Marker

Thanks for doing this again this year. Please put me on the list.

Yep - I've snapped the plastic tabs off the F2 heals far too many times already. A metal bit would be a welcome change.

It's funny that you cleared this up right away, Dave. I would have thought that you would want to set up Tremblant as the 'decoy' mountain so there wouldn't be any other carvers messing with the fresh cord at the less crowded places. Either way, I'm likely good for this one too.

Just downloaded the PS3 version of the film and watched it on my large HDTV. Coming from the sport of skydiving I understand how difficult these types of sequences are to film and edit. Please accept my thanks and appreciation for doing this – it’s a real treat to witness a small slice of a sport I love turned into art.

I don't arrive in Aspen till tomorrow night, but here is my idea. How many people just this year have had to sit out the whole season because of a carving related injury? It's hard to improve when you are nursing old injuries or worse, have to sit out all together. In the spirit of the 'Gilmour Gear' thread, perhaps you could do something that is aimed at identifying the most common injuries and how to help prevent them by modifying user inputs i.e. different styles for different conditions, stance choices, how to crash, body position to avoid injuries etc. I think we all know about going over the handlebars, but still occasionally get caught misreading when that can happen and other types of crashes besides. So that's my two cents, from a guy who has done huge crashes in more than one sport and has just been REALLY lucky so far.

I own an 84FC (w/WCC), but it is the 19.5 waist version. I also own an 83-T w/20 waist based on the 81PR (sort of). Finally, I have an older 77AM w/21.5 waist. Despite the similar specs between my 84FC and 83T, the two are really incommensurable due to the metal – and this thread is not about that, so I will leave it alone. Although to address your original question on taper; the difference between FC vs. RC vs. PR (all other specs being equal), is really subtle. The FC requires fractionally more awareness at the end of the turn to physically un-weight and change edges, but the upshot is a fractionally more ‘locked-in’ feel in most situations. Love it or hate it, this difference is user preference again, but a whole lot less significant than if you prefer say damp or snappy. To reiterate a point that has been raised already, if you are thinking of going the Coiler route, get in touch with Bruce before you get your heart set on anything. He is going through a renaissance of R&D right now that is producing several new shapes and design improvements that will likely mature over the next few months.

Yes - 200x22 and around a 12 SCR I think. It's in the board reviews under "Coiler All Mountain"

I spent my first few seasons suffering in AF600 boots that were just too narrow (did the unbuckling in the lift line, cold feet from low circulation etc). I ditched the AFs for Head Stratos Pro, and the first thing I did was toss out the stock liner. It’s contrary to some of the other posts in the thread, but I am certain that switching to Thermoflex unlocked some boot volume that the stock liners were wasting. There was more freedom up front for sure. Who knows, maybe there is just more room in the Mondo 30 shell. Anyway, for what it’s worth, I am using footbeds in Thermoflex liners (cooked by Michelle at Bomber) with a Booster strap feeding through the slot in the back of the shell that the stock liner strap went through originally. This setup works really well for me, and I can wear my boots locked down all day with no problems. Although, given all the different responses to this thread, an ace boot fitter is going to save you time and frustration if the easy stuff still doesn’t give you the fit you want. I say try Thermoflex liners on your own and see if that’s enough.

My airline quiver is a dedicated carving stick and a 200 Tanker. I ride plates with both so it's only one set of boots and bindings, with a second board kit for the Tanker. The way I see it, if you are going to all the trouble of flying, why not optimise the trip? The only downside is if don't like riding plates on a pow stick.

I switched from AF600 boots to Head Stratos Pro because Head had a much wider toebox and fit my feet better overall - I wear Mondo 30.

The stats: 6'2; 240lbs (naked and after a #2); Mondo 30 I am hard on equipment and I am always searching for something that will give more performace. Since making the switch to metal this year I can honestly say that if I had to replace a board every season that it would be worth it. However, initial impressions indicate that save for a giant crash, the board will last many seasons. Time will tell I suppose - we are all data points right now.

Thanks for the report. Looks like they have most of the Louis side open now. All we need to do now is pray for the rain to stay away.

Dunno if this is helpful, but every year I face a similar, less complicated dilemma – fly into Aspen or not? Here is what I have found in my experience: So last year I flew, and let me tell you, it’s not just Aspen airport, but Denver too. My flight was diverted due to fog and landed in Colorado Springs, where we sat on the tarmac for a few hours. When I finally arrived in Denver, I was happy to find that I didn’t miss my connection to Aspen, it was cancelled outright. I managed to finagle my way onto the last flight of the day and even arrived with my boots and boards. Total travel time from Toronto: around 13 hours. Going home I thought I would be smart and move to the earliest flight out of Aspen, but when I got there I found that it too was cancelled and was delayed again because of Denver. When I finally arrived back home in Toronto, my boards found me around a week later, unharmed thankfully. My advice would be to limit your connections just to give yourself the best shot at riding your own boards when you eventually arrive, however that might be, and your 18 hour driving option sounds pretty tempting to me. I think that I will suck it up and drive from Denver from now on, despite the luxury of hopping into Aspen in less than 30 minutes from Denver if you pull the perfect card. In dry conditions, the drive from Denver to Aspen does not actually take that long. I’ve hammered a rental out there in around 3.5 hours in the middle of the night.

Having been involved in competitive skydiving for many years, I watched the wingsuits develop from the very start. Like all cool things that are dangerous and untested, they killed a few people. Although the time it took for the skills of the pilots to catch up was remarkably short compared to say when high performance parachutes, or even 'skyboards', first came out. The gear improved really fast too. I am truely impressed by some of these guys, but will stick to the good ol' airplane for the foreseeable future. Call me old fashioned. :)

How are the conditions holding up at Ajax these days?

email sent.

I'll be there too. Should be a great few hours before the crowds swarm in.

Thanks for the feedback, Video. I enjoy steeps if there is decent snow on them, but I have heard that 'steep' at most places is not like 'steep' at Whiteface - as you say. Have you been there recently? How are the conditions holding up with the warm weather? Thanks again for the good info.

Thank you for your candor, Frochild, but is it really that hopeless? A few years ago there was a group of Whiteface regulars that posted to this board - surely it can't be all bad, all the time can it?

I'm looking for some local knowledge for carving at Whiteface. Does anyone have the name of some of the runs best suited for carving? Thanks

I agree with Randy - not a good tool at all. I would send you mine for free too, but I tossed it in the garbage so no that one else would be hurt.

Have you measured your feet in centimeters? This will give people a much better impression of just how big your feet are. Most snowboard hardshells are sized on a Mondo scale that is your foot length in cm.

Glad to hear that you are taking a course, Bob. Just remember, even one day on the track is enough to taint riding on the street forever. I thought I would only go out once in a while to improve on rider skills, but ended up selling my street ride not too long after. Once my finances are in order, I am going to pull the trigger on a RS250GP bike and do only track riding (maybe some supermoto as well ). Looks like you are going to have a great day.

This is great advice. I have taken several courses, and it is always a fantastic day. If you insist on using your own bike, at least get race plastic and frame sliders - a small investment and great piece of mind. If you go often enough, you will go down, it's just part of the learning process. By the way, I spent a day on an R6 at the track. It rails like a mother, but it's really easy to tuck the front end, so be sure you are 'progressive' on the front brake. Take it easy and you will have a blast! Looks like Rossi is on provisional pole after the first day. The Hondas had better keep him in sight off the green light, because it looks like top end speed is all they have on the Doctor for now.

I don't know what your budget is, but I would spend whatever it takes to find boots that fit properly - this will be the difference between loving hardbooting or hating it. Raichle/Deluxe tend to fit pretty narrow, where UPS and Head are a little wider. Just shell test whatever you can get your hands on. I also highly recommend getting Thermoflex liners and footbeds. Indeed, your properly fitting boots will set you back, but you will not regret it. Next, you are big. For big boy carving (I'm 6'2/225 myself) you will want nothing less than Bomber or Catek bindings. Both of these bindings are top notch and you really can't go wrong with either one. Whatever you have left in your budget after you get the boots and bindings sorted out, you can put towards a board. If your boots fit and you're on good bindings, you should be able to rail on just about anything. That is not to say that the board doesn't matter, but you will never know what your going to like with bloody toes and busted bails.