boostertwo

My thoughts are with you both. Best wishes for a speedy and complete recovery. <img src="http://tinypic.com/5jy2p1" alt="US Snowboard Team member Erica Mueller @ A-Basin">

Here's an update on the avalanche fatality. Don't know if the victim was wearing a helmet, or if it would've made any difference under the crushing force of all that wet moving snow. Here's a link to the CAIC preliminary report, and a link to another web forum discussion on the avalanche, <img src="http://tinypic.com/5e9uu9" alt="Before the meltdown: Vic Wild @ A-Basin">

I went Friday (the day of the slide) and Sunday. On Saturday, patrol used explosives to knock down the rest of Pali Face, plus the first three alleys. Wish I was there to see it. It's pretty much down to the ground, now. The resulting scar is beautiful--and terrifying. According to a staff member, there's lots of timber down in the fingers. The riding changed significantly the day of the slide--36 hours of extremely warm temperatures deeply thawed the snowpack turning it to a big slurpee. Now there are typical late-season puddles and streams for skimming, and undermined and rotten snow. Still good riding, though... <img src="http://tinypic.com/5cahci" alt="SWSC alpine coach Thedo Remmelink at A-Basin"> But I'd definitely recommend a rock board now. Cheers, B-2

If anyone is planning on riding the Basin tomorrow (Tuesday, May 17: $10 Tuesday ), I'd be stoked to follow you around for a few runs with a video camera. The snow is very good (100% coverage), and the riding is great--both groomers and off-piste. Hope to see you there! B-2 <img src="http://tinypic.com/54f6rs" alt="Video Session Tues May 17">

The coverage at A-Basin is outstanding; I'd definitely bring a new board. No worries about hitting anything other than great snow. You might also want to bring along a fat powder stick as there's a winter weather advisory for today (Sunday) in N. Central Mts. <img src="http://tinypic.com/505pqs" alt="Groomers are in prime condition at the Basin. More powder is forecast."> I'll be there with a camera looking to grab some carving/powder footage. Hope to see you there! Cheers, B-2

FP 173 on Ebay

at the Basin. <img src="http://tinypic.com/4t7y8p" alt="May 1 powder, Arapahoe Basin"> <img src="http://tinypic.com/4t7xus" alt=""> <img src="http://tinypic.com/4t7yhl" alt=""> With more snow in the forecast the next few days should be equally sweet!

Got a Burton FP 173 180s in outstanding shape. Ridden less than 10X total. Edges and base in excellent condition; topsheet shows some slight scuffing and scratches from being transported in my pickup. It's in great shape and you can look forward to many seasons of high performance carving on it. <img src="http://tinypic.com/22yr7d" alt="Board has been well-cared for. Base and edges in excellent condition."> <i>Note: Sidecut radius is 13.31 m, not 13.31 mm as indicated on topsheet!</i> <img src="http://tinypic.com/22ypna" alt="Fast and stable, with terrific edge hold."> I'm happy to sell it for $1/centimeter ($173) plus shipping. Let me know if you're interested.

If your taste in literature runs to natural history, you might enjoy the following: <I>Beautiful Swimmers</I> by William Warner <I>Ravens in Winter</I> by Bernd Heinrich And for a great book on how skiing (and snowboarding) works: <I>The Skier's Edge</I> by Ron LeMaster <img src="http://tinypic.com/4j3oxv" alt="Vail powder last week"> Hope it's still snowing where you are! Cheers, B-2

A personal favorite is Errol Morris' Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control. <img src="http://tinypic.com/4h86x5" alt=""> Links to Reviews

I think an equally important question is <img src="http://tinypic.com/2l3vys" alt="2004 Vail Pond Skimming Championships"> how waterproof is your costume, and <img src="http://tinypic.com/2l3w8x" alt="2005 Vail Pond Skimming Championships scheduled for Saturday, April 16"> how waterproof are you? <img src="http://tinypic.com/2l3vvs" alt="Shrinkage at 2004 Vail Pond Skimming Championships"> Have fun. B-2

I'll be crashing at Vail most of the week and would be stoked to blast a few runs with you. I'll be doing the 'sun circuit': crashing on groomers until the sun thaws things out, then getting into mischief off-piste. <img src="http://tinypic.com/2kk9ac" alt="Good riding at Vail"> Hope to make some turns with you, Cheers, B-2

If you're looking for a replacement deck, I've a 167 FP in excellent condition. I'm not exactly sure of the model year, but it's the one with the blue metallic fleck/lime green base. It has been ridden very little and is in excellent condition. Board has plenty of camber. Base and edges are in outstanding condition, topsheet is as well, tho' it has a few small scuffs and scoring from bindings and a few small surface scratches. As you know, the FP 167 is a great board. It rips amazing arcs and is stable at speed. This board is in excellent condition and you can look forward to many seasons of high performance carving on it! <img src="http://tinypic.com/2bbbxu" alt=""> You're welcome to it for $225 plus shipping. Cheers, B-2

I've a Burton Speed 168 in excellent condition (ridden less than 10 days). Waist width 22.5 cm, sidecut radius 10.5m. Fast indium base. This board is nimble, maneuverable, and capable of ripping tight arcs yet is very stable at speed. Waist width allows you to ride with lower stance angles and enhances floatation in powder and crud. You're welcome to it for $175 plus shipping. <img src="http://tinypic.com/28joup" alt=""> Hope there's snow where you are! Cheers, B-2

This topic was the subject of a presentation by Ron LeMaster for the AASI-RM Staff, and the staff at the Vail/Beaver Creek and Aspen snowboard & ski schools. Here's a link to a PDF of the presentation. If you like the PDF, I think you'll also enjoy Ron's book <I>The Skier's Edge</I>. It is recommended reading for PSIA and CASI, and does a great job of explainig, in simple, easy-to-understand terms, how skiing (and by extrapolation, snowboarding) works. Here's a link, with excerpts. <img src="http://tinypic.com/230kky" alt="Image by Ron LeMaster"> Hope this helps! Cheers, B-2

<B>Burton FP 173 180s</B>. Fast and stable at speed, this board rips sensational arcs! Base and edges are in excellent condition, topsheet shows faint scuffs and slight scoring from bindings and a few small scratches (only noticeable if you look closely). Look forward to many seasons of high performance carving on it!!! <img src="http://tinypic.com/22yr7d" alt="Board has been well-cared for. Base and edges in excellent condition."> <i>Note: Sidecut radius is 13.37 m, not 13.37 mm as indicated on topsheet. According to the shop where I purchased it (Snowboards of the Rockies, Frisco, CO.), the board is a limited edition softer-flexing race stock board.</i> <img src="http://tinypic.com/22ypna" alt="This board will rip electrifying arcs!!!"> First $275 plus shipping takes it. Hope it's snowing where you are! B-2

for the e-mails. The board is sold. <img src="http://tinypic.com/21o22o" alt="Image hosted by TinyPic.com"> Cheers, B-2

Up for sale is a honkin' Burton FP 185 Race Stock. I've been on it 5X. It's fast and extremely stable. Because I don't often race, I thought it would be better off with someone who will actually use it, rather than sitting in my closet. Base and edges are in outstanding condition. Topsheet has a few small scratches from transportation to the slopes in the bed of my pickup. <img src="http://tinypic.com/20o75t"> Waist width 21.0 cm. SR is not indicated on the board, but feels around 14.5-15.5 meters. You're welcome to it for $350 plus shipping.

<p><font face="verdana, arial, helvetica" size="1">You might like this Burton FP 157, 18cm waist width, 9.57 M SR. Don't exactly remember the model year, but it's the one with the red topsheet. Of all the alpine product Burton made this model board (I've owned several) is one of my favorites. Rips short precision arcs and hangs on to longer carves at speed. Big fun!!! <img src="http://tinypic.com/uvtw5"> <img src="http://tinypic.com/uvtwy"> It has been well taken care of, but has seen a few seasons of use. Base is in great shape, edges are too, but have seen a few tunes. <img src="http://tinypic.com/1qjrxj"> You're welcome to it for $70 plus shipping. Cheers,<br /> B-2</font></p>

I'm not the rider; I'm lensman. The rider is going forward, at high speed. <img src="http://tinypic.com/1pgwtd"> B-2

<b>1. Optimize image for fast DL</B>Image files are usually big. You can use some type of image editing software to reduce the file size. <B>2. Host image at tinypic.com.</B> Click on the link to open tinypic.com. This site will host your images at no charge. Click the 'Browse...' button, locate the image file you'd like to upload, click 'open', and then click the 'Host it' button. This will upload you file to tinypics servers. <b>3. Copy Tag HTML code (2nd box down)</b> When your image uploads, a new window will tell you that your image is successfully hosted, and displays several HTML coded options in the fields below. Copy the code in the 'Tag' field (it's the second one down) and... <b>4. Paste in BOL post</b> Paste where you'd like the image to appear in your Bomberonline.com post. <img src="http://tinypic.com/1pgw0g"> Works for me, anyway... Cheers, B-2

That works for me is 1. Optimize image for fast DL 2. Host image at tinypic.com 3. Copy Tag HTML code (2nd box down) 4. Paste in BOL post <img src="http://tinypic.com/1pgjnn"> Cheers, B-2

Sorry to hear about Holly's frustration. It might be helpful to let her know that skidding is as important as carving: truly versatile riders do <i>both</i>. There are situations where a skidded turn is much more appropriate that a carved turn (big steep bumps, steep tight trees, ultra-steep chutes, spraying your friends, etc.). I think most riders on this forum would agree that it takes a fair amount of skill and experience to rip arcs in icy conditions, and that skidding is a good tactic for people who may not yet have the skill or experience to carve on bulletproof snow. Skidding turns is also good in crowds. You <i>can</i> carve with low stance angles. <img src="http://tinypic.com/1jthkn"> By all means she can take a carving lesson in softboots. You stand an excellent chance of riding in a small (or no) group in a carving lesson. She'll quickly catch a carve buzz, and the concepts and exercises she learns will be applicable in hard boots, too. OR, better still, take her on a vacation to an uncrowded carving mecca with packed powder (not ice) and you're both in for big fun! She'll be way stoked!!! So will you!!! Mi unsolicited dos centavos. B-2

Good job on the photosequences. Hope to see more as you develop your skills! I think the first image works a bit better to show a flow of movement. To my eye, the second is a bit too spaced-out to really capture the rider's movement through the course. For additional ideas as to how to compose your image (as well as get inspiriation from seeing some of the world's best skiers on-course doing what they do best), you might want to check out Ron LeMaster's website. It's great stuff! I highly recommend Ron's book The Skier's Edge. It is, IMO, the best book out there that explains, in simple language, how skiing (or, by extrapolation, snowboarding) works. Great images as well! Check it out. You'll be glad you did! <img src="http://tinypic.com/1j3qpu"> Hope it's snowing where you are! Cheers, B-2

I'm interested. What are you asking for them? <img src="http://tinypic.com/1j3kav"> Thanks, B-2