Jack M

Well, a quick look at those bindings on the web reveals insufficient details to confirm or deny the existence of such a suspension system, but I am very skeptical. Really I was just trying to nicely say that the statements in the Carver's Almanac about the Catek isolating or decoupling the rider from the board are quite simply false. The mounting plate is rigidly bolted to the board, much like the TD1 was. The circumferential gasket is a better execution of the same concept as the TD1's bumpers, but it is not a fully floating system. But whatever, both the Olympics and the TD2s offer something the other doesn't, and both are excellent choices. Neither binding renders the other obsolete. Edit: I just read Bob's post. That's what I thought.

Catek Freerides.

I must take exception to one bullet item there. The Carver's Almanac states: "The [Catek's] True Flex Disc isolates the rider from shock and vibration, and protects the board. Catek claims that it also 'decouples acute rider transmitted forces from making it to the board edge.'" The TD2 provides a true suspension and is the only binding on the market that currently does so. Regardless of quotes to the contrary for any other binding.

Well, I suppose we're kind of splitting hairs to worry about that. In real use, the snowboard sinks into the snow to some depth, and the edge is often engaged in the snow <i>past</i> the widest points of the board - sometimes well up the nose. Check out the nose in these pictures, it's half in the snow! http://photo.ruhtra.com/04311b/n311b16c.jpg http://photo.ruhtra.com/04311b/n311b21c.jpg However, yes, I would measure the running length of the board as the length of the board touching the ground, decambered. We have to establish a consistent reference, and I believe this is where manufacturers do it. I'll ask Sean, if he's not reading this.

are not the ends of the sidecut, nor the ends of the effective edge. Slide a piece of paper under the nose and tail of a flattened board to see where the nose and tail lift off the ground. It's a couple cm's short of the widest points. Gilmour has been claiming a 10.5 for this run of 170s. I had heard a rumor once that someone had spec'd the Donek 171fc (11.2m eq. radius) to be a replica of the original Madd 170. Speaking of originals, the blue/purple sad-boy graphics are a re-do of the original graphics. The art is seen here: And as it appeared on the board: IIRC, it was done by some young kid and I don't think it was intended to be a snowboard graphic, but then Mike liked it so much he used it on the boards. The recent contest and poll for new Madd graphics was open to younger folks in hopes of recapturing that feeling.

I'm told was only by request, the graphic on the left is standard.

post the one you're actually going to use - the clown. don't keep secrets from us - who do you think you are, Madd? :p

I could ramble on for pages, so I'll just boil it down to this: Favorite band of all time: Phish (for the music, not the scene) And I've just rediscovered a fun 80's band that I'm really digging: The Outfield. Check out their debut album "Play Deep". Hooky, pop-rockin' toe-tappers galore. It's on Itunes.

This online store has good selection and will work with you on fit.

Yes, read the welcome center, there is an article in there on how to buy an alpine snowboard. However ski boots <i>can</i> be used if they are soft enough, like recreational boots. If all you have are race boots, you can try them, but don't dismiss the sport if you have a bad time with ski race boots. For cheap snowboarding hardboots, the Deeluxe (Raichle) SB413 are $150 new, sold here. Otherwise check the closeouts in the Bomber store, or the classifieds here.

Hi Meric, did you check out the Welcome Center? There's some info there that should help you get started with equipment and technique. I think "The Norm" should help you with that speed problem. One thing you should realize is that touching the snow is not the goal of good carving. It is a byproduct of it. Actively trying to touch the snow will teach you bad habits, like bending over at the waist. In general, you never want your upper body leaning into the turn more than your lower body. Have fun!

(in that Mortal Kombat voice) "Ghostrider... wins." but no umlauts?

re: JG's post That was certainly the vibe I got at the ECES. Too bad you were conspicuously absent, John. Next time. Heal up right, okay? -Jack

the text needs a few umlauts!

put the 3-degree disc under your front foot and align it so you have all toe lift with zero cant. let me know how that feels.

Don't forget that with Donek, Coiler, Prior, etc there is no middle-man. Burton probably charged a dealer $250, maybe $300 for an FP. With Madd, Madd is actually the middle man since the boards are made in Italy, and you're also paying for trips there to oversee production and for shipping and customs, etc, in addition to the unobtanium materials and x-wing cf topsheet.

HHHMMmmmmm. Maybe a few 170s are just really excited?? Or are standing on something? Or.... they're snowboarding's equivalent to Sasquatch: the MADD 180?!?? Bob, get to the bottom of this!! -Jack (lovin' the green sidewalls. very "matrix".)

Any Safaris???

Hey, if it's fun and you enjoy it, then why not, right? However those stance angles say it all. The toeside hip-drop typical of the "new" carving technique would be very difficult if not impossible with duck-footed stances like those. I would also think that having your feet splayed apart like that would limit mobility because your knees would be going in different directions.

what a coincidence, I grew up in Marblehead, birthplace of the American Navy! :p

Nice! How did the backhill work out? Did you have bindings?? I've often mused about taking my old Elite 150 out on a powder day to see how that big surfboard nose and notched tail worked. Oh yeah - during the blizzard of 93 I was with the UNH rowing team in Virginia "training". We thought we'd have nice weather in VA. Nope - 6" of snow. We drove all that way just to do the same crap we'd been doing all winter. I was absolutely dying to be snowboarding then.

http://www.bomberonline.com//articles/asymetric.cfm

Great pics, but what is all that soft fluffy white stuff?? Please explain, I'm just a New Englander.

Bordy - would you ever attribute it to technique? Driving the nose to hard? Sitting on the tail? Johann - boots can shrink in really cold temps leading to loose bindings. I believe some boot makers now use plastics that resist this, I know the last Burton Fire did, but it wasn't a complete fix.

sit down or lay down and pray the board doesn't spin.