was pretty cool looking from the lift down on the run of cordoroy we had just thouroughly trenched. Then we would pick a new run to go farming. Thanks again.

Forecast: 10 F in am, warming to 44 F at base by the afternoon, high of 24F at the top. All 4 mtns got about 6" last night. Hopefully should be packed down nicely. I think any of the mountains would be good, just depends on where everyone wants to ride. I personally vote for Snowmass. Again, can only get to the mountain by noon. Fin, I will e-mail you my cell number. Thanks, Todd

They use a product on the roads here called "Magnesium Chloride". Melts the snow as it hits the road, thus lots of slush and spray, carrying the mag with it. Sounds like it really affects copper, ie wiring under your car. Ya, can't think it is good for other metals either, but don't know about the chemical reaction. Any chemists out there? I have a cloth tonau cover for the f-150 also, keeps everything completely dry in the back.

Hey Fin, Would love to join you guys in the afternoon. are you riding Aspen Mountain? We had really warm temps yesterday, slush to the top of Buttermilk. Now colders and snowing. Should be some pretty firm snow.

Photos and visual images have been helpful to me in addition to the text. If you can't make it to an SES, just check out some of the photos. http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=10040 (SES photo shoot on gallery) and also http://www.pureboarding.com/pureboarding/ has some photos from their World carving session out here. There style with the eurocarve is a little different though. I've felt like on heel side I need to stay low, forward, and agressive. Stay on the front of that board and let it rip around. If you drift your weight to the back, you will find the board skidding out/ chattering. Toe-side: just dive into it. Try some J turns. Start out straight down a steep green/easy blue. Gradually lay over into a toe-side turn. Keep going all the way over. Your goal is to have your entire body fall onto the snow at the end of the turn (maybe 6 inches). Don't colapse at the waist. Keep your full body aligned.

Surefoot, has a shop in Aspen and Snowmass. I've always worked with the guys in Snowmass. Check them out at www.surefoot.com. Jim might be able to tell who else he has worked with in town. Price depends on what needs to be done. And possibly what kind of beer you bring in to them that night. They are usually pretty busy, so it's always good to call ahead and set up a good time to discuss everything with them.

The Aspen Town Race Series is having a Super G on Friday, Feb 10th, and a Downhill on Sat and Sun, Feb 11-12. Here is the response from the Race Director: Hi, Todd. You can absolutely snowboard in the town speed series. I would not do it myself, but Tigey Eads and one other crazy dude did it last year and had a blast. Tigey says he plans to do it again this year, so it would be great for him to have some competition! FYI – our boarders last year said, 1) that there are places on the course where they had to shed speed in order to stay safe on and on-course; 2) it was really fun; and 3) it is really physically demanding. You may want to give Tigey a ring to pick his brain. Looking forward to seeing you out there! Gdg Go to www.aspensnowmass.com/raging to see times, entry fees, etc.

This seems to be one of the better forecasts I have found for our area: http://www.snowforecast.com/coloradofcst/aspen.html

Sorry dude, That's Independance Pass. Definitely closed: til Memorial Day Weekend. It's some great spring skiing/riding then, by the way. Recalc time, but don't think it will add 4 hours, prob 2 at most.

They try, but every night 20 cats for 16 hours can't come close to covering the 3,100 plus acres. They even work some of the double blacks (i'll try to show the video of a cat going for a wild ride down AMF! after the winch cable broke).

Jim Let me know what carving runs you want groomed for your map. I will make sure they are full of cordouroy that day. Todd

Been snowing last couple of days, but today is beautiful sunny, around 35 F. here. Probably near 30 on the hill. The snow is spectacular. Seems like every couple of days we get another 6", just keeps adding up. Great coverage. Have been on the soft board too much though, because of the soft snow. The Wall, the Cirque, etc. have been fantastic. Should be ideal conditions for SES.

I stand corrected. Thanks for the note.

As educators we need to look at "cause and effect". As seen on the "toe side picture from above", potentially the hands, shoulders, and hips are rotated and tipped because she is using that to try to help turn. (using rotation to help). Perhaps the focus needs to go down lower at first to help learn how the board can do much of the turning without having to use upper body twist to help it. Once you can make the lower body movements habit, then can begin moving some focus up. Rob, I don't think any of the posts above described driving the back knee forward. Everyone who talked about that was describing the back knee moving toward the snow, to the inside of the new turn. Opening up the distance between the knees. Thanks. =

For those of you who miss the lift ticket deal with Michelle, and also need lodging, you may try checking out the following Aspen Skiing Company option: Aspen/Snowmass is the place to be this winter. The campaign included four, full-page advertisements in the Denver Post, web advertising, a 25,000 piece direct mail and email campaign. We also sent 25,000 additional direct mail pieces to direct fly markets promoting our last minute lodging specials for the remainder of the season. Know anyone who needs lodging and lift tickets within seven-days of arrival? Tell them to sign up to receive our weekly last minute lodging specials at www.aspensnowmass.com/joinus.

About ten years ago I got to run a course in Park City called something like "galactic free-carve", for skis or boards. Had a series of 5 plastic "balls" at each gate, more points the further out you went at each gate, plus timed. Anybody see this around any more/ any where? Or know where it could be purchased?

Kathy, Last year on toe side initiation I also began to focus on the back knee, and almost "opening" it up at initiation. Feel like you are going to "bow-legged" rather than "A-frame." You will be amazed and suprised how this "hooks up" the edge into a significant carve. Hang on the first coulple of times, because we're usually not ready for the edge to engage and the board to carve that early in the turn.

As Snowmass begins work on all of the projects to make it an absolutely world class mountain, some significant changes are occurring. Since Snowmass is the first day, I thought I would let everyone know of the infrastructure changes now in place. 1. Parking. Lot A at the base of the Fanny Hill lift is now a construction site for new Base Village, it is completely closed off to parking. I would highly recommend either parking at the Rodeo Lot (early in the day), or taking the bus from Intercept lot at Hwy 82, or from Aspen. 2. The Fanny Hill lift is gone. Replaced with a 6 pack which has one OFF-load at "Midway" (top of half-pipe/old top of Burlingame chair). Final stop is top of Sam's Knob. That restaurant is now gone, hopefully will be a new one in its place next season. This brings lots of traffic up into Max Park heading to the Burn, but is a nice fast way up the mountain. Seems like the Coney Glade chair gets used quite a bit less now. This is still a great chair to ride for carving. 3. Burlingame double chair. (Starts just across from the mall) This chair now only goes to the bottom of the Nastar/Half-pipe area. 4. Wood Run triple chair (used to start below the Fanny Hill Quad) is now gone.

That's exciting! Lots of activity there right now. Give a shout or note, let's make some turns.

Ray, Think your helmet is stellar! I would feel completely comfortable riding in it. neighbor todd

The shop in Carbondale is called Casual Culture, it's next to Subway, across the street from the City Market. He has lots of clothing, quite a bit of fs boards, and some skate stuff.

One of our local skate/board shops here in Carbondale is selling these Test Pilot pads. Just bought one last week. Can pick up more and bring to SES if anyone wants one.