GremUSA

Firstly, Thank you to: Skategoat, TommyD, Jack, RJ,Skatha, Danielle, Kamran, Jim, Brad, CarvCanada, Allen, JD, Bryan, Mario, Yardsale, MikeT, Dsub, AlpineGirl, Nate, Bola,,, ,,,For your responses – they were variant, helpful and encouraging. I’m no quitter – I learned to soft boot in one day. I was just concerned that carving was this Nirvana level not likely to be reached in my short mountain time I’m going for it full tilt as I do most things in life. AlpGirl- flexibility, yes I spend a lot of time stretching before I go out (up to 45min) – I learned that one from competing on skates. Nate; my F2 is (will be when Frank gets it to me :) ) a speedster RS. Jack said the RS needs to be ridden faster to make the cuts which makes sense given its purpose. I’m not afraid of speed except when I can’t control it. I still think I’ll get a 4wd from Bomber well as the bindings an’ boots – I definitely want to support the Bomber folks. I’ll think I’ll seek a journeyman carver when I’m both at Copper and ffice:smarttags" />lace w:st="on">Mass - I've received email for help finding one.</ST1:place> I agree with Yardsale that it’s difficult to text the mechanics of something although I think you can pick up snippets that are good to use dry land – anything to help imo. I feel like a Harley rider at the side of the road – the brotherhood won’t leave you stranded so thanks again everyone. I’m also glad I’m not the only one (or the oldest;poke;poke :) ) in the over 40 crowd…but I’m wondering if I’m the only hippie musician,.,.,.,.,. <O:p Look for the guy with the long hair flappin’ (not cheeks) on the training slope (which is the best?) on Copper Jan 20-25,,,not sure about the Mass date yet. Cheers you all lots, Greg

Cheers and ta very much everyone the advice and encouragement is inspiring and frankly what I expected from the kin in this forum. I should also mention that I skiied for over 30 years before forever switching to a plank. Keep it coming. PS, I'll be in Copper with my skid buds Jan 20-26 look for us apre' skid at the bar at the foot of the hill,,,maybe me borrowing the acoustic from the entertainment like I did last year :)

Hi Kip, Ima kinda inna quandry - please read my thread 'reality check' in the carving community, Thanks, Greg ````

Hi Everybody, new guy here please offer your advice. My background - I'm 45, 5'10" 180#, former athlete (inline speedskater, but sedentary for about the last 4 years). I spend a coupla weeks each year on the mountain - a week at Copper around Jan and one at Snowmass in March. For 10 years or so I've been doing this and having a great time skidding all over these mountains in much of the terrain - blues and some blacks, powder and trees and I do pretty well and skid agressively. Watching from the lift I've always seen a boarder here and there get up on edge and knew that's THE way and recently I discovered this community and a newer (to me), refined world of technique and excitement ala carving. As I've read about carving I see a high level of technique, strength and development required. I already purchased a high end board and am looking into the rest of the wares and I have the $pendulicas to do so. My question though: Can I expect to achieve any kind of carve technique in the short time I'm doing this each season? I've been reading where even experienced carvers can spend a week just getting the muscle coordination back as it seems the technique can be quite unnatural and here I am not even posessing the ability and hope to in a couple short trips. Plus I'm not in any high level of cardio or strength. I'm not throwing in the towel before I start I just want the advice of everyone; a reality check to know if I don't stand a chance and should go back to enjoying skidding around (and still watch you guys from the lift),,,or do I have a ghost of a chance of making any kind of carve progress. Otherwise it really doesn't make sense to continue to lay down the coin. The other side OF the coin is maybe there's an intermediary setup - can I carve quicker and faster on a softer setup like a 4WD and 123 boots....Seee I kinda tend to think, 'all or nuthin' baby' (I already bought the stiff race board -- F2 speed :o ) - like the stiffer setup forces you to have better technique. When I raced on skates I always trained on a long track boot which improved my ankle modality/technique and I'm converting this thinking to the board in terms of the best equipment can help you to be the best in that field. Anyhoo, your thoughts por favor, Thank you all ahead for any advice and thanks Michelle for talking to me about some of the equipment. on the edge in Indiana ;) Greg

Pschitte! I sn-nooozed I,,,,loozed Guess I'll just have to get the bombs

How is this boot - stiff/softer? Thank you.

I was a skiier for almost 30 years before I put on a plank after watching boarders from the lift. My rental setup was soft. I believe it was a couple years later (early 90's) I was in Snowmass where my dad has a place in Aspenwood. I went down to rent again and the guy says something like, "you want hard or soft?" 'HUh?' "Your boots!" 'Oh,,,,hard I guess,,, ' I remember a great deal more control that year thinking it was an improvement in technique on my part and I remember the guy calling my board an alpine board too. Now I know what I had. Getting back into it these last few years my setup has been soft and last year I bought a pair of K2 boots. This year, in preparation I've found this community et al. I realized I'm missing that hard setup and I'm going back to that. Boring story but the result is this season by boots will be hard and my board long and narrow By the way, cool bulletinboard here folks. The protocol and comaradarie is great. I'll be in Copper Jan 20-26 - anyone sees the struggling old hippy guy gimmee some encouragement (or a lesson) ;) Cheers you all lots, Greg~~~

Offer sent.

Sent email too.

Hi Erik et al; actually the number is: 8717800666 - 3 sixes on the end. You Devillll ! ! :)

I'm an experienced rider but more of a skidder. Is this a good board to start carving? I weigh 180. Is 325 seem like a good deal? T'anks for the help, Greg