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The excuses thread



 
 
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  #1  
Old March 9th 09, 12:42 PM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Ace[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 177
Default The excuses thread

On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 12:18:03 +0000 (UTC), Switters
wrote:

On Mon, 02 Mar 2009 19:34:23 GMT, "Hog"
allegedly wrote:

I suppose gentle and powder boarding would be ok, soft boots?


Riding powder can be easy on the body if and only if it's untracked and
without obstacles. So, not very often then.


Sounds like you got it good last week though. Likewise in Engelberg
over the weeekend - Saturday was possibly the best powder day of the
season[1], such that I needed to do all my zips up to neck level to
avoid the bow-wave breaking into my jacket.

Tha Laub was particularly nice, although we didn't do it until
mid-afternoon, so wee needed to look for the mainly untracked bits,
rather than finding it all over, IYSWIM.

[1] Although there've been so many, it's hard to be sure.
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  #2  
Old March 9th 09, 04:06 PM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Switters
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 151
Default The excuses thread

On Mon, 09 Mar 2009 12:42:51 GMT, Ace allegedly
wrote:

Sounds like you got it good last week though.


Yep, difficult to beat really. Snowing when we arrived. Sunny the next 2
days, which allowed us to get our bearings and see some of the utterly
fabulous scenery in that area. Then I think it snowed for 48 hours
straight, making some sections just too deep to ride on[1]. I went down
the side of the Contenery in Champoluc pointing straight down the fall
line. It was over 1m deep on some slopes. Had some fantastic runs on the
Alagna side as well as the Gressoney valley.

[1] I was wishing I had my swallow tail with me, but it would have been
hard work on some of the run outs.
  #3  
Old March 9th 09, 09:29 PM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Pip Luscher[_3_]
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Posts: 44
Default The excuses thread

On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:06:48 +0000 (UTC), Switters
wrote:

[1] I was wishing I had my swallow tail with me, but it would have been
hard work on some of the run outs.


What does the swallowtail bit actually do? Is it stability?

--
-Pip
  #4  
Old March 9th 09, 10:13 PM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Champ[_2_]
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Posts: 23
Default The excuses thread

On Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:29:38 +0000, Pip Luscher
wrote:

On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:06:48 +0000 (UTC), Switters
wrote:

[1] I was wishing I had my swallow tail with me, but it would have been
hard work on some of the run outs.


What does the swallowtail bit actually do?


It lets the tail sink into the snow, so that you don't have to lean
back as much as you would on a trad shape board.

--
Champ

ZX10R (road), ZX10R (race; breaking), GSX-600(race; for sale), GPz750 turbo (classic)
To email me, neal at my domain should work.
  #5  
Old March 10th 09, 09:29 AM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Switters
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 151
Default The excuses thread

On Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:29:38 GMT, Pip Luscher
allegedly wrote:

On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:06:48 +0000 (UTC), Switters
wrote:

[1] I was wishing I had my swallow tail with me, but it would have been
hard work on some of the run outs.


What does the swallowtail bit actually do? Is it stability?


As Champ says, but it only comes into effect if the snow is deeper than
the width of one of the tails.

Also, as the board is 180cm long and very stiff, it's really a "big gun"
for above tree line powder riding. Trying to make fast turns on narrow
paths that you get at the bottom of bowls, through the trees etc, can be
entertaining for everyone not riding it.

I probably wouldn't buy another one though and would instead go for
something like the Burton Fish or Prior Khyber.

But on those days when it's the right tool for the job, it's awesome.
  #6  
Old March 10th 09, 10:46 PM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Pip Luscher[_3_]
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Posts: 44
Default The excuses thread

On Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:13:48 +0000, Champ wrote:

On Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:29:38 +0000, Pip Luscher
wrote:

On Mon, 9 Mar 2009 16:06:48 +0000 (UTC), Switters
wrote:

[1] I was wishing I had my swallow tail with me, but it would have been
hard work on some of the run outs.


What does the swallowtail bit actually do?


It lets the tail sink into the snow, so that you don't have to lean
back as much as you would on a trad shape board.


Ah, I am indebted.

--
-Pip
  #7  
Old March 10th 09, 10:53 PM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Pip Luscher[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 44
Default The excuses thread

On Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:29:13 +0000 (UTC), Switters
wrote:

As Champ says, but it only comes into effect if the snow is deeper than
the width of one of the tails.

Also, as the board is 180cm long and very stiff, it's really a "big gun"
for above tree line powder riding. Trying to make fast turns on narrow
paths that you get at the bottom of bowls, through the trees etc, can be
entertaining for everyone not riding it.

I probably wouldn't buy another one though and would instead go for
something like the Burton Fish or Prior Khyber.

But on those days when it's the right tool for the job, it's awesome.


On a slightly different subject, ISTR it wa you who suggested a
different setup on my snowboard last year, which I tried out on my new
one [1]. Worked a treat.

[1] I swore earlier this year that I wouldn't buy a new snowboard; I
couldn't, and it wasn't worth it. Then, purely for curiosity's sake, I
wandered into a shop that sold snowboards. And walked out many pounds
lighter. And a few pounds heavier, too.

--
-Pip
  #8  
Old March 11th 09, 11:07 AM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Switters
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 151
Default The excuses thread

On Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:53:25 GMT, Pip Luscher
allegedly wrote:

On a slightly different subject, ISTR it wa you who suggested a
different setup on my snowboard last year, which I tried out on my new
one [1]. Worked a treat.


Good to hear it. I've learnt a few things over the years

[1] I swore earlier this year that I wouldn't buy a new snowboard; I
couldn't, and it wasn't worth it. Then, purely for curiosity's sake, I
wandered into a shop that sold snowboards. And walked out many pounds
lighter. And a few pounds heavier, too.


heh, yah weak-willed whus. Hopefully it was a good decision though.
  #9  
Old March 11th 09, 10:47 PM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Pip Luscher[_3_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 44
Default The excuses thread

On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 11:07:58 +0000 (UTC), Switters
wrote:

On Tue, 10 Mar 2009 22:53:25 GMT, Pip Luscher
allegedly wrote:

On a slightly different subject, ISTR it wa you who suggested a
different setup on my snowboard last year, which I tried out on my new
one [1]. Worked a treat.


Good to hear it. I've learnt a few things over the years

[1] I swore earlier this year that I wouldn't buy a new snowboard; I
couldn't, and it wasn't worth it. Then, purely for curiosity's sake, I
wandered into a shop that sold snowboards. And walked out many pounds
lighter. And a few pounds heavier, too.


heh, yah weak-willed whus.


Guilty.

Hopefully it was a good decision though.


I think so. New board's an intermediate all-mountain type, a Ride
Havoc. The old one was an ex-rental beginner's board with step-in
bindings.

On trying out the new board, my initial reaction was "Help! I've
forgotten how to turn!" It immediately felt more stable than the old
one. It carves much better and transitions from edge to edge on piste
are a much more controlled affair. It rides powder nicely; just lean
back a bit and it glides. It also seems to have a bit more pop than
the old one and tiny ollies seemed easier (we're talking a few inches
here, so I won't be entering any big-air competitions just yet).

I tried the old one again after a couple of days as a comparison and
the difference was amazing: on the very first casual toe side turn,
the board whipped round so fast I fell forward onto my hands; the
boots felt like they were attached by hinges even after I tightened
the boots' ankle straps up to the edge of discomfort, and the whole
plot generally felt nervy.

The only downside to the new one is the increased difficulty in
turning on steeps; last year I was getting reasonably confident on
mogul runs, though not actually riding the fall line. This year I was
having to work a lot harder to turn quickly and spent rather more time
sitting down. I'll get used to it eventually.

Placing the boards base to base, there was little obvious difference.
The new one was almost identical in length and width overall (one
claimed 158cm, the other 160) and had maybe 1-2mm more side cut each
side. Stiffness was hard to gauge; I did try bending them and gripping
one end between my knees and twisting but any difference could've been
my imagination. Given their superficial similarity, the difference in
behaviour was quite surprising. Pleasing too, otherwise I'd have
wasted a load of money!

--
-Pip
  #10  
Old March 12th 09, 11:08 AM posted to uk.rec.motorcycles,rec.skiing.resorts.europe
Switters
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 151
Default The excuses thread

On Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:47:14 GMT, Pip Luscher
allegedly wrote:

On trying out the new board, my initial reaction was "Help! I've
forgotten how to turn!" It immediately felt more stable than the old
one. It carves much better and transitions from edge to edge on piste


heh, new board vs old noodle - who'd have thought!

The only downside to the new one is the increased difficulty in
turning on steeps; last year I was getting reasonably confident on
mogul runs, though not actually riding the fall line.


The trick to moguls is unweighting the board at the right time. Of
course, it may also be that you need to consider your binding positions on
the newer board, which *may* need to move towards the nose a little more.
Obviously, it's difficult to tell via ascii characters.

I'll get used to it eventually.


That's for sure. You're already wondering how you ever rode the old
board. :-)

Placing the boards base to base, there was little obvious difference.
The new one was almost identical in length and width overall (one
claimed 158cm, the other 160) and had maybe 1-2mm more side cut each
side. Stiffness was hard to gauge;


Although only 2cm difference, combined with the likely stiffer new board,
the performance would be exagerated somewhat, as you've found. Stiff
boards are good, you'll be able to ride faster and hold more of an edge.
 




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