Being an avid snowboarder myself, it is only natural that I devote a section of my Web page to snowboarding.

I started riding in early 2000. I had wanted to try the sport for years, going all the way back to my childhood when I went down the slope standing on my sleight. I've been wanting to try the sport for nearly seven years, but could never get around to it. A string of personel events led me to Mont Bromont in early 2000 where I took the plunge (quite literally -- ouch!), took an introductory course, and from then on I was hooked. It was painful at first, but as I'm getting better it's really rocking!

I'm now a full-fledged board-head, having my own boards and all. I never do nearly as much riding as I want to every winter -- typically two days or three every month -- but this should increase when my wife gets better. The current plan is an outing at least once a week, and immediately after every big snow storm. We'll see if we can keep to that ambitious schedule...

I've got a pretty sweet set-up for both freestyling and freeriding (gotta try an alpine board one of these days). This is my basic equipment:

• Boots: Burton Moto SI, Size 10.5 -- half a size too small, for snugness;
• Bindings: Burton Moto SI -- step-ins, on both boards (I hate straps rigs);
• Helmet: Twist -- one concussion was one too many. This is a lifesaver;
• Lenses: Oakleys -- pricey, but at least they don't fog up;
• Gloves: Chaos -- very warm, gift from the wife;
• Suit:O-Kaid Steel Grey pants, with a Dark Blue two-layer jacket (can't recall brand) -- expensive but warm!;

I currently own two boards, each of which has its own set of bindings so that I don't have to spend night and day setting them up. I'm using step-in Moto-SI boots and interfaces on both, since I just detest the strap-type rigs (snow is made to ride on, not sit on to fiddle with straps!). They are very different boards, and the snow conditions have a great effect on my decision to use one or the other.

Burton Johan-63

My main board is a Burton Johan 63, a black and neon-green 163-cm beauty -- wish I could show it to you, but that particular graphic design has been discontinued and it's not in Burton's catalog anymore. The Johan 63 is officially classified as a freeride board -- I don't do a lot of acrobatics (yet) -- and it's a fast one. I'm still mastering it, but we're doing some cool riding now. I take it out for some downhill speeding, since it's both rigid and long.

Millenium-3 157

My Johan-63 is fine but it's a bit too long and rigid for the kind of experimental riding I sometimes do (mostly tight glades and some basic tricks). For that I'm using a carbon-fiber Millenium-3 board. It's a little shorter (157 cm) and a lot more flexible, which helps me in the turns and jumps. I'm using the same boots (Burton Moto-SI) with matched step-in bindings. Good set-up all around.