Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 (Tek) 9/28/84 based on 9/17/84; site tekecs.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!bellcore!decvax!tektronix!orca!tekecs!pauls From: pauls@tekecs.UUCP (Paul Sweazey) Newsgroups: net.rec.ski Subject: Re: Snow Boards -- cross between skiing and skateboarding Message-ID: <5952@tekecs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 17-Feb-86 15:27:50 EST Article-I.D.: tekecs.5952 Posted: Mon Feb 17 15:27:50 1986 Date-Received: Wed, 19-Feb-86 03:55:36 EST References: <541@nsc-pdc.UUCP> Distribution: net Organization: Tektronix, Wilsonville OR Lines: 53 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 97070