Dave ESPI

haha true dat! I guess you just have to spend more time in softboots to get a hard-bod again.... :D (sarcasm) how is your backside feeling from the INTEC hoof print ya gave yerself? I was out with Rob Wallace yesterday. Snow was awesome, but icypatches showed us stars in the daytime a few times when we slammed down..... Icecoast pain sucks

Kevin, you mus thave had a "waiver" in your voice when you said it..... chicks pick up on that lack of determination and truth in a statement as such and it is like a lie-detector in their minds...... Now you just need to be a linebacker and "straight-arm" run the play and get a newboard then when she says something, rip off your shirt, just flex your arms and shout "O-DOYLE RULES!" and walk away. Be sure to also have flowers and a box of chocolates for later when she is mad but really says she is "fine"..... we all know what F.I.N.E. means.... lol. Cheers, D.

The more days I ride, the less I weigh. I target myself to be 160 by Nov1. By april 1 I'm 146. ITs Calories in = calories out will maintain.... Calories in > calories out= gain weight. Sounds like peeps need to eat/ drink less beer and ride more hahhaha... ps: thanks for the Stellas @ the BEAST bobby... I was a tad lean in the tank after that day of riding hehee :)

UGHHHHH ! man that sucks :(. God speed on recovery buddy......

Ding, I left a pair of green Thinsulate mittens that the fingers fold back on. THey were upstairs on a table I think. Can you check Lost/found for them for me? I can get them from you if ya go to ECES, or mail them to me? I thought I put them in my bag, but I didnt. Was good riding again today with peeps and making turns and bouncing ideas and getting rider feedback from eachother. It is what these rallys really are all about! Good time as always! My buddys loved your mountian and said they would definately want to come back again too :)

sooooo Steve, Make an appointment yet to see a Dr. ?

I'm a ROZZI fan also. Previous recommendations +1 on the EXP and JJ. I liked the SULTAN also. K2 Podium perhaps? I had mine out at SES and I absolutely loved it. It has a tight 7.9 SCR in a 161 but it was super responsive and gave me more response than I ever expected in Colorado snow while carving. Neversummer makes a few awesome boards too. I'm not a fan of the rocker technology, but the boards are nice. I have a coworker who is super rough on the gear he rides and he has yet to manage to do any serious damages to his despite trying very hard to! The ARBOR a frame is nice, but I found the wood de-lams baddly in crud on the nose when plowing thru gnarly crusty stuff, so Its not long term durrable despite being a sweet ride.

Show people HOW to carve with the gear they already have strapped on their feet. We all get compliments and OHHs and AHHs when we are riding plates and hardboots, but showing someone how to change their own riding to emulate the motions and the sensation of carvers plants the seed in their mind to evolve to the gear we use. Educate and teach others how (even in softboots), and the fans will seek us in droves. * BOL cards help too ;)

I agree, just saying that it feels weird is all :)

I bet Fibula. Get an Xray. Best way to know for sure. My GF is 7 weeks out from one, a plate and 2 screws later, she is OK. Hope for the best, atleast it isn't "serious" as an injury.

Having ridden the 177 also, I have to agree with what John and Mike said. A lot of people were making great turns all week. Some boards made people better, some boards showed people areas they needed to improve. I for one found some discrepancies in my ride style, and adjusted accordingly to a few boards, and they then performed much better ( SWOARD extreme carver for example) when applying different techniques. I can add only this: for a 150# light guy the NSR or the VSR 188 (heavy) was stiffer than I liked, but at speed 40+mph they were rock solid and turned with ease (I say this tennetively because I almost ended up in the woods once because I could not break it out of a carve and had to turn it uphill hard to burn off the speed). I attribute the stiffness and rider mas to weight and ability to flex the board as many of the beefier guys who rode the "mooseknuckle" board that was set for a 140-160# rider felt it was too soft and noodley were loving the stiffer bigger boards and conversely felt more comfortable on it. As to the "Schtubby" I felt weird on a "short board" that rode "long". I would look down and see a 150something under my feet, but feel like I was on a 180something. Did anyone else have a similar sensation?

Snowcoach, no worries at all, and none taken. We all have different experiences with boards. The best thing people can do is share, and thats what its all about ! WHat works for some does not work for all, as it was obvious with the demo tent @ SES with rider feedback on all the different ones people had out and different results. I talked to Sean at length about the Saber and it is indeed a great board, just not the board for me ;). I'm sure with a bit more time on it (more than 3 hours demo in 3 different setups) I would warm up to it a bit more. I was definatley intrigued by the wider version as I ride large boots and can't get angles under 30 without toedrag or booting out. The 10.5 SCR felt a bit "long" to me (more like a 13 scr) but I attribute it to my lack of unfamiliarity with the board, mountian turrain, and how it wanted to ride @ Snowmass in the early morning of foggy frozen groom and crud. I just felt it was a bit stiffer than I liked for softbooting (personal preferance) in relation to the SCR. I presently am in love with my K2 Podium and it will be tough to replace as my "go-to" board for racing as a comfort level. Cheers, D.

Startinggate in VT. Near Stratton. they hooked me up nearly 5 years ago for mine. LOVE UM !

Any kind of racing takes a "set". Having my share of high speed wipeouts at over 45+ mph, I nolonger relish or thrive on the adreneline rush of ripping around gates hanging on my the skin of my teeth and edge of the board! The Buttermilk SES course was definately difficult and certainly a bit humbling... I don't recall a single rider making every gate unless they were putting the brakes on at a few places ont he hill. I ran it once before they closed it down for the day, and missed 2 gates myself and chattered out once and had to "re-start" at the lower pitch. The Olympic ski race course @ Whiteface is insane..... I can only imagine trying to do the Whistler one

I rode the sabre @ SES. I gently tried it with plates and also womped on it with soft boots bindings. I found it was hard to get the board to respond anything shorter than the sidecut wanted to allow in softboots unless I was cruising at more than 30 MPH, but then again, I'm a 150# guy and don't have the weight to make it react so I rely on muscle strength in correlation to the sidecut. It is indeed stiff. If you want to put plates on it for hard boots, be sure to ask for heavier duty construction to handle the insert loads. I liked it with plates, and can definately say you will need sturdy boots and bindings for it if you ride softies. HTH.

http://liquidlatexonline.com/solidcolorbodypaint.aspx Liquid Latex. I use 3 coats. use a foam brush on the edges for storage. It peals right off. Occasionaly I use a product called "FLUID FILM". its a deep penetrating rust inhibitor like WD-40 oil. After racing or doing a park session (courses and features are set with salt and calcium chloride at times) and ALWAYS after going home with the boards on top of a car (exposed to road salt) I rinse the boards in my shower stall and wipe them down. Adds a whole new level of "loving caress in the shower"... with your GF for a 3-some...

Yay I made it into a film..... 9 minutes into the video..... Is the only video footage of myself from SES..... LOL. sitting and socializing @ the baselodge apre-ski beerblast! :lol: Hopefully next year more people will be out with vid cam setups, I know I will .

:biggthumpPlease add these 2 names also: Rob Spohr Josh Beach They are comming up with me. Some good softbooters who are ripe for the changeover to plates and hardboots, just need some exposure, they already are good riders who carve nicely.

Icecoast, I rode the Donek -Pilot at SES. I think you would like it a lot. Im 155#s but it is very turny and I felt it was too soft under my feet as I tend to ride the nose of a board more agressive than the tail. WHen I laid back on the tail, it was really a nice smooth ride. For your weight, it would be just about perfect IMHO. hth.

I bought a board from Bill Boardy last year. I never ride it. I will take 250.00 for it. Has less than a dozen runs on it, excellent shape. Saw one in action @ ses with Sidewinders on it, and it was super smooth (ask Jim Callen). Email here, or Chefdavesheedy@gmail.com

I'd say someone was doing a bit of home experimenting and very rough machine work to modify the bindings. We need a lill help/ confirmation as to the validity of these parts from.... Fin?

For a "first" at a ten year Aniversery Session, I can just simply say that it was awesome. So many ways to ride, and techniques, styles, and so good to put a face to a screenname and get a feel for people, good mountian conditions, and great times that were shared by all. I have a lot of memories still rolling around in my head, and eventhough its only a day later, being back on my home mountain, I have to say that I miss aspen already! 357 more days till SES 2011 ! We carvers truly are a "unique breed", and the phrase "Birds of a feather flock together" definately rings true here! Next up : "THUNDERDOME" and then ECES !

You won't need more than a day on it... Show it some love, and it will return it back in the way it rides ;) A preview of my Custom Graphic :)

Bobby, I am happy to report that you are spot-on with your deductions.... My wallet is nearly 900.00 lighter also. I rode a few boards @ SES and once I rode the VSR "MooseKnuckle" I was in love. I needed to ride / demo nothing further. It fit me perfectly. Custom topsheet artwork will be done this week, and I hope to ride it before this seasons end (key word = HOPE)

Not sure what this thread is all about, but I definately can say there is a place for softboot carvers here too. Its all about getting low and ripping some flow..... nomatter what your choice of equipment is.