Mark Brown

Erik Beckman: both group lessons and a couple of private ones - "Mr. Componentry" gave me some real nice setup advice. A guy at Ski Roundtop who's really good -- and now he has the nerve to move to Bear Creek and increase my drive time by over 2 hours...

I continue to be "in training" because I still suck. I'm lucky enough to have a somewhat local instructor who has helped me improve with every lesson, usually once a year or so -- worth every single penny!!!

Jack, I hate you... Make that I hate the mid-atlantic ice coast! (SIGH)

(large sigh) -- we're still 4-6 weeks away from the start of our blown ice season...

My first ever lesson, in softboots of course, was from a grey on a tray in hardboots... Rode sloppy soffties with boot-outs. I ask the shop guy and he says "you'll never have a problem with boot overhang as you'll never get the board up on edge that far." Busted my ankle and needed more support in a boot. Stumbled upon BOL looking for a stiffer setup and the rest is nirvana ---- well, perhaps I could suck just a little less... I found the transition overall fairly easy and I actually started to carve turns --- what a concept!

Speaking of looking like a fool...

Fab picks folks. Those Aspens shots are gorgeous! Thanks much, eh! Cue the broken record: I gotta move...

Ahh, the joys of the Mid-Atlantic... Gotta get my daughter through university and then it's off to the Great White North. Already bought the season pass betting on enough cold to keep the blown ice we call snow on our local bumps. Think COLD!!!

Man, I gotta move...

One might say you're just off. But I wont... (grin)

(very heavy sigh) Fin, Thanks for all you've done for the alpine community. If it weren't you and BOL, I would not have such a fantastic time each winter. You and your business is being screwed and for that I am profoundly sorry. Peace to you, Mark

Well, if you want ice then hit Ski Liberty resort in the evening after it has softened up and then refrozen... Ski Roundtop is about 145 miles from Quantico and usually has the best conditions in the area. Ski Whitetail is about 120 miles and is my usual hangout. Snowshow is 278 miles away, big, crowded, and expensive... Disclaimer: Mileage via MapQuest, so your mileage may, well, vary...

Nope, we just live the wrong place!

Listen: Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government! Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony!

Thanks for organizing again Jack!

Yep, I did in fact poach your idea Jack!

I was out at WT yesterday and as Barry said, it was a zoo... I had to be real patient and wait for openings in the traffic flow and then be ready to bail when I caught a straight-liner on my uphill checks. The family said they saw two skwals and another guy on plates -- geesh, 4 hardbooters on one day!

Amen - when I actually commit, things really come together. Cautious and the wheels fall off...

Sorry you'll miss it! ... and your lame excuse is???

Heal fast and hope the vibes improve... Seeing the wrong side of 50, I'm a cautious rider - mostly blues and ride with lots of armor (wrist guards, elbow pads, torso armor, padded shorts, knee pads, and a helmet of course). I broke my arm early on, fractured a thumb, and bruised a couple of ribs - each time people would ask "You're going snowboarding again?!?!?" Heck yeah, I love this sport! Each of us has their own risk tolerance, some higher that others. Just remember the grin on your face when slicing and dicing, then make your own decision. Best of luck!

Nope and yep...

Thanks, but unfortunately most of the sleeves are completely flush while the rest have only about 1mm protruding - not enough for vice-grips which I did try...

So I'm checking my heel screws and something is not right. I tighten but the screws just turn? Stripped? I find out that what I thought were the equivalent of t-nuts are just some sort of threaded sleeve!?!?! Now I can't remove the screws as the sleeves just turn and I can't get a hold of them from inside the boot. Short of drilling out the screws anybody got any brilliant ideas? Feeling kinda dumb at this point... I assume the proper installation steps are to remove the sleeves and replace them with the supplied t-nuts?

Yuk, yuk, yuk... Thanks Fin!