12/23 Strawberry 21M Speed 3 179 3B Board

[Kenny]

Epic Day at Strawberry today. Did not think it would happen this morning... I wonder if I actually willed the wind into existence today as I wanted it so bad after 5 days of continual snowfall. Skies were partly cloudy with sunshine all afternoon. Snow was deep, thigh deep in places, but the board sank only 2 feet while riding. Snow was on the heavy side, but still very nice. Wind was 15 - 20 mph. I used the big kite to pull me through the deep snow. Rode powered the entire time. Had enough power to ride directly up hills without working the kite. Started at Coop, then went over to CC West. Rode CC West with another kiter for a couple hours. Rode upwind (west) to a hill with a steep drop-off. It was perfect for glides. At times it was more like ridge soaring as the wind funneled perfectly up the hill. I couldn't get enough, so after packing up at Coop, I went to Strawberry River. Rode down to the gliding hill and did some glides as the sun set behind the clouds. It was powder turns and smiles all day long. I did an update this AM when I saw that the wind turned on, but I guess everyone made other plans. I wish I knew that it was going to happen, it did not look likely. However, there are days like that.

The great news is that this storm was equivalent to a month of average snowfalls. Everything is covered on the hills. The only remaining obstacles are the open water of Strawberry (One could of sailed on the water today, Jim did you hear Strawberry calling?). Some of the streams are not completely covered because they are not all frozen solid. So you have to be a tad wary on the flats, but the hills are absolutely blanketed, I did not hit a stick or a twig the entire day. Unreal conditions for December.

[Mark Johnson]

Hows the parking situation at Strawbs? Also if anyone knows if they have plowed the paring lot at Skyline?

[Kenny]

Mark,

The lots at both Strawberry River and Coop were being plowed yesterday. There were a lot of sleds out at Strawberry River.

[fredishlarsen]

I was coveting your Speed 3 as I watched you climb effortlessly. A couple times I looked up and thought that you were standing on the top of the hill waiting to descend, only to realize that you were in fact hovering in mid air. It might have been more obvious if you would have been flailing around in the air like some of us newbs. It looked like you could have just stayed there as long as you wanted but decided to land only to find a new spot to hover over.

I've read a bunch about the Speed 3 and I was going to ask you everything you know about them yesterday. However, by the time I finished snowplowing my way through the flats you were gone. I hope you won't mind a couple questions now. What is the max wind range for the 21m? Who do you buy them from? Did you demo one before you bought one? Would you recommend them? Also, you mentioned a big board. What is it?

I'm always working on the quiver to get the most of the wind and snow.

Thanks in advance.
Fred

[Kenny]

Hey Fred,

I will be happy to answer your questions on the Speed 3 and the 3B snowboard. I will post on the general board.

Kenny