Cindy Kleh

I've had back problems for the last 12 years, and I've found a few things that help: hot springs, massage, traction (sounds medieval but it works to stretch out the vertebrae) and Biofreeze, a gel that is not found in stores but works like a mofo. Snowboarding is such an asymetrical sport that it always wacks my back out. Biking seems to be the antidote for everything bad that snowboarding does to my body. Also, instead of an office chair, I use a Fitball because it keeps my back constantly moving, strengthening core muscles and burning 10% more calories than just sitting. And yoga helps me get in touch with what's really wrong and what is needed for healing. Also helps with asymetrical issues. (JMHO)

This is so squishy and warm, I think I'm going to cry. Are we on Oprah? :)

Just compare the diction and spelling of the posts in BOL to any freestyle chatline or even letters to the editor, TWS mag. It's obvious. You guys are the nerds of snowboarding (myself included). Most snowboarders aren't thinking much deeper than where to buy donuts for breakfast.

So if racers are kind of the pariahs of hardbooters, then what does everyone think about softbooters who race? Not that I do that, exactly .... or that I would have anything against those who do .... or that I actually hang out with these types or anything .... just wondering. snow goddess

He he he. Good one Alle! No matter what is going wrong in your life, powder will make it better. Not even a tough decision.

I think you should name it Richard. You know ... the dick thing. :D

Can you imagine what the ski movie Hotdog would've been like with snowboarders in the plot? It was so 70s!!!!

I drove by the Basin yesterday (on a Sunday). They had a foot of new but it was wet, heavy stuff. Long lift line, but everyone looked happy. I can't believe that Vail Resorts is now charging their employees to ski the Basin on weekends. So lame! When did this become policy? I have a connect for free Basin tickets year round, but you'll have to kick down a bud of dank and be an extremely cool person. Loveland is spoutin snow, and there's some good size whales. The snow this past weekend can't hurt. I also saw about a dozen riders and skiers doing Loveland Pass. (I wasn't even tempted.)

Since 1960, the gap between the rich and the poor has done nothing but increase. Our middleclass is dissappearing.

I'm firmly against poverty, especially my own. If someone needs help, I'd rather see my money go to food, education or rent than to make bombs to kill people in Iraq.

I live in one of those counties (Grand), and I'm not counting on a really long life. Snowboarding the gnarly gives me a better chance of hitting a tree or falling off a cliff. But in my mind, it's not the length of my life that matters, it's the intensity. I've already lived about 3 lives compared to the average stiff in his/her 9-5'ers battling daily traffic in Atlanta.

A Basin sold to Dundee Real Estate for $4 mil, Canadians, eh? It was kind of a shady deal, with one local offering $12 million. The Basin also stayed under Vail Resorts in it's lift passes and bus system, so that helped it survive. Dundee has taken good care of the place: snowmaking and mountain top dining, even an expansion into Montezuma Bowl planned.

Mad River Ski Area in Vermont has made coop ski resort owning a success for decades, but they still don't allow snowboards (WTF?) I think that resorts can't just sell skiing anymore. It's retail and real estate that make the $$ and lift tickets are just a drop in the bucket. Big resorts can offer big discounts and buddy passes to get warm bodies with big wallets in town. When riders have experienced the big guys at low cost, with 6-pack lifts and huge acreage, it's hard to settle for the little guys at higher pass prices. Some small resorts have survived, like Arapahoe Basin. Some have died, like Berthoud Pass. Berthoud had some of the sickest terrain on the planet (still does, it's just backcountry now), but all it had to sell was lift tickets and 99 cent bowls of chili. And it was about 85% expert, which doesn't appeal to the masses. Global warming is just exasperating the problem. Most scientists believe that over 50% of the world's ski resorts will be closed within 50 years due to global warming. Even the big resorts can't escape global warming! Of course, they will have a different vacation to offer: one with cold air. I prefer smaller resorts, too. I would gladly trade less acreage for a better overall experience. But let's face it, resorts don't make much money off people like me. I don't take lessons or buy much food or logo wear, I don't buy slopeside condos or pay extra for close-up parking. I'm a cheap f'n snowboarder!

I found my speed suit through Bomber. One of the members (Phil Fell) had one that fit me perfectly. It has shaved some seconds off my time but getting older has added seconds. Where do you buy new knees?

"I think one of the few benefits of getting older is that I care less & less about what other people (other than people I know) think about me." Right on, Oldacura!

We are all one. OOOOOOOOOOHM Why do we love to label people and point out the differences instead of the similarities?

Good grief! Good pictures! Did you take them, Jack?

Hmm, interesting. Glad I never bought stock in ASC. Those shareholders are hating life.

The benefit show is taking place at the Badlander, a bar in Missoula, MT on July, 25. It is a local sort of fundraiser. We would love to have support even if your friends can not make it to the concert. They can make a donation that will go directly to the Adaptive Action Sports Freestyle Session at Windells, August 5 - 11. Go to www.adaptiveactionsports.org and click "support us". Thanks for helping my campers shred! Lucas Grossi Winter Program Director Adaptive Action Sports (406) 425-2278

Here's a little more info, and I swear, they race GS, SL and BX, too, not just a bunch of rail monkeys: This 2006-07 winter Tim Windell, the owner of Windells Snowboard Camp, an avid supporter of AAS offered an almost half price rate per AAS athlete to attend a riding session from February 19-25th. Windells is a world class snowboard camp that is located in Mt. Hood, Oregon. The World's top athletes that compete at Olympic and X Games levels train at Windells. Windells is also the official camp of the U.S Snowboard team! Check it out at www.windells.com Through the hardwork of our AAS staff and donations from our supporters we were able to send 8 adaptive snowboarders and 2 staff members to the camp including double leg amputee co-founder Amy Purdy and our single leg amputee Winter Program Director Lucas Grossi to help coordinate the camp. A few of the riders who attended were Keith Deutch, who lost his leg to an RPG in Iraq. Thomas Wolf, an incredible rider who happens to be partially blind, Nicole Roundy who lost her leg to cancer, and Kevin McHugh, paralyzed from the waist down, who has developed the first ever "sit- snowboard". Plus the rest of the amazing adaptive athletes who got the chance to ride together and learn jibs and tricks from world class coaches.These riders can attribute much of their weeks accomplishments to the outstanding coaching provided by Jason "Chief" Rocca and volunteer coach Shane Stalling. Every athlete, whether they were an above knee amputee, below the knee amputee, double leg amputee or blind walked away with a handful of new tricks. Almost every rider can now stomp a backside 180 boardslide. These riders are doing more then they thought they even wanted to do! Chris Slavin, who has atrophied muscles in her legs due to a genetic disease she was born with, originally told AAS she wanted to learn how to go off a small jump and land it. Well that was something she learned the first day of camp, and by the end of camp she was stomping boardslides and hitting kickers and tabletops! One thing I personally took away from this camp was the idea that, a person can do absolutly anything they put their minds into, maybe it's a bit different then everyone else, but it can be done. I realized that I had put myself into a box of "little progression" with snowboading because I thought "Well I used to be able to do that, but now I have prosthetic legs so I should just be grateful that I can ride at all". After landing a 180 off of a tabletop and stomping backslide 180 boardslides, I realized I that I have been mentally enabling myself, and after this camp I know I can do anything, legs or no legs! - Amy Purdy On behalf of AAS and all of the athletes that attended this camp we would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Tim Windell and all of the staff and coaches that worked with us during the camp!

I thought that the info was in the post via an attachment. Here's what I know: It's July 25 at Mt. Hood at 9 pm. It's a punk theme with the following bands: Jacktop Town Heiress Pilton Joey Butta and the Fuctones $5 Contact Lucas Grossi for more info: originalgimp@gmail.com

Hello Shredders, This concert is a benefit to help send physically disabled snowboarders to Windells Camp in Oregon this summer. Please come and rock out! If you can not come to the show and would like to donate then please go to our website. www.adaptiveactionsports.org Sincerely, Lucas Grossi Winter Program Director Adaptive Action Sports (406) 425-2278

I don't know what mountain you are looking to ride, but forget hotels. Spend the bucks on a season pass at Vail Resorts or Intrawest. It's going to be tough finding a place from Feb thru April. Most folks have already gotten here 2 or 3 months ago and housing is tight. Don't know how Fin feels about a 2 month house guest, but I have an extra room to rent in Fraser, about 10 minutes away from Winter Park/Mary Jane. $550/month including utilities. You'd have to pay me in advance so I don't rent it out in November. Snow Goddess

D-Sub, Do you want Helga's number or my mom's? Helga may be more woman than you can handle. She's a born-again Christian that doesn't swear or drink (she's makes a great DD). She won the women's 40-49 all-around national title this year, and it's not the first time. She possesses many veenning techniques. :D

Very funny, AK Boarder. You know as well as I that there are no logical explanations of why we keep going back and doing **** like BX races (the only time I wear armor). I promised my mother that I would retire from BX when I won the national gold, and I've gotten so many silvers ..... Mom is trying to bribe my toughest competition, a chick from Reno that is 6 feet tall and weighs 185 without her BX armor or board on, to let me win one year. (I'm 5'5" and weigh about 130 ... some of the weight of "Helga from Eastern Block Country" is her triple D boobs!) But at high speeds, weight equals force, and I wouldn't consider racing without protection, and we're not talking condoms here!