Jack M

Are these reports accurate? http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/reports/default.cfm?var=1&hasFlash=1 Base depths sound kind of discouraging...? How is the carving? Anybody riding in Aspen regularly?

As carve speed increases, so do g-forces. Thus we need to lean into the carve more to balance. This tips the board up higher, creating more edge angle, creating a tighter carve. It sounds circular, but it all reaches a distinct balance point at some combination of edge angle and inclination angle. The Physics article here proves it.

For a first alpine/hardboots board, I wouldn't go below 170, and maybe look at boards up to 175. If you are already good at carving your present gear, you might do well with a freecarve board. Check out the Donek 171fcII or Prior WCR171 (a bit stiffer I think). Otherwise, all-mountain carving boards are a great intro to the sport. Look at the Donek Axis or Prior 4WD. I assume you mean softboots. Yes, check out a boardercross board like the Volkl Cross (not made anymore, look for used), F2 Speedcross 165 (longest one, sold here) Donek, Prior, Coiler (I didn't mention Coiler above because they have about a 10 month wait list), F2, Volkl, Nidecker, Hot...

Go to a 3 degree rear disc, heel lift only - no cant. Leave front foot as is. Widen your stance a quarter inch and center it on the running length of the board. If that feels good try another quarter inch more width. I really don't think narrowing your stance will help. As for the heelside chatter or oscillations, you may not be carving a tight enough turn for your speed. As our speed increases, the board wants to carve a tighter turn. Try more angulation and more edge angle. Really get forward for the first half of the turn, then come back to the center to finish it. You don't want to get too far in the back seat. My setup: I'm 6'0", 30" inseam. Binding angles parallel, degrees depending on width of board to avoid overhang - currently 65 on an 18cm wide board. Stance width 19.5". TD2s with 3 degree discs front and rear, front disc at 85 (toe lift with some inward cant), rear disc at 55 (heel lift with a little outward cant).

Hi jayj, I don't have specific answers to your question, but I hope you get a chance to check out our Welcome Center. Good luck!

I thought that notation was a relic from when they used to have sym and asym FP's? "s" meaning symmetrical, no?

nobody does that. ;)

Should be a great cam. Check out the "Retouching" forum (and others) at dpreview.com for an even better resource.

Das Amputator 201. One of Shred's many boards that I won't ride.

Yes, the one of Helmut was about a 90 degree pan, so it is distorted. The trail is straight, and he is making a round carve. However that is a 196 F2, so it makes pretty long carves, and he was hauling ass. I love that term, hauling ass. My cam takes sequences at 2.5fps, so he covered all that distance in about 1.2 seconds. The one of Shred was taken from further away, so the camera didn't pan very much.

Shred Gruumer same, cropped Helmut Karvelow

Wow, is that 10fps at full resolution, or just in movie mode? What camera? I'll post a couple of my attempts at 2.5fps sequences below. They're weak compared to boostertwo's, but it's fun.

It is true that many people may not be ready for us to come arcing across the hill, and that it is smart for a carver to keep this in mind, and ride defensively. kjl's crosswalk analogy applies. However, you used the keyword <b>fault</b>. Under no circumstances is a collision the fault of the downhill person if they are underway. ("underway" meaning they didn't just enter the trail, and didn't just start downhill from a stop.)

the view from inside...

Supposedly this is in Houston. I'd use it!

http://www.nsp.org/nsp2002/safety_info_template.asp?mode=yrc

He's in Montana trying it out right now!

Find out the shell size. To cut costs, boot makers only make one shell for several sizes, and make up the difference in the liner. Since you'll be throwing the worthless stock liner away and buying Thermoflexes anyway, it won't matter if 27 and 28 use the same shell (I don't know if they do). Also, take the Shell Test.

Check out the articles here on "The Norm" to help get you started carving. Also, we usually just say "toeside" and "heelside", rather than "frontside" and "backside" to eliminate confusion.

Always nice to read posts like these. Be sure to check out our Welcome Center! Good luck! -Jack

That's really cool - top 10! and among the sport's best too!

Hayburner is designated a black diamond, but it's only a moderate black. An intermediate could work up to it, but there are better places to look for unintimidating blues and greens. Same with Spillway.

I agree completely, the technique you describe is totally fine. What I was talking about is finishing a toeside carve, standing up, then crouching down into a sitting position before tilting the board up on edge. It's just not necessary. Patrice and Jacques do not have this problem at all, they are excellent carvers. Maybe I'm not describing it well enough, but I wasn't referring to the push-pull technique, which is a fine way to ride. It's actually quite similar to cross-through.

If you can't wait for a Coiler, Volkl's had Titanal construction for some time now.