gdboytyler

The big question is, why did these hardbooters switch to the soft setup? Is it because a soft setup really is better in some situations outstide of the park/halfpipe? Or is it because the riders switched to a soft setup because of sponsor pressure? I tend to believe the riders switched for the performance issue and not because of sponsor pressure. I always prefer to hit a jump in softboots and low-angle stance.

NOOO, don't let that happen. Don't let snowboarding turn into what skiing was before snowboards. I see the anti-freestyle mentality here as close-minded. And maybe some jealousy - older guys on carving gear watching a teen huck a rodeo flip 8 ft up. You know you won't ever do that. Where as that park monkey that landed the rodeo flip could be an excellent carver in one season. I remember when the ski patrol would knock down moguls, if too many people started using it for a jump. Thanks to those park monkeys, there are perfectly groomed jumps and steep safe landings at many ski resorts. Snowboard parks make many smaller ski resorts fun for the entire day - not just when the snow is good. I wish those snowboard parks were around when I first started snowboarding, 18 years ago. I'm 39 and I carve in the morning on a Donek and hardboots, then hang out in snowboard park in the afternoon on my untuned freestyle board and softboots. No tats, piercings or wallet chains for me.

Here's a picture of Blacks, breaking top-to-bottom. The lip throws at the top and lands at the bottom of the wave. Here's a picture of Doheny. The lip crumbles at the top and dribbles down to the bottom of the wave.

I love carving turns on a snowboard, but it pales in comparison to dropping in on a double-overhead wave that's breaking top-to-bottom (like Blacks was last week). Blacks is in San Diego. The only thing I see in snowboarding that compares to dropping in on good-size waves is maybe jumping off a cliff/cornice.

If you do a deep carve and your overhanging boot hits the snow, you will lose your edge and fall on your face. So, yes overhanging boots can be a problem.

Hadoken doesn't sound anti-Burton to me. Burton had the snowboard friendly ski-area list as a helpful service. Not needing the list shows how accepted snowboarding has become.

I also highly recommend getting a Donek. I'm 5'7", 130 LB and I ride a Donek Incline 160 with hard boots. Although the Incline is Donek's all mountain model, it carves a lot better than Burton's carving/race specific boards that I've ridden. I also have Flow bindings, but only use them on my freestyle board. GdBoyTyler

For the binding screws to pull out of the board, something really bad needs to happen or a really crappy board. So, I think attaching the leash to the binding is adequate. I always wear a leash when snowboarding. Sometimes I will loosen the high back on my Flow bindings when riding the lift. Once while on the lift, with the loose high back, my foot slipped out of the binding. My leash saved my board. I also use my leash for a carrying strap. The leashes that came with older Burton bindings were all pretty long. The Burton leash I've had has outlasted all of my Burton snowboards. Just from this thread, there is enough evidence to show that leashes do the job they were made for plus being a carrying strap for the longer versions. GdBoyTyler

I agree with Mark, keep your soft setup and buy a carving setup. When riding the park/pipe, I find soft boots and shorter freestyle board a lot more forgiving - meaning its easier to recover from a mistake. Especially in the half-pipe, soft boots and shorter board is much easier. Also, with a higher stance angle, I was more likely to rotate my board on a jump and catch edge on the landing. I also find riding switch much easier with a flatter stance. Get a separate carving setup to ride in the morning and go to your freestyle setup after the cordoroy gets all hacked up. GdBoyTyler

I'd buy Alta, Utah and ban skiers. It would be a snowboarder only resort.

I don't dream about going to any particular resort. But, I do dream about going heli-boarding. I want to do the one-week heli-boarding trip with that outfit in Canada (CMH?). Does that count as a resort? Endless powder and first-class accommodations. About the only minus I've heard is getting stuck with a group that doesn't like steep runs. For a lift serviced resort, I'd want to go to Zinal, Switzerland. That's where the ExtremeCarving duo have done some of their movies. Wide-open, steep runs, perfect grooming and no trees on the sides of the groomed (just in case you lose an edge). GdBoyTyler

Board: Burton Balance 152 for park/pipe. Boots: Salomon Synapse Bindings: Flow - best soft bindings available. Comfy, quick in and out, plenty of support to allow carving on a freestyle board. When its a powder day, I put the Flow Bindings on my Burton Supermodel 161. I ride my carving setup (Donek Incline 160/hard boots) in the morning and hit the park/pipe after lunch.

Surf regular Skateboard regular Bat right handed Golf right handed Slide into 2nd, left foot forward Jump to the 3rd step leading with my left foot Write right handed Mouse right handed Jack-off right handed Crap daily What was the original question?