JJFluff

Sounds good everyone. When you say Christmas Eve, I'm guessing you mean during the day? I can probably come during the day, and ride till around 1:30 or so. Would that be worth it? I could probably get out one other day too. I think I drove by buck hill once, is it right on 35? Like you can see it off the freeway. If so it is very similar to my hill Sunburst. rhaskins- I may just have to take you up on that. If not on christmas eve, maybe one of the other day's. I'll keep you posted. Trent- I know I remember talking to guys from the twin cities, but it's pretty hazy. Did we ride up together before first tracks? What a great time that was. It's killing me that I can't afford to get there this year, but hopefully next season.

Ride,

never summer, lib tech, nitro, nidecker

Calling all Minneapolis area riders. How is everyone doing. I'm spending the Christmas holiday at the in-laws this year. They live in Plymouth, so I thought I would see if anyone would be up for some riding. I will be there the 23rd through the weekend , probably leaving on the 28th. I'm up for suggestions, I'm not sure where all the hills are located. I've been to the afton alps, but that is it. So let me know if anyone is going to be out and I would love to catch up with you and take a few runs.

Joyride

Gnu, Barfoot,

I am a trainer for the snowboard school at my local hill. We have a about 30 instructors, most of who are between 15 to 17 years of age. Many of them love to ride rediculously wide stances. It's all about the park and jibbing. They must see some of the pros riding this way, (I say riding losely, as most of the pros can't ride either). Anyways, we've told two of our instructors either they narrow the stance down for teaching or they can find a new job. The stances in some instances are so wide it is effecting the ability to demo even some of the easiest movements.

I ride at just over 17 inches wide and I'm 6 feet tall, just over 180lbs. Angles around 60 degrees front and back. Soft boot rides at 19 inches wide, 3, -3 for angles. It rips. The key is to have a stance that allows the body to be put in the proper position to comfortably weight an edge when and where it needs to be. Glad you found yours.

I've been riding soft stuff all season long, and enjoying it a ton. Working a lot on becoming comfortable riding switch to the point where I can't tell which direction I'm traveling. It's been a great season so far. Then,,,, I through on the alpine gear tonight for the first time and remembered why I love it so much. There is no comparison between the two. Take if from me. I feel that when it comes to carving in soft gear I can do it with the best out there, but when you have on the hard stuff the difference is night and day. So, my opinion, hang onto the hard gear and give it some time, because you can't get that "feeling" in the soft boots. Variety is a great thing.

Yeah sure, I'll ride it. Does it come with a manual? Ahhh, who reads directions. I'll just do it like I've always done it. Carve left, carve right, repeat.

You kids and your intec heels.

Actually a great way to slow yourself is with the butt on heelsides. Helps to hide the skid. When you go down on the heelside let the edge disengage and slide on you back side a bit, slow down and re-set the edge. The key is to keep your bodies momentum moving in the direction of the turn. Nobody will ever know.

What is the "rocker" suppose to do for a rider exactly? What is the idea behind the design? I find over time, as boards lose there camber, which mine do a lot because I ride older boards, I am making up for it by driving harder and weighting more at the end of each turn. This rocker idea would make me think you would have to work even harder to get the board through the turn. It would feel completely dead.

First of all, it is not the new gear. With proper riding technique any board or set up should ride the same way with small adjustments. Too many people on this forum try to fix things with gear and setup. Focus on riding and body. It's like any athletic movement. Weighting on an edge should be fluid. Moving throughout the turn as needed. Keep riding and trying different things. I feel when riding, that weighting starts from the ground up, while turn initiating starts from the top down. That means that the upper body needs to be one step ahead, letting the body know when it is time to think about transfer. On the other hand, the rider should accelerate the turn by driving the board forward. This causes the weighting of the edge to start forward, and end behind the trailing foot. It is this acceleration that helps to initiate the following turn. The key to all of these movements is to be able to set both board and body down in the beginning of each turn to properly complete all of the above. Of course all are more difficult when you are trying to drive the rear knee down, "or backwards away from the movement" from the rest of your momentum which is traveling forward through the turn.

Once the board is truly tamed, it won't tell you what to do. You'll tell it what to do.

Looks like you got it down. Seperate the knees, I've heard thats the way to go.

This editor has know idea what he is talking about. I train/teach out at a local hill here in Wisconsin. We have around 50+ highschool age students teaching at the hill where I train. They all love to check out the hardboot setup and have questions everytime it's on the snow. I split time between soft and hard setups and know that many of them would love to try it out. We dedicate a lot of time each winter trying to show them what it really means to get up on an edge, and when they feel it, they love it.

I rode in walk mode for two years before realizing it. Then switched to riding mode. I was able to make the transition on snow, but I always fall down the stairs now.

Dan, the world thanks you for all of your efforts.

On a yearly basis, on average, do you spend more money on gear or on the act of riding itself. Getting to the destination to ride would be included in the riding portion.

I can't, I had them fused together over the summer. Now I am going to really rip this winter!

I believe..... That turns start at the core, although the upper body does have much to do with initiating, maintaining, and finishing a turn. But, when done correctly the rotation is not very noticable or detectable. Starting from the ankle up is like saying the car turns without first turning the steering wheel. At the same time, you don't want any "play" in your steering wheel either. Meaning, when the upper body moves, the core moves with it, allowing the legs to be put in a powerful, balanced, and athletic position. The upper body needs to be put in the right position so that when the effective edge is engaged the lower body can be positioned correctly to hold the edge.

I'm excited for the election, hopefully the "right" guy wins and all my hard earned money won't be redistributed to the lazy guy down the street. Then I can afford to take my hard earned income or "wealth" as some call it and spend it on a plane ticket to the SES. Thus, stimulating the economy.

Believe it or not, you can get through a season, or two or three with one board. Yes. One.