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What size are those UPZs in the picture? And what's the carbon-looking stuff? In the Oct 31 post photos...

Some people are fairly adaptable and insensitive to binding lift/cant, others are not very adaptable and are very sensitive to lift/cant settings, beyond the resolution allowed by standard shims/wedges. If you're the second type, then messing with custom cut shims and screw lengths will take forever. Try Bomber or Catek bindings. Incidentally, the "moving part and connection" count is very low for these, and they're extremely solid. No worries there.

I have some UPZ in shell size that is 29-29.5.

I have a pair of Catek step-in heel receivers I'd trade for standard toe/heel blocks, heel bails, toe bails (any combination considered). I don'tt think I have sttep-in toe bails to go with these, unfortunately. The bindings I got these on had what appear to be standard heel bails used as toe bails. My UPZ toe doen't fit them.

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I have some Dalbello CarveX boots in 27 (same shell as 27.5). These are ski boots, but have a short sole and adjustable forward lean. The are supposedly the same shell as Head Stratos Pro except with a DIN sole. You can add a BTS if desired. As I see it, the only disadvantage over the Stratos Pro is that you can't use Intec heels. I'd probably ask $60, plus whatever shipping costs.

Yep! The green UPZs give me away on the lift. Riding, not so much. They're so fast I don't even show up.

Boots are really important! With a good fit, you may avoid the "beginner all over again" business completely. There are maybe four shapes to choose from. Deeluxe 700/Raichle AF, other Deeluxe/Raichle SB, Head, and UPZ. There is a lot of information about how these fit on this forum. As for flex, everyone has different things to say. I'll just say that at around 200 lbs, I find the UPZ RC10s to simply vanish for me. You can soften them up with softer tongues and springs, but I can't see that as necessary. Or go with the ATBs... supposedly really soft. I also like the SIdewinders for freeride, though my freeride just means crappy conditions mostly. Sidewinders are really not complicated, and allow adjustments that require DIY (and PYOM*) with plasticy bindings like SnowPro or F2. But I did find SnowPros useful when getting dialed in. Again, that's at 200 lbs. I gather 150 lbs is a different story. The Axxess is a really nice board. I won't weigh in on SCR, but it carves beautifully and handles all sorts of crappy conditions confidently. You may want to determine what width you want. I thought going wider would be an improvement, but found that the ride is more punishing (I have bad knees). I no longer ride anything wider than 20 cm (at M28 boots), but that's just me. My point is only that the board's width can make a big difference, and what's right for you may be a surprise. *PYOM = "provide your own materials", like delrin or HDPE for lift/cant wedges, stainless machine screws with wide heads and in custom lengths, etc...

There are two lengths of kingpin, if I recall correctly, and older OS1s had a beefier kingpin, same as WCs, 12 mm. Soon they switched to 10 mm. I believe the thread pitch is standard metric "coarse thread": M10 x 1.5 and M12 x 1.75. The short are 20 mm and long are 25 mm. I used 25 mm M10 x 1.5 stainless socket head cap screw as a replacement last season, if I'm not mistaken. I'll try to find it and see if that's for real...

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See rwmaron's for sale http://forums.bomberonline.com/index.php?/topic/43765-deeluxe-track700-size-280-shells-only/#entry441767

I have RTR in M28 (that is, the 312 mm shell). These are the model just before the RC10, I think. I've ridden both and think the RTR are a little stiffer, but these have a much softer (red) tongue than stock.

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I have a Coiler AM wide version, 23 cm waist. Perfect board for getting started at your weight and boot size, then good for AM use when you've gotten into race boards.

We had a really nice two days at Loveland last week. It's been a few years since I've been able to get there. It was great to get on the Fire Bowl again, Drifter, etc. Met a new BOL member gigo60, saw the blur of HillB and b.free a lot! erazz, maybe the unknown hardbooter was gigo60? On a Burton race board with TD3s? Except I think that was Thursday... You should have introduced yourself to us! lordmetroland, was your daughter wearing extravagant headgear? It almost had to be you parked right in front of us Wednesday... I saw her a few times on Home Run if I'm not mistaken. She was skiing really well! I gave her a thumbs up once but she probably didn't notice.

I tell her we can split a brownie. And I make them take ski lessons so, by comparison, skiing with dad is an enormous treat. But I think the brownie is the true draw. The promise of a slice of pie afterwards at an appropriate restaurant on the way home. And occasional hot chocolate breaks.

We'll be out next week, Tues-Thurs, probably Tues at A-Basin and then Loveland Wed/Thurs. Anyone going to be out?

Thanks Excelsior, Heidi, and Mario! Looks like maybe we'll go to A-Basin first for warm-up/rust removal, then Loveland.

If you can't make the standard modable liners work, you could try either ski boot liners or Intutions with the thin sole (like the Flo liners) and thin toe box area. Have you read over Beckmann's sizing/fitting guidlines here: http://beckmannag.com/alpine-skiing/boot-selection ?

We're coming to Summit County Apr 26 - 28. A-basin has the "Molly Hogan" lift serving beginner terrain. I haven't seen it. How beginner is that? Compared to Loveland's Home Run...? Looking for suitable terrain for someone who started snowboarding this season and has only been out a few times, still getting used to controlling speed and very cautious about gaining speed without full control of the board. I'm also interested in suggestions for appropriate board for a 120 lbs, M24 feet. Most soft boot boards are too wide to get heel and toe over the edge with comfortable angles (say 25 degrees or more; interestingly, seems to naturally prefer a more forward stance, a born hardbooter?) Finally, does anyone have a recommendation for a good instructor? And I guess I should ask if anyone wants to sell lift tickets to Loveland or A-Basin? Thanks!

I've used Deeluxe AF in sizes 30, 29 and 28 and currently use UPZ RC10 in 28 (really, UPZ shell 312mm with 9 1/2 Flo liner). The UPZ has more toe room for me than the 28 Deeluxe with Intuition Powerwrap liner. The UPZ shell feels a little more spacious there where I need it as I have a wide forefoot, more or less Greek shape (see Queequeg's post in another of your threads). My feet are 28.9 - 29.6 cm depending on how I measure, and the RC10s work well for me. Nothing else has. The Flo liners seem very high quality to me, better than the liners in high-end ski boots like Lange RS140. They're fairly adjustable and it can be really critical to get them set up right. Tongue position and the instep pads can make a lot of difference. If the edge of the tongue runs along an artery or nerve that can cause problems. But just because a liner is good quality doesn't mean it works for you. What size liners are yours? UPZ makes three liner sizes per shell. The 312mm shell can take UPZ 8 1/2, 9, or 9 1/2. You need to let your feet settle in to the boots. I put mine on at the car, walk to where I'm going to clip in, and by then usually everything is good and I buckle up. Sometimes it takes a run before this happens. At first they do feel a little tight, but once things are settled in I'm good for all day, no need to ever unbuckle, very comfortable.

Rhododendron Glen, Pharaoh, Cliffhanger and Bactrian (sp?) were pretty good today, considering the weather we've had.

Almost certainly. MP29 is to fit feet 29 cm but less than 30 cm. You'd want to try a 27 to see if it works, and if no way to make it work, try 28.

Camelback made snow Wednesday and today. Wednesday evening was difficult conditions, but some grooming could make it really nice this weekend.