Dave Pushee

I "work" for Loon Mountain (NH) as a Ski Patrol Ambassador. It's a volunteer job (no pay), but it comes with a season pass, locker at the mountain, and a lift ticket voucher for each day that I work. The vouchers for friends and family are good for free weekday tickets, and $15 tickets weekends and holidays. I have to commit to 20 days in uniform for the mountain. Work on any given day depends to some extent on how busy the mountain is. At worst, I'm assigned 2 shifts of an hour each at specific locations on the mountain, spend a few minutes in meetings at beginning and end of day, and have an assigned trail for sweep at the end of the day. The rest of the time, I'm cruising the mountain enjoying myself and keeping my eye out for customers in need of assistance or education. My major cost is gas for the 100 mile trip (one way) from my house to Loon. So far this season, I've got 22 days "working" for Loon, 3 days at Loon but not working, 2 days at Jay Peak (scored a half price deal), 2 days at Sunday River, 1 day at Bretton Woods, and 2 days at Bromley (led a Boy Scout Trip). Friday-Sunday this week, I'm doing a trip with some buddies. We'll stay in a fellow Ambassador's condo at Loon, and take day trips to Sunday River, Jay Peak, and Cannon. I'm supplying more of the half price deals for Jay, and we may be able to work ticket discounts at Sunday River or Cannon.

I voted Loon because I work/volunteer there and get a free pass. Loon is about as convenient as they come travel wise. Midweek has not been crowded (except for the school vacation weeks). Weekends can be very busy. Loon changed ownership this year, but Waterville didn't. That raises the possibility that the two might not be linked next year. I'm not in favor of Snow - too much NY City for me. How about Sugarbush in VT? I think I would go for that ahead of Stowe or Killington.

I think I recall reading that the designers needed to use AWD and huge tires in order to be able to connect all that power to the road.

So, that sitting around pic was just before you all carved Tramline - right? :lol:

I can't believe that Billy would let a little thing like one knee stop him. Both knees, maybe.

Gotta go with C5 on this. Listen to the old farts, grasshopper. How do you think it is that we are able to retire and enjoy midweek riding? Maybe you can't afford to go all out and pump 15K a year into the 401K yet, but I'll bet you can at least put something in. Here's a strategy that might work for you. Start putting something in - even if it's only 2 percent. Then, if you get a raise sometime, increase your savings rate to start sucking up the new money before you find some other use for it. Pretty soon you'll be saving at the max rate. Also, don't forget that since the money you are putting in is tax deferred, it doesn't reduce your take home as much. For example, If you put in 6%, it would reduce the take home by less than 5 %.

It may be that the "complaints" about the trenches that swallow small children might actually be compliments in the form of a joke. I know I've used that one occasionally.

that your mom hasn't used them as a plant stand.

I voted yes because while I was still working I posted. Now, I'm retired so it doesn't apply.

It's nice being retired - midweek boarding rocks! Weather cooperated and Loon was blowing snow all day today - most was coming out pretty sweet. With a good groom tonight, tomorrow should leave some decent cord.

Is it at all possible that those liners were always a different size? What if one of them was mislabled. Do you clearly remember whether they looked the same before you had them molded?

Absoluteley! Beware though. The demos come with a fresh tune. After you've had them a while they turn into teenagers. Don't worry, by the time they hid mid-twenties they usually turn out OK.

and buy them a beer

My first Subaru was a 1995 Legacy Outback. My oldest son is still driving that. It is very close to 250K miles now. Clutch has been replaced twice. All in all, we have purchased 6 of these. The newest is a 2005 turbo - that's fun. All but 1 of these (the '97) are still on the road in our family. The '97 was the least reliable. It had problems with alternators, AC, and at 135K miles a head gasket. My son (number 3) had this car 2K miles from home at U. Colorado Boulder when the head gasket problem showed up, so we donated it to charity. If this particular car had been the first one, we might not have bought so many more. All but one of them have been standard transmissions. The 2004 is an automatic and I'm not particularly fond of it. It's pretty doggy (especially compared to the turbo ) and the cruise control has an annoying habit of kicking down to passing gear on hills. In summary, I wouldn't keep buying them if I wasn't satisfied. Every car is going to have some faults, and sometimes you just get a lemon.

You've got a long way to go before you are old. I got my first driver's license about the time you were born, and I refuse to believe I'm old. I'm using TD1 bindings. But, I do use snowboard boots. Stiff ski boots in combination with the TD1s would be really stiff.

This string seems to be migrating. I might as well help it along. I learned Monday that I won't be needed in the office any more after 1/15. This is not a bad thing. I'll have plenty of time to snowboard (midweek) all winter now. I've been in this company for over 25 years and they'll pay me for another year I'm old enough and was in the company long enough that I can get health insurance at employee rates. Kids are out of college, house is all mine. Now I don't have to work as hard at convincing the wife that I think we can afford for me to retire

It's possible that your feet are getting levered forward in the boot. Saturday was my first day out this year and it was super crowded. Because of the conditions, I wanted as much flexibility as possible, so I had my boots in walk mode, and I don't think I had buckles 2 and 3 as tight as I should have. I think that whenever I straightened the legs, my foot would get levered foward to jam the toes. They were very tender at the end of the day. I should have used the powder setting (on SB225's, lever down with knob rotated). This setting gives forward flex but a stop on the rearward flex.

My buddy has a K2 Recon Riser (all mountain board) 170 with Tech 9 (softboot) bindings that he's looking to unload. The board is about 4 years old, but used only a few days. He's asking for $250 plus shipping for board plus bindings. He'll probably let it go for less without the bindings. Contact me and I'll put you in touch. - Dave

A buddy of mine mentioned the other day that he is looking to sell his K2 Recon Riser - 170 (or maybe it's 172?). I think it's about 4 years old, but probably has less than 10 days on it. If interested, send me email and I'll forward to him. - Dave

ARC, you mentioned "bonk" (meaning you ran out of gas). Perhaps you are unaware that our acrobatic brethren (jibbers) use the term "bonk" for a jump that taps an object (barrel, tree, snowgun, etc.) with the board and then proceeds to a landing.

Nice. That form reminded me of something - now I remember - the Klingon Bird of Prey. A question for Billy. Am I interpreting correctly - it looks like this caught you at the instant that you were beginning to swap edges. I'm guessing this mostly because it looks like you are just beginning to turn your head to the left.

I don't do big air intentionally, but I know from experience that there is a risk in that landing technique (I have a disconnected AC joint to prove it). If your body gets too far forward on that uber-carve, the result is a catapult launch to a body slam.

Marjo, I have a setup like that. I did it mainly because I was too cheap to upgrade both of my TD1 bindings to step-in. I'll be switching over to full step-in this year because I picked up a set of used step-ins. I don't think it really makes a lot of difference in the ride. On the TD1's, I think the step-in places the foot marginally higher than the standards. - Dave

Absolutely! A bad day sliding beats a good day in the office every time. I just didn't want anyone to set off on a 2 hour plus drive expecting more.

Absolutely. Best would be the flashing red indicator of the straightliner vectoring in hot to your heelside carve trajectory.