The Split!!!

[Ispoiler]

My split has arrived today and she is beautiful! The Blaho brothers have out done themselves with this one. If any one is thinking about a custom split this is the way to go. I was sent pictures of each stage of construction, I felt like a proud father looking at a sonogram. Color and graphics were my choice as well. With a new board and a softshell in the mail I can predict an early spring starting Dec 1st.

split ****
http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/666/1732image00011.jpg

http://timefortuckerman.com/photopost/data/666/1732image00021-med.jpg

[M@]

OOOoooo... purty.

M@

[Affix Snow]

VERY NICE!
Glad to hear you FINALLY got it....

Didnt know you went with Last years top! I like it better than this years evo!

Now we need some snow to christen it!

[NH_tele]

Now we just need to get you out on some Tele gear so you can REALLY start enjoying the backcountry... ;) ;) ;)

Seriously, though, congratulations, hopefully there will be some :snowflakes: on the ground soon to use it!

[Ispoiler]

I will try tele this winter, just don't tell anybody!

[Justin]

How do you hook your boots into those things?

[el-bagr]

What we aren't seeing is the binding itself -- those rectangular plates are the "universal binding interface" which allow a binding to be mounted to the plates. For skinning, you separate the board (held together in part by the plates) and have one binding on each plate mounted on the disc shown at left in the second picture.

[ski&ride]

That is a great looking graphic design! You are super-stoked. :D

You must post a full report of your first trip out with that baby.

Congrats!


ski&ride

[Ispoiler]

No binding on her yet, that would insure no snow for the next 3 months. I welcome all to be a part of my cheering section for my 1st attempt at skinning. Keep in mind that I have never been on ski's, snow/skate/surf boards only. Its should be very amusing to watch!

[mainwaring]

congrats...the graveyard graphic is bad.

skinning on flats is pretty intuitive...you'll pick that up quickly w/o issue. it gets a little interesting w/ a heavy pack on a downhill. you have no real support behind your heels, and if you freak a little as you pick up speed and sit back...wow that can be pretty funny ;). i had a really nice spill like that early on w/ about 40lbs. of gear...i was stuck and turtled for a good few minutes. luckily i was alone so no one saw it...i woulda never lived that one down.

the rest of the skinning takes time and patience...there is a good thread on it here:

http://splitboard.com/phpbb2/viewtopic.php?t=37&sid=77fee9795252c3a4fc406c9c177f2be0

[RR]

No binding on her yet, that would insure no snow for the next 3 months. I welcome all to be a part of my cheering section for my 1st attempt at skinning. Keep in mind that I have never been on ski's, snow/skate/surf boards only. Its should be very amusing to watch!no worries mate, you'll do fine!

[Affix Snow]

No binding on her yet, that would insure no snow for the next 3 months. I welcome all to be a part of my cheering section for my 1st attempt at skinning. Keep in mind that I have never been on ski's, snow/skate/surf boards only. Its should be very amusing to watch!

I will laugh and point.
Then i will fall and laugh and point.

You'll be fine. Go to a local hill and practice gettin comfortable....by hill, i mean a SMALL little bump. You can always use a pair of my tele skis too, to get comfy on the whole "SKIING" thing.

[mainwaring]

hey...are those your angles? that looks like +20 front and -10 back??? how about length...what did you end up getting?

[PWDR8S]

They don't call it teletumbling for nuthin'! Take my advice... don't start learning on hardpack or ice..... OUCH!

[Ispoiler]

Those are my angles as of now, +20 front and -10 rear. I think i might set my rear foot to 0 thought. As for board length she is a 159, I like small boards. My current "big mnt" board is a 154 and my park board is a 149. There is a small hill I can try to learn on close by, with my luck I will break and arm and miss the whole season.

[Ispoiler]

Skinning tips by username:
1. use hard boots
2. use hard boots
3. use hard boots
4. use hard boots
5. use hard boots
6. use hard boots
7. use hard boots
8. use hard boots
9. use hard boots
10. use hard boots

THANK YOU SKI&RIDE!!

[NH_tele]

Skinning is fairly straight-forward, I think that it's pretty easy on flats or moderate uphill. Your stride WILL get better (more efficient, faster, etc.) as you have more time out on skins, but, for me at least, it's similar to running... ie- it's something that will develop on its own over time. You can get some tips, like not making a full step with every stride (you occasionally see plodding skinners who waste a lot of energy).

Trying to manage downhills on skins, however, is another matter. Even as an experienced tele skier, I find it a bit difficult and un-balenced. I would definitely practice this before going out on the board for the first time, preferablly on a relatively open, not too steep slope, without a pack. The trick is to be very precise with your feet, especially if you try tele turns. Either way just work on keeping the boards as parallel as you can.

[mainwaring]

figured i'd toss this out here...anyone interested in a weekend trip to the daks to get in some touring?

anyone have a report of conditions in the area? affix-you were there recently, any word? i don't think there has been much snow there recently. looks like there was some mon, tues and should be more throughout the week and weekend.

[Affix Snow]

figured i'd toss this out here...anyone interested in a weekend trip to the daks to get in some touring?

anyone have a report of conditions in the area? affix-you were there recently, any word? i don't think there has been much snow there recently. looks like there was some mon, tues and should be more throughout the week and weekend.

I was up there over T-day....they had ropughtly 4-6 inches up high....im guessing over 3500'....according to Whiteface, they got 3" up at the summit yesterday, but that doesnt account for the rest of the High peaks due to whiteface's location, so it could be more.....maybe. As far as enough snow low enough for some touring....im gonna say no, unless they can keep low temps to hold on to whatever snow they have gotten...I wasnt over Heart Lake/Hpic center area, but things are always different over there...meaning usually more snow. A couple Locals also said it is very sparse....we can wait and see....could turn around fast though!

If they get the goods, im in for a skin!

[Affix Snow]

Skinning tips by username:
1. use hard boots
2. use hard boots
3. use hard boots
4. use hard boots
5. use hard boots
6. use hard boots
7. use hard boots
8. use hard boots
9. use hard boots
10. use hard boots

THANK YOU SKI&RIDE!!

I could be, and prolly am wrong, but im not sure how much Hard boots would give an advantage in skinning over a snowboard boot when using strap bindings(which i know you are gonna run).....I think it is more a matter of getting used to it and not being a P***Y! ;)

In all honesty, would Hard boots help?

[el-bagr]

Yes, it will make a big difference. Caveat: I'm no splitboarder myself.

One of the biggest criticisms AT skiers (like Castlerock) have for telemarkers is that when skinning, the non-perfectly-rigid boot absorbs some of the force that would otherwise be directed into (1) lifting the ski and moving it forward and (2) weighting the ski/skin to hold as you repeat step (1) with the other foot. AT skiers, with their uncomfortably stiff boots and bindings that hinge in front of the toe, have a more optimal setup for energy transfer on the ascent. By contrast, tele skiers, especially those whose bindings have a rear-positioned pivot point, have to expend more force flexing the boot/binding system.

It would seem that the same principle suggests soft boots wouldn't be as good for splitting.

Also, what's with soft boots anyway? You don't see very many skiers on fabric boots (like these Rossis (http://www.sportchek.ca/article.jhtml?id=19200035))... With traditional snowboarding, you are edging by weighting "toeside, heelside". With skinning, as with most forms of skiing, you are edging by weighting each foot's "big toe, little toe". Soft boots may have plenty of toe-heel stiffness for riding, but do they have as good torsional stiffness for skinning?

[DMC]

Soft boots may have plenty of toe-heel stiffness for riding, but do they have as good torsional stiffness for skinning?

The bindings take care of tortional stiffness... My Burton Drivers - I got last year - have some good tortional stiffness built in as well...

Interesting note... The "hut to hut" guides my telemark friends used last year in BC only allow telemarkers, AT and splitboards... No snowshoes..
Just cool that splitboarding is cool with the telemark scene....

[Affix Snow]

Also, what's with soft boots anyway? You don't see very many skiers on fabric boots (like these Rossis (http://www.sportchek.ca/article.jhtml?id=19200035))... With traditional snowboarding, you are edging by weighting "toeside, heelside". With skinning, as with most forms of skiing, you are edging by weighting each foot's "big toe, little toe". Soft boots may have plenty of toe-heel stiffness for riding, but do they have as good torsional stiffness for skinning?

W/ softboots and snowboarding, the debate for use in the BC rages....
Its mostly preference and trading on and off positives and negatives. Seems to be no happy medium yet.....

From what i understand, Use of hardboots seems to be among people doing more Board-Mountaineering...kicking stepsice, etc., which makes total sense! However many others also use soft boots for it.....

Personally, i got into snowboarding for the flow/feel of it, which is, I think, through the use of Soft boots. I personally dont think i would like it in hard boots, due to my experience with skiing. I have done all my BC in stiffer softboots and had no problems...loved it even. Just got my splitboard and havent skinned in softboots yet, so ill have to address that later. But, do to my other experience, my K2 T1 softboots are torsionally stiff enough for me...skinning, we will see.

It comes down to preference. Maybe ill try Hardboots and love them? We will see. For now, i love my soft boots. cause to me, They are snowboarding.

[Bannick]

I would love to try hard boots jsut to see how stable and supportive they are and on fresh cord to cut some full-on extended pits on the snow turns. I am stricken with big calves and have yet to find a hardboot that does not feel like it is tearing strips of muscles off my calves. Hench...no hard boots for me yet.

My Burton (rulers? it has been a while since they were bought) are way stiff and there are stiffer soft boots out there than that. I can still get pretty extended on soft spring cord with my set up. But still can't get the arm pits to touch the snow and get up to make the next carve.

Never thought much about the downhill parts of skinning. My experience with skinning was having people on skins blow by me while I was boot packing up the Blackcomb glacier. They just went up tho I guess they were probably on AT gear so they could lock the heels down for the downhill traverses.

[RR]

...One of the biggest criticisms AT skiers (like Castlerock) have for telemarkers is that when skinning, the non-perfectly-rigid boot absorbs some of the force that would otherwise be directed into (1) lifting the ski and moving it forward and (2) weighting the ski/skin to hold as you repeat step (1) with the other foot. AT skiers, with their uncomfortably stiff boots and bindings that hinge in front of the toe, have a more optimal setup for energy transfer on the ascent. By contrast, tele skiers, especially those whose bindings have a rear-positioned pivot point, have to expend more force flexing the boot/binding system.....
I do both AT and Tele. Tele is way-way easier going up.

A) The ski/binding package is about a pound lighter so every lift adds less to the accumulated weight of up-track lifting.

B) Precisicely because of the larger contact with the ski during the stride the concentration of phalengeal/metatarsal stress is attenuating the stress on the knees and hips, adding comfort and reducing fatigue. We are not machines with replacable bearings...yet.

C) Try kickturning AT gear and then do the same KT with equally used tele gear...the difference is profound and inescapable...tele rules for that!

AT boots kick steps and climb techincal ice way better...the only other bene is that for someone like myself having vastly more time in the training heels will have better skills making turns on the AT gear. Assuming equal skills, there is no diff on that score, so that last bene goes away.

[mainwaring]

i'm skeptical about going up to the daks for a tour if there isn't enough snow. i'm going on what i saw on wunderground for LP and whiteface's snow report...which showed some snow but wasn't conclusive. i don't have a source up there to get a ground report. i'll call mountaineer. let's get back with anything on friday. i am in NYC and will have a car...if anyone is interested we can carpool.

as to the hard/softboot issue, i've tried both as well as a pair of nepal extremes in mtn plates. on flat or undulating terrain, softies are about as efficient or inefficient as hardboots. they both have +'s and -'s. softies always seem more comfy, warmer and lighter although i think the weight is negligable. personal preference rather than fact.

the NE's were incredible for touring...light, accurate, in a word perfect. but they are as bad on the descent as they are good on the tour...wrong tool for the job.

the hardboots truly excel when you are cutting switchbacks especially on windblown crust or icy terrain. they allow better power transfer to edges which becomes paramount on slick switchbacks. as mentioned, hardboots far surpass softies anytime you have to climb.

i didn't like the ride on HB's. too precise on the edges, no lateral (torsional) flex which means you drive the board more like skis with your trunk and upper legs. this is something that HB riders say comes with time and a change in riding style, but i prefer the softer, surfier feel of softies on the descent.

for me with skiing, the stiffer the boot the better. this reflects my riding style...i ski more aggressively than i ride, i like the snowboard for pow and really crave the mellow "flow" of the board in pow.

[Affix Snow]

i'm skeptical about going up to the daks for a tour if there isn't enough snow. i'm going on what i saw on wunderground for LP and whiteface's snow report...which showed some snow but wasn't conclusive. i don't have a source up there to get a ground report. i'll call mountaineer. let's get back with anything on friday. i am in NYC and will have a car...if anyone is interested we can carpool.


I would save the trip.....
Not gonna have enough yet. The backcountry report i just checked through Lakeplacid.com (which is actually really good!) said snowshoes might be need above 4000' this weekend....big might!

And judging by last weekend, id say not worth it.
Im going to Hunter on Saturday if anyone is interested in meeting....

However, lets keep our eyes open...im always up for a tour.

[yuckster]

Im going to Hunter on Saturday if anyone is interested in meeting....

However, lets keep our eyes open...im always up for a tour.

well I'm new on T4T, would like to meet some of the people here, but I'm doing some climbing in the Gunks on Saturday. (Probably just aid climbing so that I can keep gloves on, it's going to be a little chilly.)

I'm headed to Killington on 12/12. Mountain Travelers is hosting a tele demo day that day.

[Affix Snow]

well I'm new on T4T, would like to meet some of the people here.

Dont be afraid to post where ya going or try and meet up with anyone....

One Catch: Newbies have to Bring beer :D

[Bannick]

Dont be afraid to post where ya going or try and meet up with anyone....

One Catch: Newbies have to Bring beer :D

Good one....(snicker)....

[yuckster]

Dont be afraid to post where ya going or try and meet up with anyone....

One Catch: Newbies have to Bring beer :D

Sir, yes sir! Would you prefer Bud or Bud?

[DMC]

buds... for sure... And some good beer too!

[Affix Snow]

buds... for sure... And some good beer too!

Ah yes!

Nothing Domestic!

If ya gotta go cheap....go Busch. :)