Lib Tech T.Rice
This is mine. Off to Tignes in Feb.
Chat Forum
The STW Ski and Snowboard thread - 2011/2 Edition
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Posted 7 months ago #
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Raymond in rear entry binding system shocker.... quicker? no! heavier? yes! more bits to break? definitley! flows and K2 cinch, apo expresso style bindings are horrid. some of the newer designs have ratchets too.. but just NO.
all based on my stick in the mud opinion and should be mostly ignored.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Posted 7 months ago #
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Off to Fernie for a month again in February. Hoping for a repeat of last years epic conditions and then heading to the Northern Norwegian Fjords for a week in April.
No new toys this years apart from a new pair of bindings as last years new pair were cannabalised to try and improve the performance and response of my splitboard bindings.
Have just watched 'The Art of Flight' and 'Twelve' so really looking foward to the coming season!
Posted 7 months ago # -
flows and K2 cinch, apo expresso style bindings are horrid. some of the newer designs have ratchets too.. but just NO.
K2 Autos are awesome.
http://k2snowboarding.com/bindings/everAdvantages of a step-in/flow system with flex and feel of "real" strappy bindings.
Perfect for old blokes that struggle to reach over their belly to do up toe straps.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Flows: quicker; yes (can clip in while moving) heavier; yes, but does that really make much difference? (how heavy are your boots?)and I've had no breakages in 10 years of using them.
I hate sitting on my ar5e for 5 minutes at the top of each lift straping on my bindings and theres very little difference in control compared with normal bindings.
They may not be sick, phat or gnarly but then neither am I!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Toying with going to Jackson Hole over Christmas or maybe just Italy, then Kaprun in March if all goes to plan (maybe another cheeky few days somewhere in between if I can too).
On Tahoe - Heavenley is an impressive operation, but you pay for it, Alpine meadows and Kirkwood both had a nice vibe, and good riding. I wasn't so keen on Squaw but it was a flat light day. I got tickets in the UK which were redeemable at all of the major resorts. South Lake Tahoe town was OK, but not much of a party vibe, Truckee might be better?
Posted 7 months ago # -
...then heading to the Northern Norwegian Fjords for a week in April.
Whereabouts, Digby? I REALLY want to visit Lofoten and the Lyngen Alps. Torn between midsummer lolling, boating and biking and spring touring.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I hate sitting on my ar5e for 5 minutes at the top of each lift straping on my bindings
There's a very, very easy way to solve that....
Posted 7 months ago # -
Yup, it's called learning to get your foot under the straps and strap in on the move!
Posted 7 months ago # -
well in 17 years of riding I can confirm taht I have broken all sorts of kit including several pairs of flows. They are also a pain in teh arse to get off if you fall in powder admittedly this has been resolved with the addition of normal straps...
And as for the weight yes it matters... of course it matters.
I can strap in my conventional straps while moving, and 5 miinutes to do up binders? mind you I am sick and also gnarly.
@ grahamS K2 autos are different though, they are a conventional binder with an innovative strap mechanism and yes they're bloody good as they're not the cinch
Posted 7 months ago # -
Whereabouts, Digby? I REALLY want to visit Lofoten and the Lyngen Alps
Off to Lyngen Alps ... and really looking forward to it as I've never been to Scandinavia before!
Need to crank up the exercise routine abit though over the next few months to try ensure I'm in ok condition ... I'm not getting any younger!
Posted 7 months ago # -
No trip booked yet but I will be going on at least one, probably Alps.
Got a K2 Slayblade year before last, which is amazing and has plenty of life left so no new stick for me.
Need a new helmet, probably a get a smith variant brim. And fancy some ski boots (Salomon) as I ventured back onto 2 planks last year and loved it - planning to split my time between skiing and snowboarding this year.
No other new gear for me.Posted 7 months ago # -
Flows: quicker; yes (can clip in while moving)
No problem doing that with Autos.
The thing I never liked about Flows (apart from the fact that they used to be very heavy and didn't flexed like a brick) is that they may be great to slip into on a nice shallow bit of piste, but it always struck me that they'd really suck in deep powder when you can't even see your feet or on icy steep stuff when you can't put the board flat.
Posted 7 months ago # -
@ grahamS K2 autos are different though, they are a conventional binder with an innovative strap mechanism and yes they're bloody good as they're not the cinch
They really come into their own at the snowdomes or on the short UK pistes. Less time strapping in/out equals more time playing.
Posted 7 months ago # -
@Graham two posts before you dude...
I bet there isn't much in it dude, i ride with a couple of teh UK K2 team, I can strap in pretty much as quick as them using unions and they have auto evers.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I bet there isn't much in it dude, i ride with a couple of teh UK K2 team
Maybe not for you, but I'm an old, creaky fat git that struggles to reach his toes without sitting down (and even then!)
Posted 7 months ago # -
Obviously singletrackers will be far too awesome to be sitting in the crowds of snowboarders at the top of each lift straping in
Posted 7 months ago # -
Obviously singletrackers will be far too awesome to be sitting in the crowds of snowboarders at the top of each lift straping in
I just tend to ski straight past them.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Obviously singletrackers will be far too awesome to be sitting in the crowds of snowboarders at the top of each lift straping in
Nothing wrong with sitting about. We do it all the time when boarding as our pace these days is a bit more "relaxed" and typically involves looking at the view, and frequent beer/cake stops.
But we usually ride with skiers, so I don't want to sit about holding them up at the top of the lift.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Anyone know if Alpine Elements are any good for holidays?
Looking at booking for eight and they have good offers in Tignes!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Nothing wrong with sitting about.
I'm normally doing such rad stuff a few minutes later, that I need to have a moment of sitting about to consider my next sequence.
In reality, I have the same attitude as Gee-to-the-power-of-S though.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Y'knowzit doubleD
Posted 7 months ago # -
Digby, Who are you staying with? What made you go with them? Self guided or guided? I'm assuming 100% touring? Breathtakingly expensive?
I really appreciate some pointers if you don't mind. I'm definitely going in the year or 3. email in profile if you'd prefer. Thanks!
Posted 7 months ago # -
SteezyDarcy.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I will mostly be putting in the 45 min drive to Glenshee with Eldest, of maybe the 1.5hrs to Cairngorm
. Lots of snow days would be handy again. I mostly boarded last year in Glenshee as my eldest was learning to ski, and the powder in Glenshee was as good as anything I had experienced in Italy or France. (Never thought I would say that)
Posted 7 months ago # -
I also tend to board with skiers hence why flows are an advantage, I can be strapped in and ready while they're still banging the snow off their bindings.
Posted 7 months ago # -
the powder in Glenshee was as good as anything I had experienced in Italy or France. (Never thought I would say that)
Glenshee can be amazing, particularly when Glas Maol is fully open and all the noobs are sticking to Sunnyside.
Posted 7 months ago # -
I also tend to board with skiers hence why flows are an advantage, I can be strapped in and ready while they're still banging the snow off their bindings.
So no problems in deep pow or on steep ice as me an rizla suggested?
It's been a few years since I looked at Flows seriously. I actually used to have Switch step-ins back in the day and I loved them - but I wouldn't go back now.
Posted 7 months ago # -
@ raymond are they flows? or are they cinch or something similar I only knew they were rear entry binders because of teh high back clip and the wire...
in the last few years flows have gone from strength to strength with materials and weight but they're still awkward for the riding i do.
But if that wire fails (which i have experienced in the past)you are screwed... If a strap fails you can still ride home.
Posted 7 months ago # -
Any opinions on Alpine Elements?
Posted 7 months ago # -
@nedrapier
More than happy to share info.
You are right - it's absolutely eye-wateringly expensive! Staying at Lyngen Lodge, but doing the trip as part of a 'McNab Expedition' with Neil McNab (http://www.mcnabsnowboarding.com
I've done quite a few backcountry trips with McNab in the past and can highly recommended them if snowboarding is your thing.
It's all guided touring either directly from the Lodge or using a boat to navigate the Fjords.
I doubt I'll get an opportunity to do anything like this again, so I'm looking at it as a 'once in a lifetime' trip.
Happy to provide more info if you want and let you know what it was like when I've been!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Darcy, http://snowheads.com/ski-forum/viewtopic.php?t=27550
Doesn't look too promising....
Posted 7 months ago # -
@ digby... that sounds unreal!
Posted 7 months ago # -
Digby: that looks awesome! What sort of boarding level and fitness do you need to do that kind of thing?
Posted 7 months ago #
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