Dave ESPI

I demo rode the XV here on new england boilerplate, and flat out hated it. Yeah, I LOVE Rozi boards, but honestly, it is "big mountain" specific. THere is just too much "technology" going on with this board, and the magnetraction sucked ass IMHO. not enough camber to really make it effective on icy conditions. HTH :)

"Straight lineing" is considered "out of control" and negligent because there is no deviation or attempts to avoid traffic, or others on the hill.

I had a race today on pure ice and sugar sand. I had the third slowest time and the second fastest, but I completed the course without missing a gate or falling on both runs. There were a LOT of DQ's and DNF's. The key is much like dancing... "Quick quick slow, quick quick slow". *Quick centering of weight on the edge *Quick transition over the fall line, *Slow rotation thru the turn I relied heavily on the back leg also for edge establishment and re-engagement if the front was not able to bite. Not sure if this helps, but it was a frustrating day for me, and Boilerplate / berkshire blue ICE is indeed something very "unique" to the Northeast.

Absolutely agree with Seans advice about stance. I had a lot of issues with hip and shin bang and pains also. I'm a tall thin guy with "big bones", and my femur/ hip is very angular. I tried and tried and tried to get as low as a lot of the guys in the pictures and rotate the hips around on the heelside turn, but all our body's mechanics differ from person to person. You really need to just devlop your own comfortable ride style and stance using canting and plate alignment on the board. Here is where it gets funky, Every board is different. What works and is comfortable on one, isn't on another. I have seven boards. Everyone is set up uniquely to how it's feel and ride is. Play with your stance, angles, and set up. My personal rule of thumb; Heels and toes to the edge minus 3 degrees. Occasionaly that changes depending on the application and board's width. I'm also cursed with very big boots (mondo 32) so I have to often ride "moving sidewalks" for anything under 55 degree angles. I was at ECES and threw myself to the ground a lot trying out the eurocarve Pureboarding decks (SUPER FUN!) and took a lot of pain/learning from it. Boots make a big difference in how the legs were able to move and also the flex of them in particular bindings. The IBEX bindings were far more flexible and forgiving (albeit a tad sloppy) feeling, but worked better for range of motion versus the TD2's I have that I also tried. Dan was very helpfull with feedback and adjustments to where my posture and angulation was off causing the blowouts on heelside turns, but I was just unable to get to where I needed to be with the limitations of the HEAD boots. He was amazingly good and looked natural on the board and I tried to replicate his body motion with my gear and set up on the same board as him, but was unsuccessful in 3 hours of trying to get where I wanted on the heelside turn. So, I re-set the board to a stance and angles I previously tried that was more comfortable (with the back boot angle higher than the front) and then just rode it in a BX style it it absolutely ripped and I loved it. While I was not anywhere close to "heelside -Eurocarving it" It felt 100% better and more stable than before, and I was no longer "falling" by pushing too hard agains what my natural biomechanics would allow. In short for the TL ; DR version: try different stuff and there is a point where it clicks.... We all have a jump shot, but we can't be Michael Jordan "Air" from the free throw line no matter how hard we try ;)

Just saw this thread now. Hiiya ! Was nice riding with you and carvercutie for a brief few runs, lessons lessons lessons.... always in the way of fun, but thats what working on a mountian is .... work! haah. ECES was great on thursday! Hope to ride again soon with youin the spring melty carveaslushusness !

Good times ! Thanks to all who set this up and keep it alive year after (leap) year !

BRODIE in Lanesboro Mass. R.I.P.

You can pound nails with a wrench, but a hammer is better. Proper tool for the situation and enjoy the different boards / setups/ gear for where they are best suited :) Work smarter, not harder in the snow. Don't question your set up or techniques that work in the hardpack east. For something that is completely alien and different in big mountain back-country powder runs, you have to adapt and change to what works best. Embrace the softboots :) CARVING is still CARVING :)

Just to ask in a logical thread, will there be demo- boots available? I thought I read something about that, but perhaps it was just @ SES ? I have a friend who is a softboot carver and wants to try the HB gear before making the big $ investment. I believe he is a 10.5 shoe ( Mondo 27 maybe? ). We are comming up on thursday. thanks.

I was "informed" by the wife that we have a birthday party for her sons' baby on saturday and if I "miss it" She will put my boards thru a wood chipper. I stamped my feet and pouted with the lament of: (THE BABY IS ONE YEAR OLD ! not like it will remember or be a day of anything important*...!) That being said, it is Presidents Week (AASI Instructor HELL WEEK) and I'm booked solid and going in extra days already as it is @ Jiminy.... Legs are Shot! Have to save some for STRATTON next week. I wil do the NO-RAIN DANCE and pray for SNOW Friday ! Cheers, D- *I slept on the couch for half the night cause of that comment.... LOL.

Prez'dntz Week.... ARGH..... HELL WEEK.... if my legs and mind are not fried, I will try to come out SAT. :) Cail, Where ya been ? haven't seen any hardbooters other than myself there on any sundays :(

This is great news ! I for once actualy am free from any required time in the kitchen, and will be able to play all week! lets hope for great conditions and fun for all !

Sweet !

Rollerskating, and racing Jetskis in the summer. Its a brutal workout! :)

I have thin legs and the Head boots were notoriously stiff when I first get them and are not broken in yet. I had bad shinbang also when I first rode. Longer socks, slight adjustments to canting, and a bit more forward lean on the boot cuff adjustment helped mine go away. Also odd, but if you have hairy shins/legs, you might want to shave them so as to not irritate the folicles and risk yanking hair out of your skin :)