Emdee406

Thanks guys, Ibex toe bail is on the way! Now if I can only get some free time again to ride the bloody Kessler...

So, imagine....you have a Kessler that you bought in April and didn't get a chance to ride it, your first "New School" Race board after 20+ years of Alpine riding. You find a free morning to ride with an experienced Kessler-rider. I check the never-ridden Head Stratos boots fit, and notice the toe bail flex as I undo it... A huge crack running right across it :( I am done for the day.... pissed off doesn't even come close... So does anyone out there have a toe bail or whole toe assembly that they are willing to sell me? Please don't assume that I am made of money because of the above set up, I will be paying for that lot for a while to come... Can you help a carver out? Martin.

Hey Dazza...I wondered what had happened to you after you joined the Fire Brigade! I see from your quiver you have a Kessler 162 like Wintergold.... I bet you rip on that, but then again, you always did! Stay in touch, Martin

Great vid, great riding. Reassuring that some of the posters on BOL ride that well... I realise even more I need to ditch my Hot Blast 160 and get something current for slalom. Just got a 171 KST... after the snow melted dammit, so have to look at it for 6 months

lt me know when next years is planned, I don't want to miss it now I'm back in my Alpine groove... MD

As someone brought up on Euro Tight Slalom, 5ft can be exciting....if you offset it! Then its a real challenge.... Crappy footage, but this course is all under 6ft and I am accelerating away from the cameraman. <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udlhkr4NwaM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udlhkr4NwaM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object> Super tight has never caught on in the US as the sport developed a different way, but if you want to race Pro in Europe, you need to be able to do this stuff AND fast. Martin.

Cool! I am living in Park City, Utah...I'm still teaching, I did 130 days and around 800hrs of lessons. next winter I'm going to come out of retirement and do a little 'social' racing! See you somewhere on the planet... Take care, Martin

Is that Andrea Matteoli? Remember me? Martin, the black guy you used to coach in Les Deux Alpes! Good times... I remember us sitting on a chair between training runs and a guy firing lots of questions at you (trying to find out if you were any good), finally ending with "whats your name?". You just pointed to the graphic of your signature on your pro-model Mistral...hysterical, I nearly wet myself! I will always remember you as one of the pioneers of the skinny symetrical GS board and the man who finally beat Martin Freinadametz, the 'Beast from Austria'. Congrats on 25 years, I celebrated mine too...plus the 50 milestone. My vid is attached to my signature. Take care my friend, Martin.

I think they gave up on that as they felt it didn't look quite as cool as they came to a grinding halt with their faces in the snow at the bottom of the park! Maybe I'll do a mini-clinic on it next season...

I know its NOT Eurocarving, I rode with Jean Nerva and Peter Bauer back in my Chiemsee days. I actually ride hardboots and have for 24 years and have raced at all levels, but due to my job, spend most of my time these days in soft boots. I wasn't meaning to upset anyone either. I didn't want to fully extend in soft boots as I have a slight toe overhang (moreso than in my hard set up). If it causes offence I'll happily delete it, I just thought the conversation was ironic and wanted to share it.

Nice post Rick! Martin

Got hold of next years Never Summer Raptor and couldn't believe it when I discovered that the 'coolest' young Instructors during a clinic asked me if I have ever tried this cool toeside thing they were practicing that was all the range among the 'Park Rats'......Its called 'Eurocarving'. I was speechless! Anyway, here it is. <object width="1280" height="745"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jv5zFEkQ-0&hl=en_US&fs=1&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jv5zFEkQ-0&hl=en_US&fs=1&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="1280" height="745"></embed></object> I have to admit, until they mentioned it, I'd never thought of trying it in softs (and yes, I am riding duck-stance). Whats that about old dogs?

Only just saw this thread... Our local Palmer Rep sold me a pair of the 171's, I couldn't resist a $1200 ski with binding for a silly price! They are too big for me though and I haven't skied them (they are used already). These days when I go skiing, its with my 5 year old and I have a pair of 155 Slalom skis, which are less work when you're in a wedge! Anyone out there want to take these Kessler-designed Palmers off my hands? Drop me a line...

Thanks for your help guys!

Cool, thanks...Now if thats an averaged radius of 14.35, would you know the separate front and rear radii? Thanks, M. ps. Hans, that would make sense as its a 'she' who is selling it!

Hi, wondered if anyone can help. I'm about to buy a second-hand Kessler 171 and wondered if anyone knew the dimensions on it.... I cannot find them anywhere online. From my calculations it seems as though it would be pretty similar to my Donek Custom Race 175. Am I right? Thanks!