Michael Pukas

Bob's right - agave "nectar" is a marketing scam and bad news for the body. It's not "natural" at all - chemically processed. For your casual reading; Agave: A Triumph of Marketing over Truth Shocking! This 'Tequila' Sweetener is Far Worse than High Fructose Corn Syrup Maragritas are my favorite drink as well. And since I live in Little Mexico, or the New California as I like to call it, a little tequila feels right at home. I use baker's sugar - or super fine sugar, or castor sugar - because it disolves in cold liquid. You can also take regular sugar of your choice and blitz it in the food processor to make it finer and easier to disolve. I like organic turbinado sugar for the caremelly flavor. I add grapefruit juice to my mix when the Texas sweet reds are in season. I squeeze/scrape out all the pulp I can - from limes, grapefruits and a little lemon (no seeds or pith) - blitz the mix in the blender, w/ sugar to taste, to chop up the pulp and extract as much flavor/juice, and then strain the pulp out w/ a fine sive. The strained pulp is a treat as well! I also add water to my mix - it's a lot of work to squeeze all that citrus, and little water makes it go farther! I usually use a 100% agave white/silver tequila - I don't think it's worth it to use an expensive reposado/anejo tequila in a mixed dink. But hey, more power to you if you do!

Very, very nice MC! mpp

I guess I'm one of those poeple. I've said it many times before (and for what it's worth, Fin has said that a few times re: race decks as well). My point of reference is a 185 Kessler. At some point I'm afarid I may be giving the wrong impression - it's not something drastic - but the end of the turn feels different to me than other freecarvey boards. To me the board likes to start a turn, accelerate into the turn, and then run down hill. It will finish a classic free carve turn across the hill, but I gotta put more thought and effort into making it do that. It feels like it would rather go down hill into the next turn. I agree w/ WG - with my limited knowledge of board design - taper {and side cut radius in the tail} are what makes it want to run downhill. And I also agree w/ Snowman - the new Kessler and SG board are very nice rides that you can free carve all day. Wathcing Kress ride my 185 makes me think everything I say about it is just jiberish - he turns that damn thing like it's a 160. I just find my Kessler more demanding to ride WELL all day than other boards I've riden. I find that it is making me a better rider (although some guys I ride with may disagree with that statement). Some one asked if I feel like I'm fighting the board, or having to change my riding style to accomodate the board - I said no, I feel like I'm fighting myself. Years of bad habits and improper techniques show up as major flaws on this board, whereas other baords I can get away with being an idiot. And for some reason, I'm not confident on this board, and get really locked up, therefore it's tough to finish anything in that state of mind.

You're on your way!

What's really amazing is how one run will change an attitude/opinion!

Been meaning to post this for some time... Sigi's Sigi is one sweet ride! Didn't get to spend enough time on it, but every thing Snowman and I have said before holds true. One exception/correction - SG's - at least this one - are NOT stiffer than (my) Kessler. side by side scientific double blind triple control studies, basically us flexing the boards, reveal the SG is noticeabley softer than the Kessler. It's no gush pile, but a tad softer. Hopefully I'll get to take it for a spin again this season. And maybe even give it a little wangle dangle. :p I've also been enlightened to the fact the Kessler's are built in the Nidecker factory (is that correct? someone help me out here...). The custom ones are built by a guy in a shed on an alp.

wow - great footage Brain. Amazing views/place!!!

Hi Roby - nice looking plate from what we can see so far! Have you had any issues with the durability of the carbon fiber plate? I have to tell you (all) something funny - when I first saw the pics of the plate I thought it was a spoof - because I thought you just took a nice piece of CF and crumpled up some aluminum foil to make a bed to set the plate on top of the board. didn't realize until afterwards that your mounting plates were scribbled out. Duh!

I had a chance to demo this board for a few days This is a f***ing man's board. If you're faint of heart, or weak in the wrist, don't bother. Very similar to the Kessler 185 - it's a race board, and Kessler is the one to catch. But in many way's I prefer this board for the type of riding I (like to) do. Here's why, in no particular order; The SG board has far better build quality. Kessler's are very nice, but they seem like they are made by a guy a in a shed. And they are (there's nothing wrong with that). SG's are make in the Elan factory, and build quality and finish is as good as it gets. The board feels very beefy, solid and stable. Just the sound of the board on the snow is different. There is no metal top sheet - it's got a real top sheet w/ the metal buried to protect it. The shape is more friendly to free carving. It's got slightly more turned up nose, about the same amount of rocker, seems to have slightly tighter radius in the nose - not so straight, and has more camber and a stiffer tail. More camber and a stiffer tail to me make the board have better edge hold after the apex of the turn and a bit more pop in turn transition. The board is stiffer overall, but easier to ride. The nose seems stiffer, and flubbers around less w/ the same amount of rocker. The tail is stiffer, which I like and works for me. I have a bad habit of washing out the end of heel side turns. On my Kessler, the board will lose edge hold and chatter down hill. On the SG, when I lose the edge and fall on my a**, the board holds the edge and drags me across the hill. The SG is more manageable and predictable. As free carvers, we make different turns than racers. The Kessler seeks the fall line and doesn't like to come across the hill naturally. On the SG, I found I could control the turn shape easier. Transitions were easier and smoother. Make no false assumptions - this is a full on World Cup Race Board. This is no weekend warrior all-mountain free-carver you can go out and just have fun on. It is demanding. You have to be on it. When asked of, it delviers. Once you get tired and lazy, it kicks your a**. After a couple days of riding it on everything from perfect groom, to choppy slop, to crud, in Beaver Creek and Aspen, I was pretty beat up and sore. But I loved every second of it. I just about cried when I gave it back to Bola.

I'm no tuning guru, especially when it comes to edges. I've got a couple goob tools that I use that sorta get the job done, but I wanna step up my edge tuning. The question I've got is re: the correctly angled side edge bevel tool. Do I want a 92, or an 88, or 2 degree side edge bevel? How is the angle determined - what is the plane of reference? What's the best technique/procedure for edges and what files/stones are needed? I'm not really picky, and I usually just do a diamond stone to clean up the burrs and then a file to sharpen. I don't get into polishing w/ a stone (especially not with all the rocks on the snow @ A-Basin today - not worth the effort to me). Base edge bevel seems straight forward - 0.5 is fine enough. Cheers! mpp

I have demoed the '10's and can attest that they are stiffer than the '09's. Many others agree. I weigh about 205. Don't know what the '08's were - same as the '09's?

understatement!!!

The Beav Crew (me) will be representin' at least Saturday. Friday is up in the air at the moment... A Friday in Aspen w/ no crowds would sure be nice though... I've got an SG 185 in my hands that is just dying to destroy some Aspen groom. Winter Storm Advisory starting 03/26 noon until 03/27 noon. Up to 10 possible so says weather.com. Saturday may be pow day. Sunday should be good carving. You Summit guys are gonna have a s****y drive over tomorrow night.... I'm not sharing a cot w/ Stanley.

Neat - what is "nasto grip?"

My boot fitter went to all the ski shops in Lion's Head in Vail looking for shorter straps, but no one had any. He tried to do a similar splice as the OP, but it failed, that's when I went to Fin for new straps, and he discovered he had the shorter ones. Good info on the boot size v strap length! I figured there must be some corelation there, but didn't want to venture a guess and be wrong and get Does your parts folder have a stiffer race tongue listed?

Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Call Fin and ask him to get the straps in. At least for next season, as orders of that nature may be over for this season. This is relatively new info for him, as is for all of us. He's all about customer service. If he knows there's a demand for them, he will get them.

Yeah, my boot fitter tried to do a similar splice fix, but one of them broke three times in a row in the shop when I was trying it on for fit. I could see that cable breaking mid turn, and then I'd be PaulK'd for the rest of the day.

Snowchoad got the last set from Fin after I alerted him to their existence (you're welcome). I got the second to last pair. Fin wasn't aware that there was a shorter arch strap available (not was I, or any of us) until he pulled out the bag of extra parts and discovered them! SCORE!!! As Kress said, having the shorter arch strap (check the parts list for proper part description, DUDE!) makes the white '09 700T's like a new pair of boots (I actually now think with a new set of liners next year I can live with these for a couple more seasons). When I had the original strap, I could buckle it on the 5th and final notch and it would be too loose and I'd get heel lift and side to side movement. With the shorter strap I buckle it on the 3rd notch, and it's much, much tighter. These old boots seem stiffer and more responsive (but I also had my boot fitter add some foam on the sides of the lower shin to push my foot farther back in the boot to alleviate some toe bash). Seems to me the '10 700t's black-red-white boots have the shorter strap already installed (at least in my size 25.0) - when I demoed them a couple months back that was one of the first things I noticed. From what I've heard the 700t's will be the same for the '11 season. Get after Fin to order some more of these short arch straps. May not be available until next season though. This item is a must for every one with the white '09 700T's!!!

Hi Sigi - thanks much for posting on our site! It's great to have such a legendary rider and board builder such as yourself setting the record straight when there are so many myths floating around here. I'm in the market for a new board, and the 185 Full Race looks promising. I've not had a chance to ride one, but I've looked at them in Bola's shop in Boulder, CO, and there are a lot of aspects of the board design that look appealling to me. I live in Colorado and I'm not a racer. I ride big, open runs, usually with very good groom. I like bigger boards that make big turns, but also like to tighten up turns and play around. I do have a couple questions. I know you may only be able to answer some things in general terms, but here ya go! Are there any changes to the board designs for the 2011 season from the 2010 or 2009 seasons? Obviously, the 185 Full Race is designed as a race board, but can you tell us a little about what the board design is acheiving? What about changes from other years? Occassionally used, older SG boards come up for sale, and I'd like to know a little about each model year, and if one year may be more suited to my riding style than others. Can you give us any info on the side cut designs and the type of turns the board(s) is designed to make? Thanks Sigi! mpp

What's the purpose of the bolt you added that runs perpendicular to the SW pivot, where the original heel bail through-pivot-bolt was? I didn't see that in you earlier photos.

I'm interestred if the first responder doesn't take them. mpp

movie linkie no workie. Great pics! Looks like you guys have some awesome snow!!!

The Power Wrap is Intuitions most popular liner, and it's stiffest. They have a newer toungue style liner as well. I have a similar liner in my new Scarpa tele boots, but I think I prefer the Power Wrap. The Deeluxe liner Fin sells is similar to the PW, but made by a different company (not sure who). The foam is the same - most all memory foam is Ultralon, if I'm not mistaken. There are varying densities. The new red Deeluxe liner has some nice features - plush upper cuff, increased panels for better support, etc. I think they're comparable to the PW's, but the PW have a large outer reinforcing panel for a lot of support, and they have a realy, really good heel pocket. You can get PW's from nearly any boot fitter that sells ski boots and does custom liners. I'd recomend getting them from such a shop. You can get them directly f/ Intuition, but then you'll have to find a place to fit them. They're not difficult, but you need to know what you are doing. Fin has the proper oven and has done many liners for me over the years. Every single shop I go into and asl if they do custom liners says get the Power Wrap, whether they really know what they are doing or not. They're the lightest, best fitting, best lasting and warmest liner. Every one I ask about injected liners says if your not racing, don't bother. But I dunno, I like to try them someday... One last thing - my local boot fitter - The Boot Lab in Vail - told me that Intution is updating the Power Wrap for next year. Making it beefier and more better. I need new liners too, and I may hold out until next season for those... mpp

Awesome pic - thanks Seb! There's a lotta wet dreams sitting right there... re: bumpers under the front of the plates; not sure what I'm looking at, but looks like some of the boards have bumpers in different locations under the front of the plate. Adjustable for variable conditions/preferences?

What happened to the Beav for 03/02? Guess that's off... Fin wants to ride the Beav Thrusday 03/04.