JoelP

When I had my shop there I sold the "No groomers" stickers, the ones that had the Cats in the No circles. Funny how things have changed. haven't seen one of those boards for a long time, I'll look around some fo the second hand shops here in the Roaring Fork Valley. joel

Indian, Is Shawn there now? there's a guy on the snow kiting forum that goes by STF that is in tride right now and he has his kiting gear. If I wasn't so stuck here at the moment I would come down to ride and kite. If that's him tell him I like his Avatar. Wish I had one of those to play with. it's an inside hint and only he would know what I mean. Joel

Check your email, I sent you a message with my email. You can send me a picture of any size that way and I might be interested. Joel

what ever they groom, it's a hit or miss pending grooming. Milk run off chair 7 is awesome if it gets groomed, Bushwacker off chair 9 is great, See forever from the top but just beware of skiers flying by and that goes for the Plunge too. Completely forget about going over to chair 10...flat.. Misty Maiden is fun warm up run. Buckskin under chair 7 can be good at times. that's about it. Can be good if the groomers hit those runs but it's not consistent. Joel

Hi Bobby, To each their own so I'll give you my experience. I went from 18.5 and 19 to an AllMtn with a 21. It worked great for goofing around, was super comfortable on cat walks and easy terrain felt awesome on powder days. I have smallish feet, 26, so I was able to relax my stance a bit. But when it came to hard charging carving, my knees were not happy campers. I've got bad knees from to many operations to begin with but no matter what I tried to do things just didn't work well for hard carving for me. I sold my AllMtn and may replace it after I get and try my Stubby, but I'll knock it down to either a 19.5 or 20. I liked the wider board for AllMtn stability as you end up in some ugly terrain now and then and just standing on a bit wider board feels good and not so tippy but 21 was definetly to wide for me even when I set my bindings back the way my legs liked then the board was a bit awkward feeling when doing crossunders. So for now it's either a Race board or my powder board. I only do allmtn & bumps when it's a powder day anyway. Makes life easier.. Hope all is well, see you at SES? Joel

Carvedog has hit the nail on the head as to why I haven't done this. There's a lot of good going on with Ski School here but at the same time we do not have the same programs SV does. I can not be a teacher of Ski School and only be given carving lessons. They'll not allow me to just show up for that 1 or 2 students once in awhile. I still need to show up everyday and get in line with the others and see who needs lessons that day. I think that's fair for everyone else but I can't afford to live here doing that. I would need 20+ years of dues before that could MAYBE happen. Also there isn't to my knowledge the ability to get 5 people together to get the private for carving here. The demand isn't that big yet and may never be. I wish I had your situation as it sounds really good to me. I'm not putting it down, I'm jealous of it but it can't happen here. I'm also not trying to raise this poaching subject as a job, either part time or full time because I need a so called real job here to live here :( I origianlly wanted feedback from the once or twice a year requests that I get. Then the only reason I would even think of the compensation is that if I go out for a day teaching a newbie or a low level person I would like to spend the day with them, that cost me a lot since I have to pay for my lift pass. I'm not a full time every mtn season pass holder, I can't afford that here. So my time is somewhat precious to me and as much as I would love to help someone for the majority of the day it cost me personally, not only financially but in the few days I have to myself. This year I can only really get out 1 day a week unless I take a day off from my real job. I hope SV has shops that even supply carving gear, that would be awesome for reference purposes but again here no shop has gear to demo and no employee will therefore send references, there's no education here. Personally I do not want to take away from either the SkiCo or instructors. Everything has it's positives and negatives. But I can't even reference an instructor here for carving and I've been around here for a long time. You would think by now I would know one. Then if I did.....unfortunately I would only be able to suggest a private at $500+ and....no...there isn't a way to group up because there is no system here to do that for carving purposes. I too will take anyone along with me for a day of carving, showing them around and NOT expect anything in return, but that's not a day of teaching, that's a day of lets go rip, have a blast and throw in some tips here and there. I've been doing that for years now :lol: JoelP

Willy, we sure don't want bandit kite instructors showing up anyplace and teaching, it would be an ugly scene as you very well know...yuck.. Carving is SO much easier to teach, logistically wise!!!!! Anyway the Carver B&B is 4 blocks from the brew pub and I have quest privilages at the Hot Springs Atheletic Club...I drop you off at the club (Hot pool, steam, sauna, etc) then I go shopping for THE best meal, pick you up and drop you off at the Brew Pub then I proceed to go and cook up dinner and then pick you up when it's ready. Oh the luxury The only thing I'm missing is a primo kiting location for summer Hey...when are we going to have a BOL kiters vacation in Brazil ???? Now we are talking. Back on subject: I love helping people out and if the rider is a mid level on up then just a little bit of time and we are usually off having fun together. It's the beginners/low level carver that needs a lot more time and patience. I've got the patience but not necessarily the time unless I can make it worth it. Then I can spend a whole day and get something done with someone and that's what I've been asked to do now and then. My argument would be that the SkiCo isn't getting that job done and I'm just making for more happy customers of theirs...but if I got caught...my argument is worth ****. I think the risk is low and it seems from feedback here it's a needed service not being supplied so if the situation comes again I'll give it a lot more positive thought and go from there. thanks, Joel

Talk about interesting timing, this article from today's Aspen paper. http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20071225/NEWS/456825965 I was feeling somewhat quilty to think about taking money to teach but it looks like I wouldn't hurt the local scene much if at all. I am also trying to figure out what's the difference between me teaching outside of Ski School and from the article comparing all the ski shops that rent gear and profit that way and they compete directly against the SkiCo's shop. it's all touchy and I'm honestly not trying to make a business living out of this just trying to justify getting payment for a service when someone approaches me. I think I have my answer now but any more feedback is always appreciated. I had another thought too at one time and that was to start a carving touring company. I live with a women who has some extra bedrooms and we thought about me starting a touring business with Bed/breakfast for carvers. I cook too so I would supply a room in a comfy house, meals and daily service to take people to the best carving Aspen has. I know the lay of the runs here and the grooming and when to get on and off them. I'm not sure if it falls in the same category as teaching but it's a much easier bandit job but not really since it's a non supplied business as compared to teaching. thanks for the feedback, Joel

For me everyone here is right on when you mix all of these together, structure, wax, brushing out. the 3 correctly applied work wonders together but you can get by with just the right structure but once you add wax in (which I always do) then as Wavechaser mentioned brushing it out back to the structure is so important. Otherwise the cold cold snow crystals grab any wax like crazy especially the wrong wax. I use Swix because I have a **** load of it still from days of owning my own shop. I've gotten to know the brand and use accordingly. Dominator is as good if your familiar with the brand and waxes within the brand. But no wax is perfect if you don't brush back out to the structure. I have a bench and put a light at the end of my board shining down it's base. I have roto brushes and I brush so that when looking back down the base I can see the structure again. I also roto in both directions to open the structure fully. It's not complicated but yes it's anal. It makes a HUGE difference but sometimes I get lazy and give it a quick hand brushing...either way I never go out without some type of brushing finish otherwise I'm a bit sticky.

no problem Dave, I'm not a corporate guy either and your correlation was excellent. that's the kind of stuff I want to hear, pro's and con's. I helps a lot to use other examples in this. There's a lot of different circumstances that can swing me one way or the other. I sure wouldn't advertise but I'm tempted when someone asks because they aren't able to find a competent on the mtn employee (more politically correct since there are both officially paid coaches and instructors here). I find it funny that we hold different levels of what's in our personal gray zone different between all of us. I would love to coach here with the kids but I can't make a living. the time needed to climb to that level is not in front of me anymore. Your idea about approaching the SkiCo might be good. Also it's become unaffordable here for a program that can't turn high numbers of clients. It was a big thing (carving) here many years ago but fell to the way side when the numbers dropped. I look forward to hearing more thoughts Joel

Buying a pass/ticket allows us to use the ski lifts, atleast here, I hike up all I want to ride but I have to hike again on the next run...bummer..if I choose to not buy a ticket. But I can't run a business without going thru the SkiCo or the Forest Service. Actually the Forest Service will come down om me too if i tried to run a business on FS property...but that's another subject. Here's another example I think about. One of our members, David Glynn is a dear friend of mine who i got into this sport a long time ago. He's a true professional who has not only been and is an instructor but has been a highly respected freestyle coach. He's spent many years putting love and dedication into the ski/snowboard industry. He's an instructor who doesn't get much in the way of carving students, but I know he'll give tips and information on the slope to anyone who asks, for free. I hope he perks in here and gives his perspective, he is by far and away not a "Company man" he does this for the love of the sport but he needs to make a living at it too. Well my question is where does he get students from if someone is poaching on the mtn. What does the professional do? quit and try to make it on his own. Can't be done that way. I wouldn't and will not advertise myself to go to his mtn and teach or coach but I will try to point people in his direction. My dilemma is I'm not thinking I'm taking money away from the company but I'm taking away from an instructors living. hell I really wish I could just tell the SkiCo I'll teach carving when they need someone but on my schedule :lol: but they'll laugh and the other instuctors will get to jealous . I'm all for helping out for free, it's the sporting life. I've been asked to spend a day here and there teaching, the only way i can put that time in would be to get compensation and I'm not feeling good about the poaching aspect, so I say no but come ride with me and I'll throw a pointer in here and there. After that asta la vista...unless you keep up and then you need no help from me :lol: JoelP

I totally agree that from my experience coaching is way more productive than teaching. Most if not all of the Aspen valley kids are coached thru coaching programs. Here the coaches are not employed by the SkiCo but by the Ski Club which has an agreement with the SkiCo. The Ski School just can not do what they do and i have friends whose kids are enrolled in these programs. I'm not sure and i haven't looked into whether as an adult they offer any programs but i doubt it. So is okay to also poach the local Clubs with coaching kids too? Also it's vewry very cheap here for the kids thru the program since it's funded thru grants and fund raisers all year. Pretty damn good thing going for the kids here....wish i was a kid :lol: I guess it can get super complicated, kids, adults, ski school, ski clubs etc etc. So to keep it more simple here since I'm kind of defering to the "Gilmour is in Aspen and ready to coach thread" and my own demons...about teaching the general public (this is a general public forum being advertised on by that thread). Is it okay? I'm reading so far that it's 2 = yes it's okay. thanks for the feedback Joel

trailer... what's your thought on the difference between someone not employed teaching on the mtn as compared to a teacher who is doing it on the side? I know for a fact that either way out here the SkiCo will consider it a theft of services if caught and will prosecute. I've personally seen it. So just so I understand it's okay for one scenario and not the other? Although I can see it be more wrong in my mind too to be employed and then banditing in the background. thanks, Joel

Quick question..and I'm not raining on anyone's parade here because it's been a personal dilemma for me since I've turned down teaching/coaching under the table here because if the SkiCo got wind I can loose my pass here forever and be banned. so the question is....What are people's feelings about poaching Ski School and teaching underground? this is just to open a discusion, not a complaint Some background I've had this semi moral dilemma for quite sometime and since there is another discusion going on about this I would like to get more people's thoughts to help me decide where I want to go with this. Again this is to help me personally but may also help you and the community. So please no flaming of anyone just a good open discusion of your thoughts so we can all grow. I've taught skiing and snowboarding for a few years and kind of got semi disgusted with the pecking order within the Corporations but I've seen many many happy people that got something out of it. I've met and know many professional instructors and coaches that have put years getting to where they are and they know what they are doing. I've also met idiots in uniforms. I saw one last year that got me thinking about this again since he had a student for a full week on carving gear but when ever he had a chance and the student was looking he would ask me for tips to teach.....totally unreal...but in the end he had a unkowingly happy student. So it goes both ways, some good and some bad. But to date I have turned down poaching to teach for money. I am more than happy to spend an hour with someone to help and to ride with, that's part of any sport and is truly needed in our sport. But i can't see myself taking a whole day or even a 1/2 day to really get into the nuts and bolts because I only have so much free time and i have to pay for my pass etc etc etc. Then I turn down to get paid to do it under the table because I don't have insurance to cover a student running off into the trees or hitting someone. i have no big corporation backing me with lawyers and I haven't paid my dues like the real pro's that I know that have been at it for years getting to the top and I'll admit some of them are darn good even though they are few and far between. BOL even has a section that helps us find real good instructors at resorts. So the capability is there to find someone who is a pro. BUT I also feel bad for the guys that can't spend the fortunes that some of ski co's charge. Aspen is ridiculous expensive for anyone who wants to learn how to carve. You can't get a group lesson here for carving..it has to be private...duh...So my subconcious dilemma exists. I'll help with pieces and parts but I'm not sure about jumping into the bandit teaching business...although it may be profitable. So throw out some thoughts on this and be respectful to both the bandits and the pro's...i have friends that do both now i want general publics views. PS does anyone know how to make this a quick poll?? 1) It's okay to teach for money underground no matter what? 2) Teaching underground for money just isn't right? thanks, JoelP

No, Mike can NOT post a picture of the schtubby until I get mine JoelP

I ordered 5 boards for me and friends, Pat who started this thread was one of them. Everyone wanted the new flame so I had to show my feminine side and ordered his new flower design. here it is with another one of the flamers. I hope the sizing is big enough to appreciate how pretty she is but the site will only let me post up to so big Joel

As a local I think it's a shame to loose such a special place to a high speed quad but money sure talks around here and with a daily ticket at $87.00 and sure to go over $90 by next season I can see how the SkiCo has to keep up its image and having an old slow double doesn't fit in. I love that chair....most people ride quads and stop during their run or wait in a line and end up taking the same amount of time top to bottom back to top again or they get so much in they are wiped out by noon and so are the trails. At Snowmass the groomed goes so damn fast they have to rope off a trail for an afternoon groomed run to open. I've been out here long enough to know that all that will happen is the trails will get destroyed by noon. The other thing bad about this quad is it will go to the bottom so they can eliminate 2 lifts for one. they'll not put in a mid way station as it's not worth it. they just need to advertise another quad in their brochure. Going to the bottom sucks because the last few turns aren't that great but I guess it's a few more... Quads are fast and get you the vertical but most people here can't get the vertical I get since i don't stop on the trail like I see on the other hills with quads. I figure the lift gets my breath back. Well now I'll just need to be another one of those posers standing on the side catching my breath. there are positives and negatives to both but for Tiehack I'll choose the slow double with non stops top to bottom groomers all day and no one breathing down your neck everyday. Maybe I'll be dead before they actually get it done anyway. There's a lot of other work needed here first. JoelP

some more since I can only load 3 pictures per.

We got our new titanals from Bruce and had to go play. Fortunately conditions here is Aspen are SUPER so here's a taste of what's to come for you guys. Oh yeah...the boards were awesome....it was my first day out this year. that's why the big smile. enjoy JoelP

I use ski's a lot...actually mostly...they allow me to walk around easier and cruise. Also if I have to I can easily shuffle back to the car if the wind dies instead of post holeing. It's just a preference. Pending how short your ski's are they will either work in powder or not but if it's hard pack then it's not a problem and will actually help you learn real fast. Makes flying around real easy too if their short I use both Ram's and Inflatables. i have a 4 and 7 Ram and inflatables from 6 thru 14. Your Ram's will be the easier to use to begin with and then you can decide from there if you want to try the inflatable. A 9 meter inflate is pretty good kite for snow. It works in fairly light winds if your on hardpack. All it needs to do is fly and once you drop it you'll be off. If the winds get up over 20mph then your small rams will be fun even on 40m lines although shorter lines will be even more fun. Those are long lines for high wind looping and playing since the kite is in the window a LOT longer than on short lines, but they work. I have 20m lines on my 4 meter and 30m lines on the 7m foils. I would like to shorten the 7m lines but it's on handles so I need to buy 4 new lines....maybe later... more questions just ask away. JoelP

ahhhhh your killing me...

SES is the grand daddy meeting of carvers in Aspen hosted by this site BOL. it's on the home page but here is the quick link. http://www.bomberonline.com/ses/index.cfm you must of missed it meaning you haven't had a chance to look around the whole site yet. There is a lot to learn here so roam around the site as much as possible. Quickly on bindings, there are 2 types, SI meaning step ins and then Regular meaning bend over and snap in. You can only use SI's if your boots have the correct hardware on them. So pending how your boots show up then sends you to finding the correct bindings ALTHOUGH you can have SI compatabile boots and use the old method of bending over to get in your binding. SI compatabile boots will work with any binding but non-SI compatabile boots will not work with Step-In bindings. We will need to hook up for demonstrations. I may or may be out on Sat. at the Milk testing new boards....maybe...the boards just showed up and I need put some finishing touches on them first and I'll try to do it before then otherwise I'll probably be skiing with my other better 1/2 on Sun. She don't board :-((( and she HAS to ski Highlands. It's tough on a carving board trying to zoom around the steap bumps there, so it's easier on me to work her "A" off on ski's :-)). You can try my cell on Sat to see if I'm on the hill. 970-948-3348...but be warned I don't answer it and check the messages on the lift only. so leave a message and I'll get back asap. Joel

Hi and welcome, there is actually quite a few of us carvers in the RF valley and mostly carve at Buttermilk or Highlands. You can usually find a small gang for 1st lift at the Milk and then we migrate over to Highlands for late morning or early afternoon. You will not find any shop carrying new gear but mosey over to Replay Sports (the used gear shop in Aspen) and they have quite a selection of used gear. Best to see what's there, take notes and come back on-line and ask questions about the stuff. Everyone here is pretty straight up on gear advice. Some of the stuff over there is dirt cheap too since it's been in inventory for awhile. I'm pretty sure you can find a full set up to get going on and then from there you'll learn a lot more about new gear at the SES and asking more questions. So be sure to show up for a day or 2 at the event and try some first rate gear. Getting some cheap used stuff is a good way to start but be sure to ask here before buying. There is gear that will help you and gear that will not. there might be some boards at the Gear Exchange in Glenwood too. I think they had 1 or 2 last year but I haven't been in this year yet. JoelP (Glenwood)

I'm waiting for my warrantied harness to come in and then I'm off to Strawberry. Thanks so much for that update. Man...so sorry to hear the gear went up in flames...makes me cry...well whats really making me cry is not having my harness back see you soon, Joel

Hi, here's my email address, jparker (at) sopris (dot) net. Once your settled in send me a note. I may be out and about in that time frame. Otherwise go by Buttermilk in the morning for first runs and there are usually some of the old guard there. Just say Hi. JoelP