Search found 392 matches

by Andy Bittner
Mon Feb 23, 2004 4:14 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: DC Downhill Outlaw Race
Replies: 97
Views: 83122

Towing From Cars

It's good to hear that Danny is okay, but I'd like to take this opportunity to speak against the very casual manner in which so many of us are willing to latch onto moving cars. I know that 99.9% of the time there seems to be very little danger, and it is certainly convenient compared to walking up ...
by Andy Bittner
Mon Feb 16, 2004 5:59 pm
Forum: D.C.
Topic: Results - DC Winter Outlaw Slalom Series Race #4 - Feb 14th
Replies: 26
Views: 23005

Video

Nice video, Dave. I think it kind of summed things up nicely. The gray skies, the snow on the ground and two, full-on, charging racers in a pretty hot heat. I'd like to see some of the footage being shot by the cameraman riding down the center of the course. Is that Anthony? It's a subtle thing abou...
by Andy Bittner
Sun Feb 15, 2004 4:59 pm
Forum: D.C.
Topic: Brookland, DC
Replies: 5
Views: 5705

Ghetto?

No... I wouldn't exactly call the Brookland/Catholic University area "ghetto". There are areas around there that can get a little rough, but the closer one gets to the campus the more things seem to improve. Even the "rough" areas aren't all that rough. I think the population cross-section in that a...
by Andy Bittner
Sun Feb 15, 2004 4:25 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: Brookland, DC
Replies: 5
Views: 5705

better known as...

fyi, that Basilica is much better known to most as The Shrine Of The Immaculate Conception, on the campus of Catholic University.
by Andy Bittner
Sat Feb 07, 2004 3:54 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: no joke ?
Replies: 129
Views: 136700

Bravo! Well said!

Major props to Guillaume for giving the absolutely correct response to my statement about the U.S. bailing out France in WW2. If I'd been on the French side of this discussion, I would've replied with something like, "Yeah, and all of you over there would be singing "God Save The Queen", if it weren...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Feb 06, 2004 9:18 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: no joke ?
Replies: 129
Views: 136700

Brains

Since everyone in my immediate family have what "experts" call "genius-level" or "high-funtioning genius-level" IQs, we must have plenty of brains to spare. Why, etienne? Is there a shortage of brains in France? Haven't we helped you French enough?
by Andy Bittner
Fri Feb 06, 2004 8:57 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: no joke ?
Replies: 129
Views: 136700

etienne, No need for a brain donor, I'm quite happy with my IQ, which is quite high. Perhaps you are having problems with English. I did not actually intend to "accuse" you of anything in the first or second post, other than being a loud mouth, over-reacting person, stating as fact information he co...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:28 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: no joke ?
Replies: 129
Views: 136700

All jokes aside

Actually, Mike, I'm curious about the story of the Englishwoman that you've referenced. Any links or additional data you could provide would be appreciated. I don't like blatant injustice any more than the next guy and would be curious to know just how similar the two situations were. --------------...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:13 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: no joke ?
Replies: 129
Views: 136700

Yeah... actually, that IS funny.
by Andy Bittner
Fri Feb 06, 2004 6:53 pm
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: no joke ?
Replies: 129
Views: 136700

Examples

In the first place, I am not one of the people who shut themselves in during the Washington D.C. sniper incident, even though the first five shots taken in the sniper spree were in the neighborhood where I was raised and at places where I can be found with considerable frequency. However, that's not...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Feb 06, 2004 2:06 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: A Little Snowboard History For Sale
Replies: 0
Views: 2494

A Little Snowboard History For Sale

To all my snowboarding friends here at SlalomSkateboarder.com, I have placed a small, but interesting piece of snowboarding history up for bid on EBay. It's not some incredibly rare treasure, but is a nice, well kept 'blast from the past'. Right now this classic copy of Transworld Snowboarding is se...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Feb 06, 2004 1:57 am
Forum: Off Topic
Topic: no joke ?
Replies: 129
Views: 136700

Terrorist warning

etienne de Bary wrote: if there was a bomb, he wouldn't tell, efficient terrorists, like efficient customs agents, avoid all kind of show off. Now I think maybe Etienne should stay in France. Exactly how does he know what "efficient terrorists" do or do not avoid? Either he's been attending terroris...
by Andy Bittner
Tue Feb 03, 2004 7:21 pm
Forum: For Sale - Wanted
Topic: 70kg Quicksilver
Replies: 0
Views: 2184

70kg Quicksilver

For the benefit of those who have not been informed or found out otherwise, I currently have a 70kg Quicksilver (among other things) up for auction at EBay.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... gory=16263
by Andy Bittner
Sun Feb 01, 2004 2:04 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: DC Winter Outlaw Series
Replies: 218
Views: 203102

P&R Condition Report

I'll check and let you know. I don't have high hopes. Based on the condition of my parking lot and the grocery parking lot I visited today, there's still probably a lot of sand, salt, ice and probably even some snow.
by Andy Bittner
Sat Jan 31, 2004 8:32 pm
Forum: D.C.
Topic: DC Winter Outlaw Series
Replies: 218
Views: 203102

Gaithersburg Park and Race

Danny, You'll see what is special about the Gaithersburg Park and Race when you get there. Frankly, there's no one thing big or amazing about it. There are just so many things about it that are good that they all add up to a really great slalom venue. It is conveniently located for most, with ample ...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Jan 16, 2004 3:00 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: Race location poll for Saturday the 17th of January
Replies: 28
Views: 22963

Accumulations

Y'know... it's funny. The Baltimore-Washington area looks like it had a sand/salt storm last night. I heard a couple of Baltimore newspeople referring to it as a 2" accumulation of salt on top of a trace of snow. Last week's traffic mess was a relatively rare fluke where a trace of snow hit warm pav...
by Andy Bittner
Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:54 pm
Forum: D.C.
Topic: Race location poll for Saturday the 17th of January
Replies: 28
Views: 22963

Whether or weather or whatever?

For entirely selfish and personal reasons, I'm voting P&R this time. Of course, P&R is totally convenient for me and, as usual, I'm driving a car that is on its' last legs. If we race at P&R, I'd take the day off from other responsibilities to race. If the trip included dragging my sorry vehicle dow...
by Andy Bittner
Tue Jan 13, 2004 12:59 pm
Forum: D.C.
Topic: The "Gathering" 2004
Replies: 166
Views: 164988

A Smoke With GBJ

Adam... Show up at a Gathering with a full pack of cigarettes and having a smoke with GBJ is like a foregone conclusion. All the smokers reading this just nodded in agreement too. I've bummed from the best of 'em. In fact, with very few exceptions (mostly at races), I haven't been smoking since May ...
by Andy Bittner
Mon Jan 12, 2004 7:34 pm
Forum: D.C.
Topic: The "Gathering" 2004
Replies: 166
Views: 164988

Alternatives

Leo, No worries. As much as I have enjoyed hosting the first two Ncdsa.com Cyber Slalom Cup events, it only makes sense that it should move around a bit. Frankly, a race as important as the Cyber Slalom Cup was always a bit contrary to the stated purposes of The Gatherings, but I considered being as...
by Andy Bittner
Mon Jan 12, 2004 12:11 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: The "Gathering" 2004
Replies: 166
Views: 164988

Prizes at The Gatherings

To everyone who is offering to help me collect prizes and swag for The 4th Gathering, thank you, BUT... as usual, The 4th Gathering will be presenting free burritos from Chipotle Mexican Grills as race prizes. Besides, The Gathering is really not about titles or prizes anyway. Period. The real prize...
by Andy Bittner
Thu Jan 01, 2004 2:57 pm
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: The history of slalom skateboarding
Replies: 24
Views: 24971

Interpretations...

Isn't it funny how different people interpret differently? Let's take Skateboard Bowling as an example. I think we can all envision the ten cones, set up in a ten-pin triangle, but Jack sees the game as riding or sliding through them, while I envisioned something completely different. As soon as I s...
by Andy Bittner
Wed Dec 31, 2003 11:10 pm
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: The history of slalom skateboarding
Replies: 24
Views: 24971

Whoa!!!

Holy smokes!!! That has got to be THE ultimate slalom skateboarding collectible! Awesome. Bravo, Anthony. I mean... I've got some pretty serious slalom collectibles (hand-sanded test castings of the original Gullwings hangers and some other pre-production Gullwing experiments among other things), bu...
by Andy Bittner
Tue Dec 30, 2003 1:37 am
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: The history of slalom skateboarding
Replies: 24
Views: 24971

Cliff Coleman was riding for Hobie during the mid-60s and probably has some recollection of the state of slalom skateboarding during that decade. The people who should comment on 70s slalom, in my opinion, are Hester, Skoldberg, Hutson and/or any of the Badlands racers, i.e. Ransom, Evans, or Kimbel...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Dec 26, 2003 9:10 pm
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: Where are the Former 90's US and International slalomers
Replies: 5
Views: 5466

Can't help you out much here, but can tell you that Beau Brown is still actively involved in the slalom community. I believe that he is now something like National Sales Director for Etnies Shoes or something like that. He definitely shows up from time to time/
by Andy Bittner
Fri Dec 19, 2003 2:30 am
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: What's in your Quiver?
Replies: 22
Views: 32561

1977 custom Ick Stick (produced for Randy Smith for the ARA Series but never delivered), '77 Tracker Mids (wedged in front) 1990 custom Turner cutaway (built to my personal tastes by Bobby Turner), Tracker Fulltracks (narrow pivot) 1977 Sims/Powell 90kg Quicksilver, (original) Gullwing trucks. All s...
by Andy Bittner
Thu Dec 18, 2003 1:05 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: DC Sessions
Replies: 1540
Views: 1523286

Roller rinks and storage bins

Jeff, most roller rinks (and dry ice skating rinks, for that matter) are actually quite small. I think most ice rinks (and roller rinks, for some odd reason) are the size of a regulation NHL hockey rink, which I believe to be 200' long x 85' wide w/ rounded corners. A full cyber slalom would leave a...
by Andy Bittner
Wed Dec 17, 2003 1:10 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: DC Sessions
Replies: 1540
Views: 1523286

Indoor practice

Once upon a time, my brother had a storage bin at an indoor rental storage place that was essentially two warehouses long with an interior, 8' wide, basically level, seamless concrete walkway down the center. It was a self-service, 24 hour facility, so I used to borrow my brother's passcard and go o...
by Andy Bittner
Wed Dec 10, 2003 2:46 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: The "Gathering" 2004
Replies: 166
Views: 164988

Anthony, For detail, read the really long post that I posted further up the page. In the meanwhile, I'll give you the abridged version. The whole thing began with my "discovering" a venue that was just begging for a slalom event. That was in the summer of 2000. The next spring, things were really be...
by Andy Bittner
Tue Dec 09, 2003 2:33 am
Forum: New to slalom skateboarding?
Topic: Are you new? Got a question? Ask it here.
Replies: 28
Views: 28011

Mongo-Lloyd

For the record... I push mongo, believe it offers more power when limited to a single push/lunge start, and also footbrake mongo, although I am not as adept or quick to brake with my leading foot as Chaput is.
by Andy Bittner
Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:21 pm
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: What's in your Quiver?
Replies: 22
Views: 32561

Which Quiver?

Active quiver or total quiver, including museum pieces? [editted: never mind, looking at your list, Adam, it must be active.]
by Andy Bittner
Sat Dec 06, 2003 2:14 pm
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: How Long Have You Ridden?
Replies: 14
Views: 12739

Starting In The Stone Age

Most of you have probably heard the story, but I'll tell it again here anyway. In July of 1967, my father was given a clay wheeled Hobie for his birthday. The gift was from the guys he skied with each winter and was offered as a non-snow alternative. At the time we were a family with small kids, liv...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Dec 05, 2003 2:52 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: The "Gathering" 2004
Replies: 166
Views: 164988

The 4th Gathering... Saturday morning

I haven't got the whole agenda worked out for the Saturday morning junior and rookie programs yet, but it's safe to say that the check-in will open at 8:00 with the first organized events at either 9:00 or 9:30. If we were to start our organized events at 9:30, it's possible we could use 9:00-9:30 t...
by Andy Bittner
Tue Dec 02, 2003 4:13 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: The "Gathering" 2004
Replies: 166
Views: 164988

The Once and Future Gatherings

Wow! Great commentary all around. As long as there is such an open discussion going on about The Gatherings, I am going to take this opportunity to, for the first time, offer my feelings about last spring's event. At The 3rd Gathering: Slalom, Slalom and More Slalom we may have finally hit an attend...
by Andy Bittner
Sun Nov 30, 2003 12:56 pm
Forum: D.C.
Topic: The "Gathering" 2004
Replies: 166
Views: 164988

Fair points, Slappy, although I'm not sure all the information is in yet. Last year, I had a gameplan for the whole weekend that included racing for all levels, including some significantly challenging advanced racing. Unfortunately, I did a very poor job of sticking to that plan, allowing incidents...
by Andy Bittner
Sun Nov 30, 2003 1:34 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: DC Sessions
Replies: 1540
Views: 1523286

Heavy Doody

Gentlemen, I'd like to begin by apologizing for the angered tone of my last post. I regret the fact that I didn't delay or temper my reply (Wes, it took me about 3 and a half minutes to write... why do you ask?), because now, the fact that I can be a real jerk will become the issue rather than the o...
by Andy Bittner
Sat Nov 29, 2003 4:45 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: DC Sessions
Replies: 1540
Views: 1523286

Granted

Wes, I can appreciate what you're addressing, but the Friday events before The Gatherings are not part of The Gathering, and I don't want people to start thinking they should book flights so as to be present for a Friday event that I have no plans of providing. Just because people have fun at someon...
by Andy Bittner
Sat Nov 29, 2003 1:44 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: DC Sessions
Replies: 1540
Views: 1523286

Bad Information Stopper

Correcting bad information just provided by WesE...

The 4th Gathering: Peace, Love and Pavement is on Saturday, May 1 and Sunday, May 2, 2004, not on April 30. I guess Wes just decided to add a day.
by Andy Bittner
Wed Nov 26, 2003 2:30 am
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: Freestyle to Longboarding/slalom
Replies: 6
Views: 6302

correction

So as to NOT perpetuate an error on the contest listing page, by cutting and pasting it here... To be clear... there will be NO slalom-cross at The 4th Gathering, nor will there be a Super G. Anyone who has been to the gathering site knows we don't have a hill big enough to accomodate any of the maj...
by Andy Bittner
Wed Nov 26, 2003 2:26 am
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: Contest Schedule 2004
Replies: 54
Views: 84106

Correction

Jani, Could you please remove the line in the listing for The 4th Gathering: Peace, Love and Pavement that says, "Slalom cross + maybe a GS or Super G". This is not something I put in, but something that somehow got transposed over from Jack's listing. To be clear... there will be NO slalom-cross at...
by Andy Bittner
Sat Nov 15, 2003 2:35 am
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: Jim Korten
Replies: 2
Views: 3518

Jim Croce lyrics

...actually, the line is "living in LA with my EX-old best friend Ray".

I'm glad to hear that someone has found Jim and would be very curious to hear more of the story. Jack, give me that call you were talking about and maybe you can treat me to some JK tidbits.
by Andy Bittner
Wed Nov 12, 2003 4:18 pm
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: Contest Schedule 2004
Replies: 54
Views: 84106

The 4th Gathering: Peace, Love and Pavement

The U.S. Slalom Skateboarding Federation is pleased to announce... The 4th Gathering: Peace, Love and Pavement Saturday and Sunday May 1 and 2, 2004 Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA Since the Spring of 2001, these special, early season, race-for-fun Gatherings have attracted some of the top slalom skateb...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Nov 07, 2003 9:02 pm
Forum: D.C.
Topic: The "Gathering" 2004
Replies: 166
Views: 164988

The 4th Gathering... tentative

Pending confirmation from the park, I expect to hold The 4th Gathering on the weekend of May 1 and 2, 2004. More news soon.
by Andy Bittner
Tue Oct 28, 2003 2:01 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: 4th Annual VINTAGE SKATEBOARD & LONGBOARD DAY 11/22/03
Replies: 92
Views: 96540

Calling Anthony Smallwood

Anthony, I've left you phone messages and sent e-mails, but I'm guessing you didn't receive them or something. Could you please contact me asap at gbjphotoworksAThotmail.com. Thanks.
by Andy Bittner
Sat Oct 25, 2003 3:45 pm
Forum: New to slalom skateboarding?
Topic: Feet position on the deck?
Replies: 19
Views: 19728

Of all the advice I've heard yet, most of it quite intellectual in nature, Troy's is the best of all. There is no substitute for experience. This is racing, and racing is about what works, not what looks good. With repetition and focus on getting faster, your body will find its' own best position.
by Andy Bittner
Sat Oct 25, 2003 3:16 am
Forum: New to slalom skateboarding?
Topic: Feet position on the deck?
Replies: 19
Views: 19728

All have made very excellent points. Chris' point is something most slalom skiers learn very early on. Personally, I visualize it as follows: I consider the space between cones as being a doorway, through which I must ride, and I always try to ride through just below the uphill doorjamb/cone. Obviou...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Oct 24, 2003 3:08 am
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: My turn to bag on Vlad
Replies: 49
Views: 49987

In which case, I guess I should avoid paying my debts. Sorry.

(btw, new job)
by Andy Bittner
Fri Oct 24, 2003 2:21 am
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: My turn to bag on Vlad
Replies: 49
Views: 49987

Better Safe Than Sorry

Probably be better for me to avoid any bagging on people who probably already would rather see me dead. In all seriousness, I think I'll just continue to abuse my friends. Besides, Mr. Chapeau, you're such an easy mark. I'll even give you permission to attack my tendancy toward severe, pre-race inju...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Oct 24, 2003 1:41 am
Forum: D.C.
Topic: DC Sessions
Replies: 1540
Views: 1523286

Jack, You're in Gaithersburg, aren't you? Got room for another for that Lansdowne trip? I'm in G-burg too, but my car's on its' last leg. I probably haven't been to Lansdowne in about ten years, but I do love that place.
by Andy Bittner
Fri Oct 24, 2003 1:37 am
Forum: New to slalom skateboarding?
Topic: Feet position on the deck?
Replies: 19
Views: 19728

Gentlemen, Welcome to the world of slalom skateboarding, where there are almost as many stances as there are slalom skaters. It seems that the most popular variation (we'll call it the average-stance) is a stance where the feet are closer together than a trick skater's, with the toes angled (roughly...
by Andy Bittner
Fri Oct 24, 2003 12:50 am
Forum: Random Slalom Topics
Topic: My turn to bag on Vlad
Replies: 49
Views: 49987

OMG!!! I've been away for a few days (new job, again, woohoo!), and I don't think I've laughed this hard in a long time. This and the other 'Avatar' topic are truly amusing. This is better than The Dark Side, by a long shot. Bravo, Slappy. I'm still shedding a tear over the last time I read a post t...