RJ_

Whiteface was fun, did a lot of runs in the morning, groomers full of packed powder, lot of work holding such deep carves for so long, decided to cool off in the pond bath they had set up... Awful, I will stick with the Gore skim in the future, at least they try for some people to make it across. Last season one person crossed the whiteface pond. This season, nobody did. Dried off and continued shredding, reeeealy gotta figure out my boots, neither of the liners I have support my foot/calf in the Deeluxe 325 shells.

THOSE RAD BINDINGS LOOK METAL! What board do you have those mounted to/ is that a Thias Skwal? On the SnowPros (and similar bails) I like the way the distance between the bails can be adjusted separately from the canting and lift. Thats something I am bothered with on the PHK/SkwalUSA bindings, it's just not a quick process and I find myself changing boards/boots quite often. Do bails with this screw style adjustment loosen at all over time? Those Catek bindings have the coolest adjustment style I've seen so far, they look incredibly adjustable and rigid. Any ideas why they stopped making them? I removed F2 from the list, I was incredibly hesitant to put them on at first until I saw them on Thias' website. That also had me confused because that would mean his boards are wider than what would be called a Skwal. Being incredibly new to this whole thing I wasn't going to challenge it, but it's nice to see I had some merit to my thinking.

Thank you all, just updated the list! Very curious to see these Cable style bails that RAD made, also couldn't find any pictures of these Elfgen bindings you mentioned @javajive Did find these SnowPros as I was researching... https://www.ebay.fr/itm/134983710034 -RJ

I have compiled a list of Skwal Bindings (and potentially some that would maybe work with a sub-14cm wide board) Bomber https://www.bomberonline.com/ (All models Currently unavailable as of Spring 24') Both step-in and toe Clip models No leaning the bindings out Only allow for Lift, (Canting only in the long axis of the board) Canting disk is a separate piece mounted below baseplate, Toe and heel blocks mount to baseplate and are retained by clamping force of x2 M8 screws. I will dub this a 2-piece design. MPride https://www.mpride.net/ (Currently out of stock as of Spring 24') Both step-in and toe Clip models Bindings are made from a single piece of Titanal this limits the number of positions to the inserts in your board. No center disk to be adjustable Some built in Lift appears to use F2 Bails, likely uses F2 Wedges for additional lift and canting. the bails put them around ~10.8 cm wide. PHK Board Solutions https://www.phk-italia.com/ Various styles available, Both step-in and toe Clip (no stock of step-ins) Their 'Standard' design A classic snowboard disk mounts an aluminum base plate to the board This allows for adjustment in positioning the binding along the length of the board, and rotationally. (this has finer adjustments than Bomber or SkwalUSA Gen-2) The Toe and heel blocks are retained to the baseplate using grooves this prevents sliding even if the screws loosen. Both Lift and Canting blocks available. you can lean your cuff out and lean your foot forward in any combination you want. Rubber 'Anti-Skid' pads These should both prevent your foot from sliding when not latched in. Other Styles include An Exclusively un-canted binding for those who like riding flat A 'modular binding', Canting appears to be in the disk side of the mount. SkwalUSA https://www.skwalusa.com/ Unavailable (Yes, I know the site says in-stock, PM for the details) Only Toe Clip Styles* *I am making a step-in receiver for SkwalUSA bindings (therefore also standard PHK bindings) Previously available, Unknown if they will return to manufacture. (I'm hoping to convince them to start again) Thinner Bails than others (Will measure diam. and update) Gen 1 bindings were made by PHK, PHK's Standard design. Gen 2 bindings are made from a single piece of aluminum this limits the number of positions to the inserts in your board. this makes you entirely connected to the board. ZERO FLEX OR GIVE uses PHK hardware for additional canting if desired, no lift required (its built in). Virus https://shop.virus-snowsports.com/ Both step-in and toe Clip models Bindings appear to be a single piece construction. Unknown how Canting and lift works No longer around/offering Skwal Bindings: Cateks https://www.catek.com/OS2-plate-binding.htm Made bindings that happened to be narrow enough to fit on Skwals. Elfgen No info on these, they did make Skwal Specific bindings. R.A.D. Had some custom binders they used to offer with a cable front bail. (SkwalUSA is teetering on this edge) 2011 -> ~2014, but have done some sales later SnowPro They made skwal specific models and some branded ones for Thias. Worth mentioning that F2 bindings are what Thias Skwals are sold with. Thias designed his latest boards around these bindings to make it easier to get out into people’s hands. At 145mm wide, this raises some questions about whether these boards are alpine Snowboards or Skwals. Please let me know if I have missed anything, I am working to make my ideal binding and seeing various styles helps. Any history you could provide as well, I've only covered current makers but there are plenty of others that have made skinny hardboot bindings in the past.

Not sure where I'll be for the eclipse yet, but I may be heading to Whiteface this Saturday 4/6 for their skim. Unfortunately/fortunately it's looking very cold and it may be snowing during the skim. (Cold enough that they're expecting 8" over Thursday and Friday) Had a ton of fun though, so it might be worth the risk again

It was cold, it was also (predictably) difficult to keep the board steady beneath me.

I actually do, lemme do this pond skim and I'll PM u!

So, its been a while... About 12 days on the mountain, I've learned a ton! Mostly that riding with my local hardbooter Chip is strenuous. I rode my ski boots until 4 mountain days ago. Adding some outward cant on the front helped just as much as it did on the rear. That and leaving the cuffs unbuckled helped the mobility, keeping my knees closer together/side-by-side. Did not increase flex. This felt okay, I was able to get much lower on the board, had decent control over it. I did not turn the front binding at all, I really like how much it feels like a waterski and dont want it to feel like a hardboot board. That being said, the new-to-me boots, sooo much more work. (Particularly for my rear leg, so it truly mimics waterskiing now). 2 things really, the liners and the increased flex. Initial liners way too tight for my foot, way to loose on the cuffs. I will need to mold if I want to comfortably fit my foot in the boot, but I will need to build up my calves if I want to tighten the cuffs (I've maxed the shell clasps). I rode this setup for a day, the additional flex and loose cuff meant it supported my leg a lot less, my whole legs burned on the same terrain that I had been comfortably riding before the new boots. This was especially noticeable when I drop my front foot and push to/through the lift lines. (I cant drop the rear with how close the bindings are, can't unlatch my rear toe bail). In the ski boots I could lean into the cuff and take much of the load off my leg, I switched the liners from my ski boot into the hardboot shell and that did sorta help with the too tight too loose fit. Now my foot is a more even 'not-tight' in the boot. Clasps still maxed everywhere, but the cuff being only 1 finger loose instead of 5 makes a difference. Still working out where to set the angles on the Deeluxe 325's, I think my current fave setings is a locked '2' in the front and 'walk-mode' in the rear. Now with the walk mode I reeeally feel the burn when Im scootering along, but if I lock into a '2' i can lean into the cuff a lot more. What this really tells me is that my next investment should be a spring kit, and/or a step-in binding. I currently have a TD 2 step-in heel on the boot, (they came with it and the boot was still a reasonable price). I would like to make my own step-in receiver to mount to my SkwalUSA bindings, I'd need to buy some toe bails, so this is probably a next fall item to machine. Enough about boots. Time on the mountain helps, good conditions help, but someone recording from behind is the best way to learn. I have had a few videos taken, has definitely helped me keep my hips where I need to. Looking back on my progress now, I didn't understand quite what this was doing or how exactly I was to apply it. The best way I have of visualizing how to carve has been watching videos on Youtube, and its very obvious that the carvers are keeping there shoulders level in heelside carves, it almost looks like there siting into the carve. But I had no idea how they were creating smooth toeside carves in the same manor. I had assumed it had something to so with pushing/extending your legs through the carve, so I had been working on that for some time. But I rode with someone different the last time I was out... I went to Gore on Sunday and Monday. Sunday, typical weekend powder day activities, straight line skiers (I was fully decked by some kid my age on twin tips), people whipping out of glades, packed hill, long lines (though every lift went down at some point during the day). I did a lot of riding with Chip, He makes me really want a Donek. He also got tired of waiting for me to chip off the ice buildup on my stepins so he brought me a set of rubber deeluxe heels to use while I work on the receivers. Monday was another blue-sky day everything was groomed packed powder, the first run I knew both that I wouldn't last long after Sundays activities and that I needed to get some videos with the beautiful background. I went into the lessons lodge and found a boarding instructor, Ray, who was interested in watching me and offered to take some videos. He had a few experiences riding hardboots and had a solid understanding of snowboarding. After an initial run to get some video, we examined how my form was affecting my carves as we rode back up. I think the videos speak for themselves, but they really speak to keeping your shoulders level. I cannot tell you how excited I was throughout that second run, It truly made all the difference. I rode the rest of the day with Chip, He and Ray have been the best onsite support one could have asked for! I appreciate all the support I received from you all on the forum, it's nice to not be working against my equipment, and I've picked up numerus ideas from reading through everything that's on here! Hopefully we can meetup next season!

Gore mountain just got fresh snow, if we don't all meet up at a more southern mountain, I will be heading to Gore on Sunday. They just posted +6-12" throughout the mountain. I also saw Catamount was blowing so they could re-open for Saturday, not sure how that will compare as I've never been there

Basically what the title reads, Gore mountain has their pond skim Saturday 3/30. No doubt I'm going to use the skwal, question really is if there are any neat quirks to using a skwal like a slalom waterski?

Just took a look on the webs, Crotched closing day is on Sunday... thought it was starting to get colder again in the northeast

Im still game to meet up, went out today at Gore, it was certainly soft but had surprising coverage, the snow they got on Sunday really helped delay the inevitable. (I'll probably post something about my progress in the how to learn thread tomorrow)

Good to know about the bindings, when im not in class or at the hill Im usually running cnc machines and have thought about adjusting the bindings. I may make a few step in heel catches for the SkwalUSA bindings as the gentleman im buying the boots from has stepin heals on them. Ill take a look at the snowboard carving talk while im cooking dinner. Im itching to get back out to the mountain tomorrow, ive got a break in classes before midterm week next week and hope to spend quite some time on the mountain before I begin studying

I am currently at 90 front and ~87 rear, i think the SkwalUSA bindings max out around 84 or 85, what bindings do u have on your Free Ride? I they max because of the mounting slots, im not sure if there intentionally limited or if its just because Rodney liked the high angles. I'll be out again on Wednesday, Ive already got my black Carver set up with outward canting on both front and rear so ill try that out. I'll take the time to side the bindings further appart as well, i think ive maxed the stance on the board, but the bails can still shift appart atop the binding. I went out on Sunday (yesterday) and reeally noticed my shins being soar, i don't think my ski boots are allowing my ankles to bend as much as Id like them to, im placing a lot of weight into the front of the boots and they're leaving me almost bruised. I am in the works to get some Deeluxe 325 hardboots so im hoping those help with the flexibility of my boots. Id be tempted to modify my ski boots, but they are getting pretty well worn out and im not sure if im skilled enough with a Dremel. Thanks for the tips, I'll keep u updated with how Wednesdays new stance feels!

Whiteface Wednesday report: Conditions were good for Whiteface (groomed ice with 1-2" o snow atop) Felt decent in the morning, struggled a bit to keep the right edge pressure. Conditions were nice to reduce the chatter, though I sank quickly in a few sections of powder. I think a lot of the chatter and edge pressure issues came from my boots, my well worn ski boots have lived me 8 seasons now and i am at the max for how tight i can get the boot, the liners are very packed. I felt like a lot of the times i chattered out the board was primarily just moving the boot around my foot, making it difficult for me to try and regain control over the board (and my boot) The afternoon was similar, i got to know where the good and bad conditions existed and worked to bring my weight lower and push more into my edge throughout the carve. Throughout the whole day i also worked to keep my arms up in front of myself. Ive done well at keeping my arms forwards, but poorly at keeping the in the correct upwards position and have caught my hands a few times on snow, causing me to wipe out. I got a few videos, its interesting to see just how uncoordinated i look from behind, but the videos have helped to show me where my form needs to improve. Firstly I think I need to keep my weight lower when I initiate the carve. Im hoping this will then help me bring my upper and lower body more inline, I'm bending a lot at the hips. Later I'll try and work on keeping my outer arm by my side. Ideally do a little less flapping, only bring my arms up to support myself as i being to achieve the truly layed out carve. Was a very good way to spend a Wednesday, not a busy day at the mountain, no lines, slopes says i did 43,000'

I cannot even begin to tell you how much fun I had this afternoon! I rode Gore mountain as i usually do, it felt pretty hard in the morning. When I clipped up my boots in the morning i did leave my rear foot cuff loose but i couldn't really notice a difference, I was reeally struggling to get low and keep my balance low, slid out so many times. I went in for an early lunch, decided that I had enough of a feel for the board that i could play with the bindings and notice the differences. All i did was cant my rear boot outwards to bring my rear knee outwards, less inline. If u had been anywhere on the mountain you would have been able to hear my excitement riding down after lunch! With my rear knee canted out i could actually put the loose rear cuff to work, bringing my rear knee next to my front. Doing this I could and get significantly lower on the board. I also felt like i had much better control over my edge pressure, even on the ice i wasn't sliding nearly as much. I was having an absolute blast, hopping into and out of the slush piles that had built up in the middles on the trails, truly laying over as I came out of the piles, only to whip right around back into it. I still haven't gotten over how exciting it was to carve down the same trails i had been struggling with earlier in the day when i made my way back over to the harder pack/icier side of the mountain. The binding setup made all the difference, thanks @SunSurfer ! Also got to meet Steve ( @ronals finally caught up to you, ive only seen your green donek everytime ive been out this season); as well as his son, out on some of the hardboot setup they picked up!

These are all incredibly helpfull tips! @*Ace* I am already making arrangements to get out to the northeast skwal meet up! @SunSurfer This is exactly the tips I was looking for! I am absolutely loving carving like this and want to make sure my form and stance aren't hurting my joints unnecessarily. I have tried to focus on being able to ride consistently before I adjust my setup so that i notice the difference it makes, and after how well i felt this weekend i think im ready to play with it! @skhil I didn't widen my stance yesterday but I will be the next time I ride. Ive gotten a lot more comfortable on the board and am eager to start putting more power into it. Ive been finding it very easy to load up the nose of the board, but very difficult to control the unload (ive done quite a few cartwheels over the past weeks). I am hoping that by spreading the stance that I get more control over the nose. As a college student in ny i do have a ski3, unfortunately i am out of town this weekend and wont be able to join you at Bellaire Thanks for all the great information! I will keep you updated on how my stance progresses and how it feels

About a year ago I began wondering if there were a ski with bindings mounted one in front of the other. I enjoy water-skiing and quickly learned there were much cooler and carvier boards out there. After some hiccups I ended up closing out my season hitting the mountain with 2 SkwalUSA Carver 171's each with the SkwalUSA Gen 2 bindings. I cant say im laying fat carves yet, but after about 8 days out riding skwal this season im at the point where more time on the hill could help, but not as much as riding with someone on skwal. I have a ton of questions about my form, if there are better techniques i could be using, and just general knowledge thats just difficult to find about this niche sport. I was fortunate enough to meet a gentleman on my local mountain with a hardboot setup on his donek. I carved with him for a few hours and learned a ton about alpine equipment, hardboots, and the various step-in bindings. But it has really made me want to skwal with some who can teach about form and speak to the fine adjustments skwal equipment has to offer. Are there any good resources (more than reading through old forum posts) about form and technique to riding skwal? And lastly, is there anyone else near upstate ny that rides skwal?