jolson

I find it ironic anyone championing the snowboarders unwritten code of free spirit /live and let live mantra would flame on what someone else is wearing....(sounds like fashion elitism)...skin suit or gorilla suit or anything inbetween.........especially if your going to stand in the starting blocks ...........you better let the first place finish do your talking and how you got there ought to be your choice within current rules....others be d*****

Always thought that if I was ever in a collision it would be with another boarder....was wrong.....going down the main run a few weeks back I heading into a toe side and looked uphill and see my 23 year old daughter a hundred yards up, I make the carve and as I start to transition I hear her yell.......a bombing out of control skier just misses her and evidently was locked on to me ...I see a blue blur out of the corner of my eye and start to throw my self backwards as the skier passes over the nose of my board which buries the nose and launches me a good seven feet in the air........... Landed on my head, (thank God for helmet) and the only thing I remember is chair lift yelling at the skier and back down to me that not my fault....never caught up with skier and was left with slight concussion... Its a reminder that its a dangerous play thing we do and no matter how much you watch out for it......it's gonna happen sooner or later...was just happy for no broken bones....(although I did not tell my wife or daughter that the first thought I had after shaking out the cobwebs was......"is the board alright?') Be safe out there......

Hi Dave, I believe I've bumped into you a few times up at Spirit.......Sounds llke Thursdays are open for you and like most of us, we are very jealous of the weekday gladiators on the hill........ Let us know when a weekend is in your schedule....will look for you. (is your daughter still boarding competitively?)........

Hills last weekend in great shape and President's day crush aside, a very good weekend. Early as always was best but condtions were and remain very good. 3-5 new snow Sunday night and Monday this week will add to great conditions. Will be up on the hills as usual this weekend with what looks to be amazing weather again if it holds.

Lots to choose from, see below as some listed from Spirit Mt. site. Country Inn and Red Roof Inn less than a mile from the hill and probably best choices for close to hill. I am heading to Lutsen last week of February but not great with sourcing of those places but if you are willing to drive a half hour either side of Luetsen there are options cheaper than at the hill located in Tofte (AmericInn) and in Grand Marais there are more than few hotels. <TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #336699 1pt solid; WIDTH: 99%; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699 1pt solid; mso-cellspacing: .7pt; mso-border-alt: solid #336699 .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="99%" border=1><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 31%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="31%"> ] DULUTH SPIRIT MT. RED ROOF INN </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 69%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="69%"><TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 19%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="19%"></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 81%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="81%">9315 Westgate Blvd. / Duluth, <O:p</O:p </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 10.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top></TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top>(800)777-8530 / (218)628-3691<O:p</O:p </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #336699 1pt solid; WIDTH: 99%; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699 1pt solid; mso-cellspacing: .7pt; mso-border-alt: solid #336699 .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="99%" border=1><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 31%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="31%"> [ Country Inn & Suites Duluth North <O:p </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 69%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="69%"><TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 19%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="19%"> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 81%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="81%">4257 Haines Rd. / Duluth, MN 55811<O:p></O:p>[/font] </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 10.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top>800-456-4000 / 218-740-4500<O:p</O:p] </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #336699 1pt solid; WIDTH: 99%; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699 1pt solid; mso-cellspacing: .7pt; mso-border-alt: solid #336699 .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="99%" border=1><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 31%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="31%"> SUPER 8 MOTEL - Duluth <O:p</O:p </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 69%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="69%"><TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 19%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="19%"> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 81%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="81%">4100 W. Superior St, I-35 & 40th Ave W. Exit 253B / Duluth, MN 55807<O:p</O:p </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 10.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top>800)800-8000 <O:p</O:p </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <O:p> </O:p> <TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #336699 1pt solid; WIDTH: 99%; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699 1pt solid; mso-cellspacing: .7pt; mso-border-alt: solid #336699 .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="99%" border=1><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 31%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="31%"> HAMPTON INN <O:p</O:p </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 69%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="69%"><TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 19%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="19%"><O:p</O:p </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 81%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="81%">Canal Park Drive / Duluth, MN 55802<O:p</O:p </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 10.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top>(800)426-7866 / (218)720-3000<O:p</O:p </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #336699 1pt solid; WIDTH: 99%; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699 1pt solid; mso-cellspacing: .7pt; mso-border-alt: solid #336699 .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="99%" border=1><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 31%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="31%"> CANAL PARK LODGE<O:p</O:p </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 69%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="69%"><TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 0.05in; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 19%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 0.05in" vAlign=top width="19%"> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 81%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 0.05in" vAlign=top width="81%">250 Canal Park Dr. / Duluth, MN 55802<O:p</O:p </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 10.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top>(800)777-8560 / (218)279-6000<O:p</O:p </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-TOP: #336699 1pt solid; BORDER-LEFT: #336699 1pt solid; WIDTH: 99%; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699 1pt solid; mso-cellspacing: .7pt; mso-border-alt: solid #336699 .5pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt 2.25pt" cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="99%" border=1><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 31%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="31%"> AmericInn Hotel & Suites<O:p</O:p </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #336699; PADDING-RIGHT: 2.25pt; BORDER-TOP: #336699; PADDING-LEFT: 2.25pt; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 2.25pt; BORDER-LEFT: #336699; WIDTH: 69%; PADDING-TOP: 2.25pt; BORDER-BOTTOM: #336699" width="69%"><TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 100%; mso-cellspacing: 0in; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 0in 0in" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 19%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="19%"> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; WIDTH: 81%; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff" vAlign=top width="81%">185 Hwy 2 / Proctor, MN 55812<O:p</O:p </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 10.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes"><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top> </TD><TD style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff; PADDING-RIGHT: 0in; BORDER-TOP: #ffffff; PADDING-LEFT: 0in; BACKGROUND: #336699; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0in; BORDER-LEFT: #ffffff; PADDING-TOP: 0in; BORDER-BOTTOM: #ffffff; HEIGHT: 10.5pt" vAlign=top>(800)960-2767 / (218)624-1026<O:p</O:p</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Weather is looking good for the Weekend. USSA Freestyle Championships at Spirit this weekend Slopestyle and Aerials on Saturday / Halfpipe and Moguls on Sunday. Obviously not our gig but it may at least clear Four-Pipe as every Jibber will be over at the far hills near the Terrain Park. It is Presidents Weekend so probably wishful thinking as it's always busy. Will be out on Saturday and Sunday Mornings..........

I have the same Burton Alp 169......about ready to sell it but have no idea what year it was made......just curious.....any idea?....... Was my second alpine board and was great for upping my game at that time. Still love it but do not use it anymore.

Beautiful weekend other than wind on Saturday that was a non typical and actually blew UP the hill, rarely happens and it did slow things down a bit. Temps were great and hills in good shape with just the first hint all year of some ice spots which hopefully they will deep groom out for the coming main month. Good to see Ben who made the trip north on Saturday although did not have a good chance to talk with him or ride with him but it looked like he was in good company. Russ, Ryan and I spent a good portion of Sunday morning together. Saturday was busier, earlier. Not sure why but dodged more people than normal early on. Sunday was great, lots of room early as usual. A good weekend. Russ reports that Giants Ridge (North of Duluth just over an hour) is in great shape.

(SEE NEW POST FURTHER DOWN FOR A BETTER OFFERING OF THIS PIC OF SPIRIT MT. LONG RUN AND VISTA OF LAKE SUPERIOR ) Attempted (fail) here to load decent Pic of Spirit Mt.s longest widest run, Four Pipe, which is a great place spend weekend early mornings carving. Others prefer the shorter but steeper runs on the other side of the resort but this run is awesome, one of the longest around. Need to figure out why Picture embedded with ton of white space other than the pic, will work on this. Shot is mid hill with view of St. Louis River Basin and just out of shot is tip of Lake Superior. Come see it for yourself.

The main theme I get is "how fast does that thing go"............... so much so that I started asking my wife if the board made my a** look fast..........

Have Burton Alp 169...no bindings...Great shape, plenty of Camber left. Got it from a local who bought it used. No idea what year. Performed great, have moved on and up , this one collecting dust. Will sell what I paid for it. $85 plus shipping in US. Reply via email for pics, other if interested.

Thought I'd start a post on Spirit Mountain Duluth this year. Russ and I seem to be the constant locals on Saturday and Sunday Mornings with another local, Ryan, joining the mix recently. We have seen more and more carvers from the Twin Cities area coming north on a regular basis which is great. Even with the weird weather, the hills have been in very good shape. They are doing an awesome job grooming away the crud from past rains and warm weather. If you hit the hills at opening you will have a good two plus hours of almost completely free open space and gaps to carve through. On the hill at 9 and plenty of runs and room to tire you out by 11. After that, its normal to keep your head on swivel for uphill traffic. Look forward to seeing more out-of-towners try the hill out. If you are coming up individually or as a group, Post here. I'm the guy in the full face helmet on a Prior WCR (black) and Russ is about 50% time in his Ski Patrol jacket and usually driving a very mint Donek Incline. See you on the hills.

Scuff, the Vari-cants are great under the front boot and shim at the plate level, not below the race plate. Subtle and not as bulky as full plate for front canting......are your talking about full cant plate when you say you have three hole cant?

A couple years ago, I bought a package of "vari-cants" and looking for another set. These appear to be hard to find and long since discontinued. They are adjustable shims for canting and work great under Burton race plates. Anyone have any or know of anyone with a set?

NO LONGER LOOKING>>>>DAVE TOOK CARE OF ME> Looking for a four hole insert for oval Burton cant plate ( not round cant Plate) and a four hole offset disk for race plate. Be gentle............ email me at jolson@points-north.com Thanks

Hope your body heals up cause after watching the skier nail you at the lift line and then seeing the FREAKING HUGE divot you made 20 feet from where it looked like you landed and were still standing shaking the cobwebs out:smashfrea, I am surprised the meat wagon did not haul you off the hill twice. Maybe revert to a tamer sport like bullfighting until you heal up buddy. Be well. Great spending time with Karl and meeting his wife Jessie and friend Emrich from France. Nice to see more than just Russ and I on the hill doing what we love to do. Great discussions on the lift and after watching Karl on his Burton X Freeboard when the terrain got rough, I may just have to re-aquire a freeboard. Best to all and thanks for visiting our home turf. Jim

Thanks, I will check this post occasionally for firm date.

Never been to Buck but this looks like incentive to head south and check out the hills and this event. Mark my email to confirm the date when it's set. I am out of Duluth / Spirit and have not hit the slopes south. Thanks.

Last year I picked up new, still in package Burton Vari-Cants. Anyone have another complete set to sell? Reply to jolson@points-north.com with price and pics to confirm we are talking about the same thing. Thanks.

Rick, Met you at Spirit last year and gotta tell you, you make me look like a piker. While I'm snap'n up all of Russ's old gear as I gain ground on this sport, you are taking this whole carving thing whole hog....gotta love it. Can't wait to see the Razor ...(yeah, that's not a request)....when you come up to Duluth and hit Spirit this year. At this rate, I'll be buying all your used gear next year and Russ will have to find a new way to support the habit. Look for Russ and I this year, he's the only alpine boarder on ski-patrol and I'm up there most weekends, sometimes volunteering doing the mountian host thing on the hill. Guess I'll take the boards out of storage and put em in the living room to stare at till the snow flies...............

Considering Torres was less than a minute ahead of her last remaining opportunities of her life to achieve gold and could have (should have) been wholly focused on the swim....I'd say that qualifies as an incredible act of sportsmanship......

Most time on board in years and with considerable amount of growing carvers showing up during the season. Thanks to Russ for the great input and I am sure his bank account is thanking me for funding his next big season as I vacumed all the stuff he was peddling...(and some he was not). Advanced my skill set with the help of new(er) equipment (a long way to go)... Sooooo.....lots of time on the snow, newer equipment, great people to share it with ..... I set the bar pretty high for next year.....if only I could find a way to SES

BlueB, its what you ride thats comfortable, not what others ride...thanks for confirming that. Yeah, I snatched Russ's Alp when he offered and its been a great fit for me when conditions are slightly past groomed through crud. I am a square body 210 pounder that rides in a fairly agressive manner (which does not neccesarily translate to accomplished) and I have yet to fold the nose over and if anyone is gonna do it, I believe I would. Great board that allowed me to advance my skill set and whatever new technology mimics that results from the ALP, that will be my next purchase as I upgrade that board in the future.

So, its over (at least for me) until next season. Spirit Mt. held up fairly well as the temps rose and it was one heck of learning curve this year with new(er) equipment and lots of very good advice to try and save me from myself. A really good morning yesterday early with Russ and then Dave and Richard from the Twin Cities adding to mix for the last weekend. What a blast. Thanks to Russ on the use and access to equipment and the great weekend morning sessions. I assume now that he has the red National Ski Patrol Jacket coming for next year (way to go) that he can still spare the time for us mere mortals. Spirit locked down today, Giants Ridge open this week, and Lutsen selected hours for the next two. Have at it Russ.

Thanks, see you tomorrow AM.