Monster Boards

I love my Blizzard Bonafides. They are hands-down the best skis I've ever owned. At 98mm underfoot, they're great in powder and crud. The rockered construction and the Flipcore technology make them equally at-home on groomers. I've skied them in Michigan and Colorado in a wide range of conditions and found them incredibly versatile. But, not QUITE the one ski quiver.

The past two seasons in Michigan have been unique. With nearly perfect snow, we've missed out on what I affectionately call "Michigan Boilerplate". If you've skied the Midwest or the East, you know what I mean. That thaw-freeze-that-freeze again snow that's then coated with a bit of man-made stuff. It's more like a hockey rink than a ski hill. This is tough stuff that demands a certain ski to really tame it. And the Bonafides are NOT that ski. Honestly, I really think the core issue is largely width. They're just too wide to get consistently on-edge. We've had some of those conditions in SE Michigan this year. So, I decided it was time to look for a hardpack ski. Stiff. Torsionally rigid. And with an edge like a hockey skate.

A quick visit to the always-resourceful Rob Parent at Sun & Snow Sports yields a few options. Oh, yeah, and I want something over 175cm and I won't ski them a ton, so I don't want to invest a fortune. At the last moment, Rob asks, "What about some Head Monsters? I have an M78 demo ski in 178cm that I'd let go for a good price...". Done. Here's my Visa.

This weekend I got them out on local ice bump, Mt. Brighton. Saturday is a perfect example of the day I bought these for. Started the day at around 1 degree F. High winds. A brutal round of freeze-thaw, followed by a chilly end to the week. The snow is ROCK hard.

In a word - HELL YEAH! True to their name, the Monsters grip like a demon. They're damp and stable, even on the chunkiest of ice. Even when the wind comes up and visibility drops to zero, I feel comfortable and confident. By the end of Sunday, I'm blasting through smooth, fast GS turns. Even pure ice isn't completely scary.

Are they perfect? Well, they just may be the heaviest ski I've ever owned, but I mostly notice that hauling them through the parking lot. And the graphics leave a lot to be desired. But for what I bought them for, they RIP! I am one very happy skier.

New Brain Bucket - Giro G9 Helmet First Impressions Review

Been thinking for a while about replacing my decade-old Giro ski helmet. In addition to being at least ten years old (with the potential to have its protection compromised), the advent of MIPS helmets which protect against the rotational injuries the produce concussions is pretty significant. And, I'm guessing that a few other things have advanced in helmet technology as well.

I started looking last year, but pricing for MIPS helmets from Scott, Giro, and POC were all still pretty high.This season, most manufacturers seem to have brought this technology into their mid-range helmets. Pretty early on, I became interested in the Giro Nine MIPS model. I've generally had pretty solid experience with the Giro brand in terms of fit, quality, and performance. Also, they generally have solid audio solutions - a key element to me.

A local shop is kind enough to have a 20% off sale so a Nine MIPS and a set of Outdoor Tech X Wired Chips is secured in a stylish Smurf Blue color to match my Marmot and Marker jackets. So, was it worth the money? In a word, absolutely!

Safety
Helmets are made of polymers and expanded polystyrene for impact absorption. Both degrade with time, with UV exposure, and with a gazillion impacts large and small. I learn while reading the Giro manual that helmet life is considered 3-5 years. Oops. This, plus the MIPS features have me feeling much better about my safety in the event of a fall or hit.

Comfort
My previous Giro helmet was fairly comfortable, so that was never an issue. The only real problem came when I bought some Oakley Canopy goggles. The larger lenses of this google were great as they fit nicely over glasses and gave an awesome field of vision. What wasn't so good was that due to hitting the helmet, they pressed down pretty aggressively on my nose and cheeks. By the end of the day, not so comfortable! From the get-go, I could tell the new helmet was a huge leap forward in this area. Giro has clearly recognized the trend toward larger goggle frames, and addressed it. Also, as a side benefit, the helmet really is a bit more comfortable fit!

Audio
In a word, mixed. The Outdoor Tech Chips sound OK. I don't think the bass is as robust as my previous Skull Candy pads. And the controls to change volume and mute/stop my iPod don't seem to work. I did swap out the cable to my old one so at least I could mute my jams if riding up on a lift with someone. I did just notice something about a "10 hour play time" on their web site. So, perhaps I need to investigate if I'm missing a battery or something... ah, user error.

Overall
I'm glad I waited, and equally happy that I didn't wait any longer. The price came down, but having the latest safety technology, as well as the better goggle fit are totally worth the investment. I suspect that I'm the issue with some of the audio problems. If you're looking for a new helmet, give the Giro Nine MIPS a look -- I don't think you'll be disappointed!

And so it begins...

When you're a skier, it all appears predictably. Yet every year I never tire of the progression.

First the ski mags start to fill the mailbox. They're full of cool new gear. Sweet destinations. And prognostications about who's going to have an epic Winter. And so it begins...

Then we have to ante up for early season deals on passes. And so it begins...

Later, we start seeing reports via social media of snow in the Western mountains. And so it begins...

Next Colorado, Utah, or the Sierras get an epic dump before November 1. And so it begins...

One of the high elevations ski areas, like A-Basin, opens in early November. And so it begins...

All the while, back in the Midwest, we're watching for that first frost. The earliest flakes. That really cold morning. And we're looking in our gear bags, checking our ski bases, and just generally getting anxious. Non-Winter friends are grousing about their hatred of the season. While we're just trying to hide that shit-eating grin as we think about ripping that first face, or catching a powder day.

If you're truly a skier. You understand all of what I just said. And if not, well then get your ass out there this year and give it a try. You might learn to embrace Winter, rather than dreading it. If you need me, I'll be watching for the signs of ski season...

-Sean-

Product Review: CycleOps Fluid 2 Trainer

This Winter I vowed not to spend the snowy season getting fat. Or at least not fatTER. I hate gyms. My knees won't take running. So, I had to come up with a solution.

This year, I decided to try combining some time on the trainer with more regular local skiing at Mt. Brighton, courtesy of my Epic Pass. I figured that between these I'd get some regular, aerobic activity and burn some calories in the process.

First things first, though -- I needed to get a trainer. Several seasons back I had a house-brand unit from one of the larger bike retailers. It was LOUD, didn't really have much of the feel of the road, and generally loathesome. I hated being on it, even with a TV to watch.

On the advice of a friend, I looked into CycleOps products. He was pleased with the ride of his and found that even living in a townhouse with shared walls he had no issue with noise. After some online research and a shop visit, I purchased a CycleOps Fluid2 trainer. The sales guy and the reviews both said that the fluid model was well-worth the extra money for quietness and a progressive resistance that would simulate real-world riding. And, the sales guy added that the CycleOps was really the "forever" trainer.

Right out of the box, the unit makes a good impression. A sturdy frame and a heavy, rugged cast resistance unit should make for durability and help keep things stable and quiet. Set-up is simple and straightforward with excellent directions. Off to a good start.

From the first pedal stroke, I notice something - the absence of noise. And in fact at higher RPMs the volume level really doesn't increase very much. This will enable me to ride whenever I want without fear of the ruckus.

But the best part is the resistance. Unlike the old trainer, it's silky smooth. And as you pick up cadence and/or increase load it responds by gradually increasing resistance. In short, it acts like riding a real bike on a real road.

And I'm finding that while it's nothing like the reward of a real outdoor ride, I'm actually enjoying the trainer. I like that it's MY bike, not just some spin machine at a health club. And I'm using the heartbeat and cadence sensing capabilities of my Garmin Edge 810 to manage my rides for maximum benefit. I've got the unit set up in my shop, so I have a good stereo connected to the iPod. I actually find that music helps pass the time (for me) better than TV did.

As an aside, I have found that some music motivates and passes the time better than other music. I've built a couple of training-specific playlists on my iPod just for rides. So far Bob Mould/Sugar/Husker Du and Black Flag seem to be some of my leading choices. But even seemingly mellow stuff like Band of Horses also works.

But I digress...

Great job CycleOps - the Fluid2 Trainer is an excellent product. Highly recommended!

-Sean-

Cabin Fever

Pardon my French, but I am done with the fucking Polar Vortex. I love Winter. And I've been enjoying all the snow this year tremendously. But endless days of single-digit high temps, nighttime lows in double-digit negatives, and significant wind have me done with Winter. Or at least this kind of Winter.

On Wednesday night, I was hanging out with the usual Schultz Outfitters crew at the popular Bar Flies tying series. Ed McCoy was on the vise showing us a couple of patterns. Discussion turned to the brutal Winter. Now remember, this is a group of hardy Winter Steelheaders. Misery is a badge of honor for us. Trout guys look at us like we've lost our minds (probably some truth to that...). And to a one, we're all going stir crazy looking for a break in this. We're tying flies, watching too much TV, or embracing a new workout program. All to retain some degree of our sanity.

Whenever I head to my basement, my bike taunts me. I'm dying to get out, but that won't happen any time soon. So back into the gym I go. None too happily. I'm geared up to get riding earlier and longer. This year I'll complete a full Century. But not anytime soon. I haven't seen the surface of my driveway in a month.

Headed to Colorado at the end of the month. I would like to request that Winter show some serious retreat by my return...

-Sean-

Ahead of the Game

I'll have some fun with these little guys come Spring...

So, I've set some fun outdoor-related goals in 2014. I've shared a few, but one is surprisingly simple. I really need to tie flies BEFORE the season so I'm well-stocked. Yeah, I can learn things during, but that may just mean a few fill-in colors or patterns. Real, true box stockin' happens before the heat is on.

I got a decent start last Fall. Tied up quite a few swung steelhead patterns before the Fall. And even more in advance of my New York trip. But I totally whiffed on smallmouth season. If you're trying to fill the box with Murdich Minnows in late July, you blew it. That was me.

So, as I look around, I'm pretty well stocked for the rest of Winter and into Spring steelhead. Fair number of swing flies, sh*tloads of eggs, and I buy stones.

Now what? Time to fill the boat box for Mr. Smallmouth in anticipation of the last weekend of April. Come August, time to start thinking about filling the steelhead boxes with more swingers and filling in egg sizes and colors.

This year I'll get ahead of the curve. Really.

-Sean-

Silent Snow, Secret Snow

"He was thinking about the Arctic and Antarctic regions, which of course, on the globe, were white."
Conrad Aiken
Silent Snow, Secret Snow

First snow last night. A magical, spiritual time for me. I love Winter and anticipate its arrival each year. While I've developed an appreciation for Summer, especially as I've gotten a little older, Winter is a special season.



A perfect Winter day on the Pere Marquette river.

A season of Holidays with family. Of skiing a beautiful line on a perfect day. Of those cold water steelhead who hit with stealth and then barrel roll to attempt escape. Of the anticipation of a circling ball of ducks considering whether those decoys are their pals, or just hollow plastic approximations. Of Christmas lights. Of a pine forest, trees heavy with fresh snow, and the unmistakable silence of a mantle of snow. Of roaring fires, and hearty comfort food. Of spending a day on the river with good company and not seeing another soul.

Winter is the perfect antidote of the late Fall in Michigan. For me, there is precious little so unpleasant as 35 degrees, grey, and a pissing drizzle. In some parts of the country, they call that winter. Notice that I didn't even validate the season by capitalizing it. Late Fall means an end to Summer activities, but not yet being able to dive into the Winter Wonderland.

It's finally here. Even Lilly, my black lab mix, could smell it on our walk last night. It put some extra pep in her ramblings, and even elicited my favorite -- the doggie snowplow maneuver.

Most forecasts are calling for a cold, snowy Winter here in Michigan. I welcome it. We've had a few weak ones - with plenty of brown and grey depression - which makes you appreciate and enjoy the good ones.

Here's hoping you can find the joy in Winter. It's there, if you seek it.

-Sean-

Planning Ahead

Summer is quickly winding down. The days are shorter. The nights chillier. Soon the woods will be ablaze with color and we'll be into the thick of college football season. Of course, in typical Michigan fashion, it will be 95 degrees here tomorrow. Seriously, you can't make this shit up.

All of this change hasn't led me to abandon warm-weather pursuits -- I'm going to try to stretch my cycling season well into October, and I figure there's at least one more smallmouth fly fishing float in my September. But my favorite cold weather activities are coming. As is my bent, this has my head spinning so I'm ready when the time comes. With that in mind, here are a few of the current projects:

1. I've been looking to upgrade my base layer bottoms for skiing. It's time to leverage technology and get into the new millenium. So I have a pair of CW-X Stabilyx Insulator 3/4 tights on order. I'm hoping these will enable me to ski without an additional knee brace, and will provide some solid muscle support.
2. Scored a deal (I love the off-season; $57 shipped free!) on some SWEET lime green Marmot Motion ski pants to match the new coat I picked up last year. I've been looking to get out of dullsville and step up my look a bit. Rather than shredding them with my crappy, toothy $7 clip-on hunting suspenders I'm putting in some Duluth Trading suspenders using real buttons. We're finally doing it up right.
3. Considering a boat net for steelheading. The Fisknat Grande Ronde is the current leading candidate. I have a Fisknat trout net and it's sweet. No more beaching. It's just not nice.
4. Looking at an oar upgrade for the Clacka. Sawyer Dynelite Square Tops are the current leading contender. Everyone I talk to says the difference from the Cataracts that came with my boat will be "life changing". I want to row the flywater of the Pere Marquette, so I think this will definitely help my manueverability and make a long day in the rower's seat shorter.
5. The boat bag is on the workbench, ready for the Summer-Winter switchover. Goodbye smallmout and trout gear, hello STEELHEAD!!!!!
6. I'm thinking about guns. I think this year, my Kimber 1911 is going to get a few upgrades. I've started a discussion with a gunsmith about the best bang for my buck in upgrades (bad pun intended).

Beyond this, some important issues have already been handled:

1. After breaking the winch strap on my trailer, a new heavy-duty repacement has been installed. And at the sage advice of Jon Ray, a back-up is in my tow box.
2. Winter boat storage has been secured. Parking in the garage is driveway is swell and all -- until you have to scrape.
3. Cycling season has given me a solid level of both cardio fitness and leg strength. Western ski slopes, be prepared...
4. I've started to transition from cycling to gym. Painful, but don't want to lose the fitness (and weight loss) base I've built.
5. Starting to tie up some cool swing flies. Greg Senyo's Artificial Intelligence and Slim Shady will be key this year.

So, yeah, I'm kind of fired up for the cold. Bring it!!!!

Keep Your Head

I am follically-challenged. But, if you believe the old saw that you get your hairline from your Mother's side, it's fairly amazing I have ANY hair left. Let's just say lots of shiny noggins on that side and leave it at that.

Being a Winter outdoorsman, this means that some way to keep my melon warm is critical. There's a lot of debate among the medical community about heat loss through your head. Traditionally it's been set at 40-50% but recent research seems to suggest that may be high. Anecdotally, I find that many times when I'm cold all over, a switch to some form of head insulation makes a big difference. Conversely, when I'm too warm, shedding that hat for a few minutes helps me cool back down. I did a fair bit of this recently while floating the Pere Marquette river. Got hot while rowing, so off goes the hat. Stop to fish, hat goes back on. Perfect.

I have also fairly recently discovered that hoods do more than make your Simms Windstopper softshell hoody or your Patagonia Down Sweater hoody look cool, they also offer wind and cold protection. It seems you can actually put the hood up without looking like the Unabomber. I find hoods ideal when you need that little bit of extra warmth -- when you forgot your hat, didn't want to stop to put one on, or need a layer beyond a hat for the REALLY frigid temps. This has caused me to really consider the hood design as a key part of any garment I'm considering. How does the hood fit? Is it designed to retain good visibility when you put it up? Does it fit closely so wind doesn't just whip around inside? Can you put it up and down easily? It's surprising the number of garments that don't consider these factors. For me, I've found that three companies seem to have hoods down - Simms, Patagonia, and Arc'teryx. None of them are cheap, but you really can't put a price on the value of being warm and dry when you play outside.

For me some variety of insulated headgear is a must. but I've found a wide range of fit, warmth and other issues. My go-to is some sort of knit hat/beanie. What's interesting is that if fit is any indication, I have a gigantic cranium. Finding hats that fit is a frequent challenge. Odd, as in a fitted hat I'm a 7-5/8 -- certainly far from freakishly large.

My default setting has become Simms. My most recent addition is their Chunky Beanie (pictured above). Wool warmth with a trick fleece lining the eliminates the itch. I've also got several other prior-year Simms hats that almost all are top shelf. One suggestion I will offer -- if you find a Simms hat you like, buy a second one. They switch their patterns and styles up pretty much annually. I learned this lesson the hard way. Also, a bit on the "almost all" comment. The Windstopper flap cap is the one fail I've had from Simms. Beyond the goofy fit, I quickly figured out that you can't hear a damn thing when you have it on!  Oddly, Patagonia never seems to fit me properly -- always too small. I see Arc'teryx offers a nice selection -- I'll need to try them.

So there you go - need a lid for Winter fun? Hopefully some of these suggestions will be useful.

-Sean-

If You Can't Row, You Can't Go

Last weekend marked by rowing debut for a full-fledged fishing trip on the Pere Marquette river. Sure, I've rowed my FishCat 13 locally for a bit on the Huron, but those were mostly short training runs of one sort or another.

My Dad and I had planned to fish the PM over the Holiday break. I'm relocating the storage for my raft anyway, so needed to have it in Mt. Pleasant by the end of December anyway, so what the hell? Might as well give it a shot.

Of course, this caused some inner angst. As a former Boy Scout, the motto "Be Prepared" is always resonating in my head. Are my rowing skills up for this? What about a capsize? How long IS the float; certainly don't want to do the last hour in the dark! A mishap with my 69-year-old father could prove catastrophic. Fortunately, he's tough and good-natured and was even more up for the adventure than I.

One key aspec of the preparation was the "Oh Sh!t Bag". A full set of dry clothes in a dry bag was procured and packed. Dry and warm is happy. Wet and cold is NOT.

I arranged a car spot, did some research on prime Winter spots and we were off! Launch at the Green Cottage ramp went very smoothly. Within just a few feet I realized that my rowing skills were just fine. In general I was over-rowing, but I suppose that's a natural instinct. Biggest challenge seemed to be staying on the inside of sharp bends.

We successfully stopped at the first significant hole below the reach of walk-ins to give things a go. Of course by this time I learned lesson one. You get HOT rowing. And then you STOP. Brrr. But before long I had things going a bit more smoothly.

At the Clay Banks area we stopped to fish a few key Winter spots. Pretty quickly I hooked, and then lost, my first steelhead of the day. Afterward I glanced at the raft floating a few feet away. "Hmmm, was that right pontoon just underinflated? Seems like that side's a good bit low..." I thought. Naturally this put the brain into overdrive. Sure wish I'd thought to pack a pump. Shortly after I hooked and landed a nice brown trout. Catching fish tends to quiet the mind, so off we went.

I navigated the bottom of the Clay Bank nicely - almost looked like I knew what I was doing. A bit downstream Dad spotted a couple of runs that looked promising. Sure enough, it was! Three drifts in I find myself hooked up to a feisty skipper! NIIIICE! Not the biggest fish, but he had spirit and some great Winter colors. While catching steel with a guide is always great, catching one unguided still gives me an unparalleled thrill.

Hopping in to depart, I noticed that the right side of the raft was now considerably lower. At this point, we made a concerted effort to put some water behind us. A stop at Waddell's yielded nothing, but marked the beginning of the challenging part of the day.

With the right pontoon losing air, two results began to emerge. First, the handling of the raft changed considerably. It was more sluggish to correct and had a tendency to drift right. Second, the lower pivot point to the oarlock both reduced leverage and made it harder to clear the water on the upstroke. Unfortunately, this also coincided with some more challenging tight spots in the water above Gleason's Landing. Somehow I kept it together and only bounced us through a few trees. Of course Dad's laughing the whole time and having a blast as I drag him through the branches! It's good to have a good companion for such adventures.

By the time we reached Gleason's the sun was starting to arc toward the horizon. And the raft had become pretty tough to row in any semblance of control. But we got it landed, located my truck and trailer and loaded up. My target had been to pull out by 4:30pm and I hit it nearly on the nose. We would have liked to have made more fishing stops, but considering this was out maiden voyage I was pretty satisfied. Nobody drowned. Fish were caught. And best of all confidence was gained. I CAN do this!

-Sean-

Can Fish Climb Trees?

I promised some updates from recent steelhead fly fishing antics. On December 30th, I had the good fortune to spend the day in Capt. Jon Ray's boat. Due to some scheduling complexities it ended up just the two of us, so Jon joined in on the fishing fun. A string of unseasonably warm weather made for a productive and entertaining day.

The highlight of my day, and perhaps the 2011 steelhead season, was the Tree Fish.

We set-up on a hole on the Manistee river beneath a large tree. Naturally as my indicator drifted under the tree, it happened - Bob Down! Thwap! A quick hookset and I was off to the races with a solidly hooked steelhead.

But just fighting the fish and landing it would be too simple for me. Now, I've got the line tangled in the low-hanging tree. Fortunately, the bowed limb is putting enough pressure on the fish to keep him on. Jon and I have shared a boat a fair bit, and we've seen some chaos. So he calmly jumped up on the back deck and sent me scrambling for the anchor control. I moved the boat down to the tree as Jon untangled the line. As soon as it was free, I plunged the rod tip into the river to keep the line free. Awesome -- still FISH ON!

Sensing possible freedom, my fish makes a run for it. So I let him have some line. Meanwhile, Jon's extracted the boat from the tree and we're back out in the river channel.

But does the story end here with a simple netting, a quick pic and a release? Of course not...

20 feet below the first tree, is a second. And, this tree isn't just close to the water's surface, a significant portion is below. Just as Jon and I look downriver we see a fish jump on the downstream side of the second tree.

At this point, there's a long uncomfortable pause. Jon turns to me and offers, "I sure hope that's not your fish...". Of course, it was, so off we go again.

This time with all the tree below the water's surface, the only option is to shove the rod tip into the water and begin to muscle the fish out of the wood. Did I mention this was all on 6 pound tippet? Yeah, so we had that going for us.

Somehow with a little fancy rod work, I manage to extract the the fish. Jon puts on his best display of netsmanship with a one-scoop score and we boat a colorful specimen. After a few pictures and a careful release, it is decided that perhaps it is time to explore the beer I have in my cooler...

-Sean-

Metalhead

Only a true metalhead would be watching Winter steelheading fish porn when it's 90+ degrees out. Yup, that's me. Can't WAIT!



There's nothing quite like that strike to put the heat back into you on a cold day. Chasing smallies and trout is all cool; but for me, the tug is the drug!

-Sean-

Bobber Don't Lie

While I know I promised some beginner advice, this isn't going to be one of those discussions...

I love indicators for steelhead fishing. Yes, I know they're just a fancy name for a bobber, but these really aren't the red-and-white buoys of your bluegill fishing childhood. Canadian pinners call them "floats" so let's go with that. With a proper float, you can tell so much -- correct depth, optimum drift, and (most critically) detect a strike. For Winter steelheading with lethargic fish and subtle takes, it's the only way to fly.

I started off with Thill Ice n' Fly floats. They detect strikes just fine, and you can see your drift, but they give no real sense of proper depth. Plus, in low clear water, I think the fish can see them. So these have now been relegated to summer nymphing for trout, where they seem ideal.

Then a friend turned me on to Redwing's Blackbird Phantoms. Much better. Run the line through the surgical tubing pieces, then slip the float into them top and bottom. Tall, skinny profile means they give you accurate depth, easy drift, and that narrow shape means even the slightest strike shows up. Available in a wide range of sizes up to 7g rating. All good. For fly line indy fishing, I think this will remain my go-to float.

But now I'm intrigued by the idea of slip floats and how they would work on my center pin. With a slip float, the line goes through the float with a rubber stop affixed above and below the float. This lets the line slip through the float as needed. Hmmmm. Intriguing. The Drennan Piker seems popular with center pinners on bigger water. I like the idea of having some "give" in the system. I think I may need to pick up a few and play with them.

Nice to be past the basics now and into the fine-tuning. It's one of the things I enjoy about an outdoor pastime. Once you know the fundamentals and can then begin to build actual prowess.

-Sean-