tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85556867145154879142024-03-05T09:22:06.657-08:00teleboard enthusiasmScotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-43406449328079628462016-02-27T17:26:00.000-08:002016-02-27T17:26:23.774-08:00What are the odds?We bumped into Mark, the photographer again today, and my lovely wife made pic of the day: <a href="http://brettonwoods.com/activities/photos_and_cams?alpine%20photos">http://brettonwoods.com/activities/photos_and_cams?alpine%20photos</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://brettonwoods.com/images/uploads/7dd3e33d-2074-4a34-8ae1-023437427655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="Http://brettonwoods.com/images/uploads/7dd3e33d-2074-4a34-8ae1-023437427655.jpg" height="494" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-66405956760016814072016-02-26T17:48:00.001-08:002016-02-26T17:48:52.124-08:00Mugging for the camera at Breton woods todayI made the Bretton woods website this morning on the teleboard: <a href="http://brettonwoods.com/activities/photos_and_cams?alpine%20photos">http://brettonwoods.com/activities/photos_and_cams?alpine%20photos</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://brettonwoods.com/images/uploads/3db7ad4f-15af-4f0b-b21c-25c5a0b9ded2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://brettonwoods.com/images/uploads/3db7ad4f-15af-4f0b-b21c-25c5a0b9ded2.jpg" height="486" width="640" /></a></div>
We got fresh tracks all day because lots night's reason kept the school-vacation crowds away. I think there's a lesson in that.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-45309843514069506412015-03-25T16:26:00.002-07:002015-03-25T16:26:20.993-07:00recent events and blog statusYesterday I bumped into Martin Fey, one of the inventors of the teleboard, when I was doing some night-riding (one of the cool aspects of being in New England). It was fun to catch up and try to keep up, but it also reminded that I've been woefully inactive on this blog.<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, here's what's up:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In short, this blog, and the teleboard book I'm working on, are temporarily on the back burner, but not abandoned.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I am still riding my teleboard (probably ~20 days on snow this season), and I am still very enthusiastic. But I have also realized that I have far too many projects in progress. In order to fix that, I'm trying to finish the things I've started by focusing on them a few at a time. So you can expect to see activity here again, but it might be another season or two before it really picks up again. Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions about teleboarding that I can answer, as I think those would make for easy blog posts (I am used to answering these questions all winter).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
P.S. I wrote more about <a href="http://s-a-w-s.blogspot.com/2014/12/wip.html">work-in-progress</a> on my other blog. </div>
Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-50518534764748239732012-12-19T15:29:00.001-08:002012-12-26T10:44:41.954-08:00Snowboarding to start the seasonSince my Teleboard is in the shop, I started the season on a snowboard--twice, proving definitively that learning to teleboard does in fact teach snowboarding. I had a lot of fun ,of course, and learned a little finesse as I went. Forward slanting bindings seem to help. It's time to get serious about winter now though. The teleboard should be out of the shop in a few days. Stay tuned and think snow!Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-43514582315583207842012-02-16T07:53:00.000-08:002012-02-16T07:53:28.229-08:00Getting some air at Sunapee<div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyN82jAtFn0JAOE6VXApqgPUk6-O4Y2VyYVNN2fsSnEpsIEADxv0VpsC44OI8d3idcgycK1MXqXYDqyzKlIn_d0I7Iuj-5GfI21ugm-IumRYX1aWEsx8LQdaLkrPlm6vmt7ipvtwHgx0D/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoyN82jAtFn0JAOE6VXApqgPUk6-O4Y2VyYVNN2fsSnEpsIEADxv0VpsC44OI8d3idcgycK1MXqXYDqyzKlIn_d0I7Iuj-5GfI21ugm-IumRYX1aWEsx8LQdaLkrPlm6vmt7ipvtwHgx0D/" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me, hop turning on over-sized bumps</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeNicj6cR5S36ggdihJGVAD-3e9rzxARZnUMjuFYPwpUJOdZNNDxL9A-sfVPFtc6UiGwjrOTKfV4UlXfkV9ZI0ZeFo1a6e_XCTuuXjK2c7Jbg3M48K4jVQW9Y2GP2ntLfuwSGVxp5qzk7/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyeNicj6cR5S36ggdihJGVAD-3e9rzxARZnUMjuFYPwpUJOdZNNDxL9A-sfVPFtc6UiGwjrOTKfV4UlXfkV9ZI0ZeFo1a6e_XCTuuXjK2c7Jbg3M48K4jVQW9Y2GP2ntLfuwSGVxp5qzk7/" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mikey especially likes the view of Lake Sunapee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Yesterday I took the day off work along with friends Mikey and Jeremy and headed over to Sunapee. This was a case of following deals and conditions. We got an early enough start to see the lifts start spinning, and rode nearly every open trail. (Full disclosure, I have no financial relationship with Sunapee, or any other ski area.)<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiva30ZJGviO3OwS9XlmR0UXEZOQnwZAMapUg0j3RMMf6Z0-lbdTTBnCTXftyWQ6sgXKHFMvloMcXFDKhFVR022pcZx7U7F2NiJGWO_X4y_zZ6Tb5xetwq8uVjRsu3Wl0uEBa_o6prNNY4J/" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiva30ZJGviO3OwS9XlmR0UXEZOQnwZAMapUg0j3RMMf6Z0-lbdTTBnCTXftyWQ6sgXKHFMvloMcXFDKhFVR022pcZx7U7F2NiJGWO_X4y_zZ6Tb5xetwq8uVjRsu3Wl0uEBa_o6prNNY4J/" /></a>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fooling around on the beginner area's terrain park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Both of my co-conspirators were on snowboards, and Jeremy was early intermediate. Since Jeremy needed some advice getting down steeper sections in control and without chatter, the conversation turned to technique. Unsurprisingly, nearly all of it was relevant to teleboarding.<br />
<br />
Lessons of the day:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>One-footed hop turn:</b> I've written before about the utility of hop turns on steeps and how any kind of jumping is good practice, but there is an even easier way to quickly pivot your board. Hop with your back foot but leave your front foot on the snow. As you are getting ready to transition into a right turn, get your weight onto your front foot. Quickly pull up your back toe and set it back down to the left of where it was. Your foot need not leave the ground for very long, nor go very high. This will help you make very quick and solid turns. You can also use more subtle version of this to turn on top of moguls.</li>
<li><b>Round scraping turns:</b> (Thanks to Mikey for articulating this and to Jeremy for learning it in front of my eyes) Scraping the snow is the simplest and most common way to control speed on the snow, but it doesn't have to lead to slashing zig sags, unbalanced J-shaped turns, or poor form. I think the key is to not rush, even if you are on a steep slope where you could accrue speed to quickly. Let each turn develop gradually, and do it with steady rythym. If you apply this thinking to your scraping turns, your turns will come out round and you will go at a constant comfortable speed. I like to think of this as half carved turn, half hockey stop.</li>
<li><b>Blending techniques:</b> I tend to write about techniques in pure form, but they can be adjusted and combined to your liking. If you know how to do sinuous, purely carved turns, and you also know how to do a hockey stop, you can make the round scraping turns I just mentioned. A hop turn can be toned down to make a light-footed turn where you stay on the ground, but still rotate more easily. The examples go on and on. Learn pure forms, and improve by trying extremes. But when trying for the best or most appropriate turn, ask yourself how you can mix and match techniques for the best outcome.</li>
<li><b>Even application of pressure: </b>You can overcome chattering edges by pressuring your board hard, but smoothly and confidently. If you've ever learned to drive a car with a manual transmission, this is like getting the engine to stop lugging at low speed by just hitting the gas.</li>
<li><b>Get lower,</b> lower than you think. Your whole body, especially your knees, is your suspension. You need to be in the middle of that range so that you can either extend or compress at any given moment to respond to shape of the slope and the turn you are making. Nice theory--In practice, people tend to ride to high, especially when they are tired or nervous. Also, you can get <i>incredibly</i> low on the teleboard, so the middle of the range is probably lower than you think. So adjust your stance to be lower, then lower still. Everything will start working better.</li>
<li><b>Goof around: </b>At the end of the day you get tired. You probably know that this is when most injuries happen, so you should just call it a day, right? Maybe not. Why not go ride a part of the mountain that's way below your ability level? Yesterday Mikey and I found a beginner level terrain park, and it made the day complete somehow.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1YUYVgFvw1ZWSPz-nPnV-hyQ5YDUzxFr5uCy2_Kjpb-JY_tFEEZr-z2NIrSTthdkKFKVdf4r9HSUzlbNERkFAYjNzCbtavYrLA1vGEYmYk63xDMO05vbdUFJ-ZIJkXT01LcP-9V69184/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">End-of-day fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-81718591450109459822012-02-12T19:32:00.000-08:002012-02-16T06:28:48.857-08:00Making the best of meager conditions in New England.<div><div>This is a tough winter in New England for anyone who likes sliding on snow, even in northern VT. But my most recent 2.3 days riding the teleboard tuned out very satisfactorily, possibly because I employed every coping strategy I know. Here's a list:<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMuXq9J-1wtLgeoePayQkPgnMYXUDbCL7M_bbXIUKcx5TOH6ulWPgHO36iKRvoSe8XnPQABfCBIi9T8kA-VdMkd_VvFi6Oi7Zo1kpMrzNwuJNkFoBbze9yjETCS6hwsm3afVzMbNkNYuw/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMuXq9J-1wtLgeoePayQkPgnMYXUDbCL7M_bbXIUKcx5TOH6ulWPgHO36iKRvoSe8XnPQABfCBIi9T8kA-VdMkd_VvFi6Oi7Zo1kpMrzNwuJNkFoBbze9yjETCS6hwsm3afVzMbNkNYuw/" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Race gates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>* cameraderie. Riding with friends can press mediocre snow into service for a fun and memorable trip. Swapping stories in the hot tub is almost as good. Thanks to my friend Steve for making it happen again this year at Smuggs!<br />
* Follow the conditions, not the trail map. My favorite trail was closed and others that are often enjoyable were better for displaying machismo than making satisfying turns. I found some good snow by taking the path of most resistance on popular trails, and later by visiting an obscure glade. The best riding was to be found on morse mountain, which is where the beginners tend to ski. It turned out that the one expert trail under the lift line was relatively unscraped. In addition, the wide, shallow, easiest-way-down trail received the best grooming and snowmaking on the mountain. My teleboard and I carved deeply sideways into this modest-looking slope, turning it into an exuberant spectacle. Teleboards are perhaps most at home when carving hard and turning heads.<br />
* Get up early. My 3 runs before breakfast and the long ride home today were the best of the trip, and it was no accident. I made the first tracks on newly manufacured snow on a trail chosen the day before.<br />
* take your technique out of the box. Play with the coefficients on all the parameters af your turn and find something better for the situation you are in. For man-made wind-slab on boulders I found my sweet spot by reaching a pole down further than usual and throwing a few hop-turns around to punch through the snow. When my edge found purchase in flatter terrain, sitting down hard into the turn or throwing my torso at the ground did the trick. (Watch video of extreme carving and try to imitate it sometime--It's even more fun to try than to watch, and falling from 4 inches doesn't hurt much.)<br />
* Be opportunistic. Race gates open to the public cleared my head. A terrain park provided soft snow on an icy day. When what normally works for you fails, something unexpected might work. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0aXIn4rd27BOOFeXcGN7x2K_mejS0UqWz4Ri9D7_FGXFQcvwNn43yItgVZnaB3uEWOkh36jhq3eNPItjx6itbGI_7zEoMGb69LVUOtQ0Ufh2jndytggEafpyZ_Ln7ZFQchC6BNeyDNVG7/" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">smiling ladies</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Thanks to everyone who showed up for making this trip one to remember!</div></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-3832333142954116692012-02-09T13:29:00.001-08:002012-02-09T14:00:32.624-08:00Telemarking at smuggs<div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONmCVu26Uj5q7fCzIBpUa1zpuCT04mj4OOUZubwN18cVxvXZM7SvNlFYxlJR-TBHW8m5jUVH6YISVM6lNmcd9f7o3hv7vtdjn_nBpvUECWFcBxw85O5-kersSNjvarZAoNlyyn7Xw_ayG/s1600/smuggs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONmCVu26Uj5q7fCzIBpUa1zpuCT04mj4OOUZubwN18cVxvXZM7SvNlFYxlJR-TBHW8m5jUVH6YISVM6lNmcd9f7o3hv7vtdjn_nBpvUECWFcBxw85O5-kersSNjvarZAoNlyyn7Xw_ayG/s1600/smuggs.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At Smuggler's Notch, Looking at Madonna from Morse</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
My friend Adam wanted to build some telemark skills today, so I jumped on the opportunity and joined him. Sinc my M.O. is helping people learn, and because my skills are somewhat past his, I filled his head with too much information and told him to focus on the best nugget and ignore the rest. I have a lot of respect for instructors who seem to know the right thing to say in the first place.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoMTEFUSBqppPNda_fz_y1F9Js2uPioRbtq1vGUUvh5_WE_nTMceKUQ0yuhJjH1B4G4RttsnoxVPkMpDOf1BQrJOSVIjuEADAHzv0rMJEKye866YyyNxk-Fo8xJhcFj9OaKJ2xEwmPkOM/s1600/Adam-telemark-web.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoMTEFUSBqppPNda_fz_y1F9Js2uPioRbtq1vGUUvh5_WE_nTMceKUQ0yuhJjH1B4G4RttsnoxVPkMpDOf1BQrJOSVIjuEADAHzv0rMJEKye866YyyNxk-Fo8xJhcFj9OaKJ2xEwmPkOM/s1600/Adam-telemark-web.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam, learning telemark turns</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also got to thinking about crossover skills. Like how practice alpine skiing teaches upper/lower body independence that translates to the teleboard so well. Or how being used to the quick-turning teleboard makes me more nimble on a snowboard.
Today I noticed another crossover skill. Riding a teleboard has made me a better telemarker bygetting me used to always being on edge. I think being on only one board with such a pronouned sidecut has ensured that I naturally make an effort to keep the teleboard as much as possible. It prevents catching an edge and is a good way to keep your speed up in the flats. Today I found myself keeping my skis on edge, which served a different purpose. The parts of the trail that would have been merely runout were instead a place to practice carving telemark skis. And that is quite a valuable skill.
Even so, I'll be back on a teleboard next time.</div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-42666305490891774862012-02-05T03:56:00.001-08:002012-02-08T19:10:58.569-08:00What to expect<div><p>I just arrived at smuggler's notch with Superfan and Adam, and I thought It would be a good time to set expectations for this blog. I'm going to take notes for the teleboard book by writing here, which means that this blog should theoretically be of some value to beginning or potential teleboarders.</p>
<p>I'm also going to sit down and write on a regular basis, and whatever comes out wikk get posted.<br>
I am not going to spend much time editing my posts, so they may be a little raw.</p>
<p>Look forward to smuggs pics soon.</p>
<p>--Scott</p>
</div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-76555558890885815162012-02-05T03:52:00.000-08:002012-02-05T04:04:59.435-08:00Teaching Aaron, days 6 and 7<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0uyr8526K0trYjaIUisODbZ3UYYfZCAcCmhVRAO0gcdT0h9M4xqcjntWHuSDJy1GlgmwPRf1gH019cG5NStLBd93s5afWwJZOgAm7uA2vptMOCOLnaETXRFHwol4tbP3Cg6SSnLhThmD/s1600/IMGP8237-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0uyr8526K0trYjaIUisODbZ3UYYfZCAcCmhVRAO0gcdT0h9M4xqcjntWHuSDJy1GlgmwPRf1gH019cG5NStLBd93s5afWwJZOgAm7uA2vptMOCOLnaETXRFHwol4tbP3Cg6SSnLhThmD/s1600/IMGP8237-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron, day 6</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Friday we had a great time riding at Stratton, VT. Aaron needed miles under his feet more than advice, and that's what he got. We enjoyed sunshine, loose granular snow, and chatting with lots of friendly strangers. We stayed near the green-painted signs but still managed to see some decent terrain variation.<br />
<br />
That night Aaron's very cool Uncle & Aunt put us up for the night. We surely learned more spending a few hours with them than the three previous days teleboarding and taking notes, but that's for another blog.<br />
<br />
Yesterday, we decided to try to save some driving time and ride a mountain that Aaron might be able to conquer. We pointed the car towards Massachusetts just long enough to get to Crotched Mountain. More sunshine and sugary snow greeted us, as well as some cheerful locals. Within a few runs we had stopped talking about fatigue from the previous days, and starting talking about making some big gains. At the end of the day, Aaron was hop-turning down "satellite summit", a nice little face marked with a black diamond.<br />
<br />
I'm pretty proud of the transformation Aaron underwent over the last four days. Just Wednesday he was riding a conveyor belt like a box of cheerios, and now...I'm going to drop that analogy while I'm ahead.<br />
<br />
I'm also very glad to have a friend who would willingly fly from Florida to semi-frosty New England in winter, push himself past all preconceived limits with a smile, and add bruises to his bruises--Just so I could take notes and pictures, and maybe sell 5 copies of a book someday. Aaron, if you're reading this, thanks for applying your get-it-done-right attitude to teleboarding, vacationing, and friendship.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-a6Po0OB2EKgCWtyhmoiyXlMcwM8raJXrISeGoY-JCMCXs_4znwp5z7zjO8aCV0jtf06lMmW_omwk3vrnymzygs8D2Brm5QJ0RkEfHuUBlqqt-nOibLYKKfGeFLT8quFngmDRbk5kmQG3/s1600/IMAG0108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-a6Po0OB2EKgCWtyhmoiyXlMcwM8raJXrISeGoY-JCMCXs_4znwp5z7zjO8aCV0jtf06lMmW_omwk3vrnymzygs8D2Brm5QJ0RkEfHuUBlqqt-nOibLYKKfGeFLT8quFngmDRbk5kmQG3/s320/IMAG0108.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Aaron and I came up with a short list of lessons learned or verified on our drive home:<br />
<br />
* It's worth alternating between easy and challenging terrain as much as possible. Nailing every turn on an easy slope for two runs may keep a smile on your face long enough to succeed at something you thought you weren't ready for. When you are just starting to be comfortable with what you are doing, you are ready to take on an even tougher challenge.<br />
* Laugh when you fall.<br />
* Hip swivel. I tend to lead with my hips, and after trying it himself Aaron emphasized its importance repeatedly. It seems to help cut through snow sinuously.<br />
* Steeper is easier. Yes, really. Steeps intimidate everyone at some point, but all of the basic movements of teleboarding work better when the ground is sloped.<br />
* Stay positive or eat snow. (that sounded more positive in my head)<br />
* If you think you are about to fall, adopt a lower stance and lean a little forward. You might stay on your board.<br />
* Don't splay your your knees. You need both legs working together to use the whole length of the steel edge. Feeling your knees touch each other is a reminder that you have a good stance and you are about to do justice to the terrain you're looking at.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQ5UoEpA3ASlKBNzFQoTFlpWDvj4lWgvX1s4EBPjPzW8HmTQuEJNYISk95jJmBw6mYXawELXFy5tYLF3Y0vJFuSFpsDmpwAPZ5d6Q_DgCc1f4nRHZESTVFiyN6JxBbZ6De3_EIobWslAt/s1600/jump-web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoQ5UoEpA3ASlKBNzFQoTFlpWDvj4lWgvX1s4EBPjPzW8HmTQuEJNYISk95jJmBw6mYXawELXFy5tYLF3Y0vJFuSFpsDmpwAPZ5d6Q_DgCc1f4nRHZESTVFiyN6JxBbZ6De3_EIobWslAt/s1600/jump-web.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron's 3rd attempt at a jump. 6 inches in the air and stuck the landing just like the first two.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
* Jumping isn't a trick. It's a basic building block of good technique that you should learn right away. I mean beginners, especially. Take a meandering "easiest way down" sort of trail and look for little rises in the terrain. Not jumps, not dropoffs, just slight convexities. Get your board one inch in the air. Then keep doing it. It's fun and it sorts out your balance instantly.<br />
* Once you jump, you can learn hop turns easily, which are great for steeps.<br />
<br />
OK. That's all for now. <br />
<br />
</div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-40306548785920621552012-02-02T20:45:00.000-08:002012-02-02T20:45:45.430-08:00Teaching Aaron, day 5Today was a big success. Over the course of 3.5 hours at Wachusett, Aaron got better by leaps and bounds. I think he is in the phase where he is less in need of information, and more in need of miles of snow passing under his feet. We mixed up the terrain slightly and I got to watch him gain confidence, control and speed.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsnBSptdyvcQI6iuInY4Wj2k6GOcdpcjat88hnpeiRNUd1MERwgTZbvN-hLk6f0VDyzvi46OmCEHM-eNT1Zdss-NBgFsNKA5Fm87RiGYj7pc8e0dj9e9nY9VfNblK6BdZ9lZyM7KLb0Jy/s1600/IMGP7963-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCsnBSptdyvcQI6iuInY4Wj2k6GOcdpcjat88hnpeiRNUd1MERwgTZbvN-hLk6f0VDyzvi46OmCEHM-eNT1Zdss-NBgFsNKA5Fm87RiGYj7pc8e0dj9e9nY9VfNblK6BdZ9lZyM7KLb0Jy/s320/IMGP7963-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Aaron said the big realization of the day was a lower stance. For him that made it all fall into place. When you're on a board, standing a little bit lower might make a big difference, but you might as well get as low as you comfortably can. It will take more energy, but many things start working better...suspension, edge engagement, etc. Also, I think it focuses the mind.<br />
<br />
Another thing we talked about today was the "oneness" with the board. It's a hard thing to put into words, but I think I recall snowboarders talking about the same thing. One board, one thing to do, no distractions, natural focus, and mental bliss. Something like that.<br />
<br />
Another fun thing tonight was getting more attention than usual. I think we were on the schoolchildren's shift, which came along with many questions and candid appraisals of our strange ski-like devices. One child saw Aaron on his teleboard and asked him if he had a prosthetic leg. Another boy asked me 3 quick questions about my board, said, "I know what I'm asking for for Christmas", and sped off on his merry way. Aaron and I both enjoyed the attention. Personally, I'm better at having conversations with strangers than starting them, so it works for me.<br />
<br />
A thought on poles. One of my ski poles got stolen yesterday so I've been riding without them for two days. Leaving poles behind for that long is only slightly unusual for me. I like to drop them occasionally to force better technique, but Aaron came upon a similar realization a different way. His skill got to a point where poles were less necessary and he just stopped using them. They were still in his hands, but he decided to stop using them to cheat down the slope, and thus force good technique out of his legs and torso.<br />
<br />
Near the end of our session, I happened to notice Aaron slide to a stop with some real finesse. It started out like a carve, changing the direction of his momentum, then shifted into a hockey stop, leaving him facing the direction he came from. I often use the same trick to pull up right to the lift line. I think that it might be a good indicator of readiness to graduate from the bunny slopes.<br />
<br />
On that note, I'm going to bed so I can drive to Vermont bright and early tomorrow, for two more days of hurtling down frozen mountains.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-47809872338822597822012-02-01T17:39:00.001-08:002012-02-02T05:04:23.164-08:00Teaching Aaron, day 4<div><div><div><p>I've been teaching my good friend Aaron to ride a teleboard for a short while now (three ski days). He is helping me test my teleboarding book by using it to learn and giving me lots of great feedback. I'm using this post to take notes for the book. I hope you'll find some useful information in here, because it's the direction I'm going to steer this blog going forward.</p><p>Aaron and I got together for the 4th day of teleboarding, the first day of a four-day effort. We both learned a few things. For one, don't turn your nose up at a little rain. When the sky let loose on us for 15 minutes we saw many people head for the lodge--but we enjoyed some of the best carving snow I have seen. It's also a perfect night to pick out our tracks from the chair.</p><p>Hrmmm... what else did we learn?</p><p>* Don't get off the chairlift until you are over the hump and the ground starts to fall away. No heads were clobbered by chairlifts tonight...yet.</p><p>* These wet conditions are ideal for pure-lean edge changes. Aaron was apparently ready to take a crack at it too, with much success. Between turns, don't hop or spin,but just shift your weight o the other side. It makes the cleanest, most fluid turns of any edge-changing technique. The tracks left behind show a gap exactly the width of a teleboard where two arcs meet. This marks the first time Aaron was able to tailor technique to the conditions.</p><p>* The trail you choose really matters for beginners. We yo-yo'ed "Indian Summer" at Mount Wachusett all night, which is more or less the perfect trail to get up and running. Nothing but a wide, consistently shallow trail that goes on for a long time--And the length is key. Every run provided several chances to stop and try again. We quickly decided that there was no reason to be anywhere else for the night--a choice validated by Aaaron's rapid improvement every single run. When we head to the mountain again today (I'm finishing up this post the morning after night skiing), I'm sure I will take Aaron to some more difficult trails before too long, and I'm going to remind him that it's the technique he already knows that will get him through anything he comes across. Not leaning back, bailing out, or worrying about what he doesn't know how to do. A trail like "Indian Summer" is the way to build that technique to begin with.<br /></p><p>* Getting across flat ground on a teleboard. Your front foot is clipped in and you push off with the other foot as if on a skateboard or snowboard. That much is obvious. Now, swing/kick your back leg forward, following through all the way. With your foot reaching forward, pause for an instant before rythmically swinging back for the next push-off. I consciously realized I was doing this last night and gave Aaron the tip, which he found helpful. I think it makes me about twice as efficient, squeezing more glide out of every kick.</p><p>That's it for Day 4. Day 5 starts now.</p><p>Aaron, my willing volunteer student:<br /></p><p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpRZet-ox5knveWGreaCl-Smz2jLeyvR7n4N5ZjVVy1wvyMQvB5Bb_Pxj_iUi6JpjkPZCBlCX27ko8u2oQDAuYe5kkXsQmC5mFfrXnr-9R6QM9aTLO9tei-ODbdbkWdd7_akgY1mG57Fg/" /></p><p>A couple of my tracks, still visible in the slippery corn.<br /></p></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnyXpMLJ9Zz6aDLvQiteSJ3s_qEi_SilQzNZ-bf1iSkqY0zIEOsavoFluf5hDvNiSFYzTYkbqOawnI7RNir54EMZhzbo_S_sbaiUDvBrKMs0qPgXgqt4cVFSiQFD3qgTmriWTajlm8Qx4b/" /><br /><br />From left to right: Aaron, me, and Mikey (a friend who joined us for a few runs)<br /></div><br /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInVGRaItxI-khYq3XajrMO9FXIx_TY1ZtlSwy-by_CvRTd3Y0o9Uw06rP22donh3R5AcvhEwunpaYWYsO4SWEo8qizdAjOT2dYdcfUpvXrI7phLVyxdvmajcFysD7ozFus6nyUNwxI1Bc/" /><br /><br /></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-14279089646683382562011-12-14T02:18:00.001-08:002011-12-14T02:18:52.016-08:00Teleboarding season begins<div><p>My teleboarding season begins now. I'm heading off to killington with a friend and looking forward to 28+ open trails.<br>
I hope your season is off to a prompt start too!</p>
<br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOK7VKxNn5PqNtA1XgZIME_EudnkuyMXQBh6yMGv3oiDMstpuMJ83_TMes1nqEU6ZusQN3D0EEGZGCNaD0iqyomW0eOrV9lLWmYyeGG77j32JJyNlo0Mpw_OA5m1CPg4Vne6fMD8eGhrMz/' /></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-65966787267018385512011-03-18T13:11:00.000-07:002011-03-18T13:13:36.409-07:00tele fest @ bretton woods tomorrowI hope to see you tomorrow at the <a href="http://www.netelemark.com/reggae_fest.htm">last New England Telemark festival of the season</a>. If you buy a lift ticket at bretton woods tomorrow <span style="font-weight: bold;">upstairs</span> instead of at the normal ticket window, it comes with free equipment demos, lessons, & beer. You'll probably see a few teleboards there too, including me.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-65851623916191577502011-02-28T07:54:00.000-08:002011-02-28T08:38:40.911-08:00Slope testing day 1Last night I got in a first teleboarding night with my friend Aaron, who volunteered to help test my book. Thanks, Aaron!!!<br /><br />I gave him an *extremely* rough draft to read. He gave me some useful feedback on the spot, and let me photograph him struggling with unfamiliar equipment & techniques. I think that photos of an actual beginner making typical mistakes, and then getting it right, is exactly what a teleboarding book needs.<br /><br />We were on the 4-10pm shift, so pretty soon we lost the light, put away the camera and draft, and decided to pass some distance under our feet. A wide and shallow slope is good for learning, but a long one really is ideal.<br /><br />Even though Aaron getting clocked in the head by a moving chairlift didn't help anything, our mission was a huge success. Around 9:30, I got a good look at the bottom of Aaron's board, carving a wide arc as he sped past.<br /><br />Slope testing day 1 summary:<br />- Aaron went from zero to grinning intermediate in 6 hours.<br />- I have a bunch of tweaks and new material for the teleboarding book.<br />- You can learn technique from a book, but you get to teach yourself finesse.<br />- Helmets are a great idea.<br />- It's nice to have a good friend that will take some risks for you.<br /><br />Keep thinking snow!!Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-20173761629640071442011-02-01T06:07:00.000-08:002011-02-01T07:47:03.370-08:00time passingAs I recover from yet another smuggs trip, I'm realizing it's been almost a year since my last post. Since then, I've done a bunch of teleboarding, made some new ski buddies, tried yoga for the first time, learned how to make telemark turns, misplaced my helmet, and made it through many snowless months.<br /><br />This season has gotten off to a great start for me. Starting the weekend before Thanksgiving, I visited Killington, Sunapee, Sugarloaf, Wachusett (in many short visits), and, recently, Smuggler's notch for 3 days. We're still getting an unusual amount of snow in Massachusetts.<br /><br />Lately, I've been riding, forming ideas, and doing everything else except writing.<br /><br />I hope this serves as a reminder that we should use the time and opportunities that we have. If you're in New England, we're getting snow now, so go ride it! Or go ride some snow somewhere else!<br /><br />A few days ago, I gave my friend some advice on how to make a better telemark turn, but it turned out that I was really giving myself advice. I heard the words in my head, took my own advice, and improved on the spot. So here I go again:<br /><br />Get out there and take a risk. Leave your ski poles on the rack. Jump off a mogul. Compliment a stranger. And post to your blog even if you don't think your thoughts are fully formed yet.<br /><br />That's all for now, but I've got some partially formed tips and stories for the next posts.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-55287269597502559812010-02-24T07:40:00.000-08:002010-02-24T08:03:47.640-08:00connecting the piecesI've been back to the real world for a little while now, but I've been thinking a lot about what happened on the morning of the second day of my recent trip to smuggs.<br /><br />Mandy tried the teleboard again. I'd say it was something like her fourth time. She will generally do a couple of short runs, learn a little, and get back on her snowboard for the rest of the day. (Learning a new balance sport is tiring, and teleboarding requires some athleticism, so it's a good way to get started if you're not in a hurry). This time was a thrill to watch though, because the other day, Mandy connected it all up. Her first run down the half-slope was cautious and competent. She made each part of each turn deliberately. On the chair we discussed bending and/or twisting at the hips vs. the knees. I think my advice was barely adequate because I came to teleboarding from alpine skiing, instead of snowboarding.<br /><br />By the end of the second run she was flying. Suddenly I was seeing rapidly linked turns. We were both happy, and we decided to skip the midway station (morse mountain), and head for the top at which point she continued to impress. Next time she rides a teleboard, she's going to look like a teleboarder, and that makes me happy.<br /><br />But seeing her connect the pieces is what really excited me. I think it's just fun to be around the learning process, especially when someone conquers the basics, and suddenly has many possibilities in front of them.<br /><br />The specific lesson that Mandy learned that day was to "lead with the knees" (her words). I learned a specific lesson too--that I should expect snowboarders to think about almost every aspect of teleboarding differently than I do. While some snowboarding techniques work well on a teleboard, the twisting hips and sideways-slanting shins of a skier seem to be a better basis for teleboarding. So, my next challenge with the book is to make sure I don't take skier's technique for granted, and try to speak a little snowboarder.<br /><br />And, Mandy, thanks for subjecting yourself to so much analysis when you're busy learning.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-69993328913001915342010-02-11T14:41:00.001-08:002012-02-20T10:30:25.114-08:001st day at smuggs this yearI just finished up day one of my annual visit to smuggler's notch. It was an unusual day,at least given past experience here. Some of the best hardpack for edge-hold I've seen for a while led to extreme-ish carving on wide green trails. My opinion is that shallow goes with shallow as much as steep goes with deep. Mandy got some great pics which I'm sure will find their way into the teleboarding book.<br />Also, I ended up spending 75% of my day teaching friends to ski (mostly telemark, some alpine)--all while riding my teleboard of course. I enjoyed the teaching--it must have been the right day for it. Anyway, it got the gears turning, and I've just decided that it is now time for my first major editing pass through the book.<br />It's good to be motivated :-)<br />I'll post pictures when we get back home, but right now it's hot tub o'clock.<br />Happy trails!Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-50193043156530635622009-07-11T07:00:00.000-07:002009-07-11T07:01:26.005-07:00Teleboarding needs a bookFor the last few years, as I've been teleboarding, I've had uncountable conversations with strangers about this odd thing I'm standing on. Usually people don't know what it is, but it seems like that's starting to change. It used to be all "what the heck is that?" and "you lost a ski" to my face, along with whispers around me of "that's a monoski, son". This last season though, I was surprised how many people knew essentially what it was, even knew that it was called a teleboard, and were even more full of questions as a result. These people don't want to know what a teleboard <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span>--they want to know<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>what it feels like to ride one. I enjoy these chairlift conversations every ski season.<br /><br />Snowboards were first manufactured in 1969, and they took about 30 years to catch on, but they broke new ground in the process. Now, the idea of skiers sharing the mountain with snowboarders, monoskiers, snow-scooter riders, ski-bladers, and even teleboarders--is unremarkable. Teleboards were invented in 1996--so they've only existed for 13 years, but the world is smaller than it was in 1969. The masses are starting to be ready for the teleboard, and the teleboard is ready for them. More importantly, the masses deserve to know about it.<br /><br />I alpine-skiied almost exclusively from ages 4-23. I know that it takes a large investment of time and money to try another snow sport. You have to miss a day doing something you're good at and enjoy. You have to spend money on equipment and lift tickets, knowing they might be a waste. Also, it can be frustrating to struggle down a slope knowing you smoked it only the day before. On the flip side, learning something new is incredibly rewarding. There's a feeling of discovery and acheivement that comes with each realization--and, when you learn a different <span style="font-style: italic;">kind</span> of skiing/riding (or something else you can already do well), the skills from each cross-pollinate. Teleboarding made me a better skier, telemarking made me a better teleboarder and alpine skier, etc.<br /><br />I've spent the last few years broadening my horizons. I picked up teleboarding and got hooked. I worked on telemark skiing untill it clicked. I hopped on a snowboard and was able to do it fairly well (to my great surprise) due to my teleboarding experience. And, I even picked up my alpine skis now and then. Each of these different ways to ride/ski have advantages, and everyone will and should have their own preference. That said, a teleboard is objectively better in a a number of ways. The torque, floatation, power, flexibility and focus that come with the stance, the dimensions of the board, the perfect bindings for the job--it combines to form an excellent use of free time.<br /><br />So, it's obvious why it's time for me to write this book. I want to provide something that is accessible to people, and helps them have more fun in their free time. I'll put the instruction across in the book, but I'm also trying to convey what it's like to ride the mighty teleboard. I want to help you imagine yourself in a new sport before you invest time and money, and then jump into something new with the right information and plenty of confidence.<br /><br />On that note, I'll go back to working on the book now.<br /><br />...and here are a few more <a href="http://talk.teleboarder.com/viewtopic.php?t=323">pictures</a> for you to enjoy.Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8555686714515487914.post-5021910509106281412009-07-09T08:12:00.000-07:002009-07-10T07:48:35.239-07:00My new blogHello World!<br /><br />This is my new blog about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teleboard">teleboarding</a>. I love teleboarding, and I want everybody to know it--and hopefully love it too. While I'm writing my book on the subject, this will be a place for extra thoughts to spill into.<br /><br />Welcome to my new blog--I hope you enjoy it.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Keep thinking snow!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAY5Z5fjR_rkrcpOV0ZZqHpmUG6SpXKM2LLfKgC3Iiigr-9bXRSmCpzx474SUcOczGXmUHmkXnnyfRlfrANwjZaAGUtokL-oU88ahofAeXvVeHDc1AVChIHoH6-fxmunA4Ghb-Yw7QJEo/"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 426px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGAY5Z5fjR_rkrcpOV0ZZqHpmUG6SpXKM2LLfKgC3Iiigr-9bXRSmCpzx474SUcOczGXmUHmkXnnyfRlfrANwjZaAGUtokL-oU88ahofAeXvVeHDc1AVChIHoH6-fxmunA4Ghb-Yw7QJEo/" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Scotthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14836457412929445413noreply@blogger.com0