Sasquatch_Surfer

@dredman I will be there next Wed-Fri. 22-24th. Love to take a few runs with someone with local knowledge. I've been there a few times, but it's been a while.

Donek Saber custom, 166cm X 29cm, 10-11 m side-cut. Rides super nice, so smooth.

Headed to Whitefish next week for a few days, how are the conditions currently? Also going to checkout Blacktail as well, so conditions for there also appreciated. Any reason not to ride some new boards ?

Is there a maximum board length restriction for SBX at any level ? What general sizes are most riders using ?

I've been using the Burton Genesis bindings last few seasons. They are super comfy, and flexier than the Cartels I rode for many seasons prior. I have come to like the comfort and also the flex which is not floppy, but progressive, so it has a good feel to it. I'm using them on some pretty wide Donek boards and am a larger person and I haven't wanted anything stiffer.

Tried various types of risers in the past from Burton and Palmer, tried some canted beds as well, but prefer just riding flat now, there is a little toe lift on the binding foot bed, which I suppose helps some on the toe side.

I'm (soft boot) carving at Mission Ridge most weekends, there are few hard boot riders there as well. Great terrain for carving there and excellent grooming. If you come over, look for a large guy riding a Donek who likes to turn. We can go for some runs (at least 6ft apart this season).

I ride there regularly. It has great carving runs, and other great terrain as well. Lift lines are small to non-existent but on a weekend or holiday you will want to get there before 0830, as the parking lot can fill up, even though the runs are uncrowded. I believe the schedule this season is offering more midweek days open. Check the web site to be sure. It's been snowing a bunch lately and coverage is great If you come, send me a note and I will show you around if I'm there.

Thanks for showing us some stashes, (we poached them again a few times !) we found some other fun tree runs that were untouched powder as well. Park City has some super fun terrain and the carving was pretty good too. I will show you some stashes as well, when you visit the PNW. Again, thanks for riding with us, you are an awesome rider as well, fast and smooth!

Coming to PC later this month for 4-5 days over New Years, how are the conditions/coverage ?

I will add my thoughts on the Burton Genesis as well. Probably the most comfy binding I have ever used. I just ordered up another pair for this season. I ride them on all mountain and BX boards, and with forward lean, they carve well for me. I ride pretty wide boards now days, so the heel cup doesn't cause boot out but might be a factor on narrower boards. I have come to like the flex of them and haven't broke any parts on these.

@JetSpeed I will traveling to Bourg St Maurice and others near there in late March. How have the conditions been?

I'll throw my vote in for Donek Incline. I have one 169cm x 30cm. Pretty solid ride for most stuff except maybe icy bumps.

You might consider packaging it as if were you going to ship it. Not too many bags out there that long, some old ski bags maybe, but probably would not be wide enough.

Sounds like fun! Hope your celebrity has rudimentary motor skills

@snowwjob1 , @Emdee406 Thanks for the info! Seems like I will have some choices to make in areas (Powder Mtn and Snowbird sound fun) and perhaps in board (will have to see if I can fit two in my board bag). @Emdee406 I will most likely will be at PC on the 4th so may send you a note just before. I would be happy to trade beverages of your choice for some local guidance.

I will second both USASA and City League in Washington. The USASA series usually has at least one alpine event (usually a dual event, so counts for more than one race). City League is just fun time running gates. I know there is a mostly snowboard team on Tuesday night at Alpental that could use some riders. The City League folks can put you in touch with them for sure.

Never been sliding in Utah, and plan on visiting the SLC area Jan 3-6, will be in Park City for a couple days since i have an Epic pass, but where else should I go? How is the snow, coverage, etc? What is good? I enjoy carving the groomers of course, but everything else is game too. Nice tree runs are my favorite. (Powder is always welcome ) Will be riding a Donek with softies. Any advice is welcome.

I have both, a 170 Saber (wide) and 169 Incline (extra-wide). Saber: I love the dampness and smoothness of the Saber, it likes to go fast and make big turns. I end up riding this one more. It will ride in powder without issue due to it's width (28cm), but can be a handful it really tight trees where you might want to go a little slower. Incline: The Incline is less damp, but also prefers some speed and to be ridden with emphasis. At the width I got (30cm) it's suited for open alpine, deep pow, and open runs. but it can go anywhere. For all mountain carving, if only the Saber and Incline could have a baby .... oh wait they can, just talk to Sean @ Donek like others (and he) have said, and have him make you exactly what you want.

@moose No metal in my Flux, although I am sure Sean at Donek could put some in there if you want. Might make it a little damper, which might be preferable if you wanted to use it for BX, or recreational (beer) league racing. You could also get any kind of nose profile you want. That's the nice thing about getting a board from one of the prominent shapers, you get exactly what you want. Like i said though, it rides pretty good most everywhere., Seems to like it better with a little speed or maybe that's just me too ;)

I had to look it up too. http://www.apex-snowboards.com/ Seem pretty popular

My Flux is 168cm x 28.5, 8.5 to 10 VSR. Has I think a fairly good flex, not soft, but not too stiff either. It has kind of that hammer-head nose, so I tend to notice that a little in hard/firm snow bumps,. Might just be me, but getting one with a rounder nose profile might be a little nicer for that type of riding. Seems to go well everywhere else. No issues on the groomed of course.

If I am mostly going in my preferred direction, I will ride @ 15 or 18 F and -9 R, if riding switch as much as preferred, then 15/-15. I can carve a turn with either stance, but probably get lower with the first. A Donek Flux (168) and Phoenix (165) both with 28.5 cm widths help with the low binding angles. Driver X in US 11 with Burton Genesis (L) will still boot out heel side if I get too far into the edge angle, but for all over the mountain riding and still being able to lay some trenches on the groom it works pretty good for me. I would run a little steeper with hard boots of course, but really only use those a few times a season these days as higher angles in the back kind of hurt my old knee :) Totally sold on the wider rides, could probably even go to 29 or more in the future. Might have to get an offset insert pattern to compensate for those pesky heel cups, but the binding has got to be the most comfy soft boot binding I have ever used (and i have been riding for a long time) so don't really want to try anything else.

Thanks for the info @barryj Sounds like I will just bring an all round mountain crusier.

Will be riding the north end of Tahoe; Homewood, NorthStar, Sugar Bowl. How are the conditions ? Can only bring one board so trying to decide.