 Poster: A snowHead
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10 years/winters ago, i decided to leave the comfort and security of my home town, a great job, the best friends and family one could ask for. I decided to do this to further my career. I was a bootfitter based in the middle of England, a town not noted for it's snowey mountains!
I was convinced that in order to learn and progress as quickly and a precisely as i felt i could i would have to move to a boot lab in the mountains. My dream, was to discover if my skills and passion could translate into winning results. Could my work, take a great skier and make them better? Could my work help put a great skier into the number one spot?
Well, last weekend, in Squaw Valley during the second round of the Nissan Freeride World Tour 'Tram Face' my dream was realised. I have been investing a huge amount of time and effort into the FWT and the riders. And two of my clients are now laying in 1st Ranked positions for both Male and Female Freeride skiing. Aurelien Ducroz (FRA) and Ane Enderud(Nor)
I am very proud.
Although this happend last week, I only realised last night as i was working on some modifications to Ane's boots. These boots are great fun to build. So last night Ane and I started to do a photo diary of the boot modifications. There is some really funky stuff going on and when she comes back from the next round of the FWT, we will get together and post them up here.
Anyway, as i say this is one of the proudest moments of my life and took me 10 years to realise. Sometimes you just have to give yourself a pat on the back and enjoy these moments.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, Congratulations  Its an amazing feeling achieving a dream.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, fantastic, well done! It must be wonderful knowing that you are really, really good at what you do. (I've never had that feeling.)
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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It might be coincidence, but i did both the boots a week before they started training and competing, this year the have both shot up the rankings. I'm sure that there are plenty of factors at work here.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, well done you!!
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I think I might celebrate this week. 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I got number 4 in Ladies Snowboard too. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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nice one!
interesting how euro-dominated the leading positions are
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, Good Job ! Made me think of a conversation I was having yesterday with a friend who used to be a coach on the World-Cup circuit. He recounted the time when he saw Pirmin Zurbriggen near the start gate. His boots looked very old and "lived in", were Nordicas but had a few odd clips from Lange, plenty of duct tape, and some kind of home-made plate rivited to the back of one of them... he was obviously comfortable with them  I guess things have moved on
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You know it makes sense.
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, Congratulations you should indeed feel very proud. An inspiring account for all who have a dream to pursue.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, awesome dude. If you'd mentioned earlier, I'd have come round and bought you beer. It'll have to wait now...maybe this will spur some sausage making!
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Poster: A snowHead
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, Well done, all your hard work is finally paying off ! . . . I am honored to have met you and had my toes tickled by you 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, Nice one fella... remember you talking about her and the coming comps. BTW.. my boots have now bedded in, have gone from the first buckle to the fourth on the top two... and they have revolutionised my skiing. Loving the comfort
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, well done.
BTW can you now apply that brilliant talent to something truly useful on a forum?
Can Cylon soldiers ski? After all they have no hips but merely ginormous trochanters.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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comprex, Will post a boot modification diary when the 2 riders get back, some cool stuff.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, nice one well done.. it's quite rewarding when you have played a part in someones success
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Mon 9-03-09 14:31; edited 1 time in total
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skimottaret,"Quite?", i practically won the competitions for them!!!!!!! 
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, you should start coaching as well as fitting, you would be a natural 
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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skimottaret, Tis kinda done. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Axsman, Haha, i've had that all week.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, you still fitting rec skiers? or now mainly doing PR, sponsorship, and equiping your athletes? just curious if you new venture has gotten enough traction to keep you busy full time. if so well done for changing gears so quickly
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skimottaret, Doing both and it's working together really well. 4 days at FW, 3 days in the Radical Office. There is alot of 'Cross-over' between the two as i can talk with the guys about stuff while doing their boots. Radical is getting really busy, but it's very early days. Servicing so many athletes is a big job, a massive one infact but i have lots of help and great people working on the project, so it's really good fun.
Yes i still deal with the public, and to be honest i have never enjoyed working with them so much. We are a little quieter this year due to finances, which gives us a bit more time with each client. It has renewed my love for my work and to be honest Radical needs it's fingers in as many pies as it can. Without you, the public, the end user, we have less weight in development and market data. Life is taken a big step forward since my dark days last winter. "No Woman, No Cry."
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You know it makes sense.
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does this mean you've given up touring
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Arno, Mate, i've been on skis 3 times during the best winter for 10 years. It kinda sucks, but we are all giving 200%
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Poster: A snowHead
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, plenty of time for skiing when you are sitting on top of your sports management/bootfitting empire
glad it's all panning out well though
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Arno, I hope so, that's the idea. 'Radical Towers'
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, that all sounds great. only quizzing you as my consulting work which pays the rent has been pretty well been wiped out by the crunch and i am looking to start doing more skiing related gigs... I have a few ideas so it is great to hear that the indisutry isnt totally flat.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Kruisler, We never stop learning, it's a Radical idea i know, just proud that we get these breaks. We love what we do, and will and can still continue to do it despite the crunch.
"Induvidually execellent, Collectively extraordinary" is our moto and whilst we are not excellent in the eyes of all that survey us, we are enjoying the distraction of our new project and are being well received by young and old alike.
skimottaret, Always open to passion and good ideas, if you use Skype, we use the same call sign. The industry is almost flat, but we are seeing youth and creativity in abundance, a new dawn for the industry, at least, that's what we believe.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Good for you, SMALLZOOKEEPER. How satisfying.
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Servicing so many athletes is a big jobSMALLZOOKEEPER,
It certainly is....but I am sure you're up to it!!!!!
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, Good for you mate, you have definetly reached the top of your profession if you are looking after those guys. Must be incredible to be around them, Aurelien is an incredible skier to watch so fluid and quick I love watching these guys and girls.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Gsyfreerider, Cheers, he is a great skier for sure, it will be a shock if he doesn't get the title, but the competition is very strong, last chance to consolidate the points on Thursday!! Can't wait.
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SMALLZOOKEEPER, nice one mate.
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FAQ
