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91
Liam,

Thanks for sharing a final tribute to the season. It was weird seeing the lifts not running.

I'm still astounded by the thought of using a 161 cm Shaman ski in the east. My mind keeps telling me it "does not compute". :o I'd love to try it sometime.
92
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....the tail guide is a wise man.....

The tail guide, Kiwi, has been heli guiding since 1966, which is pretty impressive considering heli skiing only started in 1965. He also trained and coordinate SAR teams in BC. When he talked I listened.

I'm curious,  did the Heli Co offer for any skis to use and if so, what were they?

Other rental ski options were:

Atomic Ritual
K2 Sidestash
K2 Pon2oon
Atomic Century (women)

Their recommendation was for first timers to use the Atomic Access.

http://www.canadianmountainholidays.com/heli-skiing/faq/equipment

93
The Neutral Zone -- Open Discussion on anything / Re: Skiing with Ron
« Last post by Ron on April 18, 2013, 11:42:21 am »
Agreed on all points Gary. The 90 carves well and may be fine again on softer groomers but it did fail miserably on the stuff we had it in (arguably rare situation) but it rattled and was not anywhere near as good as the FX84. I did ski Gary's FX84 on another part of the mountain on some snow that was pushed/piled and frozen the night before and as it was becoming softer; the control and dampness of the ski was markedly better. Even though Gary's 168s are too short for me, it was easier to ski on the 84's and much more enjoyable too. 

I am still amazed at how versatile and enjoyable the 105 is. 
94
The Neutral Zone -- Open Discussion on anything / Last Days of 2013 ski video-Liam
« Last post by Liam on April 18, 2013, 11:13:21 am »
Hey Everyone,

well, I might get motivated to hit Stowe on Sunday...but chances are the turns in this video below are my final turns of 2013 (a hell of a great season here in the East).

https://vimeo.com/64313674

It's short-it has three little vignettes all shot by my wife on her iphone (so I apologize for the Zapruder film level of quality in spots!).

First section is Me skiing bumps (the great 'Yard Sale' at Mount Snow-it's the second steepest pitch on that mountain (after ripcord) and it has moguls from december through closing (never groomed) and it's right above the main base lifts-So these tend to be big bumps with pretty deep troughs.  The tops had some bare spots in the troughs and I did a little shopping, but the bottom 2/3's were great.  My little hill has great glades and good pitches, but we do get a little bump starved so these are, unfortunately among the few bumps I skied all season ('kept at Saddleback Maine in March).  I hope to ski more next season...

Second vignette is my little guy and then me (the guy in the patrol coat) skiing the typical terrain at Berkshire East:  Wide Open, steepish groomers (and in this case with soft spring snow!).  There are very few other places in the east, on a weekend, you can get to make turns this big on a slope to yourself...this is why I love Berkshire East.

Final is my buddy John, leading his daughter, a friend, my son, and lastly me through the bottom of this fun 'family' glade called Blizzard Island at Berkshire East. 

Season ended wonderfully, great snow throughout.  Enjoy the spring, gang.

Oh, FWIW: SKIS USED: 1. BUMPS-ICELANTIC SHAMAN 161cm (consider it a video review...this ski rules the East)
                                   2. Open Groomer: Head Rock n Roll 180cm, Ideal turn shape for that ski, feels great over 20m with some speed,         pretty unshakeable
                                    3. Easy Trees:  I think that was the Head again, but I might have also been the Howitzers

BOOTS: Dalbello Krypton Fusion with Intuition Lines....Great boots for a patroller IMHO.

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OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOO.....t he tail guide is a wise man.....

I'm curious,  did the Heli Co offer for any skis to use and if so, what were they?

The reason I ask is on my heli trip, I was on a brand new pair of my own Head 78 underfoot... :o..what the heck was I thinking....this is back about 8 years ago...when 78 was considered a mid fat ski. I worked WAY to hard in the 4000 vertical bowl conditions we had that day.

Anyways, the Heli Co was putting people on Salomon 100  underfoot...conside red their wide pow ski then....I should have jumped on one of those if I knew then what I know now....indeed sometimes wisdom seems to only show up when we're sweating, horizontal and trying to find footing!  :D

I hear ya on that 1 footed skiing habit...more time in the crud using both foot, downhill and uphill edges simultaneously has made it for me "on demand" when needed.

You know it's there....you'll find more places to use it now.

Best, G
96
The Neutral Zone -- Open Discussion on anything / Re: Skiing with Ron
« Last post by Gary on April 18, 2013, 08:50:43 am »
Thanks Ron....certainly the 105 is a fun versatile ski....I just got talked into the longer version....by the guys in the shop...crap!

In comparing the Rev 90 to the Kastle 84, yes the Rev had a wee bit more underfoot and probably as nimble in soft snow but the 90 transmits way to much vibration through the ski compared to the Kastle when the snow is stiff or firm. I actually was considering replacing the Kastle with the Rev 90 but that whim has passed.

That width ski has to be my most versatile ski in my quivver...so far in my demo's....for me, it's hard to top the Kastle 84.....SO FAR!  ::)

Best, G
97
Current Reviews (this and last season) / Re: Head Rev 85 review
« Last post by Gary on April 18, 2013, 08:41:00 am »
Nice review Mike...sounds like after the initial mishaps and launching, you've got the binding location worked out. What length did you ski it in?

That new binding and plate will certainly quicken up the edge to edge movements and for carving, that will be sweet. Glad to hear too that you enjoyed the ski without knee pain.

So glad you've got your 1 quivver out west ski nailed.....sure makes traveling easier.

best, G
98





The 15% Rule Of Tire Inflation.
[
A good customer and newsletter reader, Charlie Zwick, sent me a copy of a great article from Bicycle Quarterly about tire inflation. It says, for most riding, tires should compress about 15% when you get on your bike.

The front and rear tires, typically take remarkably different pressures.  To determine yours, put your bike on a bathroom scale (with one wheel on a block of the same height) and get into your riding position.  Record both front and rear wheel scale readings.

Bike and rider for me is about 210 pounds with 40% on the front wheel and 60% on the back.  The chart indicates that I should be running 88/132 psi for 23C tires and about 75/100 for 25C.  If we factor in an additional 11% pressure reduction that the wider rims offer (according to Steve Hed), that would equate to 67/98 for 25C and 78/117 for 23C.  Note how low the pressure is in the "controlling" front tire - that, my friend, can change your world.
My significant other who with bike, hits the scales at about 140, would have these numbers. Normal width wheels 25C 55/75, 23C 62/88 and with wide rims 49/67 on 25C and 55/78 on 23C.
Tire pressure will affect your ride much more than any other factor ? both in terms of comfort and performance.  My guess is that less than 1% of bike riders are riding on the right tire pressures.  You can experiment with tire pressures for free.  Have fun.
Thanks for reading ? John Neugent
99
Gear Garage / Re: Krypton Pro boots
« Last post by Svend on April 17, 2013, 07:26:06 pm »
I got the the KR2 Krypton Fusions w/ Intuition liners.  I'll ski them as is for a bit and then make modifications as warranted.

I am excited to get a feel for what ankle mobility adds to off piste/ mogul skiing.

Svend,

we'll see about the tongues, too-I'll ski the stock one for  awhile...


Hey Liam, curious to know how the Kryptons worked out for you this year? Good performance? Any major pros or cons over two-piece boots that are noteworthy?

Interested to hear your feedback...

100
I don't know your height and weight but I can say emphatically...some thing 105 to 115 underfoot and wider shovel would have helped keeping you upright.

5'10" 189 lbs. 171 cm long, 100 mm wide worked fine in the open alpine. In the trees where the snow is deeper and the speed slower - not so much. Also, coming from hard pack I found it wasn't easy to break the 1 footed skiing habit.

Our tail guide (who I became well acquainted with) estimated that getting up from every fall was the equivalent of skiing an extra run.
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