wgarrow

Thanks Neil. Will hit that for sure

Thanks for the info. I will look for you on Wednesday for sure. Typically pretty easy to spot each other but just in case, I will be on a 185 Kessler and using sign language with my wife which is always an easy way to spot me haha.

Anyone riding January 7,8, or 9? My wife and I will be arriving on the night of the 6th and riding the next few days. Also out of Sunshine, Lake Louise, and Norquay which is the best for carving? Any suggestions on where to ride and grab beers is greatly appreciated.

I will be up there on snow from 17th through the 25th if anyone wants to make turns just let me know.

Just finishing up for the day now. Will be riding mostly chairs 2, 3, 10, and 5. Shoot me an email when you come up. I will be riding everyday this week. Blue jacket and on a Kessler

I will be up 1-7

FA Design Review So after 10 years I finally got myself some new outerwear. Knowing that Freddy Ansara at FA Design is a fellow alpine rider I figured I’d give him my money rather than someone who doesn’t really support our community. First, the customer service was exactly what it should be. I talked with Freddy for help with sizing and he got the clothes to me (from Canada to Cali) in a couple of days. Based on his recommendation I got the Subsonic Hardshell jacket and Pant in a size large. Secondly and most important, the quality and performance. Without a doubt these are the best outwear shells that I’ve ever owned. Coming from 10 year old clothes to these are like a world of difference. I have only had them for 13 days of riding in them but I have gone through everything for high 50’s and sunny to snowing with 30+ mph wind and they have performed better than expected. On the hot days with just a t-shirt I could open up all the vents and stay nice and cool. While the on the colder days I just used one insulation layer and stayed warm. Because of the wind and waterproof capablilties of the eVent fabric I stayed either nice and cool on the warm days and nice and warm on the colder days. One thing that that took me by surprise was the pockets. When I first looked at the pants and more so the jacket I was wondering if the pocket design was any good?? Although I don’t find the pockets to be a conventional design they worked great for me. Stored everything I need for a normal day on the hill without missing a beat. Overall when you combine the quality and performance with the fact they are really dedicated to our niche sport, I think FA Designs hit a homerun.

I had my boards stoned by them a couple of weeks ago and they did a good job. I don't like anyone touching my edges or waxing my boards so I did that myself so I can't speak to those areas but I suspect that they would do as good a job on your edges as anyone in the area would. They were super friendly and came to my work place to pick up and drop off my boards. Overall I'd definitely recommend them based on my limited (stone grind only) knowledge.

The top is the flat section and the fall line really depends on the snowmaking and grooming. Typically the top is slightly falling away to the skiers right but sometimes there is a ridge from the snowmaking almost dead center creating a possible fall away on each turn. Here are a couple of ski race/training videos that show the top and the bottom:

Draper's Drop is a blue run that is used for or part of many GS races at Whiteface. It isn't very steep at all but does have a double fall line that makes it fun. Depending on how the course is set you will probably be running at about 45mph and will have a time somewhere in the 1 min range. We used it a lot for training runs and also for our local beer league races that were modified gs/sl courses. I am jealous that you are getting to race there, I miss Whiteface everyday. Hope this helps and kick ass.

I know I am biased because Whiteface is my home mtn but if you like super fast hardpack (some may call it ice haha) then Whiteface is a carvers dream. It has plenty of steeps and when the snow is good the slides are amazing. I am sure Whiteface has changed a lot since I was there but if I was there tmw I would take a warm up run down Excelsior and then head up to Mountain Run. Don't miss Skyward (upper and lower) and of course Cloudspin and Niagara headwall. After you are all finished have a double margarita in the bar and then head to Lake Placid Pub and Brewery for an Ubu Ale. To say that I miss Whiteface is putting it lightly, not a day goes by without me thinking of it. Lake Placid is also a real gem of a town with a lot to do and great people. Even though my heart is always with Whiteface I have to admit that Mammoth Mountain and the town of Mammoth are great too. Super fun place to make turns and great people in town with a couple of good breweries. Hope you have fun at Whiteface and make a turn or two for me. pow4ever...thank you for the kind words about that video. PCMR is another great place to make turns plus you get to ride with Billy and sometimes Jeff P. out there which is guaranteed to make it great!!

Slopestar, too bad we won't catch up in December but hopefully we will in January. Anyone else riding 21st-24th or 4th-8th I typically warmup on chair 2 and/or chair 10 before exploring the rest of the hill. Hope to cross paths with some people over the holidays. Happy holidays to you all.

Dec 21-24th and then Jan 4-8th Flavia and I will be riding at Mammoth or June, doesn't really matter to us. If anyone wants to make some turns or grab a beer after riding contact me at garrow.will@gmail.com.

Anyone headed up Friday-Sunday? My wife and I will be taking our first turns of the season.

My wife and I will be there...we tend to warm up on Stump Alley too. Easy to spot us, I will be on either a Donek 200 or 185 Rev. Hope to make a few turns with ya

My wife and I will be at Mammoth from the 7-10th. The night of the 7th we are giving a presentation at Community Ski if any one is interested. The topic will be the importance of storytelling in the Deaf community.

My wife and I can make 3/16-17.

Buell, Thanks for the loft but with 4 dogs and a 17yr old daughter, I better get back home ha. Looking forward to getting to ride with ya soon. Martin, I will be there this weekend if ya can make some turns let me know.

Jack, I wish I was too haha. However I dont think it would cost too much money if it was well thought out. I know I can do the editing and I am sure there are many people that could do the filming. koldo, Here is a link to the Deaflympics websitehttp://www.2011deaflympics.org/en/news I am sure you will know the ins and outs of where we will be...its my first time going to Slovakia so I have no idea ha. Yes I will have my board with me for sure, I arrive on Feb 15ht or 16th and will be riding everyday I am there. Buell, The GS at Wolf is at the end of Jan, i think the 28th. I can make a Tuesday or Thursday at PCMR for a morning, I teach at 1pm. At least it would be a few good runs. Sundays arent too busy there, just something to consider. Let me know when you will come so I can plan on being up there

Jack, I would do another one in a heartbeat thats for sure, they were great to work with. I do however think it is time for "us" to make a real alpine video. I know what I would like to see in it and I am sure everyone has ideas too. After I defend my dissertation this year I would like to make a full length video but its easy to WANT to make one but TO make one is much harder. Hopefully things will workout and "we" all can make a movie that represents all aspects of the alpine riders experience. Buell, I would love to make it up to SB but I highly doubt it. The only time I might be in area will be for the GS at Wolf. Come on down to PCMR, I live 40 mins away if ya need a place to stay. Queequeg, I know I wish I could make it to SES, however my wife has already said she wants to got in 2012 (she rides a Kessler) so if she says its so then its so haha. If you or anyone for that matter want to know how our team is doing just friend me on Facebook as I will be posting updates from Slovakia.

I too am partial to Park City, great riding for alpine except we are missing the blue cord that I love so much. Squatters beer is among the best anywhere...especially if they have Outer Darkness. If you are around and want to ride let me know

Buell, I will try to make another video this upcoming weekend.

Jeff, tell her I said thanks for the compliment.

Mark I would love to go to SES again but I will be in Slovakia for the 2011 Deaflympics. I am the head coach for the USA Deaf Snowboard Team. You might know or have ridden with Jeff Pollock, he rides out of Snowbasin, he is on my team.

UtahCarver, Glad ya liked it. Its real easy to look ok out there with all that snow. While I love it, I still miss the east coast hardpack at Whiteface. If you make the trek down from Logan let me know so we can take some runs Loc, Hey man how are you? We need to have a beer sometime soon, either you and Neil come out to Utah or in the summer when I am back in Cali. No I havent tried any of the new plate systems. Believe me I want to I just haven't had a chance yet. There will be more videos coming