The excuses thread

Age does that to you - bones heal so much better in the young.

Learn to ski instead.

 

More the diabetic thing. I've started on a 3 way supplement course and
I hope it moves things along.

Well I do of course.

 

Haha. I've just cleaned mine too, but it's screaming at me to go and
get it dirty again ..

P.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

Ah, I am indebted.

 

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.

 

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

heh, yah weak-willed whus. 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!

 

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

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.

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

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.

 

....and to be as fit as a racing whippet. Steep, powder, trees,
ice, crusty - fine. Bloody great, **** off, man high, mogul fields
I've always found to be, er, bloody hard work. Not that I've been
for a few years mind. :-(

 

Whinger. Considering the comapny we're in, come on back when you've
got several lbs of metalwork in tow ..

P.

 

You're assuming he'd be welcome then?

 

Heh, love to.

<checks thread title>
Unfortunately this effin' credit crunch has fucked my income stream up,
good and proper. Looks like I'll be looking for work of some sort or
another, to stop eating into my capital. Don't think a boarding trip
atm 'works' for me in that sense.

Ho hum, mebbe next year.

 

Hey, thanks, I'd love to! We'll bring the dogs too. I think I can swing
three weeks, since it's such a good season.

(What's with the subject line, btw? I almost missed this!)

 

Yeah, I see that ;-)