FTA2R

hey all, I'm headed to Hunter Mtn for the 1st time next wed, th, and fr. what runs do you all recommend? (i'm a newbie hardbooter) also, if anyone will be there during that time, let me know maybe we can take some runs together (if you want) and you can give me advice :)... anyone have eyewitness account of current conditions? (hopefully not slushy like Whitetail). thx, Barry

Hey Baka, LOL, although i'd like to be able to fly to Japan to take a few runs, I'm going to have to stay with NY for now...i was thinking to myself "i think he's in Japan, yet he puts down hunter mountain- odd" barry

hey Baka, I'm headed to hunter mountain (1st time) with a friend from NYC next week. Can you tell me what trails to check out? also, how are conditions? I see the weather is warming up there, too....do you know if anyone there is qualified to teach us hardbooters? perhaps we coudl even meet up one day if you want...feel free to email me @ barry

Sunday ~9 @ Tail sounds good! check your email... Barry

Hi, I live ~30 miles outside of DC and before I bought my equipment, I called many local shops and half of htem didnt' even know what an alpine board was. If there is a place that rents alpine (and I highly doubt there is), it's a very well guarded secret....i feel confident in saying "no." (IMHO) also, I assume you konw that timberline is not a close drive, if i can remember it's through the mountains too so you can't go real fast...probably at least 3-4 hours (depending on various conditions). i did it years ago though so perhaps things have changed... Barry

John, I don't know you but get better soon. I just watched your video and enjoyed it a lot, btw. Barry

That's a cool video! esp. the beginning...is it hard or dangerous to make home videos like that at speed? anyone know what artist/song that is? I dont' know John but I wish him a speedy recovery... Barry

Hey all, thx for the awesome response....ok here's the deal....My board is an Alp so it's not real narrow & my boots are super small (mondo 23)...if i go much past 50 degrees, the bindings will likely be too far from the edge, at least certainly not flush with the edge...maybe this is another arguement for gettign the 24s.... re: the boots...my friend saw how both the 23 and 24s fit on me, and said go with the 23s....he works at a local shop known for being expert bootfitters (note he did not sell me my hardboots) and sold me my softboots (which had a heat molded liner) that killed me at first, but I now love them, so I trusted him more than my own instinct. I did have my R boot streched a bit. He says they'll pack out. I'm positive I had the things too tight b/c a few minutes after I was out of them , my feet got warm. I used to do this all the time. pretty dumb, when I'm already complaining about how snug they were. there is room in the back on the liner which my foot still needs to find... if there are any fellow Burton Alp riders, I'm curious what stances you are using....I'm using burton's recommended (15 mm back i think it is, but their universal cant plays with that a bit) Vlad, pencil me in for 'tail on Sunday. I say pencil b/c some college friends are coming for the Syracuse game this weekend and saturday could be a late night. i have to see exactly what these clowns are planning..i'll email you with a definite answer by friday afternoon. oh, and there's no way I'll be able to keep up with you, lol, but i'll take your advice.

re: parallel binding angles, I did get used to them by the end of the day... ------ Re washing out on heelside...I wouldn't blame the parallel angles for this. I'd blame the fact that it was your first day. ------ LOL, chuckle...I can't disagree with that.... --- lots and lots of experimentation on snow. Experimentation is key. --- I'm just an impatient person and trial and error can go on for a long time. also my season here in the DC area is almost over, so I wanna make the most of it. Re the Raichles, no thermoflex liners b/c I really didn't wanna spend a lot of money on my first setup as the possiblity that I wouldnt' like hardbootin existed. i had the footbeds replaced...left boot is ok (my L foot is smaller) but the R boot is quite tight. I expect they will pack out a bit and if not, I'll have them stretched...seems like there is a bit of room in the heels actually...but this is one aspect of alpine riding I will hve to get used to (softboots are winning the "comfort war" IMHO so far) ps Baka, what is your location?

Hey all, Well my anticipation is finally over...my setup finally arrived and I rode an alpine board (Burton Alp) for the first time ever on Sunday. (been reading this site since Feb '03, though) Also met Vlad a few weeks ago (thx to bomber) and it was fun (and challenging) chasing him.... Questions for you all after my first time out: 1. are parallel binding angles (48 degrees here) a bad idea? If no, would such angles make it easier for me (goofy) to wash out on heelside? 2. I'm a bit worried my raichles may be a bit too small- they're basically 2 sizes down from my street shoe size, my feet were freezing half the time (buckles too tight I think...) but my boot fitting buddy said to go with them and he could strech the liner and shell if necessary. I actually felt something pressing against the inside of my rear foot- I think it was the bale binding (perhaps just the shell though)...is this normal? overall reaction: Wow! I have even more respect for you guys. Hardbooting much harder than I thought, I was on the green the whole day. My rear kneecap felt like it was going to pop off b/c of the steep angles (48 on both bindings, and I dont' even think that's considered steep). By the end of the day i was getting used to the angles and getting it... Second to last run I just "felt" it and knew I had laid my first real carve. I had both bindings at 48 degrees and 7 degrees front (burton) universal cant which I'm gong to try on my rear foot next time. ps only a few liftline questions/comments and they were all positive...

Tybalt, I'm currently riding a Burton BMC 156 with 32 "lashed" boots (waiting for the rest of my hardboot setup to arrive). The BMC is pretty stiff (for a non-alpine), narrow freeriding board- but not made anymore. Really holds an edge nicely. I got last year's model, but apparently some of the earlier models delamm'd a bit. Anything new should be last year's though. The 32 lashed boots have a moldable heat liner and a lot of fwd lean- I cannot stand up straight in mine and I walk as if I had a hardboot on (heel first) They pack out, though, and I recommend them. I strongly recommend going to a reputable bootfitter (probably not the big franchise stores). Got Rossi HC3000 bindings which are working great. Good luck. --- Barry

Hi, I am aware of the postings about Klugriding. In short, I got my board from them within a week. I did call the next day to make sure the order had gone through, which it had not, but I called a 3rd time to confirm it had gone through and it had. Ask to speak to Molly; even if you don't speak to her they will call you back. So my luck has been OK with them, but I will look at some other boots, too. Thx.

Hey Guys, I'm gonna take a chance on buying brand new boots for my first alpine setup. (I hope that's not too stupid. I can return exchange new ones if they don't fit, however, unlike used). My right foot (or big toe at least) is ~ 1/2 size bigger than my left. My current softboots fit quit snug yet comfortable and are size 7 and I had to have the R boot stretched after an increasingly painful first outing (now they fit fine). I heard that Burton hardboots run narrow, which is good b/c I have narrow feet. Klugriding.com's "conversion chart" is weird, however, with very few "whole sizes." My current Mondo size (as measured) 25 Right foot 24.5 Left foot Burton's sizing chart on klugriding.com: 24.5 = US men's 6 <---too small 25 = US men's 6.7 <--would probably be too small for R foot but streching may be OK for L foot 25.5 = US men's 7.3 <----may be too small for L Does anyone else agree Burton runs narrow or small? How much can hardboots be strechted? Does streching reduce stiffness? What size should I go with? Could I ask for 2 diff't boot sizes , lol? I'm leaning toward 25.5 and I can jsut "stuff" or something if the L is too big. Please advise so I can get out there already. FYI entry-level boots are fine. I'll likely have Burton bindings. Thanks!! Barry

Jack, thx for answering all my ?'s in detail. I do understand the whole "FC but with a softer flex" thing. As you can tell, I was up very late last night checking all sorts of carving links, etc. Mark, Thx for the offer! I might take you up on that. At this point, though, I'm thinking I'm gonna buy something off of Klug's site- prices seem reasonable (assuming condition is fair). I don't currently know my mondo side, but I'm sure yours is bigger, so that may be an issue. Re: the weather, yeah, the S. PA resorts need some snow pretty badly. I'll let you know. Thx All, Barry

well the site certainly LOOKS nice and gives a professional impression, more so than ebay. Do you know if these are boards that have never been used, or were demos? "Seconds are cosmetic blems only" - not sure what exactly that means.

Well it looks like you can purchase some Burton carving equipment @ http://www.klugriding.com/. Also, found some interesting stuff on ebay.... Barry

Hi Jack and Chris, Yes, I'm familiar with the Welcome center. I read most of the articles carefully and did some other checking around and it appears (and I could very well be wrong here) that some of the boards mentioned are outdated. Apparently none of the following boards mentioned in some of the Welcome Center articles are made anymore (or are not available to the general public): Burton Fusion, Burton Coil, Volkl Spline, Morrow Indy, and F2 Breezer. I also noticed that the article classifies the F2 Eliminator as "boardercross" (and thus able to be ridden in a hard or soft setup). F2's site doesn't specifically recommend a hardboot setup for either of the Eliminator models (so I wasn't sure about that one). I was looking at Prior 4WD...suitable for a 1st Alpine board? Could I go with a freecarve? Other than some cheap boots, I didn't really the Package deals you mentioned- pls point me to them. Thx. An article said this re: freecarves: "These are good choices for people who want to get into carving and can afford two whole setups." What exactly does "2 whole setups" mean? 2 complete Alpine setups? One of the articles mentioned trying an alpine setup on my current board (freeride)- this will not hurt the board in any way? Yes, I can do the norm. Chris, mid 160s I'm a bit hesitant b/c I don't know if I could handle that, especially as I'm very light. Please let me know your thoughts. Thx.

Hi everyone, I do not own an alpine board but I have been very interested in one for at least a year. I have been reading the message boards (and some of the articles) here for some time but I still have a few questions (I've started calling all the local shops, but you all are much more knowledgeable obviously). FYI, I am currently riding a Burton BMC 156 (fairly stiff for a non-alpine) and continue to work on my carving. 1. If I were to buy an alpine, should it be longer than what I'm riding now? (I'm thinking probably not) 2. I'd love to rent (or borrow) a board, but I don't think that's possible (here in the DC area, anyway). Seems like the best way to go is buying used? That being said, should I be suspicous of used boards going for $50? What can I reasonably expect to pay for an "entry-level alpine" (new) or used setup? Pls advise on setup recommendations. Also, I do not weigh a lot. Silly questions, but I'd like your thoughts here: 1. Overall, I'm a strong intermediate. Am I "good" enough for an alpine setup? I can carve decently on my board now (only been out 2 times this year, though). 2. I have obviously never been on a hardboot setup. Is the difference b/w hard and soft like night and day? thx, Barry