JoelP

I live in Aspen and out of the local crew we have 8 guys riding the Fish. I know there a lot of others that have other preferences but I also know for a fact that you can't pry the Fishes from these guys. I just spent the last 2 days on mine and it looks like the next few days we'll be out fishing some more.

Weather report is to start snowing tonight and go thru Xmas....about time since it's getting thin and I wouldn't bring out my good boards yet. Joel

Andrew, Everyone here is narrowing in on the same length suggestion of high 160's to low 170's. It's a great place to start especially where it's your only board. Once you want something carve only specific then you can add another board and move up in length. I had a 4x4 179 and loved it but chose to downsize to the Allmtn 172 for a bit more versatility since I have other boards that are longer for carve specific purposes + I added some custom stuff to the board. If you get anything around 170 I bet you'll keep that board forever if it's a 4x4 or Allmtn. I was on the lift today with another guy who has a 168 Allmtn and we both agreed we would always grab that board first if we had to travel someplace and we could only take 1 board. They are just that versatile and we can have a blast carving, riding powder or crud with them on any mtn. even bumps. Then when SES rolls into town (Aspen) come out and try some carving/racing boards. then you'll need to dial in more specifically what you might like since there is a million combinations of length/width/sidecuts/flexs blah blah blah...A full blown carving board becomes more of a labor of getting exactly what you want since you can!!!!!! I ride just about everyday on either Buttermilk or Highlands (pass restricted). If you can join us call me at 948-3348 and we'll meet up with some other guys and you can get more feedback. But if you NEED a board right away the 169 4x4 or the 168 Access are great products and Bomber probably can get it to you next day since you are in CO too. You'll not be disapointed. Joel

Andrew, I live in glenwood too. If you are riding Sunlight then a 172 to 178 AllMtn (4x4 or Coiler Allmtn or Axis) will work great for your size. The slopes there aren't groomed as well or as wide as Aspen slopes. I have a Coiler 172 AllMtn, I weigh 165 and 5'10". Anything smaller would be a higher speed disapointment ALTHOUGH you can carve very well on the smaller boards too. I have a larger friend that rails a 168 very well but he also has longer boards for other days. My 172 would go to a 178 if it was my only board and that's all I could afford. But if you ride Aspen mtns then move to at least the 177 + length. Anything shorter and you'll find that you'll want more soon. The runs there are wider and much faster. There are a lot of carvers there and you'll progress fast. All of this advice is based on having one board and needing a carving with Allmtn attributes. things change up some if you want to be only carving specific and will stick to groomed runs all the time. If that was the case then a more carve specific board would be the way to go. Drop me a note sometime with contact info and I'll meet up with you to show you some boards if you want to get a better feel for what to do. I mostly ride Aspen but can ride sunlight if conditions get better soon. Joel jparker (at) sopris (dot) com

Hi, I've been down the MF twice and always willing to go more. I am a kayaker no real rowing experience. I've been on the MF at 9+ and 5 feet. I have plenty of experience for picking up pieces and parts of rafts that have issues.... ......I can also help out with any other kayakers or duckiers that need guidance/help. Also if number of rafts become and issue I too have a pool of rafters to contact. I haven't applied in a few years but my guess is the app. is available on line like past years?? I'll go check and download a couple. If there becomes a general date or dates to apply please let me know and I'll go for those dates. thenif I can help out with anything let me know. I have plenty of helping experience!!!!! 3 Grands, Gates, Yampa and MF trips. Joel

I need to clean my closet and it's ashame that these boards get no lovin from me since I have to much stuff. F2 Eliminator LTD 163, like new shape, super fast, stable BX board, the harder you ride it the more comfortable the board feels. $175 + shipping from Aspen. Base and edges are perfect. F2 World Cup Carbon Beamer, 160, yes it's an Asym but this board is a kick to ride. Full Carbon top sheet so the board pops off the snow at the end of a turn like no other. 20.5 waist, regular Asym, 8.5 heel side SCR and 9.5 toe side SCR. $100.00 OBO + shipping from Aspen. The board is in top excellent condition. Hopefull these photos come through.

By the sounds of things here it seems everyone is a bit more sporty than I am. I need complete utilitarian with creature comforts. I chose the Honda Element, it's a love it or hate it by looks only but once you get used to the features it's hard to turn down. Works awesome in winter. I hit a huge storm last year on my trip going over Vail Pass and thru the Eisenhower Tunnel. The only other car staying with me was a Subbie WRX and we cruised the fast lane. It was dumping and the roads sucked but we were passing without any issues. But I need room for the toys and a cheap place to sleep on road trips and the Element is the ticket. Pluses: 1)Goes from 2 seater van to 3 seater to 4 seat options in 2 minutes. 2)The little lady can hop to the back seat (living room comfort) to put on ski boots before we get into the parking lot. 3)I can hop into the back to put on boarding boots without ever getting out of the car in the parking lot. 4)The only board that needs to go between to front seats is the 196 when I don't use my roof box. 5)Seats flip down 100% to sleep in the parking lot waiting for the lifts to open on those big powder days when it's mandatory to be first in line. 6)SUV amenities with much better mileage. I avg 25 with my 2 Thule boxes on top. 7)to many other little things that come in handy for. Minuses: 1) It's NOT a sports car. 2) A strong headwind will kill mileage (but a tail wind is welcome) I have 2 boxes on top since I carry to many toys with me at all times and I like the organization the boxes give me and I can keep the inside open for sleeping. I do a 24 hour road trip each year and I find the car very comfortable for that. More info than needed on the car is at elementownersclub.com That's my thoughts on utilitarian. Joel

Hi guys, I do not get to Denver much but if I do I'll bring the Stik. If you come over toward Glenwood we can try to hook up. I have a 1/2 mile run outside my door. Basically I ride from the driveway and go. The run is right in town on a lightly used street. It starts out at about 10 degrees (d) for 70/80 yds then gently flattens to a second roll at an average of 8(d) for another 70/100 yds then rolls out to about 4(d) and then I take a hard left back to 8(d) and then right back to about 4(d) to the finish. Not overly challenging but it is my front yard so it's fun and there is potential to change it all up since the street has many intersections to bank off of or to just hop over to the next street. The kids around here sometimes bomb it straight and fast but me going on 48, I like to shred it up with turns. Plenty wide enough to bank a turn completely back up hill to bank back downhill again. The Stik is good at that. So if you come this way bring the board and give me a call 970-948-3348. Be aware I do not usually answer the phone much but I check the messages frequently. JoelP

Hi, I lived in Telluride for 15 years. I moved to Apsen for better carving and have yet to regret it. I still visit T-ride 1 weekend a year to visit friends and here is my take on it. I still have friends there that carve and it is a hit or miss place for carving. We kind of email each other back and forth to try to guess the grooming schedule and sometimes I have to just pick my weekend on Friday night. The best carving runs when groomed (hit or miss) are. 1) Bushwacker and Milkrun. They are not always groomed nor are they groomed on any particular days. It's only when they get around to it. 2) Lookout and Plunge, Groomed pretty continuosly but gets lots of traffic. They are kind of like sit and wait for an opening type of run. If you try carving wall to wall be careful or you will get picked off. 3) The longest run is SeeForever and it is groomed almost always top to bottom BUT it's a 3 chair ride back to the top or a 2 chair ride with a long cat walk to negotiate. T-ride is a great mtn if you love bumps and get hit with a killer storm for powder. Carving is a hit or miss type thing. Inconsistent grooming on the best runs for carving. Lots of good green runs for carving but believe me if you are an intermediate carver or better then those runs will bore the hell out of you. there just isn't enough pitch. They look awesome on the trail map but are fairly boring in general. If you are super lucky and hit either Bushwacker or Milkrun then you'll have a good time otherwise when I plan on visiting there I take my ski's and powder board as my primary plan and my carving board as my backup. As for directions, this is the shortest route from Denver (I've driven it many times :-(((((...)Take rte 285 to Buena Vista, just south of Denver thru Englewood. At BV go south on 24 turn then onto 50 west to Montrose then 24 south to Ridgeway and then turn right onto 62 and follow the signs. Check out a map, it's easy, sounds complicated but it's not. Via I-70 to Grand Junction is a long haul and you'll be passing the best carving CO has to offer :-))) (Summit areas and Aspen areas). if you have other questions you may be better off to PM me since I don't check this board that often in the summer. JoelP

Since money is no object... :lol: ..... I would choose Aspen but then again that's my local hill. If you get a place slopeside on any of the 4 mtns then not only do you have that going for you but you can ride the other 3 without driving a car. Sometimes we hit in 1 day Aspen mtn, Highlands & Buttermilk. that may be a bit tougher to do in Summit. Plus the SES is there and there must be a reason why they go to Aspen instead of staying in Summit. As for riding partners it's probably equal. Great groups in both areas. But I'll admit the Aspen guys get kind of spread out since all 4 mtns are so easily accessible. As for crowds, my only experiences other than Aspen is Beaver and Loveland. Aspen mtns have them beat on less traffic with the exception of Snowmass. Either way it's all good, you'll ride everyday. the decision then is purely $$$$. Everything costs more in Aspen. Joel

I have the 164 LTD nd ride it with hard boots. I have the ProFlex titanium step ins. the board is a bit wide for my feet, 26 mondo, but it still rides well. It's very good at slow carves since it has a lot of side cut. It rides well in powder and is a very fast stable board. I ride with 45 deg front foot and 30 deg rear foot angles. Since you have it then give it a go. If you like carving then you'll want to progress toward a dedicated carving board but the Eliminator will give you a taste for carving. Joel

My 186 is a Superboard too but it is the 16 SCR with 18.5 waist and 6.4 flex. It was the Custom so it has the 2 cm more edge contact, same as the 188. Either way the superboard is the way to go..it's so smooth. I have a 195 WCC and a 196 with the Superboard and it's not exactly night and day between Superboard and WCC BUT there is a smoother ride for sure on the Superboard. Congrats and keep us informed on how it rides. JoelP PS: I found that my boards ride best mounted centered off the inserts. If that helps you set up at all...

From the intersection of 24 and 82 will take 2 hours and 45 minutes to Aspen with good driving conditions. I live in Glenwood and drive that route a lot. To that intersection to Glenwood it's a solid 2 hours. Then Glenwood to the parking lot at Buttermilk is another 45 minutes.. In the summertime when the road is open it's 45 minutes to Aspen from that intersection....average pending....summer has brutal traffic on that road. So the detour adds 2 hours to your time table. Joel

Here is a text tour guide for the Aspen mtns for those that have been asking for information. This should give you a quick overview of each mtn and the highlights of each. If you can score a trail map before you get here or go online to aspensnowmass.com and look at the maps then this little guide should help you visualize what and where you may want to go. Here is an overview and low down for carving. Snowmass: Hit the new six pack chair at the village and go to its top, this is called Sam's Knob. If Slot is groomed (immediately on your right) it's a must hit!!!!! For at least 2+ runs. It's a Black Diamond that is very very wide and probably the best Snowmass has to offer for shear thrill. Then head to Big Burn and hit Sneaky's a long easy groomer that will just be real fun cruiser carving. If Whispering Jesse's or Mick's Gully is groomed hit it now early before the mass skiers are there. Be sure to check the boards at the lifts since they will tell you about the afternoon groomer. Snowmass holds a trail groomed roped off and then opens it at noon. It's different all the time but the boards at the lift will tell you which run it is. Then head to the Alpine Springs chair to get a lot of intermediate groomed runs that are right under the chair and also to the skiers right there is Naked Lady that has some fun rollers. Then hit the next lift going up, called High Alpine. Getting off High Alpine go to the far skiers left across the cat walk for Upper Green Cabin. This should hold good grooming for quite awhile since it is so far away from the base area. The only thing about it is that if you want to do laps you have to take 2 chairs back to it if you ride the whole trail. If you hit all the above you should be pretty worn out but I would suggest you start back toward the Village and have saved some energy for the Coney Glade chair. This used to have lots of traffic but now that the new six pack chair diverting everyone, this chair is less used and there is good grooming still to be had late in the day here and it is just above the Village so it's a quick shot back to the Village/Tent area. Snowmass is huge so there is still more area's to hit for carving but that gives you a fair tour without spending to much time chair hoping or catwalk riding. Buttermilk: Taking the 4 man chair out of the base area you have 2 options. Either do warm up runs under that Quad or head straight over to the Tiehack section. Tiehack is on far skiers right after getting off the quad. When the grooming is done right it's the best and easiest place to get great runs in. The Tiehack chair is an old double and is slow BUT that keeps traffic to a minimal. You should only need to deal with these 2 chairs for the day. Just check what was groomed on Tiehack and just hit it as much as possible. We usually work from skiers left (Buckskin) to skiers right (Racers Edge) as the day goes and pending what was groomed. If everything gets groomed then it's truly heaven since there is plenty to go around before you all slaughter it to hell. Anything under the main Quad is just fun to lallygag and play with the terrain. The Ridge trail is a great warm up since it gets sun early and the light is great for visibilty. If you want to go to West Buttermilk (the other lift) by all means do…but beware….it's only got one semi pitch run to it and it's at the end for about 5 or 6 turns only. That's the bottom of Larkspur. Then you have a new funky quad to take back to the top and it is kind of a pain to get back to the Tiehack lift but it is easy to get back to main Buttermilk. It's really the beginners area and is super mellow terrain. Aspen Highlands: Light in the morning can be funky still on Highlands. We hit it in the late morning/afternoon so the visibilty is better. The morning sun casts long shadows. Anyway, Golden Horn/Thunder Bowl can be the widest groomed slopes that you may ever encounter. Fairly good pitch but they are so wide that in mid turn it seems like you can still see a football field of grooming ahead of you but you have to turn down the hill just to keep momentum going. You get to those by taking the chair to your far left at the base of the mtn. If you take the chair on your right at the base, Quad, that takes you to mid mtn. On your ride up you'll see fields and fields of groomed terrain. It's all fun, mellow and still there mid day. I would suggest passing it up until later in the day since it will still be there fairly untouched. Get off that Quad go to the skiers left to the Cloud Nine Quad. If Wine Ridge and or Gunbarrel are groomed then you are in Nirvana!!!!!! wide, steep, off-cambers, just pure fun. Those runs are right under that chair. If they are not groomed, but usually at least one is, then get off the chair and go to the skiers left. You'll find mellow groomed runs that run down the ridge and through some tree groves. Be careful to not go to far and to hit the cat walk to get back to the Cloud Nine chair or you'll be going to the bottom again. If you explore around skiers right down the Cloud Nine chair you'll find some more gems. If you go to the top, Lodge Peak chair, start your run by heading back down the ridge from where you just came from and bear off skiers right just after all the Steeplechase bumps. There are a few fun groomers down in that area. Don't even think you'll find a groomer in the new Temetry Lift area……bumps bumps bumps and trees trees trees…… Then hit Golden Horn for the end of day fun. Aspen Mtn.: Get here early!!!!!! Get on the Gondola asap and do top to bottoms down Copper and or Spar Gulch. Wide and the grooming is spectacular. But always be aware that very fast skiers…downhill kamakizees….love speed runs down through these areas too. Then hit the mid mtn Ajax Express chair for a run or two and then get to Ruthies for 2 runs. Try to get all of that in before noon then head out of there to either the Milk or Highlands. Aspen can get very crowded with skiers very fast. But lucky for you all, they are late risers..unless it's a powder day… Also do not forget that if you do bottom to tops on the gondola you'll be getting over 2,000 vert per run and the Gondola only takes 13 minutes back to the top!!!!! I hope you have good legs!!!!!! Of course there is a lot more and others can chime in but the above covers most of the highlights of each mtn. and all of it is exceptional terrain. For bumps/trees/bowls either explore on your own or find a local because now there is way to much to get into detail on for each mtn. Remember that there are a lot of harbooters out there between the SES and the Pureboarders. Respect everyones space. Have fun. Be safe!!!!! JoelP

350: No problems, I really love the ride. I also have a Trek 5500, I use the Trek for the long mtn rides around here and the Felt for around where I work. I have miles of flat farm roads with no one on them and the Felt is really nice to glide around on. My signifacant other has a Felt too and she loves it coming from riding a Lemond. Felt is a great bike for the price. Joel

Since a motorcycle got in here then I guess that opens this up to bikes. :lol: :lol: Hey, I know it's not a car, but..it's one of my summer rides Joel

Here's my thoughts from being up there every weekend. I ride my 186 (SCR = 16) on all 4 of the mtns, it's my go anywhere groomed board here, and then use my 172 AllMtn for goofing off, small powder days and bump/crud runs, then my fish for the trees. I ride the 190+'s only at Buttermilk where there aren't many others around to worry about. Those are kind of luxury boards on luxury days. If I had to only pick 2 boards for 3 days it would be my 186 and the AllMtn. You can get around everywhere with that combo. So if you have things in the comparable range then look to see what the weather forcast is going to be to see if you exchange a board for the Powder board, if you can only take 2. This year we've been exceptionally blessed with early and big dumps and that's kind of out of the ordinary otherwise I only get about 4 days out of my fish during the season here. I take 2 boards to the hill and lock one up at the base so I can switch mid day when I want to mix it up. No one has yet ever bothered us doing that and many guys do. If you are staying in town and are using the bus system then you can carry both boards on the bus (inside). It's never been a problem for us in the past when we shuttle around from one mtn to the other. That makes it fun to hit one mtn in the morning and then go to another one for the afternoon. JoelP

I have the 172 with 21.5 waist (small feet). I've had it in 16" inches here in Aspen without any problem. Floated just fine as long as I was not at near deap stop speeds. it rips great down the fall line. I have a Burton Fish also but prefer the Allmtn if I am riding the slopes on a powder day in the morning, by afternoon I am usually beat up so i grab the Fish and mellow out in the trees. The AllMtn is just that much more stable when ripping up the untracked. It is far superior once the slopes turn to crud too since it is stiff enough it just blows through crud bumps. I had Bruce custom cut a Swallow tail into mine, small one so not to affect the carving capabilities much. PM me off the board and I can send you some photos. You can also talk to Bruce about it as he and I have now got quite a few others going the same route. It was an experiment that has turned out really good for me on powder days where I do like using this board. Now if you want to get into tight tree riding then I prefer my Fish. I can slow it down and turn it faster in tight situations and with the different stance it's easier to stop look for a new line and get going again. The Allmtn likes to keep trucking. Also if you like the zipper line (lots of turns) along the trees when it gets cruddy then again the AllMtn isn't as fast a turner. If you don't get many really deep powder days then the AllMtn will more than suffice you. Otherwise pick up a cheap powder only board for 2' or more type days. jparker - at - sopris - dot - net JoelP

I've got a killer set up if you are interested. 2 kites, 2005 Windwing Rage II, 10M and 14M, set up with their SAFE system and included is their Jumpstart system for reverse launches on snow. The 10M has been on the water once and the 14M has only been inflated to check it out. So both are basically brand new, primo condition. Included are bags, pump, 50 cm bar with 26m lines, all unused. I'll sell the kites and bar for $800.00. I can be talked into just one kite too if you want to deal. then I have 2 boards available: A Cabrinha Prankster 172 I can sell for $100 or a brand new Liquid Force 134 Element for $300. the Element is more of a new school board, wide with lots of rocker and has not been in the water. Both come with their respective bindings. FYI the only reason I am selling these is because I have 2 new boards and 2 new kites for 2006. I've changed over to the new WindWing Rapture2 kites. I have no idea if you are coming out to Aspen for the SES but if you are you are more than welcome to check them out. The only thing is shipping, and we could always discuss that too. thanks for considering and if their is any interest you can PM me at jparker-at-sopris-dot-net. just replace the at and dot. Joel

Oldkey, Does she know that the 172 Speedster has a 14 m SCR? At least my old one did. that is kind of a long side cut for a 172. Look at the Doneks, Coilers etc and most of the 172's have less sidecut so they turn better, 12 to 13. If she's not super strong that 14 m sidecut may be a lot to get through the gates, unless it's for SGS. Just an FYI. JoelP

I have a small really nice place to kite after snowboarding on my way home from Aspen. If the wind starts to pick up on the hill from the North I just leave the hill at 2 and I am kiting by 3 and go until I am beat. I use, 90% of the time, my skis since it's so easy and I do not have to sit my ass down in the snow. But there are days that the snowboard works just as well. I have yet to try a carving board since going regular and goofy is much easier on a twintip than switching to a toe side pull. I have inflatables but on the snow I use foils since it is quick and easy to launch and breakdown. Plus they take up minimal roon in my car and i just keep them there for any occasion. It's really fun and very easy to learn with a foil. Inflatables are a different animal and need more respect because no matter what they are inflated at all times and want to fly. A foil is failry easy to pull out of the sky if you find yourself in a bad situation. they pull like trucks and are a blast. Water is more fun but snow is really a kick too. If anyone is in the Aspen area and wants to kite on snow just let me know and hopefully it may blow from the North on a day you are here. JoelP

A bunch of us old farts meet every Sat/Sun at Buttermilk for either the first chair up or to take the shuttle to Highlands, we meet at the base of Buttermilk (Aspen). There is usually always at least a small gang of us locals there, even weekdays too. During January until the Xgames are over we leave from the Tiehack lift since the parking lot at Main Milk is a zoo with Xgames construction. We are a bunch of old grumpy gray haired farts so don't expect much out of us other than a good social talk. JoelP

I was a skier for 25 years then gave it up since it bored me and went right into carving boards 15 years ago. 2 years ago because of my girlfriend I picked up some Volkl 155 Slalom skis to screw around on and try the new carving potential, she is a skier. They were very fun and I dabbled with them a few days a year. Then late last season I bought a pair of Atomic B5's on recomendation and now all I can say is "Holy crap Batman!!!!!" these things are a blast. So now I split my day, mornings are dedicated to the Race boards and afternoons I trade off for the skis. I can honestly outcarve my carving boards on these skis. I have yet to find where they will break loose. It's true that I am NOT a Euro style carver so I do not do full body drags nor do I want to, but I've been at it long enough now to lay down trenches with anyone. Then come along these skis and I can carve them, double trenches, inside my carving board trenches.....and then just bail off into the trees or bumps or wherever the mtn flows. I maintain both sports now because I love the soul feel of carving on the snowboard but I love the social aspect of skiing (more female participation) :lol: :lol: Women are just not into the snowboard carving thing. So I get my personal time in the mornign and social in afternoon...Gee I love these sports :lol: it's all fun...right... JoelP

Last year was my first TBP and I plan on going again in 06. I rode solo last year and would love to hook up with some others to help pass the time and work the pace. It's a great ride for sure once it's over :lol: Joel

Hi Bryan, I hope to see you soon but anyway here is some info that may help you on that Coiler. On all my other boards, F2/Rossi/Doneks/Prior I always used the center of running edge to mount off of. On all those boards i felt I needed to be dead center to get the boards turning for my style. On the F2 and Rossi's I even felt I needed to get more nose pressure at the beginning of the turn to hook them up properly. Now on my Coilers these are the first boards I mounted based off the inserts because of info from Bruce and Dave Morgan. i never got any complete reasoning but these are the first boards that just hook in very properly for me without any additional nose pressure. It may have a lot to do with the taper since the nose hooks up a fraction earlier, I am not sure. Also I had the pleasure once to ride 3 of Jasey's boards all on the same day and they were all the same size (length 186, width 18.5) but each was a different construction. Once I was done i could then talk to Bruce and what I found out was that the one I liked the best was a Superboard construction and that I also liked the World Cup. those 2 boards both had great turn initiation mounted off the insert location. the one I had trouble with I found out that Bruce beefed up the nose but in the end Jasey didn't like it nor did I. I had trouble initiating it without putting pressure on the nose. That board would have had to been mounted more forward but it was an experimental board at the time. he never put that style of construction into production. I like to surf my turns with mellow edge change, not aggression, and I find the Coilers roll over into the next turn very smoothly for me without additional nose pressure. that is why I am a convert!!!! All my other boards needed me to work the nose more and i never really liked moving my body forward to initiate the turn shape. So if anything you should give it a go in both areas (center of edge or by inserts) see what feels better for you but I would dare gamble that by mounting from inserts and just ridding the board without body movement forward or back, will put a smile on your face (as I am sure all your boards do). The flex index should be scratched into the sidewall of the board. what is it? My 196 is 5.8 My 195 is 6.2 My 186 is 6.4 At my 165# i would not want to go anymore than the 6.4 on the 186 and I am sure glad that the longer boards are less since i have more edge to deal with. I rode the 195 (Split tail) today and with the 15 SCR it seems to amaze me that I can do anything from short to long radius turns with complete confidence and in traffic with such a long board. have fun See you soon, Joel