shawndoggy

his head is on backwards.

Hey BIG guys, this is a great point. I like the specs (length, width and scr) but is this board too stiff for me being a lightweight (165)? I bought an atomic don (170) as a softie ride last year and it was so damned stiff it killed me. Likewise for my Osin 3800 (the big one ... 169?), though I've gone to riding it with plates and it's fantastic. But as a softie board is the steepwater 171 gonna be too much board for a sub-200-lb'er?

What's the difference between the two models though? EDIT -- nevermind... half centimeter width is only diff

Mike I know I could search, but do you know the specs on those boards?

whenever I go from Reno, we stay at the Mammoth Ski and Racquet Club. Old school 70s condos with some funk to them but walking distance to canyon lodge. If the weather's good, I get up early, drive the car with all the ski stuff down to the parking lot, get a front row spot, then walk back and have breakfast. Get the kids and Mrs. going then walk back up. That way we've got a front row ski/board locker. It's cheap, esp if you book last minute. Last time it was around 200 a night for a 2 bedroom with a loft with four bunks. Would easily sleep 10.

Hey don't you guys know that the ice coast guys say it never gets icy in the West?

Will they be riding boards they built themselves or someone else's boards?

proper body mechanics to initiate a heelside turn on something moderately steep (i.e. where you have to bring it around before the board starts to run). That was the hardest thing for me, and I still don't know if I'm doing it "right," but I can make it happen.

Mt. Rose was empty sat and sun and the snow was killer all day long. But don't tell anyone!

indeed.

Youtube version (just trying to see which vid is a nicer encode) <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c84V6ayLQ0A&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c84V6ayLQ0A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Me vs. my 12 year old daughter at the annual end of the year "race your sponsors" day for my daughter's ski team (sponsors = parents). <object width="512" height="384" ><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://www.facebook.com/v/1112718851157" /><embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1112718851157" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="512" height="384"></embed></object>

Looks like it was linked on a couple of Russian carving sites. Totally mind blowing that people a half a world away are geeking out on this!

Heck yeah Chubz, c'mon out! This is the best time of the year... coverage is still pretty good and the crowds all stay at home. Sure it turns to mashed potatoes by 1:00, but that's a great time to sit on the deck.

LOL, hey Casper, one of mine is tops in Russia!

If only I new how to spell hard words like corduroy!

This morning at Mt. Rose (Bullwhip, for those keeping score at home)

Nice edits! Still not sure if I like the "helmet cam" view on a snowboard... too much side to side without a good point of reference (having watched quite a few runs of my own vids too).

intec?

LOL, yeah, if you pay full boat retail. DA hubs laced to open pros shouldn't cost more than $400 anywhere. Srsly, I've got a deal for you UR13, if you'd pay that much for zipps -- "old mold" (undimpled) 404 clinchers laced to PT SL with about 300 miles on 'em... yours for $1500 shipped! Will even throw in a barely used pair of corsa evo cx's and latex tubes. But yes I see your point that the gear geekery can take over any sport. Bikes tend to last me longer than boards for whatever reason, even on a fully cost-amortized basis.

Perhaps I'm incredibly unlucky (or overly sensitive), but my concern is that it's pretty easy to put a rock through the bottom that completely ruins the board. I guess it's the same as training on your zipps. But I'd want this high zoot board to RIDE and all the time, as opposed to a fast roadie wheelset that I save for special occasions. (and on that front, anybody want a set of zipp 404 clinchers laced to a powertap SL and light front hub? :))

would love to see some photos of this.

Billy, you clearly hold the sport near and dear and you are clearly qualified to give authoritative opinions. What I think the weekend warriors among us find frustrating is that your posts focus so much on why you know more than the rest of us, rather than on educating us. I'm not asking you to adopt a "fake" tone but rather to explain whys and hows. For example, I'd love to see your take on questions like: What's a good on/off piste compromise board and why? You say Jack's technique articles are outdated... what would you change and why?

still lookin'

That's rad! Hoping the cost comes down from six bills tho. Oh wait, six bills plus BB plus front shifter. OK, that's what $750? Ouch.