Call me jack Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Ok well now scared, but as of right now i'm about to start riding hard boots for the first time; i got my board and bindings together, and i'm just waiting on boots. I've been reading the tech articals on here, and practicing some of the stuff in my softies. I feel like i should be confident (not amazing, just confident) when i first hop on this sucker, but there's a little voice in the back of my head say 'your too ignorant: total faillage!' i've been snowboarding for 9 years in soft boots, and i'd say i got sort boot carving, and it's dynamics 90% understood/mastered* when i start hard booting, am i gonna be completely lost or will it be like riding a bike, only the bike is faster and has ape hanger handle bars? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kex Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 I think you will pick it up extremely fast. Ive been snowboarding for 10+ years and tried hardbooting for the first time last year. I was able to carve some C's very quickly. I would just suggest refreshing yourself on some of the tech articles right before going out on the slopes. I thought "the norm" was pretty helpful in just getting the basic idea of a carved turn down, and was past that within an hour or two, im guessing because of all of my previous experience. If you can carve C's in your soft boots, you should be able to in hardboots. And if you can't, its not that big of a deal either. imho, when you are firrst switching to hardboots, it is not a huge difference, it just makes getting on edge much easier. So I wouldn't be worried if I were you. I think it will be like learning another skill in a field you are familiar with. I could relate it to math and say its like learning integrals after covering derivitives, as opposed to switching to a completely new concept like matrices. I hope I'm not scaring you away with the math talk though! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr_roboteye Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Fear of the unknown is a natural human tendency. If you already know how to carve in softboots, then you also already know how to carve in hardboots. The equipment is just a tool. Some tools are better suited to doing certain jobs than others. Some tools will produce the desired results with less effort on the part of the user, but there is no tool on the planet that will produce the desired results with less skill (except maybe a metal construction snowboard ) later, Dave R. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave ESPI Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Just don't set up your stance "Ducked out"... you will be fine ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. T Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Be scared! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Call me jack Posted January 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Just don't set up your stance "Ducked out"... you will be fine ;) lol, but i love the park! and kex, thanks alot. that was helpful, but more importantly, you reminded me to do my math home work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kex Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 lol, but i love the park!and kex, thanks alot. that was helpful, but more importantly, you reminded me to do my math home work. meanwhile I forgot to do my EE homework, doh! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0ardski Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 be afraid, be very afraid of edge control;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveBomber Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 the bike will be faster and have clip on's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Call me jack Posted January 28, 2009 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 the bike will be faster and have clip on's and streamers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 I thought "the norm" was pretty helpful in just getting the basic idea of a carved turn down, and was past that within an hour or two, im guessing because of all of my previous experience. Yeah, that's the whole point of the norm. Glad you found it helpful. If you can carve C's in your soft boots, you should be able to in hardboots. And if you can't, its not that big of a deal either. It is a big deal. If you can truly carve your softboots on the greens, changing edges before the board points downhill and all, then you're ready for hardboots. But if you can't do that, you should really get it down before switching. Why go to unfamiliar more responsive equipment to learn a new skill when you can do it on familiar equipment that is more forgiving? That would make no sense, and only make it harder. That would be like riding your bicycle and deciding you want to learn how to wheelie, so you switch to a motorcycle first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubz Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Jack Once you get ripping in hardboots, the whole mountain becomes your park. You dont want to be grinding edges and jumping anyway. I know some people jump, but its not worth the risk of mucking up equipment or snapping your leg at midshin. Its fun to rip between hits in the park, but doing the hits, is something I wont do on my equipment. Too much $$$ invested and the wife would kill me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corey Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Being nervous is kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy: When nervous, most people tend to lean back - making the board turn like a supertanker. Then you gain too much speed and get nervous and skid to control speed. Skidding an alpine setup feels very different to skidding a freestyle setup, which makes you nervous. ;) Give yourself a half or even a full day to just get used to the feeling of riding the equipment, then you'll start to pick it up quickly. Think of it as learning an entirely new sport and you'll be suprised at how some of your previous skills cross over. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Transistor Rhythm Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Beginners can learn to snowboard on hardboots without facing much more challenge than using soft boots. It's the alpine deck that can make it difficult for beginners, usually those are aimed at experienced riders. If you have a carveable board and just change your bindings and boots I can't imagine it takes long before you pick it up if you're that experienced. If you want a real challenge, try to ride one of the extremest Viruses with softboots. Hardboots are the only viable interface for the more demanding boards out there. But it's not the hardboots that can make them hard to ride. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shredliner Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 when i start hard booting, am i gonna be completely lost or will it be like riding a bike, only the bike is faster and has ape hanger handle bars? It'll be like riding a bike.........sidesaddle. What I haven't seen mentioned here yet, is the BIG difference in hip/body alignment from soft to hard setup. Being only in my 2nd serious season, it still confounds me at times. The body alignment, hips forward, knees together is WAAAY different and for me, that's the hardest part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carvedog Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 ......knees together is WAAAY different and for me..... oh no not that again..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shredliner Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 oh no not that again..... Ruh roh, did I bring up an old or tired thread? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotbeans Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Let's watch now, as Shredliner, cruising on beautiful rollers, releases the drag on his reel... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr D Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 :lol::lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
queequeg Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Beginners can learn to snowboard on hardboots without facing much more challenge than using soft boots. It's the alpine deck that can make it difficult for beginners, usually those are aimed at experienced riders. If you have a carveable board and just change your bindings and boots I can't imagine it takes long before you pick it up if you're that experienced. If you want a real challenge, try to ride one of the extremest Viruses with softboots. Hardboots are the only viable interface for the more demanding boards out there. But it's not the hardboots that can make them hard to ride. I have been helping a friend of mine get into carving this way, she started on softboots on a short freeride board as a beginner rider ... about seven days that way. We switched her to hardboots on the same soft freeride board and she immediately preferred the hardboots for their increased control and comfort. Switched her to a burton alp 6.9 once she got totally comfy riding the hardboots on the soft freeride board (this was like, five days or something). She now loves the alp. She is progressing slowly but after seeing her response to hardboots as a beginner - I definitely have to agree that hardboots are not just for advanced riders, and are suitable for novices too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Dold Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 I switched to hard boots with a Burton Coil (soft carving board) about halfway through my first season. Not hard, it was fun. Like getting a new tool and learning how to use it. I think it's good to use a slightly softer board at first. Try lots of different binding angles and stay away from trees. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhaskins Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Can you say HEMATOMA? http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=13738&highlight=hematoma I was trying to find the post with a picture of Boddea's ass, but can't. Be scared. Carving isn't always pretty. Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carvedog Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Ruh roh, did I bring up an old or tired thread? Not tired at all. Ongoing discussion about knees apart and together. http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=13063&highlight=knees It is the source of much amusement to me as I play with both. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shredliner Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 Not tired at all. Ongoing discussion about knees apart and together.http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=13063&highlight=knees It is the source of much amusement to me as I play with both. What I meant to say (after reading that article) is, the comparative closeness of your knees/feet, vs. the wide stance on a free-ride board. THAT, takes getting used to. Ohhhh, whatever.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hotbeans Posted January 28, 2009 Report Share Posted January 28, 2009 even quirkier is the extremely high angles found on the virus video's. Might as well be 90/90. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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