timinor

My first board was a Burton Air 6. I loved it. Then I got an M6 and was in heaven so the Air 6 started gathering dust. Then I got a PJ 6 and thought it was the ultimate. Then an F2 Beamer, then a World Cup, then a Nitro Scorpion, then a Hooger Comp 6. Each board seemed better than the one before. I would like to ride an asym now and see how...or if...they are that much different. I will say that the one board I really wish I still had and would use a lot is that Burton Air 6. That is a great powder board. The tip was longer than the tips today and it rode powder fantastically. I sold that thing for like $50...dumb, dumb, dumb . Hey Bryan, what can you put me into an Air 6 for?

Until this fall, the American Revolution was something I read about in books. I had a chance to visit Boston and take the Freedom Walk. Near Bunker Hill is a park with a memorial to the men who died at that battle. As I stood there reading those names of men who believed in Democracy and Freedom so much and had a dream of a country that did not even yet exist...that they would stand against the world's strongest army and give their lives...I was humbled.

That F2 Beamer WC is from around 1993 or 1994. I had one but from the year before and the cosmetics are different. I also had the F2 Beamer. It was a softer version of the WC. Both boards were awesome and I developed my carving technique on them. I remember my first turn on the WC and thinking, "WOW!" It was way better than the Burton PJ's I had been using and immediately sold the PJ's. A year later Nitro came out with their symetrical racing board, the Scorpion. The Scorpion surpassed the F2...IMHO...and I moved on. I still have one of those Scorpions in my closet.

An early purchase season pass at Aspen is $1579. That's a season pass for 4 ski areas. After spending a week there last winter, IMHO those ski areas are incredible. The snow, the terrain, the grooming, the variety, the lack of crowds...now I consider that a bargain. There are multi-mountain passes in Summit County for much less...$400+- I think. That is an incredible value. For quality ski resorts and value, Colorado Rules. An early purchase season pass at Sun Valley is $1775. One mountain, man-made snow, crowded runs, not a lot of variety and boring terrain. (that'll get some comments but show me the natural rollers and whoop-ti-doos) A Mt. Bachelor early season pass is $699. Long season into May, tons of powder, natural terrain, good groom (not great), variety of snow conditions and runs, not crowded. It's not the best value but it's pretty good. All in all, my first choice would be to spend the winter in Aspen and I just might do it next winter. But I love Oregon and riding at Mt. Bachelor is great.

I'd be pissed too...if I hadn't followed Mike over to Mt. Bachelor.

At your weight, a softer board will be a big advantage

Cindy, I taught snowboarding in Sun Valley back in the early '90s. I had a great experience with the snowboard school, the snowboard director and other instructors. We were pretty much on our own and helping each other with a new and growing sport. But...then the PSIA came to town so we could all be certified. I won't go into details but they were a bunch of arrogant, self-important a$$holes. They were the smartest people in the room condescending to us for the entire 2 or 3 days. They were all PSIA SKI clinicions who had started boarding and so were now the experts. The PSIA, of course, had turned their noses down at snowboarding for many years but then realized they were getting left at the station so they jumped on the bandwagon. But they didn't just jump on the bandwagon, they now claimed they BUILT the bandwagon. I remember one guy had only begun snowboarding the previous November and it was now March...but he was a ski clinicion something something so that made him an expert. During a chairlift conversation, we asked him a question that refered to beginning lessons and he said arrogantly, "Oh, I don't teach beginning lessons." My instructor buddy and I looked at each other thinking, "Who do you think you are? 90% of the lessons are for first timers." I remember trying some of their "clever" drills on classes. I asked the students if those drills helped. To a one, the students said the drills were crap. The PSIA are a bunch of elitist snobs who sit around and tell each other how important they are and how smart they are. The clinicions travel around to ski areas and hold clinics with puppy dog instructors who have to kiss their a$$ to earn their next merit badge. "Wow, that drill really helped," the puppy dogs all gleefully say. The PSIA clinicions all go home and think, "Wow, I'm incredible." Look at skiing today and how much it has changed in the last 10 years. I would say 100% of those changes (shaped skis, parks, pipes, big air, skier X) came from snowboarding. The PSIA did not effect one change. Where were the PSIA genius' 15 years ago advocating they put some sidecut into the skis so you can turn the darn things? I know nothing about the AASI. I only know about the PSIA and how they were. I honestly doubt they have changed one bit. By the way, I passed the exam but chose not to pay the money to receive my merit badge.

I recently heard a study referenced stating that the glaciers on Mars are receding suggesting that there is global warming on Mars which suggests that if there is global warming on Earth, it may be caused by cycles of the Sun and not...dare I say it...caused by the evils of man. I would say that warmer and cooler cycles on the Sun is not that outrageous a concept.

I think it's awesome. I rode the 172...I think. It was last year at the Aspen SES. Of all the boards I tried, it was hands down the best. It is softer flexing and very smooth. It held well and felt solid yet was nice in softer snow. Now, I weight 145 so a softer flexing board has very little downside for me.

The same thing happened to me. My Raichle shell size is correct for me and fits perfectly with the standard liners. I bought the correct thermo fit liner, had them molded by a pro using a toe cup but there was just no room in the toes and I lost a toe nail after riding on them one day. Upon examination, I determined that there was no way the next size thermo liner would ever fit into my shells so I took the line of least resistance, put the standard liners back in, sold the thermo liners on the BOL forum and have no complaints with my fit, comfort or warmth. The standard liners are a great fit for me.

As long as some of you are on the high tech topic, I have a question. I would like to get some basic "print-shop" software. I just want something that I can print up business cards and greeting cards and christmas cards with...nothing expensive and elaborate. I don't need a zillion templates because I usually don't use them. I don't need a zillion stock art photos because I don't use them either. So if anyone knows a good software for those needs...I'd like to hear about it.

I'm here visiting so I'm without a car. I'm hoping to be able to find a way to get from where I am to Wachusett. I'm near the Fenway and have access to the MBTA.

I'm visiting in Boston until Dec 1st. I believe Wachusett opens Nov 15th. I'm looking for rides to Wachusett. Specifically, I want to board any weekdays. Drive to Wachusett in the morning and return at the end of the day for day trips. (2 day trips would be okay if a reasonable place to stay is available) So if anyone out there has some weekdays free to get in some early season turns and wants someone to share the gas expense...let me know.

What are the waist widths of those 3?

It seems to me snowboard racing has lost interest on it's own account - not because of the governing body. At Mt. Bachelor, there is a junior snowboard team and racing is available to all the kids. They just aren't interested. All they want to do is the park, rails and big air. The Mt. Hood series of USASA will have no alpine events this year. I don't think it is because of some governing body conspiracy. It is because there is no interest. The kids want more Boarder Cross, Slope Style, Half Pipe and Big Air - not a GS or SL. Skiing is also loosing numbers in racing. A friend of mine is Mountain Manager at Mt. Bachelor. He told me last spring during the J1 J2 championships that the biggest problem the coaches had was going over to the park to drag their racers back over to the course for their runs. Just from listening to boarders in the lift line and on the chairlift, it seems to me the X-Games is the ultimate level of achievement now and not the Olympics. Snowboarding has it's roots as an anti-establishment, we don't like rules, I don't want to be like my parents sport. Racing takes rules, disapline, coaches and organization. Boarders want to make it up on their own. Go build a jump and make up their own moves. I love carving and racing. I love arcing a turn around a gate...but I realize that I am in the vast minority. If you go to the midwest or back east, you will see a lot of racing. It survives there because there are a lot of small areas and running a course makes a small, boring run become interesting. But in the west racing is really on the decline. You can look at Nastar. The west has very few areas left that run Nastar anymore. It's not a conspiracy. The ski areas dropped it because there was no interest...among boarders or skiers.

I heard of people using ice hockey pants. Not the most stylish but effective. Also, you can get some 3/8" dense foam, cut out a piece that forms to your butt and hips, then put on long johns then put on a pair of thin lycra shorts, slide the foam butt pad down between the long johns and lycra shorts. It'll keep you warm and pad those falls.

My wife understands my Coiler-mania... http://geocities.com/timoteo65/CoilerSceneLow.wmv

I'm coming solo for Feb 11 - 17 from Portland, OR

There are shuttle services from the Denver Airport to Aspen that cost $103/one way. If there are ways to pool together and save some bucks, I'm willing.

I have a split personality this year. I'll be in Boston some and hope to find out just how gnarly that ice is...but I'm an Oregon boarder at heart....so are we on? :D

Mike, I have my pass and am ready for the season. Look forward to riding with you at Mt. Bachelor. Tim

Ken W, Thanks for that info. It is very helpful. Maybe I can car pool with those ski nazis Tim

I should have mentioned this up front. I'm not a big fan of night skiing and hope to find people who are driving in the morning for day skiing.

More good input - thanks. So I'm trying to strategize. The all for one pass sounds like a good idea (Where do I buy that?). It would cover Mt. Snow and the ECES. Sunapee has a flex card available (where do I find info on buying that?). And, of course, I will need to act on those purchases soon. The question becomes...is it reasonable to expect that I will be able to find others in the Boston area who are driving up to those areas mid-week for one or two day trips and who would like to have someone come along to split expenses? I will be in Boston for a total of about 6 weeks during Jan, Feb and March. I would like to board up to 4 days a week when there. Another question about Wachusett. I know it is small but it is close and I could easily run gates in their Nastar. Is it reasonable to expect that I could find people to car pool with to Wachusett for day trips? Do most of these areas have good snow coverage or are you dodging rocks during the season?

Wow, lots of good input. I have some more questions and comments: 1. The USASA Mass. Series is at Blue Hills and Eaglebrook. Are these areas close to Boston...easy to get to? 2. The ECES is probably a yes. I look forward to that. 3. Sunapee on thursday with a flex pass. Where is Sunapee? Is it easy to get to? 4. I see Wachusett has a pretty extensive Nastar program mid-week. They have a season pass now priced at $229. What is the story on Wachusett? Is it a nice area? Is it carver friendly? Do they get good snow coverage or usually marginal? Is it hard to get to from Boston? Are there mid-week buses or shuttles available? 5. When I'm in Boston, I'm living on Park Drive near Fenway Park. I'll have no car. I'm basically available Mon - Fri to board but where I go is based on convenience to get there, reasonable lift ticket (cheap season pass, flex pass, etc), carver friendly area, gate running or nastar available, overnight trips are possible if there are reasonable places to stay. So with all those things in mind...I'm all ears. 6. The whole quiver won't be coming east... :D