OK, I'll play.
First real ski [that stick in my memory}: Kastle SL, wood, 180cm. 1965. I was 11 {Yes skis were long then and I was a big kid}. Small version of the 1964 Gold Medal Winning ski. Nevada toe, Marker turntable binding with the long thongs.
First non-wood race skis: Stratos. A bunch of them.
First real serious race room ski: 212cm Dynamic GS, clear bases, engraved sidewalls, big spring red Look bindings. USST skis.
Favorite race room skis: 204cm K2 VO's. Managed to snag a number of parts of the R stock.
First "shaped ski": K2 Four, 188cm. 1995, I think, two days after watching Bode kill it at Nationals.. They felt TINY. They sure changed my skiing. Became a quick convert.
First Real Boot: 1965 Molitor lace leather race boot. And they fit. First buckle boot, 1966 Hierling. Leather. Killer race boot.
First "plastic" boot: 1967 Lange Comp. My older brother and I had the same size feet, and he was racing in them. So cool. So brutal. Followed by about 40 years of Lange race boots. One pair of Dobermann's about 12 years ago.
Bindings: After the Nevada/Marker set-up, and a full Nevada set-up, went to Salomon toes, and Rototmat heels. The preferred Warren Witherall set-up. Guy was a stickler for it.
Powder ski: Stocki Stormrider DP Pros.
First Helmet: first race helmet was a Bell. Just like on the USST guys in 1966. Only wore it for some GS races, and then DH. {no SG then}. Dad would determine which GS races.
First everyday helmet: Briko, 1990. Decided to set an example for our 3 year old. Mom had a sweet Boeri, a metal flake royal blue. I had Briko goggles to git with my helmet, like the WC boys. Still have about five pairs in a drawer.
First "real" tuning gear: the 10" Nicholson bastard file, a stone, a roll of athletic tape, metal scraper, old iron from mom {non steam}.
Poles: Scott comp poles from 1965 until my son picked up a deal with Komperdell around 2008.
First roof ski box: the original Yakima "Rocket Box". Lasted forever. Like 20+ years.
Gloves: My hunch on Reusch gloves and mitts in our house is 100+ pairs, easily, going back to the mid-80's. Moved away from those, as the price went nuts! Kinco's are more my price. Hestra's for the girls. My wife has a lifetime supply of the Nor-Am Reusch mitts for cold days.
Best piece of clothing ever: the mint Degre 7 pullover that I sold to Bill Talbot when I momentarily outgrew it{see his photo!} My 28 year old son will never forgive me. Ha!
XC: Nope. Have just never gotten into XC, though it's never too late, I guess. I do have my late father's favorite all wooden 210cm Madshus Birkebeiner's in my possession, though. On display. He loved them. Old school, even when he was skiing on them in the early 90's.
AT/BC: It's in the works. Kids are on it.
First real ski [that stick in my memory}: Kastle SL, wood, 180cm. 1965. I was 11 {Yes skis were long then and I was a big kid}. Small version of the 1964 Gold Medal Winning ski. Nevada toe, Marker turntable binding with the long thongs.
First non-wood race skis: Stratos. A bunch of them.
First real serious race room ski: 212cm Dynamic GS, clear bases, engraved sidewalls, big spring red Look bindings. USST skis.
Favorite race room skis: 204cm K2 VO's. Managed to snag a number of parts of the R stock.
First "shaped ski": K2 Four, 188cm. 1995, I think, two days after watching Bode kill it at Nationals.. They felt TINY. They sure changed my skiing. Became a quick convert.
First Real Boot: 1965 Molitor lace leather race boot. And they fit. First buckle boot, 1966 Hierling. Leather. Killer race boot.
First "plastic" boot: 1967 Lange Comp. My older brother and I had the same size feet, and he was racing in them. So cool. So brutal. Followed by about 40 years of Lange race boots. One pair of Dobermann's about 12 years ago.
Bindings: After the Nevada/Marker set-up, and a full Nevada set-up, went to Salomon toes, and Rototmat heels. The preferred Warren Witherall set-up. Guy was a stickler for it.
Powder ski: Stocki Stormrider DP Pros.
First Helmet: first race helmet was a Bell. Just like on the USST guys in 1966. Only wore it for some GS races, and then DH. {no SG then}. Dad would determine which GS races.
First everyday helmet: Briko, 1990. Decided to set an example for our 3 year old. Mom had a sweet Boeri, a metal flake royal blue. I had Briko goggles to git with my helmet, like the WC boys. Still have about five pairs in a drawer.
First "real" tuning gear: the 10" Nicholson bastard file, a stone, a roll of athletic tape, metal scraper, old iron from mom {non steam}.
Poles: Scott comp poles from 1965 until my son picked up a deal with Komperdell around 2008.
First roof ski box: the original Yakima "Rocket Box". Lasted forever. Like 20+ years.
Gloves: My hunch on Reusch gloves and mitts in our house is 100+ pairs, easily, going back to the mid-80's. Moved away from those, as the price went nuts! Kinco's are more my price. Hestra's for the girls. My wife has a lifetime supply of the Nor-Am Reusch mitts for cold days.
Best piece of clothing ever: the mint Degre 7 pullover that I sold to Bill Talbot when I momentarily outgrew it{see his photo!} My 28 year old son will never forgive me. Ha!
XC: Nope. Have just never gotten into XC, though it's never too late, I guess. I do have my late father's favorite all wooden 210cm Madshus Birkebeiner's in my possession, though. On display. He loved them. Old school, even when he was skiing on them in the early 90's.
AT/BC: It's in the works. Kids are on it.
