norm

The holy grail for me is a powder board that plows thru cut up crud with minimal knee stress/ is a smooth ride, as about any board works great in untracked and smooth groom. Digger..... Have you tried a metal freeride from Bruce with powerplates? The board rides like a metal board (IE edge hold) on groom AND crud, the powerplates provide some damping (and prevent boot-out), and the whole thing is plenty wide for float in any pow (mine is 26 at waist).

thanks everyone.......for taking the time to offer suggestions. I'll see what's available (hotel-wise) at each of the suggested hills.... much appreciated!

First of all, I apologize for not being able to converse in the language common in this ride board. My family of plate riders is looking to spend 3 days at a hill in Quebec a couple of weekends from now. We have done the Tremblant thing many times, but want to experience a more "local feel" than an "Intrawest feel". ....so we are looking for suggestions on what hills would be the recommendation....from the riders who really know. 1) first and foremost - nice (intermediate) carving runs - groomed, not too narrow, and preferably without a sea of skier "pylons". 2) something closer to Ottawa, since we are picking up our son at school in Ottawa on the way, and it's only a weekend. I love le Relais, (awesome runs, awesome folks/riders), but it's a bit far. 3) it does not have to be huge - I'm from Ontario after all! 4) if there are fellow bomber's there as well, ........well that would be just the icing on the cake. so looking for suggestions on a hill, and maybe a local place to stay (and for that matter any "hidden gem" eateries in the locale) ....would be greatly appreciated. I hope this call for suggestions is in the spirit of the ride board, if not, may Fin have mercy on me :). thanks, Norm.

... more pics........are soft boot board pics allowed? some car companies create halo vehicles..... some board companies create halo boards. Ridden with Bomber powerplates.... in the pow and on the ice. :) sorry for the crappy photography

was a skier until 1992, then rode an oxygen asym with sorels (took a hacksaw to the toes to prevent drag), then in 1996 my LBS (local board store Scotties (proud sponsor of Matt Morison)) sold me a FP67 factory demo with burton stepins, and told me it would be the ride of my life as I was on my way to Smugglers Notch.... I used my Koflach rear entry ski boots and tried to navigate the endless super narrow trails through the forests; unsuccessfully....I swore I would never hardplate ever again. ... but here I am am totally addicted to the G's. If it comes easy, it 'aint worth having. That was my "jump".

...just got back- I had 3 days of amazing riding there- big thanks to all those who gave tips! Gold chair rocks. You are all lucky to call a plate-friendly hill like this your home.!

I have done the mod to my 5mm plate - 1/2" wide slot, 9"" long looks just like the pic with the simple slot down the middle. "before-after" comments; before the mod i did not have the agression and skills to overcome the torsional stiffness of the 5mm; though i really liked the fore-aft plate effect. After the mod it was amazing- the fore aft stiffness stayed, but I ended up with what i thought was just right torsionally for me- it enabled low speed peddle, ability to steer into quick turns on narrower trails, and brought back just the right amount of playfulness (177 VSR 6.9). Yes I recognize the warranty was out, but I'm glad I customized it to my riding ability. 2 big caveats if you are going to do any of this stuff; 1) dont breathe the fibres while cutting 2) deburr/sand the sharp edges when done. Just for fun I sealed the exposed core with a few coats of UV-waterbased urethane. hope this helps

I'm hopping on a plane tomorrow, and plan to be on the hill on Wed first thing. Based on the feedback here, sounds like I'll be heading to the Silver chair or hanging around the race training hill. I'll be on a 177VSR, black jacket, white helmet, and stopping every 700' to rest.... (the size of an Ontario hill ) :). Hope to meet one of you enthisuasts. Norm.

So if you are not an average off-the-shelf person, then you probably are not 100% suited for an off-the-shelf board. The custom builders (Bruce, Sean...) are the ones that tailor to your needs. I would also suggest that it's not all about height and weight; it's also significantly influenced by your riding ability, so if your custom board builder hasnot/cannot see you ride personally, then send them a vid, so they can tune all those "magical" parameters to your needs. Be thankful that you are in a sport where the vendors actually care. A store will most probably not know what the boardbuilders do. Them's my 2 cents.

I'll second the comments on the post so far, so my comments are; don't waste time tuning it if you are going to detune it anyway - use a gummi not a file - freeriding/carving needs less attention than a race/gate tune - let your riding/feet tell you where your last tune needs improvement, ...... but would add that detuning for ice is more critical than for hero snow, and that I detune less on the nose of the toeside and on the tail of the heelside. Having said that - if you don't believe in asym boards, you might not believe in asym (de)tuning. :)

My son will be training on 4th and 5th, so I'll be out freeriding. If any of you Nakisker's are there that day and would not mind showing a lowly Ontario rider where the real/fun carving runs are, I'd be might obliged.

I think "who's right" will be determined not only by time, but also by riding preference and ability. I was an early adopter and bought a 5mm plate and experienced all of the posted "incredible speed/edgehold" of using a plate, and also some of the low speed loss of peddle, locked in the turn, isolation.... so the 5mm, was too much for me, even though I am 200+ (probably a testament of my ability). I am also not Benjamin, nor ever will be! On the flip-side, my 180Lb racer son was OK with the 5mm, but........ I did the milling-machine-slot down the centre of the plate to get some torsional flex back into the system, without much loss of fore-aft stiffness. HUGE difference - :) :) :) Son really liked it too--- riding was much better on mod'd plate. So my personal vote would be for the 4mm version versus 5. As for Bruce's magic carpet - based on the chairlift conversations I have had with him...it sounds like he would tune longitudinal and torsional stiffness per whatever your needs are (much like he will make the board to your needs)... either way the bomber mechanicals are a freakin work of art so you really cant go wrong there.

My son qualified for the race at Nakiska just before the Easter weekend, and being a really good dad, I just have to be out there to help him :) q: Will there be any snow left ?...... just asking because there's really not much left here in Ontario :(

I have ridden one of Bruce's (earlier) freeride R&D boards both with and without powerplates several times now, but I have been holding off responding to this thread because I had not yet ridden it in powder (until this weekend).... so here are my thoughts (short version). A) this board rails like no other freeride (my previous "benchmark" was the Elan Vertigo - very nice bx board) you will get so much edge that ; 1) you will really want powerplates to help minimize overhang, among other things 2) 24.5 (for my size 9.5US feet at 20/30 angles) is still too narrow - I think I would order a 26W 3) you will ride crud with all the advantages of a (real) metal carving board. B) in powder, it rides like a freeride ...what can i say. It has a shorter sidecut than a BX board, it floats, and its soft enough to noodle through anything when you dont have something real to push against. Keep in mind I don't ride a lot of powder :( I personally would not spend $ on this if powder is all that was to be had, but if there's any riding that requires an edge, I cannot describe the feeling that you get with this all mountain (and powerplate) combo....... hold on , I guess I can,... its called being in hardboots (well almost) :) ...hope this helps! Norm. General specs (from memory) 164 24.5W 7.5M nose 9M mid other specs...ask Bruce.

spotted...... new plate system under testing. topsheet under plain camo, hardware seems to be red adonized :)