1xsculler

I'm finding hardboard carving a sport for loners at my, and probably most, local resorts. And damn I struggle with controlling my speed without skidding out to scrub it off...and my quads give out after only two hours...very frustrating!

FWIW, I have described my boot fitting dilemma and solution to it in "for sale" "Hard boots size 28 Deeluxe, Donek Axxess 262, etc."

It has been with great difficulty and trial and error to find what works for me so I went through many pairs of boots and liners, new and used. Now that I have found one simple solution to my fitting problem I feel I could make any size 28 shell (my feet measure 28.2cm) work very well for me whether UPZ or Deeluxe. The solution: whether using a 28 or 29 heat moldable foam liner, i.e. Intuition, Deeluxe 131 or 141, I have to cut a slit all the way through the portion of the foam liner that covers the tops of my toes, from the top of my little toe across to the top of my big toe about 1" back from the toe end of the liner, so that my toes have plenty of room. With that slit cut, my toes push through the end of the liner so the slit opens up to about 1/2", (12.5mm) wide. No matter how many toe caps or other devices I placed around my toes when heat molding I could never get my toes even close to comfortable in foam liners. Zipfit 28.5 were very comfortable. I have boarded in these modified liners for three 2 hr. days and have had no problem with cold toes although if I lived in a colder climate I might have to find some insulating material to fill the slit with. Even with a 29 shell and 29 liner (I know a 29 is too big and I can't cram my foot into a 27) I couldn't get my toes comfortable. After showing my shells to numerous boot fitter guys it became obvious that a 28 shell, Deeluxe or UPZ, had plenty of room in it. The toe area of the liner was always the problem no matter how much screwing around I did try to thin the toe area out. Much to my elation, boot fit is no longer a problem. I may extend the slit on each side to give my toes even more room laterally.

Crystal Mt., WA, was awesome last friday for rekindling my stoke/carving quest for the coming season. I banged out my best turns on my new Coiler 163. Tuesdays and Fridays are my days as those are the days my wife goes to work so Tuesday (tomorrow) I will head back up to the MT with my new Coilers ( EC180 and AM 176). Board 9:00 to 11:00 with a 187ml bottle of Pino Grigio through a straw while riding up the chair around 10:00 to put me in a more aggressive mood for more guts to get down low and bend my board...home by 1:00. I've found the only way I can have comfortable toes with my 28.2cm foot in my UPZ RC8s, size 28, 131 size 28 liners is to completely cut off the top and front of the part of the liner which covers my toes. I left the sole portion intact. My toes now have plenty of wiggle room and they stayed warm last Friday, at least. My boots feel great. I will come up with some way of covering the tops of my toes for warmth if necessary, i.e. maybe lamb's wool like in Zipfits. Why is it when I post on my phone they never show up on the website?

The waist of the Axxess 162 is 21.5cm.

There must be a lot of time and expense to host a website like BOL. I, for one, would be willing to ante up a little to help keep it alive. Other websites I am on ask for a donation of a few % of the sale price if you sell or find something in the classifieds. Maybe just a friendly $10 or $20 occasionally would ease the burden. If Fin will post his Paypal email I will start it off this Holiday season with $100. I was really depressed when it looked like there would be no more BOL. I was even hesitating getting out my gear. Corey's mini-site gave me hope and I put my rack on my car. When BOL was back I got really stoked and I mounted my bindings on my new Coiler 163 slalom board and did a little surgery on my 131 liners in my UPZ RC8s to create a little more toe room and I had the right boot bunched for more big toe comfort. I am fully stoked and might make it up to Crystal on Friday and resume my Tuesday and Friday weekly routine.

Excellent condition BTS with yellow or blue springs, $100 plus $10 shipping. Intel heels for sale, $50.

Thanks for holding our hands for a few days, Corey, and thanks, Fin, for picking up the pieces! I was really missing BOL.

I have found it very difficult to get enough room for my right big toe in any foam liners whereas I have plenty of room and warmth in Zipfits using the same shells and the heel hold down is awesome.

Please send me your email.

I'll have to wait for them to run out of size 28 which usually happens pretty rapidly.

Never mind. I found it.

Shells only, $300 for RC8, $225 for Track Free 69s. Bought both new last spring.

No more, For Sale and Wanted to buy?

I have a pair of RC8 shells only, the best way to buy them as the stock liners are not good for most riders. size 29. I've had both RC10s and 8s and I prefer the 8s although there is very, very little difference.

I hear rumblings from my wife that a large portion of our winter may be on Maui so my only carving time may be at one or both of these events and I'd like to carve (no pun intended) out my time.

Not sure you're getting my replys so I'll let me know if this goes through? New size 29, UPZ RC8 shells only including shipping to WV, $340.

I'm trying to remember this but I believe a TD3 binding mounted with a zero degree base produces a few degrees of toe lift too, doesn't it...can't remember for sure?

I checked my nuts...all was good....thanks for the tip...I never would have thought of it myself!

What size, model and brand are your shells? What are the numbers stamped on the outside side of the sole?

Looks a bit generous behind your heel but measure your foot and know your shell size.

How about just a Donek special with a blend of characterists including those of the MK. Send it out to me and I will test it out at Whistler.

Nice quiver. I like the concept and specs of the new Donek 172 MK too. You'll get a lot of satisfaction out of riding a board you had major input in.

So I can drag this season out a little longer and make it interesting why don't one of you shredders step up to the plate and sponsor me to go to Dubai and give a full report on laying out a few trenches in their indoor ski venue in the desert if it is still functioning. I'm not the best person to do it but I might be able to create some interest down there. You can probably tell that I'm a little bored with too much time on my hands now that I've stowed my gear for the next seven months. In the afternoon I could shank a few golf balls off the tallest building in the world which I think is, or was, in Dubai. BTW, I travel only 1st class.