Robert - I am definietly headed up VERY early that morning form the house.  I'm about 90 mins from Taos if you care to stop by the night before.

AND... you up for either Durango or Wolf Creek this coming weekend??  I live about 2 miles from the Santa Ana Casino - right on your way if you and Jr are thinking of riding Sat or Sun.  Daughter will be at WOlf Creek with friends all weekend - so I could bump into her.  If by myself - then I'll probably head to Santa Fe... but with someone - it has to be one of those!!! 

Not enough riding so far this season.  But alas am in the best shape I've been in the past 4-5 seasons - was told that old diabetes regimen is in the future so I've cut 17 lbs in the past 4 weeks and daily trips to the gym... and just continue.  Tonight I did all of my hand weights while atop the Boca ball... excellent for snowboarding ankle strength and balance... nothing like a imagining a heel-side turn with twist while pressing weights.

Posted by olerubbertoe

If free helps you overcome your principles: 

Over the weekend in Angel Fire, ( Snowboarders mountain just east of Taos) I heard that several of the board manufacturing companies will be at the Taos opening with freebies galour.  It also sounds like it will be a total invasion from at least the southwestern snowboarding community.  I also read an old (4 or 5 years)Taos ski magazine at the cabin we rented in Eagle Nest.  It had an interview with the lady that owns the SKI resort.  In that interview she was asked why they shunned snowboards.  She explains that the myth her father had said that they would never allow snowboarding was a myth.  It was based on economics and the Rich folk in Dallas (evidently their big draw) wanted to keep it snowboard free and that it would remain an economical decision.  (I can understand that)

 

Then I read a more recent article.  She stated that she had come under increasing pressure from people in the valley and some of their clientel to allow snowboards.  So there you have it,  if you want to make more money- build a better mouse trap or allow snowboarders. 

And for you parkaholics:  they are building a park with a future half pipe in the works.

After the crowds Saturday at Angel Fire, I can't wait,  hopefully the crowd will go a little further west.

olerubbertoe
Thanks for that update from Angel Fire, its starting to sound like a sweet time going down. I'm hearing more folks leaning on the "showing up to support the local shreds" side. I'm trying to talk a local brewery peeps to represent with their fine hand crafted beer.

On the devils tongue, those crazy dudes at SLF on myspace sent me some more funny stuff.
----------------------------------------------------------
From: http://www.myspace.com/freetaosmarch19

RIDEtaos message board heating up!

The ridetaos.org message board has expanded to 3 pages since our
posting. Its great hearing from these pissed off geezers whining about
the old days. We luv it!!

We encourage you shreds to visit and mangle it up even more...really.
http://www.ridetaos.org/index.php?blog=12&page=0comments
http://www.ridetaos.org/index.php?blog=12&page=1comments
http://www.ridetaos.org/index.php?blog=12&page=2comments

^^^ You're going to be the sexiest man on the mountain without a doubt.  So hot, I might be tempting to hit on you...

Drove through Taos yesterday - twice... on our way to AngelFire!

rubbertoe - I had forgotten how memorable groomed snow could be.  But as I made my first run down corduroy I remember our trip last year and how perfect it was.  I love carving, and there is something to be said for a resort that can get it so perfect every time.  But there was powder too!  They must have gotten abou 18" the day before - because off the groomed were all the little trails or edges that they'd left a nice soft powder.  All in all it was a great day.

But it left me wondering - there was no crowd, no lift lines, and few boarders.  Once Taos opens in 2 weeks, what that will do to AngelFire.  Oh well - their dilemna to contend with.  But it was alot of fun - and for our youngest... IMing from the lift her friends back in Math class.

See you guys on the 19th!

ult - there will be no problem finding you!

I'm still looking for a shirt design - a snowboarder sitting in the FRONT of a school bus.


[Edited by nmMike on 3/8/2008 at 11:06 AM]

Posted by ult

I've tried not to read that ridetaos message board...I just don't know if I should laugh or cry from those comments. Some of those folks are *SO* delusional it's truely incredible:

 

"As a skier and nearly annual visitor
(regardless of snowcondition) for about 33 years have memories of skiing in classes with TSV Legends
such as Franz, Viktor, Dadu, Jean, Doug, Max, Chilton,Keith, Wilms etc.I have come to the conclusion that skiing on a moutain such as Taos with it's challenging terrain and trails next to the in general rude and inconsidered boarder hoards would be near suicidal. Therefor, I have come to the very sad conclusion that my next Ski-destination will be Alta. I was present when Ernie's Ashes were released over his beloved Skivalley.and I don't think he would approve of this. Mickey it is clear you lost to Chris.

GOOD LUCK GUYS, you will need it."

 

Just being 'next to' snowboarders is 'near suicide'....

They should be handing out little red clown noses for all the 'die hard' skiers that will be freakin out on that day!

Wow, some of the posts on that site were unbelievable, I wonder if some of the hate is fake trolling. Temped to go down there with skis on and fuck shit up. Then put a board on and be all nicey nicey.

But nah...

Better things to do with my time.

The irony is that this site discriminates just as bad as Taos. Took me a couple of years to figure that out...

So who all is going to make emancipation weekend?  And who has floor space???

^^^Thanks for the advice.  I am still hoping that someone will have some space that I can bum.  I might get a little more serious about this later in the week.

Well I did not mean to start trouble, teach me for posting drunk.

But yeah, I mean the name of the site is snowboard, not snow sports, not snow fun, etc.
I guess it is similar, but yet different from MTBR. MTBR is about mountain biking, which is very different from road biking, even though they are both bicycles.

Skiing and snowboarding are much more similar, and I ride with skiers frequently, and will be getting back on skis soon. So, my ski buddies don't really fit in around here. There are not too many pics of skiers other than Kill's buddy he rides with, etc.

Telemark tips on the other hand, is more of a specialized sport forum. hard core teleskiers and snowboarders don't ride together as much, excluding split boarders, which are the minority.

So I see it in kind of a us vs them light. SB welcomes snowboarders, skiers not so much. Much like Taos in the opposite direction. Skiers are not outlawed here, but SB does not cater to them or make them feel overly welcome do they?

But I really wasn't trying to dissuade anyone from posting here. Sorry to start trouble. It is fine for people to hang out and talk with like minded individuals. It is more fun to ride with other snowboarders as opposed to skiers, as the lines and stopping areas or more similar.

May I direct your attention to the next thread down, "Damn Skiers!!" http://snowboard.colonies.com/forums/topic/43851/

But more importantly, it is not how they are treated, but if they are welcomed.
Look at from other shoes. Would you be attracted to join a site called skiers rule, like you suggested? Probably not.
Maybe ski.com since ski is a general term.

Would you join a forum called JewishUltimateFrisbee.com? No. If I knew more about ultimate, I could make a better hypothetical.

Bottom line, I am not asking anything from this site, I am reading and posting less.

But I hate to be putting a wrench in their spokes, that's why I feel kind of bad about bringing it up int he first place. I do see some parallels in Taos not welcoming boarders, as snowboard.com inherently not welcoming skiers.

Posted by ult

Starting to get my outfit together for the Taos trip:

 

 

I'm going to be there. If you are in that crazy get-up, I'll be sure to say hi.

Well tomorrow is the big day, I'm trying to figure out how to get out the office

I want to spill my guts about Taos, I went there and learned to ski about 5 years ago so that I could experience that mountain and get free lessons and ticket from a bud (who rides) in TSV ski school. My impressions were 1) the mountain is beautiful and 2) the legend of the "Taos ski snob" was confirmed. Let me just say, ugly things were said in my presence while I was undercover as a skier. I have resented this experience since and those messages posted on ridetaos.org represent well what I speak of.

*Let me just say one thing about shit-talking as a simple street rule; if you can't say something to one's face, then you probably shouldn't say it all*

Anyhow, since that day I have successfully converted many skiers to riding as an instructor. This was my own little covert operation intended to change attitudes that we encounter from once-a-year visitors, that often came to Santa Fe because parents could not take their snowboarding kids to Taos. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone should ride, but I am saying that respect for each others discipline would be nice. Unfortunately here in New Mexico, it doesn't exist. In fact this year in our locker room in "ski school" the same bullshit talk happened over the Taos news. Let me just say, one very well known PSIA instructor who writes monthly articles, knows that shit talking can only leads to trouble .

Anyhow, putting on my positivity hat, the end of the Taos ban is a sign of the times, its one less divisive resort in existence. The new generation of skiers is nothing like the fading generation who believe bans should exists or that skiing is superior for what ever reasons. The future is now, when you see the groups of people shredding together both on skis and boards, thats the shit right there. My bud who freakin rips on skis, is right there with me on this too.

Cheers to you all, peace.
-this message was brought to you by the devil.

Disclaimer: Problems can be avoided if you take DEVIL-DOL only when you are able to immediately benefit from its effects. To fully benefit from DEVIL-DOL patients are encouraged to engage in activities requiring exceptional mental, motor, and consumptive coordination. DEVIL-DOL is not for you if you have abruptly stopped using alcohol or sedatives. DEVIL-DOL should be taken indefinitely. Side effects may include mood changes, muscle strain, extraordinary thinking, dermal gloss, impulsivity induced consumption, excessive salivation, hair growth, markedly delayed sexual climax, inter-species communication, taste perversion, terminal smile, and oral inflammation. Very rarely users may experience a need to change physicians. Talk to your doctor about DEVIL-DOL

Looking forward to the pix.  Hope it was fun.

I posted this in general, but just so the rest of the crew catches it.  Ult was definitely there front and center.  He made the slideshow, under faces picture 10.

He looks good in red.  Notice the guy behind him checking out his bum.