Skully

I finally had a chance to do some "head to head testing" of the RTS, and the Randal 125 with a 35 degree plate, and the hanger fliped. Set up a short GS course with some decent offsets, and ran both trucks through them a few times. I honestly couldn't tell a huge difference between the two for running cones. The Randal is definitely more versatile with the option to flip the hanger, and the different baseplate options. My favorite GS setup on any sort of course with offsets that I might have to "work" for is still a six-wheeler. Interesting. How do you have the RTS set up? (Wedging / bushings). On that note, how is your Bennett set up too? Are you unhappy with the RTS for GS style carving, or just pumping?

I have both an RTS and a Randal like you mentioned, but have not had a chance to do a comparison between the two. My initial gut feel is that the 125 with the 35 degree baseplate is going to work better for GS type stuff, but again, I haven't done the comparison between the RTS and the Randal (yet). If you wanted to really go for it, you could try the 28 degree baseplate, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra $ for the 7 more degrees of de-wedge. So far I have really liked the little Randals for GS-style riding. Also, I'm pretty sure you're talking about a stock 125 right? If you are thinking about a Skandal, be very careful running it with the narrow (I belive 106 mm) spacing, and large wheels, like the 73mm 'vents you mentioned. Truck-bite can be an issue, so make sure you check beforehand...

I'm sure there are plenty of people whot "want" it... There are LOTS of things on my "want" list that I can't afford.

I too enjoyed seeing BMX become an Olympic sport. Who knew Latvia was a BMX powerhouse? Lets say I was "surprised" by the track. I haven’t been on, or really seen a BMX track for over 20 years, so I have no idea what a "modern" BMX track should look like, but I was surprised by the constant "rhythm" sections. Like you said, some space for sprinting would have been cool, along with that giant step up too. What's up with the asphalt berms? Everyone I got a good look at was running clipless pedals. Isn’t that heresy on a BMX bike? I remeber back in the day hearing about Mike King and some of the other old-schoolers who were switching back and forth between MTB and BMX racing, using clipless pedals on the BMX side and the BMX'ers were freaking out. I guess they've all learned differently since then... I did like the big gaps on the men’s course. Hopefully some better coverage will show up on the web…

A board that will eat up 8hr old destroyed cord = a board with metal in it. A board like Bob suggested, with metal... That's the ticket. And +1 on what Bob said about tankers replacing alpine boards. Tankers are a fun ride, but not a replacement for an alpine stick. A 200 cm Tanker rides nothing like a 200 cm alpine board, due to it's smaller sidecut.

I love it. Looks like a HUGE improvement over the TD2.

They're not designed to engage the full contact patch. They're designed so that the more downforce you apply to the wheel, the more contact patch is engaged. (Trying to emulate the huge rubber tires on the Carveboard.) They're not great for cruising around, but they do a pretty good job of imitating the feel of a small rubber tire. P.S. I wish I could justify buying another pavement carving tool like this, but I've already got the shorter one, so.....

They're designed that way, 84a. Carvestik Wheels

Wheel wear on the schwheeler is not bad at all, but I think you're a bigger boy than me, that may be why the limes hold up OK for me. Plus I've got multiple cone-knocking-down boards, so I put less miles on each one. I could easly run lemons on the back without any traction loss, but I don't have a pair of harder 75/76mm wheels to run on the front if I run 4 lemons on the back. (I guess I could run a pair of limes on the front, just to confuse people....) I use the schwheeler more for cruising / carving / pretending to GS than acutal GS with cones though, so that could make a difference in wheel wear also. Plus, there's twice the contact patch on the back, so they should wear half as fast.... Believe it or not, the only things I purchased new in that photo were the top two decks, and a RTS/X pair. Everthing else except for hardware / risers etc. was acquire used / traded / finagled / purchased at a huge discount, and the top deck was purchased from a local builder / friend, so it was very affordable. The middle / hybrid board is currently set up for my 7yo to ride with the softest bushings possible, but it could easily be a cone-knocking-down-quiver-killer if needed.

Since I spend a lot more time skating for fun, than racing, I said screw the ISSA / race organizers and built a schwheeler anyway. I wanted to see how the additional traction would feel. I figgered I could spend more tha $100 to get a precision / traction rear truck, Or I could spend $17 on another RTS, and drill a some holes... Gotta say it's one of my favorite boards to tool around on...

Here's someone who was on that path at one point" (On skis, and nowhere near 32 years, but...) Rainer Hertrich (Turn the volume WAY up....)

Y'all do know that there is already a bottle opener on the TD2 standard bail version right? The toe bail also works as a bottle opener: http://www.bomberonline.com/VBulletin/showpost.php?p=218&postcount=29 That's why I was joking about the Intec version....

The REAL question: Will there be a bottle opener built into the Intec version?

Hey Joe, I just sent you an email via your profile with some info. Get back to me off of the message board.....

If it was nothing more than a seasonal job while in college then you really didn't TRY to make a career out of it. Don't "Make fun" of someone who has acutally made sacrifices and made a career out of it (by working 2 or 3 jobs, racing, etc. to get by.....). On another note, and back on topic, Bordy has told me to my face that some of my favorite boards and bindings suck. I don't take it personal, 'cause it's Bordy, and that's the way he is. He states his opinion without and fluff or BS. And again, it's his OPINION. Saying that Burton's suck, and that there is better stuff out there is not a personal attack on those of you who own Burton boards. Bordy tells me my favorite stuff sucks, I say ok, and go ride it anyway, and it's fun. Don't worry, I imagine he'll be back at some point to tell us all that our gear sucks. Some of us will giggle, and think "That's the Billy I know", others of us will pout and complain and start a flame-war. As Billy would say: Go Fast Don't Fall. I say: have fun doing it......

"Paid" his whole life to follow his passion? How many people do you personally know who've tried to make a living off of the snowsports industry? (On snow - riding, racing, instructing, coaching....) They don't do it because the get "Paid" to do it, they do it for the love of the sport. There are very few people in the industry who get "Paid" enough "following their passion" to make an actual living... Oh, and BTW, I LOVE burton boards... (I sold all of mine to collectors. I wish I still had them.... to hang on the wall!)

Just for you Willy:

I'll be in the area the whole week! Riding / working at The Canyons on 3/22. I know there are a few folks planning on digging trenches at Park City on 3/23 also, and I'm sure other days during the following week also......

Ummmmm..... Snowbird has some of the best trees / off-piste terrain in Utah. There are still un-touched stashes days after a storm. Ya just gotta know where to go......

I've got an extra snowboard tool I'm not using. It's still new in the package. Dakine Cool Tool includes: 6-piece ratchet driver #2 and #3 Philips heads #3 posi-drive 3/32" hex 1/4" flat head 8mm and 10mm wrench Of course, you can replace any of the driver heads with a 5mm head to fit your Bombers. $9.00 US shipped anywhere in the lower 48 US. I figured this add for a new tool was OK since Bomber doesn't sell this type of tool. If not, one of the Mods please nuke it...

Go to Alta. If that doesn't work out, my preferences would be as follows for Carving: 1. Solitude 2. Snowbird 3. Brighton

That's why I got mine used, otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to afford it....

Ok. So are you guys saying that new metal Coiler I ordered with the custom "VH" logo top sheet with red, white and black EVH stripes isn't gonna be cool? I guess this means I gotta change my avatar too. I'm so depressed.

Already got 'em. I'v been using them for quite a while now, when dodging (running into) cones, and any other time I think they might come in handy.

My $.02 American..... One of my best purchases recently was a lightweight cycling soft shell jacket. So on really cold days I have: 1 thermax or polypro layer, another polypro layer, soft shell, polar fleece, gore-tex type shell. Then as the weather dictates, I can ditch either the soft shell, or the fleece or both, or.... With the soft-shell I also have the option to use it as an outer layer also..... Here's the shell I have: Fox Tempest Soft Shell