Jack M

Stumbled across this somewhat recent thread today... https://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/315295-Educate-me-on-carving-hardboot-snowboarding Some familiar names there, fighting against the tide. Some of the ignorance is staggering.

Indeed, Mondopoint is just the overall length of your foot in centimeters.

Several years ago I had pinned threads called "Gear to Loan" in each Ride Board forum for exactly this. Almost nobody listed their loaner gear. I deleted those threads recently because they just didn't look good sitting there empty.

Well, that's an activity that is different than the one I am most passionate about, race-derived freecarving on groomers. Gear that's best for one is not the best for the other. Or even good. I think it's more of a lack of interest. There have been options for gear good for A/M for a long time. For several years Burton alone was making 3 levels of Boots (Earth, Wind, Fire), at least 2 levels of bindings (Race Plate, Carrier) and 4 levels of boards (FP, UP, Coil, Fusion) for all different kinds of hardbooting. Boards like the Prior 4WD and Donek Axxess have been around for a long time, as well as custom options. And then there have always been AT boots. I'm just not seeing this. The gear keeps getting better if you ask me. Granted we are into the "diminishing returns" part of the curve, but the gear right now is awesome IMO. I hear you, but racing is the only place that I personally have ever seen any kids taking an interest in alpine. If my nephew and his friend stick with it, I will have replaced myself by 200%, thanks to youth racing. You could ask that of almost anyone, including me. When I want a different perspective I softboot. I have no interest in even trying Telemarking, Teleboarding, Snowblades, Snoyaking, etc. Human nature. You're not going to argue someone into becoming interested in something, you just have to show it to them and then it comes from within, or not.

An article on this: http://alpinesnowboarder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/canting-and-lift.pdf

I don't mean this to be negative but I think the bigger goal is how do we keep the sport from disappearing in North America. I think the scene is healthy on other continents, but here the population seems to be aging. I see hope in youth racing, which is why ASB has partnered with USASA and USSRT. All ASB proceeds beyond the cost of hosting and merch gets donated to them. USASA reports greater participation in gates than in slopestyle. Boardercross is their most popular event, which is still a good thing as it rewards carving ability. At this year's Sunday River USASA alpine event, there were over 50 participants. There were no slope or bx events that weekend either. There are usually a handful of hardbooters at these races, and they typically have the fastest times across the board. This is probably the only exposure to alpine gear that many of these kids will get all year. Young racers see the performance and the results and know if they want to get serious about gates, or just faster, hardboots are the ticket. My 13 year old nephew has had a breakthrough year on hardboots, and is now beating his good friend in the gates. When they were both in softies, the friend was always faster. The friend finally agreed to try my nephew's setup and is now hooked. He took right to it because he was already carving his softboots. Other observations: The two most common themes in comments I get over the years from people expressing interest have been 1) that's amazing, I could never do that, and 2) I've always wanted to try that but I don't know how/where to try the gear. We're not going to fix #1. I'm planning on writing an article to address #2. Individual carvers who meet other #2s can offer to teach them, provided they have an additional friendly setup like a 165-172 freecarve with standard bindings that the person can try with their ski boots. I agree with David Kirk that doing anything on groomers is not "cool" or not "as cool" as going off piste or hitting gnarly au natural trails, so we are limited right off the bat. Demos/Sessions: Back when Teleboards were invented, they had lots of demo events. The impression that made on people has lasted. I haven't seen a Teleboard demo in at least 20 years, but people still ask me if I'm using a Teleboard (grrr). The SES and ECES and other sessions with a full complement of demo gear including boots would draw some new people in. The Montucky Clear Cut was incredibly cool, and the realization of a longtime fantasy (private hardbooters-only mountain!) but did it bring in anyone new? Honestly asking. Also, snowboarding in general has declined. Skiing is cool again! It's so much easier for little tykes to start on skis, and then they get good and don't want to go back to being a beginner again on a snowboard. That was what happened with my kids (now 13 and 16, wtf?). To them snowboarding is what dad does. Promoting hardboots for all-mountain/off-piste use... that's all fine and good but now we're talking about a niche within a niche within a niche. I didn't think it was a business line worth chasing. And personally I just don't think it's the right tool for the job. I went about 12 years with no softboot gear. I convinced myself I was having fun in powder/trees and in the spring. I finally got back on softboots and a freeride setup 4 years ago and it's just better for that stuff. No doubt in my mind. YMMV. Anyway, I think if we can simply maintain the level we're at now, that would be mission accomplished. Life as an alpine snowboarder right now is pretty awesome. The gear is better than ever. And hey, being unusual is fun. Nephew: his friend: Nephew:

These threads are great. As an IT geek I like ideas for more organization, however Carving Central has always been the place to ask about technique. Technique discussion is a huge part of what inspired Fin to create BOL with just one forum 20 years ago. Let's think about it...

I agree with that author that "effective edge" is widest point to widest point, because that is the length of the board that will be gripping the snow when it is tilted up on edge. The board can actually dig into the snow beyond the widest point of the nose, which is why you need to detune up there.

How could I forget... custom orthotic footbeds. I consider them mandatory equipment. If you don’t have them yet, once you do get them you’ll kick yourself for not having done it years ago. Rock solid connection to the board. If you are going to Sugarloaf, @Beckmann AG does a great job building them.

Hey I like that link!! I know what you mean though. I can tell you for sure that Nate Soucy is faster than me and Jason Burrill, and probably Nate True. That ranking is kind of BS because it’s based on your single fastest run all season. My result was one night last year when I ripped off the run of my life. I did give Soucy some good competition all season, stole some races from him, but he’s faster overall and I have like 30 pounds on him, haha.

Thank you so much sculler! USASA and USSRT thank you as well!!

All the manufacturers involved in making boards for racing and serious freecarving use two layers. (Donek, Coiler, Prior, Kessler, Sg, Oxess, F2, etc). There are some board and ski makers who don’t. I have never noticed the lower sheet being visible. I assume it is between the edges.

Dude 1: What is that? Dude 2: That’s an alpine snowboard. I almost cried.

All metal boards should have 2 sheets of metal, 1 somewhere above and 1 somewhere below the core. Otherwise the camber will change with temperature.

Ha, that was a thank-you from Fin several years ago for being a moderator. Looking good @lonbordin!

What do you think about this as a GS board for next year for my currently 13yo 105 lb nephew?

Welcome cashz123! It was a pleasure to meet you and see you race at Sunday River USASA. Great style. I have a Kessler 180 with UPM inserts I could part with if you don’t have to have an Allflex right away. Ground once. You could try it first if you want. I’d give you a deal. I believe yyzcanuck.com carries Allflex now as they are being distributed by F2. Nate got one there. Tell Andrea we sent you.

Several game changers over the years... Bomber, Prior, Donek, Madd, Coiler, Kessler... right now it's a plate. I think a plate is what is going to keep me carving into my 70s (I'm closing in on 45 now). Loving my Apex X-Plate.

You animal! Those Alloys do look good.

My custom Winterstick RS 166/27.5 has camber with nose/tail rocker and low profile tips... Any of the custom shops will accommodate you...

Unbelievable! https://www.facebook.com/431614603904020/posts/775810406151103 Or if you’re not on FB, nevermind the inaccurate title:

Probably Beau. He’s not on here. Good carver.

pic was taken Monday. Can we just have a season with no rain? I'll compromise and tolerate an early January thaw, but after that, no rain, ok??

I see three possible solutions - 1, your beer league gets with the program and joins NASTAR where this has all been worked out, 2, you take your business to a proper NASTAR beer league, 3, use poles to start and push to the first gate or so and have an accomplice collect them for you, and become a master wax technician. Of course the lame solution is to just suck it up and try to have fun, but I agree if you're going to go to the effort and expense you should be able to race for real. In NASTAR, everyone competes against everyone else - skiers, snowboarders, telemarkers, adaptives - and the standings are determined by calculated points based on time, age, gender, handicap, and equipment discount. Your league is obviously run by hacks. By the way, in my opinion "lightweight" GS boards like the Kessler 180 were made for beer league!! Unfortunately I can't do it this year, but I had a good year last year.

Very cool @boardguru!! I was hoping it was somebody here. Let us know how it rides. They also told me you were the first person to buy an original Winterstick in a store when they first started retailing them. Cool again! I bet there is a good story there... They aren't quite there yet. They are doing titanal inlays, but not full sheets. My BX has the titanal inlay, the carbon fiber weave, and a ptex topsheet. Much better than a regular glass board.