Jack M

As others have said, you used to have to get certified to snowboard at a lot of mountains. And you couldn't get certified until you were deemed "good enough" by an instructor. I got certified at Stowe in '88. A couple years later this disappeared from all resorts almost overnight. I had heard it was because someone sued, or threatened to sue, or a lawyer pointed out that someone <i>could</i> sue when a certified snowboarder got hurt. The basis for suit would be that the mountain said the rider was good enough when they were not. So I don't see that form of certification or license coming back. But a simple waiver could work. Something extra you sign that says you accept the risk. Which is kind of dumb because this is the agreement you make when you purchase a lift ticket. jp1: don't bash. It's everywhere.

I've never ridden a Kessler, but my Coiler (very similar specs to yours) leaves me no desire to pay that premium.

I have it. You don't want it. I've tried carving with tunes, and I felt that the volume required to overcome the wind and snow noise was dangerous to my ears.

heh, I actually had to draw out all the lever arms to be sure. maybe I'll scan it after some turkey.

Let me qualify that.... your ankles will have less leverage to tilt the board with a taller binding. Your knees and hips will have more leverage, but that's not always a good thing, because you will have to make a larger motion to create the same change in edge angle. So yeah, MUD, a skier would say risers give them more leverage, because they're not using their ankles to affect edge angle. Again, any use of risers or taller bindings for snowboarding is not for leverage purposes. It's for any other benefit such as cant/lift clearance, the even-flex and dampening effects of a Hangl or Derbyflex, and on skis the reduction of boot-out.

You actually get <i>less</i> leverage by raising your bindings off the board, but as far as the Bomber or Catek bindings are concerned, the amount of rise is insignificant, IMO. The benefits are that you gain clearance for adjustable cant/lift. Also the binding can have a smaller footprint on the board, resulting in less of a flat spot when the board is bent. With non-zero degree cant discs on Bombers, your heel or toe is quite close to the board.

Thanks, but Mellow Yellow is kidding. The board was a gift; he's one of the cool cats who bought it for me.

I was doing the website the past two seasons, I would have heard by now if there was going to be a black friday deal. I haven't heard from Mike in a long time. Any current Madd owners should take good care of their boards...

Shred's original "Schtubby" was even more stubby... 161cm, like 150cm running, 14.7m sidecut. My Schtubby is 170cm 155cm running, 14m sidecut, 21cm waist. Phenomenal board. I gave her some sentimental graphics...

The Prior metal I had with no other topsheet was the lightest board I've ever had. It was fun that way, but the metal topsheet did get dinged up. The Coiler I have now (with topsheet above the metal) I would call average, not perceptibly heavier than normal for a 170.

Huh. So I take it you could build a metal board that was every bit as lively as a glass board? Okay, so what is the metal buying us then? Torsional stiffness? No way man, he throws elbows! You can count me in that group, because as I said there are times when livelier traditional construction boards can be more fun. But for now my go-to board is metal. It's too darn versatile and fun.

Cowboy... do you have heel lift on your front foot??

These were the wife's, but the red coat and the sweater are unisex... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200279765596 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200279772162 http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200279715340

Wild stuff kildy, nice to see you here. I always knew it as the Kildy Flex, before I ever heard of Tinkler. Good luck! tex, I'm pretty sure Madd came out in 1994 with their butterfly cf topsheet. I don't know if that pre-dates kildy, or if it was "stolen", but that shape is pretty organic. I'm sure lots of people have thought of it independently.

Huh?? I thought the metal increased the dampness of the board...?

Tinnitus is forever. I know. :(

Huh huh huh. Yes, my schtubby is metal, but it's not quite an X3. My "Safari Comp IV" is 170cm, 21cm, 14m. X3 is 171cm, 20cm, 13.2m. I wouldn't want to teach on either the Safari or X3 unless I was doing a high level lesson on blues and blacks. For never-evers or novice/intermediate carvers, I'd want something with a radius of 11.5m or under.

Yeah... I dunno. That was Fin's status, so I just sorta copied it when I had to help him out with some admin stuff. I should correct it for both of us.

The metal boards aren't any heavier. I believe they require less fabric. Actually the Prior metal I had was the lightest board I'd ever ridden, it was fun that way.

Texalium is fiberglass coated with powdered aluminum.

I'm cool enough for this? Hmm... would love to get back to the motherland and cut ruts with Coxie again... let me see what I can do.

Yes it is, but you have to try a Coiler. He really does have the balance of lively-to-damp nailed. I would also think Donek would have a good balance too, their boards have traditionally been very lively and fun. The Prior metal I had was first generation, and I think was a little too damp for my taste. Priors appear to be much different now.

A resident nerd here is currently working on that. ;) See you at the ECES2010 demo tent. Bring your checkbook.

Yeah Geoff, Rogue is good but I think it's offensively overpriced. $10.99 for a sixer here, who do they think they are? I can get the real stuff (german/belgian) for $8.99. Victory is another good US brew to try. Also Weyerbacher, Hooker, and Brooklyn. Probably #6 on my list above would be Spaten Optimator, a bock. Also you can't call yourself a man until you've had Dogfish Head 120 minute IPA.... 20%!!! And delicious!!

They are the most versatile, sure-footed boards ever. They do not chatter. My Coiler is the perfect harmony of damp and lively. It's very fun. However on a perfect carpet of firm, 20 degrees F corduroy, a more lively glass board is going to be a bit more fun. But for your flagship go-to board, or your only board, make it metal.