JoelP

I've been using mine for 5 seasons and I average about 40 to 50 days a year. They have yet to wear thru anyplace although it's time for a new pair just for comfort. I've packed them down to paper thin on the insulation. The fingers stick together the more colder it gets, kinda weird but it doesn't bother me. I highly suggest them. JoelP disclaimer: I had no idea I was being used for their advertising until today when Pat's email'd me. I do not get anything free from them.

Hey, has anyone heard from Bordy? His winter kite bus tour came to a tragic end. Lets wish him well :lol: http://www.nwkite.com/forums/t-7032.html&sid=dc3fdfeaf621971cd835cc5d87bd4af5 JoelP

It's a PR 178 with added rounded tail (to protect the metal) so it actually comes out to be a 181 but it's really a 178, 13.2 SCR and 19.5 waist. It's a duplicate of the board I rode last year to test and Pat got one and I have 3 more showing up at my door step tomorrow.... I had been riding mostly a 186 and 196 and once in a while a 172 but sold them all and just riding this 178 now. Nearly does it all....although I do have another test board coming too :lol: for this season. JoelP

We've gone from 0" to now over 5' in 10 days. 18" in town in less than 24 hrs and the mtn ALWAYS gets more. I hear the bombing going off while I'm shoveling. Not complaining...need more :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: JoelP

Here's some pics from Black's a few days ago, sent to me by Doyle. JoelP

In case anyone has any interest. Over Thanksgiving Snowmass got over 3' and last night (12/6) we got another foot in Aspen and it's dumping hard outside my window at work (across the street from Buttermilk). It's suppose to snow for the next 2 days. it's finally winter!!!!!!!!!!! JoelP

Big M Glad you're okay bro. sounds ugly. You were with some good guys that took care of you. It happens sometimes. I've been there and PC and I were with Casturita once over at BC when he took the unexpected run through the trees. Take care and I'll see you when you are over on this side of the Divide. JoelP

Sorry to jump in here again but if anyone thinks kiting is dangerous you got to check this little vid out. An old paragliding buddy just sent this to me. Now this looks exciting.. http://www.biertijd.com/mediaplayer/?itemid=4262 enjoy and sorry for the quick hijack JoelP

Driving is not a good example but we always seem to blurt out comparing driving to many sport related accidents, but it's really unfair since millions drive everyday and lots of hours are put in behind the wheel. It may be more comparable to hang gliding or paragliding or jumping into a whitewater kayak and attempting Cl V rapids without experience. Kiting can be and is very dangerous to unknowledgable participants. It's really a dumb thing to try to do without lessons. Kites are very very powerful and trying to put one up in the air without knowing what your doing will be worse than exciting. It may be the last thing you ever do. I flew paragliders competetively for many years and I knew of people who bought a wing, seen it on tv or something, and then tried to jump off a cliff. Dumb but it has happened. I've had friends die hang-gliding, friends die in avalanches while backcountry skiing. Others have died riding bicycles on streets. Things do happen and there are deaths related to all sports. I hope here on BOL I'm not advocating to people to think kiting is so simple they can just get a kite and go. that's the last thing I would want to do but I do want to share this sport with others who may have an interest. I've tried windsurfing years ago....many years ago...It is an easy sport to try if you have access to equipment and the odds of dying at the beginner stage is very very low compared to kiting. Kiting is not so easy to try unless your with an experienced kiter. I'm a total advocate for kiting lessons and try to force anyone interested in them. Also equipment has changed drastically over the last couple of years and is way more controllable and easier to use.....you can still get yourself in trouble but with some lessons and experience it's becoming a simply fun sport. BUT you need respect as in all of our so called extreme sports. there is a lot to learn. So we all die sooner or later and hopefully on our travel there we have a lot of fun and add some risk to keep us on our toes and for learning new things about ourselves. Lets just not die doing something stupid like putting up a 15 meter kite in 30+ winds or kiting/windsurfing so far off shore that if something happens you could get hypothermic or going out in nuking offshore winds etc etc. Just keep the respect and an open mind that all sports have risks and we each choose our own levels..... JoelP

Dano, it’s awesome you are getting out still and get to play all winter. Being in Colorado I’m limited to getting on the water all year, so I’ll admit I’m jealous but I’m also psyched that you and others get to enjoy your sport year round. Bordy and I living in the mtns and being semi landlocked turn to the snow and our passion to snowboard and being able to add in the use of a kite gives us another great option. Maybe the thread should have been “off-topic”, maybe not, since it’s snowboard related that’s up to the site monitors, but you do have the option to read it, comment, and be either negative or pro. If your truly sick then it may be best to quickly see the subject and move on. To choose to reply and then be negative seems to be your choice. Sorry you feel that way and I hope your negativity doesn’t affect your everyday attitude as I’m sure it doesn’t. No need to ruin a good day on the water if a kite goes by. Since you’re a snowboarder and a carver too then you must have been through the negativity that skiers used to always have and sometimes still do. It’s just ashame it has to be here on BOL, especially where a lot of us BOL’rs are kite-snowboarding too. Personally I like reading and thank Bordy for posting info here since I regulary check the site for my snowboarding interests. I see others post about cars, bicycles, motorcycles, etc. etc. Some of it’s interesting to me and some not. I choose to read the ones’ I like because we all dable in like sports and I find other peoples interest kind of cool. I’ll actually enjoy reading about your windsurfing days and if you had a great day or not since windsurfing is a like sport for what we do. I’ll never be negative about it or sick of reading it since I know your enjoying it and someday we may meet either on the snow or water and we could talk about our like passions in an enjoyable way…although at this time I feel you may not be ready to talk about our on water experiences. I ski and snowboard, and for years I got more garbage from skiers than I get from kiteboarding, but today we all go together and enjoy our days and share our experiences at the end of each day. I kite along side many windsurfers on South Padre these days. We have rules and all and for the most part about a 99% respectful relationship. I would love to try your sport, but I know deep down it takes 10 fold the time and commitment to become a good winsurfer and I just don’t have that luxury living here in CO. That’s the end of my ramble. I hope you have/had a great day on the water. I wish I was out there too although I really like warm water and warm air….getting old has draw backs. Enjoy, JoelP

The boyz still ride here all winter (Aspen), they've traded in their PureCarves mostly for Coilers and a few other boards. Joey Cabell either ski's or boards everyday still and is always at SES. Doyle comes about 3 times a year for about a week or 2 to at a time. Cliff shows up when he feels like it since he's still around here. Sparky (Rainbow Sandals) comes two or three times for a week now and then. I pretty much ride with them whenever they are in town because they have the best surfing stories and keep me laughing all the time plus just good guys to ride with who just enjoy the sport. they still ride hard and smooth, top to bottoms with no stops all day. If you like to socialize on the snow these aren't the guys to ride with, they only stop to talk on the lift and at lunch If you want to reach Doyle, email him at doylejack (at) yahoo (dot) com although I think it's Cliff and a few others that are more related to the movies. He might be able to send you in the right direction. JoelP

I think someone is a bit jealous because they had to put their big ol pole away for the winter..... Look forward to seeing you out there Bordy, I'll be at Strawberry and Dillon. Joel

Parking, it depends on where you are staying. If you lodge in Snowmass you can get a parking pass that allows you to park in the village, otherwise there is paid parking, $10.00, or free parking in what's called the Rodeo lot with a free shuttle up to the village. snowmass village right now is a MAJOR construction site with a whole new base area being built so parking is kind of a cluster so use the free shuttle. Downtown Aspen is all paid parking at meters. Aspen mtn proper doesn't have a parking lot. Buttermilk has a large parking lot and is all free, all day. It also has shuttle buses running in and out to the other mtns all day for free, as do all of them. Highlands has paid parking, $10.00 right at the base of the hill. It's also enclosed parking with a nice escalator up to the lift. so there is parking at each mtn and it's all very simple but has little quirks. Paid here, not there, etc etc...but it's not very difficult. Overall though the shuttles are the most efficient. there are limited lockers at each mtn for small things and there is spots to check in equipment. Most SES'rs bring extra boards an lock them up around the very busy and social BOL tent. The tent is the happening place, safe and secure. I usually bring 2 or 3 boards and lock them up at the base and never have had any issues. If you have a car then if you are at either Buttermilk or Highlands and parked there you can run back to the car at any time and be back at the lift within a couple minutes. Parking is very close by. the really only biggest hassle for parking is Snowmass and the Session is usually only there for 1 day during SES. The majority of the time is spent around Buttermilk and Highlands and if you park there your either in the center of things or within a 5+ minute free shuttle ride to the other mtns. So don't really worry much about parking or the shuttles. Once you are here you'll find it's all very very easy to get around. JoelP

Cabondale has a couple of hotels but it's about 3/4 mile walk to downtown and no local town shuttle. If you do rent a car you can bring your whole quiver to the slope and then a lot more options open up if you stay downvalley. Here's a mini list of my favorite, must hit downvalley restaurants. Breakfast: Breakfast in America, in El Jebel Village Smitty, in Carbondale Rosies, in Glenwood Dinner: Smoke, Awesome barbecue ribs, smoked meats/fish, in Basalt/El Jebel Narayan's, Indian/Nepalese, off hwy just outside of Glenwood Phat Thai, Thai food, Carbondale Zheng, Pan Asian (Thai), Glenwood, Glenwood Meadows shopping center Cheng's Asian Bistro, Sushi, Glenwood Tequila's, Mexican in Glenwood....caution...handmade strong Margi's El Horizonte, Baslat & Glenwood, authentic Mexican/El Salvadorian, yummy There's a lot more but those are my favorite places. Lunch.....at the mountains of course!!!!! JoelP

Here's some options. All you need is to get TO Aspen and then all transportation is easy and free to any mtn or event. You can fly into Aspen and get transportation (taxi) to any lodge in Aspen/Snowmass (pricey) or walk out to the hwy (200yds) and grab a free bus into town :lol: and ask driver for closest stop to your lodging destination (free). They'll drop you off at the closest stop and point you in a short walks distance. Fly into Eagle/Vail get the ColoradoMountainExpress shuttle to Vail transportation center and then get another van to Aspen/Snowmass to your doorstep. Here is CME's we site for pricing structure. www.ridecme.com Fly into Denver and get CME at the door and they drive vans all the way into Aspen/Snowmass. Around 5 hours with stops and all, pending weather. Last year cost around $75.00 but again look at the site for updated info. They drop you off at the door but expect to tip. Fly into Grand Junction and hitchhike...maybe...transportation to here from there isn't readily available but you can shuttle around town to get to bus station and try to get a bus....not recommended since you can easily get stuck there. those are your flying options and travel options if you go solo and want to get here quick as possible. Other option is to hook up with someone by advertising here on BOL to share a ride if they have near your time schedule and they are getting a car. Once here you do NOT need a car for anything so renting is kind of a super luxury. Buses run very very regularly except if you are a night party animal and need get to Snowmass from Aspen like 2 in the morning or something. Then it gets tough but there is always an abundance of taxis. Lodging: There are a lot of beds pending your budget!! Again try to find roommates here on BOL to share lodging or go to aspenchamber.org and start looking around. That's if you want to stay in the glitz :p :p . All lodging is near a bus stop and walks to downtown. Other lodging options are throughout the valley :lol: :lol: and you still need NO car. Buses run up and down the valley all day and evening for about $7.00 each way as far as Glenwood. That's way cheaper than renting a car and the time frames work about the same. PLUS many SES'ers stay throughout the valley especially Glenwood, because of rates and the amenities for food options are better and mucho cheaper. Time wise it takes about 50 minutes on the bus from as far as Glenwood, each way, and they run express buses in mornings and evenings. It's really very simple. From any downvalley bus you can get off directly at Buttermilk or at the base of Aspen mtn. the other mtns will require a simple get off and grab another bus. Sounds more complicated than it is....it's really simple. You might even be able to commute with someone staying down valley anyway if you hook up. All down valley towns (Basalt/El Jebel/Carbondale/Glenwood) are all accessible from the CME airport shuttle vans too. Check out Glenwoods chamber site if your looking for cheaper rates but with many amenities, lots to do in Glenwood after a day on the hill and the food options are many and good. You'll probably save well over 1/2 the money you'll spend in Aspen. But if your looking for the ultimate experience then you can go as high as you want in Aspen.....how about a house for $15k a night ski in and out :lol: it's available :lol: .....Glenwood has much easier walk to amenities from lodging than the other towns. I check here once in awhile so ask any other questions or PM me but maybe better here so others can benefit from your questions. JoelP

Nice Ernie, I'm so glad you went with the Titanal, you'll be in love. I've got 5 coming soon too (2 for me and 3 for friends). Maybe I'll see you out here again. Joel

Just a side note on the Coilers. Although Bruce does the best job he can and he's my personal choice for boards, I suggest you still not ride the board until you personalize it with a good hand finish. 1st, he can't wax it for your conditions, I've always had to scrape his wax down and re-wax the base since here in CO we have a very cold dry snow conditions and his wax is usually for a wetter snow type. Not that it didn't run well, just that I could make it run that much better. 2nd and most important and it isn't given its due credit is to redo the edges. They come with a machine finish, a good one but not good enough for me. The base works when the board is running flat but the edges have a HUGE impact on how it runs when on edge which is 99% of the time for us. I'm not talking about the edge holding, I'm talking about the edge gliding. I redo the edges and polish them up to a near mirror finish of an 800 grit stone. You would be amazed at the difference this makes. I personally feel the the biggest thing you can do to improve your ride. I swear you can have a rounded edge but if it's polished it will still cut smoothly. I get about 4 to 5 boards in here a year from Bruce for me and friends and before I let anyone out on the snow spend a good 2 hours on each board. Get a new board and run a file down the edge and you'll feel it cut and grab in different places, this is the machine hardening of the edge and this is the same feel the edge will have when cutting the hardpack, not the feeling you want. I run my files until the file cuts smoothly from tip to tail with out any spot grabbing. Then it's ready to begin the polishing procedure. That smoothness is exactly what you want the edge to do while it's cutting the snow.....smoothly and consistent..... It's not that they can't be ridden out of the box but the personal finish will improve the board immensly Enjoy. JoelP

It can be worth it but Xmas is always shaky around here. We get our best snows right after the Xmas vacationers leave!!!! On a more serious note, Sunlight can have good conditions and some fair carving. There are about 3 good trails there that work if groomed and 1 killer trail if groomed right, steep and narrow but completely do able. It's a small local hill that's been trying to upgrade its product every year and getting better. They have improved their grooming immensly the last 2 years. A new owner is taking over and trying to get approvals to upgrade 10 fold in terrain and chairs which will make a huge future improvement. there are days it gets more snow than Aspen and thats when I usually hit it since so few people are there and it has short but good steeps and trees. It's really a great little local hill. Find out the base cover that week and if it's over 30" then you could hit a good day of carving. There's only 3 lifts and the best stuff is off the main lift to the top which is the 2nd lift you have to get on to get there. The best runs are the main one that winds around the main lift, Joslins and the primo one is just to your right as you start going up the 2nd lift (looking from the chair). It's steep but consistent pitch..sorry I can't think of its name right now. then it has some good lally gagging carving terrain off the west side. JoelP

Have you seen Jesse Richman's jump off water in San Fran? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOwb6sDCZM4 When paragliding you do this a lot to ground skim, up and down until all the kites energy is gone. looks like fun as long as you have a lot of room in front of you to fly !!!!

DT I'm now 165, probably 173 +/- last winter but I personally don't think it makes much difference unless your over 195 or so. I had guys ride it from 140 thru 185 and each one of them bought one afterward. They didn't give Bruce a weight they just said "build me the exact same board Joel's riding with no changes" and they've been happy ever since. I always have a hard time getting it back when I let someone ride that board...it's that versatile...unless you ride high traffic areas and have to skid alot. I'm holding the board back for awhile......I'm getting second thoughts on selling it.. The Canadian dollar is up against the USD thanks to our administration and now it may be unaffordable for me to replace it. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Bordy, thanks but I'm a Naish guy, I'm waiting on a Helix and a Cult and I have my Shockwaves for sale. But I'll definetly find you to try the Nemi. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the 08 kites, all a supreme batch. I'll probably be at Strawberry a lot this winter. Are you kiting Utah Lake??? that's about a 6 - 7 hr drive for me. I found a cool lake in WY and kited it 3 weeks ago..solo...with no issues what so ever. Saratoga, WY. nice little place, clean wind from the North to West. Rode my SW 16 for 3 hrs, no one else on the Lake. it's small but was worth the drive and was a blast. The next day the wind changed to SSW so it was unkitable with high gusts. Fly high and long

Nice, looks like it's still warm there. We have snow on the peaks but I'm have a hard time with it and want to go some place tropical and kite. May have to head to SPI for a last blast of summer soon. Willy, you getting on the new Nemisis??????? nice little vid Joel

Carp, your email keeps bouncing back. Here's the reply I've been trying to send.. I can hold it for awhile for you. Surprisingly it can turn a very tight turn. I can turn it inside of guys riding a slalom board but you just do need to be aggressive by not being afraid to lay it over and then it turns tighter than just about anything. It also runs wide open, stable and fast too. It comes down to how you ride. I've had guys ride it and everyone then ordered the exact same board. They wanted to buy it from me but back then I wasn't selling it. It has been my favorite go to of all time board except for super black diamond steeps. Then I have a 178 for that. I'm trying to relocate to a beach someplace so traveling back to Aspen will be limited to one board when I visit. please let me know if you still want me to put it aside for awhile. thanks, Joel

These 323's are in great shape and come with the Intec heels already installed. please notice that I've modified the right boots tongue just a bit to get a little extra flex. The toe photo shows this and I have larger format pictures I can email you. These are not thermo liners, just stock liners. $125.00 and that includes shipping in lower 48 states. I can ship to Canada and would probably have to add a few dollars but haven't checked yet what it would exactly cost. thanks, Joel

the 186 is still available. thanks Joel