1xsculler

In UPZs the shell only come in full sizes. Half sizes are a slightly different liner only. Most guys consider the stock UPZ liners junk, as do I, so I buy my UPZs without liners and use Deeluxe/Palau 131 liners. Dan at UPZ can sometimes be talked into selling a pair of boots w/o liners which can save you a few bucks or you might be able to buy them out of Europe. If your feet measure 27.25 and 27.75 I would say you need a 27 shell in UPZ. I am unfamiliar with Mountain Slopes and I believe they are considerably more expensive than UPZ or Deeluxe. They may be worth it. I prefer the RC8 (identical to the RC10 except for color and one less useless buckle in the lower foot). Neither are probably available any longer so the 12s may be your only choice and they’re probably fine. Thirsts and Coilers are probably your best bet with Thirst being preferred for a budding hardboot carver, IMHO. After you get your carve down either board will do you well as will Doneks and many others. Do Norms until you tip over both ways and until you can’t stand it any longer. After you find your pencil lines and are linking them up do occasional Norms until you are a hipdragger. Just my $0.02 and it’s worth less.

Why do you ride them at such high angles? I doubt they are narrower than 25 at the waist.

I’m thinking I would prefer a shorter board for easier handling and a SCR closer to 9 for making tighter turns on the steeps. What do you think?

I am surprised that anyone, including Jeremy Jones, can make pretty big arcing turns when laying a board with a 6ish side cut radius almost 90° to the snow. I would expect that Storm Chaser would make a super sharp, i.e. too sharp, of a turn to be a nice carve. I found that to be somewhat the case with the Lib Tech Dynamo so I think I would like a pow board with more like a 9ish radius (Maybe a Jones Hovercraft) to be better for carving and still float out and be super easy to ride pow in, I think??? Those are some nice turns!

After buying a Hero 9 at Target which caused me to do more research I am wondering why I would want one if my iPhone will do the job. I found it interesting that the 9 is $449 at Target and in the box is a coupon to buy one from GoPro for $349 so even if I decide I need one the obvious choice would be to return the one to Target.

Awesome, Barry! OMG, it’s THE TURN! That speaks to my soul! After carving and hitting the pow on the little Lib Tech with my hardboots and 35/20 I am beginning to seriously question why I punish myself on my 19 and 20cm alpine carving sticks at 55/55 especially when they eliminate the pow option and the riding with my softboot son-in-law and skiing with my grandkids when they like to do the steep and deep in Jackson.

I hope you recover well!

Maybe my buddy and I should just video each other with our iPhones.

Helmet, chest mount? I’m assuming the Hero 9 is the best choice.

Thanks, Barry, I really appreciate your opinion. I did fall in love with that 156 Lib Tech Dynamo but since it’s the first board of that type I have ridden I figure there must be others out there.

35/20 on the 156 Lib Tech Dynamo 45/40 on my 162 Contra, 9.5, 19.5

Thanks. I wondered about those bump outs. I agree about the stance but more inserts could be added if one of those boards could be bought for the right price. Do those bump outs rule this board out?

I just discovered that my UPZs and F2 stepins work great on a 156 Lib Tech Dynamo on groomers and in pow. I see no reason to buy soft boots and softboot bindings.

Do any of you know of a model of Arbor brand board in the 156 to 160 range that would be a good pow board and a good carver?

I couldn’t agree more as I doubt any of those awesome riders are on boards over 160.

This I learned Monday and Tuesday of this week. I watched soft boot carving vids Sunday night and demoed a 156 Lib tech Dynamo with my UPZs/F2 stepins, 35/20 on Monday and that may have changed my life. Much to my surprise, since I have spent no more than a couple of hours total on a board designed for soft boots, I could actually really carve on groomers on that setup and it seemed to turn all by itself in pow. It was a ton of fun. On my 162 Contra, 9.5, 19.5, 45/40 Tuesday and trying to emulate yesterday. By far the best carving day of my life. I found myself carving right behind Tony, arc for arc, on pitches I couldn’t carve on a week ago. The first half of the first run on my 162 Contra was terrible but I found my edge in the last half and really got on it over the next five runs...lots of pencil lines and nice “Cs”. Made my last run on my 166 Contra, 19, 11, 55/55 and began to find my edge towards the end of the run...can’t wait til Friday, Monday and Tuesday and then off to Maui. I’m a little embarrassed to admit it but chugging 187ml of white wine (the smallest bottle you can buy) just before getting out of my car and heading for the lift provides me with a noticeable attitude improvement especially when I am tired from a night of poor sleep.

With your great attitude you are going to be just fine! So sorry for the interruption in your activity.

How’d it happen?

Very nice carving all the way around...makes my quads burn just watching it.

Nice groom, Nice tracks! Just curious, which board?

I think this might help me quite a bit. Thanks BWD! I’ll try it tomorrow and/or Friday and for the next two weeks when my season ends.

I’m feeling guilty. I really am and I’m ashamed of myself for letting the SC go even though I feel it found a good home. Getting a custom SF from you will partially mitigate my guilt.

I still find myself slarving where Tony can carve and that really pisses me off. I have learned a ton this season and I will bore you with the details as time allows. 1. A board can make a significant difference BUT not nearly as much difference as rider technique. 2. Slarving is mostly a bad habit and it can be a difficult one to break. Viewing your track from the chair doesn’t lie BUT, in your heart, you already know the truth before you see your tracks. 3. Haveing a fellow carver, as a role model, carving on the runs you ride makes a huge difference. This is the first season I have had this. THANKS TO TONY! During the 18/19 season Tony and I were pretty much equal except he had a history of 20 years of soft boot riding to my none and he is 25 years younger, i.e. we both slarved most of the time. The first time we rode together this season it was obvious that he had found his edge and had sprinted ahead of me. He disciplines himself to stay on edge whenever possible and he’ll throw a lay down “norm “ to falling over in there every once in a while. He sets a great example and I can visualize his movements and body position even when I am riding by myself. You can make very sharp turns and still be slarving and that pisses me off...my problem. I have good days and not so good days but any day on the slopes is better than any day hanging out and only going for a 40 minute row for my exercise which I enjoy very much too. Tony is my substitute for attending MCC and riding with him is much more instructive because we are riding on the only slopes I will ever ride on.

Beautiful tracks, for sure!

Great riding on some steep stuff!