JoelP

F2: I presently have three, 160 I rarely ride, 172 RS and a 186 RS. I've only ridden the Donek Freecarve and not any of their custom boards. I like the F2 over the Freecarve but the F2 should be more compared to their custom and race models. So for F2 the thing there is to ride the board..it's important. why?? because production boards change to demand from riders and courses from that year. My 172 RS is a blast but I know they changed the flex the following year to be softer, mine's a black and green top sheet and for reference Ross R won the first Olympics on the same model BUT he changed to this model which was the year befores board because the one that F2 produced that year was softer and didn't work well on that course. Then my 186 (Grey/Blk/Yellow) kicks solid a#$ but the newer 183 although nearly the same dim's is softer again. So F2's change from year to year but I still love the line and ride them religously. Now after 10 years of riding I am looking for a real custom board because I also have Rossi WC's and I want something between the two in character and the research to get what I want is intensive. The cost of a custom board means being sure you get what you want. But if I was to get another board and buy it used...I think you can not be dissapointed with either a F2 or Donek but again it depends on the model to compare more than the manufacturer. Hope that helps. Joel

If you have a ski/snowboard straight edge tool (usually used to check base flatness) you can use it at the tip and tail to find where the Tip/Tail leaves the snow. this is the end of the contact point beginning of the true running edge. Run the straight edge along the edge where it is in contact with the base, you'll easily see the edge curl away from the straight edge. I have a Rossi WC 184 and a 190 (as too Pat, above) I rode them for a very short time going by the hole pattern. That was a big mistake. They rode well but they didn't feel great. I then measured the running surface and found the true center, which by the way matched the true center of the side cut also. I mounted my stacne to match this real center and I am on both boards at the most forward set of holes possible now. There is a world of difference now and I believe this is where they should be ridden. Even the 190 is so smooth I love that thing now. Transitions are way better than they were in the old mounting position. Also as quick reference I have F2's 186 and 172 and their hole pattern lined up just about perfect with the center of the true running length. I don't know why the Rossi's were so far off, the 190 was twice as far off as the 184, but they sure ride good now. I have a funny feeling that Rossi just mounted their jig to the tail and they used the same jig on all their boards so as the boards got longer the stance went farther back...bad bad!!!! (Atleast for me that was bad) Joel

Yeah, It has gotten ridicously expensive to stay on the mtn in the Aspen area. But that has its +'s too. Believe me there are no crowds anymore (excpet during Xgames...stay away!!!). Look at the PureBoarding web site photos from there present visit. You'll see no one but them in their photos. January and February are slow months. Some guys come out here and park their butts in a hotel downvalley for a month or more and just hang on the hill everyday...lucky them. Anyway the one place I've been wondering about is Schweitzer (sp?). the trail maps make it look like it has great potential. Ask about and see. Good luck finding the hidden gem. Joel

Shred, this is biased, but I did live in Telluride for 15 years and I left because the carving is better by leaps and bounds in the Aspen area. Telluride is not carving heaven. It can be good but not great. If I had 7 days and wanted the best carving Colorado can offer each day, I would stay for ski in and ski out in Snowmass. You can look at all four mtns grooming report in the morning and go to the one you like best for that days board. And as always Buttermilk is groomed for ripping long boards. Snowmass can either have a great long board day or shorter board day if you prefer. Weekdays are always quiet on all of the mtns. My fav. is Buttermilk with Snowmass and Highlands next. I stay away from Aspen proper. Buttermilk has a great group of local carvers and someone is always out and about to hook up with. Telluride can have good carving days but I am not so certaim about 7 days in a row. My friends who still live there tell me to let them know I am coming so they can get a feeling from the grooming crew what is planned for the week before I show up and get disapointed. It's a fun place but I wouldn't plan on 7 days of good carving there but I would plan on finding 7 exceptional days at the Aspen mtns. Joel PS: I'm very spoiled here. Any questions just ask.

Hi, Glad to hear you had a good time at my ex-home hill. I started hard booting carving there 12 years ago and taught hardbooting for the ski school and sold F2 and Raichle equipment out of my little shop at the base of Coonskin. It caught on slightly with about 5 of us. I left and moved to the Aspen area where it truly is hard boot heaven and there are a lot of us. I left behind some good friends that I know still ride there. One of the cat drivers, Steve, on the hill is from back east and rides when he can and he truly can rip the bumps there with ease in his hard boots. He isn't out every day so you probably missed him but when he is he mostly concentrates on the bumps. Also my good friend David Glynn is an avid carver in Telluride and is out nearly everyday BUT he took a bad crash there this year on the race course and tore himself up pretty good. Last I knew he was still laid up. I haven't been back for quite some time because the Aspen area is just to damn good to leave. But I miss Bushwacker when groomed as it is one of the steepest groomers I've carved on. Then the long Seeforever trail from top to bottom was always a great lunch run. Now I heard that they groom Milk Run which must be fantastic for carving when the conditions are right (it does get a lot of sun). Well so what was really fun there now?? The memories are coming back!! Joel

Here's a picture. Feb and March are powder months and this is your ride of choice. $225 + shipping. Joel

I sent you an e-mail also about the board joel :D

Anyone have a 3 deg cant they wish to swap for a 0 degree. Joel

You didn't really say what your girlfriend is into for activities but I'll tell you of my little town. Glenwood Springs, CO is right smack between Aspen and Vail/Beaver Creek, 45 minutes to either resort. I don't ride Vail but I ride Aspen all the time. Freeride heaven (home now of the Xgames) and my favorite...carving nirvana Buttermilk. it's a small town but being between Aspen and Vail and right on the I70 (main higway east west thru CO) it is a bustling little hotbed for tech's that serve the Aspen/Vail valleys. You asked about liberal area...well again Aspen/Vail areas are as liberal as you can get. politics is always a hot issue around here. One warning!!!! most come for a winter but permanently stay because of the summers. if your into outdoor sports then it's all out your backdoor. Glenwood isn't a big city(population 6,000) but Denver is only 2.5 hrs away. For us that is not to far. Any other questions just ask.

If any of you are interested in a 198 I have one for sale at $200 also. thanks Joel

I think I still have a box in the basement of older F2 binding parts. I'll dive in there this weekend and get back to you. Joel

I'll be at all the Aspen days. Joel Parker live and play in Glenwood/Aspen - Colorado Will join all the Aspen days Look forward to meeting lots of new friends

Bump back up and price discounted to $250 obo. thanks Joel

Wally, You still have this board? Are you coming back to the Aspen Valley again this year? e-mail me off board at jparker@sopris.net and let me know. If you are coming back to Aspen I'll take the board and just get it from you when you get here. Joel I'm the guy who rides the F2 Speedster at Buttermilk. jparker@sopris.net

Got a mint 172 Speedster RS for sale. No scratches and perfect base. edges always maintained at 3 deg side 1 deg bottom and polished. $300 + shipping from Colorado. email me for photos. jparker@sopris.net thanks, Joel

Just got to much stuff and this board is brand new and has to go. $275. + shipping from Colorado. I can send photos if you give me your e-mail Joel

Selling my 162 F2 Silberfeil (Silver Arrow). $275 + shipping from Colorado. It's in excellent shape with new tune. There are two small cuts to the top sheet and I can send you good pictures of the board if you are interested. I can't seem to get them to post here. Joel

:) :) I got a mint 172 Speedster RS, I can send you a photo over the weekend if you are interested. It truly is in mint shape. I keep the edges polished at 3 deg sides and 1 deg bottom after every ride. the base has only been waxed with High Flouro graphite wax all the time. No scratches anywhere. I have to many boards and pretty much now ride exclusively my 186 Speedster as it is better for my super wide open runs. Buttermilk at Aspen is where I ride. $300 + shipping or send me an offer. Joel