Sinecure

Thomas, get in touch as the time gets closer. There'll definitely be good opportunities for a bc noob. The snow is usually ultra stable by then and there are routes to choose that don't require skins if people don't have them. The truck thing is for Bloody Couloir only. If somebody has a high clearance 4WD, you can cut out a ton of hiking and get right to the base of the snow and then climb a fairly easy shoulder route to the top. Plus ski/ride almost back to the truck. It is also looking like there's going to be plenty of naked hot-springing during the weekend. One of the ladies has agreed to coordinate that.

Well, I probably shouldn't speak too soon, but so far I'm still in one piece this season. Hopefully I can stay healthy through the end of May. I'm still planning to be at Mammoth that weekend. I found two free tickets. So at least two days in-bounds and hopefully at least one, maybe two backcountry days. Anyone coming that has a truck capable of getting us up to the beginning/hike to bloody couloir - I've seen it a bunch of times and would really like to get up there. And maybe a day at Tioga or Virginia Lakes? Tioga has stuff that's an easy boot-pack from the car. Ginny lakes is more of a skin/hike in.

Borrow ski poles from a skier for the start. Just leave them behind once you push out. As stated above, you'll do best if you can complete the turn before the gate. So try to take a high line. Remember not to tip into the turn until you are in the rise line - think a straight line up the fall line from the gate. If you don't have some armor, find a big soccer shin guard and strap it to your lead forearm. Try to clear the gate out of your way as best you can. Full face helmets are good in case you miss the gate and it smacks you. Try to only look at the gate long enough to cross block it. Be looking as far ahead / down the course as possible. If you are staring at the base of the gate to gauge how close you are going to be to it, you'll be struggling hard and getting behind/low. If you get caught low/late, find a gate where you can reset and back ahead of the course. Skier chatter/ruts are different from boarder ruts and they'll really toss you around. If you are turning early/high, you'll be riding across the skier's ruts and the whole experience will be smoother and therefore faster. Be sure the preview the course and figure out where the tricky spots are. Memorize the double gates and if there's a blind breakover, find a tree or other landmark to aim for once you've figured out what line you are going to take.

Snowperformance camps are great, regardless of your level. I've been to two and had a great time both times. Just fly to LAX and drive up. Rent a car or do a rideshare. I saw some really cheap deals on rooms at Mammoth Mountain Inn online recently. There should be tons of good deals in Mammy this time of year. I'll be there the following weekend if anyone goes and wants to stick around.

If you can make the thing in Steamboat with Trappy, it will be worth it. If it is just for the SL race, not so sure. Also, ask you local director if he'll send you for GS too. He probably has the ability to make that happen, especially if the GS winner isn't going to go.

Hah. Found the picture. Me backcountry skiing at Tioga with a broken hand.

I used that beanie the other day as a hat instead of a glove. Also happened across a picture of me with the cast on my hand and the beanie covering it. SNBA, Can't make the March dates. Taking the kids to FL to see grandparents for birthdays and passover. Plus I usually only make it to Mammy in the spring once the Tahoe resorts close. The June SNES sounds fun though. I'll probably do a backcountry day up around Tioga or Virginia Lakes that weekend if anyone is interested. Loc, spring morning riding rules! And afternoons are for drinks, food, herbs and naps.

Whoever got them, if by chance you don't want that leash, I'd love to have it. Be happy to paypal you the $$ to cover postage plus a buck or two. PM or email me. Thanks.

If any of you have spare tickets to Mammoth that you'd be willing to trade for a couple of tickets to Alpine Meadows good through the end of the season, I'd love to hear from you. I'd even throw in a place to stay at Alpine for a weekend if you need.

Yes, maggots. And Masterofgreenbeans has promised to show up with large quantities of amazing bacon. Fort FKNA will be rockin', although I'm thinking of staying indoors this time around. We'll see. Not sure if I'm bringing the kids or not. For those of you who have change for a nickel, there's a thread about this over on TGR.

A bunch of skiers I know are going to be there then. I'll be bringing some carving boards along with my skis for sure. Anyone else want to make a mini carving session at Mammoth into a long weekend? Should be great weather, plenty of snow and lots of fun. Who's in?

I don't see anything wrong with riding hard boots in pow. I usually leave them in walk mode. But if you want to try softies, and you like the feel of hard boots. I'd suggest stiff ones. Most here seem to like Malamutes (me included). I have them mated to Flow bindings, but I don't really suggest Flows for pow because they are a PITA to close if there's any snow inside. Or if you get them closed, then the snow works its way out, they're too loose. I haven't tried my soft boots in pow yet. I usually ski on powder days (I know, a complete flip-flop from how I dealt with pow for almost 20 years). But I'm tempted to mount them to my 196 Nitro Pow Gun and see how they are. If only I were in Tahoe today. Bluebird powder day with 2' of fresh. Grrr.

The MegaRide toe is wider to work with the Dynafit bindings. One option is to take a dremel tool to the plastic on the sides where the bail/shoulder bolts are touching the boot. There should be plenty of plastic there to allow this. Does bomber still offer a wider toe bail? If so, that should fix the problem as well. Be prepared for a messy job when you dremel. I found that the rubber/vibram part melts and sprays a lot when grinding it down. Maybe I used the wrong attachment on the dremel though.

Where were you three weeks ago when I paid $200 for a pair? You sure they are too small? I wear a 27.5 Head Stratos Pro. Shop tried to sell me size 10 Malamutes but I insisted on 9.5 (I wear a 10 D-E street shoe). First two days the heel cup was a bit snug, but now they're feeling great. Also, I think you can heat mold the liners - on a hot air stack, not in an oven.

You'd be surprised. I've ridden boxes 50/50 loads of times. We have a small box in our ski school corral and some of the instructors play on it when we're waiting for morning line-up. The other day I was out on my 4WD with hard boots and TD2s mounted roughly 45/50 degree angles. I decided it was time for me to learn to boardslide heelside. First try I landed on my ass as I exited the box. Second try I landed on my ass hard on the box (ouch). They couldn't believe I tried a third time. Nailed it that try and earned some good respect. Since then one of the softbooter instructors has taken the 4WD out for a morning of play and loved the "longboard" feel. Another wants to take it out as soon as we have another groomer day (lots of pow this week). I also rode it switch for a few hundred yards down a fairly steep intermediate run on a cut-up powder day. That was not easy. Switch is definitely easier when you can see where you are going. Next I need to learn rails, but they scare the crap out of me. On skis or board. Here's a pic of me riding a box on a 210cm Super G board.

Get thee to a good bootfitter. Problem solved. My son has the same thing. Gets boots punched every year. No problem.

Just curious, do they use snowboard gates for Nastar at Nationals? We just got Nastar back in NorCal at Alpine Meadows and I've been sort of tempted to take a few laps on a board. The course is pretty easy and I know I could rip it up, even with tall gates. I've run it a few times on skis just for fun when I take students through as a training exercise. And, is Nationals held in CO every year?

Rockered board. You can butter without even yanking on the off-snow leg.

What Neil said. I've done both for a long time (40+ yrs ski, 24 yrs SB). Raced both. Used both in deep pow. Even skied/ridden parts of a KL (speed skiing) course. Skis win every time. In the early days good swallowtail boards won in deep pow, but not with new skis that are 110+ underfoot. Even in your butt-hurt example, you'd lose. No way you could keep a board going straight set up like that. And even if you could, that stance would lead to some lift of the nose, then you'd get air under the nose, the board would go all squirrely and you'd crash in spectacular fashion. Even with my 210 Super G board, riding in a strong tuck I start to get air under the board somewhere around 70mph. Its just too hard to keep the board riding flat and straight at those speeds. It is fun to think about though.

If you buy my SG from me, I'll send it to Ink and he can customize it for you. Someone please buy my board. I need the $$.

I'd do it off a 20 meter jump. Not so sure about a 120 meter jump.

Get a USASA or USSA rulebook and read it. I seem to recall the USASA one has a decent description on gate offset and spacing. Use some string/rope with knots on it as your measuring device. Or use the tall side gates to measure.

Being patient is good advice. To break it down, remember to wait a bit longer than you are used to before tipping the board into the new turn or you may fall on your face/butt. And don't be afraid of speed. Oh, and remember you can't throw it sideways as quickly if a gaper cuts you off.

I've added about 1.5" to my stance width with my new softie setup. Plus My back foot is now ducked out. I'm at around -12r +15f. Hard booting is still so much better. If I didn't have to demo switch crap teaching I'd bail on the softies altogether.

This one is still available: http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=26101