boostertwo

A place with plenty of history (10th Mountain Division) and soul. I've never brought a carving setup there, as it has more of a mom-and-pop approach to grooming. But way fun on a fat board--or teles! When I go, I usually ride the north side by the triple chair. Good snow. Fun trees--it's not too steep, but not too crowded either. I've hiked Chicago Ridge after the area closed (wide open and above treeline), but don't know if the area would permit hiking while they are in operation. Well worth checking, tho'. <img src="http://tinypic.com/i26no3.jpg" alt="Jeff Patterson: Heelside snowblower, A-Basin, CO"> It's snowing and blowing in Minturn now and likely will be all powdery and fresh on Tennessee Pass this weekend. Have fun! B-2

If you have interest, go for it! Upside: <UL><LI>The more things you do, the more fun you have.<LI> Ripping arcs (or bumps, pow, or steeps) is fun whatever the gear. <LI>The challenge of learning something new can be positive and profound.</UL> Downside: <UL><LI>The more things you do, the more equipment you have to buy. <LI>In time, you have to add a 'gear wing' to your home. <LI>You can't do both at the same time--you will sacrifice some boarding time when you are on skis. <img src="http://tinypic.com/fzb2mh.jpg" alt="Chris Heidebrecht: hip draggin', Keystone, CO"> If you have any interest, do it. But on a pair of deep sidecut skis to get the full effect. Mi dos centavos, B-2

Image is GIF animation from digital video. <img src="http://tinypic.com/fzatkm.jpg" alt="Ian Michael Hebert, Loveland, CO"> Cheers, B-2

I've one listed on EBay in excellent condition. <img src="http://tinypic.com/fz6z9i.gif" alt="Jeff Patterson, A-Basin, CO"> Great snow in Vail--11 lifts and midwinter conditions on top--we were riding trees opening day! Hope it's snowing where you are! B-2

...of a clean, well-lighted place to live for the season. Please let me know if you might know of something suitable. <img src="http://tinypic.com/fnfck0.jpg" alt=""> Thanks and cheers, B-2

Carve 4, Are you solely interested in carving? Or do you also like to ride powder and trees? If you're only carving, pick up a grooming report--the groomers do a very good job and you'll be able to find the type of pitch and terrain to get you pumped. My personal favorites for carving: Avanti (Chair 2), Bwana/Simba (Gondola), Ouzo and Dealer's Choice (Chair 7), Hunky Dory (Chair 3), Northwoods (Chair 11), Riva Ridge (when it's freshly groomed). Chopstix and Poppyfields are great, wide-open caring fields in the Back Bowls. Jade Glade and Blue Ox are black-diamond steep, and awesome when freshly groomed (Blue Ox is double black and groomed each Friday--get there in the early am for unforgettable first trax). Not gonna get involved trying to defend Vail from its detractors. I ride there because it's simply the best I've found for what I like to do. It's huge and always offers opportunities for exploration and adventure. It can be pricey but it ain't just the fur set that rides there. On any given day there are more than a few carvers on the slopes. <img src="http://tinypic.com/fn4nmf.jpg" alt="Jeff Patterson, Northwoods Bowl, Vail CO"> Give a shout when you're in town and I'd be happy to hook you up with a highlighted trail map to help you find the goods. Cheers, B-2

Hi Lee, I'm in the process of looking for lodging as my winter rental fell through. Please let me know if you might know of anyplace for a clean, quiet, responsible NS,ND, NP type o' person. <img src="http://tinypic.com/flaq1i.jpg" alt="Angus, Bamboo Bumps, Vail, CO"> See you on the hill! Cheers, B-2

Vail and Beaver Creek offer outstanding carving, and consistently great snow IMO. I'd go to both. I'd be stoked to point you in the direction of some great known-but-to-locals powder stashes at Vail. Shoot me a pvt email prior to your visit and I'd be happy to get you a trail map with some personal favorites highlighted.BTW, unless yours is purely a carving vacation, I'd recommend bringing a fat or all-mountain board for powder and trees. <img src="http://tinypic.com/femfpi.jpg" alt="Jeff Patterson, China Bowl Powder, Vail, CO"> Summit resorts are just over the pass (Copper, Breck, Keystone, A-Basin), and well worth a visit. So is Bomber HQ. Cheers, B-2

Hi Phil, I've seen Tyler ride and that truth doesn't hurt one bit. He rips. I was stoked to video him and some of Thedo's SWSC riders when they were at the Basin last spring. I used the image because I felt it showed strong riding--not to suggest that Tyler was in an aasi race clinic. To clarify, 'aasi people' aren't running this clinic--it is offered to help aasi instructors learn more about racing, and coaching, from someone who has coached at an international level of competition. I've never trained with Nick before, but I'm looking forward to it as he's apparently helped coach Klug, Kosglow, Price, and other US Team riders. Sorry you can't make it alpinegirl--no stupid nametags, titles, or badges. Just good info and lots of riding. At least that's what I heard. B-2

I don't know about poodle turns or boy scouts, but I do know that aasi-rm is offering a <a href="http://www.snowfun4you.web1000.com/AASI-RM-Snowboard-Race-Clinic.html" target="http://www.snowfun4you.web1000.com/AASI-RM-Snowboard-Race-Clinic.html">race clinic</a> this year (not just for folks in hardboots but most will be, I suspect).<p></p><img src="http://tinypic.com/erzxp2.jpg" alt="Unknown Rider, Aspen Grand Prix"><p></p>Clinic offerings are determined by each division. If you want to see hardboot stuff on the calendar, let 'em know. Then help promote it.

I'll change the lift/cant ratios depending on stance angle and width. On narrow waist width boards (18 cm) my big feet require high stance angles (70/68) and in this stance my pelvis/hips are wider than the board. This positions my legs to 'feed in' to my boots from an outside angle, and thus, I cant outwards (like Jack recommends). <img src="http://tinypic.com/f0atjn.jpg" alt="IMO outward canting helps when hips are wider than a narrow-waist board."> On wider boards, as my stance geometry changes, I find it better to go flat or cant inwards slightly (only at really low stance angles on wide powder/backcountry boards). The amount of lift is also determined by stance width: more width, more lift. I think DaVinci was getting at the same thing: that our joints move our limbs through arcs. IMO this is directly related to adjusting cant and lift on your bindings. <img src="http://tinypic.com/f0ap2r.jpg" alt="DaVinci <I>Vitruvian</I>: cants/lifts"> Mi dos centavos, B-2

Old. Fart dust. Bad attitude. <img src="http://tinypic.com/eree5w.jpg" alt="Vic Wild, A-Basin, CO"> B-2

I'm planning on being there Monday and maybe one day later in the week. I'm looking forward to meeting BOL denizens and videotaping some high performance hardboot riding! <img src="http://tinypic.com/ei1jdx.jpg" alt="Erika Meuller at A-Basin, CO"> See you there! B-2

If you time it right (leave early and stay a bit later to avoid the pm return crunch), you can make it in 90 minutes or so. I've known several folks with Colorado passes who ride in the evening at Keystone, which offers night skiing, until the traffic pulse is gone. Some stay overnight Sunday and head back to work early Monday morning. <img src="http://tinypic.com/e6szes.jpg" alt="Spike E. Beaver Creek Pow"> Who knows? With gas prices the way they are we might see a heckuva lot more car pooling this winter--and reductions in 1-70 traffic. I think Fin has indicated that the ride board will be functioning this season, so you might be able to find a car(ve) pool! Cheers, B-2

Welcome to CO! Give a shout if ever you get over to Vail and are looking for beta on powder stashes. <img src="http://tinypic.com/dyn3ls.jpg" alt="Jeff P. Blue Sky Basin Powder"> Cheers, B-2

I have a C-Bak Snowline, which is low-profile so it fits under your jacket and has the insulated hose and bite valve. I never use it when riding inbounds, as I'd rather not sling around any more weight and bulk than I have to (I usually ride with a camera), plus there are plenty of places to grab a quick on-mountain drink where I ride. I do use it when busting backcountry dayhikes. I do use the C-Bak Hawg on long, dry mountain bike rides. The Hawg is great for carrying extra layers, power-up bars, maps, etc. and holds enough H2O for an all-day blaster in the desert. <img src="http://tinypic.com/9g9eo2.jpg" alt="The C-Bak is very helpful on long, dry bike rides. Poison Spider Mesa, Moab, Utah"> Sorry. Couldn't resist. B-2

for the upgrade and for hosting an extraordinary community. BOL provides cool pleasure during the less-snowy months. <img src="http://tinypic.com/97n21l.jpg" alt=""> 100+ degrees in the valley today. Hope it's cool where you are! B-2

GThanks for the hookup. I like it so far. <img src="http://tinypic.com/6tfzhk.gif" alt="SWSC rider"> Wish you could imbed images in the body of emails, though... B-2

Yes. Please shoot me an e-mail at your earliest convenience. <img src="http://tinypic.com/6nw8ef.gif" alt="Pulse"> Thanks! Best wishes for a terrific 4th. Cheers, B-2

Any Gmail users in the BOL community? I'd like to try it, but apparently you can only score the beta version with an invite from a current user. <img src="http://tinypic.com/6jlhdv.jpg" alt="Best wishes for a healthy, happy 4th."> If you'd consider referring me, pls. shoot me an e-mail. Thanks, B-2

Went for a pre-dawn hike and early morning summer solstice descent of Medicine Bow Peak. Several other snow enthusiasts were hiking and skiing as well. The snow was collapsible and funky, but the riding was good fun! <img src="http://tinypic.com/678aa1" alt="180 days until winter solstice"> Heading up again tonight--for a midsummer's eve hike--under the full mOOn!!! Happy Solstice! B-2

I just moved for the summer to a historic lodge in the Snowy Range, Medicine Bow Mountains, 30 milkes west of Laramie, Wyoming. I'm in the mountains and am landlocked for kiteboarding, BUT there's 30 miles of high prarie (smooth, rolling grassland) and near-constant wind in the valley. It's wide open and looks like it would be amazing for some type of wind-driven boarding. <B>Question: Has anyone tried kiteboarding with a mountainboard--on land? </B> <img src="http://tinypic.com/6533me" alt="Thedo Remmelink @ A-Basin"> Still lots of snow on Medicine Bow Peak, and tracks snaking their way down. I'm heading up tomorrow for some BC turns. Hope you're still gettin' some! Cheers, B-2

Thanks for the kind words. I don't put much time (or thought) into posts; the images are 'test drives' for another project I'm working on.<img src="http://tinypic.com/5w02dx" alt="Vic Wild @ A-Basin"> Hope you're having fun. B-2

Hope to see you at this weekend's closing celebration at Arapahoe Basin. 2"-5" inches are forecast this evening in the high country and stormy throughout the weekend. Snowpack has been soft and wet through the last week. Should be interesting riding... <img src="http://tinypic.com/5mxvfq" alt="Erica Meuller @ A-Basin"> See you there! B-2

Glad to hear you're already on the road to full recovery, Holly. <p></p>I look forward to meeting you both next season at SES (be forewarned: you will seriously consider relocating!)<table border="3" bordercolordark="#000000" bordercolorlight="#808080" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" bgcolor="#0000FF"><tr><td><img src="http://tinypic.com/5kncit" alt="Last call for pond skimming at the Basin (closing for the season this weekend, June 5)."></td><td><img src="http://tinypic.com/5knedk" alt="Local rider Jann is the only guy blasting turns across the Basin's 'Lake Reveal'--could it be the hardboot setup?"></td> </tr></table><p></p>In the meantime, best wishes to you, Scott, and your families during your convalescence.<p></p>Cheers,<br>B-2