Mike Rauch

http://vimeo.com/33852946 Was great early season snow last weekend!

Wasn't the smoothest day, but the board rocks! Now I need an HD camera!!

Hi Dan. Great to meet you today. Donek board with the plate was awesome in the afternoon. Very lively compared to the longer metal SG with the Vist. My Dad took some video... Not great quality due to the phone video. But interesting anyway. Maybe see you next time. Email me when you go up.

Does anyone have a recommendation for what to put under a TD3 binding. Just bought an SG 185 new in USASA classifieds and the seller also indicated that TD3's "eat" titanal boards. Plan on getting a plate system when the dust settles on that debate soon. In the mean time what can I put between the board and binding? and where can I get it. Thanks for the help!

Will do. Likely Jan 29-30.

Dan, sorry I missed you up there...too busy riding or parenting... Short update on the boards: Rode the Donek freecarve 1 Sat morning on soft pack at -2 degC on the Morrisey side. Setup felt too far fwd at the default stance and setback...forgot to bring an Allen key to adjust though, so just rode til around 11:00. Back leg was pretty fried from fighting to get more wait on the tail. Then I took the SG 185 out in the afternoon on the Sundance chair. Conditions had warmed to above freezing, and that side of the mountain was actually pretty awesome. That board rocks. Default setback is 60mm and it all felt much more balanced. 3 runs in, and the board and I were finding the groove. Good thing the SunPeaks is not too busy. Getting to know the board was like riding an untrained race horse. There were times I was so committed to a carve, I had trouble unlocking it. Good news was, after 3-4 runs I had it about 90% figured out and had the best afternoon ever. The board is very predictable (once the honeymoon...or shall we say the wedding...was over). It blasts through the crud powerfully and with authority. You need speed and to ride very aggressively...go too slow and you'll look like it's your first time on a board. The board is also VERY finely built. Fit and finish is definitely top shelf. Day two had me back on the Donek to figure out the setup. After I dropped off my 5 and 6 year olds at their first day of ski race training with the SunPeaks Alpine club, it was off to the Sundance chair armed with an Allen key this time. Had already moved the front binding back 3/4 inch,and then moved both back about another inch half way down the run. I did not take measurements, but I'd estimate a 19" stance and about 35mm setback on top of the default. What a difference that made. Only had time for three runs total. Very nice ride. Board definitely feels softer and more forgiving when not in a carve...easier to ride if you want to do more moderate carving. Nice and nimble for cross under or cross through type turns. This board requires a little less real-estate. At 175cm it should. Does not seem to hold the edge as solidly as the SG, and one would not expect it to. Also, it does not hammer through the crud as well...got launched a couple of times at high speed. Sure is fun to have two great boards with different personalities. One additional note. Before heading out, I stopped in and picked up a neck brace at a local medical supply store. One of those soft ones you velcro in the back. Fits under the jacket collar, so it's not really noticed. Good thing too...I can just imagine the chairlift talk "look at the guy with the neck brace ridin that hardboot board like a mad man - moron!" That extra support softens the whiplash on the high speed crashes. I always tell people if you don't bite it at least a couple of times in a day, your not pushing your limits. Hurts more as you get older though

So after a fair bit of research I ended up buying two boards. Bought a 175 Freecarve 1 that Sean had a good deal on with a small top sheet blemish and found a 2010/11 185 Sigi full race in the usasa classifieds. That SG is SEXY! Just finished setting up each with td3 step in bindings. Can't wait to try it all out this weekend. All this came about when I broke that rear FAST binding on that old Rossi 165 board..shucks...must be karma... Will post after the weekend. By the way td3s I bought through Prior came with one 6 deg cant and one 3 degree. Is that normal? Running the front at 3 deg straight toe lift and rear with 6 deg cant rotated for 1.5 deg outward tilt. Angles are 60/55. does that seem like a good start? Also, sg board has lots of setback, but mounted both boards in the standard middle mounts (approximate 20" stance)

Is your board still for sale? If so, call me at (604) 309-3578. Thanks, Mike.

Is this board sold? looking for something similar. If available, what year is it?

Are these sold?

Thanks Dan. I'll take a look on the classifieds. Would like to get some of the newer geometry though. I've use "ship happens" lots for shipping to Sumas...a great service. I agree, would be goot to hook up on the mountain some time. Normally up every other weekend. Will be up the 14th and 28th...we'll see what I'll be riding...

Thanks Jim, That's awesome. I'll probably make a decision in the next couple of days. How do you like the 187 length. I was thinking of a 173, but have heard others saying they can rip a pretty tight arc even on the longer boards. Sun Peaks is a pretty open mountian with moderate to light crowds, so I'd like to make sure the board I get can do some decent GS carves in addition to tighter arcs. I'm getting a little older though, and GS speeds can hurt more than they used to when you get it wrong... How do you like your Catek's. I was thinking of getting the bomber TD3 step ins for one of my boards and Catek's for the other...just so I can play around and see what I like best. Also, polling the crowd on what Prior FLC artwork is most popular. I seriously like the racey look of the Green. Check out the topsheets below... http://www.priorsnowboards.com/boards_flc.php

Thanks for the quick reply. Re: the bomber bindings...I was refering to the F2 bindings, vs the Catek, vs the Bomber TD3? Step in vs std. What would be the preference of most riders out there for aggressive carving on a board like the Prior or Donek metals. Thanks!

Hi all, I'm new to Bomber on Line. Great site! I recently broke the rear binding on my Rossi 165 Race X VAS, and this has inspired me to replace those Xbone bindings, as well as buy another board. I've been riding the Rossi board for about 8 years now and this was my first true hardboot board. All of my boarding is at Sun Peaks near Kamloops BC. Not too much ice, good grooming, and pretty open terrain. I'm a pretty aggressive rider, carving hard on the blue runs. 5'-11", 165lbs, size 9.5 boot. Running 64degFront and 54degRear angles. Research on this site has narrowed my decision to a Prior or Donek ride (although I'd consider a Kessler, Coiler, or F2 Silber Feil). I'm not so concerned with cost...I'd rather make sure I get a board that will ride great for years to come. The Prior FLC Metal seems like a great board. Sean at Donek has a Fiberglass construction 175 Freecarve 1 with a blemish at a good price that I could pick up quickly and start riding. Following are my quesitons: 1. Should I spend the extra and get a new Prior or Donek with metal construction and variable sidecut radius, or should I consider a fiberglass board? 2. If I get a new board, should I go with the Prior or the Donek. Also, is the prior FLC a better choice than the WCR Metal. 3. Was thinking of a 173 length so it's versatile for tighter turns and longer GS. 4. What is the preference on bindings? Some say F2 bombers give more feel to the board. Others like the rigidity of the Catek's. I've been used to the FAST step in bindings and like the convenience. Shoudl I go Step in or Bail type? I'm thinking I might get a pair of bail type Cateks and a pair of Bail type F2's and then run them on each board to see what I like best, and put my prefered setup on the new board. Thanks for the help. Mike.