boostertwo

Would there be a reason you can't tilt it as high heelside as you can toeside? Are you booting out?<img src="http://i15.tinypic.com/4dllxrr.jpg" border="0" alt="Spike Eisenman, Beaver Creek, Co.">

Haven't been to Copper in a while, but we could clearly see the slopes at Copper today from where we were riding (way-out Mongolia Bowl) in Vail. The conditions should be similar.Thaw-freeze has hit the lower slopes and south aspects higher up; north aspects are still dry powder on a windslab subsurface. Good pockets of pow on leeward aspects. South and east exposures warmed with the sun today, and started setting up around 4pm. Snow is forecast for the weekend. <img src="http://i17.tinypic.com/2hgafm0.jpg" border="0" alt=""> Have fun wherever you end up. Cheers, B-2

Another option is not to sit down on the snow when you stop. As you come to a stop, hop up and 'chop' a small, flat ledge in the snow. If the snow is soft, like you'll find on the sides of the trail, this is easy to do. If the snow is hard, it might take an extra chop or two. On hard snow it's usually easier to chop a ledge and balance on it standing toeside. You can also stop next to sturdy trees or fence posts and use them for additional balance and support to remain standing. As you get comfortable with this move you'll find you rarely--if ever--flop down on the snow. Standing is more efficient (less energy spent hauling yourself up off the snow), drier (goodbye soggy-butt), and safer (more visible from above). It's also quicker, and with the time saved you might bank an extra run each day. <img src="http://i19.tinypic.com/2exq8bb.jpg" border="0" alt="Crave2Carve, Vail, Co."> IMO it's usually a better practice to stand rather than flop. Of course, if you crash the aforementioned techniques work well too.

Are you saying that you are mounting your bindings with high stance angles on a wide board? If they are mounted so that your toes and heels are not quite reaching the edge, you'll find it very difficult to create and adjust edge angle. While you could certainly learn to rip high performance arcs on a narrow (18cm) board, if you're just starting out I'd recommend considering a slightly wider board (at least 19.5cm-21cm). It'll allow you better lateral balance, stronger pivoting movements when you want to skid, and better floatation (but not by much) in deeper snow.<img src="http://i12.tinypic.com/2n9x7js.jpg" border="0" alt="Jeff Smith, Vail, Colorado"> Mi dos centavos. B-2

I've 29.5 boots, and ride hardboot setups from 19.5cm to 21cm in the waist. Stance angles in the high to mid-60s. I've used narrower boards (18cm, Skwal) and have found that higher stance angles limit both range of motion and the strength of steering movements (the ones used to pivot the board). Of course, on a hardboot setup you're usually looking to rip high performance carved turns--without pivoting the board much at all. If I'm staying on groomers I find I can ride narrower boards, (with angles as high as low 70s) and make the necessary adjustments to my movements to blast arcs. For me, narrower boards work better for quick edge-to-edge transitions on steep, icy slopes. <a href="http://tinypic.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i9.tinypic.com/2rcxys1.jpg" border="0" alt="Jeff Smith, Vail, Colorado"></a> Riding with lower angles is better anytime I need to make shorter skidded turns (bumps, trees, steep chutes) and when there is a lot of resistance to pivoting the board (deep, dense snow). I'll usually ride fat boards and softies in those situations.

What make/model harness are you using, Phil? <img src="http://i17.tinypic.com/33m0dhg.jpg" border="0" alt="Jeff Smith, Vail, CO."> Thanks, B-2

I've been at Vail throughout the season and at Keystone the last few days. While it hasn't snowed in a while, the conditions are fast and firm--the groomers are prime for carving! <img src="http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m80/boostertwo/Thomas-Palka-at-Vail-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Tom Palka, Vail, CO."> Cheers, B-2

You'll find some some recommendations for carving at Vail here. If powder is your thing, you can get beta on some of Vail's best powder stashes in this book (available at the Vail public library). <img src="http://i12.tinypic.com/33bg2ep.jpg" border="0" alt="T. Palka, Vail, CO."> The snow is very good. Look forward to an excellent vacation. Cheers, B-2

You may get more responses if you enable your email. Are you looking to trade for a race board or just a straight-up sale? <img src="http://i18.tinypic.com/2s67spt.jpg" border="0" alt="Tree stash, Vail, CO"> Cheers, B-2

Thanks for the offer. I regret I'm going to hold on to the ones I have, for now, as I use them on backcounty and loaner boards. <img src="http://i16.tinypic.com/2pob1ns.jpg" border="0" alt="Sando's secret stash, Vail, CO."> Cheers, B-2

A few suggestions to access the goods at Keystone: 1. Hike the windows trail (left side of Mozart). It's a short hike (5 min) to the top, and you'll be able to ride untracked powder down the south aspect (towards North Peak). Because you have to hike uphill to access them, Brahma and Crap Game are usually untracked and hold good snow. 2. Spring Dipper Trees: Off the right side of Spring Dipper are some great powder stashes. You can ride fall line until you hit the second work road. Turn left here and follow the road or face a big slog through the flat Valley below. 3. Erickson Bowl: Go behind the Outpost Lodge, through the gate. Hike up the trail until you hit treeline, then head to the right. This will bring you into Erickson Bowl (the bowl you can see waaay to the left when you hike above the outback express lift to North Bowl). It's steep and usually untracked until you hit the drainage between North Peak and the Outback. Then it's a fun luge ride through the trees to the bottom of the Outback Express. 4. Tiger Run: First right into the trees on Paymaster. If you catch it fresh it's awesome; if it's tracked it's a rollicking luge run through the woods. 5. Independence Bowl: I haven't done the snowcat tour (yet), but have hiked and ridden the bowl before. You can access it by turning left at the summit of the Windows trail that connects Dercum Mountain with North Peak Independence Mountain is also very good, but a longer hike. 6. Bullet trees: Between Bullet and Starfire on North Peak, these trees have been thinned out recently and hold light, fresh pow well aftrer a storm. 7. Geromino to Black Hawk Trees: The trees to the right of Geronimo and Black Hawk are steep and not often skied. Good stashes! <img src="http://i14.tinypic.com/2yuhpx4.jpg" border="0" alt="The Fat Man Skims!"> Hope this helps. Have a good trip. Cheers, B-2

Hey Bobby, Greetings from Vail. I just wanted to update you on the conditions. The snow is very good--esp. for hardboot carving, but it has been a dry week. I'd be reluctant to recommend riding a prized, spankin' new deck until we get a bit more snow. The lower mountain has some thin patches, with occasional grit and nuggets. The upper mountain is well covered. Not surprisingly, north aspects are holding the best snow. China Bowl opened this week with two-and-a-half feet of fresh, and Blue Sky opens today. I'm heading there right now! <img src="http://i16.tinypic.com/2mq4934.jpg" border="0" alt="Powder and Light"> Have a great trip! Cheers, B-2

It seems to me that as stance angles and widths change the angles from which your legs 'feed' into your boots change. It has always worked best for me to cant/lift so shaft of the boot cuff cradled my lower leg, w/o pushing against it in any direction. <img src="http://i17.tinypic.com/2wf4m1i.jpg" border="0" alt="Vic Wild, A-Basin, Co."> When I set up a new board I try adjust the cant/lift on the binders so my boot cuffs are thus positioned, and will take a hex wrench on the hill to fine-tune as I ride. To me, this feels the most balanced, and allows the greatest range of motion to control the board. Hope it's snowy where you are! B-2

I'm on the hill most days. If I'm free I'd be stoked to blast a few runs with you. <img src="http://i14.tinypic.com/3zvbd3d.jpg" border="0" alt="China Bowl Powder, Vail, CO."> The snow is sensational: great coverage and midwinter conditions. Look forward to a great trip. Cheers, B-2

There are lots of good choices at Vail and you can look forward to a great carving session. Some suggestions: Gondola: Simba Bwana Born Free Chair 2 (Avanti): Over Easy Mid-Vail Lodgepole Columbine Picaroon (has one short black pitch) Avanti (has one short black pitch) Chair 3 (Wildwood): Hunky Dory Chair 4 (Mountain Top): Swingsville Ramshorn Christmas Chair 11 (Northwoods): Northwoods Chair 21 (Orient Express): Chopstix Poppyfields Chair 36 (Tea Cup) Emperor's Choice (exciting, wide, fun, black) Chair 37 (Skyline): Big Rock Park Chair 39 (Pete's Express): Grand Review <img src="http://i16.tinypic.com/34yahdj.jpg" border="0" alt="Transition"> Best bet would be to pick up the daily grooming report, available at all of the base area lifts. Printed on a trail map, this would give you accurate, timely info on where the carving goods are for fresh-groomed green, blue, and black trails. Don't dismiss the back bowls yet as there is good carving there as well (Chairs 21 & 36). Blue Sky Basin, too (Chairs 37 & 39). Have fun. Hope to see you on the hill! Cheers, B-2

Not the same. Jim's place is across the street from the WellsFargo/Safeway/Big O shopping center. <img src="http://i12.tinypic.com/4hv989x.jpg" border="0" alt="Justin Reiter, A-Basin, Co."> Cheers, B-2

You might try Jim Dines at Precision Ski & Golf in Frisco. Great tunes; good people.<img src="http://i11.tinypic.com/2ibe2vb.jpg" border="0" alt="Tyler Jewell, A-Basin, Co."> 14-20 inches forecast through the next 36 hours. Hope it's snowing where you are! Cheers, B-2

I'm always happy for (and deserving of) pointers. Please give a shout when you're in town.<img src="http://i15.tinypic.com/34g4ugy.jpg" border="0" alt="Secret Stash, Vail, CO."> Cheers, B-2

Done my fair share of New England hardpack and Rocky Mt. pow. Must say that while both are fun, I'd take deep, untracked, blower powder over hardpack or corduroy. I'm always happy to hike for freshies. Sometimes I hike for cord, but not nearly so often. Good thing we don't have to choose one over the other: the variety is what makes it fun! <img src="http://i15.tinypic.com/2v9xlxc.jpg" border="0" alt="Powder is worth hiking for!"> Hiked Vail today and rode knee to thigh deep pow all the way to the bottom of Chair 10. More is forecast this evening--tomorrow should be very good!

I'm 6'4'' 215lbs and have snapped plenty of bails on the Raceplates. After the umpteenth bail-fail, a friend who worked designing product at Burton gave me a bag full of what he claimed were titanium bails. Before this I had never heard of Burton doing Ti replacement parts--and I have never heard anything about it since. But I haven't yet snapped any of the bails he gave me. Even more frequently I've broken the aluminum baseplates under the plastic on Raceplates (usually the rear binding). I've been using the delrin shims that Burton produced to help dial in alignment and wonder if the longer screws that are used to mount the shims increase leverage under the heel on the rear binder, resulting in baseplate failures. I used to have a bunch of spare baseplates but have ended up using them all. In my experience, it's not a question of if it will fail--but when. I've learned to recognize the distinctive 'pop' of the aluminum baseplate failing, and have (so far) been able to slow down without having a catastrophic, high-speed leg-snapper. I've been riding TD2 for several seasons now, and have much greater confidence in the gear than in the Burton binders. IMHO, if you're a large person who rides hard, I think you'll have less likelihood of breaking something if you go with a sturdier setup. <img src="http://i12.tinypic.com/2cype9d.jpg" border="0" alt="Thedo Remmelink, A-Basin, CO."> Mi dos centavos. Have fun whatever you end up on. B-2

I'd try craigslist, too. You can sometimes find excellent, economical accomodations through posting there. <img src="http://i13.tinypic.com/4cv1gfk.jpg" border="0" alt="Dawn Powder, Vail, CO."> Best wishes. Hope to see you on the slopes. B-2

Seems to me you can't go wrong with any of the choices but if it were me I'd go with the 5 mountain pass:<UL><LI>Reasonably priced access to A-Basin, Breck, Keystone, Vail, and BC--all world class resorts.</LI> <LI>Each features an incredible variety of terrain, outstanding snow, and known-but-to-locals secret powder stashes.</LI> <LI>Keystone night riding.</LI> <LI>A-Basin Beach Party.</LI> </UL> <img src="http://i13.tinypic.com/2uj1t2v.jpg" border="0" alt=".5 Pipe, Winter X"> Wherever you decide on, we're off to an auspicious start! B-2

When I lived in New England we would sometimes head to Gaspe instead of the Presidentials in NH or Baxter State Park in Maine for backcountry adventures. Because it's a maritime environment, the Chic Chocs get pounded with snow despite their relatively low elevation. During the Pleistocene, the area was scoured by glaciers and like Mts. Washington and Katahdin, offers very steep glacially carved cirques for riding, ice climbing, and backcountry adventuring. The terrain is expansive, steep, and holds good snow well into the spring. Best time to hit it is in March/April, though you could likely get some outstanding powder earlier in the season. Because it's steep and snowy, avy gear is recommended. We used to snowshoe into the Serpentine and winter camp near Mt Albert. There were also some very nice mountain cabins at the trailhead for Mt. Albert (equipped with power, and HOT water) that you could also rent for an economical price. <img src="http://i11.tinypic.com/30ncjna.jpg" border="0" alt=""> links to info and maps. Of all the backcountry I've done back east, Gaspesie stands out, rivalling some of the better known backcountry areas in New England--without the crowds.

Here's a 175 on thEBay Hope it helps. B-2

Yes, but I'd try craigslist, too. You can sometimes find better and more economical accomodations through posting there.<img src="http://i12.tinypic.com/440ev03.jpg" border="0" alt="Dawn Powder, Vail, Co."> Cheers, B-2