Vahur

Thanks a lot! Though the only professional thing in this equation is my equipment (Nikon D300 and AF-S 70-200 f/2.8 G VR lens). I'm just an amateur, pressing camera's buttons, sometimes even right ones at right moment :D Best reward for taking pictures is positive feedback from fellow carvers (thanks again!) and the warm and fuzzy feeling I get from reviewing/working with these images: when I reviewed/edited images from Zinal ECS session late evening I was so strongly sucked into it that when I woke up next morning I wondered where I am at the moment: yesterday evening I was in Zinal and now I'm at home though I don't remember the home trip inbetween:confused: And it took me quite a time to realize the sad fact that I'm at home couple of days already

Well, I didn't want to post this image under this thread, considering its title: I was afraid that in next ECS I have to meet these 18 angry carvers, who want to apply percussive correction to my face and turn it into ugly one Thus I intended to post it under new thread with more appropriate title, but now...

I'm not an expert or anything, (just trying to convert potential energy to kinetic :D) but IMO little "pre"rotation on toeside might help: you are facing board nose on heelside and on toeside. Patrice and Jacques are keeping their upper body/shoulders more-or-less parallel to board on their toeside (surf-style, as they put it) as opposed to facing the nose. Additionally, as others pointed out, on toeside you are trying to reach snow (breaking at waist) instead letting snow come to you. Otherwise: heelside and damn, I'd like to be on such slope, well groomed and no other riders. Though seems not steep enough for extreme carving?

If you go to Zermatt, then you can as well visit extremecarving Mecca Zinal in neighbour valley :)

Seems like John's video is best 360 attempt done without tail spin. Key words are speed, suitable slope and not too tight carve. Something to try myself next season, this season conditions were not favourable for attempting this: too warm or too much powder... Thank to all participants in this thread. Next thread about attempting 360 next season

No, it's not good idea, unless you use balaclava: in steep terrain rider's face is ugly. E.g. like in these pics: http://bomber.smugmug.com/gallery/125116_qygBk#4513947 :)

I have same lens, but haven't had opportunity to put it into real test (got couple of weeks ago and with overcast weather not much to photograph), maybe this weekend. Photographing large group of people is stressful for any lens, as for having recognizable faces one has to see image almost in 100% zoom. CA seems to be main weakness for this Tokina lens, other issue it ghosting against light sources, otherwise it should be quite solid performer according to reviews. 14-24 is great lens (literally and optically) and should be head and shoulders above all others, but costs an arm and leg (at least here in Europe: almost USD 3000 )

Sure you did, unless you forged EXIF info :) I had S50 and used it some 4 years ago. Managed to get some more-or-less decent pics (though nothing so good as yours) but after buying DSLR number of keepers went up considerably. About a year ago I reviewed my images and put some to my web site; now when I look at them the difference is noticeable between compact and DSLR camera images. I'm not sure that my photographic level went up so much, so I hope upgrading gear helped and it's not just waste of money But Gecko is right, of course, I'm just not skilled photograper and I'm lacking creative input. But to keep this more SES-images oriented: I didn't notice, that someone mentioned it here so I do it: there are pictures from Feb, 15th also available: follow original link and Sports->Aspen 2-15-08. Love this image: http://2wheel.smugmug.com/gallery/4346442_miUrm#255014168

Seems more like 12-24 zoom to me (Nikkor? Tokina?). I'd like to know, which lens it is actually: newest Nikon models (D3 and D300) are able to remove CA, but in some posted images it's clearly visible (group shots). If it's Nikkor, then assumably there are limits to in-camera processing, if it's third-party lens, then most likely it's not working with non-Nikkor lenses. This of course assumes, that images are taken as JPG, not as RAW and processed later. But yes, using such wide angle helps to put things into perspective :)

I agree that the role of photographer is most important, but the role of camera is also important, at least for shots like these: with suitable camera it's much easier to focus on photographing instead of overcoming camera limitations. Most (if not all) compact cameras are simply not up to the task: they lack dynamic range, are slow to focus and shoot, frame rate and buffer size are inadequate, typical minimum shutter speed 1/1000 means that one has to shoot with minimum aperture and thus be limited with diffraction while shooting sunny mountain slopes with contemporary pixel-crammed small sensors, LCD framing is unusable in sunny (and cold) weather etc. I'd say that one has to have DSLR for good results, up from there image quality differences are minor, it's more about adjustability and (secondary) features.

Some really nice action captured here. Of course D300+70-200 Nikkor is the best combination Nikon can offer to day for DX format and very much suitable for such task. However, riding with such combo means that one has to load belly with 4-5 pints of lager in order to balance all the weight in backpack Can't wait for possibility to shoot with similar combo of mine some real carving action. Maybe next weekend ;)

Hi! If someone is in Whistler during abovementioned period (and for whatever reason not gone to SES yet) and wishes to mark slopes with C together with me, then I'd be more than glad to ride together. I'm considering myself intermediate, but this will be my first riding days this winter, so don't expect me to hit all these black slopes on first day :D You can regognize me by following pic: Me I'll be on Swoard 168. P.S. If someone wants to contact me by email or PM then take into account that I'll be on road in 32 hours (spending couple of days in Vancouver).

I for one don't praise inner boots of Northwave: I got shin bang already in carpet test and had no better experience in slopes. My Raichle SB 423 inner boots fit much better to Northwave boots, so that's what I'm using right now (well, not right now :P, but most of my riding time). However: the 423 inner boots didn't work at all (severe shin bang) with original Raichle soles and I could ride Raichle boots comfortably only after when I bought Raichle thermoflex inner-boots and had them custom-fitted in experienced bootfitter shop. And these molded thermoflex liners didn't work in Northwave boots either, so winning formula seems to be quite complex, depending from inner boots and sole Additionally I managed to break one of Northwave buckle's plastic parts, but this fortunately doesn't affect performance (buckle could be closed without the plastic part). All in all I'm quite satisfied with boots performance after replacing original springs with softer ones to suit for my somewhat "flegmatic" (at least I'm trying to..) riding style.

Seems like you missed this one: http://www.snowsportmoves.com/book.html Small discussion about this book in bomber, but no comments from readers: http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?p=150237 I have this book, but I don't think I'm proficient enough to give qualified overview about. But I'd dare to say, that it covers "fundamentals" of carving. So if you work on similar book, then I'd like to see more detailed and technical one! Every morn and every night Some are born to sweet delight! Depp and Jarmusch rulz

Is this picture taken from building process of Earth, mark II? :D

Are long johns recommended, e.g. for snowboarding? At least this cat seems to think so: Oh Long John All the live long day!

I don't mind if track is circle, ellipse or rectangular, as long as it's carved ;)

I've seen videos of "carving" 360 with up to 270 carving and finishing on tail spin (I remember video of CMC??? who made even 720 this way). I've seen video of carving 360 and riding forward on skis (link posted here??) However, I haven't seen videos of pure 360 carve on snowboard (and riding forward) though I remember that some claimed doing it. Thus I propose challenge: post video of carving 360, on snowboard, without tail spin. Who's up to this? :rolleyes: Maybe challenge for SES? IIRC Aspen Ajax has some trails/trail intersections suitable for this with crossing intersections and slope sides similar to pipe. P.S. If you are going to attempt this then don't forget security: most riders on slope are not ready for people riding against gravity!

I'm not any authority and not so good rider myself, so take my advice with grain of salt. But hey, it's free! :) When people say: bend the knees, then remember to drive your legs forward in the same time (use ankle joints), do not keep shins straight and drop hips to bend knees. Latter requires bending at waist and moving upper body forward in order keep balance and results in toilet seating. If you look at provided pics, then notice, how much in "correct" ones knees are pushed forward and upper body remains straight (as in picture from article) and in "wrong ones" (e.g. from "The Toeside Problem" article) shins are mostly straight and upper body bent forward. Too stiff boots (e.g. with Deeluxe 5-position leaning mechanism locked, on cold day!) could "dictate" forward leaning with upper body, as they don't allow enough forward flex from ankles. When I hit slopes in this winter then I try to remember 3 advices I learned from books and forums this year: centered, aligned, bend knees forward. Hopefully it will help my technique...

Wow, that would be really good if these videos will be available in DVD. If something like this will happen, then I'll be interested for sure. Where to send money?

I read about this in slashdot but I couldn't connect dots between surfer dude and lab coat carver until now. I don't know what Lisi used in order to come up with , but using 'enhancements' seems to help discoveries :)I guess that working outside of 'establishment' allows more creative 'out-of-box' thinking sometimes. Einstein was brought as an example already...

Well, you get concussion in case of serious impact with helmet as well. And D3O site addresses head protection in their site, so I believe, that they had "crash test dummies" to test applicability for head protection. Additionally in case of helmet you have additional strain for neck due to added weight. (Disclaimer: I'm not expert in this area, thus..) Major problem with such hats seems to be the fact, that hats tend to fly off from head in case of serious fall. If there were leather helmet, similar to previous century's helmet worn by race car drivers and airplane pilots and had this D3O for additional protection then I'd buy such product in heartbeat :) Right now I see such beans suitable as protection in parking lot against careless skiers, who carry skis on shoulders and make sudden turns (just like snowboard carvers on slopes :P)

Is there need for helmet any more?

Seems like fun. I'd like to try it sometimes. No, I didn't mean riding with artificial leg, but racing on course with banked turns. ;) But is it for time or style? Seems like some are going for time, but some are having late laid turns, this ain't the best way to go fast? Or is riding on banked turns so much different from "ordinary" course?

Holy... batman!