refried

I've been riding the updated hardware and Heelcup mounting blocks for the last few weeks and it is a big improvement over the original version. No more broken blocks or bent heelcups, and the new blocks seem to stiffen up the binding. I'm putting Loctite on everything, and have nuts on the inside locking the heelcup blocks in place. I'm thinking of adding a second bolt to the blocks because I do have some wear on the sides of the plates from the original blocks moving. I'm real happy with them and Scott has been great sending out new parts whenever I needed them. I'll be buying another set for next season, and I'm working on a way to use on my splitboards. I'm over 200 lbs, and ride at Baker several times a week, so I'm giving then a good test.

My best reaction to my 4807 is someone screaming and scrambling to get out of the way when I got off chair 1 at Baker, the nose scared them. every time I ride the lift with a swallowtail I have to explain how my "old school" board works. A few weeks ago I overheard 2 20 year olds talking about thier scruffy beards and how they hated them because they were itchy, but they couldn't shave them off because they wanted to look "Mt. Baker Hardcore" when they got home from school.

It's tempting, but I really liked the Prior and think I may have another made. Send me an email, I'll think about it, but I already have 6 Swallowtails (I also said the same thing about the 4th, 5th, and 6th):) . Ok I thought about it, I'll take the 188 :).

I might as well join in too, I folded my Prior Pow-Stick a few weeks ago in heavy snow at Baker. At first I thought it was the nose being too soft (I always thought it was) and switched to an Undertaker, but when I looked at it later that night I saw it had delaminated on both sides, but didn't show any sign of cracking. This was a 07 model that I have had since early last season and realy liked it, Time for a new one with a stiffer nose.

I took my friends 5 yo helmet shopping a few weeks ago and ended up with a Giro Ricochet, fits good, easily adjustable, and seems to be holding up well. I have a Bern G that I've worn maybe twice, fits well, and it's well made, but the vents open and close too easily (sometimes by themselves).

My straps seem to fall back into the bindings and stay there, I don't have to do a lot of skating at Baker, so maybe I don't notice them flopping around. One thing I did notice is that the screw holes tapped into the baseplate are a little big for the screws (It looks like the tap was run in a little deep when the anodizing was cleaned out of the threads). I thought I had stripped the threads on the baseplate when I lost the heelcup screw because it threaded in so easily, then I checked the others and found that they were the same way. I have them in with Loctite now, but I think I may put some longer screws with Nylocks or cap nuts in place of the short screws. I was also thinking of adding a second screw to the heelcup, but I think with them being thru bolted it will make this unnecessary.

I have about 10 days on my FR2s and am very happy with them. Before using them I Loctited everything that I was sure I wouldn't change and those screws have not moved. yesterday I moved my heelcup and didn't Loctite the screws and paid for it on my last run today, The screw fell out, and I took a nice slide on the ice. When I got home I had an Email from the folks at Catek saying that they would be sending out new screws with Loctite patches to cure the Loose screw problem and new longer allen wrenches to make sure everything is tight. Nice to see that they are doing this even though it only takes a second to do it yourself. My bindings are back together with Loctite on all screws. I keep a set of allen wrenches in my pocket, I'll just have to make sure I check the screws occasionally.

I like where I live, It's a small island in north Puget sound, about 2000 year round residents, and very little rain (a lot less than Seattle, about 75 miles away). It takes too long to get to the mountains from here (125 miles each way, but close to 4 hours due to the ferry) even though I can see Baker from my house, and Mt. Washington from my shop. Not real convenient for whitewater kayaking and rafting either, but sea kayaking is big here so I'll have to get one (I've been thinking about it for a few years). I live in the woods, at the end of a long dirt road on a cattle ranch, so it's real quiet which is nice.It takes about 20 mins. to get to the village (1 market, 1 gas station,)and the speed limit is only 45 (it will be 35 soon). No crime, everyone knows each other, but we're being overrun by people from Ca. I've lived in NY, MA, and ME, and like it in WA., I don't think I could live on the east coast again, way too many people. 0

The new discs have either 3 or 4 holes, my first set was the old style with both 3 and 4 holes, my extra discs have only 4 holes.

Great pics, Looked like a great day. I'll post some pictures of thr FR2's as soon as I find my battery charger and charge up the camera.

I've never seen another big Tanker at Baker, I don't think anyony else has either, Judging by some of the looks and comments I get. I picked up this board from RJ down in CA. Don't know STV or Sandy (I did talk to him a few years ago about a demo Tanker).

Baker

I managed to scratch the heelcup as soon as I opened the box (maybe it came that way, UPS abuses everything here). Real nice bindings, I spent an hour just checking out the high quality machine work when I got them. Simple to setup and adjust,and real comfortable (not too sure about the buckles, but the Limited(Nidecker) straps and highback are nice). I put Loctite on everything I didn't have to change and checked everything after a couple hours, but everything was tight. The adjustable cant is real nice, I broke my foot a month ago and after few hours of riding my foot gets real sore, I rode all day today and my foot felt fine until I took a run on a board with regular bindings. I had mine on a Prior Pow Stick, but had a 200 Tanker and an Undertaker with discs with me if I felt like changing boards.I'll try the Tanker tomorrow, hopefully the temp will drop a little and we wont have mashed potatoes.

I finally have gotten over my Arbor addiction by replacing it with a swallowtail addiction. I have a bunch of A-Frame/S-Series boards and thats pretty much all I rode for a couple years, They're great boards, fairly stiff and will last about 100 days before I 'd notice they've lost their camber (but they were still stiffer than a new Element). I have from a 158 to the 174, but the 170's are my favorites.

Rode Baker today in heavy rain and wind, chairs 6 & 8 were closed due to high winds. Tomorrow should be better.

I ride a 200 Tanker on powder days also (Thanks RJ ), But I do have a few swallowtails that also get used just as much,they are all great boards and all ride a little different. 185 Winterstick swallowtail 185 Rossi Undertaker 185 Wasatch Mojo (soon to be another splitboard) 176 PriorPow Stick 168 O-Sin 4807 I also have a few tapered boards that are fun in trees 165 Prior Khyber 159 Stepchild Ranquet My 172 Smokin' Freeride and 177 Tanker are also great powder boards and get used quite a bit.

I heard Miura stopped production last year until he could find a new shop. Is he making boards again?

I have 4 swallowtails that I ride with softboots, don't have a favorite because they all ride a little different, But they all get lots of attention. I weigh about 210, and mostly ride the heavy wet snow of the northwest. Going to pick up a 200 Tanker Maori this year, Hopefully we'll another good year in WA. so it can get some use. Winterstick Swallowtail 185, A great Powder board, Floats on top of everything, feels strange riding it on groomers back to the lifts. Always get lots of questions and comments about riding an antique board (it's a 2005). Not a lot of days this board can be ridden, likes deep soft powder, not fast,but a fun ride. Rossi Undertaker 185, A great all around board, Floats great in powder, Carves real nice on groomed trails. Nice stiff board, but the nose will flex enough to stay on top of the snow. Not a lot of sidecut, likes big long turns and is real fast in deep snow, nothing better than flying past people struggling in waist deep powder. Prior Pow Stick 176, this is a prototype of the new style, Not as stiff as the old style, I think the production boards are a little stiffer, but I could be wrong. Real fun board but the nose may be a little soft to ride on groomers, looks like it bounces all over the place, and doesn't feel as secure when turning on hardpack, But the nose will flex to stay on top of the lightest powder. The older style is much stiffer, and carve real well on groomed runs, Never tried one in deep powder but it was a lot of fun thru the trees. O-Sin 168, great all around board (except for ice), real short, fun in trees and cliffs (no tail to break) and the best crud board I've ever ridden. It's one of my shorter boards, but feels even shorter than it is (not much bigger than my Arbor A-Frame 162),the nose will always stay on top of the snow no matter how light it is. Real fun board even though it's not the best quality and may break at any time.

I weigh about 210, The Khyber feels a little short for light powder(I usually ride a 170 or 172), but it works well for a tree board. I'd like to try a 170 Khyber to see how it feels.

derm75- I have the new pointy nose one, It's a great powder board, but the nose is pretty soft. Maybe the later production boards are stiffer ( mine is a "test" board), the old boards were fairly stiff if I remember corectly. right now I have the Prior and my 4807 side by side and the nose of the Prior is stiffer, but not by much. I know Proir had a couple old style boards left, but I dont know what sizes. I looked at a friends old Pow Stick, and the nose is much stiffer than mine. I rode it again this weekend, and the nose feels a little soft for a resort board. I also spent a lot of time on my Khyber 165, and I think it would be a better everyday board than the ST, but the ST is much more fun in powder. Tom

Looks like I need a Tanker 200, guess i missed you up at Baker today, Great conditions, but I spent most of the day inbounds showing a friend around, Sunday I'll get to ride by myself.

I've had one (a 176)for about 6 weeks now, real nice board, the nose flexes and stays ontop of everything. got to ride it in some deep powder the last few weeks and have no complaints, but it's kind of funny watching the nose flop around on groomers. A lot more flexable than my Undertaker, better in powder, but the nose flexes a little too much at times on hardpack. Don't know what to ride tomorrow, guess I'll have to bring both.