kinpa

Probably not what you're looking to hear, but I'll tell what worked for us (me, an instructor for 20+ years and my daughter who is now 11). When she was smaller, maybe 7 or so, I used to put a hula hoop around her and ski behind her. She would hold her hands on the hoop and on her hips. I would ski behind her to control her speed and just get her riding in the fall line on very gentle terrain. Then I could turn the hoop like a big steering wheel. Took a couple of times, but she got it. Last season she missed with a broken foot, but she's almost solid on linking turns. Should have it this year. Also, do the girls do falling leaf on toe side too? Or only heal? Do you have some very gentle terrain to start slow? Steve Pro got his son going at an early age, I'm sure he'll have some good ideas too. Of course, if you are trying to justify getting a new board....

I really think Bryan S. needs to be nice and come to Idaho to ride with us!

If you ever make it down to Montana, look me up. As a 41 year old woman with 20+ years teaching snowboarding, I might be able to help.

You're forgiven ... Ed said you didn't miss anything. He went on the other side of the highway... Wasn't allowed on the hill

See ya there? That's ok, you didn't miss much. Opening tomorrow... I'm not going though... See you next Saturday. Ed can't go and I'm going to be a skier this year. Long story.....

Have fun guys! I'm jealous... I'll be inside doing classroom training at a closed mountain.

Yes, that does look like you!

Thanksgiving is tomorrow... Don't think that opening is going to happen! Saturday maybe?

Still waiting.... Maybe a Thanksgiving open? Sure would be nice

Hmmmm.... If I end up riding a board from your stock, can I be a pro rider too? Hahahaha Heat? No check. :( Hang the board on the wall? Heck no.... They all have more important positions.... Like that Nitro that sits on the fireplace mantle... Or in the entryway.... And yes, Bryan.... The newest red board is now in there too... Just gotta swap some bindings around before it can obtain full status with the others!

Wow! Look at that.... You've been busy today! Ok, maybe I shouldn't ask... How about heat? :)

Last year there were 5 ladies in our women's clinic!!!! Can we top it this year? Come on gals..... let's go ride and have some fun on the hill!!!! and yes, early loads are totally awesome! that is my favorite, by far of the entire week! just watch out for those ruts.... there is a tendency to gobble up the unsuspecting!

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you guys all take much better care of your boards than I do.... or maybe there are others like me out there who just won't respond to this poll?

You are right Bryan... Things do change. Besides, now he's my favorite riding buddy! :D

now, now..... keep your lady happy!!! no sneaking around waxing boards! I always end up with my iron too hot anyway... I couldn't do it without the smell... What's the wax wizard that you speak of? can you post a link or something? kinda curious BUT..... burnt wax is much better smelling than the smoke from the oven when I try to cook!!! hahahahaha

And so begins my Lookout thread.... Looks to be at least 3 of us will be Saturday regulars... any other locals want to join us? Buy your pass now.... sale ends tomorrow!

ok, ok.... I can't be the only one.... I gotta know. Who of you out there baby your gear and who just rides it the way it is! and maybe the follow up to above question should be somehow related to the amount of initial investment on the board?

or, I've got a better idea.... I can just do it at Slopetool's house... he's all set up for it! oh wait, I bet I could even talk him into doing it for me!!!! hehehehe..... he did talk about getting something set up in his garage, but for now it's in the house... maybe I impressed him with my tuning knowledge... I don't know

Honestly, I guess I'll have to pay more attention when I get on snow this year to see if not scraping is a problem for me. In the past I never did wax or scrape because I didn't have a good place to do it. Now I have a better spot, but still, dealing with wax scraped off is a pain.... I would be way more concerned about sharp edges if I was still riding the east coast ice, but the snow is soft where I ride now, great groomers, and few flat cattracks... oh, how lucky I am!!! speed is still the enemy for me Oh, you should check out the video of me from NICE on the video page.... I did have to deal with a flat traverse there. ok, ok.... I got edged out by a nose and I'll have to see which board I was on, but I can almost bet you it was an untuned and unwaxed board. Now, I'm not saying that you shouldn't take care of your equipment, if you have the means to do so however that may be, I'm just saying I, personally, don't have a problem riding and unwaxed and untuned board. But that's just me. I have ridden with guys before that were so aware of any little burr on an edge. I'm not like that. I probably wouldn't even notice. One time I hit a rock last year which took a gouge out of the base and the only reason I even knew was because I got kinda stuck on that rock... I saw it when I got down to the bottom and checked my base. Can't say I felt it on the ride down though. Maybe I'll get on the ball more with it this year. Who knows.....

The most that was ever paid for any board currently in my quiver was $10 and that was purchased by someone else for me. As a single mom with two kids I'm lucky I get to ride at all. I've been teaching for a long time, so I don't pay for a pass, but even a tank of gas to get to the mountain on Saturdays makes the winter budget a bit tight. And of course, my kids get gear before me. I did get new boots this year which I'm super excited about! Great deal on ebay.... I do know how to tune myself and have the stuff to do it, but sometimes even finding time to do it is a bit of a challenge! My kids keep me busy!

the snow has come to Missoula..... is this some crewl joke of Mother Nature's? We can't really have a season starting this early, can we? Am I just getting my hopes up? I really can't wait to start riding! It's about lunch time right now and as I look out the window, it still looks quite white out... and that's in town! I can only imagine what's happening up in the mountains!