scrapster

I agree whole-heartedly with all of the "delete" and "get a lawyer immediately" comments above. Unless you're a lawyer yourself, or have been involved in something like this before, you have no idea how complicated it can be, and how quickly you can get in over your head. You have just entered into an alternate universe that has its own rules and where you have NO friends except for the ones you hire to protect you--you NEED an expert to guide you through it. When I was involved in a car accident a few years ago I tried to deal with the insurance company myself and learned a similar lesson. Its their profession (and the sole purpose of their jobs/training) to make you lose!!! Its cold and very calculated, but its also the hard truth. Good luck. PS- Delete all this before you get a lawyer too. If you don't, he/she will probably make you print it out and provide it to them. If the lawyer knows about it, and the record still exists, then you have to provide the info to the other side in the case. The discovery process is a b**ch!

Too bad we can't move Berkshire East just a hair north. Mid-VT is expecting 1-2 feet the next few days. But it looks like the hill will get some freshening up. Still trying to decide on Saturday or Sunday. Dingbat, do you have a running head count for each day?

I'm on older (now discontinued) Lowa Structuras, and like them quite a bit. I think Technica might be making them now, but I think they may have changed the design.

Boris, could you throw up a pic of the AMF?

Ah. Sorry I couldn't make it up. Been sick as a dog all week. Should have my legs back under me now though.

Yup, its in Charlemont, very near the Zoar Gap where you probably had your whitewater fun.

Hmmm. Always liked the look of that board. If you could get an exact waist measurement, that would be great! Also, where would you say it fits in a quiver?

Dave, I think the source of foot pain is probably different for different people. My feet never adjusted to two-strap soft bindings...and I was on them for about 12 years of fairly regular riding. It just got worse as I got older. Maybe custom footbeds would have helped. But I opted for hardboots instead, because I'm inclined more towards carving than freestyle anyway. Once I got the setup dialed in, I have absolutely no desire to go back. I can do everything that I ever wanted to do in softboots in my hard set-up, only better. In response to the original post: Right now I'm exlusively hardbooting on freeride boards- Steepwater 164 and Prior MFR 168--with older Proflex bindings at 45/37 and Lowa AT boots--couldn't be happier. I can go all day in complete comfort long as my bum knee doesn't act up. The boards hold up fine too.

The NYTimes just had a good article on Vail yesterday. Check it out online. http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/02/01/travel/01hours.html Of course, its not specific to carving-oriented folks, but it is an introduction to the mtn. I went about two years ago. Sadly, I mostly remember adjusting to the altitude, and that the cat tracks were a b*tch on a snowboard.

That sucks dude. If you have the coverage, push to have an MRI if you continue to have problems and the doc doesn't initially send you for one. My cheapskate doctor only sent me for an X-ray, which tells you zilch, other than if you have a bone fragment floating around. Also, getting in to see the orthopedist was going to be a complete chore for me (one month wait--and they practically wanted to know my bank account number beforehand.) I'm in denial for this season, and will continue to ride my gimpy knee (injured two years ago.) But I'm going in to complain come Spring and bite the bullet. Good luck!

I had a Nidecker Platinum. It was a fun little board to ride. Shape-wise, they tend to have insanely deep sidecuts and short effective edges for their size. As you noted, their bases are fantastic (at least on the higher level boards like the Platinum) but I question the durability of the other materials. Their edges always seemed thinner than normal to me, and they tend to lose their camber quickly.

Thanks man. That sounds awesome. Unfortunately I haven't heard back about whether this board is still available or not

Thanks man. That sounds awesome. Unfortunately I haven't heard back about whether this board is still available or not

Okay, you have me curious. Do you think this could handle hardboots?

Hey iBrussell, Thanks for the info! Can I ask what you think of the board? Aside from BX, how does it ride in different conditions? I saw someone laying out some fantastic c carves in spring groom with one last year. I've been interested ever since.

Hey Petcarv, I'm still interested. Is it still available. Anything more you can tell me about the board would be great.

Oooh, don't make me think about my knee. Right now, I wear a soft brace on the front. I should probably have it looked at (again), but I'm avoiding it. Two years back, last run of the year, bottom of the mountain, I hit a slush patch and my board just stopped. Instead of falling, I stupidly tried to keep my balance. My upper body lurched over the nose of my board, but my knee stayed in place. It only hurt for a few days--then I was in a car accident months later that reaggravated it. It hasn't been the same since. Funny, the doctors couldn't figure out how I hurt my knee that way in the car accident. But since the accident insurance was paying out, I didn't fess up about the prior snowboarding incident. The webs we weave... Moral of the story--take care of those knees!

Hey Dingbat and Mr. Buggs-sorry I didn't meet up with you guys again on the hill after lunch. Was good riding with ya' in the morning.

Thanks for posting pics. Do you know any of the specs? Waist would be helpful, if nothing else. Also, how's the camber look?

Hmmm, the main stream weather websites are saying a big dump on Sunday, with lighter snow showers on Monday. If that holds, I might head up early Monday morning--that's not set in stone though. I need to forecast 1) the weather, 2) wife's mood, and 3) crap that I just have to get done off the slopes. "Scrap-star"? I like it! That would be a very dim star though...especially when it comes to carving prowess ;)

Sounds good to me! (And no ticket needed.)

I don't think the 164 steep is far behind the 171 in terms of scr. It turns much longer than my 168 Prior MFR, which has a 10scr. Interesting note about the taper too. It looked like the tail of the Steep actually flares out a bit (again, more than the MFR). Time for the measuring tape... Glad to hear they're still making them. I think one will have a spot in my quiver for a long time.

Just took a spin on a 164 Steepwater Steep today. Oh my...that's a fun snowboard. I had some of my best carves on it since I jumped back on hard boots this season after an 18 year hiatus. Two questions: 1. Anyone know what the scr is on that board? (I've heard its around 11 or so.) and 2. Is Steepwater still in business? Their website looks like it shut down right before the 2007 season. Not a good sign.

Variety. As long as they're not bumpy, and have some width to them, its just a different sensation. There's also a nice "holy crap, I got down that, and with some degree of style" feeling of accomplishment. I carved a steeper black today. Not well, but I held my lines. It felt good.

If you could post a pic or two, that would be great. I've had my eye out for one of these!