dantheman0177

Officially jealous. Though if we are back in Oz by then I might have to make the trip.

Yes, you are probably right. But on a completely different note, we have some big news. There's a reason she was so tired at SES....she's pregnant! Lucky me, I'm going to be a dad at the end of October!

Outboards + inflatables + big surf = fun:biggthump

I would, but you know I hear that divorce is rather costly and bigamy is not legal in any of the countries I'm allowed to live in.

Michelle I think I am going to miss you. I'm all over the Middle East at the moment (Kuwait last week, Beirut this week - got back tonight, Bahrain then Kuwait then Dubai then Abu Dhabi next week, Libya in a few weeks) so I won't have a chance to chase you around Europe unfortunately.

Sounds like Gilmour managed to sell his script after all

Um, possibly but really not sure. I have just got back from Kuwait and have to go to Beirut next week, so it seems most of our work at the moment is in the Middle East. But we might go over to Italy for a long weekend at some stage. You have my email, so let me know when you have your plans finalised and I'll see what we can swing.

Your life truly is ridiculously good!

I managed to have a week of awesome weather and 20 degree (Celcius) water to swim in when I went back home. However now back in cold and miserable London while Vanessa calls me every day to tell me how good the weather is back home (she had an extra 10 days there but I had to get back for work). Noah that's great to hear. All the hard part is coming up now. But I'm sure you will make it work out to be a great day.

Australia Mt Hotham Mt Buller Mt Buffalo Falls Creek New Zealand Coronet Peak Cardrona Remarkables Canada Big White Whistler/Blackcomb USA Beaver Creek/Arrowhead Vail Aspen Ajax Aspen Buttermilk Aspen Highlands Snowmass Italy Campitello Cortina Canazei Arraba Marmolada Switzerland Leysin Wow, at 21 (and counting) I have surprised myself. Not too bad for a guy who grew up at the beach. In Australia! Just reminds me how lucky I am.

Me: 5 years on plates, but never done more than 28 days in a calendar year. 2008/09 Season: 10 days, inc 4 at SES, 5 in Italy and 1 in Switzerland. Riding Ability: Still very much learning and improving with every day. This year I demo'd so many boards that Bruce thought I would have worn out the screws on my TD2's (no, they didn't wear out, so props to Fin). I tried a bunch of Priors which were amazing. I already have the 07/08 metal WCR and the new season batch is just fantastic. Chris has built a bunch of 21cm waist WCR metals and they are really great in chopped up snow. They really hang in there and just feel so comfortable under foot. I almost bought one, they were that good. I used the Donek Axess for a run at the end of a day and it was a really easy and fun ride, very forgiving on tired legs. Good, solid, reliable. Exactly what I expected, exactly what I got. I got on the Virus Scalpel 180 and had a blast. Normally Frank's boards kick my butt all the way back to the demo tent, but when I gave it some, it gave right back and was so much fun to hook into turns and know that the board would really stick. My only issue was that 180 was too long for me, but I didn't get a chance to try the 170 that was floating around because it was never in the tent (which probably indicates that lots of other people were enjoying it). I rode the Alpine Punk Metal Burner 182 on the last day. I have only ever ridden a board over 180 once and that was fun but too much board for me. Mats convinced me that his board would be different. He set it up, towards the front which I was skeptical about, but he told me it would ride like a smaller board and be really surfy. I couldn't believe how much the tail flexed and the board gripped, especially in heel side turns. I was having trouble with that side until I rode this board. Amazing, and just incredible fun to ride. Unfortunately I had to swap it out because someone else wanted to try, but I snuck a second demo later in the day and it was as good as the first. So good that I convinced my wife to let me buy it. Unfortunately I didn't get to ride the B Squared or the Coiler Stubby because they were constantly out of the tent. Hardly surprising though... All in all, some great boards.

Can you get them to come and hang with all the guys on the night that the SES Chicks night is on? It's the only way I'll get a chance to discover first hand how jealous I am of your life without getting a smack around the ears from the other half!!! Oh yeah, and I'm a sucker for a Saffa accent...

Alex, sounds good. I'm in. Dan

I am the same. I don't NEED to wear them, but usually I do. It's a confidence thing. But also I find that it takes the strain off my legs generally, so leaves more fuel in the tank for longer/harder riding. If you are coming to SES, one of my mates is planning to come along and he actually designed and produces a pretty amazing brace. I'll introduce you and he might even have a couple you can trial. This is a photo off their website cos I don't have mine to hand so I can take a pic for you.

Paul, you are an evil man! It's not fair to tempt me like that in the midst of a credit crunch.

this year we are arriving late (unfortunately) and our first day will be Tuesday. For anyone else arriving late, Schedule 1 at least gives us a chance to ride all four mountains as part of the session, plus Tuesday as a "pick and choose" day.

Or even worse, the great deals come out after you already have a (much) more expensive ticket booked.

Jim, I'm not arriving until Monday afternoon, so I won't be using at least one day of my ticket. I'll probably ride Tuesday to Friday, plus Saturday morning. If you want the rest of it, you are welcome to it. Send me an email or facebook message to work something out.

Oh god, I didn't tell you. We never ended up going! There was an explosion in the tunnell and they postponed all non essential travel. So we tried to delay our trip into November, but by the time they eventually came back to us they only gave us 10 days notice before we could go and we were expected to reorganise our own accom. Massive saga! So we just cancelled the trip and went to New York at the start of Dec instead. We will get to Paris eventually.

Europe is amazing. I just spent a week in Italy in the Dolomites and it was fantastic.

Ken's experience is exactly like mine. I learned tons, and I still learn tons each year I go back. BUt the best thing about SES is that there are always awesome carvers who are prepared to take a few runs with the newbies and offer advice. As for fellow beginners, my wife Vanessa will be there. She did a couple of days at last year's session and enjoyed herself. This year she will be up for riding with any fellow beginners, so you will have at least one playmate.

Noah that is awesome news. Commiser...I mean Congratulations! Happy to give you all the advice you might need - just be aware that regardless of what you want, either 1) your wife to be, 2) her parents or 3) your parents won't be satisfied with what you have in mind. Step 1: set a budget, based on what you want to do and the number of people you want Step 2: double it Step 3: try and avoid arguements, which only result in blowing the budget out further Step 4: give in - the first of many times for the remainder of your life together you will have to give in (get used to it) Step 5: screw the money and have an awesome time on the day - as my younger brother suggested, you can focus on budgeting the second time around! Step 6: spend the next 12 months paying off the multiple credit cards you had issued to cover the cost, which was ultimately about 4 times what you originally thought a wedding would cost (and about 8 times what any sane man thinks a wedding SHOULD cost) Oh yeah, a serious tip though. Go for long tables rather than round ones. Doing a seating plan is tons easier that way.

The one on the far right is a bit of a weird shaped board. Short, stubby, wide waist, massive split tail and a very odd looking top sheet.... http://www.hardbooter.com/v/vspfiles/photos/2009_Prior-14.jpg

I will be near Frankfurt in the second week of Jan if that is any help. Otherwise send a message to Frank at Virus. He's in Germany.

Great news Fe! Can't wait to crank some turns with you in Feb.