SlalomSkater87

Skip the Rip Stick: get a slalom board. Rip sticks make you kind of feel like you are pumping, you can actually ride a slalom board places and go fast. Rip sticks don't look stable and it seems like a mediocre method of transportation at best. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vvUEpJzqM4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vvUEpJzqM4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

It's days like these I realize it could always be worse. **** Skiers. Skier Suffers Exposure Man left dangling upside down, pantsless after Vail lift mishap JANUARY 6--In a bizarre incident that will surely lead to litigation (or an out-of-court settlement), a skier at Colorado's ritzy Vail resort was left dangling upside down and pantsless from a chairlift last Thursday morning. The January 1 mishap apparently occurred after the male skier, 48, and a child boarded a high-speed lift in Vail's Blue Sky Basin. It appears that the chairlift's fold-down seat was somehow not in the lowered position, which caused the man to partially fall through the resulting gap. His right ski got jammed in the ascending chairlift, and that kept him upended since his boot never dislodged from its binding. As seen in the photos on the following pages (which were snapped by fellow skiers), the Skyline Express lift was stopped shortly after the pair's botched boarding resulted in the man dangling from the lift. The exposed skier was stuck for about 15 minutes before Vail personnel backed the lift up and successfully dislodged the unidentified man from the four-seat chair. In a statement released this afternoon, Vail Resorts, which operates the ski area, reported that the skier was not injured after being "suspended for approximately seven minutes." The press release did not explain how the mishap occurred, only that "the man was caught on the chair." (5 pages)

Bad news... I was coming down an icey trail at sunday river on friday when I got cut off by a skier hit his skis and flew into a fence. Came off the mountain and I knew I sprained my ankle, I went the hospital today I find out I fractured my fibula! Same leg as I injured years back in a car accident while skating. No boards for a couple months.... 2009.... yay.

Just the standard ones please.

Does anyone have some heels for UPZ boots for sale? Thanks

Got on hard boots for the first time today. I got to ride Gleb's Coiler. We rode at Loon all day in near white out conditions. There was so much fresh powder! It was really incredible. My first impressions are that I'm impressed with how much speed you pick up on the alpine set up and how much easier it is to initiate carves. The slalom skateboarding balance is helping me A LOT. I love throwing my hip into the carves as if I was going over for some offsets in slalom skateboarding. Hardbooting is crazy awesome. Can't wait for my next session.

Forecast for monday- sunny 58. If anyone can manage to come out Gleb and I will be at the arboretum in the afternoon. Should be a good session if you can make it. free coaching/instruction!

Tight Slalom is a strange beast. It's hard to practice for because racing conditions vary. If you set up the TS course to be fluid it can be a lot of fun. Tony if your up for it next spring, come with us to the Arboretum and we can skate some fun TS. I used to skate out there with JG. The pavement is still fast due to the lack of traffic. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vvUEpJzqM4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vvUEpJzqM4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> Tight is fun!

This video is sick. That slide out and recovery was unreal, nice work!

Last Slalom run of 2008! <object height="432" width="576"> <embed src="http://www.facebook.com/v/1080541733938" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="432" width="576"></object> Now bring on the snow!!!!!

hey man All is well, I've been skating a lot. Just turned pro in slalom. I have a handful of big papers to write this weekend and then I come home which is why I've been thinking about hardbooting alot. Ankle sounds rough man, I know how it is. Wish you the best in getting better. I guess I should change the name of the thread to "pay back's a bitch".

So I'm hearing a lot of helpful advice. Thanks guys I've never hard booted before but I have been on a traditional snowboard and what I noticed is I had to use my back leg to turn more than I am used to (in Slalom skateboarding you initiate your turns with the front leg). I'm thinking hardbooting might be easier for me because I am used to turning with my front leg. One thing that messed me up a lot in snowboarding is how much I am used to using my ankles for quick snaps. It's just instinct, but ever time I do that I would catch an edge and slam. Can that be useful or should I just teach myself to keep my ankles tight. Boarderboy, I should get plenty of experience in New England over the break so I shouldn't need to find a lesson in NC. I don't have access to a car in NC so if your ever going up and have a little extra space I'm right on your way (5 minutes off 40) in GSO. I'd love to come a long!!

thanks for all the great advice Rick. :P

Greensboro NC during the semesters, Boston MA for a month, starting next week. Assuming I can write all these papers and pass all these finals. Gecko, that Floitgraf guy sounds fast. :rolleyes:

Hey all So I've been longboard skating and doing slalom skateboard racing for a few years now and this winter I've decided I want to learn to hard boot. I'm really stoked and I was hoping some of you guys can give me some advice. In your experience:how does carving compare to pumping and skating? Are there habits or motions I should try to keep or make sure I avoid? I know most people go from snow to pavement, I'm trying the other way around.