MNSurfer

Drat. That won't work for my M30's. Shoots!

The sun is out (for the first time in what seems like weeks), and if people look at the forecast, I'm guessing they might see this as the last "warm" day, for quite some time. That could bring a crowd out, for sure!

Scott, Are these Regular, or Long plate?

Well, it's good to know I'm not completely nuts. @JRAZZ nailed it, with equipment getting the better of you. Yes, @lonbordin there's nothing like being stranded in rental softboots. My Track 700's (two pairs, both fairly new) have busted more times than I care to count, leaving me "limping" down the mountain, then struggling to find a boot place that can/will fix them. My UPZ RC12's? Bulletproof. One or two more trips out West, yet this year. If this goes unused, to the Sale forum it goes.

I like to watch. Who's got the Millennium Falcon, in the parking lot?

Disclaimer: The following is just a bit of an IMHO-style rant. Your mileage will vary. After riding the last 10-days at Breck and Beaver (not another 'booter in-sight, less we count Ryan K and his Crew), I've come to the conclusion that... perhaps simpler is better? I've spent the last decade or more experimenting with Plates, Step-Ins, etc., and what I've come-away with is that, for a rider of my ability (eg. non-racer, not exactly EC on every turn), this is all just Noise. And dangerous noise, at that. A younger me had the time to inspect every bolt, tweak, ride, tweak some more, inspect, repeat. That younger me also didn't think much about the repercussions of gear failure. Now, creeping through my 40's with two little girls, the thought of being on the AIL from something as trivial as a cracked heel nut, has become terrifyingly real (just peruse the Forum). An injury-inducing accident is always possible, of course. However this seems to become exponentially more likely as you add more and more hardware. My most enjoyable days are without plates, and without heels. Just 4-bolts through the binding. I still enjoy the ride of my AF and V2 Plates, and step-ins help keep me charging (I only ride with skiers). With every laid-out turn, I can't quite get past the thought of hardware failure, and that Less Is More. So here we are, pulling-off heels, and converting bindings back to their original form. Part of me feels as if this is a step (or several) backwards. Has anyone else come "Full Circle"? Cheers, and thanks for listening to my little rant. -Brian

I was there, second chair, the morning it opened (what, 2-seasons ago?). Good god, what a disaster. I think it stopped no less than 10-times, on the way up the hill. I never rode it again.

I've sort of sworn-off ever going to Welch, again. But damn, that burger looks tasty.

I'd be down with that. Love me some Rib Mountain!

Rad! Those wide-angle shots are sweeeeeeeet! Thanks for taking the time to shoot, edit, and post.

Cocoa leaves would be the bee's knees (mother in-law was in Peru, and it worked like a champ for her). Yeah, we have humidifiers in every room, running MAX the whole time. My water intake is about 2-gallons per day, which is just slightly behind the Coors input.

We've had a place at Breck now for 6 or 7 years. It's at 9600', and I'm a flatlander. It doesn't matter if I'm out there for a few days, or an entire month, but I never feel 100%. Maybe 93% is the best I can do. Though I'm never 'sick', I always feel just a bit 'wonky'. I've been doing out-West trips for 20+ years, and this is always the way it's been; As soon as I get back to DIA, everything is back to fine. I've always just accepted this as 'way of the playground', but it's getting kind of old. Oddly enough, when there in the Summer, I don't have this issue. Weird? Anyway, just wondering if there is any tips or advice to staying as optimal as possible, when at altitude for extended periods of time. Oh and please don't tell me it involves less bourboun.

What are people getting for a lifespan, on the original T's? Of course it is all rider/mileage dependent, but just curious.

No truer words. After years of 'technique building', this little piece of wisdom has been far and away the most meaningful. Don't get me wrong, I still stuck at this. But I suck with waaaaaay more style and finesse.

Anyone else ride with just sunglasses? I can't stand goggles. I see @lonbordin has a suggestion, but I've used masks like this, to no avail; Just fogs right up. Lately I've just been squinting. Maybe that'll just have to be this year's solution.

The first several days of January have been tip-top, in the Alps. Snow is shockingly good, both in quality and coverage (I think there we just two closed runs, yesterday). No crowds, or at least they're spreading people out, around the resort. As a season pass holder, reserving dates, etc., couldn't be easier. Four taps on the phone, and Done. A couple of friends had to figure-out their Passes, and the staff was as helpful and pleasant as can be. Say what you want about Vail Corp., but man they have their act together, big time. From a safety standpoint, it's 99% masks. For better/worse/indifferent, you could count the unmasked on a hand or two. Plenty of space in the lift lines. Outside bars aren't open (at least not on the weekdays), and apparently they're frowning upon Tailgating. We had a BBQ set-up at Chair 7, and maybe got the stink-eye, once. Hearing all BS at Buck, Welch, and that, I'm plenty happy to give Vail my money.

Wow. That system makes 'GoPro'-style videos actually somewhat tolerable. Sweet! Even more impressive is the kick-kick-click-in. I couldn't do that if I spend all day trying.

$39 for Day-Of, right now. 13 runs open. Finally it's getting cold. I'm guessing they should be able to make some decent snow, over the current week. I'm hoping to get out a couple days, before the weekend.

Thanks y'all. Missed the ABasin deal, but seeing as they are to be used as patio furniture, we're looking more around that $500 ea mark. Thanks for the tip, Kurt. I'll do some digging, on that.

We're looking to buy one, two or three ski lift chairs, preferably 2 or 3-person. I've skimmed the cyberspace a bit, but have come-up short. Anyone have an idea of where to procure old chairs? I'm fine with refurbishing them, so condition isn't necessarily an issue, Thanks! -Brian

My last trip to Orange County (August), I was shocked at how many WaveStorms were in the lineup. And people were riding them really well! This was my first trip to Cali in several years. I paddled-out pre-dawn, and by the time I could make people out, I saw a half dozen Storms. I thought, When did Sunset go to the kooks? Then these guys were just ripping. So yeah, the boards can take a hit, but depending on the user, they can be fun.

Cracked-open the latest issue of Depression Quarterly, and to my surprise... hardboots! Thought that was kind of neat.

If you're ever looking to sell this, please, please, please keep me on the short list.

Looks like Lutsen is open, and is getting a nice amount of snow. The website doesn't mention anything about closures. Anyone have insight as to their operations? Like many of us, I all of a sudden have some free time.

Now THIS looks like some good winter fun. Especially on our local snowmobile trails; I'd love to roll-up to the bar riding one of these... https://skizee.ca/