GoofyFoot

Mike, Like Ian, I do my own tuning in my basement and am always willing to share my knowledge and experience with anyone who is interested. Price of admission is a six-pack of my choice (which is typically shared :)). You get your board tuned, plus you get to see what you need if you are interested in doing your own maintenance. I get some company while tuning which rates only slight more exciting than watching grass grow. If you are looking for recommendations in town, the last time I checked a couple of years ago, Kunstadt (the Kanata location) had the best machine in Ottawa, a fairly new Wintersteiger machine. I believe they also have an older model at the Bank St location. I know the tuner there and he gave me the rundown on the options available on the Wintersteiger - very impressive technology! - if you are prepared to pay $50 for a full tune-up. -Brian

You bet! My mantra is that "the first hour of the day is the best hour of the day!" I have "reserved" 8:30 - 9:30 for personal training when the runs are freshly groomed and few people are on the slopes. Traffic also thins out dramatically at 3:30, but by that time the runs are well chewed up and the boilerplate factor sets in (on all the local hills that have night riding). If only the Gatineau resorts would groom at dusk prior to night openings - like Mt-Ste-Anne does! ...which is where I am headed for the first full week in Febuary (4-11). If anyone is interested, I could play tour guide at that resort too since I know it as least as well at MT. Getting back on topic, I occasionally get to CF on Sundays as well. Give me a shout if you are in the neighbourhood.

Yes, I read about your collective enthusiasm for Vorlage. Unfortunately, of the four Gatineau hills, that happens to be my last favourite. I occasionally drive to Mt Ste Marie (1 hr 15 mins from Orleans), however since I can be at MT in under two hours, that resort wins out pretty much every time I get away from CF. BTW, here is the hot tip I overheard at MT over the past WE; they are allowing riders to buy TWO T-packs. A T-pack is essentially two tix at half-price so I highly recommend visiting MT's website and ordering one or two T-Packs if you wanna ride MT on the cheap. Another option (for next season) is to join either of the two big ski clubs in town which sell preseason tix at ~$50 each. I picked up six at $51 each in Nov, for example.

Yes, but I teach there so I manage:D

Hi folks, I have been lurking on the message board for some time now so I figured I should create an account and join the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com<ST1:pOttawa</ST1:p</st1:City> conversation. <O:p</O:p I live in <st1:City w:st="on"><ST1:pOrleans</ST1:p</st1:City> so I rarely get out to Packenham and Calabogie. However, I ride at <ST1:p<st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Camp</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Fortune</st1:PlaceName> almost every Saturday and escape to Mt Tremblant as often as I can. I spent the last three days there and will be back next Sunday. If anyone would like to join me for some big turns on the big mountain, drop me a line. I always like to share some trenches with another carver. <O:p</O:p Cheers, <O:p</O:p Brian

Re: Sultan Guy's age vs carving comment. I started riding in hard boots 15 yrs ago, turn 55 this year and still look forward to crankin' big deep carves every day I hit the slopes. I spent the last three days laying trenches at Mt Tremblant (near Montreal) to get the skiers' attention. On the flip side, my legs turn to jelly after a few hours so I quietly slip into my soft boots (or ski boots) over the noon hour and get back out on the snow!