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While replacing a damaged heelpiece tonight I discovered that one of the four threaded inserts had broken off at the head. I got the barrel off the screw but would like advice from anyone experienced with removing the head, obtaining a new insert (ideally tomorrow, in Park City) and installing the new one. Anyone know of a local hardware store that might carry suitable T-nuts? Thanks

Were you out in an orange jacket and black pants this morning? We were getting toured around by a friend of one of our party, who I'm pretty sure was wearing a catheter and bag. Had no idea there was so much fresh so rode my GS board for a fast tour of a bunch of bumpy runs in the Silverlode and Thaynes areas, then split off for the NASTAR course (a successful day) and lunch.

Mick I got a raincheck because the Nastar course was closed for the other race event, but had to hang out awhile to wait for the ship to finish a grind/tune on my Venture (from a day at Pebble - great little resort just not enough snow). I conferred with my party by phone and decided odds we would make it up there this week are slim, so decided to use the rain check and salvage what I could. By then the ceuling had kufted and just as I got ti the map they opened the gondola. It was still pretty breezy, but the groomers were pretty good (firm!) And traffic was negligible. I met a couple of guys from PC area at lunch (Mike, an aspiring carver, and Mark, a monoskier) at lunch and the three of us explored the place for the rest of the day. They were on skis, and I was pleased that my new Coiler AM proved quite capable in trees, sastrugi, crust, a bit of migratory powder, boilerplate and sugar. I had to bail at 320 to make it to UPS in PC, but irherwise would have stayed til 4. Not a bad day after all. Hope to get to ride with you and Chris sometime. Maybe we'll base a trip in Ogden area someday. Dennis

Mick New plan is to try to hit Snowbasin on Saturday as Brighton races are a bust. If all else fails, I want to hit the NASTAR course for a few runs, so you might find me there. Better would be to rendezvous for some early runs, so I'll stay in touch unless the phone croaks. Dennis

Martin, Looks like they cancelled the SL and GS at Brighton. I'll likely postpone my drive until friday, hit Snowbasin Saturday morning on my way to PC, and see you at PCMR sometime Sunday or later. We'll be in touch. Dennis

Bad visibility gives me more trouble than almost any kind of surface (except the sastrugi on the west side of Bachelor's summit). I get "benign paroxysmal positional vertigo" (I fail to see anything benign about it...) and in whiteout conditions, without stabilizing visual references, it is sometimes severe enough that I can hardly even stand up. Looking down to clip in seems to trigger it even in good light sometimes. Bad visibility makes everything tougher even when my gyros are working - hard to read the snow, see bumps and ruts, or let the subconscious/peripheral vision handle much of the detail.

Mick I'll try to get the group up there for a day at least. I don't think any of us have been there before so shouldn't be too difficult. I see Canyon Sports has pretty good discount tickets for most areas. Does anyone know of any better deals? Canyon Sports price vs resort: Park City 2/7 days $136 v $194 Brighton 1 day $56 v $62 Canyons 2/7 $136 v $184 Snowbird 2/5 $121 v $156 Regards Dennis

That's Paisley. You might have to wait a year or two for an autograph, although if she's as precocious with a pen as she is on a board, she might compose an apt Haiku and sign it for you.

Twice. Almost qualified for finals once. Hoping to try again next year at the bottom of my age bracket. Nice painting!

Roads have lanes. Cars have mirrors and turn signals. Some drivers have brains and don't get anywhere close to someone driving erratically. What are you doing driving 55 in the far left lane, anyway? You're not one of those guys who starts passing semis in the rain and freezes in formation right behind the tractor's bow wave, are you? IMHO, It wasn't your fault, unless you were riding at the raggedy edge of control, into an area of limited downhill visibility (of said obstacle) on a busy run. Sounds like you might have been cutting it a little fine on several counts, but the most biased witness one might imagine called it the other way. Both of you probably learned a few things, and your attitude about the whole experience certainly is admirable. Let's hope it didn't put the girl off of skiing forever (assuming she learned the right things).

Technically, you're probably right. And funny. With the right audience...

The code is simple and clear. The downhill slider has the right of way and it is the responsibility of the uphill rider to avoid the person who is downhill. The downhill person has two responsibilities: Don't stop where one can't be seen from above and don't enter a trail without checking for traffic from above - both of which hinge upon the practical assumption that the uphill slider can't reasonably be expected to avoid someone who is not visible. The code was written with everyone in mind, by experienced skiers who knew quite well that anyone can make an unpredictable move and that lots of skiers (in the day) regard the ability to turn as an admirable skill that is to be encouraged and cultivated, not regarded as a hazardous nuisance. They were smart enough to realize that in an uncontrolled environment, where parties are traveling fast, between any two parties one has to have the right of way and the other has to avoid the person with the right of way, and it is not reasonable to expect anyone to be looking behind all the time. If you think this is wrong, go play something else. It is the code, and it is simple and unambiguous for very good reasons. Complicated provisional case-based rules or negotiated right of way simply do not work when there is no reliable communication between the parties, things happen fast, either or both parties may be under less than perfect control and/or making physical commitments they cannot correct. Yelling at someone from behind does not give you any right of way - they may not hear you over the noise of their board and the wind (or their earbuds), and if they do hear you they might do something quite unpredictable. Hailing someone from behind is a fine idea, as long as you make sure that the downhill person hears you, understands you and acknowledges that they will do what you want them to do before you blow past. Good luck with that... Even if you've hailed them and think you've made eye contact, expect them to do something unpredictable and probably inconvenient. If they had to look back to see you they may well misinterpret your motion (based on a glance) and they may well get a little unbalanced and disoriented from looking back (possibly causing them to hook an unintended turn in the direction they looked), not to mention irritated at being yelled at by somebody who is too dumb to grasp the simple fact that they have the right of way. As director of a snowboard school, you have a professional responsibility to not only understand the code but to train students in it. The GM might think you have a point, but had you injured the guy you hit you might have had a very difficult time convincing a court that the code is at all ambiguous. The GM might have been a lot less sympathetic if he, other staff, patrollers and other customers got dragged into court to testify that you were not actually being selfish, careless and appallingly ignorant of the rules governing your profession. Your point that the average snowsports enthusiast is unaware of the capabilities of a good snowboarder or skier is, unfortunately, perfectly correct. The hordes of occasional sliders, newbies and drunks at the other (fat) end of the distribution are even less aware. Practically, we do indeed have to watch our back, and if we want to bomb down the hill do so on a closed course.

I think of pedaling as twisting the board more than as altering the flex.

Here's a link to the gallery of my videos. Nothing fancy but some of the racers might like to see themselves in action. Sorry I didn't get everyone (I got 41, 85, 55, 32, 81, 93, 21, 89, 63, 56, 86, and 950. Mouse over the thumbnails to see the racer number. A few remain to be uploaded so check back if you don't find yours yet. I also have some stills to upload yet. Who was the other photographer and how can I contact him? http://eaud.smugmug.com/Other/LoupLoup12/21350049_WzmB7L

A slightly tangential question: Does anyone consciously try to alter the flex of the board by pressing front toes/lifting rear toes (to flatten the board) or vice versa (to increase flex)? Seems to me the effect would be fairly subtle unless one is really strong, and separating the effect on flex from the effect on twist would take some concentration (if done consciously). Maybe we all do both unconsciously. Hope all this thought doesn't screw up anyone's technique...

Hey y'all I'm planning to be in Brighton 2/25 for the USASA Alpine events, then meeting some skier friends for a week in the area, based in a VRBO house out near Jordanelle Res. east of PC. I'll be at PCMR for races again on 2/29. Otherwise no specific plans except to have fun. I hope to manage some graceful encounters (we don't say "run into..." ) with some of you local volkl - post a note here if you have plans and could use a bigger posse. Dennis

Thanks to Gene and Nick, as well as to the Loup crew who put on a fine event on a great little hill (1240' of vert, mostly pretty steep - a little hill by Western standards). The Loup is operated by a nonprofit community foundation, and the vibe there is about as pleasant as it gets anywhere. The run was beautifully groomed, the courses were long and well-set in good firm snow, the timing worked flawlessly (AFAIK), the weather was cold and clear and the cafe food was quintessential ski lodge cafe food. The lift tickets were even half price on Super Sunday. Some highlights of the racing: Jaymin Morgan with the fast times for both GS and SL; Isabella Gomez, moving up to the 10-11yr age group and looking ready to take another National title, and Paisley Flowers, navigating the courses upright and in control at age 3-1/2 (and Daddy Ben dominated the Masters)! I don't have all the results, but I believe Loup Loup team racers won a number of the classes and impressed everyone with their skills, attitude and general class. Maybe Nick could post the results sheets here so all the racers could see the detail. I'm (slowly) uploading HD video of some of the slalom heats to my Smugmug site and will post a link to it here when done. Well done, USASA and Loup Loup!

Two_Ravens should be promoted from Alpine Ace. I'm not sure to what... Definitely a sense of humor that's out of the gutter and into the groove. The floor is open for suggested honorary titles.

What? No wardrobe points? OK - gloves could be considered wardrobe, but only if you consider duct tape to be a fashion accessory.

... you're under 50 (;-)>

Got any geezers racing? I might make it up for the event, to get some home region points and actually ride the Loup (resort # 53 on the life list, I think). Need any hardboot gear? I don't have much, and my feet are MP30, but let me know if there's anything in particular needed. Dennis

Troy I plan to be at Schweezer for the USASA racing this weekend, so perhaps I can hook up with you and some of the folks for a few runs. Glad to hear Becky's sound and skiing again. Dennis

Adequate coverage, excellent grooming on a number of long runs, nobody here, 4000' vertical, decent stale and packed powder, great scenery. Highly recommend the place.

http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/32422/sledding%20crow%20in%20russia%20soars%20to%20internet%20stardom/ OK - not exactly carving, but give him a few more runs...