Chris Karol
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Posts posted by Chris Karol
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Thanks Brian, sorry to hear you are on the AIL, I can definitely work out a local price minus the lodging expense but will first have to see if there are enough riders to make a go of it.
If anyone in the Bend area would be willing to house a few athletes for the camp at a reasonable price that could also help bring the cost down to an affordable level and make it possible for the 4 athletes currently wanting to attend.
Heal up quick and solid!
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Thanks for the interest just the same LeeW, paying the bills is always part of the challenge!
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Hello Bomber Community;
Mt. Batchelor still has lots of snow and will be open for Teams to come and train next month. The mountain will not be open to the public during this time.
I am looking for a few more riders to attend this training camp so I can lower the cost for those who have already expressed interest.
It will be a small group of 8 riders max, but at 8 riders the cost is quite reasonable. I currently have 4 riders who would like to participate.
The camp is open to ages 13 and up. Prior racing experience not required, but would like riders to have at least intermediate ability to participate
Apologies for the last minute timing of this post but If anyone is interested please contact me by email asap. (I am currently in Europe and not using my phone) My email address is; chris@fastsnowboarding.com
CAMP DETAILS;
FAST Snowboarding Training Camp with Chris Karol (Alpine Race training with Gates, Timing & Video)
Location: Mt. Batchelor, Oregon
DATES: June 19-29
ARRIVAL on the 18th (3:00pm at the latest to Portland or 7:00pm at the latest to Redmond or Sunriver)
DEPARTURE late afternoon on the 29th (after 5:00pm from Portland or after 2:00pm from Redmond or Sunriver)
WEEKLY SCHEDULE & TRAINING PLAN (GS = Giant Slalom / SL = Slalom)
ON-SNOW DAYS: 6/19 - GS, 6/20- GS, 6/21-SL, 6/23-GS, 6/24-SL, 6/25-SL, 6/27-GS, 6/28-GS, 6/29-SL
REST DAYS; 6/22 and 6/26
DAILY SCHEDULE
5:45AM Wake-up & Breakfast
6:30AM Depart team house for Mt. Batchelor
6:45AM to 8:45AM Breakfast available in Lodge ($10 NOT included in camp price)
7:15AM Lifts open for coaches and set up crew
7:30AM Lifts open for athletes
12:45PM Last chair up
11:30AM to 1:00PM Lunch available in Lodge (included in camp price)
1:15PM Mountain cleared by Patrol
1:30PM Daily coaches meeting
3:00PM-6:00PM Tuning and Video review (done in rotation at team house)
6:30PM Dinner Prepared at team house by athletes (Dinner not included in camp cost)
LOCKERS/WI-FI STATIONS
Mt Batchelor has lockers and Wi-Fi available in their employee sprung. Teams can use the lockers for storage and utilize the space for tuning equipment and internet access, if needed. Locks provided. ($10.00 lock fee for unreturned/damaged locks).
LODGING
House rental in Bend, nicely furnished, sleeps up to 10, Dining room sits 8 + 3-4 bar stools, double car garage for tuning (photos of house available by request)
PRICING
Includes Lodging, 9 Days of Lift Tickets, Lane Space Coaching, Lunch on Training days (lunch not included on rest days), Daily Transportation to-and-from the hill and Airport Pickup and drop-off at Portland International Airport on June 18th and 30th. Airport pick-up and drop-off is also available at Redmond and Sunriver airports by request.
Final price depends on the number of athletes attending as follows. (pricing is per-athlete)
4 athletes = $2500
5 athletes = $2100
6 athletes = $1800
7 athletes = $1700
8 athletes = $1600
If interested please let me know what your price limit is so I can determine if there will be enough riders to pull the camp off at that price. If I am able to get enough riders at a given price level I will have to have partial if not full payment made asap in order to confirm lodging and hillspace. I will not accept any payment for the camp until I have enough riders confirmed at an acceptable price level.
Contact; chris@fastsnowboarding.com
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Just lurking by here but I've been thinking about Snowflex lately so thought I'd chime in.
I don't work for any the slope companies either but I was interested in doing something with snowflex a while back. I went to the factory in England, met with the guys who were super nice and busy building parks all over the UK and Europe. They gave me a tour of the factory and took me riding at a couple different slopes nearby in the English countryside. It's amazing how many dry and indoor slopes there are throughout the UK. I rode another one located in a parking lot between a Wal-Mart and a Mcdonalds off the highway in Aberdeen, Scotland. Most these places were in urban areas and busy with groups, classes and the usual suspects doing laps on the park features.
It's been almost 10 years since I last rode the stuff so it may have changed, but, 10 years ago Snowflex slopes were padded with irrigated water-misters which spritzed some form of water onto the surface out of a recirculating pump system. The water had a slightly slimy RV anti-freeze quality to it but it kept the surface wet and slick. That said it felt faster riding on the base than it did on the edge. I found it difficult to carve on. It was fun to ride but it felt like it was best to skid the top of the turns and save the edging for the bottom of the turn. My only real complaint was that it was difficult to keep the board decambered throughout the top of a carve. I could feel the edge catch in the cornrows of the mat-weave and straighten the board as I was trying to carve through the top of the turn. The only solution seemed to be really over-pressured into the spongy surface but that took quite a bit of work and didn't feel very natural. The snowflex guys seemed to be aware of the cornrow issue back then so I'd be surprised if they haven't dealt with it by now.
Dendex and a couple other companies make competing surfaces, most of which have holes, or diamond shaped patterns of nylon bristle. You can almost think of snowflex as packed powder, and this stuff as hardpack or ice. I think the holes in the dendex style surfaces eliminates the cornrow effect of the snowflex and allows you to get more of a real carve. Dendex slopes are also firmer surfaces compared to the snowflex slopes which may contribute to the carvability factor there. Only problem with the dendex style surface is that they can put your hands out of commission pretty quick. Don't pat the dog!
Hope that helps!
-CK
I am researching SnowFlex ski areas and for anyone that has tried snowboarding on SnowFlex or other Artificial surfaces?Here is a link for reference:
No, I do not actually work for these guys. I am interested in maybe investing in this kind of technology or building a 356 day a year site.
Any comment?
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Bummer, looked like a good deal!
I am still looking for used alpine boards in the 147-165 range in case anybody reading this has any to sell. Boots too (from size 7 to 10.5)
-CK
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Hi Boardski,
I am interested buying your Pilot 147 board if it is still available. Please email me directly if it is at fastsnowboarding@gmail.com
Thanks,
Chris
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Glad to see you go for it Alex!
We'd love to place an ad for FAST in the mag and otherwise contribute however we can!
Chris
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Big thanks to Fin, Michelle and all who showed up for the FAST race clinic. Hope you all had fun and were able to pick up a few pointers along the way.
For those who signed up for the Teton-Bros gear, the gear will be given away at the Swanquet so now everyone as SES has a shot at winning it. Not sure what Michelle will make you do to win it but wish I was there to find out!
Thanks again, hope to see you all next year!
Chris Karol
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SWAG ALERT!!
Big thanks to Nori from Teton-Bros apparel. ( www.teton-bros.com ) Nori has donated a sweet puffy down jacket along with a few other goodies to raffle off at the FAST race clinic. Sign up to win at the Bomber tent on Wednesday!!!
Teton Bros. a small company from Japan and sponsor of FAST, makes very nice quality outdoor gear and casual wear. Not a big company, but really just one guy (Nori) who loves the outdoors, ski's like a maniac and knows how to make great gear.
Please check it out online and on facebook! Teton-Bros will be available in the USA next season.
THANK YOU NORI!!
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I invited Chris Klug to come by on Wednesday for the FAST race clinic. He says he'll "be there, unless it pukes the night before, six inch rule in effect."
He also mentioned that he wants to sell a bunch of his alpine gear (Burton race, PJ's!!!?, and new Kesslers. Not sure on details but you can ask him in person on Wednesday if interested.
Two Ravens, I hope you swing by and try it out. Sounds like we may have a few people trying gates for the first time which is great! ... just another way to have fun on a snowboard!!
Btw - Thinking I'll set both slalom and GS side by side in the morning, then set dual GS for the afternoon.
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Michelle, 10:00 it is then!
I'll plan to go up at 9:00 to set the course but let me know if there's any problem with that. (a few volunteers to help set would be great)
... good question Mike T.
Lets say "intermediate" ability and above for this clinic, no gate experience necessary. So as long as you can make it from the top of Thunderbowl lift to the top of the course in one piece you should be fine.
The morning clinic will be spent both in and out (mostly out) of the gates working on the what, why and how of things. I expect we'll be riding more in the training area on Thunderbowl rather than hooning all over the mountain. Helps keep things focused and also makes it easier for me to work with wider range of abilities.
After lunch and the group photo at 1:00 I'd like to just open up the course and let everybody have fun running gates.
This is gonna be fun, no need to be competitive about it but I will have timing available in the afternoon in case we need to settle any trash talk!
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Fin,
Thank you for the invitation! And thank's Ink, sorry you won't be able to make it. I've missed the SES for the last couple years and really look forward being a part of it this year!
I'll set a GS and leave it open for anyone to roll through and also offer the clinic to anybody who is interested. If there is interest in running Slalom, I can set one if we have room for 2 courses side by side. (if not I can reset a SL after the GS)
Sounds like the finish area for the course will be right at the base of Thunderbowl by the demo tents... perfect!
Lets say 10:30 - 12:30 for the clinic., meet at 10:30 at the base of the GS course in front of the demo tents.
I'll also bring our timing system along just for fun. Maybe we can try some new competition formats after lunch... high speed limbo? Of course this means we'll have to come up with prizes. Might need a separate committee for that. Any volunteers?
If anybody has questions or suggestions please let me know on this thread.
Thanks Bomber crew! I look forward to seeing ya'll in Aspen!!
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Mt. Hood Training with Chris Karol
5 Days on snow: August 10-14
$250 per day includes lift-ticket, lane, gates, drills for technique, tactics & execution, video and coaching. (excludes meals, lodging & transportation)
Book up to 30 hrs. prior to training
Contact Chris Karol at 970-618-4306
Daily Schedule
6:45 meet at Wy-East day lodge
7:00 Load Magic Mile lift
Train until approx. 11:30
Lunch or snack on hill (not included in price)
Video review in Hood River
3:00 dryland activity, Hood River
prep gear & pack lunch for next day
Gear List
Sunscreen
Water (bottle, camelbak or both)
Helmet
Goggles
Gloves
Sunglasses
Hat for sun
Hat for snow
Winter shell jacket
Fleece layer
Warm-up pants
Longsleeve arm protection
Shin protection
Allen wrenches or screwdriver for bindings
Equipment list
Slalom & GS boards - well tuned & waxed for coarse hard snow
Boots - spare sole-plates, footbeds and liners if available
Bindings - bring available canting parts and hardware
Tuning equipment - waxes, clamps, iron, files, stones, brushes etc.
Spare equipment - boots, boards bindings, apparel
Test equipment - boots, boards, bindings, apparel
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Sorry guys but this thread was brought to my attention and I feel compelled to respond to the last post for the sake of preserving the history of snowboarding.
I was at the 1983 Sims World Championships in Soda Springs, CA. I won the DH event which still goes down as one of my most memorable runs ever. I rode for Burton at the time. I am one of the "east coast SB school" riders referred to in that last post. Back then there were only a handful of riders in the world (east, west or otherwise) and we were all good friends. We rode together, partied together, and competed together. Everybody competed in everything.
The story about Jake boycotting the 1/2 event is entirely false. The only thing that anyone considered boycotting at that event was the Slalom. Reason being, was that Tom Sims set the Slalom course by first taking a run in fresh groomed fluff, then going back and sticking gates in the snow at the apex of each of his turns. Not the fairest way to set a course if you think about it from a competitors point of view. We the riders (aka; Toms competitors) let it go,. but as it turned out Tom won the slalom event and people rightfully bitched about it. Tom was a talented rider but he should've known better than to leave the door open for that kind of controversy.
The "east coast SB school" was not all about bombing in a straight line. Granted that's about all you could do if you ever tried riding a snurfer on hardpack, but if you're talking snurfers, you're talking about the original Michigan crew. Burton may have gone on to take some early cues from guys like Paul Graves, Bill & Tom Pushaw, Bob Novak and Kevin Workman but things evolved quickly from there. Other east coast guys like Stevie D and the Rhode Island Flight crew were surfers and skaters. As far as the early Burton team goes, Mark Heingartner was a surfer, I was a skater, and Andy Coghlan came from a ski racing background. I used to session the TC and Soda Springs pipes with Keith Kimmel, Bob Klein, Terry Kidwell, Palmer, Arnbruster and Chantry. Speedruns were cool but as an "east coast" rider, my main skateboarding influences were things like boardslides, grinds, air & slashing.
Let's back up a bit now to 1982 at the Suicide Six Nationals. People who were there will remember that "east coast" Burton rider, Doug Bouton was the only person to make the slalom course WITHOUT crashing or spinning out. He won by a large margin. I spun out on both toeside turns but recovered on my heel edge quick enough in both cases to finish in 2nd place. (for those paying attention, that's right, there were only 4 gates!) Louis Fournier also used the "spin out on the toe-edge & catch it on the heel" technique and finished 3rd. I don't remember what happened to Tom Sims in the slalom. For the record Tom did win the DH at the 1982 Suicide Six event which was a straight line "bomb" speedrun at speeds over 60mph in under 10 seconds.
(edit = Looks like I stand corrected on the suicide six facts. It still doesn't line up with Toms story but according to Paul Graves who put this event on, Sims won the Slalom and Bouton won the DH. guess were all gettin' old 'eh?)
By the way Morrow and Kelly where never "Tahoe boys" Rob Morrow is from Salem, Oregon and Craig Kelly was from Mt. Vernon, Washington.
A few more inaccuracies...
Since when did Nastar have judges? Racing is a timed event not judged. I wasn't at that 1981 event but If the Ski Cooper race got moved anywhere I'd guess it got moved to wherever Ski Cooper had their timing set up.
I'm pretty sure Damian Sanders never wore "Burton duds".
... and last but not least; Sims is spelled with one "m".
... regarding the original topic of this thread, one of the first "Alpine" set-ups I remember seeing was around '85 or '86 when Jeff Caron showed up in my snowboard shop at Loon Mountain with Salomon SX91 rear entry ski boots and a custom plate setup on a Dynastar Monoski. The monoski was very narrow which required steep binding angles. This was quite unlike the Avalanche plate binding set-ups of the time which generally had the back foot at around 90deg to the tip/tail axis.
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I remember being one of the instructors for a camp you put on at Vail years ago.
Yeah you coached that camp with Megan right?
Boardski, I don't actually own a pair of Nitro plate SI's. Just tried them once.
Jack, I used to be one of those racers except I rode flat/flat, because I couldn't deal with the wedge. Racers tend to be the most stubborn, superstitious lot when it comes to equipment. I used to think blaming my equipment was a sign of weakness, aka; the "shut up and ride" mentality. I thought snowboarding was supposed to be painful:smashfrea
I know better now..
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I'm with you on that Boardski, That old Nitro system was foolproof and I never heard of one failing.
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I found it to be humorous and ironic commentary from someone inside (a Burton engineer) who had a vested interest in liking the system.
.. exactly my point., you'd think he (and Burton), had a vested interest in liking the system, but it's exactly the opposite.
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K2 clickers DOA
Switch DOA
Drake DOA
Burton DOA
They all died because the people who buy snowboard equipment did not
want them...and that is Jakes fault.
"people who buy snowboard equipment"... Do you mean retailers or consumers?
Either way, I doubt Jake had much to do with it, He's got a large responsability to run his business and is justified in putting that as his first priority and letting his corporate officers do their jobs. You can't argue with the business logic but I will correct your DOA examples.
K2 Clicker - hardly DOA, Like 'em or not, they flooded the market made a ton of money for K2. Retailers couldn't keep them in stock.
Switch - Vans spent several million buying that company when Switch was at their peak. DOA? .. hardly
Drake - wasn't that Switch?
Burton -covered that already
... and you forgot to mention;
Rossi - still sells step-ins to the rental market but doesn't advertise them
Device - Purchased by Ride for $9 million - Hardly DOA
Airwalk - spent millions trying to come up with a good design but failed.
Marker - invested a ton of money but had wack looking moon boots and other technical issues.
Step-in could easily outperform straps if they were done correctly but don't expect the innovation to come from Burton. I have respect for that company but I don't expect them to change the all time best selling binding design when the average snowboarder doesn't know any better and is perfectly happy with the current products.
Kinda reminds me of when skiers used to laugh at snowboarders because the skiers didn't know any better.. except now its the snowboarders at Burton who are laughing at the skiers who think their cool 'cause they ditched their planks, got some softboots and baggy pants and took up shredding. They'll buy whatever they're told to buy.
Most actual snowboarders couldn't be bothered having to change their equipment and will only buy whatever is absolutely necessary at the lowest possible cost, preferably free. As for me, I'm just old and my feet hurt from to many years of crappy boots and bindings.
AND BY THE WAY;
Jack I apologize for my earlier statements made at your expense. You had every reason to state what would otherwise be an innocuous quote. The mantra is unfortunately accurate in describing the state of the art with soft boot step-in's. Switch might not be bad but they could all be better. All things considered the sports a lot better than it was before we even HAD bindings. It's just sad to see innovation get halted in it's tracks by commercial interests.
Softbootsailer does bring up another issue which wasn't isn't mentioned on Wikepedia either, in that the lack of standardization between boots and bindings made SI a total pain in the ass for retailers. But obviously the question here is more about plate SI than softboot anyway. Intec has the closest thing to a "standard" which is probably why they're still around.
sooo.. moving on,
I used to need lateral flex (aka; binding slop) in my hardboot set-ups and found plate SI to be too unforgiving,... until i got my canting dailed in. With my stance and canting dailed, I can maintain a relatively flex free connection between my boots and bindings. (I used to ride clapped out Reactors with Burton race plates and swore by 'em). However, I feel my new set-up ultimately gives me more control and is way more positive and powerful. My boots have a soft flexing upper-cuff yet rigid sole and binding interface which rocks. I get all the power I need with no bloody stump syndrome.
That said, I'm still using toe-bails but want to try SI plates again.
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"step-ins suck." - former Burton engineer I know on softboot stepi-ns.
Dude,
Thanks for pointing out where that Burton propaganda comes from.
Boardski hit the nail on the head, Burton's step-ins did suck. But then again, Burton never wanted step-in technology to succeed in the first place.Making a kick ass step in system is not difficult, but why bother when you're Burton and can easily convince the herd that "step-in's suck" Burton purposely killed the step-in market by making a crappy product and coming up with that mantra for their employees and legions of followers to spout.
You think with Burtons resources that was the best they could come up with? Maybe they just needed better "engineers".
Last time I heard that was from some 4 year old kid who was incapable of forming his own opinion. He was a little young to understand concepts like "disruptive technology" A term your friend surely learned about if he went to engineering school. If your friend had anything to do with Burton's ratchet systems he's no doubt familiar with other phrases like "planned obsolescence"
To put in terms a 4 year old can understand let me point out that snowboards used to suck too. Good thing we kept working on them eh? Of course that was before there was any serious money at stake.
SI technology is a threat to the dominant position Burton holds in the strap binding market. It's much more profitable for them to put lipstick on their pigs, coming up with "new" things like Lo-backs and cap straps, rather than invest in making a BETTER step-in. A better step-in will make Burtons strap-bindings obsolete, and that puts their dominant market position at risk.
The real goal for SI is to improve ride performance. Convenience should just be a by-product. Of course if you're Burton, the real goal is to make money and maintain market share, which is why they came up with the mantra that you are still spouting.
I figure you to be a smart dude Jack, and I suppose you may not have had any reason to give this much thought., You may also know that I've personally invested years and lots of money developing SI systems that ride way better than anything on the market today. I still hold several patents on the technology. Needless to say I have a personal stake in the subject.
It's kind of interesting to see this thread actually. It was just pointed out to me along with a recent update that appeared on Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowboard. Leave it to hardbooters to shun public opinion and think for themselves. The thing that surprises me more than anything in our so called "progressive" sport is that strap bindings still exist at all.
So don't take it too personally Jack but please understand that I had to set the record straight, plus I know you're a stud and can handle the truth.
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What a sad thing to hear.. I met Chuck racing years ago and continued to see him throughout the years coaching. Chuck was always so friendly and enthusiastic. Chuck genuinely cared about others. He carried a huge smile with him wherever he went.. a great individual. He always expressed a true love of snowboarding and racing, and of life and the people he knew. I considered Chuck to be part of the landscape, a fixture in the world of alpine snowboarding.
Chuck told me a while ago that he was sick, yet he appeared outwardly healthy and very much the same character I've always known him to be. His illness showed no signs of slowing him down. He continued to carry on his life so to the point where I just assumed I'd see him again on the hill someday. He will always be a champion in my heart. I hope that he had his family and loved ones around him and went peacefully with the grace that he carried throughout his life. My condolences to his family, Chuck was a great individual and friend.
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Michelle,... DD's going to check out ECES this year. She might be available to work the tent if you have one at Stowe. Looks like she'll be hanging out a Whaleback a little bit this winter too. I'd fly her out to SES but I don't think she'd make it through security.
RE: Tomorrow at Whaleback... I'll come by at 2 for a skate. The road I'm thinking of might be a little tight for setting up cones but its a great longboard run. You guys will have to make the call on where to set up cones.
If anyone has a slalom skate for me to try I've never actually run cones and would love to give it a go.
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Hey I'm not sure if you guys have longboarded or slalomed at Whaleback or not but if anyone is interested, .. The road is pretty much perfect with fresh blacktop and skateable the whole way .. It is sweet! I've been making a point of dropping in there whenever I get the chance.
The longboard run is acoss the highway from Whaleback but the Whale is usually the best place to meet as there are usually people around .. with trucks to rally a shuttle crew.
The actual driveway to Whaleback is pretty much unskateable but Whaleback has a outdoor vert ramp and a mini at the base lodge... and paintball I should mention, not to mention a nice little bmx track.
I'll come early with my longboard and keep an eye out for you guys. I usually park over by the base of the lift and take it from there. The ramps at the base of the lift are good for a little warm up if you like tranny's.
Boardski hit the nail on the head, Burton's step-ins did suck. But then again, Burton never wanted step-in technology to succeed in the first place.
Burton's anti-chatter disco platter
in Carving Central
Posted
1993 Burton prototype with the anti-chatter disco platter aka: "dog bone".