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The Official Michigan Winter Thread

490K views 8K replies 153 participants last post by  sabatoa 
#1 ·
Alright everyone since Summer is over, fall has just begun and we've already had our first rail jam of the year, it's time to start a new thread for the 10/11 winter.

Last year we had the "Southeast" michigan thread, but I think we should do all of Michigan. Sure, most of population lives in S/E michigan but we all ride the same resorts in the LP and even the UP if we get a chance, so we should have one thread to bring everyone together.

Cheers everyone we're probably only like 70 days from open resorts!
 
#3,055 ·
Boom...learning so much about Michigan stuff today.....


History

In the early 1920’s a young St. Louis couple – William and Cora Beals – searched the Great Lakes to find the region’s most beautiful beach. When they arrived at the point where the waters of the Crystal River flowed into Lake Michigan they knew they had found it.

They purchased the property in 1924 and started a camp offering wholesome outdoor experiences. Within a few years, satisfied parents asked the Beals to add a boarding school.

Construction on the school started in the summer of 1929. The Great Depression followed, as did hard times. Barter became the currency of the day. In spite of the challenges, the “homestead” was completed in 1932.

For decades, students used The Homestead in the winter and “resorters” in the summer. With time, the Beals’ successors decided to relocate the camps, contract the school and sell The Homestead.

A Michigan family purchased the resort in 1975 and spent a year researching and planning. They identified and studied a new type of resort that offered a wide range of recreational and housing choices while emphasizing protection of the natural environment. That work had strong impacts on the master plan that was prepared and the development that followed.

Today, much and little has changed. The beaches are still beautiful. Wholesome outdoor experiences are still the order of the day. Students are studying at the school next door. Resorters are enjoying luxurious facilities with commanding views of Lake Michigan, the Sleeping Bear Dunes, and the Crystal River Valley.
 
#3,056 ·
probably, but they've been in business for a while. I had friends in middle school whose families went there and that would've been like 1992 or 1993. I've never been, it's a semi-private, not like Otsego but they do limit the number of daily lift tickets and I think priority is given to houseguests as opposed to day trippers. Plus, it's about an hour further from Crystal being up in Glen Arbor or thereabouts, I guess I've just never made it up that way. But I should try...
 
#3,061 ·
It involves Michigan peeps! I was out in Vail a 3 years ago and the back bowls are amazing when there is powder, but usually when there is powder you have to get to it fast! We had to go all the way over to outer mongolia to find it...that sounds kind of funny. As far as MI talk, might try to head up to Caberfae on Saturday.
 
#3,064 ·
Fuck I had my mind set on buying the current one to get some riding in on it this year yet. Even had it in an online shopping cart ready to pull the trigger. Now I may have to wait.
 
#3,073 ·
Well, I took the plunge and bought the 2013 Heritage X 166 for full price. At least I got free 2 day shipping on it. Fuck it, I want to start riding it now.
 
#3,075 ·
Went through dogfunk since they have always treated me well with returns and what not. Plus, the free two-day shipping.

I'll have it for Crystal this weekend, pretty fucking stoked about it. Hopefully my Missions will ride ok on it.
 
#3,077 ·
NOOOOOO!!! Discounts are right around the corner bud... end of February is when companies usually roll them out.

Oh well, it's Dogfunk. Aren't they the ones that do that lifetime return policy? Or is that backcountry?

As for that Big Sky video... my in-laws said they are going there next year with or without us. I keep telling them that everything I've heard about that place tells me it's not much fun for casual skiers.

Oh well. I don't mind hitching a ride there. That run in the video looks fantastically fun. Wide open. I was already doing a lot of fun stuff on that run in my head.

The guy gasping for air scares me though... better work my cardio hardcore this summer!
 
#3,078 ·
Missions are pretty middle of the road flex. You'll be fine with them. You'll probably want stiffer bindings down the road though.

Actually, you're a big guy so I'm assuming you find the Missions to be soft. Whatever, you're stuck with them for now so you'll know for sure after you ride them.
 
#3,080 ·
Discounts roll out well before any new inventory gets stocked. Next year's gear doesn't start shipping out to retailers until after August (some brands end of August).

Discounts are mapped by the manufacturer, not the retailer. For most brands, the first series of discounts is around 20% off. By next season's gear arrival, discounts max out at 40-50% off for the most part. Then close-out prices year after that.
 
#3,089 ·
Speaking of Never Summer, they get my board today.

I hope hope hope it's cost effective for them to repair it.

If not I hope I don't have to see that 2013 come my way. Maybe I'll get lucky and they'll have a spare 2012 laying around. A 2014 wouldn't ruin my day either.

A 2013 sure would though.

It'd be cool if they could do a post mortem and tell me what the hell happened to it.

:hope:
 
#3,091 ·
My wife is big on Krav Maga right now. She's been taking those hardcore classes coming home with bruised neck and limbs lol. I saw a video, they really go for chokes and stuff so you can defend them in as real a scenario as possible.

She tried them on me, but I warned her those techniques are harder to perform on people with martial arts training. I also said while real Krav Maga is deadly, she's learning a watered down version likely. I showed her exactly why.

I have a philosophy of minimal moves. Most of the kneeing she did was superfluous. They also taught her a poor way to grab someone's neck during knees. I showed her the Thai clench and how it was way more effective.

She didn't believe me so she had me really fight back. As soon as she grabbed my neck and arm, I spun out easily. I told her to do the same against me and she was able to do it even though I had a full grab on her.

Then came the Thai clench. She couldn't get out. Said she'll try it in her class lol.

I do like performing the flashier moves though. Sabatoa has seen video of them haha.
 
#3,095 ·
Another problem I'm having with a lot of JKD I'm seeing is that it seems too much like a form. Bruce Lee always emphasized formlessness. Kareem Abdul Jabar (spelling?) is a prime example. Looks funky as hell with his movements, but it's what works for him.

Dan Inosanto is a beast. Have you seen him with sticks?

Those are the practitioners you want to learn JKD from. Inosanto incorporates Filipino self defense with his philosophy.


Sent from Verticalsports.com Free App
 
#3,096 · (Edited)
Yeah back to the Heritage and price discussion. I knew that I could sit here and wait and possibly get a discount. I knew it but having been watching the boards in my size among various retailers online, I've noticed that some places are sold out of the 166 or have one or two left. Dogfunk had a bunch of them yet, so they could have put it on sale at some point I suppose, but it just wasn't a chance I wanted to take. I mean, I couldn't even find ONE of last year's Heritage in my size for sale new anywhere.

Yeah, maybe I'll regret it, but I guess I paid the premium for a chance to use it now instead of having to wait until next year. I did go by what sabatoa said a couple weeks ago about them not really being discounted all that much even when they do go on sale, so I factored that into my decision.

And yes, dogfunk has the lifetime return policy.

BTW I did some Muay Thai a few years ago with a guy here that claims to have trained in JKD under Inosanto. I think his name is Dan Smith.
 
#3,105 ·
Yeah I did some Muay Thai and Brazilian JJ over there, but it was pricey as hell to train there IMO. I wound up going and working out with Joaquin Rodriguez over with Murcielago MMA for a half a year or so; he was one of the guys who originally trained Rashad Evans. Most of the guys there were actual amateur fighters (couple of small time pros as well). Holy fucking hell that was a workout. But I know how to get myself out of a rear-naked choke now!
 
#3,107 ·
Unless you're making an impulse buy after seeing something interesting on a closeout rack/online sale. If there's a board you really want, just buy it now and enjoy it. It's worth the extra $50-75 to buy it and be able to ride it right meow.

I have no qualms about buying hardgoods at full retail. Soft goods, that's another story.
The only reason i brought up discounts is because of the timing right now. But yea, you'll have it for Crystal Mt.

Plus you have a great return policy in your hands should you absolutely hate it. Win-win.
Thanks guys, I'm not worried about it one bit. I've researched the hell outta this, asked a lot of questions and believe I made the best choice. I do have to thank everyone for their input on it all along the way.

Edit: On the flip side of that, I'm coming after you motherfuckers if I hate the board, so make sure you study up on the MA! lol
 
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