ncermak

Jack- Note...I didn't say it was the best tecnique. but something that can sometimes be incortperated in some situations. also, you can steer with both knees, maintaining seperation. and what is this job yopu love? even a bad day of boarding beats the best day here! -Noah

Jack... I agree we all need to get out of the office, and onto snows. clearly we all hate our jobs. now...when you get out and ride. try steering with your knees. see what it does for your board. It is a rotary action of the front kne - open your stance from the knee on the heelside turn, then close the stace from the knee on the toeside. an intersting exercise -Noah

you will not always pressure the entire edge throught the whole turn. when initiating, your pressure is out towards the nose of the board. when finishing there is some more pressure on the tail, allowing you unweight the nose, release it from the carve, and twist the board into the next turn as you transfer your your weight forward.

Jack- Any thoughts on drills to use once the back shoulder has dropped to help ensure proper angulation? -NBC

sorry...I Lied...they are not on the axis but one the more freestylie doneks (not sure which one) Disregard my earlier post

Many have said that proper shoulder alignment for Alpine is to have the shoulder squre to the fall line. the drill to reinforce this has always been to hold the bamboo in front, and keep it parralell to the snow. In translating back to a soft boot stance, the shoulder alignment that most are looking for is to have the shoulders lined up with the hips, crossing the board at the natural angle that coincides with the binding angles. Tis allows the rider a greater range of motion to react with the upper body when there is a need...A concept that makes sense and has made me a better rider. which brings me back to alpine and two questions: 1. Why not apply this to alpine? you can still throw your hips forward, and the heelside becomes stonger and has a greater ability to adjust if you find yourself in trouble. (remember, I'm not lining the shoulders up with board, but at the natural angle that the body finds due to the stance angles. In alpine it will be close to perpendicular to the board, but the trailing shoulder and therefore hand will be offset to the rear) 2. What drill would reinforce this, assuming that bamboo would give problems contacting the snowwith the addend angle towards the back of the board on a toeside turn? THanks- Noah

1 or 2 side 0.5 base

Good Luck with rehab...Be well soon Looks like we all have to ride for rusty!

two of my buddies ride the axis running with soft boots. Nothing special for either set up, and they both love the set up and do anything that they wants...sweet carves, and hit jumps, switch riding, the whole package... my $.02 -NBC

Several years ago, Rossi's New england rep was emptying the basement of old boards. He set me with 6 old alpine set ups, from 145-160 for about $25 each, he even threw in some bindings. NOw I am not going to say that these were great boards in any sense, but it did give me the opportunity to have some boards available that I could put kids on for no expense. I got many a kid to try, and some to even buy and get into it. Unfortunately, I sold and lost that quiver and am looking to rebuild it for my current team. The point is: Coaches: talk to your local shops and reps and anyone who might be able to help out. you never know where you might get lucky. Hell, Jake himself even sent me a couple of boards for the first team I coached. Keep on influencing the kids guys, they hold the future of the sport in their hands... -Noah

That is the question that one of the 13 year old soft booters asked a 13 year old hardbooter on this past weekends race at Bousquet. I loved the response: I smoked you by 10 seconds...who's board is real?

Matty- SUgarloaf and Sunday river/gould academy have snowboarding programs. Most programs out there are geared towards kids, but It would be worth looking into with the mountains. Also, look up Jack Michaud on this site. He is from maine and knows a little bit about the scene up there. I know Bill Enos and the BBTS over at waterville valley have taken some adults in the past and that could be an option for some training and coaching. and finally, the USASA. If you are the only guy in your age group, you are a lock for the nationals...

I want to go to New Zealand...Ride in the Am, then sit on the beach in the PM. I'd want to buy something like Fernie...Then close it and make it my own little private playground!

sounds like i need to make a trip up this week when I come up...I'll bring my suit....and a six pack. unfortunately, none yet. but there are a couple of boards that I can work with. In fact I have a mixedx bag...2 boarders, 2 skiers. getting into some freestyle stuff. -NBC

Come on eric... force it. Jill will take anybody's money, given the opportunity! Otherwise I'll have to convice Justin to come out here to My hill and program! -NBC

Inspect the course prior to the race. Look at features in the terrain, such as fall aways and plan your turns. Have a mental image of where you want to go, and (try to ) stick to that line through the course. You also should be looking ahead to the next gate, not at the gate you are approaching. If you are in a Ski league and riding, like I do, anticipate that the skiers will take a slightly different line, and if you are late in the order, you probably have to ride the rut, in their line. Also anticipate slower times. Last year I was not able to break out of the bottom 1/3 of the pack. And Finally. If there are not pull bars in place, Borrow someones ski poles, Use them for your push start, and then drop them behind you. Its not ideal, but it is better than nothing... Go Fast! -Noah

Thanks Eric... How do the kids look this year? Is Brendan back? Is he going to send me my bindings (the TD's)? Hoping to come up soon, I'll be in Manch for a class all week next week. Maybe we can hook up for a beer... -Noah

Hey Glen- Why you trying to steal our thunder???? Better chance of qualifying for nationals in MA!! Only 20 or so competitors, 35 for for both events (I think) and a 15 dollar pass. Hope all is well, and give my best to all of the guys NH. Hopefully we can all hook up for a beer out in NM! -Noah

YESSSS!!!!!! I have seen countless guys who slipped their freestyle turns have an epiphany after learning how to set the board on edge and pressure the edge to acheive different board performances. They return to their soft boots, and it becomes evident that these guys know what they are doing compared everyone else... -Noah (p.s. - I havent forgotten to call you, just have been wicked busy...)

Elan Parralax 160 Northwave APX 9 Catek Freeride (undoubtably the best strap binding i've ever used) or.... Rossi Crawford 157 (wicked graphics) Rossi HC4000 binding Now the northwave boot, but earlier the rossi ultimate... -Noah

Still looking for competitors to coach... Also, First USASA races at Bousquet this sunday (1/11) GS in the AM, SL in the PM...

I hope to see all of you guys out here at Bousquet for this sundays races. We are putting on both the GS in the AM, and the SL in the afternoon to make up for the cancelled Blue Hill Race. Snow guns go on today for the next 3 days/nights, so there will be plenty of snow for the events...

I have to point out that it usually you regular guys who screw this up. We goofy guys always prefer the outside right, and it always seems like a regular jockeys himself in, and then complains.

I'm not sure but I would check with Catek and see how soon they can get you some product...