utahcarver

Like many of you, I'm over the initial and rudimentary phases of learning how to carve a snowboard and I've moved on to enjoying an eternal intermediate level this season. In addition, I'm now experiencing a breakthrough season using the information gleaned from BOL articles, watching videos of BOL members, laughing at the trash talk and banter amongst us, and my own on-hill experiences. I'm a solid powder rider in soft and hardboots. I'm just now comfortable with carving early-morning groomers and icy conditions (icy for the mountain west). My friend Skully would be impressed with my progression the past few weeks. I'm being chased down by skiers when I ride. They want to find out where they can get set-ups like mine. Sorry, boarders never chase me down. I'm approaching 50, male, 225 lbs. (think: Peter Griffin, Family Guy), and I skateboard parks and vert in the summer. I currently ride a Tanker 200, PureCarve Maverick 175, Burton UP 162, and a Wasatch Mojo 181. As you can see, my quiver is dated. I use TD2's, Raichle 413's (BTS blue springs) and 123's (BTS yellow springs). My soft set-up is the old Rossignol SIS (Emery) system so that I can put my rear boot in on the fly. For the TD2's, I use a toe bail on the front and an Intec on the rear. That's it. I've put time on a Prior ATV 162 at WTC '07 and a Donek Axis at WTC '06. My Tanker is a great board but has it's limits at my home hill. If I could open it up more I'd like the 200 length for a new board. However, the Maverick 175, though dated, is like a whip and snap compared to the Tanker. Both boards sport an 11-something SCR, the Maverick is torsionally stiffer while the Tanker feels less stiffer overall. The Maverick has lost it's camber and I have to hop-jump between turns at times. The point: I'm looking for a board that has: 1: An 11m SCR 2: Between 172 and 190cm in length 3: Very stiff flex pattern (again: Peter Griffin) 4: 24cm or greater waist (keeps the angles low if needed) 5: Budget: $700 USD max Is there a board out there that meets these criteria? Axxess? ATV? The Prior boards feel like they have more dampening and stability while the Doneks feel more lively and have more pop. Is this a custom build? Oh, and no base burn in the p-tex. I'm having a hard time keeping the Tanker waxed on the edges, base burn must go. Thanks, Mark

Good points, Bob. The little restaurant was here in Logan, Utah. Those fees are there for a reason: to protect the public health and to keep the playing field level. However, it is the trend in government to use money from one source for needs in another. Thus, the intended protections are no longer in force. In the case of my brother, the other guy's restaurant was under constant surveillance by the cops for drug distribution. There was little or no oversight by the local health dept. on food handling. They just wanted the money, period. Mark

Thanks, Dr D. Several years ago my brother opened a restaurant which stayed in business for just over a year. His wife got sick and he had to sell. The month before he opened he paid over $5,000 bucks in fees, taxes and permits to the city government. He got nothing in return for the $5,000 dollars but a kick in the pants. The confiscatory fees that the local governments (aka corporations) levy upon business owners serve little or no purpose but to fatten the general budgets of the city fathers who, don't have any problem spending money like a drunk sailor on leave. Mark

John, I was referring specifically to the Jeremy Jones model that Rossignol puts out (2009). And you are correct in stating that Jones designed the Judge(s). Next years (2010) JJ's are rockered and have a very soft flex. I had a phenomenal outing on 1.28.09 riding a Mojo swallowtail with softies and I realized that riding hardboots for several years now had made me a more powerful soft-boot rider. For me, the ultimate powder board 2 days ago was a swallowtail in softies. The week before, it was a Tanker 200 with TD2's and Raichle 123's. I've let go of needing a swallowtail for powder and learned to adapt as a rider to the equipment I have underneath me. I really want to get a Prior Spearhead 178 under my feet. It has the most taper of any of Priors and with a 10m sidecut, I think it could be a monster for my local area and conditions. Mark

Keystone, aka 'headache in a can'. Heileman's Old Style, perhaps the worst beer in Chicago. What the hell is 'krauesening'? Buckhorn. $1.25 for a six-pack tells the whole story. Mark

As far as Pat's recommendation of the Nordica SBH's, I'll second the recommendation. Unless he knows something I don't, good luck finding a pair. I own both the 123's and 413's. 123's have BTS yellow springs and the 413's have the blue springs. The 123's are a very soft flex. I've never experienced shin bang or any discomfort with this 3 buckle boot. I use a Booster strap on the top cuff. The 413's are stiffer but, still soft by comparison to other boots in the Raichle/Deeluxe lineup. I use both boots in powder and on groomers in Western snow conditions. I would think that either pair of these boots would go very well with your Incline. Mark

+1 On Jack's recommendation for the toeside article. It works. Mark

Okay, I read the article by Dan Bogardus on Butts and where they should not be. Let me say that my heelsides have been a mess lately. Tail washing out, nose-chatter, I've kept concentrating on keeping my outside arm down and uphill arm up to level my shoulders (Mark Fawcett feature in Snowboard Life). I also concentrated on pressuring the nose early into the turn and that helped but, it wasn't until I read Bogardus' recommendation that I should pressure my knees toward the snow that I found another clue. Uh, okay, how do I do that? Well, I rode by myself yesterday so that I could focus on doing this. I knew that I had learned something like this on toeside turns at the end of last season. So, I tried to form a C or crescent shape with my body and I relaxed my ankles and pushed my knees toward the snow. Wow, the control flowed into my turns. On the next chair, I decided to put it all together. I linked turn after turn and felt the confidence wash over me. I became aware that my hips (read:butt) were not hanging over the snow anymore but were over the board's edge. It was a moment of discovery that will stay with me for many seasons. Now, I know where my butt should not be. So, thank you to Mr. Bogardus and to Jack (Michaud) for his article that helped me last season to figure out my toeside problem. BTW, the shot of Wescott is sick. I want to do that. Mark

First, yes, people are getting dumber. More importantly, the snowboarding public is getting even more dumber because of their exposure to ads in TWS, new graphics on the same boards year after year at Zumiez and other plastic banana shops. Reverse camber? Really? Ever hear of Winterstick, Sims, or Burton? It used to be called rocker. It worked for a while and went away. Great for deep pow, though. Now, to market to a new crop of uninformed masses, what's old is new. Anyway.... Like Pebu, I use Rossi SIS and have for years. Admittedly, I've met a lot of folks who are turned off by what PSR called years ago, "...a screen door latch" type of engagement. The main reason I use them, aside that I get them for free, is that I got tired of strapping traditionals on deep pow days. I can pop into the baseplate on the fly and away I go. In over 10 years of using them I've never released due to a failure in the binding. The few times I've come out have been a direct result of my own impatience and not clearing the baseplate of snow. I use a boot that has an internal high back and an Emery F5 (external high back) that is the stiffest soft boot I've ever worn. As to Corey's observation about riders having the wrong binding setup, Rossi SIS rentals have a baseplate that 'spins' with the release of a latch/button that allows the shop folks to quickly make a board goofy or regular foot. I can only imagine that besides some of the ski shop techs getting it wrong, there are probably some newbies using these that think they might know more than the guy in the shop. Mark

FSG: Those lines were made by one carver? You? Good on ya! Nice black and white. Your making me think about getting some TD3's now. Fifteen below? Wow, that's colder than my mother-in-laws' smile. Mark

Fin: You've got to use CC's pic for a photo contest! Don't let this opportunity pass us by. Call now, operators are waiting. Mark

Just to echo what KC has stated. Stay slightly on edge if you are trying to maintain stability. Stay centered in your stance (foundation). That Prior WCR 181 you are on should remain very stable at speed with just a little toe or heel pressure as needed. At my local hill, we have 2 runs that have a 'roller-coaster down-up' feed followed by a steep section. In order to make it to the 'up' section riders must carry enough speed to negotiate the 'up' section. Each runs' down-up sections are off-camber and require boarders to edge more heavily to one side. I usually 'feather' my edge pressure in these sections (think: cross-under) to maintain speed and control. When I don't do this, I end up hiking up the 'up' portion of the runs. This doesn't make a fat old graybeard like me look good. Good luck to you. Mark

Chubz, Chubz, Chubz, my man! It ain't braggin' if you can do it. Just sit back in your chair, take a sip of whatever beverage you're happy with, and enjoy one of the simple pleasures of carving in hardboots. It makes my heart glad that you had that happen for you. Especially, under the lift. Just don't forget.... If you fall under the lift and your likely to get all kinds of grief from those same admirers. Your audience is heartless and demanding but, they are in the same 'boat' as it were. If you fall next time, dust yourself off, and ride on with your chin up, shoulders level, weight forward, and ready to kick some as....... Mark Happy New BEEERRRRRR!!!!!

My comment about carving (bordering on) elitism, when read in context, simply infers that the feeling I get from carving a snowboard around the mountain makes me think that carving (a snowboard) is simply the best way to get down the hill. After having experienced this sensation, I'm at a loss as to why other snowboarders would purposefully skid their turns. But, like you stated, it's preference..... Further, I am aware that there is a 'snob' component to what I'm suggesting. But, it's no more than the snobbery I get from skiers, tele-skiers, and park rats. We all poke at each other in jest and good fun but, we each understand that the way we ride or ski is the best way in our own minds and there is a respect we each have for everyone's skills and style. As for someone beating me at my own carving game, heee-heee, that wouldn't take much. I am learning how to carve in softies and I'm getting my butt kicked everyday. If you could help me there I'd be in your debt. I don't want to be one-dimensional and be bored all of the time like the rest of the BOL members. Mark

Okay, you got me. I'll get down off of the high horse, or my soap box, and try and be nice. Really, though, I'm amazed at the number of people who don't have a basic knowledge of snowboard history or ski history. It's not mandatory to know this stuff before you can get a lift pass. But, it's would seem that someone who rides a snowboard might take the time to learn some of the basics and gain an appreciation for the sport. Though I may not care for Burton snowboards marketing prowess, I can surely appreciate that Jake Carpenter was one of the first people who had a vision of riding surf-style on snow. His success speaks to the numbers of people who want that thrill of sliding on snow. Tom Sims and Jake Carpenter were never business partners that I'm aware of. In fact, Sims brought suit against Burton and Craig Kelly for breach of contract when Kelly was lured away from Sims. It was Sims' approach to snowboarding that Burton later adapted to marketing snowboards. Prior to that, Burton was promoting racing and had a lesser influence on freestyle boarding in comparison to Sims. These are generalizations and are not meant to be historically accurate. Personally, I think skiboarding is an accurate portrayal of what hardbooters do. We hardbooters have taken the nuances of snowboarding and fused it with the technical proficiency of skiing and have the best of both worlds. It's that blending of ski technique and snowboarding that makes carving in hardboots an absolute thrill that borders on elitism. I'm just glad that I experienced it before I would have given up snowboarding. Mark

At my local ski area, there is so much lack of knowledge as to what a snowboard is that it is laughable, at best. For instance, this past week I've been riding a swallowtail snowboard for the current soft powder snow conditions. I've heard it called an 'old school board', 'one of those snurfer boards', and a 'splitboard'. Today, there was a boarder wearing a purple Crown Royal bottle sack as a hat (WTF?) telling me that Sims created the snowboard and that Burton got mad and left to create Burton boards. I asked him what Sims first name was. "Jake. Jake Sims. He's the one who invented the snowboard." That's what I get for riding with polygamist inbreds in Utah. So, it's not getting any better out there. I've just learned to treat each one as a case by case situation. If the person/interviewer is able to form simple sentences and seems coherent, I'll usually try and give a basic explanation of my equipment choice and give them a BOL card. If not, I just turn up the iPod and smile as if I have stomach gas or I'm wetting myself. I've also been watching World Cup skiing more than I watch the up and coming sketch-monsters of half-pipe riding sponsored by who-ever-paid-the-most-money-for-advertising-this-year tour lately. At least with WC skiing, the skiers aren't half the dirtbags the chanting crowds are. Mark

Nice to see you here again. The (Neti) pot is one of those items (along with vitamins, minerals and herbs) that is hated by the FDA and their sacred cow the AMA. You simply can't make any money selling doctor appointments and unnecessary and useless prescriptions to customers (oops, I'm sorry, patients) who beat sinusitis by pouring warm saline solution into their little heads. It would not surprise me to see an all-out ban on sales of Neti pots in the years to come. Or, once health care is (fully) socialized in the US, you might not be able to buy one without a prescription, eh? Remember to get your flu shot, too. You wouldn't want to miss out on yet another opportunity to be fleeced by Big Medicine this year. Contact me via e-mail BOL. Mark

...the liftline comments you got, or will get. The pics of the HyArc articulated makes me wonder how it felt to have your stance angles (and splay) keep changing. Kudos for taking it out for a cruise. I'd have needed a few hours in the bar before I would have gotten on it. Mark

One of my dreams is going to come true at the end of next January. I'm headed to Jacksonville, Florida (my hometown) for an impromptu reunion and I'm going to skate at Kona skatepark. I got to skate Kona the day before it opened many years ago. I also skated it for many evenings before I left Florida in 1977. So, now 30-plus years later I'm returning to skate it again. I'll also get to surf again after a 32 year hiatus. I'm not planning on checking any bags and I want to travel with my skateboard. I did this a few years back on a trip to San Diego and had no problem (before 9/11). Does anyone have any experience with the airlines traveling with a skateboard (Skaterbuilt Jay Smith 2). Initially, my plan is to remove the trucks and wheels. Place the truck assy into my pack and lash the board to the pack. I'm open to suggestions from anyone who's got experience in this area. I'll make sure to post pics of the carnage at Kona, too. Thanks, Mark I'm also open to shipping my board to Jacksonville before I travel. That way, I can avoid any, well, 'unpleasantness' with TSA or my fellow travelers.

...I've been missing 6-7 sheets of grip tape of varying colors for 2 months now. I have torn my house apart and cannot find where I put all of my grip tape for my skateboards. I'm ready to call in a PI and have him find it for me. As a side-note, I've also decided to give up drinking malt liquor in the 40 oz. bottle and go back to the 22 oz. size. Mark PS I'm glad you found your board. That must have been a terrible feeling to have in your mind.

Yes, the iPod Shuffle is made by Apple. As far as I know, you need iTunes to use any iPod. I could be wrong. I was wrong once before, on my wedding day. An iPod is an MP3 player and there are many brands of MP3 players that are very nice and may suit your needs, too. iTunes is available for both Mac and PC platforms and is free (as in free like drug dealer free). Go to apple.com and click on related iPod or iTunes icons for more information. BTW, the earbuds that come with an iPod should not be used by anyone who cares about music. Also, please don't leave your iPod laying around the skatepark (or anywhere else) like some guy did today while he went to get a Big Gulp at 7-11. When he got back, it was gone and he kept saying he was going to hurt whoever took his iPod. Uhhhh, shouldn't you first beat up the dummy who left it to be stolen? Mark

SEJ: I skate and board with a 1G Shuffle ($49 dollars) and Bose earbuds with the silicone ear-thingy's ($99 dollars). If I run the volume at 60-70% I cannot hear anything else around me. Upside: Shuffle: lowcost and I use multiple playlists to change things up a bit; VERY lightweight and VERY simple to use through a shell in winter (no GD screens); if I lose the Shuffle I go buy another one next time I have overtime at my job. Bose earbuds: Good fidelity for an economical price. Bass is better than most earbuds. Some distortion at higher volumes. I've been told to checkout SkullCandy buds instead. Downside: Shuffle: only holds 240 songs (about 7.5 hours) of 'radioplay' trash. 200 songs of the good stuff. Bose Earbuds: I've gone through umpteen sets of the silicone earbud add-ons (but, they are free from Bose.com). The silicone buds are easy to lose and even harder to find. Next stop for me is a 8G Nano for Christmas. Mark

Sinecure: Sorry, I should have written Booster straps. That is what I use and I like the secure feeling I get from using the straps. (Edit: Once I have my boots laced up, I add the Booster straps and cinch them down. That should be fairly easy to envision.) As to using hardboots on a powder deck, I'm with you on that. Especially for wide open runs and big terrain. That said, I'd think twice about using hardboots in walk mode. Much has been written here about the subject and is considered by some (including myself) to be bad medicine. Mark

Oh no, here we go! Mark

Go with a step in system if you can find one, or Flows. I found my Northwaves (boots) on sale for $100 dollars and I love them. But, I wish that I had gotten a step in binding or Flows instead. I absolutely hate having to buckle in on a deep day. I also add a Powerstrap to the heel on my rear boot and a Powerstrap to the shin on my front boot. Makes a huge difference once the goods get chopped up. Mark