klaucke

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice about ordering gear, namely some Raichles, off of either ebay.at [ebay austria] or ebay.de [ebay germany]. Is there a payment issue [i.e. with pay-pal], or ordering problems? Obviously there is a language barrier, but is this normally a problem? I don't use ebay myself but my brother has had great luck buying ski equipment from ebay.com, and I noticed they have a much better selection in europe than here for alpine boots. Thanks in advance.

I've had my fair bought of run ins with the ski nazis, as I often affectionately refer to them as. At my local slope, they are extremely numerous, and I have been stereotyped as a smart-ass softbooter many times. Actually, many are "ski rangers" who try to take my pass, not the lobster backs with white crosses. Mostly, the problem is the speed at which I choose to ride --often fast, but only when the slopes are clear of other skiers and riders. However, I've had my ticket taken twice for fighting with the same friend of mine, both times because he chose to take out a chunk of my tail with his skis in line. The first time, we were the next line of people to get on the lift, and the nazi told us that someone's arm could have been torn off by the lift if we had been rowdy like that. Mostly, ski patrollers just cramp my style, and I will continue to outrun them at this particular mountain. My trick, however immature and terrible, is to refuse to give them my pass. But this is always because I don't do anything that I consider dangerous and stupid. Once, while riding at about mach 2 with a friend of mine, a patroller caught up to us in the lift line and read us the riot act, but we were, literally, the only two on the slope, other than the ski nazis, who were stopped. I think he was just jealous of my carving ability being far superior to his skis. Curiously, I never seem to have any issues ever at mountains other than wachusett.

I remember my first, but first some background: Last season I bought an F2 Asym from a pawn-shop, not knowing much about alpine but wanting to try it [softboots had been my thing for 8 or 9 years]. I rode that for a while with some ski boots, so I knew what carving was to a degree, but it was only after I met a bunch of very friendly and generous hardbooters at my local hill that I got the chance to really carve. One of them [Todd] lent me what he probably considered to be the worst board in his quiver, a Factory Prime, and even some Cateks to go with it [F2 binders aren't 3D compatible], but it was like riding an I-beam in comparison. I remember the angles were high, and still are, but I could get soooo deep and still carry speed and pop back out. I got to the steep part in Challenger and linked my 3 best turns ever up to that point. In reality, it was a curse: I'm hooked! The moral? Hardbooters are probably the nicest people on the mountain you can meet.

I ride about 67.5 front and 59.5 rear, but it feels like a skwal to me. Coming from a softboot world of 8 or 9 years, it was a tough switch to make cold turkey. The only problem is that I ride ski boots right now, and the front of my shins take a beating on anything but fresh groomers because of the lack of forward/rearward flex. But when I get Raichles I can reduce the angles some and get the flex I need. Of course, it doesn' help that I have size 13 feet and Factory Prime with 18cm waist. Best part about a Swoard? The fat waist! PS. Let me know if you know of any 29 or 29.5 Raichles for sale! I need them badly!

No one knows about the shell sizing? Are they decent carving boots? And "non-Intec compatable" is no match for my bridgeport and some T-nuts, but I have standard binders now anyhow.

I found a set of used Raichles, mondo 28.5. I have US 12.5-13 feet, or mondo 29.5-30. Is the raichle 28.5 shell the same used in the 29.5 or 30? If they were a little snug, could heat fitting the thermoflex liners help remedy this? My feet aren't actually that big, they are reasonably slendor and only my "index toe" really goes to the 12.5 or 13 length. Also, the boots only had 3 buckles and then a "powerstrap" thingy, but I've heard all the 4 buckle raichle's were good; are these still good boots? They are model 724. Thanks a lot for looking, any feedback is greatly appreciated!

krass may be the canadian spelling for the abbreviation for "ass crap?" I agree the website needs help, and the fact that they make a 155 and 163 "Carve" board doesn't seem very alpine to me. Maybe if they surpass the 228 Donek [check out board specs, www.donek.com ] I'll be impressed, until then, riding a 155 to me seems like a fat ski blade.

FYI, DO NOT BRING AN ASYM TO STRANDS! They will happily grind through your leading edge, and for me, I got the free grind-through on the tail as well for my old F2 Asymmetrical board. When I confronted them about it, they blew it off like it was no big deal, and were very reluctant to slightly discount some ski boots I wanted. The 'old pro' who does the tune ups told me how that part of the edge never touches snow, and explained to me that ski's can carve deeper after I told him I bury the nose while digging a trench [ok maybe a little exageration]. Either way, my F2 is permanantly damaged, and I paid to have it done.

I also recommend the Wachusett Weds, its great fun, and local! I go to WPI, and if you need a ride up from Worc I could see what I could do, I go most every wednesday . Some area colleges have a group pass dealy, the "GPS" century pass, which was like 189 or 209 dollars for a season pass minus Sat and Sun during the day, but who wants to go then anyway? See if your school still is offering that.

I'm looking for some hardboots for carving, I'm currently using ski boots. I wear size 13 sneakers, and I think I could use a 12-13 hardboot. If anyone has some boots they'd be willing to sell, drop a reply. I ride eastern ice and some groomers, if that matters. Also, if anyone has any Cateks they no longer want... Thanks for your time, feel free to email me klaucke@wpi.edu as well.

What are some of the stats on that board, i.e. waist width, turning radius, etc? Also, where are you shipping from? Would you call it stiff/soft?