This weekend was a great start to the 2009 season. Water temp was a cool 49 degrees, with not a ripple in site. We were able to put he ski course in with no major problems.

We mounted Marks RS-1 bindings onto a Carbon infused G-10 binding plate, then attached the binding plate to the ski with two 1 inch strips the full length Velcro. The ski performed perfectly according to Mark. The plate seemed to settle the ski down on his off side turn.

The new binding plates are going to improve the over all performance of the ski. The added dampening and lateral stiffness makes the ski more stable coming off the apex of the turn as well as maintaining speed thru the wake.

More discussion on binding plates, fin setting and all other technical aspects of skiing will be talked about later. I am in the learning stages of posting info on the Internet.

Crescent Bar Ski Hits The World Wide Web

There's nothing like waking up on Monday morning after two days of great skiing to really enjoy the feeling in the arms, shoulders and back! The Columbia River completely lived up to its splendor this weekend with providing us, Matt, Kate, Mark, Russell and Ryan with some of the best flat water! It also provided us an oppurtunity to install the entire ski course within a matter of minutes! Matt and Mark both had firsts of the weekend, Matt with his new Reflex binding and Mark with his new velcro system. All seemed to work well.

I think I'm safe to say that we all had a wonderful time, and that after this weekend we all have some spit and fire to go again!

We'll be warm by Monday

It's off to Crescent Bar...The Sandtrap is opening in t-minus 35 minutes. This is their first "Monday" in 6 months. I talked with Michelle this morning, they're all super excited about seeing everyone again, and not so happy that they have to do by working! Go figure! Tomorrow's weather is looking pretty good in the mid 50's and Sunday in the lower 60's. Doesn't make much difference, the water's going to be hellishly cold anyways. Like Mark said, at least it's a dry cold. Like that really makes a difference but if it helps, it helps. My brother emailed me today and said he was going to try to get his last turns of the season up at Baker this weekend...at least we'll be making some kinda turns together! I'm sure our limbs will be thawed out completely by Monday so I'll throw down some cool shots to document the craziest sons of bitches this side of the Cascade Mountains. Birdshower Out!

Tooling Around in Shed 45

There are different things in life that keep you up at night. Some might say money$$, kids, relationships, jobs, yes these are all things that can keep you up at night, but the biggest concern that keeps Das Blackbird Haus up is ski bindings! As you can see Matt has been busy at work in shed 45 customizing what he hopes could be his ticket to deep 38 off.

What surprised us this morning was the snow falling from the foggy ski, oh sky. With two days till launch of season 2009 and the rumor from Wanapum Dam that the water is 39 degrees, we are searching out the best warm gear for the first day out.

Three Days and Counting

Tonight we head out to Entiat to Wendell's house to pick up our ski gear that has been hybernating for the winter. You can probably image us in several hours trying on our ski gloves to get them a bit stretched out and filling up our soap bottles with the newly purchased dish soap, and swatting the dust away from my wet suit and Matt's drysuit. I am currently in thought about a drysuit, especially when we are starting to ski and the mountains are still receiving inches of snow!