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I decided to take on another project. I have a snowboard that should last me another winter but I wanted to sharpen it myself. Does anyone know how?
1) Stone grits
2) Angles
3) Strokes
The crazy part is that I've got the fan on, ready to sell my own mother for an A/C and thinking about snowboarding is the only thing keeping me sane lol.
Try a conservative pyramid of 3/5 1/5 1/5
Then strop and shave.
Oh wait a minute....
if your not entirely honest with us we cant help you, Do you want to shave with it?
regards peter
Lol gentlemen. I guess that will get my rotation up to 7:
1) Taylor's Eye Witness 6/8 FH RP
2) Satinedge 5/8 FHS with DOVO scales SP
3) G. Butler 6/8 FH SP
4) DOVO Bismarck 5/8 FHS SP
5) M&Y 6/8 W SP
6) The Winner 5/8 FH RP
7) El-cheapo Austrian-made board/bindings (with binding parts coming from 2 broken sets) 85/8 W RP :D
For the rookies, after the names, I was giving the blade width/grind/point. The FHS signifies a full hollow grind "Singer" (a blade that produces a clear note when strummed).
Actually it's been so hot over here that I've been trying to cool myself off by daydreaming about snowboarding. I wanted my board to last me another winter before having to buy another one, so I decided to sharpen it now before we re-do the flooring in the house. By the end of last winter I took a few nasty spills because the board wasn't digging into the snow properly.
Ohh man I love snowboarding. Don't go as often as I'd like though; or, really, where I'd like to go :p Gotta get out to BC or even Quebec sometime, instead of all this southern ontario crap.
I've never had to sharpen the steel on my snowboard, I don't think I use it that much. I can't imagine it's as difficult as honing a razor :) I'm sure if you go into a decent ski store they'd know. There's a skiis & bikes on dundas about 500m further into mississagua from northstar hobbies. I'm sure someone in there would know, and could probably do it for you.
I refuse to take that board anywhere near someone who knows what he's doing.. What I do with it is embarassing enough lol. Actually it sat unused for a couple of years and when I decided to try learning again, there was some rust on the edge that probably wasn't sharp enough to begin with. My logic was the same... If I can get a rusty pitted wedge to shave, I can get a board sharp enough to prevent a spill or two.
Never used a board, but I maintained my own skis for years. I bought a special little file mounted in a hand-held jig that would keep the file at the correct 90 degree angle for the edge. The same thing would work for boards. I'm sure that they still make such things. (I used to be a 'certified ski technician', btw).
Wayne
So it has to be perpendicular to the board and moving along the edge or some sort of an X-pattern?
They have a small handheld sharpener for this. It holds the angle and is easy to use. Using a hone is MUCH more tricky, and more than you need for the edge on a snowboard. Also, when you are not using it (like now in the summer) put a little wax on the edges (candle wax works fine, and smells nice ;)). The edge does NOT have to be razor or even knife sharp....Quote:
Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT
At least this is my experience (I've been snowboarding for ~13 years now)
C utz
Thanks C. It's only been one season for me, but I surivived it with very little permanent damage and I love it, so I wanna get back into it next winter. Since I'm on a budget I can't spring for a nice Elan board or Flow Pro bindings (i LOVE those) so I have to make do with my Frankenstein board. Do you know how much those sharpeners go for?
They are not too expensive. Just roll down to your local ski shop and ask. The best time for buying your gear is at the end of the season....But this is a small item (I'm guessing ~$20 or less). Personally, I'm lazy and just have the shop do an overhaul at the beginning of each season...You have me thinking though that I might as well buy my own sharpener. Seems funny...I've been honing my own razor, but not my own board. I guess old habbits die hard.
As for boarding, keep at it...the nice thing about snowboarding is that the learning curve is steap! As in, you learn quickly (versus the long learning curve of skiing). Also, I HIGHLY recommend a helmet. I use to not wear one, until I broke a molar, landing and catching an edge. It's not like skiing in which you fall, the gear breaks away and your speed/momentum is lost in the forward tumble. As I am sure you have experienced, when you catch an edge, all speed/momentum STOPS hard in that one spot (make sure it's not your head that takes the brunt of the fall!). Try that at full speed, soaring down the mountain (I'm a down hill, back-woods boarder, versus your halfpipe type). I'm glad I only cracked a tooth!
I have 2 Burton boards, and my gear somewhat dates me...I have clicker bindings that you can no longer buy, but were the newest thing when I got them. I bought 2 sets (one for each board), and they have lasted me from coast to coast boarding...or I guess they call it "riding" now...
ANYWAY, keep at it, it only gets better!!
C utz
One more thing!!
There is something to be said about staying dry and warm....
Get good compfortable boots.
AND as for gear, I HIGHLY recommend Helly Hansen pants. They come with a lifetime guarantee, and I only have to wear my underwear under the pants and am warm and dry the whole time. I love 'em!
If you don't have the step in bindings you probably spend a lot of time sitting at the top of the lift, strapping in. That = cold wet ass! Get good pants!! Sometimes you have to spend a little more to be happy in the long run.
C utz
Thanks for the tips. I am definitely getting a helmet for next season. Hit my pretty badly a few times. Fortunately I've gotta hard one lol. My boots are the best part of my gear. The reason I'd like something with Flow bindings is that they make great step ins for regular boots. Got decent slush pants and that doesn't matter because I don't have to sit to strap on my bindings. However they are useful for taking spills.
When it comes to maintaining the board, I am decent at waxing (bought an iron at value village for $5 specifically for that purpose), got a decent scraper and after that, all it takes is a bit of tightening, maybe adjusting the angles (still haven't found the right one, been taking too many spills with an alpine setup), and a spray of WD40 to prevent snow from sticking to the top of the board.
Unfortunately my board and bindings are REALLY crappy. I may spring for better gear anyways.
Now, do you have any tips for moving on from beginner trails to intermediate ones? :D
Practice!
Don't be scared, and just get out there! If you are wondering if it's time to move up, push your present level to it's limits...i.e. if you are on the beginner trails, hit the sides where the hills and bumps are, if you feel comfortable, move up to the Intermediate (perhaps that's how I wound up enjoying the woods!).
BUT, like honing, you just need to practice. Don't blame your gear (unless it falls off). And don't get cocky...that's when you'll fall (trust me).
One last thing, practice going down hill 'forward' and 'backwards' and switching between the two. You'll need this skill eventually......
Let me know if you are ever in the "New England" area.....If you learn here, you can go pretty much anywhere! Falling here, is like falling on concrete (none of that fancy powder-snow)
Good luck!!
C utz
That's the same problem on the Ontario trails. Hard packed snow. Taking a spill leaves you with bumps and bruises every time. My bindings give me good contact with the board, but I do have a couple of issues with the board itself:
1) It's short (145). Since I'm like 5'9, a 155-158 would be more suitable for me. Since the board is so short, I get less blade contact and it's easier to catch the edge the wrong way.
2) It's thinner than the rentals I've tried out, so it bends more easily, which is not good when going down some faster hills.
If I could get a few pointers from you, I wouldn't mind driving down to N.E. as it would finally give me a good excuse to go down to the States lol.
P.S. Some of my gear does fall off, but I just replace it on a continuous basis.
Quote:
Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT
Damn it....you have a razor that is wider than mine.....I dont think I can live with that on my shoulders.....does anyone sell shave ready surf boards???
D00d, surf-boards don't have edges! You just need a wider snowboard than mine, which won't be too difficult to fine.
I bet Lynn could give one an edge!!! so there :pQuote:
Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT
Lynn may be able to push the limits of physics, but nobody can fight it. The bottom line is that the wood/composites of a surfboard do not have the right molecular density to take a real shaving edge. However I'm pretty sure Randy Tuttle can make it shave better than a Zeepk :D
Skiing is soo much less of a leanring curve then snowboarding I found. But that might be becuase I learned how to waterskii when I was younger.. No that I do wakeboard at my cottage behind my seadoo, I think my snowboard might have to come out of retirement and see the slopes again thsi winter.
Hey all your Southern Ontario Boys, Maybe we should hook up a ski weekend somewhere... :D
I'd be game for Hockley, as it's close to Toronto, has some decent trails and the prices are reasonable. On top of that it's full of talent. Too bad my skills aren't good enough to impress just yet lol.
If you're going to get an edge sharpener, get the one thats on an 88 degree instead of the 90 degree. It allows you to hold an edge better on Ontario hardpack (read: ice).
Thanks Loc. I was actually in your parts this weekend. Just got back to Toronto. Yeah I really wish I could learn on a softer falling surface. Definitely getting a helmet for next season. Now I'm considering springing for the full gear now that I know that I can actually stay on the board and actually like it.
Does anyone know if spraying some WD40 over the top of the board will keep the snow from sticking? It works for snow shovels.
I always used silicone spray on my skis for that reason. It worked well for keeping buildup to a minimum, and what there was just came off with a tap.
Wayne
Thanks. I'll try the cheap solution first and report on the effectiveness. If it doesn't work, I'm glad there's a proven alternative out there.
Reminds me of that scene from national lampoons christmas vacations where he puts that silcone based spray onto that sled lol...Quote:
Originally Posted by bbqncigars
Ok, I have seriously been considering buying a new board and bindings... I already know what I want in bindings, but I was thinking about board alternatives and was wondering if you guys were familiar with these.. The prices are in CDN dollars (85-87c US).
I am a relative beginner. I can go down more challenging beginner trails without crashing and/or dying but I want to move up to intermediate, and depending on how often I go and what I learn from it, even single black diamonds by the end of this coming season. Working on a shoestring budget, so here are the options:
http://www.boardzone.com/snowoutlet/...alth/index.cfm
http://www.boardzone.com/snowoutlet/...ment/index.cfm
http://www.boardzone.com/snowoutlet/...cked/index.cfm
The ballpark size I am looking for is 155cm, as some more knowldgeable friends I lost touch with recommended for me a while ago. At the time, the only thing in my price range was a 145cm board with too much flex, but it was good enough to learn the basics. However it left me in paranoid fear of deeper ruts. As you can see I don't need the newest baddest thing on the market. Just something that I can continue my learning process on. Any ideas on these options?
I went a bit overboard with the board but it was still a steal of a deal..
The board is Nitro Resistance 158 ($320), Flow Pro 11 bindings and they had cheap headgear ($40) so I got myself a helmet. Now I'll start checking the forcasts on a daily basis praying for snow, preferably in August :D