MNSurfer

I just stumbled upon this YT channel. Really great information on Midwest ski resorts, with even some history thrown in. https://www.youtube.com/c/MidwestSkiers/videos

Are 'Mt Normandale' and Hyland Hills one-in-the-same?

Someone please buy this, so I don't have to. My wife thanks you.

I have nothing on racing, but welcome aboard! It's early in the season, but thought this was worth a Bump. Plates are the CD-vs.-Vinyl of the alpine world. Personally I have a love/hate relationship with them. I have Bomber V2 and Donek AF plates, interchangeably riding them on a Proteus and a REV. The level of "fun" seems to really depend on conditions; Too hard, and it feels dangerous, too soft and it's really easy to pearl. Which is just as dangerous. If conditions are right, I'll spend half-a-day on a plate, but inevitably I find myself back in the safety and comfort of bindings-to-board. You just have more to think about, with a plate, and that can be mentally tiring. Racing with a plate might be an entirely different subject. Also, my aversion to plates comes from all the hardware. We put a lot of stress on gear, and stuff breaks. Adding 12-odd more screws and a bunch of sliding/moving parts to the mix makes me happy to be put the plate away, and thankful nothing got broke. Myself, mostly. -Brian

Just dropping-in, after the summer, and man, are my fingers tired from all the clicking! Great info @mwskier !

Thank you for preserving this fascinating history. I will definitely be checking back!

Greatest boarding video soundtrack, ever!

King of the Scootchline Blunt. Love it.

Well that makes some sense. I'm admittedly oblivious to any sort of ski/snowboard media. My observation didn't only pertain to 'boarders. I can't give a ratio, but I'd guess that skiers easily made-up half of the numbers.

Okay, so maybe 'mandate' isn't the right way to approach this phenomenon/backwards-progression-in-safety. I get that requiring guests to wear a potential life-saving device is a slippery slope, but wouldn't it be in the resorts' best interest to reduce injuries? My main question resides in that after years of helmet usership, why does this suddenly feel like people are opting-out? Any yes, where does it all end. Nobody wants to see a mountain full of body armor. It just seems off that something that is simple to use, comfortable, keeps your head warm, and could save your life, would be a no-brainer.

During this last season, I have noticed fewer and fewer people wearing helmets. Granted, I've only been to MN/WI and Summit County. However at places like Breck, my wife and I we shocked at the number of people we saw with just beanies (or less) on their melon. We would start counting, and by at 100 be 10am. A few years ago, seeing someone without a helmet would have raised a flag. I would estimate that some 1/5 of folks were without. Compare that to MN, where that rate is more like 1 in 50. What is going on (in Colorado?)? After a week or two of observing this, I was riding-up with Ski Patrol. She was saying that this year, they brought more people off the mountain for concussions, than at any time she could remember. This got me thinking; Can't helmets be mandated by the resort? And if so, would a resort be worried that some people won't ski/ride there, if helmets were required? Which makes me ask, Why would you want those people at your resort? My points-of-reference are few. Has anyone else noticed this startling up-tick?

What was the name of, and where exactly was the ski resort, near Flying Cloud Airport? Anyone know?

I think I just threw-up a little bit in my mouth. Maybe a guy needs a VR set to watch this, properly.

Shockingly good conditions, yesterday (Tuesday Mar 02). You could really put a rail into it. We partied like it was the last day of the season (and weren't the only ones with that idea). Now, with gear washed and stowed, a guy is tempted to give it one last go. For reals this time.

Mother Nature giveth, Mother Nature taketh away. Looks like the season is headed for an abrupt end. I'll be at Afton Monday (1 Mar) and Tuesday, to soak in the last of it. Come on Fate, prove me wrong.

Just Saturday morning ranting here. Please move along. Ok, I have a rub with European carving videos, which is the same as that is with Euro Surfing videos. They're all in slow motion! Even if you don't know where-in-the-world it is, if the whole video is in slo-mo, there's a solid chance it's in Europe. Personally, I think carving (and surfing) is a far more impressive watch when viewed 'normally'. You just miss that sense of speed, gravity, and intensity, when slowed-down. Sure you get to see individual chunks of snow flying out of a rut, but then what? Perhaps there's something proper cinemagraphic about an entire video shot at 1/4 speed, and I'm an uneducated rube, longing for something different. Europe has some amazing mountains (as this video proves) and waves, fabulous carvers (Loddo rips!) and surfers. It's just really painful to watch every video in slow motion. End of rant.

Interesting. It seems UPZ does have a web store: \ https://upzboots.com/product/2021-rc12-shoxxter-anthracite/ Only Red is available, and I'm not good enough a carver to pull-off Red boots. Virus does have them, but I'd prefer to avoid USD$300 in shipping and taxes.

I'm looking to pick up a pair of RC12s, but having bum luck finding stock in the 324mm size (Black). I think I ordered direct from UPZ, last time. They are showing zip, as does Paradise. Anywhere else to shop UPZ?

Great day, today at Afton! Ran into Trent, a guy named 'Mike', and most surprisingly, one of the bar keeps (Stacy) from McCormick's in Wayzata. Mike (50-ish) was riding a Burton Asym (regular), with Burton plates. Super, super good dude, for sure. Stacy was ripping on two-sticks. As of course was Trent. Crowd factor was minimal, decent snow and groom, and you couldn't ask for better weather.

I have M30/31 and switched from Deeluxe to UPZ because of the lack of heel lift in my RC12. So no lift in the UPZ's, way too much lift in the T700s. Your mileage may vary. Oops. Thought this was about foot/heel lift within the boot, itself. My mistake.

Hoping to be there, tomorrow. Huffing and puffing my way down the hill.

Are these Long plates? I'm in Minnetonka, and can pick-up locally.

These are 303-324 shells. Sounds kind of dicey.

Will a TD3 (non step-in) Regular plate fit a UPZ RC12 305 shell? I know with my Deeluxe 700 M30/31 this did not work, and I needed to get the Long plates. Just thought I'd reach-out here for any real-world experience. Thanks!

I've tried regular plates with my Deluxe, and they don't work, that's for sure. Now with my UPZ's, I'm just assuming they'd need the same Long plates. Maybe not???