bigwavedave

Thursday Drove to the top for first tracks. 2-3" overnight and another 2-3" fell through the day. Rode for ~4½hrs and it never got crowded. You could carve across the whole hill. There was 2" of groomed frozen granular under the new snow with an ice base underneath it all. Temps were just below freezing and the moist snow compacted under the board leaving hardened trenches behind. Rode the 171 XC with modified Geckos in the AM, then switched to the 202 TSm² in the PM. The TS was making trenches 6+" deep, right down to the ice base! Russ was there. It was a fun day and should be good tomorrow.

We had 2-3 days of rainy and drizzly weather with temps in the low 30's. So, I wasn't inspired to ride today with super flat light and the possibility of frozen groom. I walked up onto the base of the hill at mid-day and found there was 1-2" of frozen granular over an ice base, so probably not bad for carving. We're supposed to get a few inches of snow with probable lake enhancement tonight and tomorrow. I should be out tomorrow. 4pm: Very fine, compact lake effect snowflakes are falling ahead of the storm.

Ha! Didn't know they actually called it MOUNT Como. That's the first place I tried snowboarding with Sorel boots and a borrowed board―meh―it wasn't for me―snowboarding, that is. Until a few years later when I saw hardbooters carving at Afton Alps (another aspirational name) They looked like they were from another planet, or maybe the future. Rented a softboot setup and took a lesson from them that day and started carving using my old Alpine ski boots and a borrowed asym 157 Rad-Air.

Saturday Guess they're just messin' with me—it was a beautiful sunny day today! Drove to the top for first tracks. Typical MN firm, great carving. The groom was hard and a bit bumpy over on the Gandy side plus there were some race courses over there. The snow softened up in the sun as temps got into the 20's. Rode for 2½ hrs, would have stayed longer, but the MLK crowds were making it hard to get a clean run. Everybody was in a good mood—it's been days (feels like weeks?) since we've seen the sun. And Jim was there!! @jolson XC races at the bottom this weekend, limited parking. Upper lots were filling up by the time I left.

Friday Nope, not today, heavy overcast at dawn with no hint of the sun. Then it started to snow. This was not forecast, but I'll take it. I'd rather have snow if it's going to be overcast. It seems easier to see in flat light when there's light snow falling. We had some drizzle yesterday afternoon, so conditions were similar to yesterday morning—1-1½" of crunchy groom over a racecourse-hard base—great for carving and once trenched up was a rough ride. Rode the same set-up as yesterday—the Thirst XC 171 with modified Geckos. Mr "Ski-to-Die" (so says his license plate) said I was looking really good...really good. I was waiting for him to add, "for a snowboarder ". Rode for 2½ hrs again. Never a lift line, but somehow more traffic on the slopes than yesterday. Pre-MLK weekend traffic? Tomorrow? Forecast just changed from mostly sunny to mostly cloudy.

Thanks nextcarve, I've considered the Virus Isolators. I think I'd still have to modify them to get the smaller footprint I seek. ...and the discussion continued here.....

If I remember, the long finger broke where it flexed under the end of your F2 binding.

The slightly asym seemed better. Toe-side front bumper just forward/under the toe. Heel-side rear bumper just aft/under the heel. I'd be tempted to cut those bumperless fingers off, but since Geckos are no longer available (and they were expensive) I'm tempted to make my own 3 toed version using G10 or 4 mm carbon plate and save the 5 fingered Geckos for boards that benefit from a little flex modification and edge pressure distribution. I'm using TD3 SW with low profile BP cant discs. Mounted on the Geckos I have virtually the same stack height as standard td3sw's.

I tried the Geckos on my XC again, but with bumpers removed* from the end fingers, making for a smaller footprint with only the middle 3 bumpers contacting the board (like a Gecko Stealth). Tried it symmetrical at first then slightly asym. This might be the way to go. I rode it back-to-back with and without the Geckos and barely noticed a difference in how the board handled. Didn't seem to modify the flex and I could still tighten up my turns and get a pop out of turns. Still had the desired muting of bumps and ruts. Need to see how it rides on actual ice. Still thinking about the metal version between the SF and XC. *The idea to simply remove a bumper was Mark's. I just took it a step further and removed 4.

Thursday Rode for 2½ hrs again today. Very flat light, more so than yesterday. The groom was firmer, crunchy, sort of like manmade snow, or what's referred to as ice out west. It got above freezing yesterday and snow turned to drizzle for awhile. Trying some different configurations with the Geckos on my XC. Think I'm on to something that works. Hoping for some sun tomorrow. 26

Wed After a couple of days of fog, mist and drizzle with near freezing temps, I expected a hard & icy groom today, but it turned out to be crunchy, soft and very carvable, plus it's been snowing all morning–about 2" on the hill so far and still coming down. I didn't make the 1st tracks today but they still stand out. There were races on Gandy again today so I stayed on the express side. It never got crowded, but my 2-3" deep trenches compressed the wet snow into hard ruts and made for a rough ride later. Rode for 2½hrs. I rode the XC with Geckos mounted with reverse asym (Mark's suggestion) and it seemed to have less negative effect on the Thirst ride than mounting them the normal way. Should be good tomorrow.

waist width? scr? metal? stance width?

I've had a chance to get out on mine a few times now. First in 4-8" of powder on top of a soft groom that, once tracked out, was tossing me around quite a bit. I started out on the 181 swallowtail PC which was doing fine, but I wanted to compare. These were conditions I had hoped the TS would do well in and it did not disappoint. It really smoothed out the ruts while making big radius turns across the hill as if it was fresh groom. This came to mind.... There were still some 6-8+ inch windblown piles of powder in some flat spots where others came to a stop (there was a headwind too) and this board just floated and glided though. It really floats, more than I expected, just like Keenan said... The next day was a first day groom where, if you carved hard, you broke through a soft top layer and sunk down several inches. It was challenging. Even skiers were complaining. This was another set of conditions that I had hoped the TSm² might smooth things over, and it did. It had enough float and weight distribution so as not to sink in so much while carving hard. This is definitely a useful (and fun) addition to the quiver. I am a bit surprised that only one snowboarder has asked me, "how long is that board?". Thanks to @Keenan for bugging Mark to design and build the TSm². And, of course, thanks to Mark for actually doing it. Looking forward to riding it in spring slush, hopefully not for a couple of months or so.

I just had another wire strap (the long one that locks your foot down) break as I was buckling in. I had one break almost 2 years ago, probably the other foot. I bought my boots 2nd hand from a retiring racer, so they may have seen hard use before me. Fortunately, I ordered 2 replacement straps after the first one broke. It's probably a good idea to have a couple of spares on hand as this is apparently the most common part needing replacement. I was still able to ride until I was ready for a break to put the spare on. I mainly wanted to say that All Boards Sports in Boulder has replacement straps. I just ordered another pair. It's best to order over the phone. I have used bailing wire in the past for a temporary repair and still keep some in my bag. It's funny, as this was the same strap that routinely broke on my old Burton Reactor and Furnace boots and I couldn't find replacements, so used bailing wire.

Sunday I took yesterday off due to thick fog and mist. By the time it burned off it was super busy. USSA had races this weekend with 2 courses on Gandy and 1 on BlueRuin. Beautiful sun this morning with a sky blue sky, so I drove to the top. The upper lots were packed. Races started at 8am. Cars were parked anywhere and everywhere. By the time I left the "B" lot was FULL and cars were parked all along the access road out to the stop sign!! I still managed to get 1st tracks on 4Pipe. The groom was consistent—the best it's been. We're back to "Minnesota Firm" where the deepest trenches are 1-1½ inch deep with that racecourse hardness that holds up all day. I rode for a few hours managing to keep finding free and clear runs despite the crowds. Rode the Superconductor all day—yup, just one board.

Same here. Once my MS boots were dialed in, I no longer felt a need for my soft Raichles or Backlands. But then, I'm rarely in over a foot of powder and my swallowtail PC carvers work great with hardboots, so maybe not relevant for Barry. ...nevermind...

You should try it without the plate.

Man! It looks like Paoli is following you.

Friday ...And he was...back for more, that is...and a good plan too, as it was the best carving groom in a long while. Sunny , and a little nip in the air (0°F). My 1st day on the 8rw this season!! The 1st few tracks before things got out of hand...as in we destroyed all untracked cord. Very few people out today, lots of room to carve, like pre-pandemic times. Calling @khoward, it's safe to come out and play.

Thurs 1st day groom! Flat light to start and later sun. Another 3 board day for me. Started out with several runs on XC (171). The groom was firm on the surface and soft underneath and was a bit challenging if you carved hard the board would sink deep. I decided to try the TSm² as our ruts were making for a rough ride. There were a few carvers on the hill today—@rwmaron, guy on a 163 Donek SL (can't remember his name), softboot-carver-girl from the other day on the Donek Saber and me, so it was getting rutted up pretty good. The big (202cm) board really smoothed things out nicely. I think the 8rw (185) would have been good too, but I didn't have it with me. Gotta say the TankerSpanker really carves up soft groom nicely! Smoothed out the bumps and didn't sink as deep when carved hard. I switched to the Super (175) just before the sun came out. Funny how sun and visibility can improve your riding. All of a sudden I was finding untracked groom and was able to find the smoothest line avoiding the worst of the ruts. Rode for 2 hrs. Might go back for more after lunch.

The main difference between them is the running length—smooth, smoother and smoothest. I started out on the PCjv for the maneuverability, not knowing what the conditions would be like and to keep my speed down in the low visibility. A good board if it's busy, if you want to go into the trees or want to look for every little bit of untracked powder in narrow spaces, go anywhere. It is more like a slalom board for all terrain—effortlessly goes from deep powder to soft groom. Once the hill started getting tracked out and rutted up I switched to the 181 PC to smooth out the ride. A bit more speed, but smoothly carves through everything. It felt a little more comfortable doing bigger, longer carves and really rides like a carving board whether in powder or groom. Both the swallowtails have a softer, smoother ride than a non split tail. Something about that empty space and the tail flex that dampens feedback. Regular tails have a kickback in rough terrain that swallowtails don't. Then I had to give the big kahuna a try, just because. A 202cm board is a little intimidating under your feet. You want to let it run a bit to get some speed, but not near as much as you need on a big GS race board. This board floats and glides like no other. It smoothed out all the ruts like nothing else. I could feel the looks from the chair as I was doing long, smooth carves across the hill like it was perfect groom instead of the rough chop over crunchy groom. Bigger IS better, at least in those conditions. Just don't ask me to pick one.

Wed Additional 3-4" overnight and snowing harder up on the hill. NE wind, 20 gusting 30kts off the lake with alternating heavy to light snow and near whiteout conditions. Drove to the top for first tracks. 4Pipe had 2-4" over a crusty groom. but 6"+ on the ungroomed sides and deeper over on the Gandy side. The upper slopes had 1-2' windrows interspersed with crusty groom, but lower down there were nice powder stashes near the trees. And no crowds!! Duluth schools did not close today! Rode for 4½ hrs on 3 different boards, just for the fun of it. The 2 swallowtails—PC 169 and PC 181 and the TSm². Met a young woman riding a slalom sized (157?) Donek Talon with an f-plate making some nice carves. She's from Duluth and trains with the GTeam. When I got back home I had to walk in on my unplowed driveway. The snow was up to the top of my boots (~10") and it's still snowing. Should be very nice tomorrow.

Tues eve We had a quick 4" of dry fluff in 2 hours. Light snow falling now that feels like it's lake enhanced. The forecast is calling for another 4-6" overnight through wed. I think I can see the groomer(s) working the slopes already. Maybe we'll have a little pow over soft groom tomorrow.

@AlgunderfootHow is Jackson Creek shaping up? It's gotta be pretty good by now after a few grooming cycles? Looks like more snow heading your way soon. I missed getting a discounted pass last spring, so I'm gonna pick my days at Jackson. Plus, the "local" day ticket discount no longer includes St Louis Co residents. At least a Lutsen pass gets me 25% off the new, improved ticket prices.

Atmore racers were out on Gandy before sun-up and the upper lots were packed when I got there 40 min before opening. Somehow I still managed to make the 1st tracks on ScissorBill & 4pipe. The Express side was deserted. There was no one at the bottom and 1 person suiting up in the Grand Ave chalet. No skinner-uppers in sight either. Another day of fog and really flat light. ~1" of snow yesterday afternoon helped make today's grooming the best for carving all week. That and warm temps near freezing made the first turns nice and soft, but trenches set up hard in the moist snow making for a rough ride when you crossed them later. Rode for 1½ hours. Less crowded today and no big classes.