wantok

I think you will like it. I hung onto hard and soft though because we get blower powder midseason and it’s nice to maximize the feel with soft boots while it lasts. Rather than go back and forth I switch over to low plate bindings for the last (warmer) half of winter. I picked up the UPZ red tongues this year and really appreciate the range of motion they bring on powder days. At lower angles they have a smooth familiar flow from heel to toe. Using walk mode on the front boot makes up for the steep foot bed too. I just lock the cuff once things get tracked out. Incidentally their “race heel” is lower than the stock heel if your front leg is burning out riding powder. I bring along a narrower board with taller bindings for groomers. Changing tongues on the (newer) UPZ has been quick and easy.

I would worry about the shear of a stack of washers over the long term. Probably shouldn't watch shows about plane accidents. Tognar has ski binding canting strips from 0.5 to 3 degree (as well as heel pads).

Also Blizzard Bonafides. The old model (pre-rocker) has a stiffer tail if you can find a pair. Gotta keep up with them though.

https://www.freeride.com/gear/skis/2013/faction/vive-le-mono.html https://www.geartrade.com/item/295403/vive-le-mono-ski-one-color-190cm-like-new Hmm. Maybe this is one of those things that should have been pulled once sold. There is also a guy here in Calgary that is the Duret dealer https://www.facebook.com/groups/340829428780/permalink/10155692448023781/

Now and then. Most people here go to Spray Lakes because they get snow and wind, with a reliable wind forecast (Nakiska), and are right along the road. You stop at the ski hill if there's cord or keep driving up the road if there's too much wind (or people). One of our lesser known perks. There are lessons available with all the gear, here anyway. Use of ice screws, snow shovel etc would be in the course. A foil kite is the fastest to rig, launch and most compact to truck out. You really want to sort things out before you go backcountry riding though. Different ball game in the Rockies. Red Bull held a big event in the prairies a couple years ago: https://www.redbull.com/ca-en/red-bull-kite-farm-takes-flight-in-regina

GearTrade has a used Faction Viva le Mono. I recommend it if you want the real thing. Don't worry about the 190 length either.

https://www.liftopia.com/nakiska-ski-area https://forums.redflagdeals.com/costco-western-canada-ab-bc-ski-lift-deals-2017-2018-2139382/

I’ve had a few, from 1980’s pintails to a modern carver with early rise nose. They’re fun but your friends might not want you pulling up to them on the hill ;-) If you have solid bindings around, why not? But T-nut them in, period! If you pick up alpine bindings avoid the diagonal toe release which suffer from prerelease in mono. Install them with brakes, then cut one side off (to pedal to the lift). You could extend the length of the remaining brake. The board has so much lift and direction that two brakes often just slow it down. A single side brake turns it across the fall line. Use a leash in powder. Although my current plank carves as well as 120 waisted powder skis it’s a poor tool for the job. You might find the wife waiting until the groomers soften deeper or preferring different runs. I think they shine in heavy spring corn snow where you can ride surf style. Fast cruising open spaces and the steeps. Also in black diamond moguls when regular skis are punching through. In firm snow you make the opposite movement of alpine skis. Lifting the outside foot while rolling onto (the outside edge of) the inside foot in a coordinated fashion feels like lifting your toes on a heelside snowboard turn. Think of lifting at the knee and rotating around the other rather than from your feet. There’s other weird stuff you can do. Poles help! Maybe a grip length longer than alpine for balance and crossing flats. Otherwise I avoid pole plants monoskiing, along with the unpleasant wiggling turns you see in videos. My 2 cents.

Didn't Catek have a forum at the time? Other way around for me. I completely dropped snowboarding for over 20 years after blowing my leg apart motoring down Sunshine's TeePee Town in Sorels in 1988. I still can't hang a board off my right knee. I peaked in teleskiing so I decided to learn to ride a carving board switch. Still working on it. PM me if you want to work on some telemark skiing. I've been at that even longer...

Cute little hard boots,... or why there's such good riders in Japan and Korea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SqNqwYeGSU

Lucky Dog. The Jones Mountain Surfer includes foot brackets which might net you longer rides, especially if there are pillows. Here's an early board in Hokkaido with binders open to the inside. A bungeed leash is useful when dropping in but you can let go once you are planing.

I tried it in Peru with minimal bindings as well. The sand was harder than I expected and worked its way into everything. As far as I could tell the locals just soaped up the base.

I had their last step in design. Easy to get into but very difficult to release in waist deep snow, especially when your feet are planted above you. Passing tree wells made me wish I picked the K2 or Flow binding. Looks like the new incarnation is easier to get out of.

You might look at West System G/flex 650 marine epoxy which is for metal/fibreglass in flex and vibration applications. It comes in two 118 ml bottles which should do the job. Aquabatics (kayaking) carries it in Calgary, NRS in the States.

Facebook? Is that still around? (apologies to Homer Simpson) I will be there too. Len