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Jarcode

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  1. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted · Edited by Jarcode

    Day 19, Manning

    A curse has fallen upon our resort.

    Yesterday we were notified of an imminent highway closure for avalanche control and worsening driving conditions with the upcoming warm storm system. I resigned myself to be stranded at the resort because surely the snow would be good, right?

    Later that evening, pipes were bursting in the restaurant at the lower resort area from the extreme temperature shift (-32C to >0C). Ceiling tiles were falling out and the place was a huge mess.

    We were also hit by a critical water conservation alert, because we're on our own well system and had depleted most of our limited supply (the fall drought left us on thin ice). Public washrooms were being closed and I spotted a disgruntled trucker brazenly emptying his bladder in view of the main lodge.

    Come tomorrow morning, I have a nice layer of ice formed on my truck from freezing rain. After driving myself and another staff member up the hill, we discover the rain is covering most of the ski hill. Slop everywhere, and sticky powder at the top. Everyone is getting drenched, very few guests even bothered to show up.

    The rope tow failed to start, presumably due to ice buildup. Blue chair also did not run. Bear chair had a delayed start due to heavy winds. I taught a single lesson, with guests less than pleased about having to walk up the bunny hill.

    Our christmas eve "torchlight parade" was cancelled due to weather.

    Something went wrong with the bus at the end of the day and all the staff were being ferried down in work trucks.

    The highway has been fully closed due to a severe accident. Most of the road is ice. We're now putting up with a lot of stranded travellers unable to continue along the #3. There's a blockade up now with police and firefighters on the scene.

    A snapshot of the less than ideal driving conditions while it was still light out:

    spacer.png

    I just learned the resort has run out of rooms for stranded travellers. People are sleeping wherever now:

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    The staff here seem resigned to the idea that this sort of holiday chaos is a regular occurrence. I think their cynicism is rubbing off on me.

    I'm about to head to a karoke event at the bar.

  2. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted

    Day 18, Manning

    Light pow day, with more heavy snow starting in the afternoon. Really forgiving carving on the "medium" pack, and had no issues floating in the pow with the Bastard.

    Taught one lesson. Had to call the day early because of foot pain... it seems like I've gotten myself into a nasty cycle of foot swelling that I used to get in my previous boots, and its getting hard to fend off with anti-inflammatory drugs. Need another punch if I'm going to be riding 6 days a week.

    Huge storm incoming, tomorrow is going to have a lot of the soft stuff.

  3. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted

    Day 17.5, Manning

    Even colder. The temps read -32C at the base of Bear Chair. At this point we had to call off opening the chairs since our lifts aren't rated to operate below -30C... and the wind at the top apparently pushed things to unsafe levels for potential guests.

    The spedometer in my truck broke due to the extreme cold. Another big storm incoming, all snow for Manning... looks like Cypress is going to be getting a different kind of precipitation though

  5. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted

    You're complaining about your drive?  The drive from Cypress out to Manning was crazy! So many vehicles spotted that ran off the highway. Abbotsford was coated in over 40cm of snow. Manning got absolutely dumped on as well.

    Highly unlikely people make it out to the lessons I have booked tomorrow.

    It was fun joining your training. Poor visibility is one of my weak spots, so it was nice to follow you around and just commit to technique.

  6. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted

    Day 15, Manning.

    COLD! We hit -20C today and got a lot more snow than expected... a strange pow day with super light snow.

    Our club meeting got cancelled since our head coach caught covid (and I believe driving conditions today were horrendous in the morning).

    Taught a two hour staff lesson teaching a skier how to snowboard. Very fast progression, needed to modify instruction a bit because there was powder everywhere...

    Called it early since I need to pack up and get home. Back to Cypress on tuesday for my first lessons there!

  7. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted

    Day 14, Manning. Three lessons: private adult, private youth, group youth. Teaching kids is so much fun, especially when you spot them ripping down the bunny slope later with the skills you just taught them.

    Snow was still good... no ice. The storm system started to settle in at the end of the day; lots of snow coming. Wish I got more runs in but I'm playing it safe so I can go all out tomorrow.

    Coach meeting tomorrow.

  8. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted

    Day 13, Manning. Private lesson with one staff, first time on a snowboard but had an athletic background in a bunch of sports, including longboarding, so the progression was very fast. Seems like I'm going to be getting a lot of staff lessons, since there's a lot of people in other departments taking up the opportunity for unlimited free lessons.

    Lots of freecarving today. Blue chair opened for the first time this season, opening up a ton of untouched pow stashes that still hadn't frozen over. The icing on the cake was that everyone was so focused on the powder that the piste was mostly undisturbed!

    spacer.png

    Got an invitation to join training sessions with the ski instructors. Apparently our technique has some overlap with carving on skis?

    This was the first day things started to feel a bit too warm, so freeze/thaw might kick in now. More snow on the way, though.

  9. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted · Edited by Jarcode

    I'm in the same boat...  despite me sporting the ultra-stiff .951 race shells, they're more comfortable than my softboots since they're holding my foot together and preventing my flexible forefoot from spreading too much. I can probably make them work with some liner modifications, but since I'm not required to use them here I'm going to just leave it alone for now.

    You were right about teaching beginners with hardboots; they're so focused on getting down the slope that they don't even notice. My stance is still quite aggressive for demos though, so I might be putting plates back on my softboot board for a more beginner-friendly setup.

  10. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted · Edited by Jarcode

    Day 12, Manning. Morning lesson with two snowboarders that recognized me from Cypress! Went from falling leaf to conquering the chairlift with good looking turns at an unusually fast pace... very rewarding.

    Afternoon lesson teaching two staff how to snowboard. Moderate success, some learning on my behalf trying to help people conquer some fears.

    Had some fun laps with two ski kids enrolled in our club.

    Bastard for teaching, Incline for freecarving. Great hardpack for carving, lots of undisturbed groom with the mostly empty mountains.

    More tomorrow!
     

    • Like 1

  11. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted

    @Cousin of Beagle back on hardboots! Who bullied you into that?

    Had an awesome first day teaching. I taught students from the same highschool I went to!

    The second lesson had some carving training involved... one of the stronger riders that showed up from the school group specifically wanted lessons on carving! I swapped to the donek incline and went to work.

    Helped patrol sweep the mountain today. Very boring job.

    Clear skies, great groom, still no freeze/thaw cycle in sight.

    spacer.png

    I might be teaching on plates for all levels here, softboots are actually hurting my feet. Might try to heat up the liner to make more space...

    More work tomorrow.

    • Like 1

  13. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

    Posted

    7 hours ago, charliechocolate said:

    You're all too cool to ride today's wet cement that was yesterdays chowder?

    Would rather enjoy completely empty groomers and colder temps out at Manning!

    spacer.png

    Patrol and off-duty staff outnumbered guests at the hill today. Less than 10 guest vehicles in the parking lot.

    Coverage isn't looking as good though. Got myself another scratch on my base, I think it's time for some ptex repairs and switching boards until more snow comes.

  20. Lower Mainland Carvers' Diaries, 2022/23

    in Canada - British Columbia

  23. Mountain Slope .951

    in Hardboot Reviews

    Posted

    38 minutes ago, ShortcutToMoncton said:

    Yeah, you’re right it could be a shell size thing…I’m at the end of B shell (26.5) which has given me some pause, as my forefoot/toe is pretty wide. 

    I couldn’t get along with the Deeluxe, by the time the heel was down everything else was agony. 

    I was off hardboots for years until recently (no terrain & then injuries) but I’ve been using a highly customized pair of Dalbello Krypton Pros since 2008 or so, right around when the Northwaves dried up and the racers were experimenting. Pure shell flex, look ma no springs!! I’ve busted a couple wire buckles over the years but Dalbello has been rock solid in getting me new ones. But it is time to get into something a little newer…..


    You do not want to size up on mountain slope boots, since the difference between the sizes are too large. Get the B shell, and find a bootfitter experienced with grilamid plastic (I went to a shop that mostly sold touring equipment), and you can get the forefoot blown out substantially.

    My C shells were completely useless without substantial shell work, and as someone who shares your wide forefoot woes (significant 5th metatarsal splay), you're likely going to run into discomfort with the stock liner as well... this is due to stitching on the sides of the liner that stiffen it up too much in the forefoot and take up too much volume. The mountain slope shells are phenomenal, the liners are very hit or miss.

     

  24. Mountain Slope .951

    in Hardboot Reviews

    Posted

    14 minutes ago, ShortcutToMoncton said:

    🙈

    It might be worth clarifying that I am at the end of my size for the .951 shells (C, m28). The T700 shell for my size is m28 (28.5 with a liner swap). The sizes don't map perfectly since the T700 has a 1.0 mondo point difference between shell sizes, and the mountain slopes have a 1.5 difference.

    That being said, the T700s are still quite high volume. Known for poor heel lock and requires some work to get performance comparable to the mountain slope boots.

  25. Mountain Slope .951

    in Hardboot Reviews

    Posted · Edited by Jarcode

    @Jack M I got mine significantly blown out along the entire 5th metatarsal, particularly on my right foot. It looks a little lopsided now but I'm quite happy with the results. Seems like any good bootfitter with experience working with grilamid has no issues with this shell (lots of heat needed though).

    @ShortcutToMoncton since I moved to .951s (130RD, m28/C) from my T700s (m28), here's my thoughts:

    • Massive increase in lateral stiffness. The T700 shells are significantly higher volume and unless you have a really bulky foot, the "play" in the liner from those shells makes for a far less responsive ride than the .951s.
       
    • Forward/backward flex feels slightly softer with the yellow springs. I had blue BTS on my T700s, also rode them locked for years. The .951s have a more "linear" flex since the tongue isn't doing much in those shells, whereas the T700s have a stiff hinge and a tongue that is constantly resisting forward flex. Very different feel.
       
    • The toebox in the T700 is actually much larger. The issue with the T700 is that the stock liners are so high volume that you're loosing a lot of forefoot space until you either swap for a different liner or punch the shell.
       
    • The Race Department model is probably overkill for the vast majority of riders. I'm happy with them, but unless you're a bigger guy or racing, the near-elimination of lateral flex makes for a very rigid setup. It made my carving much more stable.
       
    • I tossed the stock liner in favor of the ZipFit GFT. Because this liner flexes so nicely, it is probably making the forward flex feel softer than normal. I could not tolerate the stock liner at all to compare.
    • Like 1
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