pow4ever

April 1

hmmm..... just when i put winter toys away. still got snow tire on me chariot

April 1

fool me 82 time; shame on me

March 19

@lafcadio
you are a beautiful human being for sharing the stoke. wish i am closer to NH and/or less lazy lol...

March 19

I would like to see the original one
Raw human emotion without filtering in the right context can be a beautiful thing.
authenticity comes to mind.
Often especially on inter web: people glance and don't really read/take the time to digest what was "ask". or maybe i am just a tiny bit pedantic.

The ask -
James put up a different version of the rant video than what was shared above.
James took it down because Friend reach out due to concerns of language/"hubris" and etc.
hence it's call original because it's different. original version was viewed 143 times and we are unlikely to view it in the original form (director cut).
How many ppl saw the "original" version? - was the ask

March 15

29 minutes ago, nicholaswmin said:

I've also noticed the staggering amount of snowboarders that have no idea what they're doing yet they're utterly convinced they do.

I am one of those but very aware of my short coming. Hence i just talk in philosophical sense and not get involved in anything remotely technical.

Coming from tech - i deal with jargon day in/out, nomenclature, RFC, MSB/LSB without it; cat be living with dog chaos lol. That's the draw to carving for me. to be free and dynamic to focus/develop on one's style (the proverbial unteachable dance as you stated) and not focus on the dogmatic part.
I have not ship anything in 7 years but i was kept around so must be doing something right lol... i do craft building block so other can ship/build on top of.

Sound like you know what you are doing and what you want. Good on you and bowing out.

March 15

what is goal here? to carve the steep? to win world cup? just explore the idea/concepts?
writing a book on carving/coaching? (no wrong answer here)
Don't get me wrong - I am an aficionado of keyboard snowboarding
Depends on the goal(s) - keyboard will only get so far. i see you use git; so i assumed you are in tech. it's great to understand assembly (down to 0/1 bits) the "basic"/bed rock. But to shipped a real viable product - all the CS class in the world won't help until one start writing code.

Akin to learned knowledge vs earned knowledge. Are you able to meet other coach/hardbooter/carver in your neck of the wood? That likely will get you the best ROI.

There is an old Chinese saying: reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. TOM - time on mountain is what worked for me.

final example - before i learned how to drive manual/stick-shift car. i try to figure out how does manual transmission work, hydraulic system, pressure plate, clutch, engine fly wheel and etc.
I was able to drive stick by building a mental model without anyone teach me. Until i was stalled on a steep hill... not amount of understanding is helping me there... muscle memory, technique working in a dynamic environment is the fun/challenge part.

it's a great discussion and i am by no mean to discourage it. some of us went down similar path.
It's very possible the idea is good i just a sucky implementer/executioner,

March 6

23 minutes ago, 1xsculler said:

I found a hill that turned out to be very conducive to my carving ability, i.e. the Holiday Lift at Snoqualmie Central. It was perfectly groomed and just the right slope so I could connect pencil lines and even turn back up the hill a little when needed to slow down. It bored me and it would be a hill few of you would even consider (their bunny run) BUT I loved being able to connect pencil lines!

right but if we want to ride steep with comfort.
we gotta be comfortable with the uncomfortable. One have to get outside of the comfort zone.
or be comfortable/content with just ridding stuff that's fun for you.

Lots of ppl tell me that want to do 'x" but their action doesn't match their intention.
Which is ok... we all need a bit of mental gymnastic to get through the day.

Maybe i will see you at Head of the Charles! Harvard? i is a simple college drop out but guilty by association.

March 6

some of my down hill mountain bike friends have no sense of self-preservation.
same with the down hill skater. guess we are just wire differently.

i am the so call pansy(when it comes to breaking bone, bodily harm ) and i am ok with that label.

March 6

this one?
https://web.archive.org/web/20120502060136/http://bomberonline.com/resources/Techarticles/cross_under.html

it's very good

March 6

i over use "like" but what st_lupo and Rob articulate much better than i ever could.
you get a heart; you get a heart; everyone get a heart!
so much wisdom here.

Balance - speaking from someone who is self proclaim King of the Green
Practice is good but if we always ride green/blue - you are going to have hard time riding steeper stuff - gotta be ok at being "suck" at it because it's something new.

ride early groom, black - maximize our chance to practice on optimal condition that's just beyond our comfort zone.

ride sub-optimal condition to make us more versatile carver.

it's been a long time but i finally start to understand how to setup properly for me - style, bio mechanic, fitness level and etc. (still not dialed in) but getting closer.

i am at the age when physical conditioning is starting to decline so i had to pivot/evolve. it's as much physical as mental. gotta be ok with not able to perform at the same level as few years ago. aka "older i get greater i was".

those were the day where ppl just flabbergast point at me "you! you! you are amazing" now ppl barely turn their head on the chair lol. realized/accept i am doing this for me because it's fun and i enjoy the hunt/pursuit. if i can carve effortlessly like other here i might have quit a long time ago.

the flow state require us to push just beyond/near our limitation and consequence matter.

March 5

that's the fun part.
There is a tech article on this topic exactly. we get the concept but actual execution is not easy to master.

http://alpinesnowboarder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Carving-the-Steeps.pdf

similar to life when we play on easy mode - most do well with some practice
when we got thrown a few curve balls - we need to be quick to adapt/flexible and face the challenges head on.

stumble but never fall (too hard) - carve on friend

i think it as energy management

shallower slope - less energy to managed. technique is less important
steep slope - much more potential -> kinetic (esp for us clydesdale class)
margin for error is tiny.
angulation, rotation, dragging body part, make the board turn are method to dissipate build up speed/energy.

when i start out i purpose to not wax board and unzip jacket as method to slow down lol...

Once we get better - it's easy to stall out because we carve away too much energy. finding the balance and enjoy

March 1

i love powder; who doesn't! I don't ride in powder enough to be expert at it.
I took one of the forum advice and it work well.

for deep powder -
Got some AT boots (atomic backland) with DGGS and soft burton/IBEX/F2 binding mount them on Jones Hovercraft. In deep powder it start to lift off (it start to hover); don't need to put weight in the back foot.

i find the all mountain HB (165 23 waist contra) just doesn't wow me. yes it does everything well but not excel at any had me wish i was on something else. maybe i just don't have enough day on it yet.

lack of length make it less stable in hard/firm - it will rail but i would rather be on on skinner board.
it does powder/chop ok - but it's still stiff i would want to be on something more floaty and softer.

maybe a 173 21-22cm with powder nose will be a better overall compromise

February 29

i was able to get the stock gen 2 MS liner to work - took couple season to figure/dial it in.
use the softer tongue in the back, and blue spring.
front - stiff in the front seems to work well and no problem at all out the box.
punch out toebox
use low volume footbed

had to ditch stock strap and powerstrap
dual strap FTW: use the inner strap so the tongue don't walk about
https://patriotfootbeds.com/products/trustraps-3-0

For heel life(only back foot problem)
these won't work with zipfit because it doesn't compress zipfit enough
But for foam liner it work well
https://patriotfootbeds.com/products/liner-sleeve

make sure to push down the tongue of the liner so it's snugged over instep so it doesn't move around.

good luck it's worth it.i

February 28

everyone get their own trail
ppl often wonder why i can ride the same trail over and over and not get bore. being sucky at this sport have it's advantage as i create excitement by tripping over myself lol...

February 28

this is one of my favorite XKCD strip

i used to be a purity fan boy but now i see it as reverse: a sociologist/generalist are sometime very valuable).

if you have not seen it - you are one of the lucky 10k - my 2nd favorite

February 28

as i get older; i tend pack more crap lol.... i am getting better

February 27

hahaha. Everyone is the main character of their adventure. Subjective reality vs objective one.
everyone else is a NPC. What happen to Ladia/Barry really give me the dread/hibbie jibbies. I don't want that to happen to anyone.
we also don't want to hit other - if they got hurt - it doesn't matter who is at fault that is unnecessary burden we don't want to carry. I mentioned it a few time in the past on similar topic - we can't let fear paralysis us and we can't not just be ignorant of the risk. Finding the best way to minimized risk

my pet peeve are:
i tend to let ppl go first; but many ppl tend to stop when they see you stop. Once you start going; they start going. <enter jackie chan meme here>

people who just follow you because it look so cool. road to hell is build on good intention.
They meant well but please give me space. i am not always in control all the time lol... i might end up kill us both.

survivorship bias - by luck that we advance enough to be able to make turn taking up less real estate and much more predictable in our turn, and have extra cognitive capacity to be aware of the surrounding - chance of getting hit become lower but not zero.

Burden of knowledge is a heavy one. Much easier to just sit in front of TV and zombie out lol...

February 27

thanks all! Great feedback seems like all great mind think a like

yea... i hear you. for good carving day - likely i will be on HB setup.
For the past decade -
even on less than stellar carving day - i am still on carving setup. it's not optimized but it does surprisingly well.

i try different board(s), AT boots/softer binding - cater to the condition - that strategy work pretty well until i ride mostly out west (air trip). since i can't bring the kitchen sink with me. bring one board solve that mental crutch. be happy with what i got and just having fun regardless what equipment i was strap to. As Rob say - i am too lazy to switch setup middle of the day.

That being say this is more about explore/expand my horizon. Not saying i am perfect at HB as there are always something to work on. Since softboot carving is getting popular - i want to share the stoke with my non-carving SB buddies. They are not going to try HB so if i can show them we can all carve regardless of equipment it's easier to start that conversation.

it's multifaceted reason. For that reason i am also interested in learning how to ski.
anyday i get to learn/push myself it's a grand day.

February 27

saying goes -
“NEVER ARGUE WITH STUPID PEOPLE. THEY WILL DRAG YOU DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL AND BEAT YOU WITH EXPERIENCE.”

IMHO - we held ourself at higher standard. Educated when we can; but recall when i was a pimple face 15 years old... do i take advice from some old geezer yelling at me? probably not...

Put ourself in other people's shoe and write a letter from their perspective -
i am not making excuse for ignorance but i was also ignorant once.
When growing in resources constraint - i don't get to do fancy winter sports. I would image when given the opportunity - i have something to prove: faster i go it show the world how good i am. plus speed give us a sense of flying/freedom.

let those who have not sin cast the first stone.... I see some carver "buzz" ppl...

accident takes 2 be safe out there.

February 27

nice similar to craiglist missed connections....

This one time i was at Berkshire East; similar situation - took single line got pair up with cute girl on ski; had a really chat and we keep meeting at the bottom of the chair (took different trail dow) 4-5 times. She told me her IG (guess this is how young ppl keep in contact now a day). i for sure thought i will remember but i didn't
As you say - ppl take ski/snowboard trip by themself and take single line are my people.

February 26

most ppl don't like their cheese move lol.

It's like fashion/weather. i am just going to focus to play in the snow and let other ppl worry about dogma

February 26

2 hours ago, Alloy Snow USA said:

Check out the Alloy Snowboards Darwin's Flow. This is a toss up for my daily driver. It is loosely based off of the Alloy DO, a dedicated softboot carver. It includes some early rise and a pow tail for fresh tracks. Where do you live in NY? I have the entire Alloy line up from a few years ago and can get you out on them for a demo.

Thank you for the offer!! I am on Wrong(Long) Island NY
I do have an Alloy DO that i pick up (been buying in classified section in recent time).
Let me figure out the boot/binding and I will def check out Darwin Flow (that look really nice).

February 25

16 hours ago, TLN said:

Does it need to be one board? Can it be custom(aka $$) or something mainstream?

it doesn't have to be one board. i am a suck for bang for buck but have since realized buy once and cry once lol...

6 hours ago, Rob Stevens said:

The one board thing is my jam… I don’t like chopping and changing, especially during the day when on a big mountain, coming back to the car is a pita. That said, I ask A LOT of my boards and the Stranda’s have really stood up.

Know that if you can get good with this setup, you can probably out carve most and go places the alpine board could, but wouldn’t want to.

Love it! 1board is a mentality. i understand it's series of compromise/focus on technique. You put it perfectly i could survive most in bound trails on the alpine setup but it's not going to be pretty/fun...

someone say progressive stiffness/combo -> boot softest in the mix, binding stiffer, board even stiffer(shield)

16 hours ago, TLN said:

I like idea of SL board and hardboots. That's thing to try before you give up on hb completely

not given up on HB just looking for options on less stellar carving day and when i have to play uncle to friend's kids

16 hours ago, i8summer said:

nitro select tls

thanks! will look for and try it in the store. maybe it will have to be next season.... condition in the North East next week look to be pretty bad.

2 hours ago, jburk said:

shells only. Good seller, I'd buy from him again.

thank you for the insight! great price..
Now to look for this -
https://deeluxe.com/technology/flex-booster/

February 24

great video from James on this topic.

on chalky firm groomer day - seems HB are the weapon of choice.
Anything else - a more forgiving setup sounds like a great idea.

it's not technique or setup. its technique AND setup.

proper setup allow technique to shine through/advance.
proper technique/feel allow us to dial in the setup.
TOM - time on mountain and systematically experiment.

rinse and repeat

too bad i am spaghetti throwing kind of guy

February 24

2 hours ago, Deuxdiesel said:

I still have a fleet of alpine boards, but now that I am 60, I prefer the inherent flexibility of my set-up with very little discomfort and nearly all the dynamic performance.

nice! i am looking for way to ride until old age at mid 40 - for the first time i feel spring chicken no more...

1 hour ago, dhamann said:

we met a few years ago and rode a little bit together. coming from an alpine background and seeing you ride a contra and a rev, here's my 2 cents:

Thanks Dave!! i member it was Sugarloaf early season ~3 years ago. thank you for the tips!
That was around the low point of snowboarding for me. i simply wasn't having "fun" at the time and was ready to quit. i was not riding the way i know i once could. Thanks to the community those "dark cloud days" are behind me now. Still suck but hey i am having a blast now. How well i ride doesn't reflect what kinda of person i am. i is a slow learner but better late than never. hahahaha talk about first world problem/privilege...

I gave away most of my softboot stuff when i committed to HB. Figure i start fresh at least with boots. That's what i was thinking stuff the zipfit in to the right size shell. Instead like the step sister of Cinderella squeeze into race fit. up size/relax fit seems pragmatic. Great tip!

Appreciated everyone take the time to write. i like and appreciated "wall of text".
Exactly as you say - Snowboarding is suppose to be fun! i was out in Co for 7 days. First 3-4 days are perfect hard carving day which i enjoy immensely. but then we got some snow toward the end which re-ignite the none-carving portion of the snowboard program. feel like a kid again playing and joy the whole mountain. Hence this thread and seems the wind is changing. we are seeing more and more carver regardless the equipments. I get the gist and philosophy aspect of what you are saying! Thanks again. keyboard snowboarding just not as fun as the real thing lol... now i am jonesing for some more snow time.

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