jtslalom

While riding last night in the terrain park I came across a group of park riders aiding a friend. The rider was down on the ground directly after a jump. Apparently she had mis calculated the landing causing her to face plant. Coming up on the scene I noticed her two friends kneeling by her side as she laid in the snow. Her arms were shaking and she was not conscious and bleeding about her lip and eye brow. As I stopped to help I noticed her friends were trying to pull her helmet off shouting her name in order to awaken her. I convinced the one not to pull her helmet off in case she had a neck injury. I asked if ski patrol had been notified and they told me they just called. I asked if she was breathing and both her friends looked at each other and said they didn't know. I nelt down and placed my ear near her nose to listen. She was breathing but awkwardly as if she was snoring. Just then ski patrol pulled up and took over. Man I was happy to see them. About 10 minutes later I was on the lift and could see that the scene hadn't changed much. The girl was still lying there having many ski patrollers around her. You hear about accidents on the slopes every now and then but may not realize the severity of them until you come up on one yourself. The one I came upon really makes me think about how easy accidents can happen and the severity of damage they can cause. I will still ride fast and drive hard turns but definately be a little more aware of my surroundings. I don't hit many jumps but do take chances of getting hit when coming across the slope in transition. My head is right at boot buckle level. Any fast or out of control skier/rider can pop me from behind if I'm not aware.

It looks like we will have a few carvers out there on Sunday. Dave, Joe, and I will be there. It would be nice to have you along Eric. Maybe Mike, John and Grobm could make it as well. It's always nice to ride with a pack of plate riders. Sorry about the crappy grooming Eric. Usually Mountain Creek likes to groom with snow but desperate times call for desperate measures. I guess they had an abundance of crap from the weekend and decided to groom with it. Must had smelled pretty bad. See ya Sunday

I will be riding at Mountain Creek at North Peak on Friday night 1/4/13 sometime after 6 pm and on Sunday morning 1/6/13 for first chair up the mountain (8:00 am) Hope to see other carvers out there.

Hey Mark, It was great riding with you and Joe (cafercr) today. Its nice to ride with guys who can drive good lines. It got a little crowded at the end but the snow was almost perfect for carving. I will be riding again during this week in the evenings and possibly tomorrow morning. I'm sure we will hook up again. Jt

Rode today (Sunday 12/30/12) with Kevin, Dave, and Mike (carvingBassist). Had a fantastic day riding. Conditions were PERFECT for carving. The cab was closed however due to high winds and the triple was the only lift to the top that was open at north peak. The lift line got crowded around 11:00 but the slopes weren't to bad and we were able to lay some really nice carves down. I will be riding tomorrow (Monday 12/31/12) at north peak first thing in the morning for an hour or so. Hope to see other carvers there.

I went to two different snowboard shops today in New Jersey. One of them was a local shop in Vernon and the other was a small chain ski/snowboard shop in Wayne called Ski Barn. Ski Barn has a large inventory of soft boots. I asked the clerk about two different pairs of boots that I would recomend. 1) Burton Driver X 2) Salomon Malamutes The clerk told me that both pairs are very good for riding provided you wanted some of the stiffest boots on the market. He also said thatno local shops, including the one he works in, would have them in stock. It seems as though that most soft boot riders in my area want softer soft boots and no shop will stock firmer soft boots because they just don't sell very well. I don't know but it seems to me that if you want a good pair of firm soft boots you might have to order them from Burton or Salamon.

6 - 8 inches of snow fell on Vernon and Mountain Creek. The opening day is now projected for December 29. I was really hoping they would have opened on Wednesday 12/26 but no go. We are expecting another 1 - 3 inches of snow on Saturday here in Vernon. It should make for a great opening. I will be riding first tracks on Sunday morning. Hope to see other carvers there.

floboot, It seems as though you are riding soft boots. 36f and 33b are angles that are right in the middle between hard riding and soft park riding. When I talk about driving my knees I'm generally talking about hard riding with angles 40 or better. When I rode plates my binding angles were in the 60s to almost 70s. Almost all my edge angles were created by driving my knees and less ankle flexion. Riding 36f and 33b on soft boots you are still going to need quite a bit of ankle flexion to initiate you boards edge angle. I ride my soft boards around high 40's into the low 50's both front and back. These angles are very high for soft riding but I ride my soft decks as if they are hard decks with plates. I do agree that those videos may not be the best to model your riding after. It looks cool but that is 100% opposite of how I learned how to carve. My advice to you is keep your soft gear but buy some used hard gear. Turn your bindings steeper on your new deck and drive your knees to create board edge angle. Good Luck

Some folks believe in sperating the knees. I just knock them together and drive both down into the snow. I guess it makes sense to start driving the front knee then the back but for me it's to much to think about.

I'm sure we will ride together this year. Here is a picture of Mountain Creek as of 4:45 pm 12/12/12.

I drove past Mountain Creek this morning and they were making snow with all their lights on. It looks like the night time temps for the rest of this week (12/12/12) are pretty good for making snow. I'm not sure what the official word is but I don't think this weekend is remotely possible for opening. Possibly next week might be more like it.

Well I'm not quite sure who presses them. I do know they incorporate the rocker technology in such a way that during longitudal flexion through a carve, the sidecut will create pinchpoints. These pinch points act sort of like magna traction in the sense that there are more than just one point of pressure created along a carve. On a regular board there is one point of pressure that is created. When that single pressure point loses pressure through a carve, the board skids off. If that happens with the Status board then one of the other pinch points takes over causing it to still stay in the carve. That is the theory behind its sidecut and rocker. What I can tell you from experience is that this will be my third season on them and I'm convinced it has a better edge hold than other similar boards. Status boards are softer than most hard/carving decks but they stick to hard pack like glue. I tend to ride icy conditions and I think the board out perfroms most others in those conditions.

Try a Status Uno, 163cm. Go here: http://statussnow.com/

Mountain creek laid down it's first blanket of snow this season.:) Not much but parts of the mountain are white. It looks like some good snow making weather is on its way so hopefully the season will kick off soon. See ya on the slopes.

Hi Elisa, I have been riding Status Snowboards for the last two years now. I have two Status Uno's. One is a 163cm and the other I think is a 168cm. Both of these boards incorporate the rocker technology. I ride both ot them with Burton soft boots and ride bindings. These boards were built to carve with softboots. I will post some videos this up and coming season of some guys carving on them but for now I think you should visit the website and see for yourself. http://www.statussnow.com

I can' make it this Sunday. My daughter has both basketball and softball this weekend. I will be busy all weekend. If there is any snow left, I will go up next weekend for mogul runs.

I talked to Andy the race director at Mountain Creek yesterday(3/6/12). It looks like they are going to start a snow board race team for next year. He still has to get some details worked out but I can say almost definately there will be a team. I'm not quite sure what the age group will be for the racers. There will be racing for students and children but I'm sure somehow that they can accompany all ages. I did talk about some type of adult program but again those details still have to be worked out.

I am stopping by the race directors office this week to talk more about the snowboard team. The last time they had one it was a team that anyone could join. Alot of the participants were older(40+) I'm not to sure what the director is expecting but I'll post any info I get after I talk to him.

Well grobm, They made snow and at this very moment (5:45 am 3/6/12) are still making snow. I drove across the valley this morning and could see the snow clouds. It looked like they were making snow at both Vernon and South bases, one trail at north and possibly parts of two trails at south. I am surprised. Have fun riding.

NO WAY. I highly doubt that MC will make snow. The only reason they will make snow is to beerf up the base area, however I doubt they will make snow on any other part of the mountain. I will pass it tonight and post only if they are making snow.

I don't think the coaches are expecting all racers to go out and get new equipment but rather train with what they allready have. I think it is more important to first get particpants interested and then worry about equipment. Being a local h.s. teacher, I can try to get the word out. I have been approached dozens of times from students inquiring about carving and race carving. I have nowhere to refer them to until now. I told the head director that I could help with attracting the proper students but all I need is a firm confirmation that they will start a program. Right now it looks as though it may happen.

At my local resort, my board NEVER leaves my side. I will bring it with me every where I go. There is a policy that no skis or snowboards are aloud in the lodge but I ignore that. Theft is an absolute at my local hill. It is sad to say but if you have a nice board with new bindings and its not locked, its stolen. The same is not true for hard boards and bindings. Most thieves at my local resort are to ignorant to recognize their value and will pass them up when trying to steal a board. However I still lock mine.

I stopped into the race department at Mountain Creek (NJ) today (2/25/12) to ask about the rumored snowboard team starting next season. I talked with the department head (I think Alex) and he told me that they are definately interested in starting a team. I am to contact him towards the end of the season to see how or if I can help but it definately looks good for next year. I think there are a few local people interested in coaching as I am also. Spread the word. ANy help would be appreciated on starting a team.

I stopped into the race department at Mountain Creek today (2/25/12) to ask about the rumored snowboard team starting next season. I talked with the department head (I think Alex) and he told me that they are definately interested in starting a team. I am to contact him towards the end of the season to see how or if I can help but it definately looks good for next year. I think there are a few local people interested in coaching as I am also. Spread the word.

Hey grobm, If I were you I would make the trip up. This will be my first time but I have ridden with quite a few people who have been there before. They all tell me that there was no shortage of carvers.