Jack M

Yes, and definitely check the FIS calendar. You can get results for past races and see the upcoming schedule there.

the weight is a valid concern. I wonder if physical conditioning could offset it enough for full-day use. I believe there are racer-types and expert freecarvers using them for all-day freecarving.

Why? If it works for racing it will work for freecarving.

I will occasionally look at the FIS website to see what's going on. I've all but given up looking for it on TV, but if I come across it I drop what I'm doing and watch. Race or race-derived boards are usually my favorite rides, although I have only just now been able to justify buying a Kessler, barely. Otherwise I buy the best I can get from the more accessible sources.

We have our kids (7 and 4) in a ski program this year for the first time, vs. just paying for lessons as we go. So we are aiming for 3 out of every 4 weekends plus 2 weeks this year, maybe more, whereas the last few seasons we did 2 out of 4 plus a week.

These are the old style gray Raichle liners that are now known as Intuition. They were molded -once- for my wife and then her feet grew during pregnancy. Didn't see THAT one coming! Barely used. Great liner, I am still running a set from the same vintage myself. Compare at $149 new.

Awesome! Looks like Bird... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebx61XuFGX8&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebx61XuFGX8&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

Donek Pilot. Those are based on traditional race shapes, which may not matter to a newbie, but would matter to a budget-minded racer. Some of the more accessible alpine brands have just gotten into the new-school race shapes relatively recently, so it will be a little while before those shapes trickle down into any bargain product lines. But to get into sub $399 prices, you'd be looking at a board made by communist slaves.

Mine is a new stock topsheet, but at the time Bruce called it "Freeze". *shrug*.

It means exactly what it says. How many can pay for premium boards, and how many cannot, for whatever reason. I want to know this because some people talk as if Titanal, clothoid sidecuts, big taper, decambered nose/tail, etc have all been widely available for a decade, and that if you haven't been riding them you're not "current". I say this is only true for the minority who could afford/justify $1500 Kesslers, SGs, etc. That technology has only been recently adopted by our go-to North American brands, Coiler, Prior, and Donek. Personally I have been keeping pace with what they're doing, and I have only been able to afford a Kessler just now, barely. Even still, I may have to sell it unless it rides significantly better than the more affordable boards.

http://www.google.com/search?q=usd+to+cad

Yeah, I was pretty loose on the specs with Bruce. I just told him to make me a copy of the one that I tried, which IIRC was like 20.2cm, so I figured that was close enough to the Kessler's 20.5cm. But this came in a c-hair narrower. I'm not too worried about it, I'm not picky about stance angles or waist widths. I've ridden and loved 18 to 21cm boards.

Carbon laminates underneath. Exaggerated by side lighting.

Indeed. I dig the topsheet, it's a new stock design, done by Bruce's regular guy.

I'm going to write a review here to see how our North American boards stand up to the mighty K... UPS just delivered the NSR 185... 198mm waist, "CST" sidecut ;) The line-up so far...

NSR 185. 198mm waist, "CST" sidecut. ;)

For your next ride, what amount of money would be acceptable for you to spend on one board? Whether you can afford many boards or just one, that doesn't matter. Just the board, forget bindings, boots, etc.

The cant disk does not contact the board, it is suspended by the e-ring. The center disk contacts the board, but any bending moments it exerts on the board are buffered and distributed over a wide area by the e-ring and floating cant disk.

You can have it when I'm done with the review. Just send $1400 for shipping.

pretty sure it's not a hardbooter.

oh boy.... Personally I believe that very flexible bindings are like play in a steering column - not where I want my "give". But I get skewered for that by those with real racing experience. I haven't tried Erik's bindings yet though.

I agree completely I am about that size and I run about a 19.75" width with 3 degree discs providing mostly toe lift and heel lift (I also have a little inward and outward canting going on). Experiment, experiment, experiment.

+1. My Beckman footbeds are still going strong 10 years later. And if you think those bindings are scary... you should see his car!

Beckman surfaces at last!! Welcome old friend! Did everybody notice the version on the right is for Catek?