Mucknbullets

Took mine to my local ski shop who do Intuition liners etc. Seemed a bit nervous but gave them a print out of YYZCanucks instructions and off they went. Seems timings are similar. I had to get mine re-done after 1st week away but they were more than happy and charged reduced rate. So happy feet. http://www.yyzcanuck.com/E_tech_cooking.htm

Cool. Thanks.

Now I am just doing a bit of carpet carving whilst sitting bored in a hotel room and it seems that on toe side I am definitely putting pressure on my rear leg first. Now is this just because I am on carpet or my stance is wrong (weight balance is not centred) or do I need more cant to stop leg coming in first? OK I know I am on carpet, in new boots and bindings but leave for the mountain Saturday and just trying to dial it in especially after the nightmare I had last time out. Oh and thanks to Ryan Knapton for his excellent and really simple explanation of how to carve. It makes sense now and I must stop the counter rotation and bull whip stuff. Cheers.

Right I am about 211 pounds, 5ft 9inches tall and a not very good hard booter. Now looking at some of the videos posted here I can see I am doing it all wrong (contra-rotation not tipping the board up enough on either side etc) but that comes from learning 20 years ago and not going enough in between. Going to be fixing these issues in 3 weeks time if the French Pyrenees get some snow. I am riding an F2 165 speedcross and am wondering if that is too short for my bulk. Seeing a lot of guys on here running 170, 180 plus boards it jsut got me wondering. I have managed to save for some new boots, which actually fit, (Deeluxe 325T) and my lovely wife bought me some new bindings for Xmas (F2 Intec Titanium which have got to me an improvement on my current Intec Proflex's) so hopefully that will remove some of the slop from my riding. Just asking or am I actually looking for an excuse before I even get there. Not sure but all comments (except ones on diet and less beer) welcome. Cheers

Just had my new Deeluxe 325Ts moulded by my local ski shop. They have never done (or seen for that matter) Alpine boots before but took in YYZ's guide to home cooking which matched their oven temp, they do the book under toe for ski boots too, fitted some extra pads around toes to give a bit more room in toe box and I now have boots that fit. They are The Captains Cabin (ask for Daniel as he did mine) in Sevenoaks, Kent which is on a direct line to London. £50 and now have boots that fit. They do a full ski boot fitting service as the lady next to me had bunions and they were not even fazed about punching her boots out to suit. www.captainscabin.com Other than that possibly one of the places in London that do custom fit ski boots might help but their rates are pretty high and could be a bit snobby. (I am in no way connected with this shop but will always recommend places that are willing to help)

Why do people think that don't need lessons for boarding yet wouldn't go anywhere near ski's without lessons? Oh and nobody has been head first down a slope thinking "Shall I dig my board in or just let it flow" then? Oh and both the vids were great viewing.!!

Pat, Just saw this and your Bungee jump video and you are a frikkin inspiration. Nicely done Sir.

Oh yes very Yellow. Had a pair delivered the other day, unfortunately the wrong size (see new boots thread saga). Nice looking but I can't believe they have put the liner join line right down the middle of the sole. Felt like I was standing on a pencil. Also the 325s I had felt a lot nicer inside and generally more comfy but they are a good £100 more expensive so depends on the budget I suppose. My 2 pence worth only.

Well it would have been only if it was easier for me to ski with the family than board but looks like I'll stick with me board. Cheers

Cheers for that. Bang goes that plan. So might have to go from super comfy fitted boots to the usual hire wellingtons. Hey ho!

So following on from my off to Germany to get boots fitted thread (fly out Friday 13th. Yeah Great!) I was just wondering if hard snowboard boots will fit ski bindings? Lots of questions on ski boots into HB snowboard bindings but I am looking at Intec heels on Deeluxe boots into skis. Now I know the flex etc will be wrong (like I'll ruddy notice) but rest of family are currently beginner skiers so if we get to book a week away in February then it might make it easier for me to ski in the afternoons. Can't believe how far skis have moved in 25 years (yeah ok stop laughing). It was nearly easy to ski which is pretty impressive as I swore I would never ride 2 planks again. Even managed to skate slightly on the flat on my 165s. I'm sorry 165s? I'm 5ft 9 and fat and used to ride 180s when I was 16. Now 42 and you give me 165s? Seemed to work and herring boning on alpine skis has never been easier. :) Back to original question, will Deeluxe boots fit ski bindings? Cheers Ade

Thanks for that link. Really helped explain the differences between the boots. Thought I had posted the other day but phone obviously went wibble.

Seems that way. Used to have them last season.

You can tell I'm that fat just from my avatar? Pushing 210 actually which is real bad. Still a novice though :)

Well the flights to Munich are booked so off to the see the people at Blue Tomato to spend my hard saved cash. (see other thread about hard boots in the UK) Now it is time for decisions on choices etc. I am intending to get them thermo moulded for me feet whilst I am there but which boot? Trying to keep it cheap (as usual) and don't really care about colour but not sure what flex will be right for me. Currently run some too big for my feet Raichle AF700s so not sure where they sit against new stuff. They feel ok to me but I always feel that there is too much flex somewhere in my setup (could be my old F2 carveflex or whatever they are called bindings) For example: Free 69 T 2014 are rated as 9/10 Flex for ADV and EX yet Track 325 are 6/10 Flex and ADV BG. So does this mean the Free 69s flex more to suit a more skilled rider or are they rock hard so (in my mind) transmit the movements to the board with less forgiveness? http://www.blue-tomato.com/en-GB/products/categories/Snowboard-00000000--Snowboard+Boots-0000000E--Hard+Boots-0000000G/ So thoughts on what would suit a picky guy who always feels his movements (which are guaranteed to be incorrect technique) to board are not picked up fast enough? Also need Intec heels Right onto bindings, they also have the F2 Intec Titanium for what seems a decent price (£118) so am thinking of them as my current ones deffo feel floppy. Now is this kind of setup going to dump me on my backside every time I don't do a turn properly or will it be good setup? Board is an F2 Speed Cross 165 (and that is next seasons saving point but not going there yet :) ) Thanks muchly Ade

Knowing the right size is the issue as not sure how much the liners have crushed in my boots (they are old after all) and, tbh, the Raichles never feel like they have clamped my foot in properly. Now that again could be down to the liner being worn and their not being enough clamp force left. Plus I have saved for quite a while and want some shiny. Slippery slope as then it will be new bindings (got some old Proflex ones on their now) and then a new board (F2 Speedcross is not exactly the latest is it). Best carry on saving then. The black toe comes from my foot sliding around so much it punches my right big toe into the front of the boot on turns.

Iirc Mondo 28 (well my cheap sofites are 28). As you say hard boots in the UK are like looking for Hen's teeth. Looks like a trip to Germany is on the cards. (I know how you guys get about your nationality. Spend a lot of time ribbing the boss as he is from Ayr)

Right, after 3 seasons of using my second hand, don't fit me properly Raichle AF700s I have saved some cash and want to get some new fitted boots. Now I can catch a flight to Germany and go to Blue Tomato but wondered if there was anywhere in the UK that does hard boots? I know a lot of you guys are Stateside but there are a few of us Limeys (and Scots before Kieran shouts at me) kicking around on the forum. Really need new boots as last three snow holidays have involved my right big toe getting bashed so much the nail then falls off and hasn't healed properly since. Now I could possibly get new liners and get them moulded to my feet (assuming my local ski shop is ok at that) but really fancy some new boots that fit. Cheers in advance Ade

I guessed as much and "charge hard"? Yeah right. I have lesson booked for Monday to teach me to carve the F2 let alone the corn board. It is staying at home as can't fit it in the board bag anyway. Might take it down my local dry slope just for fun and then roll out the F2 to see what they say. Oh and gotta love bindings where the angles are set by holes drilled in the base plate. Going by the amount of furring on the chrome I'm guessing they won't be up for dropping into the pipe for a Mactwist anytime soon. Lucky really as I can barely got off the ground usually and measure air in inches ;) Didn't think it was that soft until I tried flexing the F2 in comparison. The F2 doesn't flex at all compared to the corn board Cheers Ade

Well just packing up my gear for the annual 1 week trip to somewhere snowy (Sauze D'Oulx in Italy this year) when my mate appears out of the blue with his "Corn Board". Bugger it, I have paid for board carriage so lets take both. In all honesty I probably won't go anywhere near the Corn board but I still think it looks ace. Anyone recognise the corn board (other than it is a Rossignol)? It is a 162 (measures 159 at best) but other than that I have no info.

That was ace. Can't make my mind up if the music is the most annoying sound I have ever heard or the best riding track ever!

Only swapped over last year by buying boots and board off eBay. Have boarded on and off for nigh on 20 years but never felt properly attached to the board (always ratcheted till feet went numb. Oh and get horrendous heel lift). Went to Bardonecchia in Italy with my pal (who skis) and saw lines of guys coming down the hill all on hard setups. Turns out to be an instructor in Italy you have to learn hard and soft. Because of all the instructor lessons there was no kit to hire in resort but mind was made up. I still can't carve for toffee as keep using my old school throw shoulders into every turn style but back to Italy in a week and going to book a private lesson or 2 to improve my technique. Already out run my ski mate so god only knows what I will be like once I can do decent speed turns :)

Many thanks to all advice in this thread and all others. Had a cracking week in Alpe D'Huez, France. Moving to HB setup was the right move for me as felt so much more connected. Longer board meant faster speeds and better stability on flat runs. Reckon my boots could do with a thermo fit liner or the like as got a couple of pressure points but nothing I can't live with for my 1 week a year. So again thanks to all and rip it up out there. Ade

Thanks for that. Unfortunately I am a 1 board kinda man (due to finances ) but I think my biggest problem is not having the basics right as still doing counter rotations and all sorts of other bad habits. Have to shout at myself to do things right. Will keep up the basics and go from there. Cheers