barryj

A big shout out to Sean at Donek! What you see below is a brand new, minty fresh 2022 Donek UPM F Plate! The UPM versions are the premier F Plate performance wise and most Alpine coaches would agree that the F Plate was a huge game changer for short, snappy slalom boards but haven't been available new for years and seeing a used one for sale on the forum is quite a rarity! So Sean (got tired of my pestering and begging and) graciously offered to mill and piece together his last few remaining UPM bits for me. Thanks Sean.........You tha Man! Now all were waiting on is a little UPM Go-Kart to arrive from Bruce at Coiler to slap this baby on and it's off to the races!

Hey you EC Aficionado's In an effort to dial up my EC game this season I'm curious as to everybody else's setup for best EC I've obviously had my best EC days/runs on my Swoard Dual 168, and Coiler EC SS 174....... but for me I'm not consistent in laying out the carves day to day in that it has to be perfect slope, perfect conditions, perfect pitch, perfect temp, perfect groom, etc.....before it all comes together for me. I'm running 60/62 angles on my Swoard and Coiler with TD3 SI's 3/6 lift with Deeluxe track 425 Pro's I like the diversity I can ride with my setup but maybe my setup is holding me back..... but I don't want to run an EC only, one-trick pony but it seems the EC demigods at Swoard say that angles shouldn't be over 55 on front and 5-8 less on the rear with zero canting and running flat with no front toe or rear heel lift and obviously on a wide board of at least 22W. What say you EC Wizards? Do you agree with the demigods or are you having quality EC days and more diversity with your own setup?

Hey Ladia Glad to hear your still at it! I've only been out twice so far but that will change next week with the big dump coming starting next Thurs. with snow in the forecast for 7 days straight! I'll be at Boreal Thurs. night. Up there it should be between 1-2 ft. deep by the time I get there around 5pm! Hope to meet up again on the slopes!

Start Haus is best option imo....but even for just a tune.....aka: wax and sharpen existing edges they want board sans binders! It's a pain but they do best consistent quality.........and it will be 1/2 edges unless you ask for something else! Good luck!

Big C, Soooo Tempting! Always wanted to try an Oxess.....but had been thinking more on the lines of the RS 160's Where does this BAMF 180 fit in their lineup? Is this a custom SXR? I don't see a listing for a BAMF FC....

Damn.......I'd be happy if I looked half that smooooth! ....and looking that good and aggressive at his age in softies is just humbling! I'm just hoping I'm still active at 73....much less still hitting the slopes!

From the horses mouth. He's a Tahoe local and we cross paths at Palisides/Squaw when he's not out stomping some remote Mtn. range into submission. Additionally I believe he speaks to his racing past in the last of his trilogy films..... (1-Deeper, 2-Further) 3- Higher 2014

...and that's got a lot to do with his Hardboot background! A lot of people don't know or remember Jeremy was an old hardbooter originally training and racing gates trying to make the 1st US Alpine Snowboard Olympic team in 1998 for the Nagano Japan winter Olympics! He got beat out in the Olympic Trials and didn't make the team and hung up his hardboots because of that and says he hasn't been on hardboots since. So he already knew a little something about "binding angles"

Damn Straight! That's exactly what I have been preaching to my Big Mtn. athletes that get exasperated when/why they can't keep up with me even on my "regular looking" Swoard Dual! Turn it Up to Crank It Up!!

Yes, obviously don't fall but watch out for and avoid the Jerry's that are like landmines wallowing all over the hill on pow days but if it's over knee deep your going to have to unclip from the bindings and wade just to get to firmer or groomed ground. if it bottomless your going to have to swim! I've literally had to lay on top of the board and paddle out of the deep stuff. Once on firmer ground build/stomp a shelf and use the board to flatten/level it enough you can step up on the board and then clipin....easier said than done......but easier with my TD3 stepins Also tree wells with plates is interesting! I've survived a couple of head first total immersions, nothing showing but bottom of my board! I wasn't riding alone in the glades but I knew no one saw me pitch in, so I knew it was going to be all up to me to get out. I had plenty of air, air pocket but any movement brought a mini avalanche down on me and my air pocket. I was fully extended head first almost vertical both times so I could reach my binding quick release pull by my calves without much difficulty. But once the board releases you have to be prepared you could drop further in as you don't have anything keeping you from sinking deeper in the well! The 1st time I released both bindings and that made my situation worse and harder to get out. The 2nd time I only released one binding to be able to maneuver better with the board holding me from going deeper. Both times I could hold myself with my hands against the tree trunk and start pushing myself back up and out. It took more time and energy than you would think. I would not want to try it with regular strap bindings...... I don't see how you would /could release ....but I guess people have survived that also..... Be safe out there!

Hmm.....didn't you have a BAMF 196? Did this 180 rocket replace that beast?

Another season and I'm still sticking to my guns..... any Moss snowstick! http://www.mosssnowstick.com/22-23 I've been in knee to waist deep sierra fluff on my PQ60 and Even in hardboots and TD3 SW SI's it just Goes! But you can pop out on the groomers and it will lay down the carves....On The Same Run! No binding fore/aft adjustment needed! Seriously, it is Plug and Play! It loves the pow and it wants to carve! If I had to sell my arsenal and be limited to just 1 board this would be it! It's that gooood! Moss on the left......... and it draws sooo much attention on the hill it's almost annoying! You just have to except the fact that your in the presence of a demigod slopestar and roll with it!

The suspense is Killing me What ya got?? I'll have to go with the Thirst consensus! That board sleeve looks too familiar! ...but what model????

Hey Scully, here's an example workout video from the Stomp Camp coaches I mentioned above for skiers which directly applies to carving. They also offer an 8 week skier training program manual and videos that they created for $50 that looks very through. I'm going to implement the exercises they demonstrate in my 3x weekly routine. They say this program is biased toward developing core, hip and quad/calf strength and unilateral balance and symmetry. It implements elements of explosive strength training to develop more reactive force production and absorption for when you need to access power through a carve!

I'm one of the mutants here. I ride hardboots at 60/62 angles on all my boards no matter the width. On my Moss PQ60 with a 26 waist I have no problems in the pow at those angles. Mind you I use 0/3 canting on my TD3 SI SW's and softer tongue and have the top 2 buckles loose on my Track 425's when bringing out the Moss for pow days. I tried low angles to match the width of the board but that made the board feel like I was on snowshoes imo! Guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks! I tried the Burton Stepon system but that felt like a step down in response from Hardboots and a big step up in input effort needed...compared to Hardboots......but If you were a softbooter and moved up to the Stepons I say you would notice and appreciate the more response available. It use to be Hardboots were just sooo much quicker to get going once off the lift......compared to the old straps. In fact that was one of the major reasons I started/tried plates/hardboots......because I didn't want to have to sit on the ground to buckle/strap in! and back in the day with TD 1's I could buckle in while on the lift and just ride right off the chair.....which would be very frowned upon today. I say if it works, Ride it!

This just came out last week. These guys make sense on how to apply the 4 stages of training aspects for "snowsports" aka: they say skiers......but seems totally transferable to Carvers! Starting at 4:40 they speak to carving and demonstrate 4 exercises specific to build strength and flexibility for carving. They follow that up with 4 exercises for pow! Looks like good stuff! Now to find a gym that talks their lingo!

If your going retro here's a 88?' Safari and the 80's wardrobe to die for! Or die to be seen in it! You too could look this Cool.........or Foolish! What was I thinking!

Maui! So sad to hear Scully. All that sun and beautiful beaches sounds torturous! I'll run some laps for ya this Fri. when they open Boreal top to bottom and night riding until 8pm!

Completed my 1st day of season annual pilgrimage to Boreal for 10 laps on my Moss PQ60 this opening weekend. It was dust on hardpack and only the beginner chair and the park rat chair was open but I didn't fall and didn't get hit! I got there around 3:30pm and the shade was chasing me across the whole slope and all sun was gone by my last lap at 4:30 No photos as I forgot my phone in the car but you would of only seen me riding a cramped chairlift overflowing with park rats! Ladia, even in sunlight you didn't miss much! I'm still have lingering physical effects and anxiety from my on mtn. collision and air lifted to hospital last season and todays 1st run felt Yikes! ...but by 5th lap feeling some confidence and by 10th making some whimpy carve attempts. As the old Viking maxim goes: If you live to talk about it, it's been a good day! Day 1 Is Done!

Hey Ladia Your not the only one to experience that...I've had days like that....especially at Boreal! I thought about going up Sat. but the forecast was calling for snow showers which creates a whiteout experience at Boreal especially because of the wind through the pass. I usually wait until 3-4pm and then go up right before they turn on the lights. With the lighted runs it's a huge difference.... and a hell of a lot more fun....and typically the afternoon/evening is less crowded! Sorry you had a bummer 1st day but there's better days ahead!

Yeah I PM'd Jack. Unless yours has an UPM option? Sorry to hijack your thread! Now back to our regularly scheduled broadcast........

Hey RJ, When all my UPM boards break I would love to try an Allflex one of these days. The ride you describe sounds superb! Why you selling?

https://dominatorwax.com/products/dominator-graphite-zoom Used to be able to get this from Bomber is where I acquired it originally. Pricey but super slippery. A wax job usually lasted a couple of 1/2 days of hard charging carving in normal 15-30f cold temps. A block usually lasted me a couple of seasons.

Yo E, buddy, uh? ...........you self medicating again? Like my good friend John Cleese says, maybe you should go for a walk since your not dead yet

Hey PA, I was after the same info .....check this out: It sounds like they are all good!, but Le Massiff seems to be the crown jewel. Enjoy!