Fleaman

I ripped my bindings right off my old Look board in the old days when you had to drill and tap your board to accept bindings. I think that inserts have greatly reduced those type of injuries, but I am sure some people can rip out inserts if they try hard enough.

If you have some spare change hanging around, you can pick up a pair of UPS boots and get the optional Din toe and heels that fit regular ski bindings. When you want to board, you just switch back to the regular snowboard fittings.

My $0.02 I find that the longer turning boards aren't as versatile as smaller sidecut boards. Unless you have some weird fetish of having your lips curled back on your teeth full time, you probably won't have fun day after day on a 15M+ board. Sure it is fun for a few runs and does have its place on a race course but to ride it all day, it will kick the shiznit out of you. They are no fun on faster cat tracks either, you just cant turn them, there is not enough room. I am sure if you look at the mountain map where you ride, there will be only 3 or 4 runs that you can crank that baby out. You don't want to be limited to those runs do you? By the way, I love my 188 Pr GS but only ride it a handfull of days when I ride with my wife who stays on intermediate groomed runs. It works great on the steeps too, but I am hardpressed to find many runs wide enought to finish my turns. If you think I am nuts and wrong, then disregard the above statement.:D

Another trick I learned was to pressure the side of your front boot into the turn by trying to drive your knee down to the snow. It feels weird and you think you will fall over, but if you have some speed and try it, it works great.

I will preach 4 wheel drives as the day is long, but in the hands of the inexperienced, it could be deadly. Yes it is true you can go faster in the snow and hold corners and generally get more traction, .but your vehicle still won't stop any faster than a regular vehicle. Some people with 4x4 will drive faster because of all the traction, but when they do lose it, it is too late. If you drive normally, you have a better chance of getting there. I remember driving with a young kid in Quebec. He was driving a car with studded tires, he was driving like a maniac, I asked him why he is driving like that and he replied with " I have studded tire, I can." One other thing I learned too is if you are sliding straight with the front tires turned in a 4x4 if you press the throttle a bit, the front tires will grab and take you where you want to go.

Wow, someone defending the ski patrol, I like it. If it was me, I would bandage you up and definitely recommend you to see a doctor. To be honest, we arent even supposed to remove slivers and other objects, but we can deliver a baby if needed!

have you tried riding with your front foot flat instead of 3 degrees? I used cants on my Coiler front and back, I thought it was the right thing, but I realized when I took the front one off, I could ride so much smoother. I was having a hard time initiating turns with both cants. Not anymore.

NO!!!:D

It is too bad I don't live in Ontario anymore, I patrolled at Beaver Valley and could sign in guests. It was a great carving hill, good grooming and no crowds.

Doing my opening sweep yesterday morning with 25cm of fresh snow on the mountain, I was on one of the steeper runs and full of trees. I was flopping around and lost it. I fell on my back with my head downhill into a tree well. Some of the snow behind me was moving and covered my face. I was choking on the snow and panicked. I started to hyperventilate and was going nuts trying to get out. I did remember to see if I can remove my bindings, I didnt have too, but it was nice to have stepins.(snowpro). I reached around the tree for a while, but it was about a minute before I could get back up, shake off and chill out for a bit. I also had a radio, but I don't think it would of worked because I was going crazy and was concentrating on getting air. The moral is always ride with a partner on double blacks.

I dont meant to be rude, but you should probably change your toothbrushes. I am sure we all heard the story before. Punks break in and video tape the toothbrushes being violated then leave the tape there so that the owner finds it a few days later and watch in horror.

The Okanagan just got another foot of snow today. Can you say Powder day tommorrow!? Looks like it might be a good weekend.

has anybody tried Xoft Spy? It works good for me.

Apex is Penticton's resort. It is about 1.5 hours south of Kelowna. It is a true riders destination. Some really good cruising runs and lots of steep powder and tree runs. If you have an all mountain board, Apex was made for them. It would be my pleasure.

I like it :D No frills, no lift lines and no snow? This seems to be a bad year for snow so far, but who knows, we might get some this weekend, I am crossing my fingers. The whole mountain is open though.

That is my life story!

I am still waiting for my AM 172. It's a good thing I didn't get it early season or I would of scraped all of the base off on rocks. It has been a dismal year so far for snow.

I think the only thing I am worried about like Maciek said is someone taking my beer. I have heard the ruthlesness of the wild carver after a day of eating cord. When he is perched on his barstool sipping nectar, he scans the room for cougars and other threats, but cannot resist the temptation of someone else's beer.:D

I find that it happens in the exit of a carve or the initiation. If I am too forward on the board, the nose digs in far, it stops and I go over the bars really hard with a little help of the spring effect of the board.

I think Madd is lucky that the ride qualities of the board far outweigh the aesthetics. If it was a crappy board, I don't think they would sell all that many. I guess they have good customer service too which is a plus.

I would also recommend a lesson, either in hard boots or softies. I see too many people try on their own and spend half the day swimming around like beached whales. Learn the basic turns and stops then go from there.

I dont know about that one either, by securing the board anyone can take your bindings. You would need 2 locks to secure the whole package. Those Bombers sure are pretty shiny, I am sure they would attract a lot of attention. Having a 180+ race board also attracts a lot of attention on the racks, they are usually longer than all the skis standing up and get lots of stares. I do use a retractable cable lock on my Coiler.

are you sure it isnt your drool?:D

I find the experience of a nose fold is like someone taking you by the legs and swinging you around like a bat and hitting the ground with your face. It is the only time I have ever seen stars.

When I was learning to snowboard, I had an old Look Overspeed and ripped the front binding out of the topsheet (no inserts) so after that I was a bit cautious with it. When I ordered my first Coiler, I asked Bruce if he could reinforce the inserts. He did. It added a few mm between the topsheet and the inserts so I needed longer screws, but I have the peice of mind that I will never rip them out.