barryj Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Yes...I did a search...ok only one, but let's try this: Like it says: Name the top improvements that had a major improvement on your riding. For me: not any any order, 1- New Deeluxe Suzuka Boots - you don't want to know how old my old pair were! 2- New Virus Board - uh, same as above on my old board 3- Additional lift on rear binding 4- Boot bias really made it come together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryj Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 OK - I forgot one....maybe the #1 for me A SEASON PASS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.oldsnowboards.com Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Riding Riding with guys better than me Riding with Mike Riding with Chris Riding with Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~tb Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 1) (this more than any other) the guy was a polarizer, but riding 4 days a week with CMC for my first years of carving made a huge difference 2) the rest of the Stratton gang. Consistently riding with great riders make you better in so many ways (PSR, Shaggy, Cheri, the Cloyes family, Steph, Alex, Paul K, Crispin, Rudy and many more). Each of these people have taught me something I would never have picked up on my own. 3) Many SES and ECES (carving events in general). Similar to #2 above, riding with other carvers with different styles, views, techniques has made me a stronger rider even if I don't agree with them. Joerg from pureboarding Is the prime example of this. I learned a completely different way to make a carved turn from him at SES. Not my cup of tea, but made me a stronger rider. 4) Finding a board builder that works well with me. Sean at Donek and I are on a similar wave length, think similarly, and communicate well. This combined with his experience and tools has resulted in boards that continually allow me to push my capabilities. If you think that there is nothing better than that 15 year old board you still swear by, call Donek, Coiler or Prior and have them build you a new ride. 5) catek bindings. Company might be on the decline (if not gone), but being able to completely dial in my stance was a huge game changer for me. If something doesn't feel right in my stance, I can change it right then and there and continue riding with confidence. Without getting all sappy, I find it that 3.5 out of 5 of my game changers revolve around people, not things. I Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
two_ravens Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 1) custom Coiler 2) BTS kit 3) riding at least an hour nearly every morning 4) focusing on one skill or part of a skill/one turn or part of a turn at a time, until I feel I have that piece dialed. 5) video of myself that I can readily compare to other better riders - especially follow cam by Johnasmo that let me see myself and other riders on the same terrain from the same angles. Just watching video of other good riders helps too - I watch over and over in slow-mo if I can, and that seems make it soak into my muscles and bypass all that brain-based nonsense. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koldo Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 In chronological order: 1. Reading BOL discussions, tech articles and everything - here I found out what it is all about for the first time. Since I was beggining on my own, this website worked as my instructor 2. getting a SG deck - head to head comparison with my renntiger made me realise how much difference can a board make 3. Meeting Wintergold and following his advice - the biggest step forward I made so far 4. Buying UPZ boots instead of noodle like Deeluxe track 225 - I discovered a whole new world of stability, which resulted in increased power in my riding and higher speeds 5. Another season on slopes chasing Wintergold and working on his hints - priceless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinpa Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) Seems like the common thread here is PEOPLE! Thanks Fin, for having this forum to bring us together. I think we all know, that chance meetings do (and can) happen, but isn't it so much easier to find people on here and arrange a day on the hill! And equipment? I'm sure that gets included in several people's top 5... I think that may have to do a lot with this forum too.... hmmmm... I think I'm going to start a poll.... Edited February 19, 2012 by kinpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philw Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Mine may be too long ago to be useful, and I'm probably not a "carver" in the sense many use the word, but here it is anyway: 1 - 1993 I buy a noo-skool race board The shift to symmetrical race boards was a revelation. These boards were made for speed, not tricks. Stances were 2 - 1997 I switch from race to powder boards in powder I'd ridden my piste boards in powder for years, then one day I broke the nose off my Nitro Scorpion 162 in deep powder, ramming the nose into a buried log. I was fine, but the nose was flapping in the snow. I was in BC so I couldn't buy another race board for love nor money... so I rode a Burton Supermodel 168, standard powder board of the time. I never went back in powder. So 100% of my "game changers" were technical things, not people. The reason could be that I'm an arrogant bastard, or maybe there just weren't any other people around when I started, or both. Sure, there's a ton to learn from other people, I just don't ride where they ride much. So one day if I do, maybe I'll be able to add #3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
softbootsurfer Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 adding a Booster Strap or 3rd strap putting both feet at 45 degrees reading terrain changes applying the moshun from surfing and skating all this was done over 25 years ago so #5 is Relax and Enjoy it :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
icebiker Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 1) Getting proper fitting hard boots 2) My new Donek...talk about a perfect fit. Nothing I have ever bought before (including bikes, previous boards, kayaks, suits, etc) felt so perfect right out of the box. 3) Sean Martin's advice/guidance/patience during the ordering process 4) Friendly advice from the BOL community. It's been all virtual (BOL) so far, but I hope some day to meet many of you in person. I'm sure there's hundreds more tips I can learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0ardski Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 starting 25 yrs ago 1 hardboots; starting with Merrel supercomps on a '83 burton performer ups & nordica sbh 91-92 2 board; 89 k2 tx carving board, out carved anything from the rental shop I could try in 88 3 binding; sims rotocants in 92 allowed me to dail in cant & lift just like TDs 4 season pass/practice; 10+ years of 100 day seasons by 05 5 finding BOL in 07; starting to get pretty good with all the advice and other riders I've met since Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carvedog Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 1) mileage 2)footbeds and foam injected liners 3) learning how to flex my spine 4) taking my race boards out on any run in any conditions 5) becoming an instructor. putting both feet at 45 degrees I thought I was the only one. I ride that on my all mountain setups. some people look at me like I am whacked for riding the same angle on both feet. We weird bros. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big mario Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Riding with a great crew, including a current racer, Ice, an ex racer, Mr. Awesome and most importantly an ex racer/coach Inkaholic. Watching the smooth style of the Sheriff, Pcogan Watching various videos, esp the Loon goons, which helped me apply all the stuff Ink threw at me Getting a BTS and then outgrowing it Riding at least 35 days a season mario Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teach Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Originally Posted by softbootsailer putting both feet at 45 degrees I thought I was the only one. I ride that on my all mountain setups. some people look at me like I am whacked for riding the same angle on both feet. We weird bros. Me too. It's pretty much the only way to avoid booting out, other than a 30 cm waist board and extreme duck! (But I find past 45 degrees with soft boots is nearly impossible, so that limits me to wide boards (26 cm +).) That's number 0 for me, then. Originally posted by icebiker1) Getting proper fitting hard boots That's number 1-4 for me! Number 5 is my Coiler RCII 180, way easier to ride than the 177 AM flex 8.0 I had. Oh yeah, number 5.1 is empty slopes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueB Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Getting a BTS and then outgrowing it That's interesting, I also feel like ditching the BTS for carving on good snow. Tried for few days in the late season last year, it felt good... My list of 5 (some items of related or similar importance listed together): 1) Skiing for 25+ years first, from young age 2) Moving to Vancouver / Getting my first own snowboard / Starting to snowboard at least 50% of time 3) Mileage 4) Becoming an instructor / CASI courses / Always trying new things / Pushing the envelope / Doing stuff other then carving 5) Finding Bomber, reading and discussing, then trying / Trying tons of gear / Optimizing the setups and one extra: 6) Going back to a very splayed stance, for the things other then carving / Going back to shorter and softer boards for stuff other then carving Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryj Posted February 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 Good stuff guys! Keep it coming......... I envy you guys that can ride together, but I think were on the endangered list up here in N. Cali......I have not seen one other hard booter this season up here at Squaw, Alpine, Northstar, Diamond or Sugar Bowl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mattj Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 The main things that have helped me are: 1) Riding with the LCI. Sometimes the level of Awesomeness leaves me speechless.... :-) 2) Getting a new-school metal board (Donek 184 GS prototype) 3) Widening my stance and going with pure lift front and back with no cant 4) Reading Bomber and watching video's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilux Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 (edited) These are my cheat notes with the help from fellow BOL members... 1. Heelside: 70% weight on heel of front foot Toeside: 70% weight on ball of back foot 2. Look way into the turn and where you want to go! · Pick a marker/tree and focus on that, not the fall line ie downhill. · Knees driving turn 3. Heelside: lean into turn more than you think, shifting slightly forward and in knees driving turn 4. Grab boot cuff. Heelside: grab front boot cuff with back hand Toeside: grab back boot with front hand Don’t let your back hand trail behind! No Wings...you’re not trying to fly! 5. Inclination! Only when space and terrain permit. Inclination of entire body on each edge.6. When in doubt ask Where are your knees? Where are your hips? If not sure move them! Other things include, metal deck, proper fitting boots, relaxing and having fun. Edited February 19, 2012 by Hilux Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dingbat Posted February 19, 2012 Report Share Posted February 19, 2012 1. Looking in to the turn. 2. Looking way in to the turn. 3. Really looking way in to the turn. 4. Really looking way in to the turn soon enough. 5. Eric, Joerg, Bobby, Mike, and Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scrapster Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 1. Looking in to the turn.2. Looking way in to the turn. 3. Really looking way in to the turn. 4. Really looking way in to the turn soon enough. 5. Eric, Joerg, Bobby, Mike, and Jon. 6. The strong motivation to not look as bad as Scrapster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SEJ Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 barry, head around the lake to Heav and ride with Cuban. He's there all month. Probably hook up with tahoetrencher as well. Check the ride board. Rode with these guys last year, great riders. Where do you normally ride? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ursle Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 Good, neigh, great orthotics, most important tool Custom foamed liners(surefoot,diablo,?) second most important tool, the shell is along for the ride. Wrist guards, no more worries on the front edge at speed and just a quick push off if a rear edge slips away, then back at it. Etymotic research er4 earphones, ahh, (as long as you're on a Kessler with an apex plate or a Virus exterminator "without an Apex plate") Good snow, hard is a no "brainer", but an actual base is necessary, included in the good snow is good light, no sun no fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barryj Posted February 20, 2012 Author Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 [ATTACH]29700[/ATTACH "No Wings...you’re not trying to fly! Is this "Wings"? If so, I want flying lessons!~ SJ- I'm mostly at Alpine - there's just not a big wide open groomer open yet that's not covered with jib rats---- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b0ardski Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 no this is wings, I call it airplane turns and they make feel like I'm 6 yrs old again, disclaimer; don't try this at home, I am a professional 6yr old trained in playing airplane, you can not carve with your hands out to the sides Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinpa Posted February 20, 2012 Report Share Posted February 20, 2012 no this is wings, I call it airplane turns and they make feel like I'm 6 yrs old again, disclaimer; don't try this at home, I am a professional 6yr old trained in playing airplane, you can not carve with your hands out to the sides Do you make fighter plane sound effects too???? oh, come on... I know you do! But hey.... just keep those poles out of the way! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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