Rusty Edges

Great information and interesting binding set-up. I have never had my highback levers release on my NXT-FSE's. Apparently I'm not getting low enough on my heelside carves... Are you running reinforced boots? Tongue inserts? What board(s) are they mounted on?

First dibs when you get "board" of it... The posted sidecut numbers are a touch agressive. 18.2-17.2-19.2 is huge for a soft boot carver!

I hope the young boy heals fast. I agree with the above. I would probably have lost my pass for "dealing" with the two boys. Membership has its privilage I would bet if the kids did not have the local race team jackets on the decision would have been quite different. There is no ambiguity or interpretation of the skiers code. The down-slope skier/snowboarder has right of way...

Now that will carve up the sky!!!

"Be vewy carefuwl... We're hunting softbootahs." (apologies to Elmer J) It is a slippery slope. One year your picking up a used Amplid and some 'Mutes to see what the fuss is all about. The next year there is a hammer head leaning on the wall next to it and your wondering which of the GS boards you can live without... Sure there is a loss of precision, but now you can carve the same runs and the hits and hips on the side of the run come into play. Consider yourself warned!

That's Purty... (now I'll have that Rush song going through my head the rest of the day)

Isn't the above what snowboarding should be all about? Just having fun!!!

Future Olympian. Then gives it all up to freeride in Alaska...

Board arrived today. Cheers, Trev

The broken board on the landing of the first front flip looks painfull. OUCH!!! That's just adding insult to injury...

Still interested. Check your PM.

Check your PM.

I have two pairs of the gauntlet style deer skin gloves. Rebranded for the local box store. One set of gloves and one set of mittens for the cold days. A water-proofing is required to keep the seams from leaking. The leather on my gloves shows no wear after two season of use. Never leaked even on the soggiest day at the local hill. (touch wood) Thanks for the reminder to re-spray the gloves before the season. All our snow keeps getting washed away...

What year is the Swoard? What do you want for the Swoard without the bindings?

There is always the case of a $200 helmet on a two bit brain. I've been accused of this many times. "What are you protecting?" No helmet is going to protect you from every possible accident. I've worn helmets for so long, I cannot ride without one now...

The latest all-mountain soft boot designs appear to have gone back to a board that can carve when wanted. Yet won't hold you back in bumps, deep, or trees. The Jones Hovercraft looks like a true all-mountain machine. As noted earlier, the Prior MFR is another do it all board. Carlito's board posted above may be what you're looking for. (and supporting a small local Canadian company) You may need to try a few boards to decide what you really want, or need. Demo season is coming soon...

Anyone else tried the Amplid Pentaquark 161? It has been my first foray back to soft boots. I was a little worried when the reviews all said the board was very stiff. These guys must ride egg noodles for boards... Without the stiffness and support of hard boots and bindings I found the ability to shift edge weight front and back a new experience when carving. Back to surfing style. The extra width slows down the edge transfer a bit. It took me a few runs to find the optimal front foot placement but once my stance was set I was 18 years old again. Carving the groomers, butters when needed, and launching off any hip that presented itself. WIll it replace my trusty hard boots and quiver of "rut cutters"? Never... It's just a new way to have fun, and my kids appreciate getting air with Dad. That Endeavor Hamerhead in the classifieds is calling to me. Just need some snow on the local hills.

You always remember your first... Burton Backhill followed by the Elite 150 with the goofy attempt at high back bindings. Far too many days hiking the local peaks prior to acceptance. I'm sure Jake and Tom are discussing the finer points of board design, and who was "first" on their rides back to the top. RIP JBC PHUQ CANCER

We've all done that once or twice. There is getting aggressive, and there is pushing that extra bit. Until... That one was particularly nasty... OUCH!!!

Fully agree on the MADD's. Two different manufactures make their own version of the "legendary 159". That is saying something... Granted newer equipment is more refined and somewhat easier to ride in less than perfect conditions. However, I still regularly ride boards that were made in the last century. When I am on my game the old Hot Blasts, circa 1997, are a pleasure to ride. Would I suggest an old board for learning? No way. But if you already have the technique and muscle memory, older (antique?) boards are a pleasure to ride. Your mileage may vary...

You mean me wife isn't the only one that is married to her "Oldest Child"?

I'm sure I have a few. PM me...

Hunt around for a BMW Street Carver. They're quite heavy and not really the fastest for bombing hills. But it is the closest I've come to the snowboard carving feeling.

Most definitely! Take a lesson! Kiting is all about finesse. The ladies pick it up much faster than us "Meatheads". Don't ever try to muscle a kite. I kite regularly locally and in Maui. Sufboards and hydrofoils, haven't owned a TT in years. I use inflatable kites only on the water but do have a few foil kites for snow kiting. I have a 3m trainer for teaching friends and windy days on the snow. Spend as much time as you can with the trainer kite. Be able to move it around the wind window without looking. Bar control is like riding a bike. bend one elbow at a time to make it turn, and then back to straight. Keep you arms relatively in line with the kite lines. Once you move on to 4 lines you control the kite power with the back line sheeting (bar) tension. With a little practice even a small trainer can pick you off the ground. Be careful though. Pointed in the wrond direction that little kite can kick your A$$.! It's an evil ADDICTION! Consider yourself warned. Kite kit makes what we do look cheap...

"Freaks of the Trench" unite... Despite both those threads being quite dated. It is frustrating to read the ingorance and lack of understanding in both those links. We are definitely not doing enough to "edumacate" the masses...