Question on board selection

[powell1.8]

I'm heading out to Tahoe with my Brother and his wife the third week of Feb. He telemarks and she skiis, but she just started, which means we'll be on groomers unless it snows. I'm having issues deciding what board to bring. I can't decide between my Coiler RaceCarve 180 or my Donek Axis 177. If it snows I'm all set, but the question is which board will be the least limiting riding groomers for the day. I just don't know how conditions progress though the day out there. Here's the catch. I love my RaceCarve. I not a huge fan of my Axis here in MN. My thought is that the Axis would perform better through the coarse of the day, but if conditions don't deteriorate much I'd rather ride the RaceCarve. Here in MN conditions are pretty consistent through the day. I know this can be weather dependant, but any help/thoughts would be appreciated.

[Randy T.]

Hey Powell,

The conditions here do not stay consistent throughout the day. The snow is softer so the nice groom will usually only last until mid day to early afternoon.

Other factors to consider are that mid week will be less people and it will take longer for things to get chopped up.
Also where are you going to ride? Let us know because the size and popularity of the resort will have different conditions and also someone who's local to the resort you choose can tell you the best runs.

RT

[powell1.8]

Thanks for the info. I wish I knew more details myself. My brother had mentioned doing kind of a Tahoe sampler, so I have no idea where I'll end up. From the sound of it, probably somewhere diferent each day.

[Hugh]

Bring both boards if possible. Otherwise, bring the Racecarve.

Conditions were/are warming this week with very firm hardpack in the morning, but without slushy afternoons (so far). A few weeks from today, conditions can be very different.

Check out www.tahoecarvers.com if you haven't already. Frequent snow condition postings for Tahoe on that site.

--Hugh

[shawndoggy]

More generically, check here (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecasts/display_special_product_versions.php?sid=rev&pil=afd) for the forecast discussion from the Reno NOAA (http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/rev/) office. Generally very in tune to what's going to happen in the mountains, and a lot more detail on the speculative possibilities of what could happen weather wise a week or so out.

FYI, right now they're saying hold on for a big weather change mid-next week. Translation, "pow."

But there, I just jinxed it.