skategoat

It's still snowing in Banff. Sunshine Village has 100 of 107 runs still open. Calgary airport is 1 hour away. http://www.skibanff.com/conditions/snowreport.php

Gleb: Forget the hedgehog, go for the Vietnamese Pot-bellied Pig. I have a friend with one and it has the run of the house. Very clean. Won't crap where it sleeps. And if you get tired of it, stick an apple in it's mouth and call it dinner. Just trying to be helpful. Henry

I've been browsing the house swap areas of Craigslist with the thought of swapping for a week or two in August. I thought I'd throw up the offer here since it's an international crowd. Plus, maybe I could get my snowboards waxed if I leave them out in the living room. We have a large home, centrally located in Toronto. Quiet, established neighbourhood near Toronto's main bike trail. Only 30 minutes downtown by subway (walking distance), 15 minutes by car. High speed Internet, satellite TV and an Xbox 360! You would be very comfortable here. We would consider swapping with anyone in Europe or Asia. We don't need a lot of space, there would only be two of us. My only conditions: no smoking and no pets either way. Oh and I should mention there is no snow in Toronto in August. Sorry. Email me off-list if you're interested.

Aren't they crowded?

Gleb: We're not asking for your favourite fishing hole. crucible: Never heard of Mt. Baldy but I'm in Kelowna a lot. I'll have to check it out. I'm waiting for someone to mention Apex. Fleaman?

I thought I'd start a thread on the flip side of "worst resorts ever". Let's hear about those lesser known, hidden gem resorts. I'll start with: Sir Sams Ski Resort in Haliburton, Ontario http://www.sirsams.com/ They don't even publish the vertical on their website but I would guess it's 300 feet. Don't laugh! I visited there last year and I really enjoyed it. It's family run and has a welcoming, fun atmosphere. The main run in front of the chalet is very wide, a nice pitch and a hoot to ride. You just have to ride it three or four hundred times to get your Whistler equivalent of vertical. The best part though is the chalet. It's huge and there is no fighting for a table even at peak times.

There are actually a couple of good carving runs - Alpine and Beauvallon - on the south side. They are blue square, wide and consistent pitch (at least at the top). The problem? They are usually packed with beginner skiers. Next time I'm in the area, I think I will try Grey Rocks. I've been going up to Tremblant since 1984 and I've always thought to try Grey Rocks but never have. I hear it's wide runs, consistent top-to-bottom pitch and cheap lift tickets. Anyone tried it?

Hockey fans, enter eBay's hockey playoff pool (it's free). When you've picked your team, post your eBay ID and I'll set up a league. It has be done today by 7:00PM EST. The link is right on their home page.

Beth, you're dissing my home "mountain"! There is far, far worse in Ontario. At least Glen Eden is home to Milton Heights Racing Club which actually has a snowboard racing program albeit BX only. Up until last year, they did have alpine and even managed to spawn a couple of top riders - Marianne Leeson and Claire Merry. A shot of Marianne:

Chris, I treat the cougars the same way whether I encounter them in a bar or on the slopes - I carve around them. Wayyyy round.

Tremblant: Don't forget about: - B.S., marketing-driven snow reports - overly aggressive wannabe security guards in the village - high, high prices - "Death Alley" - the run at the bottom near the village that takes the traffic from the entire South side. Incredibly dangerous mix of skier and rider abilities, speeds and sizes. Gets mogulled up like crazy by 1PM and is constantly littered with bodies. On a positive note, if you like older women, Tremblant is cougar central. Meow!

The big Western Canadian mountains I've been to are Sunshine, Lake Louise, Fernie, Whistler, Big White and Silver Star. I pick Sunshine as my favourite of all of these. Tons of terrain and most of it above-the-treeline bowls. The grooming was excellent and snow plentiful. If I were to pick a perfect Canadian destination, it would be Banff where you can ski/ride the Big Three - Sunshine, Louise and Norquay. http://www.skibig3.com/

I don't know about that. I mean those rich snob skiers have kids and they snowboard. No, I think Taos and Mad River started off with the snowboard ban just like every other resort, kept it a bit longer then everyone else because of sheer pig-headedness and then a light went on - "woah, we've got a differentiator here". So now they play it up. Hey, why not? I know people who go to Taos for this reason. As for Gleb's "why not Whistler" question, I can answer that. The weather. I've been to Whistler eight times. On four of those trips, it rained.

I have to see a PT about my back so I guess I'll ask her about the shoulder. Thanks for the links. One positive thing is I played golf for the the first time this season and I can still whack the little white ball. Now putting, on the other hand... Anyone else feel like they might be getting too old for this carving thing? Last season, 4 broken ribs and a concussion, this season, the shoulder.

I guess I must've done something similar this season cause when I try to throw, it kills. I was playing catch with my daughter and I had to throw underhand. This is a problem since I coach baseball in the summer. I did this early in the season when I jammed my hand into the snow on a toeside turn. It forced my shoulder back in a rather violent fashion. Does this sound like an ac separation? I know, I know, go see a doctor.

Both Sporting Life and Skiis and Biikes are very good. Never had a problem with any board left with them. BTW, Skiis and Biikes in Collingwood will hold a tuning clinic for free. We should get some riders together and take them up on it. http://www.skiisandbiikes.com/waxroom.htm

Just wanted to say "welcome" from a fellow Ontarian. There are a lot plate riders in the area and, as you probably know, we are lucky enough to have Coiler and YYZ Canuck in our backyard. Too bad we have no mountains to speak of. However, we do have "Mount" St. Louis which has become an informal gathering place of sorts for hardbooters in Southern Ontario. Make sure you join us there next season. As for your technical questions, I leave to the tuning weenies on this forum. I hot wax every 3-4 days, scrape and then brush. I'm not choosey about my wax either. I've tried flouro and that stuff that comes on a towelette and quite frankly, I couldn't tell the difference. See you on the slopes.

They certainly have a great photographer. Must be the same guy who makes Denny's meals look so good.

Board is sold and off to Colorado. Thanks for the interest.

You mean the original ones? Look for Blax. I've seen more of them with the Blax label than Line Transfer. I tell you, they are the most comfortable boots I've ever owned and just perfect for free-carving. The only problem is, you can flex the boot past the point where the buckles hold, then the buckles let go. This usually happens on the first couple of runs. You have to make adjustments, then it settles down.

There were two types of Line Transfer boots. The original ones are the same as the Blax and possibly Oxygen. They are blue with white tongue and have a forward lean adjuster. They also have metal buckles. I have a pair and I prefer them to my Raichles. I've never used them for skiing but if you lean then forward and set the flex adjuster to "carve", I think they would work. The second type of Line boots are the ones you see in this auction. They are rebranded Raichles. You can even see the "R" in the walk/ride lever in the last photo. Not really suited to skiing.

Some folk don't like PayPal. Privacy concerns, fees, Evil Empire stuff.

Use a hot air gun and heat up the area first. Then, after applying the epoxy, heat it again. The heat will suck the epoxy into the gap. Then use the clamp.

Darren: yyzcanuck has a 149 Donek Pilot. Nice and soft. If your 8 year old is big and strong, the 149 might work. On the other hand, why not just get the kid started in softies? At the under-10 level, I don't recall any racers with hard boots in the Rec Series. Henry

Eat gelato any chance you get. Stay away from restaurants near tourist areas. If you get a crappy meal, do not hesitate to complain and send it back or ask for the owner. They assume us North Americans all eat at McDonalds. See the Coliseum but watch out for the crazy, predatory "centurions". Visit the Spanish Steps and check out the shops there but don't think for a minute that anything is affordable. Rent a car and visit the small hilltop villages in Umbria and Tuscany. Take barf bags for your companion if he/she is prone to motion sickness. Try to find out the schedules for the weekly markets. Buy wine, bread and stinky cheese and have a curb-side picnic. Learn to eat dinner at 9:00PM and take 2 hours doing so. For laughs, ask for a coffee "to-go". In Florence, climb the Duomo. Visit the Ponte Vecchio. People watch. #1 thing - don't rush around trying to see everything. Take your time, enjoy and try to go a little native. Remember - "When in Rome..."