John Gilmour

I rode them 3 years ago with Bob Mongomery and his Vice President. Both great fun people. The powerski is Cool as ****, I've wanted one from the second I rode it. The prototype I rode in San Diego had a air intake scoop and I thought the board felt like surfing, but a little too wide to be a slalom ski type turn. I was able to lay down sustained powercarves in about 3 minutes of riding. Very very very user friendly- easier than water skiing to learn. I watched completely unathletic people do it on their first try. A great device to get for the family. The boards get more stable the faster you go- so actually it is trickier to ride them slow so a lot of room is a good idea when starting. You can heelside- but you gotta do it twisted and on smooth water at first. The newest models have catalytic converters and so are green and high power. It also is a real workout- particularly on that front arm and shoulder. If I had an extra few grand lying around it would be on my short list of things to buy. that and an exkate powerboard. ________ YAMAHA RD350 HISTORY

Sox - what a great year. jg ________ Triumph Speedmaster

Kenny Mollica, last years slalomskateboard world champion- does back flips Naked on his hard boot alpine set up. No lie. ask to see a picture on the gong show on ncdsa.com ________ VAPORIZER WHOLESALE

1994 Madd 158, Marmot clothing circa 1990 1985 Denon headphones the second pair of prototype cateks- so far the discs have been updated to the 2nd generation after I crashed and twisted the prototype light blue anodized discs that were not released to the public. The bail handles have been replaced. But the bails- toe blocks as well as the carriages are all original. My 1982 Sims leash off my SIMS Fe150 pro . ________ Perpetual insurance dicussion

Have we been wasting our time marketing to soft booters? I think so. Even though many of the slalom skateboarders are hard booters- I think we have a greater likelyhood of drawing Moto to our sport- especially during the winter months. Should we be doing a mock up of split screen video with side by side comparision of body dynamics or Motorcycle racing and snowboarding- and bring that to the next Moto show? Are there are lots of people out there who wouldn't feel comfortable carving up the streets who might want to take it to the snow?

Shipped from Italy- that is....they aren't here yet. Better hope those Hurricanes slack off for a bit. ________ Vapor Genie Vaporizer

I was riding a teleboard. You can push these things into turns a lot like skiis- going into a very high speed olympic downhill turn whilst skidding and then the board hooks up- as opposed to the average Alpine snowboard which can Hop and chop when overloaded. I was having fun- after only 3 days with only 12,000 vertical feet on the tele board I took 4th in the world championships that morning. A few guys saw me ride it two days earlier. I can ride that teleboard and flex it like its never been flexed before- unfortunately it turned the hammer against me. Well I was doing about 40-45mph- much faster than I have ever dared go on this particular trail- essentially no turns at all until this point 1/2 way down. I did a massive heelside into a huge extended laydown at speed toeside. I had done this run earlier in the day, yet this time missed seeing a bump in flat light, unset the edge and went sailing backwards through the air towards the trees. I managed to hook the snow with the tip of the board- spin around just in time to take two parallel trees across BOTH knee caps and the sides of both knees (outside side of left knee, inside side of right knee ). I was diagonally flying through the air when I hit the trees. My knees bent backwards/sideways and snapped. As I thought I would break my back if I continued the wrap around the trees- so I twisted during the blow. Bounced off the two trees and my knees were useless now, and then hit another tree while flying almost upside down at 30mph with my left shoulder. IF they had been big mature trees with thick layers of bark- I could have Spread the impact somewhat like hitting a flat wall- but instead they were about 6-7 inches in diameter- instead of hitting a flat wall it was like hitting the corner of a cinderblock- I felt all my tissues cleave. The sound of the impact resonated and was a huge WHOOOOMMMMP! followed by another. I couldn't hear anything for a few seconds. I wasn't wearing a helmet. If I had hit my head I would have cut the helmet in two. I was lucky not to snap my spine. I managed to get out of my bindings- which were holding me in an intolerably painful position. Dragged my body by my right arm grabbing weeds and sticks to get back onto the trail so I wouldn't pass out in the woods. I managed to keep conscious. I was able to wiggle my toes so I knew I wasn't paralyzed. So I was pretty calm. I knew I had an excellent shoulder surgeon and wasn't worried about that- though my knees troubled me. I was wearing a huge Rector Fat Boy vert skating knee pad on my lead knee. You see these x-games guys bail in the Half pipe from 15 feet out onto their knees with no problem. This was enough force to split my tibia right through all that padding. I figured without it my knee would be in a million pieces. Evel Knievel doesn't have anything on me- I stay conscious- he goes into comas. I've seen other people during my rehab with much more minor tibia plateau fractures- none of them are walking well at all. I'm very lucky. I was taken by ambulance to a hospital I didn't like- I had myself transfered by ambulance to another with my familiar trama team who have treated me successfully before. I did not get my knee surgeon of choice though for the first operation. Hot nurses? ZERO. ________ Oxygen Vaporizer

List of injuries Right leg. Torn ACl (Partial- it's dead now), Torn PCL, Torn lateral meniscus , 4 inch fracture (fell off like a torn off balcony) tibia plateau fracture (most peoples fractures are like 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch), partial tear medial collateral ligament, shifted patella after surgery, crushed quadricep with calcification globs in it. Hip flexor sprain. basically out of the above drawing- only 3 structures did not sustain damage in my front knee. On to the left leg. Complete severing of the ACL, severing of the PCL, Lateral collateral ligament tear + sprain (really bad hurt for over 4 months instead of a few weeks- very unstable) http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_lacollig_sma.htm Medial Meniscus tear, Crushed knee cap. Bone fracture to lower left tibia (But they never caught it with so much other stuff going on since I don't swell up- never casted- luckily it healed on its own. I couldn't even move my legs an inch without severe pain. A missed diagnosis bonus- broken 1,2,5, metarsals, crushed sesmoid bones in ball of foot. Upper Body. Left shoulder Detachment of Labrum - First- this holds the shoulder in joint and deepens the socket of the ball socket joint. It also attaches to the rotator cuff and bicep. "The second function of the labrum is as an attachment of other structures or tissues around the joint. For example, the ligaments that help hold the joint together attach to the labrum in certain key locations. If there is an injury to the shoulder that tears the ligaments, sometimes the labrum is pulled off of the rim of the bone" Lovely- that is what happened. When I hit the last tree and my shoulder was put behind my back I tore the Labrum, Rotator cuff, and also to my surprise discovered during surgery- ripped my bicep tendon . For you carvers out there- don't ride with your arms outstretched- you could end up like this....and BTW- try to avoid hitting a bunch of trees at 45mph. The treatment is sometimes worse than the cure. I had a plate and (5) 4" long screws drilled into my tibia, they sewed up the Meniscus (But I feel the scarring) scoped out my patella to remove cartilidge and smooth out chrondromalicia. This was very painful- but the narcotics were flowing freely. Dilaudid , the chapagne of Heroin, a morphine cousin was my savior. I survived without painkillers for 4 days prior to the surgery- but afterwards I had no choice. That surgery was done Feb 19th. I could not walk for 3 months. I had to use a wheelchair after that - then a walker- then crutches- and then learn to walk again with a lot of nerve damage to my legs. The shoulder was done July 26th. shaved away the bone on my scapula, reattached the Labrum, sewed up the rotator cuff and pulled down the cuff in a Bankart Repair. The shaving of the bone in the scapula was very painful. It was done arthroscopically- though they thought they would have to open it up- he managed to keep it all inside. What's left? They will drill holes in my left knee cap to help induce healing of the crushed area. The left leg also needs the ACL reattached- likely I'll do a hamstring graft where they harvest the tendon to make a ligament and drill through your knee. I probably won't bother to repair the right foot at this point. I may have to wait to reattach the ACl from the right leg. I won't bother to repair the PCL since prognosis from that is uncertain. THE results so far? The tibia healed perfectly- even though it was one of the worst they have seen. Fracture Surgeon I had was a genius (For real). The Meniscus and ligaments around the knee suffered significant scarring reducing my flexion. I have trouble with the last 15 degrees. I atrophied completely in my right leg (It was the size of my arm). I have patellal tracking issues now- which I am trying to fix. (I'm not as impressed with the knee surgeon). I can not run yet, but can walk without a limp for short distances. The left leg- nothing has been done- but it has stabilized somewhat and is less painful- except the Medial ligament still hurts when moving laterally. The right shoulder is almost perfect after 7 weeks post op. My shoulder surgeon is amazing- he has now repaired both shoulders. I have full confidence that it will return being stronger than new like the other one did. Almost no scarring internally either. I'm out for snowboarding this season, out for the World skateboard racing championships. I don't know how stable my knees will be on the slopes. it is possible that things will feel fine on the lift, but when I Actually try to ride and exert flexed lateral forces on my knees I will be unable to and will have to get a sled down. It is possible that I may not be able to ride again- mostly not because of the fractures- but damage to so many ligaments that stabilize the knee laterally. Should I be able to ride- I think some Colorado groomers would be the best physical therapy- mentally and physically. I went riding with Troy Smart, who has several knee issues similar to mine, to teach him alpine last year. Though he was able to do it well, he had to quit after 3-4 runs due to knee pain. I know many ride with knee damage as I have done for the past 7 years, but this time, it might be too painful to deal with. I certainly would have to start riding on perfect cord at first, any jarring motion would likely send me back to the drawing board. I spoke to Cheri last night- the boards are due to be shipped soon. ________ Class Action Lawfirm

I hope it doesn't matter as to who from Madd replies. You guys better tear it up for me this winter....I'm sidelined until Argentina's season. ________ Brain Disorders Forums

I made a strap to help restore flexion to knees to get that last 15 degrees- I used a freestyle forefoot strap and a rachet along witha tie down strap- I just loop it and rachet the crap out of my knee. As Lost in Space's Dr. Zachary Smith would say..."ohhh, the pain, the pain, the pain...." ________ Yamaha Fs1R Specifications

I also am a little nervous since I recently found hundreds of crack cocaine vials in Madd Mike's 525 BMW. > > > > > > > > > But they turned out to be wax samples...ho hum. ________ Subaru b9 scrambler

I don't have much to do with this run of boards- what with my injuries and so forth...but I did see Mike a few days ago. He's busy installing web cameras....something has to pay the rent. lol. Anyway from experience either we land boards by late September or we get pushed back from other construction orders for more profitable things as we compete for lamination time. Historically we clear the decks through customs before X-mas. The worst ever delivery was in February- but I certainly would not expect that scenario....we had a factory flood that caused that. So far all the Flooding is in Florida. ________ Manufacturing Uk

Well, What should they look like? I have no idea myself. From a marketing standpoint they should be a readily identifiable graphic- one that can not be mistaken for anything else...one that can be read and recognized even at high speed- and easy to pick out of a bunch of boards in a stack at by the racks near lunch. You should stand out when you ride a Madd. Oh ****- that is exactly what I wouldn't want- personally,....- having been chased by ski patrol faaaaar too many times- I enjoy being anoymonous and after poaching a few groomed trails at night at Eastern resorts....I don't want to be identified so easily- I usually wear black or some common skier color combo for that reason. I can quickly take off my jacket and turn it inside out in a pinch to avoid being tapped for "Ski fast lose pass" - having a bright yellow deck with a ferrari red Exclaimation point with a huge MADD logo makes that kinda impossible. Fact is- no matter what we pick- according to that survey- most of you will be displeased. Back before we had good looking Alpine graphics....I used to ride everything out there and choose my board for the season. ALWAYS it was the deck that rode the best...but almost ALWAYS it was the ugliest. Some of the boards Sims 150 fe pro (Black with Sims Wing), Sims 1710 Blade (Hideous red and white stripes), SIMS x-2000 (Even uglier Gold and white stripes), THE DREADED CHECKER PIG graphic( Crazy bong hit pink pig wearing cheap sunglasses and a bandana), The Rossignol 170 with VAS external plates( disco blue sparkles with gold). The Worst of all time- and at the time one of the best to ride. The Hoodu Guru by Dynastar- vomit looked better- I've seen more attractive screen savers that come with your computer. The ony thing I knew...if the board rode great, I'd grow to like the graphic. The Checker Pig graphic was one of those. So were the old Madds. The only graphics I ever liked in an alpine board line were the 1991 F2 Speedsters with the retro 1950's racing graphics. Don't expect anything fancy like that from us. Don't worry you'll grow to love the graphic. ________ Ferrari 195 S Specifications

ride with shaggy- he figured it out a few years ago. My bet from looking at your photo is that you need to tilt your board far more aggressively and much earlier and let your body fall into the turn. It appears you are tipping your board from the bottom of your boots as opposed to driving from the cuffs. $.02 ________ FORD VERSAILLES

Hey Fin, I was planning on seeing you at Breckenridge in a week or so- but surgery isn't making me mobile. go to http://www.ncdsa.com/contests.asp and click on the Brecknridge contests coming up. Aug20,21-22. The USA championships of skateboard racing. You should go and check it out. Email me and lets see if we could crank out a few sets of PVD trucks (some of the guys on the Roe team have them)- also I think you can pour urethane as well- for the risers. I'll introduce you to Peter Verdone. Perhaps we could make a final revision with an adjustable geometry. ________ Vaporizers

the guy told me it was a semi automonomous vechicle ________ MEDICAL CANNABIS SEEDS

York maine in the state park see this site for info. http://www.gravitysportsinternational.com/events/York04/04yorkme.html http://www.skateluge.com/bbluge.htm This is a great event to watch. jg ________ Vaporizer Wholesaler

I shot some video of them launching it the other day. Near MIT on the Cambridge side . ________ Free Xxx

you should check out NCDSA.com as well as Slalomskateboarder.com ncdsa.com has a speedboarding section...very cool. There is a race in NY coming up. see the IGSA and GSI websites. OR just call Chris chaput at 877 4abec11 ________ Weed

bob is that the new MIT sub that is supposed to navigate the bottom of the Charles river by itself? ________ W128

mov.4 and mov.4 are Jim z- the sickest toside 4 wheel slides- I'm proud to know him jg ________ MARYJANE

luge, skateboard, butt board etc and it's in MAINE! http://www.slalomspot.com/video/maine_downhill/ ________ Chevrolet Biscayne

The business case study is a Houghton Mifflin text on strategic management. Ironically the students who emailed me over the years might be interested to see what actually happened. I an friends with the BU prof. who helped get this case study into the book- my hope was that it might attract financing. Labor is a big cost of the board...as is the cost of the particular resin. When it comes to craftsmanship- and subtle nuance- the Italians have it hands down. We could likely never maintain the quality if we were to produce them in China- unless we had some insane QC guy down there. Ultimately , snowboarding is addictive- and so is a board that lets you ride at a higher level. Drug dealers often discount their first sales to new customers. But in our case...this drug is actually good for you. ________ Mitsubishi Galant Lambda

http://www.jengajam.com/r/FordBird ________ Honey oil

To make that set up pump easily. Loosen the trucks - bounce your weight into the board to pump - use flatter angles. ________ FORD FREDA SPECIFICATIONS