SunSurfer

Liam is a really nice kid. He and his dad are in the room next to me at the Snowmass Inn and we rode together on Friday morning. Liam already has his soft boots angled towards the nose of his board, and is trying to carve it. He'll grow into that Donek Rev prototype sooner than you think. SunSurfer

Running from the top of Elk Camp chair 2 days ago, prior to 5cm snow yesterday afternoon and night, there were significant thin patches and grit heading off towards Bear Bottom and Sandy Park. Bull Run had significant grit in the top layer of snow lower down. Few scratches in the bottom of my Kessler. *ugger! All may be covered up if we get significant more snow in the next few days. Aspen 6 day snow forecast currently predicting close to 8" of snow over Fri to end of Monday period.

Loss of control doesn't seem to be a problem, in fact the opposite. I feel I have better control in my turns than ever before. (Subjective measure) Using the modified HSPs I took my lowest NASTAR handicap result down to 28.18 today, prior to this trip 43.94. (50-54 group) (Objective measure)

I suspect Mark Hogan will soon be eligible for that list. Mark is an Aspen local who has his sights on the NASTAR Nationals in the 50-54 division. I raced against him yesterday at Snowmass, his third NASTAR day. He's climbed from bronze, to silver, to both gold runs yesterday (31.7 & 32.17 handicap). SunSurfer (Alan McKenzie)

Running the NASTAR at Snowmass today, I found myself lining up against Aspen local and alpine snowboarder Mark Hogan. Mark beat me each time (handicap 31.7 = gold, to my 37.87 = silver), but there is something about looking in the course along side you and seeing another carver, in the same age group, that stirs the competitive juices. There was just enough offset to make a least a couple of the gates extremely tricky at the speed we were going. I don't know about anyone else, but I find the discipline of running gates makes me a better rider.

The way SES is structured no other easy option.

Case for buckle shift supported. If you look at the boots in the video you can see the original curved slot for the plastic boss that the third buckle originally attached to. The slot is clearly there so that the boot cuff can slide underneath the third buckle. Except that in HSPs, as they are supplied, there is no friction reducing washer under the third buckle, just sharp edged metal, so that when tightened up enough to lock your ankle down the third buckle also locks the cuff in place. Also, because the buckle attachment point is not on the axis of rotation, the hold on the ankle loosens as soon as you flex forward, because the attachment point moves forward as well. Moving the buckle solves both issues in one step. If you wanted to experiment with the buckle shift without irreversibly changing the boot, there is no need to remove the boss as I have done. The vast majority of the movement I've gained would be accommodated by the pre-existing slot. I think that because no one seems to have thought of this before (correct me if you know of someone who has), in their efforts to try to increase the flex they have removed far more plastic than is strictly necessary. Enough needs to be removed at the back of the shell slot so that the two sides do not impinge on each other in full forward flexion. Modification also needs to be made to the shell where the lowest rear part of the cuff slides over the shell as the cuff pivots forward. Much of the resistance to forward flex in my pair was due to friction at this point. If you ride HSPs, look at the video and think. Take your own liners out and look at what happens as the boot shell/cuff flexes forwards. The boots will be at SES with me in them. I'm 182cm, 85kg. Look for a guy with red trousers and a red/grey jacket. SunSurfer

Riding today at Highlands. Price rise for 2013. $11 for 3 runs. According to the staff Highlands doesn't tend to get the corporate groups that go to Snowmass, so unlikely to get booked out on 13th Feb. SunSurfer

I made the modifications shown in this video a couple of months ago, but I wasn't prepared to publicise them until I'd had a chance to ride the boots. Today was my first chance to try them out. Wow!!!!!! (Coiler NSR, DIY plate on Bomber pivots, F2 race Intec bindings) They unlock the cuff of the HSP and allow substantial amounts of forward flex without sacrificing lateral stiffness. The resiting of the third buckle is the real key to this but it produces 2 major results. 1/ It allows me to get much lower by allowing my rear leg to bend much further forward, and this without shin bang problems. 2/ It absolutely locks my heel down in the boot, both at rest, and deep in the carve with full forward flex. The result is that I'm carving with lower body position than I ever have before. Heel side and toeside turns are more secure and equally powerful. My hands stay in front of me, and no flailing and trailing rear foot side arm. Getting low does not result in excess pressure on the nose of the board, nor does rising up tend to weight the rear. Instead I feel like I'm remaining mid-weighted throughout the carve. <iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/54657654?byline=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" width="500"></iframe> SunSurfer

Riding the Coiler 180cm NSR with a plate today at Aspen Highlands produced lots of looks, positive comments, questions, and a couple of long conversations with Bomber cards handed across at the end. Liftie (with a wicked grin) "Is that thing legal?" Me: "At any speed." And the ski instructor in the queue, with his group of kids around him, "That must carve really well!" SunSurfer PS: See y'all at SES!

A Daly Lane meetup at 1230 sounds good. I'll be in red with a black helmet (see the avatar). I also speak with a strange Southern hemisphere accent (New Zealand & English melded!) I'm also planning for a trip to the Bomber house on Friday, took the buses last year which wasn't difficult but took a bit more time. Alan

The NASTAR course at Highlands should be open between 11am and 3pm on the Wed that SES is riding there. $10 will get you three runs, sign the disclaimer and go for it. Any takers for a chance to try your gate bashing skills against the biggest assembly of carvers a NASTAR course is likely to see in any given year. (ski gates, a gentle GS style course) Only for the glory of it, no prizes, and no video planned unlike the Carve-Off. I'll need to check to make absolutely sure the course is not closed for a private event that day. Given that most of us post under 'Net names, post your racing name to claim the glory for your result. We can check the official results for the day's race e.g. http://skiracing.nastar.com/index.jsp?pagename=raceresults&race=101088&year=2013) If we ride as a group then we may also manage to get some video shot. SunSurfer

Given that people are likely to push the limits to make a great run, will there be a wipeouts section? SunSurfer

Hi Barry, I'm in Snowmass, staying at the Snowmass Inn, for a conference from Friday afternoon 1st Feb and staying on for all of SES. Haven't made any firm plans for Fri 8th yet. We could keep in touch via this thread and firm up plans closer to the time. SunSurfer (Alan McKenzie)

Thanks for posting the updated schedule!!!! :))

Trolls can be found in many places apart from the InterNet! SunSurfer

Hi Michelle, How far away is the final schedule for this year's event? How good a condition does my liver have to be in to cope with this year's social programme? Dreaming of snow in a hot Southern hemisphere summer! SunSurfer

To keep the data current, start over but now get people to post their birth year. Gradually add extra 5 year cohorts at the younger end. SunSurfer

Hilux, I had the same problem and have posted my solution in a couple of threads on Bomber. Click the link below. Switch the heels over and route the cable up the inside of your heel. I have at least one convert on Bomber who now rides pain free. SunSurfer http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?36605-Intec-cable-heel-pain-I-ve-found-something-simple-that-works-for-me

Can you transfer your detailed description of your design plus some photos into the Plate Design thread?

Nice to see that the Facebook comments afterward just ignore him and the photo has 100+ likes! That's one good way to deal with trolls, don't give them any of the attention they crave. SunSurfer

Check your bank accounts because the Snowmass Inn has just debited the balance of my accommodation costs from my Visa card. They subsequently sent me an e-mail letting me know they require full payment 45 days in advance of arrival. My confirmation e-mail from them back in early September only mentioned the need for a 50% deposit, which I paid. I've asked them for justification before I write a tripadvisor report and talk to my bank and Visa. SunSurfer

Sean Martin has posted photos of his AF plate interface in the Vendor section. Simple but intriguing concept.

Must have finished the cool products, cos' it's fixed! Click the big red Bomber logo at the top of the page.