JoelP

Thanks Willy and sorry Dano, I'm kind of in a mid depression stage being in Colorado and not being able to go kiting. 2 new kites are being shipped and I'm land locked at the moment. Sorry if I took it the wrong way. I'm envious you guys are on the water :(

Any death in any sport is very devastating to that sports community, friends and family but I take calling the deceased a "poor fool" and then calling us kiters "eggheads" a bit over the top...sorry but I do take offense to that. Sounds a lot sometimes of what I have to put up with in the ongoing skier vs snowboarder issues here on Aspen mtn. I appreciate your posting on this accident as I'll learn more about my sport from trying to understand the accident and reading more about it but please try to refrain from name calling, it only belittles the accident and the post. Also as if there aren't windsurfer related deaths or anything but here is a unfortunate instance this past summer http://forums.iwindsurf.com/viewtopic.php?t=12905 accidents happen in all sports and yes kiting has it's risks above windsurfing but I'm glad I didn't get on a public forum and call the unfortunate woman a "poor fool" and if I'm misreading your purpose for posting this then I'm sorry but your words have offended me. JoelP...snowboarder and kitesurfer

On good dumping powder day try Seal, he's a snowboarder too and for some reason his music fits right in with a groove that floats with you thru the trees. My carving tunes list is too extensive to post :-))) Joel

Hi Bryan, I sold that 195 Split tail last year. Kind of hated to let it go since it was a one of a kind but the 196 rode so much nicer and all around versatile, I had no need to keep the 195 sitting around in storage. I actually think I listed it here and sold it off the BOL site. I can't remember...DUH...getting old. I'm in no major rush to sell either board and I am talking to Mike about the 196. It's a fantastically versatile board. Once he has come to his final decision then I can move on to whomever is next in line but he has the 1st option at the moment. Di has her house up for sale here in Glenwood. She wants to downsize and I'm supporting her decision. It's time for us to let go of some things and get more orgnized. I've actually been looking to move toward OR. Looking in the Waldport/Newport area. I've been in the mtns so long I could use some serious beach time but still be near the mtns. Hope all is well in your world!!! Joel

My inventory is getting to big and it will be ashame that these boards will not get the love they deserve this coming winter. I've got to downsize due to some personal issues so these 2 boards are for sale. 186 PR Custom GS: 18 waist, 16 SCR and 6.4 flex (Bruce's stiffness index), This is truly been my favorite board of all the boards owned. It does short tight turns or long fast turns, doesn't wobble, doesn't vibrate, it's a sweet ride. It's Superboard construction is so damp it feels smooth in all conditions. SOLD 196 PR SGS: 19 waist, 17 SCR and 5.9 flex, This is a Cadillac, Rolls Royce ride. Nothing stops it but its still capable of making the tightest of turns when you want it. Feels most at home on open slopes just cruising at Mach speeds and it's so damp it builds a super amount of confidence. It too is Superboard construction. Both boards are in near new, actually better than new, condition. The bases are perfect and I've race tuned the edges to 1 bottom and 3 sides and fully polished. You can not get this good an edge from a new board, they just don't get the hand polish and love from the factory like this. Either board is $450 + shipping and because of their length I can only ship in the US. Feel free to email me for any further info. thanks, Joel

Opening day will be Dec 8th. Conditions usually vary that time of year for Buttermilk. Due to its lower elevation than the other mtns it can be either good or just okay. It really depends on the snow farming year. I've been there opening day so far every year and the front side quad is usually good with the backside quad (upper section) the better of the conditions. Tiehack usually isn't that good yet. The better conditions usually start rolling in late Dec or early Jan. If you are spending a lot of money to come out then you are taking a gamble on getting above fair conditions. If it's not costing much then you'll still have fun BUT the price of tickets alone usually isn't worth it yet. If you have a season pass then it's just fine. On a side note though Highlands is usually better earlier above mid way due to the extra elevation. But the lower half is fairly sketchy still. JoelP

Buttermilk is a surfers style mtn not a racers mtn. Surfing is my style so that is why, while I live here (Aspen), I prefer it over the other mtns. Now let me explain. If your into down the fall line fast turning left, right, left right and having it steep then you are right that the Milk can be boring although the last pitch of Racers Edge is always a puzzle for anyone. It has a steep off camber in both directions pitch that always makes it a challenge. Personally I’m more into top turns and bottom turns like surfing. I want to smash the top lip and compress at the bottom and head back up the lip again and then do it over and over and over. Buttermilk offers that style a bit more than the other hills. The Milk has the pitch and terrain changes to play and challenge yourself if you work it. Thunderbowl over at Highlands is fun but not as enjoyable overall for myself. Yes it is still a challenge in places but it’s a right turn followed by a left turn all the way down the fall line. No major terrain changes to mix things up but admittedly has it's glory moments too. Aspen mtn offers a great challenge and mixes things up on Spar and Copper gulch but beware of skiers (sometimes real aholes) climbing down your back, both yes they are top runs. But for me anyways the Milk offers a non-stop surfing experience top to bottom without the stress of being hit from behind, without having to stop my flow due to traffic. It holds many little puzzles to be solved. I’ve met many carvers over time there and surprise a lot of them by just telling them to ride behind me so I can show them a really fun line. Even guys I know that have ridden there for years follow me and then go “Wow, haven’t hooked up those rollers like that before, awesome”. Yes the lift is slow but we’ve asked that it STAY that way. It’s the one thing that has given us some privacy over there and at times makes it feel like a private ski resort :lol:. I’ve written before about days I’ve done many runs and not had a track to cross or another to see. People don’t like the slow lift and I’m honestly glad they don’t. At the end of the day I bet I still have the same vert in that they did on the high speed quad and I’m running solo while they ride in traffic. I’ll take the solitude any day. So please never ask the Ski Co to change that lift!!!!!!. To each there own, that’s why it’s called Expression Session, but the Milk has some of the best surfing there is and I’ll show anyone anytime how to change it up there, to not make it boring, but to make it a surf experience you’ll not forget. And for those that just want to go fast down the fall line…well I’ll take out the 196 any day too Joel

willy, I'll be in Mass. in August visiting my parents. I'll be on the Northshore though. Are you still kiting on the Cape? What's it like then? I might be able to get away for 2 days and come down there. What do you suggest I bring for kite sizes? I'm thinking of bringing just my 9 and 12 and 2 boards to cover 12mph thru 30 or so. Thanks, Joel

yeah, I wish I could go now. rather kite in high winds on small kites. I have a good 6 and a 9 that are way more fun to fly than the 16 in light winds. I know 10 to 15 sounds good to you but really high teens to mid 20's on a 9m kite for a beginner is actually easier. smaller kites stay in the air easier and take much less work. so the learning curve is actually nicer. I remember starting out and always hoping for 12 to 15 mph winds and having everyone tell me it's tough to learn with a big kite and me as a beginner being afraid of higher winds. But come to find out they were right. So hopefully you'll get a bit more wind than 10-15 so you can start out on 12m or smaller kites for the beginning over there. I am keeping a close eye on WY and may road trip there for a scouting expedition. Saratoga looks like 3.5 hrs from me and that's a huge difference over Mac. If I get 4 days then Mac makes more sense. If you go good luck, have fun Joel

Bordy, where are you guys kiting these days? I've got a lot of kiter friends in Park City so maybe I'll road trip that way soon. 30 mph sounds so nice!!!! jonesing to fly my 9m again. thanks Joel

willywhit in Mass. also kites. He's usually on the Cape I believe. I'll be up there in August and will try to get down there and meet him for a session or 2. Bordy kites now too over in the Salt lake area. It should be good there this time of year. give him a shout to find out about lessons over there. Bruce (Coiler) and Leslie are big kiters. They are in Cape Hatteras at the moment kiting :-)))). Once you've got some lessons under you give me another shout about equipment. Don't buy anything new yet since in the beginning you'll be beating the cr$p out of it at first. Used gear is very very cheap and there is a lot of good stuff out there. Let me know when you are ready for gear and I can see what I have and give a shout out to many friends with stuff. Things should be warming up soon in the upper states and then it will be fun getting wet. right now anyplace near CO will demand a wetsuit or drysuit. Hood is really cold at the moment too. Plus it's a harder place to learn at then other places. There is good advance kiting in Puerto Rico but I've not heard of any schools there. Can you go to the Dominican Republic, Cabarete???? HUGE kiting scene. lots of schools and plenty of warm sunshine and beaches :-))))... In a little bit I'll be researching a place in WY that a friend found. About 1 to 2 hrs north of Steamboat. We are just waiting for it to warm up a bit. He flew over it last fall and thinks it will work. We'll see and hope for the best. In the meantime, Independence Pass opens May 29th, I'll get about 2 weeks of snow kiting up there before it all goes. Snow kiting is so much easier but it's not as casual as the beach :-)))). later, Joel

There's a ton of new names for the new style kites. I started my first lessons awhile back on the "traditional" C style kite and have now progressed to what is being called a SLE (Supported Leading Edge). It's not a true "Bow" by its definition but closer to a Bow style because of the leading edge bridal and a lot more depower than a real C. These days kites are changing very fast. There are fewer old style C's that are kind of changing a little to become called "Hybrids" the new North's and some of the Naish line are becoming these Hybrids. Then there are the SLE's which seem to be dominating the market, Best Waroos, GK's, Slingshot Link, Naish Boxer and Shockwave, Cabrinha Switchblade and Omega and others. Then lastly the few REAL bows like the Cabrinha Crossbow which kind of got the term "Bow" started and gets a lot of people to categorize everything other than true C's into the Bow term. anyway that's a lot of technical crap. I've migrated to the Naish Shockwaves. I'm in love with these kites. My goals are to be good and proficient in so called flatwater but my true calling is to get into the waves and that's my reason for going with that model. Friends of mine are on every other make and model out there and they are all good kites. It seems like for 2007 just about everything will put a smile on your face but from what I am seeing out here in the market is that the SLE and Bow kites are DOMINATING the place. Sorry for writing a book. joel

Michelle, CO doesn't have any real good kiting areas other than winter on Dillon. But we have other things to do in the winter...don't we???? :lol: If you want to be serious about learning to kiteboard-kitesurf in water then I can tell you to save up some money and head down here to South Padre next October. October is a good month to be here. last year I got 30 out of 31 days on the water. October is cheap down here too. Food is great and the Island is quiet except for kiters and windsurfers. the thing here is that after you've gone thru lessons (which are a must) then we kite on a huge beach where you can go out over a mile and still be only waist deep. This makes things so much easier to learn how to go both directions and then go upwind. Lots of people to help and the beach is HUGE so there is lots of room. It's definetly busier here right now since all the snow people are here jonesing to get on the water so there are lots of people here at the moment which makes it a bit more intimadting to learn. Since you snowboard then the board skills are there so now you need to learn how to fly a kite (big powerful kites) AND board at the same time Doesn't take long but does take a bit of a commitment to learn a new sport which CO isn't that friendly for. that's it for now. Just got in from a long great day on the water. I'm learning to jump now and I'm really tired. Got to get ready for another day tomorrow. Joel

Dave, Joey is there, just ask around as I'm sure everyone knows him. How's the kitesurfing Look??? I'm on South padre island soaking up sun and the wind has been off the hook. kiting 3 sessions a day from anywhere between 1 to 3 hrs per session. Joel

I'm riding Coilers and the boards are worth every penny, actually worth more but do not tell Bruce . I figure it this way. I bought a seasons pass ($800 Aspen) and a new board from Bruce, a titanal, I got 70 days in this year and 1/2 of the time was on the titanal. Bruce told me it was a bit more fragile than my Superboards he built and to not take a head over heels crash or the board would be waisted. I still gambled on it knowing it was my choice but I WANTED that board. Anyway the board held up beyond my expectations and between the boards cost and the season pass I'm at about $22.00 a day to go riding this season. That's cheap compared to the tourons who pay up to $87.00 a day here in Aspen for just one days lift access, not including equipment etc etc etc. On piste skiing/snowboarding is not really a cheap sport. Hell, I'm so happy with that board I ordered another one for next season, the exact same thing because if and when it breaks I want to go to the closet and just swap over bindings. I actually expect it to break some how, some way. I bought it to ride it as hard as possible and put it away beat not to hang it on the wall. But I am also sure that if it delamed or something like that within a few days I could speak directly to Bruce and between us decide the reason and cause and then a direction for us to take. I've put my trust in him to deal with me professionally which he has. This professionalism is what we have all come across within our niche of custom builders and it's our responsibility too as customers of custom builders to understand that we CAN and WILL break things. so thanks to Bruce I've got many many awesome days in my memories. Joel Parker

try this address bmv57 (at) hotmail (dot) com

Hi, I live in Glenwood Springs and yesterday I was checking out the second hand shop. They have a pair of Raichle's with step in heels already on them (you don't necessarily need to have step in bindings and can still use these boots with regular bindings too, just that the step in feature will not work) I think they were $175.00 and looked in good condition. My question to you is are you a 29? Since you are looking for 28.5 or 29's, there is a huge difference between those 2 sizes since it is a whole shell size change. 28's and 28.5 use the same shell with a change of liner but then the shell gets bigger once you move up to a 29. As for boards I'll take a look at the second hand shop in Aspen and reply again. they have a lot of inventory for carving set ups there too. I should be able to look there early this week. Are you picky on what to get or just looking for a good set-up? I also think they will take offers on their equipment just to get it moved out. JoelP

Bobby, the sun is still low in the sky and the mtns face north so there shouldn't be any icing up yet. Come March when the sun is higher then it affects the snow quality a lot more. today the snow was awesome and the Euro's are here eating it up. I'm riding my titanal on 2 day old groomed trails and the snow was still good on them. Conditions are awesome so everyone should have a blast. See you soon Joel

ebay link http://cgi.ebay.com/COILER-RACE-CARVE-ALPINE-SNOWBOARD_W0QQitemZ190077823191QQihZ009QQcategoryZ21250QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem also the board is now in Aspen at the moment so it could be picked up at SES. it belongs to a friend of mine.

I bring pretty much everything I have to the mtn everyday because I can but in reality from mid Jan thru mid March I'll ride one of these 2 boards 90% of the time and that's my 186 with a 16 SCR or my new titanal 178 with a 13.2 SCR. We typically have hero conditions during SES time here in Aspen whether it be carving or powder . The grooming so far this year with good snow has been excellent at Highlands and Buttermilk. I can't speak for Ajax and Snowmass since I get a full pass only for Highlands/Buttermilk and save $400.00. Those 2 mtns alone give me what I need on any given day but I know Ajax has an excellent grooming crew since they stole all the good groomers from Buttermilk 2 years ago. Needless to say the grooming has been awesome. Rode the 186 all day today on Buttermilk and for those in the know of the hill I had 1st runs untouched on Ptarmagin top to bottom and THEN the next 1st thru 4th runs top to bottom on Tiehack trail. Both runs were groomed wall to wall and super fast riding. That is roughly 10,000 vertical WITHOUT anyone else yet touching those trails :lol: :lol: So the gist of this is bring anything in mid 180's if you feel comfy on it and then you'll be smiling until all the other SES guys thrash the hill then go demo something you can play on if you want. BUT it is best to ride your own board to start the day since you'll be really intune with it more than a demo board and you can just go balls to the wall. If it's powder day then as we say around here, "there are no friends on a powder day", find something that floats and just get lost Also, I too have a 196 but it isn't my go to board, BUT on special days it rocks but I wouldn't suggest it as my only board to bring. Don't forget that this IS SES and no matter what there will be a horde of other jacked guys around you. In times of need I find I can get around a bunch of skiers more easily than a gaggle of carvers. Looking forward to seeing old friends and making new ones. Remember to be safe too. Joel

Hi Bobby, If I wasn't in bumps and crud then yes I would build an AllMtn style and have Bruce build a titanal model, just for the shear lightness of the board. I've been riding both my AllMtn and the titanal lately and I still like the AllMtn build/flex in crud because it seems to blast crud better. The titanal has a bit of deflect in the crud, probabaly because it's a bit softer in the nose even though Bruce built that a bit stiffer than usual for my carving purposes. So for pure carving purposes the titanal board outshines the feel of the Allmtn build. The titanal hooks up much faster and releases smoother. My belief is that the AllMtn being stiff in the nose works great as an OVERALL board, that's why it's an AllMtn but the titanal works far better for pure carving/racing purposes. Also I am afraid to get on some serious bumps with the titanal. I am sure I can handle the board but I rather beat up the AllMtn since it feels like it can take a serious beating and the titanal being so light doesn't feel like I want to beat it up much by flexing the sh$t out of it in bumps. I am sure the titanal will outlast me for pure carving purposes. You have an AllMtn board that is really nice. If you could afford doing the following it would be what I would do IF I was looking to buy new boards. I would get an AllMtn again with the standard build and build in the Swallowtail that I have (unless Bruce could assure me I can't break a titanal AllMtn), I would go with atleast a 20+ waist (as we've talked about before) AND knowing what I know now I would also order a titanal board for allmtn carving specific purposes. I would then be set!!!!!! Between those 2 boards I would have everything covered. When I say "everything" I mean everything without going specialized!!!! I could go anywhere still on any mtn at any time and have fun. I hope that covers your question. Sorry that I can't define into just one board for all purposes. I know having those 2 boards would satisfy most anyone. The next place to go to find out if the titanal can truly be made to handle bumps also, would be to ask Bruce. Personally I have to have 2 boards at a minimum out here since I do ride to many conditions and geometry has a huge place in my needs and 1 boards geometry can not satisfy my present needs. Any other thoughts or questions please ask. thanks, Joel

Hi, I haven’t written anything substantial to BOL for awhile but now I have a good reason to. I might just be preaching to the Coiler choir here but I want to give Bruce some credit he richly deserves. There aren’t a lot of board manufacturers for us these days and the few that are out there should have their work praised when it’s highly deserved. So here I go. I am writing my review of Bruce’s newest offering to us mortals. He built me a Pure Race GS 178 Titanal, 19 waist and 13.2 SCR and I now have 5 solid days on it. My background is that I’ve been riding plates for 14 seasons and I live just outside of Aspen, CO and ride a lot!!!!!. I’ve owned and ridden F2’s, Rossi’s, Doneks, Priors, Burtons, all great boards and now I have a quiver of Coilers. My present carving quiver are all Coilers. An AllMtn 172, PRGS Custom 186, PRGS 196 (both Superboard construction) and now I’ve added the new PRGS 178 titanal to round things out. We mostly get hero snow here but the beginning and the end of my season always has funky, hard junk. My GS boards were a work out during those times and although my Allmtn still worked fine for me I knew I still needed a dedicated carving board for the thaw/freeze and manmade times of the year. I told Bruce what I wanted a new board for and then I decided on my own which model I wanted. He suggested the titanal race construction as long as I understood it was a bit more fragile than my other boards. I usually take only one bad crash a year so I figured I could handle the construction. He then suggested I let him beef it up just a bit in the nose since the racers were getting fairly soft noses and he knew I was more of a soul surfer rather than a jam and go kind of guy. I gave him the go ahead on everything. That’s the background on me and the lead up to riding the actual board. I now have 5 good days of riding the board and to be truthful it’s exceeded my expectations and I feel I am still not only learning the board but I haven’t found all of its potential yet. I ride fairly fast and my primary board is my 186 with a 16 SCR. What I am finding with the titanal is that it eats chatter like nothing I’ve ridden. My Superboards cut so smoothly that I thought nothing else ever compared but with the titanal I am now not only carving the fresh groomers but I am searching out the 3 day old groomed and chopped up crap just to find something that this board will not like, but I haven’t found it yet. Yes….I know about huge bumps….but I am talking about slopes that I usually pass up because they had not been groomed that day. Now trails with 3 day old groomings feel good. The board initiates a bit faster than my Superboards and cuts the hard stuff a bit better. Believe me I LOVE my Superboards and do not plan on getting rid of them soon, but the titanal I am quickly falling in love with. I feel that on the hardpack and junk the titanal seems to cut and hold better with less leg fatigue. It’s also a bit livelier at the end of the turn if I want it to be and I can get a lot of pop out of it if I want it. My superboards are very damp and for really high speed cruising on hero snow I like that I can predict the boards behavior and steady trucking. Now as I get more time on the titanal I am becoming more comfortable with its behavior and actually using its liveliness to have more fun at more normal speeds. I am blessed that I have fairly uncrowded open slopes that allow me to ride fast but I also travel a little bit and this new board is going with me when I do. It’s light and very flickable as compared to my other boards, even more so than my Allmtn which is actually shorter. I think it’s because of its lightness and liveliness that makes it a good traffic board too. Super easy to change your turn shape at any time. I am pushing the board more and more each day and I have yet to have it chatter out or give up its grip, I am sure I’ll find that threshold but when I do I’ll probably be in a situation that I will not want to be in again. For instance the other day the light was real flat but I was on a trail I know well. I was carving and laying it over pretty hard knowing the snow is very grippy there but on my 6th turn I realized I was going up a huge mound of manmade and I figured I would be slipping out soon but the titanal just kept on slicing right up and over the top and down the other side without any issue. I know a lot of good boards will do this especially with a good tune but I am use to hero snow so when I hit that mound my legs froze because I was more afraid of it, but the board saved me from giving up my turns. It actually became fun!!!!! Well my only point to this write up is that I want to give credit to Bruce for building a really fun board and to let the carving community know that yes the new technology really has a jump in class. Thanks, Joel

These are new except for me trying them on in the living room. I got these just last year expecting that I would ride my soft boots more and I am not using them at all. They come with both 4 hole and 3 hole (Burton) discs for mounting. $150.00 and I'll pay the shipping, sz is med/large, per Flow they fit 7.5 thru 9.5 boots. Joel

Hi all, My girlfriend has a large home in Glenwood Springs and her 2 kids are off to college. She has their rooms open all winter and would like to make them available for any BOL people that may need a place for a night or whatever timeframe. She lives there full time and I am there part time. I ride everyday so if I am there you would be welcome to come with me to Aspen. Glenwood is located 45 minutes from either Aspen or Beaver Creek. The house is right in town so it's walking distance to the Hot Springs Pool and all the local restaurants. You would have full use of the home with the 2 of us. I also have a workbench with vises and all in the heated garage. Diana would like $50/night for a room so if anyone is coming out or interested in coming out you can PM me and I'll answer any further questions. Also, if you were to fly out you could fly into the Eagle/Vail airport which is about 25 minutes from us and I can even try to work out pick ups and drop offs. Anyways, it's just a thought to throw out here in case any of you guys are interested in coming out but can't afford the high end costs of staying in Aspen or Vail. She may also have a studio apartment available, long term or short term, email me for further updates on that with expected dates that you may have interest in. We hope we can accommodate your needs thanks, Joel

My girlfriend who lives in Glenwood has a large home and has 2 extra bedrooms she can rent out for $50/night. Basically she's got 2 kids in college and has their rooms completely open and could use the extra money if anyone has any interest. Here's the deal... it's a large home located in downtown Glenwood, walking distance to the Hot Springs Pool, restaurants etc etc. You get a nice room with bed, a full on home to use, kitchen, laundry, bath, a full work bench in the garage with my vises and everything. You'll just need to share the house with Diana and myself. I will ride everyday in the Aspen area so if need be you can shuttle with me. We are 45 minutes from the Buttermilk parking lot on weekends and 1 hour (traffic) on weekdays. if anyone has any interest please PM me with any questions. Also, and I'll post this in the off topic section, the rooms are available all winter. We are also just 45 minutes from Beaver Creek so you get the option to go to either Aspen or BC. So if anyone is looking to come to Colorado outside of SES this may be an option for you. thanks, Joel