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Jules: Timely post. I just bought a F2 158 Speedster SL and I'm thinking it's too short for me. If you're interested, I can probably cut you a great deal. Send me an email. HK

AFAIK, any Burton 4 hole disc will work with these.

Which brings up another point. With an event like PGS Snowboarding, you have to see it live for it to be a real draw. If you already know the result or if the network ruins it for you by *not* telecasting live (which means, in the case of CBC, there is no Canadian in contention), then it's just mildly interesting. I watched the races to observe technique and equipment. I really couldn't care less which Schoch brother won (was it Simon or Phillip?, I can't even remember). The same goes for hockey or speed skating or skiing. If it's not live and the radio or TV or someone at work has already spoiled it for you, you're just not going to be riveted to the TV during the primetime re-broadcast. BUT...figure skating works. If you're mildly interested in figure skating, it's no big deal if it's live or not, you'll still watch the show. Because really, it's a show, not a race. That's my theory on why there is so much skating on the networks.

Fluff: I find that if I try to lean into the snow like your first pic, it is very unforgiving. Yes, on hero snow, it works. But, throw in a few bumps, ice or hard pack and I either skid out or slam onto my hip. As soon as I angle my body back across the board, my riding improves tremendously. I'm now even trying to grab my board (although I don't have near enough the flexibility to actually touch it) with my outside hand to get my weight in the right place. We all have our own styles but that's what works for me. If I try to lean, I am in trouble. Henry

Let's be honest - to the average Joe, PGS is pretty boring. Especially compared to SBX and HP. For that matter, the ski races are also pretty boring except for DH. Tomorrow, I guarantee there will be zero water cooler talk about the snowboard parallel giant slalom. Initiate the conversation yourself and you'll just get a funny look.

What this all means is that for 2010, we are all going to have to meet in Whistler to watch the races rather than rely on TV coverage.

Skaters don't angulate like snowboarders. They are leaning well into the turn. If we leaned like that, we would skid out. We don't have the edge hold of a pair of sharp skates. Shred, I hate to tell you this but *most* Canadians root against the U.S. It's an unpleasant truth. That's the domain of being the global 1000 pound gorilla - everyone hopes you lose.

Just watched CBC coverage. It was thin. They showed the semis and then the final. I won't spoil it for you but the winner was no surprise.

Mirror, sorry for the personal question but how much do you weigh?

Wait a minute. Isn't 7.1 stiffer than 6.8?

I got a little carried away at a fundraiser for AOS (Assocation of Ontario Snowboarder) and bought an F2 SL 158. I thought it might be a good board for the kid but when I got a hold of it, I realized it's too stiff. I'm thinking it might be a good ice board in the mould of a Madd 158 or I could use it as a tight radius freecarver. Anyone ride one of these? Will a 190 pounder over-power it? Should I keep it in plastic and save it for the kid (he's only 110 pounds)?

Anyone up for mid-week carving session at MSLM? I'm able to play hooky Thurs. or Friday.

Are you kidding me? They haven't been "Games" since maybe 1924. It's about big money. Big, stinking, corporate money. NBC paid $613 million to broadcast Torino. They sold $900 million in advertising. I know the US pays their athletes a bounty for each gold medal. Anyone know how much? Then think of all the endorsement money a bubbly blonde like Jacobellis lost with that little bit of showboating.

Maelle Ricker of Whistler, BC went down early. She landed pretty hard on her back and head. Suffered a mild concussion. She was a little confused but knew she was at the Olympics. Only problem, she thought it was Tokyo in 1964 and her name was Steve Prefontaine. Kidding. She's fine. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20060218.OLYSNOWBOARD18/TPStory/Sports

I noticed Wescott's method in the heats. Jasey Jay did the same thing. And I noticed a lot of hard booters taking big air that made me gasp. Impressive and risky, I thought. But remember, in the heats, there's a lot less at stake. The top two go on to the next round and all the tricks I saw were on the last jump where they could've fallen over the finish line. And yes, when you take a risk and it pans out, no one remembers. Crash and burn, it comes back to haunt you. As it should. Right now Canada is losing in hockey to the Swiss 2-0. If the lead holds up, just wait until you hear the uproar.

If you're a size 9, I think you'll find a 27.5 to be too big. I'm a 10 and I wear 27.5. You should get your feet measured up for accurate mondo size.

Right after Lindsey's crash, I was immediately reminded of Leon Lett showboating it in the 1993 SuperBowl. I guess I wasn't the only one: http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/torino2006/snowboarding/news?slug=yhoo-agoldengaffe&prov=yhoo&type=lgns To Lindsey's credit, she says, "I was having fun," she added. "Snowboarding is fun. I was ahead. I wanted to share with the crowd my enthusiasm. I messed up. Oh well, it happens." Snowboarding sure is adding some great colour to these Olympics. Lindsey's gaffe is going to go down as an unforgettable Olympic moment.

You're *that* Rob Stevens? I remember the newspapers being shocked by your snowboard lingo. I guess they never heard the word "stoked" before. The CBC piece was about the mismatch of snowboarding free-spiritedness and tight-assed IOC types. Jake Burton came on and talked about how snowboarding didn't need the Olympics and never even asked to be included. He made a couple of guarded comments about FIS. The funny part was at the end when the reporter (Mark Lee?) is asking a Canadian boarder about the Olympics and boarder says - "Wow, sorry I spaced out there - so-and-so was killing it". I can't remember the exact quote but he was clearly not paying attention the question and just watching the competition in the background. The angle being - snowboarders are unimpressed by the Olympics and all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds it.

Beaver Valley is near Kimberly (Ontario, not BC). It's a bit southwest of Collingwood - about a 2 hour drive. BV is a private club and claims to have the steepest run in Ontario. I'm pretty sure the Master's Race won't be on that particular run. Come on out Jax. It'll be a blast. If you're over 25, you're considered a Master.

Unfortunately, CBC nor BBC offer video clips. Let me tell you, it was an absolutely thrilling final. Poor Lindsey, she's going to hear about "the grab" until she draws her last breath. Really too bad because she was in a class all to herself. If she got in front, no one was catching her.

That bottom photo is the reason why I hesitate to buy a titanal board. I know for sure the Kesslers are not durable and I wonder about the other boards.

Southern Ontarians: Did the rain hit Barrie and Collingwood? Report back with conditions if anyone is going up today or tomorrow. Don't forget - Ontario Masters on Sunday at Beaver Valley!

Wow, was that exciting! Lindsey looked absolutely unbeatable in the qualifiers and final until that second last jump. What was with the grab? Anyone see that CBC piece on the uneasy marriage of snowboarding and the Olympics? Pretty funny.

CBC interviewed Jasey Jay after the race. Jasey said he was DQ'd for missing a gate, not for interference. He got up after the crash and continued on but the judges ruled that he did not make the gate. His response - "Oh well, that's bordercross." Drew Nielson had the same sort of response. Very cool about it even though in his case, the guy behind him clipped his tail and took him out hard.

Just caught the repeat broadcasts. It was great to see all the hard boot setups. Too bad for Xavier and Drew Nielson, crashing out early. Same with Jasey. What a fantastic course. It made for exciting TV. Sure beat the heck out of X-country skiing.