BlueB

more

more

Nice history of Burton development. Not all alpine, but still nice. There's visible shift towards freestyle from 1990 :( Boris credit for pictures: "© Kari Egan" http://snowboarding.about.com/od/photogallery

Hello Mellowjonny, the fellow sailor! Let's not start the Laser vs. Finn discussion here - others are going to be bored to death :) (info for non-sailors: this is an always hot issue for single-handed dinghy sailors, somewhat like soft vs. hard boots discussions). All I can tell you is that I have sailed both classes, but with more success in the one for "animals". Most of the top Finn guys hike straightlegged these days. Yes there's still Waves regatta - I hope that I'll be sailing it this year (in Laser). To get the info check www.bcsailing.bc.ca from time to time. Boris

My Limited (softy) has about 40 days. It has seen some rough times (a rock or two, and riding with plates). It didn't loose the camber at all, I think. Some light rust showing on the edges. Hooger still has long long life ahead of it, hopefully :) Now talking about destroying skis (more experience :) in that), I went trough quite a few pairs, mostly Elan. One pair, that I particularly liked, I used for over 200 days until they delaminated close to the tips. I really abused them, but they did not loose much of the camber. On them I even came 3rd in a GS race, towards the end of their life. On another pair I pulled the binding screws out (cranked up bindings). Head skis appear to be tough as well. Rossi is weak, Salomon too. Some Salomons I borrowed from rental shop recently, for teaching (rocky day), did not have any camber whatsoever left... But Rossi and Salomon tend to use foam cores. Boris

Hi Dave! Good learning about more people on plates in the region. I'll give you a shout when going to Whistler next. Drop me an email. 4 days a week on the hill? You must be working for the resort? Nice. Boris

Aha! That was you otbiding me for these :) I also wanted the bindings... Got a pair of Emery Quatro already - I find them value for that kind of money. Enjoy them. Boris

Like Scotty, I also ride Burton Drivers when on soft setup. Really stiff. As the board goes, some BX board will probably look similar enough to "normal" setup and will carve much better. Add 3 strap bindings if you can find them (I have no experience with Flow, but they look good). Boris P.S. Regarding the "stupid" comment, to me it is nothing personal, and kudos to those enlightened individuals who discovered the EDGES of their boards. Stupid is not realizing the potential of the board (every board can carve) and just skidding around, just as well as the disappearance of alpine in despite of comfort and performance it offers. With 70% of the crowd just cruising the mountains, alpine would be logical choice.

Good thinking getting your own board. Rental stuff takes lots of beating and often does not have any camber left in it. I also started carving on soft gear - not an expert, but here's few tips from my experience. Try your new angles, but it could prove to be too much for softies. If your bindings didn't have 3rd strap, you would probably find that the hightback is not doing its job properly at 45 angle. You also do not want to move your feet too far from the edge - loss of leverage. Whatever gives you 0 overhang is about right. 35/25 worked for me. Increase lean angle on the highbacks, especially on the rear one. Crank the straps until your feet are starting to go num while riding, and release/relax while on lift. Use stiffest "soft" boots you can find. Pulling the laces really tight also helps. Some manufacturers have the soft plastic inserts that can be added in the cuff (front is more important). Step 2 would be to rent the alpine gear for a try. Alternatively, buy some cheap used plate bindings and hardboots and put them on your board. I personally use the ski boots, as I like jumping from skis to board and back and do not mind extra stiffness. Enjoy carving and give us the story of how it went. Boris

Hey Broz! This is getting interesting! Maybe, after all, there are few people riding plates around Vancouver. I am normally at Cypress - I teach kids ski camp there. Closed there, I'll do few more runs at Grouse this year if the snow is to remain. Drop me an email at [ boris at netsplash dot ca ], maybe we can arrange to ride together sometimes? Boris PS I would really like to look at your custom snowboards - had couple of ideas myself lately...

Another chance for Bryan to see this tread...

Bryan, if you are reading this: Welcome to the DARK SIDE of snowboarding, and to our carving brotherhood! You'll find friendly people and plenty of advice and information here. Give us your story of the first day on alpine gear, please. _ While testing the Hooger Booger last night at the Grouse Mountain, I saw another hardbooter from the chair lift. Alpine boards are rare enough around Vancouver, but this guy was using the ski poles!?! I rushed like a mad man down the slope to catch up with the guy, and caught him as he was about to sit on the chairlift. To cut the long story short, Bryan was on the alpine for the first time, and being skier for 35 years he thought that "training wheels" would serve him well on the first day. No wonder, considering that he was on a borrowed Lacroix 165 board (I don't think it was Skwal) with extremely narrow waist (looked like less than 18cm), lots of sc too, and very steep binding angles. I convinced him quickly that he'll progress quicker without poles. He tried "soft" gear before, and did not like it, mostly because of shallow angles. Told him about our site as well. We were both delighted meeting someone else interested in carving, and probably will ride together again. Boris

We finally received some snow around Vancouver, and Grouse Mountain reopened (limited runs). So this old Hooger finally had its first run, after all these years collecting dust on the shop shelves. Here's the comments and some comparing to my old Limited (all-round "soft" board, but ridden with plates). First, the stance: I just transferred the bindings from Ltd with cant/lift as used before. The shallowest angles I could set without apparent overhang (ski boots) were 57/57 (compared to 45/39 on Ltd). Later I changed it to 60/57 and it was a bit better. I used 44cm centre to centre, like before. There's only another 2.5cm left to extend the stance, on the rear foot, as the insert layout is a bit shorter and further back than on modern boards. I still have to play with this to see what really works for me on this board. Some pain on the rear ancle, and blister on rear heel. Maybe due to the fact that I rode without my nice footbeds (left them in other ski boots, stupid). Or I need more cant on the rear foot? Conditions: Green run with some steeper portions, relatively narrow. Spring conditions - not really slush, but hard pack beginning to melt at first, later on with patches of mash and soiled snow (aaarrrgh), with small bumps beginning to form, starting to freeze in the evening. No real ice. The ride: Immediately noticed, even without the right wax (just a thin coat of old wax, as it came out of the shop) this board is faster than Ltd. Also stiffer, but not much. Nicer edge hold and easier to get it higher on the edge. I really enjoyed steeper binding angles - it encouraged me to get really low (stance) and without "sitting" on the heel turns. Also much easier to get shoulders square to the direction of the board. It was a bit more difficult to initiate the toe turn, but a bit of concentration sorted it out. Much hookier than Ltd! 2 or 3 times it railed me of to the side of the trail, more often on the heel side. I hardly noticed any unwanted slip, but again - no ice to try it. Toe side turns felt really nice, at one moment while carving uphill I had feeling that I could do a 360 turn with a bit of speed. Hill side turns felt infinitely better than on Ltd, with steep angles preventing "sitting". Also on heel carves I had some nose chatter, as opposed to the tail chatter usually experienced with Ltd. Pressing the tip more helped, and changing the front angle to 60, as well. I did not experience the overpowering of the tip, but again, I didn't really force it - I rode it pretty much "centred". 11.5m radius was making me nervous before I rode it (switch from 9m scr on Ltd), but it turned out just right! Good at long/medium turns (still to be tried on steeper runs) and can be pushed into short slalom turns, especially with cross-under. It handled small moguls easily. The base: It was cruel from me to take this old lady for her first run ever, on the slope with only thin snow cover and few small rocks showing, but I could not resist the very first chance to try it out. As the result, I concluded that the base is a bit softer than on Ltd (that one is very resistant to scratches, I must say). In general: Very happy with this purchase! I'm sure this would be a very good learning board. The way it handled the mixed stuff today, and with its pointy longer tip, upturned tail and moderate waist, it will make good all-mountain board. Specs, for those who didn't read my previous post: L: 167 cm CL: 143 cm SCR: ~ 11.5m Tip: 25.5 cm Waist: 20.8 cm Tail: 25 cm All comments regarding few issues I mentioned are welcome. Especially from those who have ridden this board in the past, if any. Boris

Good to hear from guys knowing about Finns! Not the most popular boat really. Giorgio, I am no giant by any means - I am 181cm tall and at the time of the Gold Cup 2002 I was about 92kg. I was probably the smallest adult competitor at that regatta (and smaller than many juniors btw :O ), and did not do too great. I lost weight to 76kg while sailing 30' keel boat from South Africa to Vancouver, and since recovered to only 82kg... Not enough to be competitive on high level. Kipstar, Regards to you and to your dad! Give it a go on a Finn if you do get a chance - great boat. You'll struggle upwind in heavy stuff, but you'll fly off-wind! Modern carbon winged masts can be custom made or adjusted for lighter guys. Bricks not allowed :) Up till few years ago the weight jackets were allowed, and guys could hike out straight legged/backed (not like me on the pic - tired at the end of a windy regatta) wearing them. Laser looks simple and stupid but it has hidden qualities: the only true one design, easy to transport and maintain, and you'll find good fleet wherever you go. Very physical too, like any singlehander without trapeze. Link you sent me looks great, thanks. I sailed windsurfer as kid (in the days before winged sails and even before the Hawaiian trapeze) and did not have a blast like with dinghies. I like tactical classes. Mind you, the nowadays windsurfers can carve! :) I still might give it a go - lots of them in Vancouver. Boris

I used to race skis a bit (college level and amateur level later on). My main thing was sailing dinghies. Was a member of South African National Team - Finn Olympic Singlehander. Sailed in Gold Cup 2002 (World Championships) in Athens, Greece. No Finns in Vancouver - I think I'll start sailing Lasers from this spring, like in my younger years... Sailing a dinghy is not as fast as windsurfer, but it is very technical/tactical. Also extremely physically demanding (good quads really help :) Boris

I am no expert on alpine board, but I did quite a bit of carving on allround board. First with strap bindings/soft boots, angles 35/25, and now with plates and ski boots (I like jumping from skis to board and back during the day), angles 45/39. Just bought an ancient alpine board - still have to try it. Your stance angles are already very high for soft boots - good effort! Just an idea: try to buy used plate bindings and hard boots or even ski boots and ride your board with that. If you liked it, you could always add an alpine board. BX board also sounds as good idea - you can ride it with soft or hard boots equally well. Boris

Nice Rainbow! Brown Woolly Bugger, especially the beadhead is my favourite fly (besides Addams when I dry-fly). It caught most of my fish, even when I lived in South Africa. Works for Bass too. Moving water is nicer to flyfish, but I do lakes (and sea with less success) too. I do not do tying. This "Flyfishing Carvers" topic deserves a separate tread for summer. Boris

Ok, let's stop this right away - I wasn't trying to star soft vs hard equipment discussion. I just enjoyed finding these pictures and wanted to share them with brothers. Here's the other one. BTW, when I was growing up in Europe, we use to call these button lifts "Girls' Joy Ride" ;) Boris

No, not TD1s, I bought the Emery Quatro from Kurt. At the time I wanted cheep bindings just as an experiment for my Limited. They are ok, just I do not quite like the built in cant - toe/hill lift would work better with the ski boots... Sorted that out with the shims. They have some sort of dumping material under, so probably will not damage the board. Thanks for input Bryan! Boris

It's definitely spring. Less cold, less clothes :)

I ride Limited All-Around 163. Size: 30/25.5/30cm, SCR ~9m. On the stiff side for a "softy". Nice all wood core. Use to carve it on soft bindings, but now with plates. Les pain on the feet. With plates I sometimes overpower the nose on the heel side turn. I am 181cm / 82kg. Boris

Yeah, the stance looks a bit narrow, I forgot to post the numbers in the original post. Here it is: outermost inserts 50cm, innermost inserts 36cm. Funny enough, there are 4 pairs of inserts in the front, and 5 pairs at the back. Another anomaly: the stance angle numbers printed around foot positions show 0 parallel to the longitudinal axis, and 90 perpendicular to the edge. Boris

A lot of outdoor things to do around Vancouver... My picks: Sailing, flyfishing, hiking or just walking with dogs And then, if it gets to tough... Whistler/Blackomb glaciers are open trough summer ;) Boris

Hi everyone! I am a very experienced skier, and was only occasional snowboarder (borrowing from friends on my European trips - always plates and ski boots) up till late 2003, when I moved to Vancouver. Then it was time to get my own gear. Unfortunately, I got convinced by the staff of various shops that no one rides hard boots any more, and that the gear is non existent (not too far from truth as it turned). Luckily, I picked a relatively long (163) and narrow (waist 25) Limited All-around, and some very stiff Burton soft boots. So it turned that I was more or less carving from the day one, applying my ski knowledge - flexing, cross over, cross under, etc. I started with angles 15/5, and gradually shifted to 35/25, and increased the forward lean on the rear high-back. This was before I discovered Bomber site. It is indeed unbelievable watching all the side-slipping crowds around, not realizing the potential of their boards. Why it is like that - it's completely unclear to me... I've been watching this forum for few months now. Even bought some cheap used bindings from one of the members (thanks Kurt), for my Limited, and shifted back to ski boots (angles 45/39). Today I picked up a never used Hooger Booger Grinder from a local consignment shop! It was just collecting dust on the top shelf - still in factory plastic sock! I measured it to: Length 168 cm Contact length ~ 143 cm Tip 25.5 cm Waist 20.8 cm Tail 25.0 cm, and calculated side cut radius to ~ 11.5 m It does not have to stiff flex, and has quite a bit of upturned tail, so I suppose it would make a nice all-mountain carver... Looking forward to try it - but no snow left on Vancouver's north shore mountains, even Whistler is getting slushy :( Does anyone know more about this type of board, like year of manufacture, how it rides, etc? Here's the picture. Thanks, and keep up good work! Boris P.S. Anyone carving in Vancouver area, especially on Cypress Mountain? I would really like to ride with someone on the Dark Side next year :)