Keyser Soze

More drama: https://sports.yahoo.com/photo-finish-show-south-korean-snowboarder-actually-losing-062545852.html

The real news today is that Jasey Jay is going to his 6th Olympic games! http://www.cbc.ca/sports/olympics/snowboard/olympic-snowboard-slopestyle-team-announcement-1.4503644

Just give it some time, you'll get used to it. I was riding an SG 162 SL I got from Big Canuck, and I believe he's a bigger guy than I am. It was my first metal board and I certainly felt like I was in over my head, but after putting in some consistent riding, I could make it do what I wanted and loved the damn thing. I've only relegated it to back-up-board after picking up a 162 Kessler from Michael Lambert on a killer deal when he retired after the Sochi Olympics. I rode it a bit at the end of the season and then haven't been able to get out over the last two winters. I felt a bit like you, the speed is scary, and no doubt amplified by the fact that it was built for an Olympic rider who is about the same size as my weekend-warrior ass. I've only been out a couple of times this winter and definitely felt like it was too much board for me after three runs, but started to have fun after that and have no doubt I'll stop skidding off speed once I get the rust of inactivity off. Side-note, part of that amazing deal included an APEX V2 plate, and I have to say, that thing is like cheating. I'd usually start to feel my thighs burning up after 5-6 runs, but I can ride all day on a plate without wanting to quit. Mind you, I'm not recommending you strap on an expensive isolation plate; I think snow-feel is crucial to improving your riding and I went for years without one. That said, when you tame the beast, it's something to think about.

Stumbled onto this while poking around the Canadian national team site. Craig McMorris straps into an Allflex'd Kessler wearing Atomic ski boots with Darren Gardner, brought to you by Mazda. https://www.facebook.com/mazdacanada/videos/10153355249235741/

Rode Ste-Marie today. Not a ton of fun, really icy.

I wouldn't expect night crowds to be crazy during March Break, much like Reading Week, most of the riding is probably done during the day. Tremblant, yikes. I'm not a fan of the crowds there, and I've been a few times over the last few years on Wednesdays in the middle of March, don't know what Friday's going to be like.

How do they clear the road leading to Cascades? Some cars I see struggle to inch up the hill when the road has nothing on it. I've called off a couple of nights this season due to heavy snow.

Haha, yeah! She's riding pretty well considering it's only her second season, we're just starting on the concept of carving. She seems open to getting on plates, so if she's carving well enough, I might take you up on that in a couple of years.

Hey guys, saw you out last night. Still riding with my girlfriend, as she's learning. Great to see other hardbooters out, you guys were ripping!

Lost in the forum upgrade, but here's a working link to the thread where all the chatter about a reboot (no pun intended) was sparked: http://forums.bomberonline.com/index.php?/topic/38292-northwave-point-950-yellow-the-holy-grail-of-snowboardboots/ The man in the picture, as I understand, is Patrik Gaudet from Excellence Snowboard, who I believe is also a coach for the Quebec race team. The Facebook post has been taken down, perhaps funding never materialized and the project was shelved. This only went up about a year ago, so there may still be hope that he and his team are secretly working away at recreating molds from the old boots he appears to be hoarding in the picture.

Your quiver would make anyone envious. By the way, I'm still riding that SG Full Race 163 you sold me ~6 years back, and I don't think I could ever part with that beauty; thanks again!

Considering all the hours I've spent scouring the forum here on BOL, as well as videos all over the internet, I'm surprised I've never come across Marc's stuff. Excellent resource; thanks for posting. It's given me a ton to think about and work on when I head out riding next.

+1 on the Flow bindings, they snap in as easily as standard toe bails on our hardboots. This isn't a step in, but it's definitely quicker than using the ratchets to tighten your free foot every time you step off the lift. My girlfriend has flow bindings and would never go back. Flow actually offers a centre-disc that is compatible with the Burton channel hardware. READ THE DESCRIPTION ON THE RIGHT, as theses centre discs are not compatible with every Flow binding model. http://www.flow.com/Products/accessories/channel-disc-f-h-m-plastic/FM14A5CDPLSTD Here is a video on how to install a Burton conversion disc on an older 3D Burton binding. Not the same, but looking at the Flow conversion disc, I imagine it's probably very similar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4jw860LKc4 Good luck!

Ahhh, no worries. I didn't get the email. Weird. Thanks for letting me know!

Sent you a PM about the Arbor, email was rejected.

Tabatha, was there an email sent about getting passes?

Yeah, I'm pretty fond of the main face at Cascades, but more so of the lack of traffic, the included weekday riding, and convenient (for me) late-night Friday hours (assuming they're going to do that again). I'm good for two passes (definitely) on the deal at Cascades, and I have two friends who are interested as well.

Hmmm... Never though about that. I'll try them on tonight and see.

If it's any consolation, I'd be cast as Han Solo while frozen in carbonite. I think I may have to restrict myself to pulling only one, as pulling both of them out allows he cuff to tilt back and forth with no resistance.

Yeah, they're definitely not rideable in their current state, going to have to do some work to them. I was actually just looking for a thinner lace-up liner, but the guy was selling the boots/liners for the price I was looking to pay for the liners alone, so I ended up taking them.

This was right at the beginning of the season, so there may have been some additional traffic due to excitement about the new stuff.

I don't ski, but the general consensus that seems to be reached on BOL when the "boot for both" conversation arises seems to be that ski boots that are flexy enough for snowboarding tend not to be stiff enough for skiing. I've thoroughly enjoyed riding Dalbello Kryptons for the past couple of seasons (with F2 bindings, and not a stiff number like the pre-Sidewinder TDs or Cateks), and I suppose switching the stiffer tongues in may work, but Blue (not to put you on the spot) could probably shed more light on this issue, much the way he has in the past. I believe he rides modified Dalbello boots. Speaking of which, Blue, I may need to pick your brain (and Beckmann's) as I'm contemplating some mods to a pair of Lange WCs I picked up on the cheap.

Congrats, Ian! That's great news.

My vote goes to Cascades as well. I'll be buying two passes there whether or not the group decides to, so I suppose add two if you're working up total numbers for Cascades, but not for other hills. I had a pass for Edelweiss the season prior to the upgrades on the snow machines and the park, it was great. However, I bought one again after they implemented said changes, and it turned into such an overcrowded mess that I ended up getting a Cascades pass and not using the Edelweiss pass after only going there three times. Cascades' late hours on Fridays are also very convenient for me. Taking a day off to ride empty runs is fantastic too. I always have a few odd days/nights out with friends at other local hills, but I find them all to be much busier than Cascades (aside from Vorlage, which I am not overly fond of).

That's a very interesting point. While we can make the argument that used equipment is readily available at a reasonable in the classifieds section of this forum, do any board makers offer an entry level Alpine board? Something under $300? Boots/bindings available at $100 a piece? A price competitive with the lower end softie set-ups you can pick up at most sports stores. $700+ for a board alone is a hell of an investment just to try something. That might be part of the reason only high-end shops continue to stock the stuff.