[SA Chris]

I guessed as much!

[cofe]

what's the snow in McScotland likely to be like this coming weekend?

[SA Chris]

The http://www.mwis.org.uk/ forecast (will update tonight for Sunday) is for it be be getting cold and snowy again tomorrow and over the weekend, but also with a bit of wind, more so in the N and E. We might be heading to Fort William / Glencoe, which seems the better bet for snow cover and weather, but if we do, will also take winter climbing gear in case it's a bit pants for skiing. See also http://www.winterhighland.info/weather/   http://www.winterhighland.info/general/

Black Spout and Red Gully on Lochnagar were skied on Sunday, see vid on youtube. Boarding Black Spout is still one of my ambitions.

[SA Chris]

In fact scratch that, not a weekend for snowboarding, unless you were coming up for something else, and keen to spend a few hours. Thaw yesterday and cold today, so it will be icy with fresh snow (in form of blizzards) arriving tomorrow, accompanied by possible thunder and lightning. Get the bike out on the low lying trails or have fun at the Ice Factor. Give it a week, I reckon might be good next weekend.

(my interpretation anyway).

[SA Chris]

If anyone is keen on one last blast for the year, i would consider heading up. Conditions are looking superb.

[AndyR]

If anyone is keen on one last blast for the year, i would consider heading up. Conditions are looking superb.

Only moderate sheets of ice and 40 knot winds?

[SA Chris]

har har, cynic.
Have a look at the cams and tell me where the ice is http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/webcams/index.php (well apart from lecht, which is usually shit).

It may not be Whistler conditions, but for Scotland it's as good as you will get.

[AndyR]

har har, cynic.
Have a look at the cams and tell me where the ice is http://www.highland-instinct.co.uk/webcams/index.php (well apart from lecht, which is usually shit).

It may not be Whistler conditions, but for Scotland it's as good as you will get.

This one looks in good nick 

[SA Chris]

That's Bauchaille Etive Mor, not a ski resort (but I suspect you knew that).

Plus I'm pretty sure that cam is out of action, has shown that same pic since January. Compare it to the Glencoe one about 2 miles away and the same height.

[AndyR]

That's Bauchaille Etive Mor, not a ski resort (but I suspect you knew that).

Aye.

Here's an idea of how much snow we had this year - trees on the hill close to where I live.

[Norton Sharley]

I love Flow bindings.

Ask any competent instructor and they will tell you Flow bindings are pants not as good as trad bindings for control or movement using modern techniques.

And modern bindings are so comfy what do you need Flows for anyway?

[Bubba]

To a punter like me who in a good year might see 2 weeks of snow, it doesn't really matter if they're the best for control

The last time I used trad bindings, they hurt like hell but I'm sure things have moved on a bit now. I also like the easy step in/step out that flows give you, but I bet things have moved on in that dept too?

[Norton Sharley]

I started writing a witty response, and then decided it was probably best not to .... 

[Plattsy]

Flows can't be all that bad. Antti Autti seems to do alright in them. Although mine were hurting alot last time I used them.

Looking to upgrade my board, boots and bindings for this coming season. Currently running entry level board and boots (Burton Clash 162 and 32 Exus boots) with Flow Pro 11 bindings. Had these for over 5 years and I've been boarding for 8. Currently very much at the intermediate level. Comfortable on red runs and some blacks and on small to medium jumps. Generally I prefer freeriding to freestyling though.

Although I've enjoyed the flows I'll be looking to move back to trad bindings. I'm thinking about a Burton Custom with Burton toe bindings, which probably means buying Burton boots too. This idea is based on the fact I like Burton boards but generally have little idea about whether they are good or not. Compound this with my level of knowledge about other brands and I'm virtually a novice.

So anyone got any tips or advice about Burton or can you recommend I look at any other brands.

[SA Chris]

You don't have to buy Burton boots to go with Burton bindings?

My thoughts on Burton. I thonk the boards are good, but not particularly exciting. Well made but seem to go for look over functionality and as such but don't seem to wear very well (topsheet seems to chip etc). However, of the 4 I have owned 3 are still being used, so can't be that bad. Custom is a good board, but pretty expensive for what they are. Conside Ride and Roam as possible options. I Also think the boots are pretty good, I have a pair of "Freestyle" (mid level) boots from 2002, which I have used for about 100 plus days and they are showing no signs of giving up (apart from laces). However I do not like the bindings at all. I have totally avoided the bindings based on recommendatios from people i worked with who showed me theirs and all the bits that had broken off. Rowie went for a set of Lexas a couple of years ago and bits fell off within the first week. The capstraps (toecap) look like a good idea, but they are not the only manufacturer that makes them. Look at any binding that has decent metal buckles, fits the boots well and has a good range of adjustability, and wide comfortable straps. ( I have a pair of Drakes that I really like). 

[Norton Sharley]

Firstly you can use any type of strap in binding with any type of boot, just as long as the boots fit inside the binding 

The best boots to get are ones that fit your feet.  I have short fat feet so Vans and 32's fit me well.  Forget about the branding and just buy something that fits really well.  I suffer with collapsed arches, or rather lack of strength in that muscle across my arches, and so I use custom made footbeds.  These are the sole ( ) cause of the biggest increase in boot comfort I've ever had, so much so that I now always wear custom footbeds for snowboarding and mtb'ing.  If you think you need custom footbeds get them made up first then go and try on new boots with them.  If you are genuinely more into freeriding that freestyle you probably want a slightly stiffer boot for cranking round those edge carves.  And lastly on boots, never ever let a ski shop heat fit your boots.  The ovens used for ski boots are way too hot for snowboard boots and wreck the inners.

As far as boards go most people forget to fit the board to their foot length.  In other words stand on the board in your regular stance and make sure that your feet neither overhang too much or don't reach the edges.  Obviously this is best done in your preferred boots.  The best way to buy a board has to be to try it on snow in resort by hiring a test board for a day.  I don't think you can go too far wrong with major brand boards but personally I would recommend a look at Sapient.  imho I don't like Ride, do like Burton (but the Custom is a bit lacking in pop) and the best board I have ever owned was a Lib Tech.

Hope that helps.

[Control freak]

I have a sapient board and I cant say theres been anything wrong with it. Got a pair of Cartel bindings last year as well which I must say are pretty awesome - theyre alot stiffer than say a freestyle and took a little bit of getting used to.

Thankfully the snows just arrived here so its off to the slopes this weekend 

[eteve]

lib tech boards are unreal. they have a system on the edges that instead of being straight the edges are cut wiggly and so the theory goes that on ice as you turn you have seven points of contact(each wiggle) rather than 2 (the front and back of the edge). i tested a board and it really works well on ice. on powder it makes no difference as you dont really use edges so much. if i bought another board would definatly have this technology i think all boards will have this or something similar soon. but for the moment only lib teck and gnu have it check it out.

[Bubba]

My brand new libtech lasted about 10 days before having an edge / rock incident that has probably been terminal

[SA Chris]

I'm not convinced other manufacturers will follow the magne traction route. I spoke to a couple of people who have ridden them and reports are mixed from "great" to "makes no difference" to "slow". Time will tell, but I am, at this stage, unconvinced as to wether it is revolutionary or a gimmick. For the moment my money will stay in the bank. Full marks to them for trying sometihng different though.

http://www.lib-tech.com/magneTraction/index.html

[Plattsy]

Thanks for the information guys (you'll be suitably wadded when I have more time).

I've never even heard of Sapient or LibTech so just goes to show how things have changed since I started snowboarding and the only brands I knew were. Burton, Ride, Osin, Blackwood (?), K2 and Salomon (knew them cos they made ski's too). I think I should punter myself at this point (if I could)

I'm going to get stuck into some research and narrow down my options.

I'd not considered hiring a test board. This is definately a good idea.

[AndyR]

What is this 'ice' of which you speak?

[SA Chris]

Like the slopes in Whistler never get icy.

[AndyR]

They may do, but you can never see it under all the snow.......

[eteve]

try it. it works.