Snow Sports and/or Surfing

On the XC side, Jessie Diggins took gold in the 10k today. :inlove:

Watching the World Cup alpine races from the weekend, they mentioned the US gold medal in Team Parallel Slalom at the World Championships last week. I don’t recall seeing a team alpine race before. Had that early X Games vibe, not quite super modified shovel racing but not the Hahnenkamm either.
 
herzalot said:
Their 103" from this week may last until next year!
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herzalot said:
XC is to skiing what XC is to mt biking!

A Sh!t ton of exercise with little reward. Even worse in skiing. At least modern XC mt bike courses have rocks and drops and Sh!t.
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XC is straight up roadie. Time trials are terrible TV either way. Guns make XC way more watchable.

Question: Jessie or Micaela?

The answer is probably Lindsey though.
 
scottay said:
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Shopping for boots, pretty sure I dont want soft flex, want firm or stiff. I always seen to crank my bindings, dont like any slop.
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Are these pretty stiff?

Thanks!
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Ride Deadbolt. If they still make them. Or if you really want stiff - Ride Insano.

My Ride Deadbolts circa 2019 have a velcro/leather strap across the top to reinforce the Boa lacing. Looks like they did away with that for 2023.

Here's the 2020 version - very much like mine, except mine are black and brown:
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As a former ski racer who is used to very stiff boots, I wanted a fairly stiff snowboard boot / binding. I've had the deadbolts since 2019 and I still love them. Not stupid stiff, but definitely substantive. Then again, I'm not a very good snowboarder.
 
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scottay said:
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Shopping for boots, pretty sure I dont want soft flex, want firm or stiff. I always seen to crank my bindings, dont like any slop.
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Are these pretty stiff?

Thanks!
.
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I started out boarding with flexy boots on K2 Clicker step-in bindings so that was all I knew. The boots lasted me 5-6 seasons and by then, the market had changed and most snowboard boots were crazy stiff....to me. I've never found a pair yet that was as comfortable as those boots from 1994. This year I moved on to the Burton step-in system and have these Photon boots which I wish were more flexy but are comfy and the BOA system is a must have for the rest of my life. https://www.backcountry.com/b/burto...6adbqrtF2e_vtsWOgp9oNpHlF3CI2mbxoCvIMQAvD_BwE
 
mtbMike said:
I started out boarding with flexy boots on K2 Clicker step-in bindings so that was all I knew. The boots lasted me 5-6 seasons and by then, the market had changed and most snowboard boots were crazy stiff....to me. I've never found a pair yet that was as comfortable as those boots from 1994. This year I moved on to the Burton step-in system and have these Photon boots which I wish were more flexy but are comfy and the BOA system is a must have for the rest of my life. https://www.backcountry.com/b/burto...6adbqrtF2e_vtsWOgp9oNpHlF3CI2mbxoCvIMQAvD_BwE
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I’m still sold on Burton’s binding, 2.5 seasons in. The little clicky noise in the toes still gets me occasionally but the payback is in lap times.
 
mtbMike said:
Just heard of that place today for the 1st time. We're in Ogden at the moment and thinking about trying Beaver Mountain for he 1st time on Friday.
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Cherry Peak is REALLY small in comparison to most Utah resorts. BUT the price reflects that AND it is never crowded. Never waited more than 2-3 minutes to get on the lifts.
Beaver SHOULD be good on Friday, they got 30" + on Monday night and more since.
 
scottay said:
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Shopping for boots, pretty sure I dont want soft flex, want firm or stiff. I always seen to crank my bindings, dont like any slop.
.
Are these pretty stiff?

Thanks!
.
Click to expand...

If'n I remember correcty they are right in the middle. I like to crank down the lower laces and leave the uppers a little loose. But, I do crank my straps down, at least the top one. IF I had the $ I would buy the Burton step in system. But I don't so the Nitro's work good enough for me. AND, I think you can get them with the BOA lace system too.
 
herzalot said:
My colleague who lives in Wrightwood says CalTrans will not be opening the 2 this weekend between the 138 and Wrightwood. So no Mt. High.
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I wish that I didn’t think that was wise. Whichever road opens first will be an immediate jerryfest.

1000 years from now archaeologists will determine the historical extent of the California snowpack by finding piles of broken plastic sleds.
 
As planned, we went to Beaver Mountain today which is 25'ish miles NE up Hwy 89 out of Logan, UT. You're in Logan Canyon the entire time and it is stunningly beautiful....even saw some elk enjoying breakfast on the hillside 20' from the road. Our first time up here and I'm going to be completely biased since we had another 6-8" of snow up top and I will trade fast lifts and no frills for no crowds and $60 lift tickets 7 days a week. My oh my, if you're a tree skier/boarder, this place was nirvana. I lapped tree runs literally allay and was making first tracks 50% minimum until our last run. I very rarely ride past 3 pm but we took the last lift we could today. I can't say enough positive things about this mom & pop place. It helps being retired for sure but I'll watching the weather next year and we'll be back!!! On to a week at Park City tomorrow. Bring on the crowds and $25 burgers. :gag:

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mtbMike said:
Epic Passes for 23/24 season went on sale today. IKON apparently following later this week from what I hear.
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Somebody has to blow the lid off of this price fixing bullshit in the ski industry. Buy a pass or pay $200 + a day. Then, fly there, rent some place to stay, rent some equipment, eat... A family of 4 is $2000+ a day! Where do all these people get that kind of disposable income?
 
herzalot said:
Somebody has to blow the lid off of this price fixing bullshit in the ski industry. Buy a pass or pay $200 + a day. Then, fly there, rent some place to stay, rent some equipment, eat... A family of 4 is $2000+ a day! Where do all these people get that kind of disposable income?
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I don't know....these passes are what brought us back into the game. I got mine for $664 so with current lift rates (they aren't ever coming back down), I only need to do 3 days to "break even". Not working and being able to leave on a moments notice is also a game changer. Working in education and having to travel on the busiest weekends is the worst possible scenario as a skier. It also doesn't help living in Southern CA. As @Redman has discovered at Cherry Creek and I found at Beaver Mountain, there are great deals to be had with the same quality snow if you're willing to accept less amenities and wow factor that the mega resorts have.
 
mtbMike said:
I don't know....these passes are what brought us back into the game. I got mine for $664 so with current lift rates (they aren't ever coming back down), I only need to do 3 days to "break even". Not working and being able to leave on a moments notice is also a game changer. Working in education and having to travel on the busiest weekends is the worst possible scenario as a skier. It also doesn't help living in Southern CA. As @Redman has discovered at Cherry Creek and I found at Beaver Mountain, there are great deals to be had with the same quality snow if you're willing to accept less amenities and wow factor that the mega resorts have.
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Of course - if you don't have to factor in transportation and lodging, it's a great deal. And if you have read any of my posts, you know that I like the smaller ski areas with easy access and I don't require or desire mega resorts, however, if I buy an Epic or Ikon pass, I have to travel. And as you mention, in education, my days off are the busiest and worst days to ski. So no - the passes are not a good deal for me. The passes - like athletic club memberships - are aimed at squids like me who will probably buy them because they are such a deal, but then not actually use them more than the 3 times it takes to pay for them. And am I supposed to buy three of them? And which one Ikon or Epic? I have family in Truckee and Avon. I just want to walk up to a window and purchase a reasonably priced day or half-day ticket for me, my wife and my kid. But that will NEVER happen in my lifetime again.

Now get off my slopes! :mad:
 
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herzalot said:
Somebody has to blow the lid off of this price fixing bullshit in the ski industry. Buy a pass or pay $200 + a day. Then, fly there, rent some place to stay, rent some equipment, eat... A family of 4 is $2000+ a day! Where do all these people get that kind of disposable income?
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Been near a Disney resort lately? Or a golf course?

Based on the crowds I’d say the problem is that the prices are too low!

When I worry that high prices might be squeezing the regular joes out of the sport, I just go for a ride on the Bear Mtn shuttle and the worry goes away.
 
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herzalot said:
Of course - if you don't have to factor in transportation and lodging, it's a great deal. And if you have read any of my posts, you know that I like the smaller ski areas with easy access and I don't require or desire mega resorts, however, if I buy an Epic or Ikon pass, I have to travel. And as you mention, in education, my days off are the busiest and worst days to ski. So no - the passes are not a good deal for me. The passes - like athletic club memberships - are aimed at squids like me who will probably buy them because they are such a deal, but then not actually use them more than the 3 times it takes to pay for them. And am I supposed to buy three of them? And which one Ikon or Epic? I have family in Tahoe and Avon. I just want to walk up to a window and purchase a reasonably priced day or half-day ticket for me, my wife and my kid. But that will NEVER happen in my lifetime again.
Now get off my slopes! :mad:
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Tahoe and Avon= Epic. Assuming it’s South Tahoe of course. But really it’s not a close call.

Epic has a great 2 day pass for under $200, but you gotta plan ahead. Yeah I know…

edit: just saw that you have Sierra ski ranch on your Mt. High pass. They got hit by the fire a couple years ago, so no telling what shape it’s in, but it’s where I learned to snowboard. That is a worthwhile destination resort in a below-the-radar way.
 
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tick said:
Been near a Disney resort lately? Or a golf course?

Based on the crowds I’d say the problem is that the prices are too low!

When I worry that high prices might be squeezing the regular joes out of the sport, I just go for a ride on the Bear Mtn shuttle and the worry goes away.
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I don't do Disney. And I rarely golf.

But yes, from a purely economic point of view, clearly the poor huddled masses yearning to breathe free can afford to ski / snowboard.
There's no shortage of people. Of ALL walks of life.

Oh and Truckee - not South Lake.
 
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herzalot said:
Somebody has to blow the lid off of this price fixing bullshit in the ski industry. Buy a pass or pay $200 + a day. Then, fly there, rent some place to stay, rent some equipment, eat... A family of 4 is $2000+ a day! Where do all these people get that kind of disposable income?
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If I had to pay $200 a day to Mtb I wouldn't be riding. Just saying.

And I'll be in Tahoe/Reno for work in two weeks. No skiing though, cause I don't care for that white stuff. :gag: :facepalm::p

But I see the attraction, have fun and go get some!
 
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New board day. Academy Master that I advertised above. It actually arrived a week or so ago, but just got bindings mounted up. Essentially the same board as the Tom Sims Pro that didn't need replacing, but it went to a good home, and I kind of just had the itch after the Mercury didn't work out. As to when it will actually see snow....who knows. At least we're setting up for an endless Spring season, and it looks like I'll actually get to sneak away to Mammoth with my snow bunny bride relatively soon.

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buggravy said:
New board day. Academy Master that I advertised above. It actually arrived a week or so ago, but just got bindings mounted up. Essentially the same board as the Tom Sims Pro that didn't need replacing, but it went to a good home, and I kind of just had the itch after the Mercury didn't work out. As to when it will actually see snow....who knows. At least we're setting up for an endless Spring season, and it looks like I'll actually get to sneak away to Mammoth with my snow bunny bride relatively soon.

View attachment 87394
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Very cool looking board. No teenager graphics! But them binders seem to be pretty far back, yes?
 
herzalot said:
Very cool looking board. No teenager graphics! But them binders seem to be pretty far back, yes?
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I think it's mostly a weird pic. The board itself has a 2cm-ish setback on the sidecut, and the bindings are centered on the inserts. The board looks more directional/setback than it is because of the stubby tail and pointy nose. On normal (not powder) snow it rides just like your standard directional twin.
 
Went up to my local Cherry Peak this morning. They open the peak chair on Thursday thru Sunday. Since Sunday the resort has got closer to 3 feet. Knee deep pow on the ungrounded, which is 90% of what accessible by the peak chair. I was the 2nd chair to the top. Best runs of the season so far! Got some fresh pow turns. Hope next Thursday is as good.

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