rwmaron

How do the northern Minnesota carvers dress for these conditions you ask? Our softbooter friend Mike and bigwavedave: At least the sun was shining!

PM sent!

Today’s posse: khoward, yours truly, and bigwavedave. Good times (as always when friends come out to play)!

Planning to join you in the morning!

Thursday, February 10 Upside #1 - consistently firm, grippy groom at the open today. Downside #1 - generally flat light with a few brief periods of brighter conditions. Downside #2 - a few more winter sports fan on the hill than the usual weekday morning (including 2 buses from the Superior schools). Upside #2 - despite the attendance I found clear runs, with only one brief exception. Upside #3 - snow started around 3pm…..2-3 inches of new by the time I headed out at 4:30pm. Downside #3 - The drive home was a bit of a ‘white-knuckle’ kind of ride through the heavy snow in late day traffic. Upside #4 - The winter storm advisory extends through 4am tomorrow….I’d suggest considering a trip to Spirit early in the day on Friday! Russ

The man…the myth…the legend! Russ

Thursday, January 27 Bright sun, nice groom, and temps above zero (for a change) this morning; a few more folks than usual (due I suspect to pent-up demand from the recent arctic temps). Ken joined me later in the morning too. When I went back out in the afternoon the surface was much harder but my Thirst handled it with aplomb!

PM Sent!

PM sent!

Bump…..still looking.

FWIW - just a bit of frost nip for me this morning….after lunch I put a heavy coat of Dermatone on my nose, dug out an old but better fitting mask, put in a pair of toe warmers and enjoyed another session on the ‘Minnesota Firm’ along with the three or four other customers out today in the bright sunlight, though the temperature never got above -5F !

Best day of the year so far, to my way of thinking !

With the help of @Algunderfoot I’ve added the same board (from BSO)to my quiver; my set up is almost identical to that of @ThePeonsChamp - F2 race titanium binders at 46/48 and Deeluxe 225 boots. I’ve ridden various permutations of Donek Inclines for a number of years so 23.5cm is my sweet spot for board width and as a patroller I stick to the groomers. After my first couple of outings on the CC+ I’m blown away by what Scott Firestone described as the “dialed in, locked-in” feeling of the perfect carved turn….it’s akin to the sensation of riding a smooth curved rail while enjoying the high G sensation. I’m guessing the special sauce involves the board’s overall flexibility combined with incredible torsional stiffness - whatever it is, count me as a huge Thirst fan!

Today’s posse: Good times!

The afore mentioned CC+:

FWIW - one of my boards has been recovered (the Donek Razor) thanks to local law enforcement. I’ve called in a couple of loaner boards, borrowed one more, and purchased a Thirst CC+ (with the gracious help of @Algunderfoot), so I’m set for now - but certainly appreciate folks keeping an eye out for the remaining boards. Thanks Russ

Same here too. Got the same message after posting in the WTB section.

Looking for a Prior 4WD; I’d prefer the 174 but would consider a 169.

Spirit is open, though I’ve only seen one skier so far and he left after taking one run. The groom is rapidly hardening as the temperature drops and there’s only spotty patches of new snow. The only bright spot on the day is the concentration of snow guns running on Fourpipe.

E-mail sent!

I’ll take the F2 RS Stepins……PM on the way!

Ken; Thanks for the offers - if we could meet some time I would like to get the F2 back (at least for the early season). Thanks! Russ

Big Mario and Kneel; Thanks for the generous offers…..I can cobble together enough gear from my local posse to get me started for next season and I’m still holding out hope of recovering (at least some)of my gear. As TVR said “Good to see people like you in the world” Russ

Every board I own was taken….at least they left the 3 pairs of boots in boxes stacked right next to the boards… Haven’t seen or heard anything.

Sometime between June 14 and June 21 the following boards/bindings were stolen from a Duluth area storage unit: Brand Model Length Bindings Topsheet Donek Slalom 161` F2 Carve RS Dark Blue F2 Slalom 163 F2 Challenge Comp Silver/Grey Donek Razor 165 F2 Carve RS Blue/Red Pattern Donek Incline 165 F2 Carve RS Black Nidecker Proto 167 F2 Carve RS Black Prior AWD 174 F2 Titanflex Silver/Grey Donek AX 172 F2 Titanflex Clear Coat Donek Freecarve 189 Not mounted Red Palmer Channel 165 F2 Red/Blue/Silver K2 Recon Riser 165 F2 Challenge Comp Tan/Gold Most of this gear was purchased here originally over the course of the last 10 years or so. I've filed a police report, provided this list to local sports stores and pawns shops, and I'm watching E-Bay and Craigslist within 1,000 miles of Duluth. All the boards are mounted Goofy (right foot forward) and are set up with Intec step-in heel receivers. This seems like one of the few places where gear like this might be offered, hence this post. Please PM with any sightings. Mods - please move to the appropriate forum if necessary. Thanks! Russ