This was my first full season snowboarding (I went 3 times last year, so I don't count that as a full season) and spent about half the year in hardboots. You EC'ers were my inspiration to take up carving, let alone the dream of extremecarving. My progress this year was nothing short of remarkable and I must give a lot of credit to the fundamentals of push-pull, rotation, and gesture purity. In other words, the very basics of snowboarding so well represented in this website. I use these fundamentals in all riding -- hardboots, softboots, moguls, on-piste, off-piste -- all the same basic technique.
From a relative beginner at the beginning of the season, I now have no problem keeping up with snowboarders with many, many more years of experience as well as high level ski instructors, and have been able to feel the joy that comes from laid out turns (more or less) on the frontside. On the backside . . . well, let's just say I am trying very hard!!
Of course, as far as real EC goes, I am a real novice. Please, keep those movies coming, I am wearing out my computer watching OPUS 1, 2, 3 and 4. I will never forget the first time (and there have been quite a number of times since then) that another boarder I met on the lift told me that I rode "beautifully, so smoothly and effortlessly." I get similar compliments from skiers, including ski instructors!
I could go on and on, but will sum up by saying THANK YOU and hope to see you in Zinal (and with my new SWOARD, when production gets up again and I can get my hands on one
).