mswebb

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Too bad you aren't out in our area. Chris Karol's FAST team is setting up to work with riders aged 10 thru masters. If you're looking for a vacation plan, check us next winter. http://fastsnowboarding.com

Best of luck to Kubo.

You might have met my son, Gaelen. He raced Jr as well. Too bad about the finals being cancelled (due to weather). Good luck in the slalom race on Thursday.

Sorry we missed you. My son and his team had a few runs on gates on Thursday and then left Friday for Copper. I picked up powder board (Salomon Sick Stick) from One Sweet Ride at the Canyons but don't think I'll get to use it until next year (we were expecting a foot and a half tonight but it doesn't look like it's coming). What new board did you pick up?

Tomorrow is the last training day prior to nationals. I'll probably head out to the Canyons in the afternoon with my sons team. They can run gates while I try not to kill myself learning how to ride hard gear. If they get gates, it will be on Outlaw, under the Orange Bubble.

Had two powder days (Sunday and Monday) but Tuesday is cold with little new snow. If the runs aren't too tracked up from the powder hounds, could be a good afternoon. FAST racing team is probably running slalom on Outlaw or just doing turns down to Sunpeak. I'm new to hard boots and prefer softer snow, I'll probably be softbooting.

With spring upon us We're running out of days to get out on the boards. Anyone interested in hitting the hills (Canyons preferably), get in some runs, share some tips (like favorite runs to rip up), check out some gear, etc. The bigger the group the better. Racers will be heading off to Nationals on April 1st, before that Friday would be great.

I find "free ride" boards to be too generic and not really great at any particular task. For powder, I have a powder board. For icier, harder snow I have a board geared more for carving. For soft snow days, but not powder, I use the carver but do have access to a more flexible "free ride" style which works well enough on the soft stuff. Just getting started on hard boots and long boards.

My first day on hard boots I was pulled into two conversations about my gear. One gent (a bit older than me) was telling his wife about how mine was the old-school style from when he started boarding. We talked gear and he said he'd like to give it a try again. Another group of guys were checking out my gear and I suggested they watch the racers training further down the run. They knew it was great stuff to watch so stopped for a break.

Cool, Andrew. Let us know when you're going to be out and we'll let you know what we're up to that day.

The FAST snowboard team is transitioning from the Olympic Park to the Canyons for spring training. Watch for them under the new Orange Bubble chair and stop by to say hello or check out the program.

Sadly, the over-the-top course set ups are appearing at younger levels as well. The 2010 Ontario Winter Games SBX event was posponed after several riders were injured in practice runs. While young (under 19), we are still talking about the top riders in a region which produces many Olympic level athletes. These kids aren't afraid to run a tough course but practice runs wiped them out. The course was tuned to an appropriate level and the race was run a day later. Organizers need to understand that spectators want to see a good, clean, athletic race. Not some sort of freakish spectacle that risks the riders. I get the impression that the X-Games was founded on the freakish aspect but times are changing.

My son and I are in Park City. Hitting mostly The Canyons this year. Son is an avid carver and would be happy to connect for some soft or hardboot action.