P06781

I am in Jason's same camp , my inlaws were to fly back to wisconsin on monday, still no flight yeti due to snow and now ice. I will try to make saturday.....maybe.... Jim

I wish rachlie would make a snowboard design based off the old rachlie flexion design . The sb series has a too soft foward flex unless you lock them down . The flexion gave a progressive stiffer flex without locking the rear lever (didnt have one)....I learned using them so I am somewhat baised about the design. Jim

Had 2 sets of flexions, worked great w/ burton 5 hole plates but use sb series now w/ intec SI's . ski boots = stiff boot ..use more flexable plates (burton race) otherwise if you use them with catek/bombers you will get beat up...stiff plate/stiff boot=ouch. Jim

It looked like your were riding deep pow w/ face shots.... You could use it for a avitar ....better than shred grunners... Jim

So where do we meet, what radio channel do you guys use? And does anyone want to predict what kind of snow we will have ? Should we bring carving or powder rigs or both? What time does the first lift open 8 or 9am? http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/WAZ018.php?warnzone=WAZ018&warncounty=WAC033 Jim

Great riding, probably the best powder of the year! I got some pics ---some good , some not. Does anyone want a copies? Perhaps you can firgure out how to resize and repost for BOL to see. Let me know who wants them. Looking foward to Crystal on fri & sat...hope the snow gods will be favorable... Jim

I guess me and Mark C will show up too for some first runs. I am from wisconsin, so I might go in and watch the end of the packer-seahawk NFL playoff game ... Jim

Speedy, There is a good group of people in pdx/hood river that ride hardboots. If I were you, i would buy some rachlie sb series boots from ebay or on the classified adds here on BOL. I have had excellent luck buying off BOL. I have a Sims premium 167 with burton raceplates that I would sell or loan if you come up to Mt Hood. Also look at at Klug riding as they have had excellent prices on older burton stuff. What size are you (weight/Ht).... I have used to use skiboots on my boards, and if you already have a set, it is a good cheap way to start (it works fine no matter what anyone else says). Jim

I don't think I will make it on fri am. 16+ inchs snow at house and my wife wont let leave with the subaru as it is the only car that can make it out . If I come I will call on 5/12 . Have fun tomorrow ... Jim

I plan on the 9th, maybe the 10th .... Posted new thread by accident.... Jim

I plan to be there on the 9th but not sure about the 10th. Where are you meeting? I would like to try SI td2's and Donek fc's or axis in longer lengths...opps new thread instead of reply Jim

Hey, I plan to ride in the morning till 2-3pm. If you come earlier in the day I would be glad to show you around. NWS predicts 4" overnight with 4" more during the day on the 31st . I will be on channel 10-5. Its been kinda icy here in portland so watch out for black ice. I still have 6" on the ground at my house in the west portland hills....elevation 900' on shady side. Jim

I rode last sunday and it was very hard-icy conditions but it is predicted to snow daily with 2000-3000ft snows levels through new years. The mountain is completely filled in with very little chance of hitting any rocks so it is safe to use your good board(s). I plan on riding sat so I will update you then. I cant make newyears eve as I am working/family w/ small kids. The best place to check conditions is through NOAA...hourly conditions...6" in last 24hrs http://www.seawfo.noaa.gov/products/OSOMHM http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/ORZ011.php?warnzone=ORZ011&warncounty=ORC005 At night only MTHood Express is open..... http://www.skihood.com/ Jim

I tried before and had the same problem .....under 100k and wouldn't upload . It has to do with max resolution 640x480... I wish fin would create a place to put pics/vids because the 100k limit is too low. He emailed me and said that it was for the dialup customers but probably costs him some cash for the bandwidth when we all place big files. Last year we were placing movies (3meg) 2-3 in a thread no problem.

I think you are bringing up 2 issues. Is a hardboot binding setup easier than a softboot setup in powder vs is an alpine board better than a freestyle-park type twintip in the powder. I have been ridng a hardboot setup on both raceboards and powder boards for years. I like a hardboot binding setup for everything I do--freeriding, fun carving. I like a wider waist width raceboard(200mm+) for any new snow up to 4" , but if the snow is >4" then it calls for a true all-mountain powder board....I have an old 176 nitro fury that works great and a 01 radair tanker 192 (w/ wrecked front inserts). I am hoping that Roces usa will give a new one as my damaged one should arrive today. The tankers kick ass , I cant say how much these boards can do in both powder and hardpack however I would stick to a 02/03 or newer model as the inserts can pull out. Jim

I guess I missed the wider stance movement and have most boards set up with a 18.5" I guess I should experiment with something wider . What cants angles do you use , I have cateks and td1's with 3/3 setups.. Jim

On my 192 it actually pulled the topsheet up around the 4 inserts on my front binding.I am surprized that the front binding broke as usaully the rear front ones fail first. I used the the middle 4 inserts and it made a perfect circle bubble leaving the front/back 2 sets of inserts ok . Am I tightning the screws too much? With the cateks and the rubber ring you can tighten alot due the compression of the rubber ring. I emailed that guy from utah (necessary equip-dave tille) and he has some pretty good prices on new ones and 02/03, 01/02. Any recommendations on which years models are the strongest? The olders ones are significantly cheaper... Jim

Thanks Jason & PSR . I called roces usa this morning and got a RA# to send it back. I hope I can get it back quick (fixed or a new one) as I need it for a BC snowcat trip in march. I will miss it greatly because now I have to use my Nitro fury 176 as my powder board again --heavy!!! I am not sure what year it is, but would try to fix it if they wont do anything..(green with hibiscus flowers) . It does have the inserts that fit 5mm hex wrench . My bindings came off easily however. The whole area under the 4 inserts bubbled and showed stress cracks around each insert??? Do you use softboots or hard on yours, (are plates Ok) ? I had catek olympic SI's on mine, but could put TD1's on it... (I thought the cateks spread the force out wider) I was carving it hard however laying some nice trenchs on the groomers between the powder runs. Jim

Doeas anyone have a good idea on how to fix the inserts on a Radair tanker 192. They started pulling up today while riding at Mt Hood Meadows... pics available Jim

I plan to be there Jan 9th. I am coming from pdx....I hope you guys will get some demos together. Keep us up to date on anything I do to help . Jim

Shred , Does that work???? Very interesting ......I might try....

I have the 178 and it is good for all around (free carve). Its not bad in the powder either but I wouldn't use it for anything > 6"... The board has great edge hold yet is soft enough that you can make it do tighter (sl-like) turns... Jim

Tuesday was good also. The grooming was great on north-south canyons and on Shooting star. I found that HRM was great on the upper half bit the bottom headwall could use 1-2' of snow to let the groomers do their magic. There were 3 other hardbooters out and rode most of they day with Todd. and ?. It was overcast and started snowing lightly (1" by noon) . Did some runs on cascade but the top half was clouded in and it was too scary to ride fast on unknown early conditions. Looks like 4" new today and more on the way . I will be up friday if anyone wants to join . Jim

Mike , Have to work this wednesday, but I am planning on riding tomorrow . Let me know if you can make tomorrow instead. I am going to ride on friday also if interested(taking a friend who is a 1st timer). I will also try and get some pics , but the new 1meg max upload makes it harder. Anyone know how to compress jpg's down to smaller sizes. Also my digi cam takes avi movies but they all end up about 3meg's , any suggestion on how to set camera or convert the avi to smaller sizes ? Jim

I like meadows also.... I went thrusday and it was harder like conditions but perfect for getting the ice/hard technique down. I rode laps down north and south canyon and did 4-5 on shooting star (down the chair line) and it was great. The grooming was smooth but had the early season rolls which are kinda fun. I used the good board (volkl rt178) and switched to my mistral sonic to test some new (used) td1's out. There were some bare spots but overall coverage was good. I would go sunday as the snow level should drop enough to provide some new good new powder by sunday . I might go on sunday if the snow looks good but have to do the 2pm-mn shift at the hospital. I plan definately to ride tuesday .... forecast .... http://www.srh.noaa.gov/data/forecasts/ORZ011.php?warnzone=ORZ011&warncounty=ORC027