refried

Here's some mugshots from the arrests, I think some of them may be under the influance http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0311091phish1.html

I have a 172 Smokin' board and really like it, They're very well built with stepped ptex sidewalls and a decent base . They're pretty stiff (similar to an Arbor A-frame) with a 30cm nose and tail and a 26cm waist with a long SCR. I have about 50 days or more on mine and it's still in very good shape.

I broke one of my favorite boards yesterday, my 163 3800, not doing anything but a nice heelside turn and the tail just washed out. I made a couple more runs and put the board away thinking it was in need of a good tune, but when I got home I saw the cracked topsheet and could see the bulge in the base, the core cracked at the rear binding. What should I replace it with? besides another one. I ride Malamutes with Cateks, weigh over 200 and am not easy on boards.

I have a bunch of Arcteryx mid and base layers and am very happy with thier performance (warm, fast drying) but I've switched to merino wool for my base layer (Smartwool, Icebreaker) because it's just as warm but doesn't stink. I do like the RHO stuff but it's too warm to wear on all but the coldest, windiest days. I'd rather wear a thin base layer with a warmer mid layer if it's real cold. I'm not as picky about mid layers as long as they have a full zipper and a pocket that zips as well (for beer money), 100 wt fleece is a favorite, it breaths well and will dry very quickly.

I would even go back to work If I could have his job:)

Vintage Can Am cars are always fun to watch, tiny cars with big blocks :)

We're ready for the flooding here. there's a couple hundred sandbags behind the firehouse. I wonder if anyone filling the bags noticed we live on an island without any rivers or streams.

Very nice.

I have a small cable lock but I never use it, I found it on the mountain one day and had it picked in a minute while walking to the car. When I stop for a beer or lunch I'll usually just walk the 100' to my car and put my board in the box with the other boards I brought that day. Theft isn't a big problem at Baker yet but it happens, I feel much better knowing my boards are at my car.

I agree with Jon Dahl, You can't go wrong with a Subaru or a Toyota, They run forever with just basic maintenance. American cars seem to be disposable after 150,000 miles, I don't think they are designed to last much longer than the warranty if they do make it that long without problems. All those repairs keep lots of people employed at the dealerships. Volvos and other European tend to have more electrical problems than other cars but don't have as many mechanical problems. Hondas are great cars also but I've seen too many transmission problems in the Odysseys to reccomend one. this is only my opinion based on what came into my shop.

I've had a few comments recently about the "cool" boards I'd been riding, I thought this was strange since last year the same type of riders (parkrats) were curious about the "old school boards" I had. Then I noticed some new Burton boards with the same shape in the racks. It looks like the new Fish is a cm. wider at the nose and maybe the tail is a bit narrower too but the 3800 shape is there.

Loctite. I had some parts loosen up on my FR2s when they were new but solved the problem with some loctite and/or nylock nuts on the offending parts. Never had the Kingpin loosen after I started to give the cant screws a half turn after the kingpin was tight so no need for Loctite there but pretty much every other screw gets a drop. I don't know if it's recommended but it keeps everything tight all season.

I'll admit it, I'm a dirtbag snowboarder but I also have other dirtbag hobbies as well like whitewater kayaking, rafting, and mountain biking. btw my boards are worth more than my truck too :).

Thats more than my car is worth. but then again, most of my boards are worth more than my car.

I'm surprised to hear this, Scott was always real good about getting back to me and getting out replacement parts real fast. The first FR2s had a couple problems and they were dealt with very quickly, I would break them on Sunday and have new parts by Friday, New stronger parts were machined and sent out by the next season.

I just bolted them on with a 1/4 20 bolt and finishing washer on the inside and an acorn nut and flat washer on the outside to keep from ripping my pants. not the best ratchets but they work and don't release when I accidentally hit them like the others I tried.

No more service station, they closed it on me, on to bigger and better things, like septic systems :). Took a nice 6 month vacation, Still doing mechanical work on the side, Installing boat mooring anchors, and working on the radio towers on Orcas, a little bit of everything. much more fun, well maybe not the septic system stuff but it's fast easy money (and no where near as bad as it sounds).

I'm waiting for a Pogo

I added a strap to my Malamutes last year and it made a big difference in support. I thought about bolting it to the hiback to have a 3 strap binding but I use several sets of bindings besides the Cateks. I've been using a camstrap for a few years to add more support but added the new straps last year and have been very happy with the results. I have a new set of Malamutes that I'd like to compare these to but I dislocated my elbow in mid April and spent the last few weeks of the season riding slow and carefully (unlike how I was riding when I did it).

Don't tempt me

Thats an old Nitro from the late '90s (I think) Jon Dahl might know more about it, I picked it up from him a few years ago. I don't use the 4807 as a powder board, It's gets used more in afternoon after everything has turned to crap. The Osin boards got more use than anything lastyear because they are so much fun to ride to bad they don't make them any more.

I've posted these before but I'll put them up again Swallowtails Tapered boards Arbors All mountain

I have a Judge (now called the Half Gun) and it does rip. It's very similar to a 169 3800 in shape and how it rides. I've never had any problems with this board or my 4807. I'd like to replace my 176 Pow Stick this year but don't want to pay retail for it, it was my favorite board a few years ago and I do miss it. I think it wasone of the best all around boards I've had. Jon, your welcome to try any of my boards let me know and I could drop it off on the way back from Baker.

I noticed them too We have one more month of kayaking/rafting then I'll start to think about snow.

I don't know where you ride but there are very few days that I can ride without having to spend some time on a groomed trail. I don't have access to a helicopter or cat so I have to ride a lift and groomed trails to get to them. having the ability to ride a groomed trail is important. I haven't found the ultimate powder board but I have a good variety of boards that work well for pnw conditions. I'd like to pick up a Pogo longboard and a Spearhead this season but I don't think they will be the ultimate powder boards either. Not all powder is the same, If we get dumped on with light snow I'll grab the Winterstick but if it's moisture content is higher and its heavier I'll ride something else.