zoom

4" overnight, and snow should stop by 10am. RJ has a fleet of Tankers awaiting your review.

Three more: Randy T, Hagen and zoom/Rebecca

Okey doke. Some shots from today's mahem. Jim Farr x 2 and Allen the Videographer

Awesome Day One! At least 32 carvers! Very tired!

The SGs are here! RJ brought the goods... The photo (taken moments ago) doesn't do these beasts justice. Check these puppies out on the hill tomorrow. L-R: Race Full Pro Team 185 Titanal (08-09 prototype - serious inquiries only) Race 185 Titanal Race Pro Team 178 Titanal Speed 173 All Mountain 169 SBX Pro Team 169 (08-09 prototype - serious inquiries only) Speed 162 Not pictured - 140 Jr Race... and there are a few Tankers as well.

Awesome pic - thanks! It's fun to run into a dozen hardbooters at the top of the lift.... Hard to believe the session hasn't even started yet! Get fired up, folks - more blue skies and fresh groom tomorrow!

Super fun day! 20 or so carvers tearing up the east side of the mountain and Summit. Flying Dutchman was the best run, and the trenches were stacking up when we left. Good turns were had by all. We got some video, but no photos. I'm sure there will be some pics up soon (I'm looking at you, Furi and Allen). If that's Day Zero, I can't wait for tomorrow! Tonight: Drinks (and food, too, if you require such things) at Scanlon's from 6-8.

Powder! Oooo! I love to talk powder! I'm 135# and ride softies. Prior's pow boards do rule. I stole Buell's original Pow Stick 176, and it's incredible in deeper powder, even in trees. If it's not super deep (18" +) I turn to a tapered shape. I have a 156 Khyber as well. I second Buell's opinions there. It's also really fun in heavier snow. All of Prior's boards will absolutely rip a carve when you hit the groom, and (sorry, guys!) I prefer any of them to the 4807 - better float and more playful. The Never Summer Summit is a really fun mid-size tapered deck, too. It's a fun compromise that allows for big open turns and quick, slashing turns. If you love to ride tight trees or you want to get more turns out of limited vertical, the Fish is a super fun board. Floats far bigger than its size and can turn on a dime. In my opinion, a big ol' soft nose is key to a good powder shape.

OESers! Check out this handy dandy, one page info sheet with organizer contact information, map and schedule here. There's also a link to an interactive map for out-of-towners. **Vegetarians and Co. - Please let me know if you would prefer a non-meat dish on Friday night. Send a PM through my profile.** Can't wait to see everyone! Rebecca

It sounds like your pup had quite a life. How wonderful that you had so much time together.... Wish we were closer, I'd loan you our two hooligans for some pet therapy. We'll be thinking about you. Rebecca & Buell

There's a lot of good info on boots (as well as other equipment) on BOL if you do a search. Also, definitely check out http://www.alpinecarving.com/ - fantastic all around resource. Oh - if you are able, try to get to a carving session near you (OES, ECES, INWES, etc.) or use the ride board to meet up with carvers in your area. Great quote on boots from Blue B in another thread:

As a lightweight, the most important thing in your setup will be softness. Soft board, soft hard boots, soft hardboot bindings. Don't get too wrapped up in board length - there are a lot of mean stiff slalom decks out there. I can hardly decamber stiff shorter boards, but I can vary the arc on my custom flex 177. Boot choice has a lot to do with the size and shape of your foot. What size is your foot? Is it wide or narrow? Bindings - softer is better. Regular bail f2s are my current bindings. Burton Ibex or some of the other soft bindings might be great, too. I have tried Cateks and Bombers and found them far too stiff.

You rock, RJ! Can't wait to meet you.

That is awesome! You're a walking expression session! Don't sell yourself short. BrYan (note spelling!) is a nice guy, but he's also one of the most honest, no BS people I know. Can't wait to see you carve in March. Hey, Bryan - I bet a little rest has been great! If I know you, you've already devised quite a few gimp-inventions.... No climbing ladders on one leg, o.k.? Rebecca

Awesome! Good to see you're up and about a bit. Hope you have a safe and reasonably comfortable trip home. We were among the many people making turns for you yesterday, and we even took a picture of a couple of old snowboards in your honor! Look forward to seeing you in a few weeks. r & b

If James and Danielle take the truck, and we can help out, let us know. Happy to put people up for the night or take the truck from here (Ogden-ish). Sounds like there are lots of people at work for you, Bryan. Hope we can work it out! Rebecca & Buell

Oh no! If we can do anything to help from UT or OR, let us know. Sending lots of good vibes. **Hey - SES crew - can anyone get Bryan's truck to the SLC area? We'll be happy to put non-locals up for the night. **

Can someone get it to the SLC area? We can drive it the rest of the way to Oregon in early March. Rebecca

On my way to bed, but for me (very similar size to your gf), the very short answer is *soft* - board, boots, bindings. More forgiving and easier to learn/advance on. Rebecca

Woohoo! RJ's coming, and he's bringing TANKERS! :biggthump:biggthump Thanks, RJ! Any chance of a 172 for the girls to tank around on?

Lower back pain is a pretty new thing for me, but I've had neck and upper back problems from an accident (~ 10 years ago). Great advice in this thread so far. For me, gentle stretching is helpful, but not as helpful as core strengthening, activity as tolerated, and especially movement therapy. I've studied Feldenkrais, but any other therapies that work with teaching the body new or forgotten body patterns are terrific. They treat the cause and the symptom! In my recent lower back episode this lesson is what got me back on track and riding again. It's important to avoid stretching and "muscling" through the exercise - the point is to show your body new or forgotten ways to move more efficiently. If it hurts, do less or even just imagine the movement. Sounds cheesy, but it's like magic for me. More exercises here.

Happy Birthday, Thor! May the next 40 be full of deep powder and many trenches. :biggthump:biggthump

Snowbasin and/or Powder Mountain If you're looking outside CO/UT - look at the PNW, too. If you head to Bachelor, you'll pick up a few carver friends. Look us up!

I ride women's specific softboots (Salomon Optimas), and unisex hardboots (Deeluxe Track 225s, which are the same shells as the old Lemans/SBs from Raichle). I don't know of any women's specific hardboots.... I have really narrow heels and small, low volume feet. Assuming we're talking about hardboots, the 225s were pretty much my only option with 22 mondo hooves. They fit well enough, and they're pretty comfy, although I'm not a huge fan of the cone-shaped toe. A good bootfitter and custom footbeds helped a bunch with comfort and fit. My feet actually measure around 24 mondo, but I had to size down to 22s to find the right fit. For my riding, adding yellow spring BTS and loosening the top buckles a bit helped me get some additional flex. Hope this helps! Rebecca

GO BRYAN!!!!!!! Can't wait to see you bend this bad boy! Remember... shoulders with the binding angles.