Derf

I have always worn my leash for the last 11 years, always been part of snowboarding for me. I use it also as a shoulder strap to carry my board from my car to the chairlift. Derf

I know Jay Peak authorizes this as long as you're in a group of 3. For the others I know, I don't think they authorize it. Derf

I took the habit of taking only one board a short while after getting my new freecarve board2 years ago. When I bring two boards, which is rare, I leave it in my car with an old blanket over it. And the board is as old as the car, so none look like a good target.

Some people here are always talking about footbeds. What are the benefits of footbeds if the comfort issue is on top and/or side of the feet? Derf

Very nice car Mellow! (I'm a big fan of small cars) But I heard the Mini doesn't have any spare tire because of its size and has unflatable (that won't go flat - don't know if it's the right word) tires for the summer. Could you confirm that? If so, what do you do in the winter if you have a flat? Derf

I had a Freesurf Highlander 155 (I forget the year, probably 94 or 95) that had reverse taper, just a little (a couple of millimeters, maybe a centimeter, like regular taper). It held pretty well, but was to stiff and short for me. Derf

The Furnaces don't accept Intec heels. This also why they are so rigid, heel is one piece with shell. Derf

Was 60/60 last year, trying 62/62 this year (because new canting plates and weird setup to get right stance). Derf

I have a 2000 Nitro GTX 166, and from what I know, is almost the same thing. GT is probably 1999 or before. See my comment on http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?s=&threadid=398 For the years: 2002 & 2003: GTO (same geometry as GTR) 2000 & 2001: GTX & GTR 1999 and before: GT (same geometry as GTX) Derf

Here my *soft* softboot setup. 1993 Burton Air 6.1 board (first year of 3D) 1993 Burton Freestyle bindings (no ratchet like modern bindings) 2000 Burton Glide boots (freestyle, not freeride) The reason such a soft setup and all Burton? Soft board because it is my first snowboard. Soft boots because I didn't know there where stiffer boots available, thought they where all the same except for the comfort. Burton because it is what was available at the store. I barely use it, I mostly lend it to some skier friends. Derf

Exactly! I'm a Mozilla user also. I even installed it on my computer at work and people look at it and ask "What is it?", the same way softbooters look at an alpine setup:D ! Derf

I just bought some Pirelli Winter 160 S and I like them very much. Good grip on snow and asphalt. And not expensive for Pirellis. About 2 or 4 tires, 4 tires is imperative. 2 tires comes from the old days when cars were big and rear wheel drive. Now most cars and front wheel drive and this does not work. Anyway, would you put your security on the line for the price of 2 tires? Derf

I was thinking about this kind of brace also, but I wasn't shure enough if it would be good for me. My main interrogations about this is how much does it prevent overextension of the shouler (when the muscles themselves pull out the shoulder from its socket), and if the shoulder dislocates while wearing the brace, is it harder to put it back in. Hope to hear how it goes for you with the brace. Derf

Here's my feedback regarding my first day of hardbooting (also compared to what I do now). Just to let you know, I rode softies 5 years prior to hardbooting. -Getting in: at first, I got in the bindings sitting, and yes, it is very hard this way, but now I dig a small notch in the snow with my board and stand to clip in (with regular bindings, no step-in). For the rear bail, I am lucky, mine won't go down, it always stays up. -First turns: carving with soft boots and hard boots is quite different, the control is not the same. So I resorted to skidding my turns at first, then when I was comfortable with the feeling of the new board and hard boots, I started carving. -Body position: this I can't say much, I did what I could back then, but now it is between aligned with the bindings and shoulders square to the board. -Stance angles: this is with what I experimented the most. I started my first run 45-45, but after a couple of turns, I got out my screwdriver and changed to 51-51, which was way better. I augmented progressively with time (54-54, 57-57) and now ride 60-60. It is comfortable for riding, but sucks big time when sitting on the snow (I feel like my leg wants to get out of its socket), but my stance is for riding, not sitting, so I live with it. About the difference between the angles, equal angles are comfortable for me, but some like 3 to 5 degrees difference. -Canting: this I am still experimenting (because of front leg burn). At first, it was flat in front, 7 on the back (Burton bindings). For the boots, it was most upright position in the front, and mid position in the back. It was comfortable, but control was not so good. I switched to 0-0 last winter with both boots in the most upright position (after reading EC webpage - no comments please). Comfort was good enough, control was better, front leg burn is still there. This winter, I am going to try 7-7 (with a stance 1.5" wider) and both boots in the most upright position. It is comfortable for carpetboarding, hope it goes well with actual snowboarding. Hope it helps a little. Derf

I have to agree on this. I am in the province of Quebec, and here, it's like alpine never died (on the slopes, but I couldn't say the same for the shops.) The question that everyone gets asked (what kind of snowboard is this), I was only asked once by some 10 year olds. Some mountains you see more carvers, like Mont Sainte-Anne. About the ECES, I am seriously thinking about it. I'll have to see with my GF and my work schedule. Derf

I learned on softboots, then bought a carving board when I had the money (4 years later). A good question that would be worth asking is: how many of you have skied before? I never did. Derf

If I could make an estimate, it would be 30-40 times easily. My worst ones are: -while turning in my bed (4-5 times) -while putting on a sweater (2-3 times) -while vacuuming (the time I invited people over for supper and I was at the ER -I spent an hour walking in the woods with a dislocated shoulder because it happened while I was snowshoeing in the middle of nowhere (I managed to put it back in later by luck) -I have troubles throwing a baseball (I can't throw hard or my shoulder will go with it) -I also dislocated the left one, but only 2 or 3 times. About the pain, I agree, it is REALLY painful. Allowing it to dislocate is NOT an option. I am so much more careful with every arm movement now, almost to the point of being paranoid. I was told a dislocation is more painful than a fracture. I don't want to turn this into a pissing contest, but my shoulder is worst and I am the king and I keep the crown and throne.:p Derf

I am the king of shoulder dislocation. My right shoulder dislocated so many times in the last 8 years (when it first happened) that I stopped counting. 2 times it had to be put back in by a doctor, the rest of the time I did it myself (no, not like in Lethal Weapon). I did some physical therapy, it helped, but not that much. I went to see a really good orthopedist (he works with a professionnal sports team) and he said the ligaments in the front of the shoulder are thorn and I need surgery. There may also be some bone fragments in there from bones rubbing when my shoulders dislocates. I don't have the time right now to get a surgery (because of the months of recuperation it requires), so I live with it, but I try to be careful. Usually, it dislocated once a month or every 2 months, but now it hasn't happenened since July. When I fall when snowboarding, I stick my arms by my side to protect my shoulers. But sometimes, when I go from sitting to standing position when clipped in, I overextend my arm and my shoulder pops out. Not fun. So, in essence, I live with it and try to do my best not to dislocate it. I keep on mountain biking and snowboarding, but I stopped rock climbing. I even missed my last birthday supper at my house because I spent the evening in the ER with a dislocated shoulder. Derf

The website is http://www.sharksco.com/ I don't think it's up to date, but at least the coordinates are there. Derf

Sharks in Laval (province of Quebec) has some Volkls, but I don't know about the 178. Derf

I own a 2000 Nitro GTX 166, which is quite similar to the GTO. The difference is that the geometry of the GTO is almost the same as that of the GTR, which is the same board as the GTX but a centimeter wider. Performance wise, the GTX is a pretty good board in my opinion. I don't have much basis of comparison, but I know I like to ride it. It holds well and it's snappy. It absorbs terrain irregularities well without being too soft. It's more an aggressive freecarve board than a race board. If you have previous carving experience on an alpine snowboard, this one should be easy to pickup (I learned carving on a 1995 Freesurf Highlander 155 that was too short and too stiff for me). I would put it in the same category as a Donek Freecarve or F2 Silberpfeil, but I 'm not sure the Donek and F2 fans will agree.;) I have now been using it as my only board for the last 2 years and I am very satisfied with it. The only things that I like a little less about this board is that it is pretty narrow (18.4 cm but the GTO is 19.5 cm) and the limited stance options (15-18-21" if you want to keep the same setback).

I think 1993 is the last season that the tails were REALLY squared off, after it was softly squared for a couple of years, before seeing all the rounded tails we have now. My soft board is a 1993 Burton Air (like the one at the bottom of the picture) and the tail is pretty squarred off for a freestyle board. Also, it is around the same years that the tip and tails were starting to have a similar lenght instead of having a long nose and short tail. About the boards in the middle of the picture, I would say more early 90s, because they have really square shapes and have little sidecut. Derf

Hey! I still use the one in the bottom, it's not an antique yet, still a very good board.

Is it possible that Head boots are manufactured by Dalbello? First, take a look at some good pictures of the Head Stratos Pro http://www9.ocn.ne.jp/~zieal/image/photo/alpine/head_hardboot_c.jpg Then look at the DSM (Dalbello) boots. http://www.dsmsports.com/ Same curves, shape and all. Would like to get some of those, but probably not this year, as I just moved in with my GF. Will stay in the Furnaces for now, which are a little tight for me. Derf

Nitro (GTX 166). It's the one I have, I like it more than my previous board (Freesurf Highlander) and I didn't have the occasion to ride any other brand (except to demo a Burton PJ6 8 years ago). Derf P.S.: based on what I read, without having ridden it, I would maybe say Coiler (being north of the border...;))