Neuffy

I have no problems keeping my knees apart, but that flash thing made me think: Along with my BTS, I'll be getting another cant plate. I'm currently flat, both feet. Right now, my downward flexibility is limited by my rear ankle. I'm thinking my rear ankle could use a bit of canting and heel lift. Should I get the 3 degree or the six? I'm leaning toward the six, because 4.25 degrees lift and cant seems alright. Am I right?

Barton: "After reading the last few posts, it just occurred to me that it may be because of the air that's trapped in the casing itself. If the casing is air-tight, then as the air inside the case expands, the pressure inside the casing could increase to the point where it damages the components inside." Wait...the pressure inside increases? How? The air doesn't expand...the pressure remains constant. The only thing that changes at altitude if the casing is air-tight is that the pressure on the outside of the case decreases. While this could lead to bad things, such as the case coming apart due to internal pressure, the pressure inside the air-tight case should _not_ change. (Well, maybe it'd get lower due to expansion of the case, but it damn well won't go up.)

Because cancer was mentioned and I just wrote my genetics final this morning... Technically, visible light will cause non-mutagenic DNA repair of UV damage, so if you get enough visible light you will prevent the carcinogenic effects of UV radiation. Basically, it's arguable a sunburn treatment with visible (usually blue) light would be highly efficacious in preventing the deleterious effects such as melanoma and wrinkles/sagging. Unfortunately, the ratio is something ridiculous....still doable, but...damn. Redbull = overpriced. Redrage = exact same damn thing in the can, looks almost the same, costs <1/5. Not a good daily drink, but nice to have around.

I dunno...I like the Soul Flyers stuff more. Essentially, snow-Kiteboarding. They also do a lot of cliffdrop-ski-basejumping and windsuiting. Does anyone know where I can get the Soul Flyers DVDs for a reasonable price, anyway?

Zardoz Notwax is awesome if you show up at the hill with a cold wax on, and it's -1~+10 degrees. It's saved my day a couple times.

Dr. D: My impression was that you did not want your boot tongue stiffer if using the BTS, so as to allow the system to fully flex with deference to the springs?

Not if you want to get work done, it isn't.

...The BTS should have had $10 added to the price. Simple market dynamics. If all (currently available) are selling out, price is too low. Increased price now to prevent sellout, lower prices next year. But immeh, hey? Arguably, a higher price (read: higher margin) would allow a larger amount of unsold stock to still be profitable. Of course, there is always the risk that it just won't sell, right? Although...considering it's a new product, there really isn't any decent way of managing everything. It'll just work itself out within a couple years anyway. Then again, I got a preorder in quite some time ago. :D Michelle...updates? I got my order confirmation (October 5th), but nothing after that. Was I supposed to get something of an update? Just checking...Thanks. Edit: Just remembered - I had an email blackout for a little while in November. My incoming email was just eaten by a black pit of doom. (I have no idea why it happened...and the provider hasn't said anything.) So...that's probably what happened.

If I wanted to get hurt (or even to have "real" risk...) I'd be in the park. One of the best things about alpine snowboarding is that when you're cranked over, even if you lose your edge, you only fall a couple feet. The whole low-implact thing is part of what attracted me in the first place.

Tree accident: Basically, I almost made it out of the trees (actually, there was only one tree left...), and was stopped dead in my tracks by one (~8 inches diameter). (I'm goofy) Left boot toe/binding, left knee, left hip, left side of chest, left side of head all into the same tree evenly. Just a dead stop. Then about ten minutes later I manage to undo my bindings and make it to the trail. I do up my bindings, and on my first backside carve, my rear(left) boot pops out of the binding. I managed to hit the underside of my upper (left)arm on the front edge of the board, leaving a black bruise for about a month. Turns out I'd discombobulated the rear binding hitting that tree. (Actually, it managed to bend metal on the toe clip...pretty damn hard impact.) I ended up having to ride the board down sitting in between the bindings, holding onto the bail with my good hand. That part, actually, was pretty fun. Thankfully, it was at that point after the lifts had closed, and so the face was pretty empty. For anyone interested in where this was, look at http://skilouise.com/images/the-mountain/LL_Frontside_0506.jpg and find #73. Then find the trees in the direction of the closest #1 and that'll be it. Maybe a bit higher than the line between the 73 and the closest 1. Ever since then I've just been uncomfortable in denser trees. I'll probably get over it eventually, but it just isn't fun currently. Although, I'd note, I don't mind small trees or minor obstacles, just large, dense trees.

Well, budget's an issue for this winter. It should be less of one for next winter. Yeah, I can completely see how longer boards are a niche item, and not meant for everyday use. However...I like niches. And for everyday stuff, I already have my Coiler, and I think I'll replace it with one pretty much exactly the same when I have to. Trees are pretty much out for me now. After my Lake Louise...accident...I'm too afraid to go through trees. Many thanks for the warnings though.

Well, based on the responses, I think I'm going to go with a ~195. Sure, eventually I'd love to have five to ten boards...but for now it just makes more sense to stay in the somewhat-reasonable category. Thanks for all the comments, everyone.

Oh, no. I'll certainly be trying a 15+ scr first. I just need to find somewhere to do so.

My last step was soft softboots with a soft 163 freeride board to AM177/Suzukas/TD2s. I think that was about as big a step as is possible. And ... I found it perfect from the first run. Oh yeah, my softboots were too big.

I have determined that I require Big Kahuna (Tinkler, 252 cm). I will have it (or an equivalency) assuming that the maker does not stop making snowboards before I can afford it. 252 cm...now that's right!

Unfortunately, financially, snowboarding cannot currently be my priority :( I have tuition to pay, books to buy, and a trip to Europe next summer.

Yeah, I know I could do the intermediate thing...but then if I decide I should have gone the rest of the way I think probably trying out a long GS board first would probably settle the issue within a couple runs.

Yeah, I'm primarily looking at Donek, seeing as a Tinkler is somewhat out of my price range. I'd certainly give Coiler a look seeing as I love the Coiler I currently have. And yeah, I'm not really looking for a narrow-slope/crowded-slope board. Ideally, I think I'd want something in the 200-230 range, with a sidecut of 14-17m. The idea of a board with a 18-20m sidecut is somewhat scary. But then, I've never tried a board with a sidecut of >10.5m, so..what do I know? Actually, on that note, does anybody in Alberta have a 190+ that I could try?

Basically, I'm trying to decide if my next board should be 200+. I'm 6'1" (186cm), and weigh 180-190 lbs. For history - the only alpine board I've ever had is my Coiler AM177. I don't find it long at all. I'm just wondering what the benefits and cons of a longer board would be. From what I can see, longer would mean more edge grip, and more stability, with less ability to "swish," more problems on crowded hills, and you wouldn't want to go in trees with too much length. Any thoughts?

I'll be heading down to sunshine or lake louise on the 16th or 17th (all depends on which resort has better conditions). No clue if anyone else will be there, but if someone is, it'd be great to meet up.

Hell, I look at least 200% cooler on a snowboard than on skiis. But that's just because 1. I have no freaking clue what to do with my poles if I'm not in moguls. 2. I don't really know how to position my feet anymore. I just know how to go and/or carve. 3. I snowboard a hell of a lot more now.

No....skiiers are just as bad. It's just that the previous statement made out that it was easier to look good on a snowboard than on skis. [Why must I spell ski "skii"?]

...does anyone have any suggestions for a decent base grind/tune in Alberta? Preferably Edmonton, of course, but if there's a place that'll do overnights or evenings in Banff/Jasper I can make a trip out. I ... really don't trust SportChek or somewhere like that. And considering I really can't afford to replace my (essentially) only board, I'd rather not ruin it.

My history - I skied from 3-15, snowboarded from 16-now. Still ski occasionally. The impression I've gotten is that skiing is way easier to pick up, stay on your feet, and make it down the hill than boarding. Getting to intermediate skiing takes a while. Snowboarding is brutal at first, but getting to intermediate doesn't take very long. Becoming very good at either probably takes about the same time, when you account for standards. This doesn't quite make sense to be. I think it takes just as much skill to look good skiier or snowboarding. Considering how bad the average boarder looks, even ones who have been boarding for a number of seasons, it does not seem to me that boarders have an easy time looking good. Of course, it may simply be that most snowboarders have different impressions of what is "good", but I really don't feel that flailing, counterrotating and excessive waist bending looks "good." I suppose one could argue that skiing is simply harder and more techical at the high levels because you are dealing with two edges (simultaneously) and poles, instead of just a single edge. [Why doesn't this forum have justify?]

...It'd be interesting to try three boards with identical specs except: 1. Large taper 2. No taper 3. Large negative taper in short succession (all in one day).