Deuxdiesel

More money than sense...

Rossi VAS! I was working as a ski and snowboard instructor in CT, riding a first-gen PJ when a Rossi rep that I knew through windsurfing asked if I wanted to try their new board- it was a black 163 with the R logo and "test" in yellow on the top sheet. Compared to the movements required to get the PJ to hook up, the Rossi was effortless. I rode it at Pico for the first time and did a full 360 carve, much to the amazement of myself and the skiers I was with. Back in those days I was barely cracking 150 lbs, so when the 173 came out, I could barely turn it- it was a big feller's board without question. I stayed with Rossi for years, even through the Throttle models (which cupped something fierce over time). I did dabble with the super-duper asym Aggression boards for a while, but those were even more funky on steep terrain than the PJ models.

Just checking to see if these are repairable. They go on this board. I wanted to try carving but I'm not sure if they will work. They go on this board... Happy April 1st, carving fools. It is sad what time does to these things though- they just crumbled when I took them out of the box.

Other than maybe using this at Deer Valley or Alta to sneak in, I don't really see this performing any better than an alpine board and even many of the soft boot carving boards. The videos that I have watched just aren't that impressive. It is a cool idea and I love that Kildy is still tinkering with gear though.

Patrollers are just like the rest of the population- the overwhelming majority are hard-working and decent people, and then there are the others.... I patrolled for 17 years, and you deal with some pretty difficult people, so they do get a little brusk. That's not an excuse for overlooking a safety issue, but worth considering.

It makes me wonder if a Flow fusion binding with some sort of external Power Ride tongue/strap arrangement would do the trick. Before long we will be reinventing Salomon SX92 Equipe's from the Glen Plake era.

https://summitskiboards.com/product/technine-custom-pro-ds-snowboard-bindings-plus-summit-riser-kit/ Something like this would be great. I had a pair of Burton Custom 3 strap bindings years ago that I left with a very attractive female snowboard instructor at Snowbird when I was teaching at National Academy. Too bad I wasn't thinking straight.

6'2" and 220 on a 162? I'd go longer, but I have several old race boards if you are interested. If you pay for the shipping and make a donation to this website, you can have one for free. I have a 157, 161 and 171 Elan Ballistics plus a 168 Volkl RT to choose from. All are in great condition and will just need a tune.

I don't get the trend toward shorter boards either, and "carving" is the new buzzword. As someone mentioned, virtually all boards can carve, but the expectation of carving from those on this forum are significantly different. Maybe it was the rider or maybe it is the board, but that demonstration of "carving" on the Arbor is weak. My Rossi Sushi wide can do better than that, even with it's weird-ass sidecut. I think the SCR discussion also needs the context of region. My wife rides a Coiler BXFR 160x24.5 with a 130EE and a 10m radius, mine is 168x27 and closer to 12m, and these are our Midwest boards. If we rode Snowmass or Snow Basin every day, I could see going with a larger SCR, but for here, making more full rounded carved turns per run is paramount.

I bought a Pret Cynic helmet last year as a replacement for my 15+ year old Giro G10. You have to take the whole thing apart to flip the liner to the "vent" position, which is a PITA, and the ear flaps are miserable to remove. It is also for a more round-ish head, so that is something to consider. I think I will strip it down to Spring mode and leave it there and get a different helmet for 90% of the cold and grey riding that I usually do.

Double turkey roasting bags filled with boiling water slipped inside of the liner while it's in the boot. Wait 10 minutes, remove the water bag and insert your foot. I stopped doing the oven method after Mrs. complained about the smell.

The Clicker system still requires a proprietary boot. At least with the Cinch you can use whatever boot works best for you. The Flow range covers just about any riding style and comfort level you could want and they are quick and easy to use.

During my tenure on national and divisional PSIA snowboard staff (late 80's- mid 90's), we all rode alpine boards and hardboots because the softboot stuff was woefully inadequate for anything other than freestyle riding. Soft bindings were weak and flimsy, boots were just a step up from Sorels and the proliferation of "pro" model freestyle junk boards was shocking. I remember doing a clinic and exam at Telluride on a borrowed freestyle board with baseless bindings because my regular board was lost in transit. I ended up riding wide and duck just so I could use my hips for support and lock out my legs because the equipment was so bad. The equipment today, both hard and soft, is utterly amazing. I rode my Volkl 168 GS yesterday for the first time in 8 years (maybe more) and was stunned at how "meh" is was. We are living in great snowboard times now.

The Men'sUrinal reviewer lost me at 157 being a big board and not having a long rockered nose. The quiver of one is a myth, because you can't get everything when you compromise.

I realize that my board is ancient, but I would still like to have one for posterity's sake. And when I say "my board", I mean just that. I researched, designed, tested and retested as well as oversaw the prototype manufacturing of this board.

I just switched back to Flow bindings (CX Fusion) on my Coiler BXFR after a few seasons of using Ride A-9's and A-10's. The difference is amazing. I made the switch due to my rear hand being in a brace from my accident a few weeks back, and the Flows do make it easier to strap in. The greatest difference is just how well the bindings hold the boot in place without having to crush my foot with an ankle strap to get support. There is also more lateral support with the Flows, which is nice riding the higher angles I'm at (36ish front, 33ish rear). The lack of a highback horseshoe is great as well, providing much less to get hung up on during a hard heel-side carve. My Ride Deadbolt boots in the Flow CX's on my Coiler 163x27 makes for a pretty incredible carving machine. I still have a fleet of alpine boards, but now that I am 60, I prefer the inherent flexibility of my set-up with very little discomfort and nearly all the dynamic performance. Over the next month, I will evaluate if I truly need to keep the hard boot stuff I have- even set up as aggressive as my Coiler is, it still works well in slush, powder, busted up groomers and well as stellar performance on cord.

Total zombie-thread revival, but if anyone finds one of these boards for sale, please let me know- I've been looking for one for years.