hockey2

I was at a resort this weekend with some flat areas. When ever I was on the flats my board felt like it was fighting to be on one edge or the other. Does that make sense? Instead of gliding, my knees felt like they wanted to initiate one edge or the other to keep from spinning out. Any ideas? Canting? Lift? Maybe it's just normal... I dunno.

I took my Alpine board out for the first time last Thursday to sharpen up before heading up to Whiteface Mtn for the weekend. After a few runs, I felt as good as I did at the end of last year. Fast forward to Saturday. Because of the late start time, conditions and crowds, I figured I would start out on the softies and switch to the alpine board later in the day when the crowds thinned. After riding the softies all day I switched over to the Alpine board around 2:30. WHAT A MISTAKE!!! I couldn't ride it to save my life. My shoulder were facing perpendicular to the fall line, I was throwing my hips, skidding the tail. I was a mess. I couldn't get my brain to make the switch. From now on I start on Alpine or I don't ride it at all that day.

Is this board still available? <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

I'm in upstate NY, so we definitely have tighter runs. Not looking to race but more of an all mountain board... so you think this is a good match? <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

So will these board be good for my size and abilities?

Looking to give your old board a warm and loving new home. 2nd year rider (been in softies for 20+ years) 6'4" - 210 lbs I started on an old Burton race board and I'm looking for something updated. <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

If this board is still available I have some questions. I'm 6'4" novice (2nd year in hard boots), 210 lbs. Would this board work for me? <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

First let me say "Thanks" to Alpine girl for riding with me last week and laying down the base. She helped me a ton on my heelside and corrected my tail from skidding I went out yesterday and read the drills section before I left. I took everything she taught me and then threw in the "pencil" drill. That's when it all happened. Amazing what a little angulation will do. I was carving big, single line, arc's in the snow. I would look back at my line and they were deep, sharp lines in the snow. I was concentrating on the Pencil and the lines were getting better each time. By the end of the day I was carving arcs at the tree line confident that I could control the board. It took what was a Labor of Love for the past couple of weeks into a complete blast!!!! I can't wait to get out again next week. Anyone want to buy a softboot setup???

That's great to know there's another rider at Gore. I'm in between jobs right now, so I'm free to ride almost any day. Here's my email address. Let me know when you want to get together. chadclark1971 atgmail.com

I'll be riding at Gore on Tuesday. Plan on getting there around 9 AM. Anyone want to play hooky and join me?

Can someone explain this one to me? I'm still a newbie so I'll take any advice I can get.

How can I get rid of heel lift? Lengthwise my boots are as small as they can go. I seem to have a narrow heel which is why I'm getting some lift. Any suggestions?

I can't make it there tomorrow, but I'm there quite a bit. Let me know if you want to ride sometime.

This will be the better of the 2 holiday weekends as most people will be heading back home for work on Monday. I'll bet getting there around noon on Saturday and riding both days. Here's my cell if you want to hook up. 315-796-7290 Chad

I'll be up there this weekend. Let me know if anyone wants to ride. Chad

I'm free on the 4th. Where do you want to ride? Where do you live?

was just thinking of hitting something small, but now I think plans have changed. I think I'm working both days this weekend. I am planning on going to Whiteface next weekend. Are you going to be up there? I might ride on the Friday after x-mas too. Just somewhere local Song, Snow Ridge, etc....

Anyone riding in upstate/central NY this weekend?

So you're not always going to have a wide groomer available, sometimes the trail is tight getting to the good stuff. Is it OK to skid like you would on a softboot board?

I forget what degree to tune my edges on my alpine board. On my soft board I know it's 0 degree/sides and 1 degree/bottom. Can anyone help me out here?

Thanks to everyone for getting back to me. I did check the instructor tool and unfortunately Ivan no longer works at Hunter. I will call Toggenberg and see if anyone still teaches there. Jiminy Peak - I've only been there once and had a great time there. I could see how you guys could like that place for cruising. Is it rude of me just to invite myself to ride with you guys? Maybe someone could drop me an email when you're up for some teaching - chadclark1971@gmail.com I usually ride at Whiteface. Not the best place to learn an alpine board. Whily - I can make it to Stratton too. Just let me know when you want to go. The sooner the better.

I knew that would get your attention, but seriously I'm willing to buy someone a lift ticket if they'll ride with me for a day and give me some pointers. I've ridden softboot for 20 years and last year was my first in hardboots, so I'm not a complete novice. I was able to ride with a hardbooter one day last year and it helped me out a ton. I live in upstate NY, Utica area. I'll buy your lift ticket in exchange for some instruction. Just reply if you want to help out a fellow rider. Oh yeah, I'm not a complete tool either, so you're day won't be a complete bore either.

I was standing in the Gondola line today and another hardbooter happened to be right in front of me. We struck up a conversation and he rode with me and gave me some pointers. (the water balloon between the legs). Anyways he was really laying them down but I could never get my edges to fully engage. I seemed to get the nose to turn but the tail would skid out. The few times I would get a good toe side carve I would head back up hill and then the tail would again eventually skid out. Here's some questions maybe you guys can help me with. Do you put the board on edge with your knees/hips or with the boots? Where do you put your weight when initiating the carve? Any ideas why my tail kept skidding out?

I read all of the article on here about how it's personal preference, but here's my thinking. I'm 6'4" 215 lbs and I'm riding a Burton Speed 178 and I have my bindings set as wide as I can get them. Now doesn't the carve come from the flexing of the board from the pressure applied from your boots? I've only spent one day on hardboots, but I didn't feel like I could get the board to flex. Would this be because my boots are too far apart? I could be way off base here, but I figured you guys would have the answers. Thanks Chad

Actually the set screws are missing. Is it OK if I ride without them? What is their purpose anyways? Isn't the whole idea to have the binding clamped down on the boot?