Eric Brammer aka PSR

This is fun to pop out during an AASI clinic. Instructors can and do fall down ! ;-D

Also, look at McMaster Tool supply. They have bolts galore, and do quick shipping. If going the hardware-store route, be sure to ask if their bolts are of Chinese manufacture. The Chinese routinely skimp on strength and materials to make as cheaply as possible. U.S./Canadian/EU bolts have strength and material standards to live up to.

I had to go about this with really only hand-held tools (thanks to the divorce putting my good, big tooling in storage,or for sale) for two boards a friend of mine had decided to try resurrecting. One was a Sims 1712 Race, circa 1989, the other, a 1988 Gnu RaceRoom 178, both with hole patterns that're distinctly obsolete. We had some success with the RaceRoom, using a thin, cheap (dunkin donuts 147) modern snowboard, and that gave it two plates, with 4x4 inserts, and a wider stance. With the Sims, it didn't work so well, as the original flex pattern got altered, and in some carves, the board just washed, as the areas of 'no flex' made the sidecut just fore/aft of the risers flex abruptly, and wash-out was the result. One other issue was getting to the old inserts, yet keeping those screws flush enough to mount bindings on top of.... I like Bryan's plates better !

Yeah, Erik, that bunny hill traverse/slip is a great explanation and root-cause investigation, because, it puts it all in motion with very little effort or dynamics; If the balance exists in this exercise, then it will translate to good control at speed. You can check it by way of mirror/board/boots at home (as I've noted a few times on freecarve).. BUT, it's not MOVING! Anything 'static' like that will not give you a complete picture. Also, tracks don't usually lie about how an edge is set. Consider this exercise to be the true test of your balance and the binding set-up, using the your comfort and the tracks left behind as the proof. Tweaks may yet be needed as forces gain strength, and the rider changes movement patterns, but a foundation for balance can be found here.

Oh, and I forgot to note that this is rather familiar; I posted up on Freecarve, circa late Oct. on the same kinda thing. John Gilmour had the dubious honor of being my first 'fix by cell phone' with this exact issue. We nailed it down with two calls and two tweaks to his highbacks.

Geoff, I have great confidence in Coaches like Erik, and while I'm bummed about the knee tweakage, I'm stoked to see this event still being run and cared for with The Riders concerns at the top-of-the-list. It's been a honor to be on the hill with so many good people. And, Steph, your women's clinic will, as usual, be excellent! Just remember what I said, that Women can absolutely rule in snowboarding. It's all in the hips! :-)

Going back a bit; The Highbacks are key to edge pressure in softboot set-ups. It seems to me that with the info given here, you do need to sort out the forward lean on the highbacks. Definitely have a few degrees more of lean on the rear binding than the front. When you find the right amount of lean here, your arc will clean-up considerably. As Erik noted ; "You've got too much bend at the front half of the board, and not enough at the tail end, such that the tail end cannot follow the same path as the front end." ; which means you're working too hard at the turn's start to get on edge, and blowing out later because the rear of the board isn't on-edge enough to deal with the pressure you're feeding it. Can you also 'rotate' the front highback (usually at the hinge-points) such that the center is a bit forward, bringing the highback more 'inline' with the board's edge? I find that the adjustment there allows for a smoother entry into heelsie turns, as any forward-to-the-heel movement gets to the board's edge, vs. putting my hip/knee out ahead and into the void. Power-wing highbacks (like on my TechNines) do wonders here. Lastly, consider a stiffer rear-foot toe strap. Why? Because, if you're aggressive in your carves, you may indeed be 'pulling Up at the toes' during a deep heelside turn. Translating that little bit of energy may be enough to 'twist the ice-cube-tray' and give the end of your turn that extra bite. Note, I only went after equipment fixes at the bindings. I'm hoping the rest will follow.

Look for Dee-Lux Sparks, the ones for 'backcountry' use. They have a solid shank with a low-profile Vibram sole, very warm and comfy, and stiffer than the Malamute. Hard as heck to find, though.

For those who've rode with me in the past, I want to say 'thanks' firstly; Secondly, I want to thank the crew that keeps the ECES rolling for their commitment, and recurring hospitality. That said, I have awkward/bad news... I won't be there. I wrenched my (already bad) left knee while filming my kids (I was on foot, but slipped) snowboarding, and tore it up again. This will be the first non-Maine (Sorry, Jack!) ECES I won't get to. I'm bummed... However, Mr. Beckman has shown me that he's a very solid, patient, and technically correct Coach. Just do what he asks, and you'll come out of the process with some new skills and confidence! I don't know who all else might run a clinic, but, I've noticed that often ECES riders work out stuff on their own by chatting it up on the lifts. Don't be shy if something feels off, or needs work! There are some very able 'sideline coaches' that are just hanging out riding at these events. Some of even have AASI affiliation..(eek) Wish I could be there rippin' turns, but, well, hey, go get some for me, Eh?! Represent!! Curt, frippin' Call Me ! ! I've got munchkin boots/bindings for ya! [if you don't have my #, call Diane ('mom') Schwippertt!]

I'd offer you a ride in Gnu/Elfgen tongued bindings, but my last extra pair had the tongues crack (Snifff), but those bindings were the schnitzell! If you find an old (pre-'92) Gnu somewhere, consider putting those tongues into the Flows (or, as I did last winter, into T-9 Bradshaws). I do wish someone who makes stuff knew a little history, or, enough from which revisit and update ideas like those...

Spartanpilot, Thanks for that!! Those are exactly what's on my Cruizer right now. BTW, with my old M-5, Safari Comp I, and M-6, I added four inserts, just ahead of [in front], and just behind [at the rear], the center inserts to form the Burton 42mm triangle. This pushed my stance out 2-1/2", and let me use any 3-D compatible binding. It made those M's come alive, being able to actually use the tail for thrust, and the angle adjustment plus comfier stance was a big plus. Don't know if you'd want to poke holes in a Vintage Burton, but it worked quite well...

An update on the Zip bases... I've no highbacks that fit anymore, and I'd have to find straps (I have straps a-plenty, but they're in boxes, in storage, somewhere). The baseplates do fit the old Burton 5-hole, but not perfectly. Sorry, I wish I had the 'fix' at hand... If you're interested in the above parts/pieces, reply whenever; I'm in no hurry with this stuff, it's been around since the day...

Buford, those binding all were prone to petroleum-eating molds, and they'd just crumble from that or too much direct sunlight. I lost three sets that way, plus '87.'88 and '91 Burton 3-straps, all in boxes, in my old barn. So, your chances of getting the ankle-breaker two-piece red plastic Burton bindings are slim. If you're looking to ride it, I would be very careful of these, even if they're whole and intact. If you do find them, use them for 'display' or collector reasons. However, I do have a pair of ZIP aluminum baseplates (direct rip-off of a Grell/Sims binding) that had holes that, while not having much angle range, could mount to an '85/86 Performer Elite. These have straps/highbacks currently, but I think I could build them out of my parts-bin. The issue, as I recall (what, from 25 years ago?) was with the rear binding, as these are flat, un-bendable bases, and the deck of board is concaved deeply. I think we'd stuff pipe-insulation foam under the back binding to keep it from splitting the tail apart (of course, we were airborne often; the Performer was a great kicker-launch board in the day). I will see if any of the other old 5-hole bindings I have might fit that year of Performer, as the hole-set was close to 200mm across (on the diagonal) that the Burton/Elfgen hole pattern used into the early 90's. Good Hunting! PSR

I've got two pair of Burton Variplate rail-cage bindings, one from 1989 (toe/heel closure) and one pair from '91, dual toe closure. Various cant/lift block combos, too. For softies, I have a pair of Eflgen ,straps, modded to be 3-strap (ugly strap kit/mix/match, but it works); and a pair of Nitro/Elfgen two-strap bindings. These have both the 5-hole Burton pattern, but also the vintage Gnu 4-hole "diamond/square" pattern used up until '92. Three-position forward lean, but a very narrow toe box (good up to US size 9/10, or put your Sorel McKinley's on a belt-sander and shave a little off the side?), but no cracks, stored out of the sunlight always. I might even have a pair of Gnu/Elfgen tongues, though the straps I'd have to dig for. I also have the Mega-flex 3-strap bindings, currently residing on the 1988 Cruzer, but they'd be extra. Oh, and two aluminum under-binding 5-hole cants optional. Sorry, no pics yet. I'll work on that if need-be. Prices aren't cheap, but this stuff is all in usable shape (and, indeed, still in use rare/occasional use). Wouldn't happen to want a Diablo 186 to go with?? ;-) Reply 2 ebrammersk8snow a t g mail dot c o m for details.

Shred/Gnar, I saw a pair of Nidecker 900's (with the under-binding LDS pads!) on Ebay two days back. A more current binding (lighter, w/ wrapped highback) would be the Technine Bradshaw (Shred til death) from '2014-15. I've owned both, broke neither, and they're strong, stiff, decent for BX racing and freecarving.

O.K., first, your timing of this sale; for ME!; truly sucks!! But I'm over it.. Kinda... Secondly, this cap construction should not, in any way, dissuade carvers nor woods-riders from looking this board over. My 162 of this model-year rode, while I taught (so, on-snow, Everyday, doing Anything I asked of it) for almost 7 full seasons before hitting a groomer-placed rock at Stratton. It got repaired at the resort's cost, and soldiered on another two years. I averaged, then, 190 days/season on snow, and that one board bore the brunt of it. In my time, this has been the best board I rode in terms of durability and versatility, and was my third fave of all, what, 226 boards I've owned. Buy It, Ride it like you stole it!

Yeah, I'd give my left nad for that, if it wasn't for the recent vasectomy! BTW, those bindings are darn strong, only tweaked one highback, ever... So, for now, I've nothing to give ya, unless you're into old Burtons.

Hey, Scrapster, is the Tanker still buy-able!? I'd love to have at it! Call me (cell#) @ 802 952 4027 "PSR"