patch@nsc-pdc.UUCP (Pat Chewning) (02/17/86)
I have seen some people doing this "snowboarding" and became curious about it. The snowboard is a short, wide ski that you stand on sort of like a skateboard (with feet roughly perpendicular to board). There are crude strap bindings that look like snowshoe bindings. I am interested in hearing about experiences people have had on these, what the equipment is like, and what areas allow or forbid this activity. I know here in Oregon I have seen them at Mt Bachelor and at Mt Hood Meadows. I believe they are not allowed at Mirror Mountain. (How can they tell you what kind of "ski" you can use? Pretty soon, they'll tell you what brands are permitted?") It seems to me this would be a fun sort of skiing to try, but it looks only applicable in softer snow or powder. Do the boards have edges? Do they work on harder snow?
pauls@tekecs.UUCP (Paul Sweazey) (02/17/86)
I am a former California surfer who finds the Oregon waves delightful,
but finds the winter temperatures too painful for surfing. I also have had
surgery on both knees, so skiing has not been possible. I first tried
snowboarding last Thanksgiving. Finally, I can enjoy skiing without
injury. Although there is no release mechanism for snowboard bindings,
knees are much more protected, since both feet are planted, about two
feet apart, in a single ski that is typically 150cm long. Compare that
to a longer single ski attached to each foot. The twisting torque applied
to a knee can be much worse with regular skis.
The most common question is, "Is it fun?" Yes and no. It is much more
work than skiing. There is no beginner's snowplow. You stand sideways,
so there are no poles. This means that for long, flat spaces, you remove
the rear foot and skate along, slowly. My board has metal edges, and three
very shallow fins at the tail (1/8 inch). It is all edge control, and
you only have about 1/3 of the edges that most skiers have. That means
that it is a lot more work to turn them. You lean way over, front side
and back side. You just can't be a casual snowboarder. You are working
every second. If you don't, a snowboard will natually turn straight down
the hill...fast. This means that traversing across the fall line is work.
That was the "no" part. Here is the "yes" part. In many ways, snowboarding
is like surfing a very big wave, and the surf is always up. Powder snow
gives almost the exact same sensation as wave surfing, leaning out over
your board, dragging your hand in the "fluid". In powder, you turn by
burying the tail at you lean--soft, smooth gliding. Out of powder, it
is very different. You sideslip alot. To turn, you unweight the tail
with sort of a hop, then plant the edge to set your direction. In ice,
precise control is very difficult, so the better snowboarders just give
up and barrel straight down the fall line. But surfers like me don't
know how to handle speeds over 20 mph, so ice is no fun for the
conservative.
My big worry is that too many hotdoggers will get into it for the
"challenge". We are already fighting predjudice. Resort operators
are afraid that people will get run over by the snowboarders. There
were tentative plans of a snowboarder's liscencing program at
Timberline on Mt. Hood, and so far only Timberline, Mt. Hood Meadows,
and Mt. Bachelor are allowing snowboarders at all. But the skiing
public seems to have an almost unanimous curious and positive attitude
toward snowboarding. I hope it continues. For me, it is the only
way to ski.
Paul Sweazey {decvax,ucbvax,...}!tektronix!tekecs!pauls UUCP
Tektronix, Inc. tekecs!pauls@tektronix CSNET
P.O. Box 1000, M/S 61-215 tekecs!pauls.tektronix@Udel-Relay ARPANET
Wilsonville, OR 97070 Work: 503-685-2563 Home: 503-692-5016
--
Paul Sweazey {decvax,ucbvax}!tektronix!tekecs!pauls
Tektronix, Inc Work: 503-685-2563
P.O. Box 1000 Home: 503-692-5016
Wilsonville, OR 97070ar563303@sjuvax.UUCP (rowley) (02/24/86)
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***
I recently purchased a Burton Performer snowboard and I enjoy it
immensely! So far I've been unable to try it out on any challenging
slopes; no, I'm not a hotdogger, just an avid skier and skateboarder
who decided to try a combination of the two; also, here on the East
Coast and especially in my home state of PA there seems to be downright
persecution of snowboarders. In fact, the only place in the state that
has allowed use of them to my knowledge is a tiny bunny hill known as
Chadds' Peak, only a twenty-minute drive for me, fortunately.
I would appreciate it if anyone who has any information about where on the
East Coast (particularly near PA) snowboards are both legal and welcome.
Chadds' Hill and the local golf courses are beginning to look all the same
to me! :-)
Also, Burton has a videocassette called "Winter Waves" about 'boarding.
I saw it the other night, and some of the footage is incredible! All in
all, a good orientation to the fledgling snowboarder.
See you on the slopes...
Tony Rowley