Jack M

The recent rain/refreeze here in the east has provided some great testing conditions - sugar on concrete. My most hated conditions. Unbelievably, I had fun on my MK on this crap. The MK allowed me to carve on a combination of steep trails and conditions that I have never been able to carve before. This is a game changer. The board demands commitment, skill, and strength, but if you're ready, the board delivers. Nice work Sean and CMC.

It has been for quite some time... http://www.bomberonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Separate-Zee-Knees.pdf

Step 1, make sure you LOOK WHERE YOU WANT THE CARVE TO GO. This cannot be understated. If you're just looking downhill it's very easy for your technique to go out the window. At the beginning of each carve, sight ACROSS the trail to where you want to end up, and make it happen. DO NOT just stare aimlessly downhill.

Sorry bub. There needs to be a home for this: That's profoundly different than freeriding or riding powder in hardboots.

I like it. Carving Central and All Mountain Hardbooting. Let the HB and SB carvers mingle, and the HB freeriders have a home of their own. Now to make Bomber SB bindings... ;)

I figured, and I agree, but that's a separate issue.

I agree with the rest, but go to burton.com, go to the snowboards section, check the "Camber" checkbox, and browse the 14 different men's models and 3 women's models that appear.

I also agree with this, but the problem is, the forum you're talking about doesn't exist yet. There is so much softboot content in this forum now and it does not get moved to off-topic. That would be fine if this were the "Carving Community". I think there should either be one "Carving Community" forum, or two - named something like "Hardboot Carving and Freeriding" and "Softboot Carving". But as it is now, we're kind of in limbo here with a forum that is functioning as a catch-all, but is named very specifically.

I don't think that's fair. Yes, they have to be softboots, they cannot have an external plastic shell anywhere, but that's it. To me it looks like these were designed very much with function firmly in mind. If they work as well as they look, I'll have a pair.

To you and me, no. But see softbootsailor's post above. I have heard from other softbooters that feel similarly. Words have meaning.

Umm, sounds like a recipe for massive toe drag to me...? That reminds me, it will be fun to watch them try to re-embrace carving now that it's becoming cool or at least interesting again.

I think I'm in. I'll have to try them first of course, but I like what I'm seeing. A proper highback, toe/heel attachment, a pseudo-ankle strap, easy in/out. Makes sense for free riding if you ask me. A half pipe/park tweaker won't be interested, but that's fine. Of course I just bought new softies and bindings last year, so I will take some credit for these coming out now. Queequeg, the boot and the toe cleats are the toe cap. I don't see an issue there.

West Carven obviously hasn't seen ErikJ or PaulK then...

Since 1999, this forum used to be called the "Carving Community". Just recently it was renamed to the "Hardbooting Community". I know the intentions were good - to suggest that hardboots can be fun for more than just carving, but the bottom line is it reads as exclusive. I have talked to a few softbooters who have been put off by this. Also, softboot carving content continues to be posted here, without being moved to Off Topic, which IMO is totally fine. I think this has to do with a renewed interest in carving among softbooters - carving is now seen as soul surfing, a respectable skill, and is no longer stigmatized. Carving is carving, and there is a lot of crossover of technique between carving in softboots vs hardboots. I think we should embrace the new popularity of carving with softbooters, and be waiting with open arms when Google sends them here. Edit - I think there should either be one "Carving Community" forum, or two separate forums - named something like "Hardboot Carving and Freeriding" and "Softboot Carving". But as it is now, we're kind of in limbo here with a forum that is functioning as a catch-all, but is named very specifically.

Those look like they have no traction at all.

It was not you. :-)

Keeping both

edit, board is now for sale.

By the way, my Boiler Plate is for sale...

In "The Hardbooting Community"? rvr, toe lift on the front foot is used to offset the boot's built-in forward ramp angle. It's simply personal preference, many people use it. I think it makes it easier to control your fore/aft weight placement, and makes hardbooting more comfortable in general. Some people use more front foot toe lift than heel lift on the back foot. I've never felt a need to try that (gas pedal), but that's me. Just try it and see. It's possible it could lull you into forgetting to get forward at the beginning of each new carve to pressure the nose, which is important.

Haven't seen that PM yet, feel free to email me at michaud.jack at gmail.com

Wescott runs 27/9. However as I said above, I got back into softboots last year thinking I wanted steep angles for freecarving (36/27) and discovered I much prefer 27/15 for both freecarving and freeriding, after listening to some advice from a good softboot carver.

2016 Donek Proteus 163. 20cm waist, 10.5m sidecut. Excellent condition. Less than 1 season of use, in combination with other boards in my quiver. I wouldn't even be selling this because it's awesome, but I want to try the MK and I also enjoy sleeping in the big bed. Blue carbonium topsheet. 1-base, 2-side bevels. Could use a touch up, but no real issues. If you don't know the Proteus it's basically a lively metal board that strikes a great balance between lively pop and metal dampness. Single radius sidecut, actually parabolic like the old FC's, makes for an exciting time. You could think of it as a wide metal MK. This board retails for $1100. Score this one for $500 plus shipping. Act now, supplies are extremely limited, operator is standing by.

Selling for a friend. He's primarily a skier so these have seen little use, but I don't know the total history of them. They seem like they're in great shape. Original center disc screws are in rough shape so I'm not including them. Replacements available at any Burton dealer. $75 shipped to the 48 states, more elsewhere.