Strider

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Hello, I sent you an e-mail last week. Any chance you still have these and the heels? Brett

Hello, I sent you an e-mail last week. Any chance you still have these and the heels? Brett

Hi Scrutton, I have just started playing with a Boiler Plate over the last 3 weeks (thanks Bryan) and have noticed a few things that sound similar to what you may be experiencing, and I believe that there are 2 suggestions you've already heard here that will really help. As a background I've been coaching since early 2000's. I try to get on the new equipment as quickly as I can but sometimes cost prevents that as coaching here in the Midwest is almost all on a volunteer basis. Anyway, I and probably most people have noticed right away in freeriding with a plate the amount of isolation from the variable conditions that it provides. This is obviously really great, especially in the race course where there are ruts and ice. I think Beckmann nailed it with this comment the link between you and the board is 'buffered' by the plate, such that by the time you realize the need to adjust a given input (or add another) the moment has passed and falling is imminent. The isolation can cause a delay in the reaction to what is happening underneath you. I found that my first few days in the course I was late all the time even though I was running on courses that I set for practices and purposely made them rhythmic so it would be easy. It took awhile to realize that I was waiting for certain inputs during the turn that weren't there anymore and was initiating transitions late, and not committing to them as hard as I would without the plate. Despite being late, my timed runs were all still faster with the plate due to being able to push it through all the crap that sits outside that late line and the board/plate combo responding like crazy. This actually helped build the confidence in the plate and being able to really push it even harder than when mounted directly on the board. Once that was figured out it was just a matter of adjusting my thinking on the timing of my turn initiations and relearning the inputs to be paying attention to. Slalom is such a faster paced discipline that it may take longer to learn these things, particularly if it was already a tough discipline for you. I don't know if any of this will help you, especially since I didn't give specific details on how to fix on the problem, but it is what I have observed in my own riding, and now that I understand the plate better I have also noticed the same things in the kids I'm coaching who have put on plates in the last 2 years. It would probably help you to have someone watch or videotape some runs so you can watch and compare plated runs to ones without the plate and see if you can link what you see happening to what you feel/experience on each run and you will be better able to isolate what is causing the problems.

I second the SVST tools. Pricey, but the best base and edge guides I've had.

Anytime! We get up to Rib (still can't call it Granite Peak) every now and then too. Tyrol is no great shakes as far as vertical or anything, but we have a lot of riders and have a good time.

Where in Wi are you? We have a strong group of hardbooters (around 20) at Tyrol Basin near Madison, and know of others in most places. A lot of us have extra equipment that people can try, and a lot of us are coaches or instructors as well. It's probably your best bet like NMU said. There aren't a lot of camps, and you can get HB specific lessons, but they canbe hard to find around here. riding with locals works best as most are always happy to help out a new person.

I'd second Marquette Mountain. Major lake effect snow potential. Lots of state and national forests in the surrounding area should give your wife plenty of snowshoe/XC opportunities. It is also my favorite carving hill in the WI/MI area as its runs are decent lengths and more importantly have a consistent grade top to bottom. My extended family is from Wausau and I've been going to Granite Peak (formerly Rib Mtn) for about 20 years now. There are some fun runs, but as everyone pointed out it flattens at the bottom. There's a lot of stuff to do around town including some really fun snow tubing at a local hill http://www.ci.wausau.wi.us/Departments/Parks/WinterRecreation/SylvanTubingHill.aspx and XC/snowshoe at Nine Mile creek http://www.co.marathon.wi.us/Departments/ParksRecreationForestry/CountyForests/ForestUnits/NineMile.aspx Hope some of this helps out.

Same thing here in the Midwest. Hero snow late December with the hills in great shape, then a big meltdown that turns everything bulletproof.

We host a Special Olympics event there every year. It's actually my favorite place in that area.......if they get snow. The grooming is iffy day to day, but if there's new snow they have some really fun terrain to play on. Some nice steeps, and less crowded than Indianhead. However, if you're really just looking to carve it up I wouldn't make the drive to Whitecap, or if you plan to come this way head to Marquette Mtn instead. Awesome carving there and probably wouldn't be any longer of a drive from your direction.

Hey all, I know that Welch had some issues with HB'ers a few years ago. Is this still a thing or not? The family is looking at a weekend there and I want to know if I should even bring the NB gear. Thanks, Brett

So they added a combined division now? Do you still have to pay double registration to run both skis and board?

Working out the par time they would appear to have been rated against and then comparing it with Chris Klug's times we get CK Friday: 8.05 over par CK Saturday: 10.45 over par On that basis it would appear the 10% handicap allowance that snowboarders get is about right for NASTAR competition. Maybe Pat has done this too, but the NASTAR guys at my hill wanted to see (as did I) how accurate the 10 point handicap was so we designed a little non-scientific experiment. I grew up skiing since snowboarding wasn't really around in the 70's, and although I spend the majority of my time on the board I still ski and mostly remember how to race on my skis. On several different days last year I took both skis and board to the hill. I would do 5-6 runs on one and then 5-6 runs on the other. Some days skiing first, some days boarding first. I am a Gold/Platinum skier and also Gold/Platinum on the board so my relative skill on either is about the same. We found that the 10 points was very close to the difference between the handicapped times for me. This was all on skier gates and I'd be interested to see if that difference narrowed up some on SB gates. Maybe Pat can do this next year on a more regular basis and get more data points. Also, as a researcher at a university I know that this is nowhere near scientific, but it was interesting.

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Cool list, but I've found over the years it's hard to completely compare the NASTAR lists. It is a better way than some, but a lot of top racers don't do NASTAR, and it also doesn't differentiate between races run on snowboard gates and skier gates. A good example is my handicap (Brett Nemke on your list). Those races are all in our local race league on skier gates. I'm a lot faster on snowboard gates, yet I know there are a lot of people a lot faster than me in the USASA circuit. Either way, it is a cool comparison.

I have the same problem as almost all of my riders are good freestylers and carve well in soft boots before we put them on HB's. Two things I've found that help. First, if you back off the angle on their back foot a bit it opens their hip more parallel to the board like they are used to and makes them more comfortable on the board so you can get them to concentrate on the upper body position. This is somewhat like reinforcing bad habits, but if you use it to get them doing the rest correctly, it is easier to then move the angle back up. The only other thing that I"ve had some success with is working them up the "kinetic chain" of the joints. I first make them do some short runs standing tall with all their joints locked out and have them do some small turns just leaning. Then, show them how to flex thier ankles and do the same thing using some ankle flex only. Do these on a fairly flat run and don't let them pick up too much speed as they will have problems with balance at first. Next add in the knees, then then the hips. This helps to get them used to feeling the board and what each joint does to the turn, while keeping them oriented to their stance and not countering. It is also helpful to have them add or subtract flexion at different joints in different combinations to learn how each feels and how it effects the turns. It's a long process, but it does help with their body awareness and can fix a number of different problems. With all of that, it is still a challenge to get them to stop over countering and is a constant problem.

Hi there, They'll take the boots, but found a different board. They weren't able to get the posting figured out so could you e-mail me at brett(at)nemke(dot)com and I'll get you and the buyer set up directly? Thanks, Brett

Hi there, I have a new racer who would benefit from both these boots and the board. I have to get in contact with her parents and see if they are interested. I'd like to be first in line if you can give me a day. Thanks, Brett

We've had a grand total of 4 inches this year here in WI and none of it is still on the ground. It's been hovering around 50 for the last week but the local hills have done a good job making snow when its cold. It's been fun to introduce my high school racers to the concept of a "hard" course which they immediately point out means ice. Sharp edges and good technique means fast snow around here.

Also in line if no one else wants it. My son is 9 and has outgrown his 110 freestyle board. Thanks.

Hello there, Scuff has it right with the observations that it is really hard to recommend stuff online. I coach and race in WI and have ridden with the MN crew at a few MWES's. I'm not as big as he is, but I rode 123's for about 8 years and they worked great for me because I liked a lot of flex and it fit my riding style. I did add a BTS system with blue springs, and also a fourth buckle where the useless power strap was. That said, I switched to the HEad Stratos Pro last year because I have wide feet and I was sick of fixing buckles on the 123's. At first they seemed too stiff, but after making the BTS mods posted here and riding for awhile they work great and I get a lot more power. So, lesson on boots is, you'll porbbaly be fine on the 123's if that is what you're used too, but it won't hurt to go stiffer as you get more familiar with the set-up. That 185 is a big board for around the midwest with our short narrow runs. I've ridden Chestnut on my 180 Coiler and it's a great hill, but I really have to work the board to get the short radius turns sometimes to avoid all the moving obstacles. Make sure you gt a lot of practice on it before you start doing full speed runs. Work on varying your turn shape, and also on your skidded emergency turns. Once you have that it should do fine in the GS courses we usually see here, although they can be tighter than what you'd see at a hill out west. I'd also second Scuff ont he TD1's. They are a fine binding and I rode them for quite awhile, but I wouldn't make your own mods to them. If you really want the full suspension get a set of TD3's, or even used TD2's. I ride the TD2's with the suspension kit (same as a TD3 basically) because I got them long before the TD3 came out and the difference from the TD1's is huge. I'll be at Chestnut for one of my sons ski races Jan 7 and 8 if you want to ride some. I'm also at Tyrol Basin in WI all the time coaching and riding so stop on by if you are in the neighborhood. We've got a large group of hardbooters there just like the MN guys and its always great to ride with others for tips, and for fun.

Ha!!! I'm sure the parents of the high schoolers would love that gate setup. Sounds like a good way to make gates for our adult beer league though. I also convinced them to get us a wireless timer for our BX races now too. :D

I finally convinced our High School racing league to purchase gates for us snowboarders so we can set practice courses, and decent races without having to beg the hill for a couple of gates. I was wondering what sources were out there that people knew about for purchasing. I know of the standards, World Cup Supply and Reliable Racing, but was wondering if there were others. Thanks, Brett

Sorry everyone. I was out of town right after I posted this, and someone contacted me right away and bought the board. Thanks for the inquiries.

178 Coiler Pure Race, World Cup Construction. $375 + Shipping This is my dad's board. He is 65 and needs something a bit softer these days so I ordered him a VSR for Christmas. The board was made new for him the end of the 2006 season, but not ridden until the 07/08 season. He is 175 lbs and it was made with a less aggressive rider in mind. It has been on snow for 3 season's and has not been ridden too hard. No nicks on the edges and only a small, shallow mark on the base that would come out with a grind. It has never been ground and still has the original structure in the base. I've maintained the edges at 0.5 base and 2 side. I can't remember the flex rating on the sidewall, but will post it tonight, as well as pics hopefully. It has the blueflame topsheet for those who care about that, and just the typical liftline scratches on it. Drop me an e-mail if you want pictures directly, and/or more info on the board. Thanks.