Steve Prokopiw

I have a bud in Vail who can school those guys in softie carves.He and I like riding together because we each like to do the same things but look like the odd couple with our equipment choices.He also does weird things like riding the whole mountain on a 180 Canyon with only his front foot attached-just because he can(Rob Stevens,you might get a kick out of just how well he does it).I agree with softbootsailer that people do what feels comfortable to them,and ride in the style that appeals to them.I have loved riding park and pipe at a reasonable intensity even though I rarely do these days due to family and work obligations.When I do get the chance to work back up to a certain level of willingness, I always do it in my hard boots,knowing full well that it's not considered optimum,but always with the feeling that I'm having a blast.

I really like this camera.Not sure if it's a GoPro killer but on a par with the H3 Silver+ with a better form factor and no need for a a protective case for snow vids. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/vnXm4t1Tx0I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Not quite that long ago,but in the summer of 87 and winter of 87/88 I was working at a bike/ski shop in Holland ,Michigan called Reliable Schwinn.I decided that the 195cm SkiTech Research monoski we had in stock would make a cool snowboard.I modified some Miller bindings and rode it with Raichle rear entry boots for a season,then mounted Emery bindings and rode it for a couple more season as my favorite board with Flexon Comps.Loved riding it in the small halfpipes of that era;since it took up the whole transition,lol.

Got to Canyons for a few afternoon turns and rode some of the nice buttery spring corn/slush that I like, and even got a few carves in.Stopped in for a beer at the sports bar where I always meet someone cool to talk to.A short but sweet afternoon.

Definitely soft boots. If she's actually interested in following in your foot steps(alpine carving),then using forward angles like slopestar's daughter would be a great start even if she's an adult or teen(which I gathered from your statement that you took over her board). If she happens to already be a proficient skier,then hardboots might not be too difficult a transition,but as a beginning boarder she would be better set up for success with some well fitting, supportive soft boots and mildly forward angles on a freestyle board to start with.

Actually it looks like it would be about the right height for my KUU vises.I like it a little lower to be able to put a little more oomph into rubbing in the wax.

They do put on a good event! It was my first ever USASA event last year and worth the long drive.(Make sure to top off the gas tank before leaving the freeway,hehe)I wish I could be there this year but I live in Utah now.It's good to see that racing is being kept alive in the Northwest!

Welcome to Vail-next exit, Colorado.

I'm sorry to see that you're hurt Pat.I hope you heal fast and well. I am impressed by your drawing skill!Another thing we have in common-I used to think I would augment my income with my portrait work,but it was 80% business and 20 percent drawing-took the fun right out of it.Looks like you're having fun at it.Great stuff!

Hey Art. Mark and Dan and I got to meet and chat with Fred at the base on Sunday.He got to hear me gush about how great a carving mountain PC is and how I wish I had bought our family passes there.Next time we come up it would be great to meet up with you guys for some runs.

I got that a few times at Park City yesterday. :-)

Fun stuff Pat! It' fun to experiment. I got started with my experiments because it's always been hard to find someone willing and able to film me;then it became more interesting to develop the mounts than it was to watch myself ride.These days I do plenty of both! :-)

That's what it's all about Mister Sandman! Video can be of great use when analyzing your technique and progress as long as you're getting advice form those who know what to look for and what to do going forward. Riding with people whose style and skill you respect is the best way to practice though. Glad to read you intend to keep at it!

Got spanked hard on my 188 at the nastar course yesterday at Park City; so I went back out on the Volkl 163 to see If I could get my free-carving mojo back ;-) <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RBYxU_eXCMA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hey Thrasher, thanks for the props! When Mark Miller comes down from Idaho next week ,he's planning to do Park City.I'll see if I can make it too.Tough to pay that ticket price though-ouch.If I go I'd be happy to help with a pointer or two. I've got material ready to go when you want a camera mount too.Thanks again.

I only went to SES for the last day, and several other resort during the next few days,but I took three boards and one pair of boots.It was win win win as all three boards perform well in varied conditions.My 2006 167 Rossi Jeremy Jones Narrow still carves in deep,chopped up soft snow,and rips in fresh pow,my 210 Diablo absolutely eats up 4" of chop,and my THIRST 8x 188 with Boiler Plate,well,it just plain rips. Long live C.O.C. !

Got the first and only NASTAR runs(or gates at all )I've taken this year.I went today so I could qualify for NASTAR nats next month which I thought would be fun to do since I've never gone before.Yeah sure,it's not 'real' racing,but it's fun-and cheap.(Unless you have to pay full boat for a lift ticket at another resort to do it,since your resort kicked NASTAR out like Vail did all of it's resorts.I like Park City and will definitely get a pass there next year-since Vail operated Canyons leaves much to be desired. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/pr8Pecfys7U?list=UUek4XMMUITe0y_2_57visEw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hey Eric-good to see you're alive! Unfortunately, I recently moved to Utah,and bummed I can't make it either.So, hopefully one of the Schweitzer crew can help you out.If you ever have the opp to visit down here we live in Spanish Fork and have 'Epic'passes at Canyons Resort,which is 75 minutes from us.I hope all is great with you and yours!

Here is the setup in action.The SnoPros are still a laterally flexy binding even with the direct mount.But the improvement in responsiveness is realized in the transition from edge to edge.Definitely an enhancement. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/p_WUnULveUI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> I'm looking forward to doing this with Sidewinder blocks.Hopefully by mid spring it will happen.

@SunSurfer,the 'horn' extends about 5 1/2" beyond the tip of the THIRST 188 I'm riding in the video.It extends to just inside the tip when mounted on my Diablo Composites 210. The previous versions I made in aluminum were prohibitively heavy when considering extensions beyond the board tips for several reasons.This carbon version is a full pound lighter.I will be shaving a few more ounces with the next,more refined version. @Johnny,Thanks.It happens that I just started working for a shop that carries Garmin and is going to carry their new camera soon.I'm looking forward to adapting the mount to install the Garmin camera and seeing if it handles the abuse as well as Gopro and Drift.The camera used in the video is a Drift HD, which has been my favorite to date.There are form factor pros and cons to both the Drift and Gopro,but both have handled the punishment dished out by high intensity riding very well.

Here is a little footage of one of the first runs with the latest carbon fiber prototype of the Umustcarve POV Camera Mount. Previous versions were made in aluminum with the lightest weighing in at 2.5 pounds with camera.This version weighs 1.5 pounds with camera.This is my second design using carbon,the first I scrapped near the end of last season.I'm pretty happy with the initial results.:-) <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/p_WUnULveUI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Hey Fin.I just got a new job here in Utah,but I will do my best to get to SES for at least couple of days...and voiding warranties has always been part of the fun!

Thanks for the info lowrider. It would be a more professional looking install to use inserts.One thing I've learned in my experiments with carbon fiber is that when laminated and layered into a strong and thick structure,it survives Swiss cheesing really well.When it comes to experimenting I'm a 'drill baby drill' kind of guy.

Thanks Corey. Even we 'redneck 'engineers plan for contingencies when it comes to mitigating possible failures.The four bolts per block,the threading of the plate structure,and the two or more nuts per block(again some were not shown in pics but later installed) to ensure a strong assembly are all part of my basic understanding that,'whatever can fail,will'.I love tinkering as I was raised by a tinkering and creative dad, but have no intention of passing from this life any earlier than I have to due to equipment failure.:-)

Hey jp1,the bolts are in fact tapped and threaded into the adequately thick carbon fiber.Some of the bolts pictured without nuts did have nuts installed later but a couple of them were left without them because of hardware clearance issues.Considering the amount of torque they were able to sustain,I probably didn't need the nuts but-peace of mind is supplied by the fact that each toe or heel block now has at least two or more nuts installed. Also,at some points the bolts portrude through angled areas due to the shape of the plate structure,so nuts weren't a good fit in those areas.I also shortened some bolts based on the fact I was not going to install nuts on them and to maximize clearance between moving parts.Another factor in the strength of the hold the bolts provide is that some of them are threaded through two of the thick layers of carbon layup as those layer surround the foam core of the main body of the plate. All in all,I'm pretty confident in the strength of the system,partly because the original plate is so strongly built to begin with.