No.2

Hey Nigel. Nice to see you guys again at Mt Ruapehu. Carve a few lines from me and maybe see if asdfzxcv that Allee mentions is keen to come back for 09. Also check out http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?t=21482 seems there are a few Japanese and Canadian racers at Mt Hutt. Clean Lines Jas.

Just done a whole lot of reading on boot fit thanks to http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?p=203860#post203860 So to recap on what I've read here.... UPZ RTRs and Head Stratus Pros are wide in the toe box and high in the instep in comparision with Deeluxes. With the UPZs slightly higher and wider while the Heads have more room for big ankles and calves. All UPZs, Deeluxes and Heads all use thermally stable, light weight platics in the shells these days and they all have good enough buckles. If you are going to buy UPZs make sure you T-nut the toe plates. If you are keen on EC then there are good mods around for the Deeluxes and Heads. Asym constructed Deeluxes will crush a high instep if you try to down size and punch out. Definatly go Foams if you can afford it or at least Thermo warps if you want to stay warm as well. How've I done? Am I on the right track? I've got heavliy punched, mondo 26, Raichle SB 325s at the moment. My foot length is 270mm with high arches and insteps, EEE wide toes and slim - med ankels and calves. I'm tending towards blowing out some 26 mondo, RTR UPZs at the moment with T-nuts, intecs and Foams or Thermos (I've got a good boot fitter and work shop). Any thoughts or comments? Thanks in advance.

Ok so here is what I've done. I drilled the crack. (Interesting point about bigger is better there) Then I took it to an air welder and he chickened out when I showed him this thread. :) So I "welded" it my self with a soldering iron useing slivers of the cuff that I cut off whilest modifying my cant mechanism. Then I got a piece of TPU, shaped and ground it to form a patch and then used 3M 5200 flexable adheasive to glue the patch over the top (Taping it on around the boot). Watch out for the glue in the tape. It can delay the setting of the 5200 as it is water cured. I realise that this is going to happen some where else. And am now looking for some new boots. http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?p=203862#post203862 I managed to shove my wide and high arched size 11US feet into a mondo 26 so as you can imagine the boots have seen a few heat cycles. Thanks again for all your help. Jason.

Very interesting tread. This d30 material looks interesting. I wonder if it is as non Newtonian as it claims? This is what I'd be into; Bottoms; The CW-X stabilising compression pants with Auto Sensor fabric d3o pads sewn in. http://www.cw-x.com/ss/products/mens/m_insulated Top; The Adidas powerweb golf compression top made out of the CW-X Auto Sensor fabric (Next years CW-X tops will have a similar stabilising web as these Adidas tops) again with d30 pads sewn in. http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3164667 That way you have compression for added veinus return, (Less burn) Stabilising webs for muscle vibration protection. (Greater endurance and control at max output) The webs also help posture when out there on the edge of control. The intelligent nano tech modified fabrics that control body temperature at different exertion levels and have anti bacterial silver in them. Plus a non Newtonian padding system that allows complete range of motion but freezes and distributes load on impact! Just what I've been looking for. :) At the moment I'm wearing the rather bulky UFO Scorpion https://www.adventure-spec.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=104 and 661 pants. Quite a bit of hassle but hilarious the last time I got bowled buy an out of control skier straight lining the race track. He didn't know what hit him. (he hit) ;) Actualy make mine a one peice, wind and water proof and I'll take two in BOTH colours, fluro yellow and pink with "Hardbooters are Homospaiens" on the but.

Is there such a thing? Do I have to be a US or Canadian resident? (I'm in New Zealand) This is so that I can do online payments with out useing a credit card. Good for buying carving goodies :) and buying US or Canadian currency to use in the future. Are there any banks that allow you to pay accross the border (US and Canada) with out huge fees? Thanks for any thoughts. Jason.

Thanks guys. Ill try to get some photos up. Who do I talk to to find out which plastic my Red Raichle SB325 are made of? Can I just use a sliver of another boot that feels the same?

Week ends at Mt Ruapehu are painfully packed, talking up to 30min ques for the lifts. Accomadation you can usually wing if you're not fussy, love your attitude by the way. :) Sounds like you're going to have a great tour. Let me know if you end up doing a 1 or two day, mid week, Mt Ruapehu mission with the relies. I'll be there. Allee you're on fire! Thats such good advice re. Aussie deals. Jas.

Hi all. One of my my SB 325s is starting to split over the toe underneith the tounge. It's about one inch long and hasn't gone into the thicker side wall of the boot yet. Has any one experimented with plastic welding, as with Motorcycle fairings on, Hard boots? Any thoughts would be greatly appriciated.

Hi asdfzxcv. You are being really well looked after here. Nice work every one. :) I'm in Ohakune at the moment. It's in the middle of the north Island at the base of Mt Ruapehu http://mtruapehu.co.nz/ There are two big (for NZ) fields here about 40min drive from each other. Whakapapa and Turoa. I personally prefer Whakapapa for its carving terrain but Turoa is much closer to Ohakune which is a lot more social than Whakapapa village which is closer to Whakapapa. Currently we have over a 3M base. The best I've ever seen it. Apparently it hasn't been this good since the mountain last erupted back in 1995. The grooming is getting better every year thanks to some brave hard working Canadian Cat jockeys. The weather systems are very tight this year so you'll need to pick your days. It will get better from here on in. Forget weekends BTW you shouldn't have any accommodation issues mid week. If you end up this way (North Island) flick us an email cattz at orcon dot net dot nz and I'll come find you for a couple of days mid week. However for the time frame you've got I'd just stay in Wanaka for a week. I second Cadrona and Mt Hutt for carving destinations. Nice to see you are still around Allee. May be we could have an NZES in 09! ;) Clean runs. Jason

Nice thread Pow. I just ride with 0 Cant for a while and then cant towards the pain/pressure on the side of my shins till it's comfy while riding.

Hi Bob. Thanks for the up date. I'm sorry to hear about your dad. Cancer can be such a scary and terribly uncertain thing. So many costs on so many levels. :( I hope you can find some space to look after your self as well. Some times it is easier to stay busy isn't it. I'll be thinking of you. It looks like there are a few that might be willing to help you out with this if you can find the energy and they are able. ?? It would be lovely to see even some previews of the fruits of all your labour. :) Take care good sir. Jason.

There's a guy i know that runs just about 90 on the front and on the back runs 55 with heaps of toe lift!? He gets around rideing it like a surf board. Works for him in powder but that only happens 4 times a year down here so...

I know that is a lot of TLAs. Does any one know when this is realistically going to be available. From what I've read 05 and 06 are going to be rolled into one, is this correct? Would be great for us kiwis to have a quiz at how we are surposed to do it.. Carving that is.

I'm keen to get all the SES DVDS and Unplug the Toaster. + Anything else stirs the blood. I cant afford to buy them all new.

Thanks Jim. Did you notice this at all. Was the metal easier to feather and release from a carve than the WCR?

Good thread paappraiser. I was looking for the same thing my self. Any one got the maple leaf top sheet?

I've got an 168 06 Silberpfeil and weigh 15 -20 more than you. I definately wouldn't say they were too stiff at all. I find it a bit soft esp. in the nose and a bit too damp for me but then I like 12 month old puppy type boards. Theres nothing really spectacular about these boards. They hold an edge well esp. the tail, they'll release easyly may be too easyly, they don't really need any special type of rideing style though they do seem to go beter with a touch of set back (right on the recomended stance). A really good all rounder but just not snappy enough from edge to edge for me. It is, however, quite a bit more freindly through the park and over a BX course, even with a .5 base bevel, than my Oxy SX BX board.

Hey Jim. I hadn't really thought much about Priors. I see the WCR have the least tapper of all their alpine orintated boards (2mm) and the metals have the most (5mm). Have you riden the metal boards much? Do they carve telepathically like the Coilers. I notice they both have 195 waists, are the metals more aimed at a PGS style turn?

Hi groovastic. Have you got your Impact yet? I noticed you said that the Pogo didn't hang on quite as well as your RC, is that true. Also I hear the Alp Pogos have a very short nose. I find boards with short noses tend to fire snow (if it is at all soft) at my hands or face if I'm low enough. Maybe I'm just not going fast enough. Pogo is an interesting option. One of the guys from down at our hill bought a 210 tyring to break the world speed record. www.speedboarding.co.nz but they put the edges in slightly crooked which made things rather interesting at speed. Where do I find specs on these boards? Have you riden a Kessler or Holzinger? The only guys I've seen rideing a Kessler are the Hardbooter.com guys.

Thanks bobdea. I was in France last year. And they have a certain je ne sais quoi don't they. Did you now! I used to be sponsored by them when I was sailing the Tornado. What a small world. Well as we all know NZ is a small world. You're on the money there Kip, the straps are mainly to stop you falling off as they throw them selves all over the ocean. Skiffies are just psychos. I wonder do first time SES virgins get initiated with KKK out fits, bear body slides, swinging through lobby rafters and clothes tearing nakedness? Hmm I wonder if I just reviled too much there. I'm very much looking forward to meating you 'guys' some time. Now I need to talk to the lads and ladess not to mention work. Or should I just quit, catch the plane and become an instructor? 'Some ones givin' me fever'

OK Boris especially for you. :) One of my fav boats of all time. That's me on the pointy end. Thats our 3rd out of 4 smallest rig. For the non sailors those things are kind of like 2 people trying to sail a windsurfer with 3 sails ie kaso. They get some good air at times as well. Some call it sailing while others call it swimming. Gota laugh. Any way thats rather OTT.

Hey thanks every one. I've had a good look at the at the spots you've mentioned. I'm really liking the Banff area. Lots of vertical and Sunshine looks awesome. You'll have to show me that one Allee. :) The Quebec side of things looks like the north of Mont Sainte Anne and the South of Tremblant. But I probably should stay away from there for now. ;) Cypress looks cute. Lots of snow and cheep! Whats the grooming like there. Definitely worth a day trip eh. Scapegoat funny you mentioned Apex. I have an Apex sticker on my Rubbish bin stuck there by a guy called Jackson that stayed with us, he's a groomer there. He was also pretty much solely responsible for the best grooming on Turoa we've ever had. WELL.. To tell the truth Rob I've only been into this snow thing for about 4 years and I have got to say that I am sooo grateful to all the people that have helped keep this particular bit of the snow scene alive. I am completely in love with carving. If soft boots were all there was I simply wouldn't be on the snow at all. Of all the things I've done in my life including being very silly with motorbikes and racing some of craziest boats ever invented including 100ft super maxis, Tornadoes and Americas Cup boats. I have never found any thing that feels so good when it comes to geather. :o (Oh OK one other thing!) The guys I ride with like to go off trail but to me thats such a sad waste of good groom. Jackson did used to talk about steep and deep pow like a possessed crack addict. I've yet to be converted and I hope for a little while yet that maybe I wont. Call me sheltered but I just LOVE carving. Duke IIRC has been working at AKS in Whistler for a while and is currently touring around our South Island. Thankfully he'll be back next year. He did l some lovely Chevron structures for us. So Vancouver -> Cypress -> may be interior then Banff and stay for a while. Possible Red and possibly a trip to see Bruce. Looks like if could be a good plan A. Thank you so much for all your suggestions. It'll be interesting to see which areas get hit the most this season. We've just had a great season here. I think Turoa had its most skiiable days in history. I hope you guys have a good one too. Thanks again every one. Jas.

Auckland New Zealand... Just slightly north of the Antartic and actually a very long way from Australia! I spend most of my time riding on a wild and windy ice corvered active volcano that is all old lava flows and not a tree in sight.

That is a really good heads up into the world of Coilers, Madds and Doneks even. I really want to ride them all now. So how to find a Donek FC 175, a Madd 158 and a bunch Coiler FC and RC demo rigs all in the one place??? I've got to get up your way some day. Thanks again guys. BTW Mike T the concept of a long skinny AM flex and shaped board is something I never would have considered. The AMs run a bit of taper too don't they and usually have less torsional stiffness while haveing more in the front and tail and less in the middle right? Sounds like quite a unique ride. Tell me were do you think a board like that would excel over say a similar sized WWC RC.

Holly Sh*t you guys are awesome. :) Banff sounds nice. The only tech I've ever fully trusted with my gear in NZ was a Canadian called Duke who was from there and if Rob Stevens is around there what better place to do a lesson / instructors course. Quebec eh... I hadn't even thought of that... I have an old flame there.. hmmm could go bad! Allee you caught the bug eh. Love your itinerary are you a travel agent? ;) I'll have to show this thread to the other kiwi carvers. One guys thinking of Japan but.. well there aren't many nice Canadians there EH?! There's a small resort just out of Toronto where a guy called Gord Manuel and some CRAZY Canuckstanies that I met over here ride that I'd like to visit and then there's the Coiler factory... This is doing bad things for my resting heart rate. Hey do you Canadians ever do your own SES? Maybe a yyzcanuck, Dan Yoja and coiler sponsored one how abooout it eh?