teach Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 I got interested in alpine boards/hardboots after seeing chubz carve eye-popping arcs on Razor's Edge at Blue Mountain. He pointed me to this forum and gave lots of good advice. I finally got an alpine setup together: new TD3s, used AF700 boots and a used Coiler 177 AM (both from BOL classifieds). My boots are 30 and the board is 21.5 cm at the waist so the lowest angles I could go with were about 60. I used the 3 degree cant disks, oriented so the lift is along the length of the foot, heel lift in the rear, toe lift in front. I used a narrower stance than I'm used to with soft boots, 20.5" rather than 21.5". It still seemed wide because of the higher angles. (When I skate bowls and such I ride with more or less 0 degree angles and around a 26" stance; when I ride hills or flat I'm more likely to ride at 45 degree angles and maybe a 20" stance. I'm not sure what's controlling this...) I was waiting for an empty day so I didn't have to worry about getting plowed into. I took it out New Years Eve morning after getting impatient. It wasn't empty but the board felt remarkably easy to control right away. I could throw it into a skid right away, bail from a turn, etc., so I felt a lot better about riding with others around. I took it over to Challenge, figuring the new snow and grooming would have made the previous day's bumps history. Also, it's a steep run so it tends to be a lot less crowded. The bumps were still there, but the board really flattened them out. I was scared to let it rip (partly because a bunch of people decided to straightline it just behind me) and sort of traversed down the steep initial part. More confident, I started to get some carves in, with some skids to check speed and let strightliners pass. Then I took it down another run (Switchback) I had seen the grooming machine on earlier. Mistake. It was littered with ice chunks and piles of wet snow. The board really smoothed that out, though. My heels were starting to hurt. They felt pinched by the boots, a surprise to me since I have narrow heels. It might have been partly setup issues: wrong cant or maybe I need less angle in the back or more in front. Or less in front: my front heel felt like it was fighting the boots. But part of the problem was the boots, and I'm going to post some questions about that as soon as I get some pictures. I switched to soft boots since my heels, ankles and knees were tired from the new setup. I went down the same runs and it was much worse--I was really getting thrown around by the bumps. In retrospect, the Coiler spoiled me. Carving a hard frontside on Switchback my board's nose dug into a pile of wet snow and instantly shot me into the air, giving my front knee quite a twist. Is that "folding the nose"? Whatever it is, I can't recommend it! I wound up landing on my feet, but I know my helmet hit the snow so I guess I did a full flip in the air (and a 180). I think the Coiler would have simply sliced or plowed through this. Can't wait to get the boots fixed and angles/cant set right (and for my knee and heels to stop hurting!). It's really amazing how easy it is to turn the board. I was expecting a bit of a struggle. Not at all. Just tip and go. No problems with grabby edges, not even a hint. (I think this happens on boards that twist too much?) Grip on ice wasn't fantastic (same as my soft-boot setup, always looking for better here in PA) but then again I haven't sharpened the edges yet. The Coiler's sidewall information is 177 AMW 0250 -- 8.0. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbass Posted January 3, 2010 Report Share Posted January 3, 2010 Sounds like you had a good first day. You were challenging the hill, bumps and steeps. Confidence like that and you will rule the hill in no time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave ESPI Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Nose-stuffed Comando-rolls on a softy setups are fun! :hammer: Ass-over-teakettle on a HB setup... OMFG scary. Try to avoid such at all cost... lol. May want to grab a new boot liner. Everyones foot molds differently and since yours were not new, you should try new inserts. It might make all the difference. Glad U had a good first day! Keep riding! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubz Posted January 4, 2010 Report Share Posted January 4, 2010 Blue Mountain +1 more rider. Reid Responded to your email. Best bet we hook up on the hill and get some turns and go from there. Greg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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