C5 Golfer

try him on how much camber should be there since he made it.. BTW - I have a new 2004 AM177 also it has 5/16" of camber when it was new and still has the same amount after 8 days of riding. My 178 RT Volkls have about 3/8" on my brand new 2004 model and about 1" on my 3 yr old grey stripe model. Go fiqure. D-Sub I believe this camber thing is a bit over rated on grading or describing the board's liveliness. A snowboard is a spring and a spring has different spring rates depending on many factors beyond its preload as in an extension spring. For example an extension spring with a 2 lb initial load tells you nothing what it will be like when stretched to 1". It could be exerting 90lbs or 5 lbs the only reason the initial load is there is to keep it closed in most cases, same in a snowboard to bias it in a positive known direction. As long as a snowboard is sprung in a positive camber direction it is ok, just like an extension spring again .. if there is gaps in the coils you know it has been stretched beyond its limits and you should not use it. Your AM 177 is just fine - don't worry about it - go ride it. CYA My 2 cents worth of opinion after a couple of Cabernets C5;)

Head down to the Mt Hood carve fest in May and see many different set ups and talk to several hardbooters. You might also contact Sean who has replied on the post and discuss demo needs with him. He has quite a bit of gear he is bringing. He is a super good guy and goes out of his way to help new riders. There are no dumb questions. CYa AL

I would follow one of my guide lines I learned early on in engineering product development. It is far easier to seek forgiveness than to obtain permission.:D

Golf Golf and more Golf plus a little fishing.:D

Rode many -- My suggestion for a first borad for your size and desires.. a Volkl 173 RT. Can't go wrong. Pleasant ride - forgiving and a lot of fun. It can take a beating and keep on ticking and it will carve as hard you push it. Once you ride it you'll also want its bigger brother the 178 also a wonderful board. I have both of these and ride them a lot - and no I do not want to sell. Good luck Al;)

My girlfriend - a skier - will most likely come with me. She has a snowboard and we might get her to ride it depending on weather. How many others will be bringing a female that rides or skis?

I will donate to the clinic pot ----money that is ,not the smoking kind. If it is a Saturday-- .. Sean is worth every penny. Al

Mike, do you think staying in a Government Camp motel would be the best choice of lodging or staying at Timberline lodge? I will probably be able to come only Sat and Sun.

Anyone know of a good waxing iron at a good sale price?

No subject should be ruled out for discussion. I believe it is good fodder for the brain to discuss off topic subjects within a specialized group. I would think it stimulates the thought process and if used and discussed properly it allows us to accept others and not be so discriminate. But most people tend to use discussions of opinions to try and change ones beliefs – just think what a better world we’d be if we could understand and ACCEPT those that have different beliefs than we do? Case in point, I don't mind riding with a Ford lover or a Muslim - but I would like to know and understand why we are different - to make it taboo seems to be the wrong way to allow us to get along with the "others". Different is OK - :)

Michelle... did the "one night stand" go up one vote after you posted??:D

We will be on Blackcomb most of the time.. but Whistler at least one of the days. :D

Since we are in to Life Expectancy Polls I was wondering what the life of a romatic relationship should be?:D

I think I saw you a couple of times but we kept being out of sync I was going up the lift when you were riding down. I left after about 10 -- I had a few things to do at home and the rain helped me make the decision. Maybe next time AL

I have the 21.5 :)

I took my Blue Flame Coiler up today for spring like conditions, new snow over night but it was raining when I got there. It was quite wet and my Coiler was so dumb it thought it was on 22° F fresh corduroy. All my other boards I ride you can sure tell the difference between good snow and bad wet snow but the Coiler AM did not know. What a dumb board.;)

I may come down Sat and Sun - need to get closer to the dates and see how it fits in to my schedule. But I hope I can. Al

If it is not raining I will be there... usually on the quad closest to the parking lot.. I think it is Skyline. I like it there because it is the fewest people and the fastest runs. Black helmet, black coat, black pants, black glooves, black board. Blue AF 600s. :D

The rain and 37° last Sunday was not too inviting so I did not go either. But if weather looks good this Sunday I will probably be there 9:00. AL

Was not really a crash - I was going down a pretty steep run and my board just slipped out from underneath me on a heel side slip thru the bare spots last spring at Blackcomb. I was sitting there on my butt waiting for my girlfriend to come over while we took a break on the hill. We were talking where we should go next and which chair to take when all the sudden I was struck in the back with a rolling rock about the size of your gloved fist going what felt like 60mph. I have never ever felt anything so startling and ringing in my entire body, I yelled and writhed all over the place while my girlfriend did not know what happened. It imobilized me for quite sometime and I could not stand up or even talk. Finally was able to get up and go over to the lodge where we called ski patrol for a check up. Scared the crap out of me. Still have a mark on my back right dead center of my spine and a cut on my coat.

My thought on your slalom board is try the Volkl 163 - I had one for a while and found it too quick turning for my preference but also an excellent board. Lot of guys ride them and love them - I am more of a GS 178ish fan. Maybe back east in the ice and lots of people a SL board would be great. :)

Looks like a pair of 325 in size 26 are on Ebay.. don't know much more than that.

You'll love the 173 Volkl but after you try that try its big brother- the 178 GS - I ride both of these and learned on the 173 and ride the 178 most of the time. I am about you same size BTW.

She just hasn't riden the snowboard much... she enjoys skiing and is very good at it. She is a little too fast somedays and she keeps up with me most of the time. I slow down when she is riding a little to fast that day because I think she is pushing it too much and do not want to her to get hurt again. She has hurt knees and thumb and shoulder in the past and would like this year for her to go unscathed for a change. She has a 153 Ride Control for a board with switch bindings, has taken lessons and rode it well the last time up. I might mention she skis all day until the last ride of the day when the chair closes and for 3-4 days straight. Not too many ladies do that!

D- Sub-- Sounds like you are a electrical connector dude with your moniker. Anyway we are about the same size BTW. Oxy boards are nice and well constructed but usually have a larger side cut radius (F2s. also) then most others. It is a personal thing too but you might check the specs on your 180 for a partial comparison. Couple of ideas for you think about - Chris Prior is a good board supplier also and a super good guy -( so are Bruce at Coiler and Sean at Donek) .. Prior has a sweet riding 175 WCR and if you check out their web site they have a few cheaper demo boards but in great shape available. The prices are in Canadian $ so you do the math. I ride their 174 4X4 and hope to add a 181 WCR soon to my collection. The Volkl 178 RT is a real sweet ride for guys our size, I ride mine most of the time except when the fresh stuff is there and then the Coiler AM177 or the Prior 4X4 gets the nod. Raichle AF600 - Susuka new name- is a great boot if you get a Thermo Flex liner. I see them often on Ebay and on the German Ebay site or you can get them new from Bomber or Blue-Tomato. But if I were you I'd get a set of Trench Digger stepins first and boots second then get a bunch of boards. One can not have too many boards or auomobiles- it is just not possible.:D