Hagen

I'm talking about this coming week (i.e. starting Nov. 7th). Hagen.

Pixelworks, we recently got bough by them (was Equator before). ...we might be doing similar stuff. Hagen.

Thanks for all the info. It would be nice to meet you guys and I'm already talking with Henry about getting together. We could meet on Wednesday or Thursday. Skateboarding would be nice... But I'm afraid I would hurt myself. ...got my first skate board on my 30st birthday, tried it out after a few drinks and hurt my knee - doh... ...and I'm sorry for hijacking this thread. Hagen.

I also own both - full face (RED) and regular (giro with the build in speakers). I mostly wear the giro - not only because I like to listen to tunes while riding but also because it's more comfortable. The RED helmet I mainly bought for racing - i.e. boarder cross. But then I didn't really get to ride too many USASA boarder crosses, so it's collecting dust... And when I ride it I usually get annoyed by it - try to blow you nose with a full face helmet... Hagen.

Henry, I'll be staying in Markham. The hotel is close to the highway 404/407 intersection. Looking at google maps - doesn't seem like a very exciting area. But I'll have a rental car - so I could go to the more interesting places. And yes, I usually enjoy the going out to interesting place to eat and people watching. So any suggestions are welcome... ...talking about suggestions - what are the good beers up there? Hagen.

...makes me almost think about bringing a board when I have to go to Toronto next week. Anyway, since it'll be my first time over there (and I'll be there for the whole week), is there anything I should plan to see/do in Toronto while I'm there? ...unfortunately I'll have to work during the day, but should have some time in the afternoons... Hagen.

...as a German I would really recommend that you shouldn't raise the speed limit here in the states. And I have a few reasons for that: - at least half of the cars here couldn't legally be driven in Germany - most of the freeways are not save to be driven on at high speed - on/off ramps are way to short - getting a drivers license here is a joke And yes, I wish it was legal to drive faster - could probably cut the time it takes me to drive to Tahoe in half... But unless they introduce annual (or at least semi-annual) technical inspections for cars, they improve the freeways and make it harder to get a drivers license, it's not save to increase the speed limit. You have to remember that everyone will be allowed to drive fast... Hagen.

I got a few little toys on my wishlist: - motorolla bluetooth headset - Palm TX - Logitech force feedback racing wheel - and if Nikon should really come out with it - a 18-200mm VR lense for my D70

I also found a good one in my archives:

Check out the usasa. They list all the local race series including the schedule for the upcoming season.

Don't have my own dogs (yet). But I get to play with the inlaws malamutes quite a bit. ...those dogs think they are tough, don't need now shoes. But every so often the get to pull us or carry little packs.

You don't really need different boards. From my experience racing at the two tahoe series the slaloms are set on the wide side (more like a tight GS). So if you should only use one board, go for a GS board. Scorpio, you can use the Axis for the GS. If you're not sure, just bring both boards to the first GS and use a different board on each run... Hagen.

I also like the spiked one - great for getting the snow off the boots. But I must say, that I also like those aluminum ones that Allee doesn't like - they actually work pretty well.

You are forgetting all the smaller cars that they build over there and that don't make it over here. Also most European cars that they sell here are only sold with the bigger/biggest engines... Here are a few examples of cars that you can't buy here - Audi A2, BMW 1 series, Mercedes A-class, VW Polo and Lupo. Diesel engines also became quite popular in Europe - because of the better gas mileage. In Germany over half of all new cars sold have diesel engines... ...but here you can only get a few. In California they don't even sell the VW TDI models... :( ...and I would think that people who buy the brands that you mentioned really care about the high gas prices. Chances are that they make some extra money becaus of the higher gas prices.

Was last weekend up at Tahoe - feels like winter is close... :D ...temperatures dropped below 30 at night.

Would love to go... ...but not sure if I can make it, depends on whether my wife will be able to deal with the two little ones on her own.

...rain good! But I must say that I wasn't to thrilled last year when we got some early snow in September at Tahoe. It was one week before our outdoor wedding! ...not the kind of white wedding my wife was talking about. But may be we'll get some white stuff this weekend at Tahoe - forecast for Sunday is thundersorms again!

I would also leave that to the pros. One thing you might want to check is if there are shops in your area that sell package deals. There is at least on place at Tahoe where you can prepay for services in the off season for half the price. I think (Randy correct me if I'm wrong) they offer $200 perpaid service for $100... ...good deal if you are planning to get a lot done over the season. But then there is also only one place at Tahoe that I know off that does it. Hagen.

I met Joel a couple times - unfortunately not on the slopes, only after the crash. He is pretty much just trying to get his medical bills payed. B.t.w. he is in the hospital again because of complications and I'm not sure if it's guaranteed by now that he'll keep his leg... ...I'm also not too happy about the fact that BOL got dragged into this. But it sounds like they had to so that he could get to F2... I hope that everything works out - for Joel and BOL. Hagen.

...but on the bright side they might not remember that he was supposed to call them back.

$1700?! ...for basically 3 ridable but (from what he says) heavily used boards? That's almost as bad as real estate prices here in CA...

interesting that that post brought you up to 911 posts... ...I'll try to make it to PA for lunch some time this week. Also talked with Joel today - sounds like he'll be at the Good Sam for a couple more days... I gave him your number at the hospital. Hagen.

Sorry to hear that, Dan. ...I'll try to make it to one or two races late in the season - see you in the finish area, I guess. And you can't even drive the Z? ...not good! May be this will cheer you up a little bit: Hit the Penguin Hagen.

If I had to buy a car today I would probably go for an Outback. But I had to make the decision almost 2 years back - before Subaru came out with the current Legacy/Outback. Didn't like the styling of the Outback too much back the. But I was looking at the WRX - almost got one until I drove in my friends WRX. ...it's a little small for a family car, but fun to drive. I bought a VW Passat station wagon with AWD - reasonably fun to drive and lots of space. The only problem that I have with it is ground clearance - had to stop once or twice on a dirt road to get some rocks out of the way... And I also got stuck once in the snow, was on a dirt road though... ..but that is a reason for me to go with a car that has more ground clearance next time - i.e. the Outback. Or if I had the money - I would probably get the Audi Allroad... :D Hagen.

...you're right, not cheap. But also not more expensive than snowboarding for a weekend. ...and it can be a lot of fun like snowboarding.