BUY THIS BOARD!!! I am not trying to sell this board, I am trying to tell you that if you don't you'll miss out on a stupidly fun board. First I need to state, I have not been a huge fan of Burton boards, we all have our own preferences and only a few have fit my needs. So when I find a board I like I tell our buyer that we need this board. I heard the name twin and I thought... twin, its gonna be a noodle and just suck. Most twins in the past were crappy boards (don't scream at me like that, you know what board you had back in the day and looking at todays boards it was pretty week, I had a sims noah...) and really only good for a few uses. I like a board that I can use for the park and still drop lines. So looking at the twin in that way seemed like a waste of time but after riding it for a few runs I was convinced that this board may satisfy my needs. It was a little softer than my DB but I think it will make park riding way more fun but I know I can still take it off piste for even more fun..

Labels: 2008 Burton Twin Snowboard

This past winter I had a chance to demo the new and improved Burton Cartel. I say new and improved since these ain't your old Cartels from years past. They kept the toe cap (they called it an upgrade in the manual) and the ankle straps are pretty much the same. The major change is the Canted Living Hinge Team Skyback II. What that means to you? Well personally it felt different, not bad by any means, but different. I used to ride salomon spx pros so the transition to the Cartel a few years ago was a pretty good switch and very noticeable. So after a few years under my belt of riding the cartels this years change compared to years past was a change. Again I say it was not bad it just changed the feel of the binding. I think maybe it was the canted sky back or that the back felt slightly higher but it did not force me to change my approach at riding by any means. I am going to buy this years pair as soon as I can and just add it to my quiver of winter toys. Oh and the winterfresh mismatch is as hot grab em before Captain Shortshanks does.

Labels: 2008 Burton Cartel Bindings

The all new Burton X8 snowboard is an interesting board at first glance. The inserts look like Forums failed attempt of an insert revolution a few years back but with Burton's intense R and D I have no doubt that the concept will work slightly better. The next part of the board is the single line of 2 inserts, which will confuse any rider since as far back as anyone can remember, inserts come in 4s or 3s. Ok, with the first glance lets talk about the board itself. The board was described to me as a combination of a custom, in the middle, and a dominant, on the tip and tail. Next using the single line of inserts along with the new bindings the rider can have any stance width and stance angle. It was to much for me at the demo and I spent to much time thinking about my stance and not about the ride.

Now to the review of the ride. First I need to mention that the demo was at Squaw Valley and there was a slight inversion at the base. Snow conditions were hardpacked at the base with spring like corn up top. I am not sure if my bindings were set a little to toe forward because I kept catching the trailing edge on each toeside turn. also the board could have been detuned a bit more because it was to grippy trough out the turn and if since its classified as a freestyle board then round those edges over son. Overall I liked the board but I would really like to have another go at it. And this is my only but, I didn't like the coalition bindings they used at the demo. I would have like a cartel like binding. The current bindings that are supposed to integrate with the system were a little stiff. But I would suggest this board, it was fun when buttering and still had snap when trying to go after an aggressive carve relative to its freestyle nature. (keep in mind that i wouldn't say that this board is an all mountain and I would not go out an buy this board for cruising uses). Oh and getting the Transworld Good wood award should say something, especially since its this boards first year.

Labels: 2008 Burton X8 Snowboard

Just a little update on a personal favorite. JPs is a quick easy and fun ride if your bored and need to move your legs. The ride can be easily extended if you know the turns but thats another ride altogether. The ride starts by the Holiday Inn Express in Truckee and goes up into cols stream. You will see the Donner park camp grounds on your right and quickly after that the local gravel pits. Keep riding up the cold stream access road and I mean up, right after the pits the road climbs quickly but its a shorts climb. Keep riding the road till you see a fire road turn off to the right and up. Some of my friends have nicknamed this climb the punisher because it goes up and does not stop till you get to the rail road tracks. Its not a tough climb but you never really get a chance to let your lungs fully open up until you reach the top. Once you reach the top go to your right towards the tunnel, at the signal lights cross the tracks. But be aware that this is an active set of tracks and some trains you hear climbing up the cold stream horse shoe and other come screaming out of the tunnel. after you cross the tracks you can see the next climb. Its not technical but the earth is loose so you may find yourself hard pressed to reach the top. Finally you reach the top of the climb and what goes up... well, you get some fun downhill. Look for the turnoff to your right that goes into a single track. Lower the seat and watch out for the switch backs. It took me some time to get my personal timing down to make all of them but there is a secret to easily making all the switchbacks. At the bottom there are many outs off the single track and back onto the access road but I like riding the single track all the way to the bottom. There is an easy technical section but beware the loose dirt, it will bite!!! once you reach the end of the single track cross the access road for more single track fun and take it to the bottom. This ride is quick and a nice after work spinner to get your heart rate up but not go on a killer ride that you need to over prepare for.

Labels: JPs Trail, Lake Tahoe Mountain Bike Trails

Finally we have the new 08 Burton ready, check it out for yourself. So far we have up and ready for sale Burton Boots and Burton Bindings and much more to come next week. The only real reason that I mention that we have the Burton is all the cool new stuff that they are bringing to the masses. The New Stria and X8 will change the the way ride forever with unlimited stance angles available and the ease to change them. Between that and some of the new graphics (yeah I said graphics, because we all know that you only buy a board for the graphics) check out the Twin, how freakin long did that take to draw? Oh I can't wait till the snow flies to try all the new stuff out, and I know your thinking why talk about snow in July... I live in Tahoe for a few reasons and one is to ride every day I can and mountain biking can fill that void for only so long.

Labels: Burton, Burton Snowboard Bindings, Burton Snowboard Boots

This past Saturday I finally had my chance to ride a good old favorite, the Scott Peak Loop Ride. I used to ride this loop quite often when I lived on the westshore but now that I have relocated to Truckee it makes it a bit tougher to get over there as often as I would like to. The ride starts our at 64 acres park in Tahoe City, taking the bike trail south towards Sunnyside. Turn right at Rubicon deli and start heading towards Granlibaken. At the Granlibaken Sign turn right, sorry but I only remember landmarks and I am not so good with street names. Ride the street till it dead ends into a fire road with a closed gate. This starts the long uphill ride to Paige Meadows and unless you have done this ride before you climb for a longtime. Note: the climb to Paige has completely chaged since the forest service came in and cleaned up the forest. The climb starts out as a double wide fire road and turns into a single track. There are a couple of places to turn off but keep going straight and uphill. I wish I had the timing down but I could guess at about 45 minutes from TC to Paige. Once your in Paige you kinda free to explore, their are soo many trails to choose from its really riders delight. The goal is to get to the fire road that is on the backside of Paige meadows or in other words if you get to a place that seems like its going to take you down a rocky fire road down to ward creek turn around and head back and turn to your left. Ride up the single track and take the first left you see. The trail seems kinda funky and super rocky, you will know your on the right trail when you have to dismount to walk across a few man made bridges and once you've crossed youwill end up on another fire road. You should see signs and evidence of logging equipment and thats how you know your in the right place. Head up the fire road till you get to a T in the road, at this point you can choose to go right and go back to Tahoe City or go left and go to Scott Peak.

If Scott is your destination head left and enjoy a nice fire road that climbs and descends alot. The final turn will be a left that you will not miss, it goes UP. Take this fire road all the way to the top, and it starts out with an easy climb that keeps going up and as you get closer to the top it gets more technical and steeper. But once you arrive at the top you will enjoy amazing views with very limited blockage of your views. The best part of this ride... you get to go back down and its a fun, fast float of a downhill ride. There are so many options to get back home that I just go back to Paige and aim towards Flinstones which dumps you out near Tahoe City Lumber. I wish I could detail the ride better but all in all its a tough ride, bring lots of water and your climbing legs. The ride can be around 17-20 miles with a good elevation gain that tops out at Lakeveiw chair in Alpine Meadows. Don't be afraind to ask direction when your on the trail because you can easily get lost with the vast trail system.

Labels: Alpine Meadows, Lake Tahoe, Lake Tahoe Mountain Bike Trails, Mountain Bike

Labels: TGR Lost and Found

I really love our summertime thunderstorms. When you can enjoy the daytime and then sit back with a cocktail and watch a storm roll in their is nothing better. Yesterdays was a bit on the nasty side but it better to have a lot of rain with all that lightning we saw so no more fires get started. Another bonus to all the rain is the trails will get nice an packed down again. Some of the local trails were looking more like September than early July. Also the rain knocked alot of the annoying yellow pollen down too, which if you have allergies like me you look forward to anything that will knock the pollen down.

I know this is not Sactown so I really cannot compare to them but to set a heat record in Tahoe is still freakin hot. We hit a high of 97 this past Tuesday which in a land of no air conditioning makes it unbearable, especially when your working in a warehouse. I only wish we didn't work in an area that is completely surrounded by pavement.

Way to go Tahoe City! I have seem quite a few of the old TC fireworks displays and last night was actually one of these best displays I have ever seen. It wasn't the usual 15 minutes of booms and done. They actually had a variety of pyrotechnic explosions with shapes, colors and sounds. Again I was extremely surprised and to make the night perfect, well at least for me because I know where to park, getting out of Tahoe City was quick and painless. I was home before I knew it and was able to enjoy some "little bush" before going to bed. Hope you 4th was great and was safe.

Painted Rock,
I think someone has done alot of work to the Painted Rock trail this past winter. Depending on the route you go its pretty obvious somebody put in a good amount of time changing the trial. It winds much better through the woods and much of the rocks have been taken out of the route. However the one technical rock (if you done it you know it) is still there. But I must say the ride is still really fun, depending on the route you start from, I like Tahoe City as a starting point. It can be a nice little ride that makes you want more and if your daring you can always veer off towards missing link or go the opposite route towards the elevator shaft. In any sense the traisl are in great shape even though its already super dry everywhere. Oh and don't be like me... buy a spare tube..

Labels: Lake Tahoe, Mountain Bike