Jack M

It's unreal. The mountain is basically wall to wall. I have to wonder if it would still be in such good shape if it was getting regular use. I think skiing and grooming (when possible) would wear the snow down faster, but yeah it does look like it would have been one of the better spring skiing seasons in history!

Tracks? Here's some tracks. Zoom in. Taken today at Sugarloaf.

I mean I guess so, but I ride at Sugarloaf!

Smooth! So just how many onesies do you have??

I said "some criticism". I didn't say drawn and quartered. By the rationale above, no snowboard company should be able to make alpine boards. Why is Kessler able and Burton not able? The truth is that it was not a question of ability, they were not forced to stop, they chose to. Once they did, they turned their back on it pretty hard, even taking a few opportunities to ridicule it. But like I said, they carried the torch higher and longer than any other mainstream manufacturer, so on the balance I am grateful to Burton.

Burton deserves a lot of credit for promoting Alpine more and longer than any other mainstream manufacturer by a wide margin. However when they removed the Alpine gear from the catalog in 2002 they effectively removed Alpine from visibility for the vast majority of snowboarders. It was a sell-out move, and for that they deserve some criticism.

I started snowboarding in 1988 when I was 13. Andy Coghlan was "the man" back then, and became an instant hero of mine. He posted this great story about his big US Open win on the FB group History of Snowboarding today. Reposting here with his permission. https://www.facebook.com/groups/9006577522/?post_id=10157405361527523 I need some good laughs today so I am asking you guys to post funny US OPEN stories (everyone has one). I'll start. Just before the finals of the Downhill at the 1988 US OPEN, I was upstairs at Mahogany Ridge in the base lodge having lunch, kind of feeling bummed out because I didn't do too well in the qualifiers so I would be running pretty far back for the finals. I was having a little pity party sitting all alone trying to get some kind motivation to go up there and at least have a respectable run. Then I overheard some kids talking at the table next to me. 'Who's gonna win it this year?" "A lot of European riders are here this time, it's all changing" "Yeah, I think Peter Bauer is going to take it. I don't think the Americans can compete" "Really? What about Andy Coghlan, the Dog?" "No, I don't think so, he looks a little washed up" "Yeah, he's running his Snowboard shop up in Burlington and I'm sure he's doing more partying than training" "Yeah, he looks a little chubby" Well I looked down at my chili dog and beer lunch and my big belly and it really could have gone either way, pity party or motivation. Shit, I didn't want it all to end yet! It's like the theme song from Rocky started in my head and I suddenly got a big rush of adrenaline and was lazer focused on proving these punks wrong and keeping the dream alive. I remember being up at the start area growling and talking to myself like a madman. I wasn't even messing with Palmer or anyone else like I normally do. All the top guns were taking their runs and everything was going exactly as everyone thought, Peter Bauer was winning. I could here the times and placings over the loudspeaker from the bottom so I knew what I had to do. Since I had a slow qualifier run I was running around 12th or 13th. The stage was set. I felt like I was the only one left at the top. When I got in the starting gate, I heard them call my name on the loudspeaker and then I heard the massive crowd of people start yelling and screaming for me realizing that this was probably the last hope for a USA victory. Stratton is my home mountain were I grew up so I had a lot of family and friends up there partying and cheering almost the whole way along the course. That cheering gave me an extra boost of energy and focus and I knew I had to have a perfect run saving every hundredth of a second I could. So I took a deep breath and exploded out of the starting gate. I remember staying so low every chance I got. It even made me run a little low on a couple gates. When the finish was in site, I got so low, ducked my head and stuck my hands out to reach for the finish timing beam. I was going about 65mph and had to stop before the fence but I didn't care about that. All I cared about was the time on the big scoreboard. That time was 1 hundredth of a second (0.01) ahead of Peter Bauer. I was sure to wipe off the chili dog remnants on my bib before the awards ceremony. So thanks shit talking punks for motivating me to win my most favorite victory ever and helping to keep my career alive.

I feel the exact same way. They could double the price and I would pay it. Snowboarding is my winter life.

I've had softbooter kids who were racing in the same event as me compliment my riding and express interest. I've been at races and had the usual conversations on the chairlift with interested softbooters and skiers, with my bib on. I don't think people who are actually standing next to a race spectating would dare interrupt and distract a competitor after a run to ask such questions. Fun is a secondary in racing. The primary goals are the same as any other competition - doing your personal best and defeating others. Overcoming fear, pushing yourself, laying down a good clean run and getting a competitive time is really fun. I wasn't a very competitive person by nature growing up, so I wasn't really attracted to racing until later in life. I liked watching it though.

That was back when freeride gear wasn't very good for carving, so hardboots were more of a necessity. Now, freeride gear is more than up to the task on the hero conditions and gentle slopes of Buttermilk, so hardboots have disappeared there. It's no mystery, and has little to do with the state of alpine worldwide. I have known some snowboarders who were once good hardbooters who went back to skis or softboots. Most of these people I'd estimate were never totally passionate about it, or were perhaps burnt out on serious racing. Or never had properly fitted boots. I've also known softbooters who went back to skis. One of my friends like this told me, "I don't want to be that 40 year old on a snowboard." Ouch!

Anyone got the Vist (not Vistflex) hole pattern? Asking for a friend. Edit - I asked Bruce. He said: "Vist holes are done at 130mm width and directly on the centerline in between the normal set of insert holes"

Indeed: https://fis.smugmug.com/FISSnowboard/World-Cup/2020/Alpine-Snowboard I love the one of Robby Burns on our homepage. From the Scuol event.

As far as I can tell the mortality rate for COVID is about 10 times higher than the common flu in the US. You can sort of get an idea here: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm Looks like about 0.1% mortality rate. But those are estimates. When you do similar estimations for COVID, the mortality rate is closer to 1% in the US as of March 30: https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/30/health/coronavirus-lower-death-rate/index.html

I'm looking at this: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries And dividing total deaths by total cases. I know there are all kinds of flaws with this, including selection bias, because tests are relatively scarce and are only being administered to people who have more significant symptoms. Or at least they were. How did you get tested? Did you have symptoms? My daughter and I flew home from CO on 3/16, and she developed a persistent cough. They wouldn't test her because she didn't have a fever, and was not deemed at risk. normal seasonal flu numbers aren't in the COVID numbers, or did I not understand you?

(Post deleted.) This thread will be locked if obviously political comments continue.

We shall see. One thing I find puzzling is Sweden. They have taken a unique and cavalier approach to dealing with the situation, with minimal restrictions. Personally I disagree with this, but their case rate is lower than ours - 834 cases per million vs 1210. However their mortality rate is considerably higher, 8.2% vs 3.2%. I wonder how this is.

Not anywhere close to #1 per capita. Neither in number of cases (#21) nor deaths (#17). For morality rate (deaths/cases) we are currently #88. We will keep you in our thoughts Poloturbo!

Reminds me of the time I bought a round of Jamesons shots when the Red Sox won the 2004 World Series. A pretty young woman in our crew tossed it back, and then ran outside and tossed it up. I felt bad that I didn't choose a friendlier shot. Friendly reminder that political commentary is not allowed.

Or a smoking section in a restaurant.

Gosh, thanks! Was really hoping to seal the deal at Copper along with the kids I was coaching, but alas. Next year! Finally gave up the Open Class fantasy this year at age 45 - gonna enjoy the ride down the hill. Can't compete with those young bucks at Steamboat. And @TVR's 13 year old son is hard to beat!!

Virus Xylonator socks, of course. I think the USASA trail at Sunday River is pretty legit too. I've seen the Olympic trail at Park City, I think it's comparable.

I can tell you that once I got on a real GS board, my times dropped significantly in beer league (NASTAR) at Shawnee Peak. Previously was using freecarve boards like Proteus 175 and Nirvana 174. I feel like the course at Shawnee is pretty legit. Sustained pitch all the way, good amount of offset, never a wax race.

And, https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/us/politics/cia-coronavirus-china.html?campaign_id=9&emc=edit_NN_p_20200403&instance_id=17311&nl=morning-briefing&regi_id=86209147&section=topNews&segment_id=23741&te=1&user_id=392947cc309b066efd0ac2a784e84d5c