Jon G.

I am in Seattle, and ride mostly Stevens. But I am game for anywhere within 2-3 hours.

Don't just panic and unclip! Sometimes that reassurance can mean trouble- there is a bit of evidence presented here- http://www.physsportsmed.com/issues/1999/12_99/cadman.htm (the relevant part is under the heading "Prevention Is Imperative" about 2/3 of the way in) This corresponds to my own experience- sometimes you have to get out, and ease of exit is crucial, but panic can (and I am afraid often does) overshadow the release issue. Having a partner who knows where you are is also 100 times more important. It can be the hardest thing in a scary situation, but carefully considering each individual movement in a partial burial can save your life. That board may be the only thing holding you where you are, still breathing and thinking and able to move- and able to start screaming for that buddy who is looking for you! And that is what bothers me about the patrol account- "presumably?" the lack of a partner in the trees during an epic dump is far more relevant than releasability- few skiers could reach up and release their bindings in a similar situation- think of the forces involved, and the panic, the twisted body. Counting on that as a solution is like depending on creating an air pocket created with your hands during an avalanche- it might help, if you really have time in that horrible few seconds, but it is very unlikely to make any difference and if it affects where you ride, you are just asking for trouble.

I have ridden Catek bindings on various Option and Arbor boards for the past 4-5 years. I weigh plenty, and am not gentle. I have not broken any boards or bindings. Here in the Northwest, plate bindings are a historical footnote at most shops, if they have heard of them at all, and alpine boards are also mostly forgotten. I have been using Alpine Touring boots and Cateks ordered online, and love it. I can ride ice, pow, slush, whatever and not have to change gear. Any quality built freeride board can handle plates. I think that the forces are not really all that different. The energy should be more or less the same, given the same rider and board, and any "surplus" energy magically generated by soft boots has to be absorbed by the ankle. If anything, it seems that plates would tend to spread the forces around the entire contact area, while flexing strap-ons could concentrate all the forces on one or two screws. In any event, I would rather rip my board apart than rip my body apart. And while I am trying to marshall all that energy around, trying to keep my self up and the snow down, I don't need to add a flexy unpredictable plastic bit in between me and the board.

IN addition to all the other good reasons, this is a big one for me. I spent at least as much time in the backcountry as on lifts, and I find it easier to be USED to that extra weight, at least some of it. Otherwise when I am out on a overnight trip with a bigger pack I am too off balance. A few years ago I had a 6000ft descent with a sopping wet, super full pack that felt like a 120 lb. monkey jumping around as I tried to ride down, and after that I always have a little pack at least when I ride. And I love ducking into the woods for a quiet lunch of good healthy cheap food instead of waiting in line or sitting in the car for lunch. As to the chairlift bars, a lot of my peers here in Washington call them sissy bars, and I have been knocked hard in the head (6'2") when someone just flipped one down more than once. That look some of you have seen when you ask to put it down means "this lift is short, that thing is a pain for tall people, are you kidding?" (but thanks for ASKING, instead of just doing!) That said, it was a bit of an adjustment when I moved out from the Midwest, but I switched to hardboots at about the same time, and the lack of strap pressure, and comfy feet, allowed me to get used to the hanging board. Just ride more, your muscles can deal!

I'm in.

I just about blew up my work computer with the Deelux website! Size about 29.5 or 30, thanks for the help. I may not be back on this site till tomorrow, though- thanks again!

Thanks- I just wish someone knew if they (Deelux or Raichle) were going to make any more of these... I am sort of scared of ebay, but my beloved dynafits are getting beat and I need a replacement soon!

Hi! I wish I could answer your question, instead of having more of them... Where are you getting these? Are there more?

Yes, they are the Dynafit tourlight "extremes" (the blue ones from about three years ago) with a tongue from an even softer older model. And a bit of bootfitting to get my frankenfeet comfy... They are getting beat up, and I wish I could get boots made for snowboarding that were plastic with buckles but with a vibram sole, cushy walk mode, etc. I am sure me and the other eight people like me would pay good money for them.

I wouldn't like going to the car and changing boots! Waste of time, if you ask me. But it seems like I am in the minority here- I started riding hard boots mostly for the powder/backcountry. (I think I have made this post before-- Conspiracy or not, Racecarver may be right!) I use a regular, wide-but-not-for-my-giant-feet freeride Arbor 167 for 90% of my days on snow. I love railing carves with it, when the best snow is on the groomers. Here in the Northwest, that isn't often enough to bother with a special deck that wouln't work in the trees, or for the backcountry, where the snow is better more often. I decided to switch to hardboots because they stopped making three strap bindings just as I arrived in the Northwest from the flat Midwest. I was riding with really good skiers, and learning big mountain skills, and getting really tired of tightening down laces, then three sets of ratchets- you all know the dance. Different flex, responsiveness every time-- never again! I started reading, and asking around, and decided pretty quickly that I was never going to see a set of real snowboard hardboots in a store, and I work at a store that sells Alpine touring/Randonee boots. I found some older model Dynafits that fit, cheap because they were old and too soft for real skiing and bought them. Bindings were harder- plates are a rare sight in Washington. I looked on the internet, decided Cateks were a better choice with the Randonee boots because of forward lean, and paid retail for the first time in five years. I could never go back. We get a lot of snow here, and wind comes with it a lot. I have enough responsiveness to rail it through on the groomed parts, or the flats, and when I get where the snow has blown I have no problem whipping a few orgasma-tron powder turns- and if an ice patch comes up, I am all set. I can hike in icy bootpacks with a heavy load in my pack, no problem. I use the same boots with my splitboard. I can walk around a snowy campsite in my liners, with their rubber sole made for the purpose. In trees, or powder, I leave the top (of 3) buckle hardly attached, and my ankles can move around the full range of motion left after ~15 years of crappy soft bindings. (I know they are better now, but my first bindings were nylon webbing straps with fastex buckles- painful on the ice!) I can see using a different board if you are going to be on groomers going fast all day, but I would never bother to switch out boots or bindings-I need all that stuff to stay the same, so I never have to adjust my self-taught lazy-ass style. I like to get out of the car and into the snow, outside as soon as possible for as long as possible. I take my lunch in my backpack and sit in the trees if snowing, or somewhere with a view if it is nice. Ultimately, though, I don't care what any of you ride on, so long as you are having fun. I ride with skiiers and softbooters 100% of the time, and when they (rarely) get so bored they go into the park I follow and ride the mellow, underused groomer next to it. The slower skiiers and riders are all scared of the park, so the groomer next door is almost always all mine, all day. I have dipped in and fooled around on the p-tex covered rails, for a laugh, and now I find myself tempted to jib snow covered trees when I am off-piste. But go back to fidding with laces? Never! I have started to call my soft-riding buddies "lacebooters" as they are fiddling at the top of a hike- All the skiiers and I are ready to go, me with the exact same boot/board interface tightness/comfort as the last time I clipped in. Lace-booter sounds kind of derogatory and emphasizes (what I see as) a weakness. But it is all in fun, the key word.

Never on a weekend! But I will be on Monday, if it doesn't rain too much on Sunday. (yeah, rain...)

I ride the Arbor 167 Wide with Cateks (plate bindings.) I am 6'2" and probably 230# with pack, water, sandwiches, etc. It works well on hard and soft snow, and I love it almost to a fault.

Yeah, sorry for the no-reply. I may be in Seattle for the whole race time. Been busy with the work vs. riding thing. Seems that battle is a factor now, as I may be working Monday (normally a sacred ride-only day for me) I hope the race is fun! Jon

Yes, the have done alpine boards, but it is of course a low percentage. Unless you asked for specific bevels or structures they would treat it like any other board, but they are always happy if someone actually takes an interest, and will do whatever you ask. How would an "alpine" tune differ from a "freeride" tune? Good new topic? I get a discount and mostly do my own work, so I can't remember the cost offhand. I am back to work Thursday and can check then, or call them at 1-888-873-1938. I would be happy to meet anyone from Bomber as they dropped off a board and make sure they took good care of it, but that would happen anyway, I think. Jon

Hi (Disclaimer- I work there) The downtown Seattle REI has a giant Wintersteiger machine and a bunch of great techs. I do my own waxing and edges, but let them grind and have been very happy with the results. The machine is big enough to put a VW bug into (almost) but seems pretty bomber... I am pretty interested in that board, if you let me peek at it I can try to rush the service along so you don't have to make two trips, it depends on when you need it done. Jon

I use these exclusively for on and off piste. In powder, trees and soft snow I keep them in walk mode and tighten the buckles only enough to keep my heel in. I have used them for four years, on split boards and solids, and love them dearly. The only modification other than riding them loose is I swapped out the tongues from an older, softer pair I had. Check the Couloir magazine website forums for more detailed info on this kind of stuff, there has been a lot of discussion lately on this topic. http://www.telemarkskier.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=forum;f=1 Scarpa Lasers are a bit stiffer, but would work too, I bet. Good luck!

Enforcement seems random, but if you watch that liftie, he might be looking over his shoulder because his supervisor just yelled at him that morning. I ride at Stevens Pass and get checked now and then. Twice this year I have given a bit of nylon cord to other people (one was a little kid about to cry as his mom asked the liftie how much they cost- and the liftie smiled at me for defusing the situation) Its like yelling at the TSA for trying to take your pocket knife away at the airport- They are just doing their job and you are only going to get screwed if you are a jerk about it.

Before six is golden, before seven is normally fine, seven to eight is 50-50, after is often bad. When getting out of town for snowplay, I try to be on the road and past all bridges before 7

Goofy, Right handed