bigwavedave

No solid offer yet.

I think that the type of snow you're riding on makes a huge difference. The last 2 years at SES, and especially last year, I found I preferred riding an old, cambered, glass construction, single sidecut board (a 23w 180cm Incline) to my modern metal boards. It just seemed to perform better in the soft snow and in busting through the piles later in the day. At home in Minnesota, it's a totally different story, on our typically hard-pack groom (race course hard), often with a base layer of ice. All the new board construction innovations make one leave the cambered glass boards at home. When you have "hero" groom, a traditional cambered glass board is a lot of fun and you really don't need all the new technology, although a decambered nose might be an improvement.

2015 January trip to U.P.? Russ (rwmaron) and I were talking about this last week, and Eric (thebionicman) is planning a U.P. trip too. I'm wondering if anyone else is planning a U.P. trip? Thought it could be fun to try to coordinate plans and possibly get a flight of carvers on the hills. Indianhead is open daily, Blackjack and Porkies open only F-S-S-M. I'm thinking either a midweek trip--maybe 2 days at Indianhead, or something like Th-F-S--1st 2 days at Indianhead (Friday has option to hop over to Blackjack), then maybe check out the Porkies on Saturday. Not over the MLK weekend, 17-18-19. Lake effect is kicking in again, so snow should be great! And we can all stay at Al's place in Bessemer, right?

COLD , HARD and STIFF The conditions of the day, not a snowboard porn movie title. Cold air, very hard snow--good carving, just that any bumps bounced you around, and stiff--anything that needed to flex--board, boots, body. Rode with Eric and Karl, partial sun, had the place to ourselves. I stayed til about noon, sun came out after you guys left. Karl was looking really smooth on his new Nirvana. It felt like it took more energy to ride today, I'm pretty tired.

That works for me, if you get wjholm on board with the idea.

Looks like Duluth/Spirit is getting a bit of snow. Thinking tomorrow should be great carving conditions, despite having to brave brutally cold temps, the upside being it will keep the crowds away. Gonna watch the website to see that they don't decide to close down like last year. Spirit closed Sunday...posted on their website, guess I'll have to build a boat in the basement...

...So, that's what I was thinking last year, and a few weeks ago I contacted Sean at Donek and ordered a 175cm REV with carbonium safari topsheet. It deviates from the standard REV 175 specs by having a 20.5 waist, 11-12scr (11m nose-12m tail) and being stiffened for my weight ~185lbs. Despite having an almost symmetrical sidecut it still has about 2cm of taper. The BigWaveRev! Most (90%) of my ridding is on very firm groom and occasional ice, much like race course conditions, so this is why I wanted to start with raceboard construction and take advantage of all it's superb handling characteristics, and just tweak the sidecut to be more recreational. Two weeks later (the day after Christmas), I received the board, exactly when Sean said it would arrive. Visually, the most noticeable difference is the increased nose rocker/de-camber compared to the 2012-13 REV. I've had 3 days on it so far, 2 on icy based groom, 1 on hero groom and then the late day crud. This board has phenomenal edge hold on ice, even with my sloppy technique. All the superlatives I used in the above review to describe the feel of the carve of the 180, apply to this board--deliciously smooth, precise...etc. There seems to be just enough stiffness in the tail to give a bit of spring into the next turn if you want it. This is the the most fun board I've ever been on. It's such an exhilarating ride, I find myself hollering out going down the hill and end the run with a big smile on my face. It's the perfect size and sidecut radius for our local hills and I think it's a great all-around size. Maybe it's partly because the sidecut is deeper than typical race scr, I can load the board when on edge and get some nice air between turns, or get a smooth, mellow transition by rolling the board over to the other edge. Really happy with this board. Already thinking of getting it a big brother, maybe a 180cm with a 12-14m scr. 01/10/15 update Rode the 3 boards pictured below back to back today on packed powder groom over an icy base. The new (safari) REV was quite noticeably the most sure-footed of the 3 on ice.

Sorry, I'm not interested in another race board right now, I'm really happy with my new REV, and I have 2 of them.

I think Bruce said the Nirvana was kind of an amalgamation of the best features of several of his boards, starting with the all-mountain, to produce a carving board that handles a wide variety of conditions well. Another step in the evolution of his ultimate carver. The Balance is an easy, smooth, fun ride. Seemed ideally suited to the soft, packed powder conditions we had at SES in Aspen, yet as good as most race boards on ice!

Thanks SBS, and happy new year to you! Keep your inspiring photos coming, you're in part responsible for luring me back to Aspen for a 3rd time to join the SES invasion of carvers this year.

Yea, I was thinking that's gotta be some quiver. My new board...

Everything worked out according to plan...1st tracks New Years Day under blue skies, 1" of fresh on top of groom. Snow was great for carving, they have been making snow and there are still piles of snow that need to be groomed in. Rode with Russ and his son for a good part of the afternoon. Saw another carver, but never caught up with him. Left at about 3:30 when it started getting busy. Great way to start the new year!

1st tracks of the new year...

I've got some (tele-ski) friends who have a B&B in Goulais River and was thinking of visiting. Anyone ridden at nearby Searchmont that can comment on how it is for carving. It's just north of Sault St Marie, in the Algoma hills and they get a ton of snow off Lake Superior.

I'm on the fence, still might come up to Spirit--forecast for snow showers overnight and before noon and clearing skies and sun after noon--I can see getting that first virgin run from the top before they open and still hop on the first chair up. On the other hand Buck likely has better snow, but the forecast is for 90% overcast (dreaded flat light). Either way likely to be crowded. Hutner is talking about significant snowfall north this weekend.

That's a nice offer, but I think I'll pass. I only ride hard boots and that's wider than I like.

Thanks for the update Bob. Conditions sound nice. I'm thinking about coming down and picking up an early-bird ticket for some turns on New Years morn. Anyone else have plans to come out and start out the new year on the right foot (or left)?

Well, that's just not right!! I coulda sworn too! Heck, makes me want to swear now! Every other area is open reg hours--maybe it's a misprint? Might head down to Buck for a few turns instead--$22 early-bird ticket--for the AM only. Let me know if you hear different about Spirit hours.

I am guessing at the ideal wt range, so for those who know how to interpret Bruce's coded specs, maybe they give a hint at the stiffness... T174 NFC-B 014 DW -6.3 + 5

Well, I am trying to pay for a new board by selling a couple of my nicer boards, but what have you got in mind?

Nice board Dave. Should be a great all around board, wide enough to give you some float in soft snow. Are you going to bring it up this way again this year?

I was thinking about tomorrow (sunny, but very cold), and after talking to Russ, I'm leaning toward New Year's Day--warmer, no camps, hopefully people recovering from the night before will keep the crowds down for the first part of the day. I'll post again if I decide to come up tomorrow. Eric, I'm not coming up tomorrow. I've got a lot of stuff I should do, and temp's are supposed to be sub-zero. Planning on New Years Day.

Coiler Nirvana balance 174 SOLD! going home to Canada. Built for me (~185lbs) in March 2013. Ptex top scr 12-14 20cm waist. Likely ideal rider wt range~160-215lbs condition 9-9.5/10 No dings or scratches, like new, can barely see where bindings were mounted (td3's). Base never ground (no scratches or base-suck), edges maintained with diamond polishing stone at .5 degree base bevel, and 2 degree side bevel. Love this board, but wanted something with a little smaller scr and more of a single-side-cut ride. Could only justify the extravagance of a new custom board by selling this and my SG163. Getting a board that combines the best of both boards.

Similar conditions to yesterday, an inch or so of sugar snow over hard frozen granular base. First several runs on the virgin cord were sweet, but the fine sugar snow was easily scraped off once the crowds arrived. Got to ride first runs with the boarder patroler. Check out the rocker on the nose of my new REV.

Jeez, had so much fun today, now I'm thinking about tomorrow. Any one planning on going out tomorrow?