mikeyboy123 Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 Hi, I've had about 4 hours on a hard boot set up. I wanted to try it when I was in Italy last year and there was one rental shop in the whole town that carried hard gear - and they had about 4 pairs of boots and a couple of ancient boards. I had a go with a set of badly fitting Deeluxe Suzuka boots and a Hot Blast which I think had a waist width of 19cm. I really struggled and found the very positive rear binding angle very odd and difficult to cope with. I did manage to get up a bit of confidence though and by the end I was putting in some lengthy runs and began to experience at least some of the benefits of being in hard boots - the edge hold and carvey feel really impressed me. I am keen to give it another go and am going to Kitzbuhel in a couple of weeks. I am hoping there will be some more specialist rental shops that carry hard gear and so I'll hopefully have a lot more choice and be able to get something more suitable for me. I am 6 foot tall and weigh around 190 lbs and I'm intending to get some very soft flexing boots and bindings and start off on a relatively short and wide board (22 or 23 cm wide, 160 or so long) so that I can have relativley relaxed angles. Being Austria I'm imagining that F2 boards will be the most popular so maybe something like an El Diablo 161 or 165. Although I'll just have to wait and see what's on offer. I'm hoping to have some lessons, but again I'll have to wait and see what's on offer and what my budget can cover - if my only option is individual tuition then that's gonna be pretty pricey so may only be able to afford a couple of days I know it's a really open ended question, but I'm after all the help I can get so I would be grateful for any tips to ease my transition from softies to hard boots. Thanks, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 there's some beginner info in the links below. At your size I'd advise you to look for boards closer to 170cm in length. good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 start off slow - find your edges, learn how to stop, etc. Though it seems like you already sort of started to do this. Watch a ton of videos, read the articles Jack pointed to, and look at pictures. Maybe you'll be lucky but this has turned out to be a journey for me, and I'm sure it has been for many people. It might help a little if you start to point out any issues you were feeling. It was not a problem for me but it is common for some: remember to work towards making C carves rather than S carves. Your goal right now should be to change edges at 12 o'clock, not at 10 or 2, and certainly not 9 or 3, if this makes sense. get used to digging in that (temporarily) downhill edge and letting the board take you through the turn. Once you get this down, the technique questions will follow, as really you are just going to be doing this faster, and on steeper terrain, and in tighter circles. Best advice I ever got (didn't realize it until now): Do not give up. Thanks, Chubz :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveBomber Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 how about using this thread: http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=33446&highlight=newbie+thread Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 how about using this thread:http://www.bomberonline.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=33446&highlight=newbie+thread Please don't. Threads that drag on for hundreds of posts turn into their own sub-forums. They are a problem and become unusable to anyone who does not follow them constantly. Before long you get people saying "I couldn't read this whole thread, but..." and asking the same questions anyway. Many common questions are already answered in articles and FAQs, hence the Welcome Center. Any remaining specific questions deserve their own thread. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveBomber Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 well how about a beginner forum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 well how about a beginner forum? One of the primary missions of the Carving Community is to welcome and educate beginners. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveBomber Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 true, however the same questions seem to get asked over and over... so maybe there could be some better way? additionally I was thinking that maybe there could be a "gear to borrow" list so local people could "try it out" I think this would help immensely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 true, however the same questions seem to get asked over and over... so maybe there could be some better way? That is just the nature of forums. It is what it is. Some people would rather ask for information than search for it. additionally I was thinking that maybe there could be a "gear to borrow" list so local people could "try it out" I think this would help immensely Could be worth a shot. Although I think a lot of that gear ends up in the classifieds anyway...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiveBomber Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 some but then alto of people have lots of gear, I have 6 pairs of boots, a number of boards and bidnings, and Im sure many have the same. a lot of people "just looking" dont want to invest in gear, getting it shipped etc, especially when they are new and dont know who to trust. its about as close as anyone could get to going to the rental shop and getting a lesson. Just think if someone whos "interested" could get to try it out simply for the cost of giving someone a ride to the slopes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0ardski Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 A "gear to loan" thread is a good idea. Maybe best as a sticky on the ride boards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kieran Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 I know it's a really open ended question, but I'm after all the help I can get so I would be grateful for any tips to ease my transition from softies to hard boots.i maintain you'd have been best picking up some decent boots with thermo liners and a beater of a board, from ebay.de. and then making a tit of yourself at an indoor slope for an hour. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted February 17, 2011 Report Share Posted February 17, 2011 A "gear to loan" thread is a good idea. Maybe best as a sticky on the ride boards. done, thanks for the idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bora20 Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 there's some beginner info in the links below. At your size I'd advise you to look for boards closer to 170cm in length. good luck! I am a big heavier than you and started with hard boots last year. I bought a 179 4WD and have recently acquired a Steepwater Steep 171. I would recommend a shorter board with a 23-24 cm waist to allow for shallow binding angles, depending on boot size. I should have bought a Prior ATV 171 (23.5" waist) to start with as the 55/50 angles (zero overhang) on my 4WD are harder to ride so far. I have dropped them to 45/40 with minimal overhang to make it easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyboy123 Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 Okay, well thanks for the replies. Sorry for asking what must be a repetetive question, I'll check out the recommended links. Thanks again, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyboy123 Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 i maintain you'd have been best picking up some decent boots with thermo liners and a beater of a board, from ebay.de. and then making a tit of yourself at an indoor slope for an hour. ;) Hey Kieran, that could have been an option but just haven't had the time, what with moving house 5 months ago and trying to get it sorted whilst also devoting time and energy to my baby daughter. I'm gonna see how it goes in Kitzbuhel, and if I decide to take it any further I may well do as you suggest and spend some time in the fridge over the next year. Cheers, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aracan Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 Not wanting to disappoint you, but alpine rental gear has become hard to find in Austria. I don't know about Kitzbühel specifically (I have only ever driven through Kb), but a rental shop carrying alpine equipment is the exception, not the rule. It might pay to plan ahead, maybe call some of the shops in Kitzbühel and others in the area, to see where you get what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyboy123 Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 Not wanting to disappoint you, but alpine rental gear has become hard to find in Austria. I don't know about Kitzbühel specifically (I have only ever driven through Kb), but a rental shop carrying alpine equipment is the exception, not the rule. It might pay to plan ahead, maybe call some of the shops in Kitzbühel and others in the area, to see where you get what you want. Yeah, I expect there won't be too many places carrying hard gear, but hopefully there'll be at least one that has what I need. If not, I'll just work on my soft boot carving technique with some pretty high angles. Thanks, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aracan Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 You might try asking over at the German forum, some of the people there have been to Kitzbühel and might have specifics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikeyboy123 Posted February 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 You might try asking over at the German forum, some of the people there have been to Kitzbühel and might have specifics. Good idea, I'll do that. Thanks, Mike. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jack M Posted February 18, 2011 Report Share Posted February 18, 2011 Sorry for asking what must be a repetetive question, I'll check out the recommended links. No worries, that's why we're here. Welcome and good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoffV Posted February 19, 2011 Report Share Posted February 19, 2011 Mike get intouch with joerg from Pureboarding.com or Frank from Virus! Or even Pogo. I'm pretty sure that they have demo centers in various locations. I would also check out extreme carving.com and see if any of the locals in Austria can recommend a shop around Kitzbuehl. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tabatha Posted February 19, 2011 Report Share Posted February 19, 2011 When I first started, I was able to source a board and bindings, but not boots (I have very small feet). While not ideal and can cause shin-scars, I found renting ski boots a good way of trying before committing. Rental boots tend to be banged up too ... so a little more flexible then high-ends boots. I will repeat; not idea, but doable in a pinch. I actually loaned a spare board and bindings to a friend last week for him to try it and he rented ski boots. He spent the whole time asking me how much it would cost to set him up fro real (I might have brought someone over to the dark side:lol:) Also - love the idea of the "borrow" thread. Plan on using it in my hood. Thanks for the idea and follow-though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zone Posted February 19, 2011 Report Share Posted February 19, 2011 Swoard demo tours, not in Austria though: http://www.extremecarving.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7979 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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