jnshapiro

To drive out the old nuts, I used the original screws. Unscrewed most of the way and used a hammer and a punch. Then used a mallet and wood dowel to drive in the T-nuts. Worked really well.

I think over time our feet change. I recall that when I bought my last pair of boots (Raichle, size 27) they fit correctly. Now they're 2 sizes too big (sold). I am in a pair of size 26 Head Stratos Pro's, and they fit much better.

I switched to Intec's as well. Love it! Won't go back to bails, though I do have some race plates on another board. So I'll have to use them for that (I am not planning to move my TD2's).

Wow! Maybe it's time to sell mine. I have a set of race plates with the red bumpers. Used about 15 days. 3 and 4 hole disks.

Ugh. So there I am yesterday making some nice turns down Buckboard at Kirkwood. I keep checking uphill right before each turn to see what's coming down. It's clear so I dive into a healside. Checking again mid way through the turn, still clear. Check again while setting up to dive into a toeside and nearly get hit! This guy was flying down the mountain at a speed beyond anything that I've ever gone. And straightlining it too. His comment "take up the whole *&(*& slope, why don't you!" Well, yeah. I'm carving. Duh. Blasted snowboarders. They have no idea how carvers ride.

No worries Arvin. I'll hit the steeps at some point in the season. Just waiting on better coverage. I'll be up at KW on Tuesday if anyone is interested.

Hugh, no worries. When there is more coverage and some pow, I'll likely get up there and try some of those runs. At the rate this winter is going, it'll be next year!

Phil, thanks. I was sorta thinking along that line as well. I appreciate the advice.

Phil, that's about it. Any suggestions on what might be a good board for me? Next season I plan to plunk down some money and get a dedicated carving board.

Well no, I don't like hair-raising speed. I like to get moving, but not scare myself silly. I'm getting more comfortable with speed, but I'm not racing and I don't like to bomb down the mountain. I just enjoy making carves and big turns. I don't think the Prior is suited to me. I don't think I'll ride fast enough or aggressive enough to push it. I'm really glad I got a chance to try it out and I appreciate the effort that Prior made this season to get some boards out for folks to demo.

Looks like someone over-engineered a toboggan.

Prior was at Kirkwood today with demo's. I couldn't resist, I demo'd the Metal WCR. 183cm was the length of the one I rode. The board is fast. Turns easy, fast edge to edge as you'd expect with a narrower board (19cm waist I think). Carves well. It didn't chatter at all for me. I weigh in at 180lbs now. I didn't have any trouble flexing the board, and I don't ride particularly aggressively. So it's gotta be soft. Not only didn't it chatter, but I had very little slope feel at all. Kinda like driving a car and not having any road feel. Not much input came back from the board. I can see where this would be really good for a racer, but it's just not for me. I like to get feedback from the board (and from a car). I think for some, this thing is going to be exactly the ride. But it doesn't suit me. On the up side, I didn't have any trouble managing the length. So when I go shopping for a board next season, I'm going to look at something around 180cm. I'm seriously considering a Donek FC2 Olympic. I also took it back after 5 or 6 runs. I wanted my Donek Axxess back!

I should probably sell my old M6. But I'm not sure I can bring myself too! It was my first board.

I rode one run with another carver and went from skidding to carving in that one run. Really amazing. He showed me what angulation is really about.

I was riding today at Kirkwood. Late in the day I was chasing my son. I'd let him get a big ahead and get some speed up and do a deep toeside or healside carve, then let him go on ahead again. Well after a particularly good, forearm dragging toeside, which I rode until I was pointed back uphill, a softbooter said to me "that's the most awesome thing I've ever seen." What have you heard on the slopes?

I'm rather indifferent to where we live right now. Thankfully we're only 2 hours drive to some good riding (Tahoe). There's a job search on now, so no telling where we'll be next. Anyone need a reporter/editor/journalist? Or an IT Manager/Project Manager type?

My stance was about 19 3/4. I moved everything just a little bit closer together (1 hole) and will try it out on Tuesday. I might go a little bit closer if it seems to be helping. Thanks!

Is there some sort of relationship here? I'm riding a fairly short Axxess (167) for my weight (185lbs). I can carve it just fine but can't really crank out a tight turn to shed speed (I had it layed over pretty dang far and was dragging my body on the snow). I'm a bit on the short side, but stocky and pretty strong (5'7" tall). I got a lesson yesterday from local carver Ian Kent (used to rep for Pure Carve) and he suggested that with the board length I am on and the stiffness, I ought to narrow up my stance a little to tighten the flex pattern. Is there anything to this? It sounds plausible. BTW, Ian really knows his stuff. The 2 hours we spent were fantastic! I really learned a lot. If any of you want a lesson and can go to Kirkwood, let me know and I'll get you in contact with him.

Geeze, and all I want is a cell phone that's a good phone. I don't need or want all that other stuff (camera, music, text messages, etc). But I can't just get a good small phone anymore. I don't think that anyone even makes one. Neither does my cell carrier.

Thanks, that was interesting. Today, it was by accident. I'll try not to do it again.

I wish the pictures were done! I had a carving lesson today at Kirkwood. Ian Kent helped me out a LOT. He was riding a PureCarve board. Really railing it. It was fun to watch him ride. Anyway, by the end of the lesson I was finally able to really lay it out and was carving. One of those ski resort photographers was there and he got a bunch of pictures. Once they're posted I'll get 'em linked over. When I got back to my car, I noticed that I was riding in walk mode on my Head boots. Carving was a lot easier in walk mode than not. Anyone else notice this or maybe it was me and the conditions today (soft and warm).

I've got one from the mid 90's. Yup, about an inch of setback. I have the bindings on mine (Burton race plates) set most of the way back and I'm going to use it this year as a der board (assuming we get some).

"Normal" snowboard boots? Hardshell boots are normal! Or do you mean softies?

The Earth's magnetic field are created by the rotation of the iron/nickle in the inner core of the planet. Periodically, the rotation changes directions, causing the north and south magnetic poles to shift. No one has a good explanation for how or why yet (at least not the last time I checked the journals about 15 years ago). I imagine that there is a period of extreme turbulence followed by settling out and the direction change. Interestingly enough, there is also magnetic pole drift. The north (and south) magnetic poles are always moving about based on what's going on in the inner core. There's plenty of evidence in the geologic record for this as well. I didn't stay at a Holiday Inn last night, but I did major in Geology.

Here at least (Tahoe area), it's been dry. Not enough snow by any stretch, and it's been warm. At least the warmth makes for soft snow.