Wobbly Boots?

[jbotti]

If you look at the back of the cat tracks, if you make a small hole on each side of the cat track handle, this will enable one to insert a piece of twine and then knot both ends . It allows for greater leverage and better grip. The duck tape may accomplish the same thing, but mine work great. JB.

[Barrettscv]

Thanks JB,

Ironically, I understood the importance of canting but didn't think about the damage done by walking on unprotected boots.

Thanks,

Michael

[jim-ratliff]

If you look at the back of the cat tracks, if you make a small hole on each side of the cat track handle, this will enable one to insert a piece of twine and then knot both ends . It allows for greater leverage and better grip. The duck tape may accomplish the same thing, but mine work great. JB.

JB.? So you have a single piece of string/twine making a loop between the two holes?? I like that, because you can just hook your fingers through the loop instead of gripping the duct tape.? Your/Diana's solution just moved up to the favorite.?

By the way, everyone, recall from my sailing days says a figure 8 knot makes a good stopper knot for situations like this, it's bigger than a plain knot so it won't slide through the hole (and remains easy to untie which has no value here).

[sunrise]

I knew I could depend on you guys for some good ideas    Thanks for the tips.  I have some virgin canted boot sole plates that were done at the skunkworks and will definitely be getting cat-tracks but the twine and duct tape ideas are new for me. I've never had cat-tracks before so I didn't even know there may be hassles getting them on and off.

Nice to see some familiar names up here.   Sounds like you guys have already had some skiable snow out your way. 

cheers
Julianne (in Japan)

[Gary]

Hey Sunrise...

Julianne, have you been in computor hybernation? ...it's already ski season...well somewhere in the world. Need to have you pop in on some of the tart subject matter floating around here.

All the Real SKier gang? is all charged up and ready to go. You best be getting into those "virgin canted boots" and start wearing them around the house. Gotta get those little piggies used to the plastic love blanket! Ah yes, what one thinks of ones ski boots!

Get some cat tracks stretched out over those bottoms. Takes some getting used to putting them on espcially if the hands are cold, but with some of the "make it easy" tips, should help get those bad boys on.

They certainly will help protect your bottoms....well you know what I mean.
Got your skis all waxed and ready to go? When do you think you'll see skiable snowfall in your area?

So...got any state side trips planned, any international concerts (where there's snow)? I know, soooooo many questions.

Hoping you, your bottoms and your "virgin canted boots" have an awesome ski season.

Best,
Gary

[sunrise]

Hi Gary! Well, thanks for the well wishes, wishing you and everyone else up here a fanblatastic season yourself! Looking forward to hearing how the 82s go for you. I've missed your wildy humorous writings! Nice to see that some things never change!

Me in computer hybernation? LOL, I wish!  I'm on that damn thing pretty much daily. As for our season, over here nothing really gets going until mid November, and that depends on the season, usually not till mid December, though the BC folk are out by mid November at a coupla places.   Right now there's not enough snow to ski on anywhere, it's only been the last week or two that anything's fallen.

As for me, I can't really think about that stuff until the weather starts FEELING like winter.  I lurk on the snowjapan.com forums, occasionaly drop into the PMTS forum and, now that it's cooling down, I'll pop in here when I can, but that's about it.   I don't know when I'll test out my refurbished boots yet, but that's all right - I'll definitely get out there and am looking forward to finally being balanced properly in them (to remind y'all they worked on them to accomdate my larger calves). Might still need a bit of work, but they're going to be light years away from what I'd been dealing with!  And yes, the booster straps are now on there too.  Even without the canting I'm sure I'd be skiing better with the boots that will no longer push me forward or pull me back. Now all that is going to be pilot error only, there's no more excuses for me!    Now I'll finally get a chance to ski those Legend 4800s balanced.  I like those skis at any rate. 

The next acquisition will be a fatter powder ski - Hakuba gets deep snow, and it's usually a little on the wet side, well, compared to Hokkaido, so it's heavier.  I'll never forget trying to wade thru thigh deep snow.   That's frequent up there.    I'm not sure if I can justify it this season (many other things I need to spend money on), but we'll see.....    I may have some work up there this season, I'm not expecting mega pay, but it should at least cover my skiing and travel expenses and hopefully a bit more so that I can justify staying up there a little longer, instead of staying in town to work.

I'm going to see if they have cat tracks here, if not I'll get some from Harold sent over. But even still, I know I'm not going to get around to doing that until early december at the earliest!!!  I'll send the skis to be tuned around the same time I think.

I'll know in a few days if I'm getting sent to Vegas performing for some electronics convention in early Jan. I don't think I'll get it, but hey you never know, in which case I'll be in that neck of the woods and depending on timing might be able to slip off somewhere for a turn or two. 

I've also been painting a lot this year and getting quite serious about it, even though I'm still in the early stages. Even started a painting blog.  I love it and it's part of my longterm plan for eventually not having to live full time in a nasty dirty big city for work......   but that's starting to get quite off topic....   

Well I will definitely let you know where I wind up skiing, and of course, the very least I can do is let you know how the boots go - thanks to all the help you and the others have given me over my boot saga the past few years!

So yeh, happy skiing to you! When's your first venture out going to be?

Julianne

[sunrise]

PS - you know, I ran that thing thru the forum's spell checker, and I see all my nasty typos are still there, LOL!  Oh well.....

[Gary]

Hi Juliane, now that's what I call an update...

Ok...so my 82's, very pumped about putting those sick green little puppies on my booties. Been told since I loved the 75's and then the 77's, the 82's are going to be Nirvana, hmmm, will let you know. If you get a chance to demo any of Head ladies powder skis....they make some great ones...but yucky graphics I think. Hey,.....you should be doing graphics for ski companies. Wouldn't that be a rip!!!!!

Sounds like your busy which is good. I hope things are moving in a positive direction for you. I'm sure a lot of it has to do with connections as well as your color co-ordinated ski outfits. Putting my mind in ski mode this time of year gives me great stress relief when I can close my eyes and see arcing turns on a sunny 8" powder day....OH YEAH!

You spoke of heavy wet snow. We get that here too but I think I really experienced the real deal in some heli skiing up in Whistler this past April. Cement..required a lot more work...a lot more....to make turns. It was a great experience though, just wished we had dry powder...hey wishes, smishes,..it was what it was...just love exposing myself (don't go there) to a variety of ski conditions.

I think you are going to be pleasantly pleased with your newly balanced boots. Remember to register the first feeling on your first few turns. Be curious to hear what you felt. I'm betting you'll be able to feel your feet working beneath you like never before, and boy, will those 4800 dance! As far as having a gig on the mountain, pay, food, ski....hmmmm...hard to beat I would think. Good luck hoping that happens.

Vegas in January...You can sure get to some ski resorts from there. Just pack your boots and get out to Lake Tahoe. Come one, coming state side if  it happens, ya gotta get some skiing in even for a day. That would be soooooooo nice!

Painting, yep I can believe it after seeing your designs on your CD's...you good gal! Hey, it's like anything else, ya got the passion, you can make it happen. Are you doing any design work for clients or private work for show and sale?

First away skiing is with Ron and Michael from Real Skiers. We are meeting in Beaver Creek Dec 11-15th. Another buddy is joining us from Chicago. Looking forward to skiing with other passionate ski maniacs like myself. We're staying right on the mountain. Should be a great time, can't wait.

Hope you remember to carry your PMTS drills to the mountain this year. Those along with your aligned boots and body should be good for some awesome turns and screaming yahoooo's down the mountain.

Best,
Gary

[sunrise]

Hi Gary,

thanks for your chatty reply Your up and coming ski trip sounds great. I wish I could join! Ah well, another lifetime. Have a blast!

No chance of Head women's skis to demo over this neck of the woods and probably no chance of any Head skis to demo over here period. 

Actually, when I saw wet snow, I wasn't referring to snow as wet as cement. Niigata resorts get wetter snow than Hakuba (it's right on the coast).  I guess I was comparing it to Hokkaido snow which is much lighter and drier. Still, Hakuba can get light, dry snow too.

Yeh, those boots!  Over the year I've had several dreams of skiing in them and feeling soooo much new control! I'm sure that'll be the case! I'll sure let you know. It would have been great to go out on them a day or two after having skied a lot in them un-furbished, but I know I'll be able to notice a difference regardless.  And oh yeh, you can bet I'll be doing some PMTS drills to get myself going.... banana turns for starters... and a bunch of others....

Yes, I think I can get a little work up on the slopes this season. But it's always a dilemma cos  when I'm working I have to pace myself on the slopes so I can rest between skiing and working. But hey, I can't complain...

Lake Tahoe, huh? Okay, thanks, I'll keep it in mind. Of course I have no idea if I'll get the gig yet........

Haha, ski graphics, now there's an interesting thought....  Yes, things seem to be going okay for me at the moment. Haven't conquered the world yet, but hey, Rome wasn't built in a day...

As far as art is concerned  I'm just finishing off a job doing artwork to illustrate a novel! Who'dav thunk it?!  And yes, if people want to buy, I sell my paintings. haven't sold many yet, but haven't been trying....  I don't want to get too off topic here cos it'll bore the heck outta everyone else, so when I get a chance I'll drop you an email to update you with all the art stuff.

cheers
Julianne

[Gary]

Good morning here and good evening there!
What other ski choices can you demo in Japan? Any K2 by chance? I demoed some skis for Ski Press Magazine that began with an "O"...can't remember their name but they were a very good ski.
Do you know what that is.....

Beaver Creek should be a rip...the guys are all gear heads and have great passion for skiing!

Nice to hear you can get the nice dry snow and say some mildly wet snow. Here, it can be, sweat your behind off wet in the northeast snow as well as north west and Sierra Mountain snows. It's not like that all the time but when it does fall, there are more people horizontal than vertical...so much more work but you learn to ski cause....well.....i t's skiing!!

Well you have to be pumped to get out and implement your new ski skills working off the basically brand new boots. Looking forward to hearing your reports.

Pace yourself....you're still a puppy, lady! Ok, you can take naps to recover. If you get out west, let the gang know.

You know, I've seen some of the Japanese ski graphics on their skis and boards....I'll bet you could do better...Ok, just one mans opinion, but heck, forget Rome, conquer Japan. I'll bet they spend more money on skiing...heck on everything!

Artwork for a novel...congrats... hey stretching and reaching is growth. Who knows where that road will take you...but for sure it's taking you somewhere. Glad you're chasing it! Drop a line when you can.

Well the weather here is turning cold, the fall colors are beautiful, and real snow is about 5-6 weeks away. We will get some snow sooner but it doesn't stay on the ground,...just teases us.

Our local mountain just added some computerized fan guns and a new trail. They did a great job making snow and covering everyting last season. Hoping we have another great one this year.

Best to you in all endeavors,
Gary