icebiker

Hey Matt, same here. Thanks again for the tips, they were a big help! Just finished two days at Gore Mtn NY with my son....great conditions (though not as sweet as Vail!). Hope to see you at an ECES someday (not likely this year tho).

Figures, eh? Some skiers complain about carving boarders laying trenches, and others complain when sliding boarders "scrape all the snow off". :D

Awesome Matt. Will be in touch. Enjoy SES in the meantime.

Matt, B-2, following up on the thread below. Would be good to connect with you if you're around http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?41287-Visiting-Vail-never-been-Would-like-advice-on-good-carving-runs I arrive Sat Feb 8th. Plan on riding 9th-12th, heading back east on 13th. We're staying at Vantage Point near Eagle Bahn gondola. Will be with some skiing buds, but they aren't likely to ski all day, so could meet up with you for some mid-afternoon runs. Let me know if you'll be around and how best to reach you. I can receive texts, but CANNOT respond by text (lame work phone ;-), so if you text me be sure to leave me an email address to write you back at. My cell is nein 7 tree too too fore to sicks won sicks. Cheers Greg

Thanks guys, the descriptions and the pic are very helpful. Looking forward to my next time out.

So, I had a minor breakthrough last week. I'd been following advice from some threads here, and looking at pics/videos trying to help me figure out how to get lower to the snow. I worked on moving my outside hand toward the nose of the board like several of you had advised. Made a BIG difference. On toesides I was able to get much lower, to the point where occasionally I had both hands gliding over the snow. While I still have some work to do, the feeling that it was "clicking" was amazing. I looked at my lines from the lift, and I couldn't believe how tight my turns were. When I got back I went to the Carver's Almanac and re-read the section on EC technique. It all made more sense to me...the angulation, rotation, getting the board higher up on edge sooner...awesome. However, I of course need more practice. Absent going to ECES (I'm still hoping, but work has me at an offsite most of that week), I'm going to have to continue to rely on written advice and pics/vids. The thing that has me confused at the moment is the Carver's Alamanac's advice not to "break at the waist". I thought that meant "don't bend down as if you're petting a dog", but when I watch videos of good carvers, I do see them bending forward just as they initiate a turn (and then straightening out as they rotate). See for example Ben at 9:30 on his instructional video (something I watch frequently for tips)...he bends down/forward just as he starts the turn, then straightens out. Any advice from you experts out there on what "breaking at the waist" means would be a real help. Ben's Video here: Gotta say, once that rotational thing clicked, the feeling was incredible...almost as good as the first time I figured out how to link turns when I was learning to board:D. Thanks

Welcome Landie....you will find this forum full of great advice, encouragement, good humour, and quick wit. On here there is no such thing as a dumb question. I have learned SO much in a short time, from a combination of "listening in" on threads, asking questions, reading links to other sites (like the Carver's Almanac...some info on equipment a bit outdated now, but the technique sections are still very valid), and watching people's videos. I hope to get to one of the regional Expression Sessions one day.

:lol:

Me, to liftie that shivered slightly as I boarded the gondola: "You look cold!" Her, most likely NOT referring to my physical appearance, since I was covered head to toe, including goggles and face mask): "You look good!"

Where's the bottle opener?

No worries, I went to Mtn Creek instead as a buddy threw me a free ticket. Had the place practically to myself. Lot of curious looks and questions on my board/bindings/boots. Not surprisingly, I was the only hardbooter there.

I am thinking of riding either Camelback or Mountain Creek this THursday (Jan 23)...anyone around? Teach? Would be great to meet you guys.

+1. Some inward cant on the rear foot may help too.

I hear that argument too. I always tell them for every boarder that slides with his one edge per turn, a sliding skier has two. So who actually moves more snow, eh?:p Then I tell them I don't slide. ;)

Love creativity like this!!

Guess he never read the skier's responsibility code...downhill skier/rider has right of way. There's a rotten one in every bunch ;)

Started in 87 with three straps and swore by them for ages, repairing them when they broke (and scouring eBay for wayward pairs). But in 1998 or so I was in Switzerland on business and colleagues suggested spending the weekend skiing at Wengen. When we got to town on Friday night and hit the rental shops, I was pysched to learn they rented boards, but they only had hardboot/plate setups. I'd never ridden in them, and loathed the idea of getting back into hardboots like I used to wear for the few times I skied before discovering 'boarding. They were Raichle's with step in bindings. I was blown away. LOVED it. Alas, upon returning the US, I couldn't find anyone that carried such a set up, and didn't discover BOL until about 05, so I persevered on softies for the longest time. Finding BOL and the awesome community of like-minded riders was the real turning point. With ya'll's help I've learned a ton, got a hardbooting set up that suits me perfectly, and it's only gonna get better as I put more effort into it (and hopefully attend ECES or SES a few times).

Very cool. Can't be all that warm in his truck this time of year though...his drive is that much more impressive.

T, I had the same issue a while back but following some tips on this forum and viewing some the videos from SES, instructed by several on this forum, I found that by putting comparatively more of my effort-per-turn into the beginning of the carve brings me around in a sharper "C" so I don't build as much speed as I traverse the slope. I have the same board as you. The Axxess has a VSR with a shorter radius nose than the tail, so when you weight the front downhill edge as you begin your carve you'll feel it lock the board into a quick turn...once around you can then shift weight accordingly to mellow out the carve or keep it tight. I found that once I got comfortable enough to initiate the turn more aggressively the prospect of running out of trail and/or losing steam became less of an issue. (that said, I haven't the courage to attempt this on the black trails yet...very happy with blues at moment :D, but that's my goal eventually). Greg

Thanks guys, this is excellent info! I'm even more pumped now. Matt, B-2, would be great to meet you and/or ride together if you have the time. I'll PM you as we get closer. My buddies will probably only ski 3 of the 4 days. I plan on all 4, plus based on the suggestions above, we're going to squeeze in a day at BC. Thanks again! Greg

Heading there with 4 skier buddies Feb 8th - 13th. Looking for wide, moderate-pitch blues to carve. Did some searching and found recommendations for Ruder's Run, Northwoods, Simba, Dealer's Choice and Whipper Snapper. Any others to suggest? I also found this post that seems to give Vail low scores for carving compared to others? http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showthread.php?15434-Just-got-back-from-CO&highlight=vail Any advice appreciated!

Softboot boarder in the line next to me: What kind of board is that? Me: Not exactly sure what he means, so I say "It's a Donek." Him: Is that, like, for going downhill? Me: :D

Great vid! Very jealous. Love the Vapours' track.

Hi Cifex. For what it's worth, I bought a Donek Axxess 2 seasons ago for the same reasons you're considering at present. Needed a board that was suited to the tight, often icy trails of VT, NY and the like. Had to be able to carve well as well as be versatile enough for the post-11 A.M. icy-bump-fest that passes for snow in the Northeast. I couldn't be happier with it. I am 200 lbs, 6'3" and went for the 172 length. Rather than buying off-the-shelf though, I called Sean. He was fantastic to work with. Within about 10 mins of our conversation he had all the info he needed to tailor the board for me. I asked for a tighter sidecut than standard (9-11 VSR instead of the standard 10-12). I asked for it to be wider than standard, to suit my big feet and average angles (46 or so). With this set up I can rip some very tight turns despite being of average carving skill compared to many on this forum. The VSR makes a big difference for me. The tighter sidecut on the nose helps me initiate the directional change quickly, while the taper enables me to release from the turn and set up the next directional change equally quickly. From the first minute on the board it felt perfectly suited to me. As I progress and improve, I expect my angles will increase and I won't need such a wide board and perhaps not as short a sidecut. I would absolutely not hesitate to buy another Donek when that day comes.

Agree. Funny, that's how it was for us boarders up till about '89 or so....many mountains required us to be certified (and pay an extra fee for the privilege:rolleyes:) before we could buy a lift ticket. As for HIITLL...was at Killington this weekend. Heard some of the usual comments and guesses about what kind of board I was riding, but I got the biggest kick out of the looks of and from the riders sitting in the snow strapping in as I effortlessly clicked into my new SW SI's and glided away .