mikel45

Don - thanks for taking the time to describe Thias binding set-up, much appreciated. CHEERS! Mike

I have to pass on this one, it won't fit in my fridge.

"I'm just a soul who's intentions are good, oh lord please don't let me be misunderstood." - Regina Spektor

True or false? 1) I am hypochondriac author ghost writing a book entitled: The Secrets of Effortless, Low-Impact Snowboarding for Older Skiers? 2) I'm grumpy that no Pakems were under the Xmas tree? 3) I like to wear sweaters so old that they are back in style? 4) Curmudgeon trying to have fun before he hits >60?

Club Membership is now open. Benefits: you save a ton of money on shampoo. :rolleyes: Hazard: ski muppet says . . . "looks like fun, I'll give it a try when I reach your age"

"Feed the addiction" - Monodude

Spring 2011, here is what I posted about my first skwal experience . . . "a non-boarder, solely a skier - first day ever on a skwal. Started off on magic carpet (bunny hill) to learn how to point and track the board under limited speed. Move to tow rope (larger bunny hill) to increase speed. Moved to triple chair, learned mighty quick how to depart chair, initiate turns and more importantly how to stop!! Ski poles used throughout. Also, let be known, all was not accomplished without a few rolling windmills. All before noon. Overall conclusion, skwals are a blast - highly recommended!!"

+2 hardboots. Carpet surfing beforehand. Bunny hill with sticks.

. . . +1

Interesting question, pretty sure I'm not going to be able to help you out as I'm not familiar with any of the listed boots. I started out and still ride with my Raichle 324 snowboard boots. Over the last couple of years I added BTS and DIY booster strap to improve boot-to-skwal feedback and personal riding comfort. I also like the ability to control the boot flex, especially with the rear boot. I hope this helps, others may have other suggestions.

Patrick Thias Balmain talks about using sticks . . . Question: "We talk about skwal without poles ... and yet, we can also skwaler with sticks ... It almost seems that they are two disciplines ... Can you tell us what you think? According to you, is that the sticks are also suitable for carving skwal? Do you think the sticks are useful for beginners or otherwise they are an obstacle to progress?" Answer: "Skiing without poles is more difficult and less interesting. It is the same for skwal. In my case, I practiced a lot without sticks. Today I use the sticks. They open me a much broader scope. For me, skwal tomorrow shall be conducted with sticks, even in extreme carve. Simply place the stick perpendicular to the board, horizontally on the snow, under the hand and relying on the forearm."

Matt, if you plan to ride you'll need a plate system that mounts onto the board, additional bindings mount on top of the plate - then you are good to go.

Start off on the bunny hill. Use some ski poles to balance clipping-in. Become comfortable making turns and stopping. Speed is your friend to initiate carves. Personally I prefer back foot locked in - my front foot is used to clip-in and out - no big issue. I believe the close boot-to-boot stance prefer by the Europeans because they have wide, unpopulated trails. We have relatively narrow, heavy populated trails, so I also agree - go with a wider stance. You'll be on the chair lift before noon. Let us know how you make out. CHEERS! Mike

Tufty, do you know which of the two has the foam construction?

A 183 Thias Cheetah (race/extreme) looks like fun on a stick

The 15m race/extreme is named Guepard 183 a.k.a. Thias Cheetah 183

for me it was the fighter pilot speeds, speed changes ya, I now wear armour

With 6m radius, ideal board for initiating a child to the sport. Source: Skwalzone

Hope this helps out regarding the 165 Thias Easy Jungle . . . paraphrasing skwalzone description . . . "If you are inexperienced or just starting out looking for a skwal suitable for all conditions, riding narrow tracks and want a board to forgive your mistakes go with the Easy Jungle 165. If you consider yourself already experienced move on to more technical skwals which allow you more scalability over time."

Anyone else thought of promoting the sport, I have. No longer just a fad - maybe the universe has aligned.

The board is a fun ride, been out twice now and can tear up the hill with super fast slalom carves - get lots of compliments/questions from lift line crowd. What I'd like to accomplish somewhere down the road is the laying down of slow 10 metre carves.

Don, I'm interested in Thias 183 Extreme also - will pm Happy New Year!

Here are a couple . . . apologize for the quality . . . doesn't do the board justice. I went with stock board & graphics. The stock board is actually built for this/your/my weight range. Sidenotes: 1) the graphic selection is actually for the CODA monoboard shape so when it comes to sizing graphics to the skwal there will be distortion, e.g. see CODA logo on left split-tail above. I wouldn't try to design and submit your own custom graphics for topsheet especially if it's quite complicated around the split-tail - best to keep the graphics simple whether you select stock design or submit your own design. 2) Discuss beforehand the stock hole pattern.

Family heading to Cade on Saturday, maybe also Sunday. For the Sunday Bogie riders, if you have Pak season pass bring to Bogie to receive 50% off lift price.

Bogie badly needs "fresh", quite a bit of surface gravel still on portion of some runs.