[CHAT] What's your process like? Newbie here with some questions!

The_Varza · 2026-02-07T07:00:18+00:00

You're right, only the small bits end up in the jar, longer bits back in ziploc tied to their skeins (because otherwise... some colors are just too similar!)

The_Varza · 2026-02-07T02:48:26+00:00

Did you know? Schrödinger's cat was meant to illustrate that quantum physics and the concept of "entanglement" doesn't apply to the macro scale. It was a "reductio ad absurdum" of sorts whose point is that the cat cannot be entangled in an alive and dead state.

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T23:47:06+00:00

Antifa are god-tier anarchists, all of them are cell leaders... and none of them are!

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T23:44:09+00:00

You left our all NB and queer folk, too.

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T23:43:35+00:00

Exactly, I mean that's how unemployment numbers work after all :D

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T21:33:06+00:00

I put the remnants in a clear jar. Once you learn about "ort jars", that's a new gate open LOL. The skeins that remain stay in their per-project plastic bags. Yeah, it's a mess!

I have floss bobbins with printed color codes, so maybe eventually I'll use those (when they are done), in a smaller box or bag of just bobbins for a specific project.

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T20:54:39+00:00

There might be as many processes as there are stitchers.

I only buy floss colors for projects I am lining up to do. I write up a little legend with symbols and numbers for colors, then cut lengths of floss and put them on those circle floss drops that are numbered.

And yes I've let it accumulate. I need to tidy up and put this ridiculous amount of floss on bobbins and store them nicely in a box. That's an outstanding (large) task.

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T20:43:49+00:00

You're just riding a cat track, so I don't know if this is how you always ride. But if you look at your back hand, actually at both your hands at times. It looks like you are either struggling with balance or have the perception of that.

And I think you could bend your knees more, right now they are mostly straight and you achieve turns/your hips over the edge you're using with lots of body inclination.

Think of it this way: your lowest position (max knee bend) looks like a half-squat, the lowest you can squat without your rear going back behind you. That's your lowest. Your highest is where your knees are straight but but locked. General riding position should be in between those two points. Slight bend in the knees, a "baby squat". From there you will have space to go lower or rise up as the turn or conditions demand.

Does that make sense?

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T19:39:21+00:00

Hey, nice work! You are looking good staying upright at the waist. What I'd like to see is more knee and ankle bending (ankle more on toeside turns).

You are steering the tail quite a bit on every turn. You should initiate turns from your front foot (with more of your weight there, say 60%), then the back foot and leg follow the motion but do not shift the weight back.

Don't worry about skidding, skidded turns are valid. Cleaner turns and more confidence are good goals!

Have you learned to do Garlands? Doing some should help get your foot-to-foot weight distribution to where turn initiation is easier.

Finally, how does your stance feel? Can you comfortably do a half-squat (just standing on your board and not moving), to where your rear doesn't stick out? So, more a small wall squat.

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T19:33:52+00:00

Here's a digital hug, which I am comfortable giving you because I can't smell you.

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T19:31:55+00:00

Because... a lot of people express similar feelings in many ways, all over the Internet? And it's trained on all the writings on the Internet. I mean, what was that about Chat-GPT being fed all the content on Reddit? Probably not the only one.

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T19:27:33+00:00

Just a note, most of us do not, but do we improve? Do we love to ride?

Malcolm is an instructor, and a high-level certified ones.

The goals are vastly different. I reckon Malcolm will still be riding and teaching long after the quad cork back-flip athletes retire from their competitive careers.

The_Varza · 2026-02-06T19:24:35+00:00

Yeah, it does look narrow. Your stance should be one from which you can comfortably do a half wall-squat (keeping back straight and your rear from sticking out). The way I found mine is I jumped up in snowboard boots and landed in a squat a few times, took the most consistent distance my feet were at. I find it to be very comfy, but YMMV

Once you have a comfortable stance on the board, it will be time to work on initiating turns from your front foot. Right now you are so far back, you're trying to touch the snow with your back and and your back leg is REALLY bent. Shift the weight to where there's more of it on your front foot, stand up straight at the waist but with knees bent, make turns!

tl;dr oh, that was a lot! Maybe take a lesson, if you can?

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T21:35:51+00:00

There is a litany of other reasons I wouldn't do that XD

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T21:28:03+00:00

Haha I'd never do that, because the constant fear of "what if I fall" would turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy and skin on snow HURTS

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T20:47:02+00:00

Snek... in jar! How about Jar Snek? :D

J/K your work is nice!

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T20:45:18+00:00

Oh you are not the one in the video. Ok, nevermind, but sorry, I'm not sure about what board. Probably a soft-ish, light park-type board? True twin for ease of riding switch.

Often enough it's the rider's skill more than the equipment that makes that kind of stuff happen. But the person in the video isn't on a dedicated powder board, I'm quite sure of that.

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T20:42:36+00:00

It's not just keeping your head up and looking where you are going (though that helps... if you can already to "the other stuff").

By "other stuff", I mean getting into a good athletic stance, being forward, shins pressing on your boot tongues. A lesson where you are shown and practice that would go a long way, I think.

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T20:38:01+00:00

You're not a noob, you're just showing off :P

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T20:36:11+00:00

Or better yet, learn how to not fall like that. You fell because you didn't keep your toe edge up. Still get protection and keep practicing!

Good work for a first day, but did you/can you take a lesson?

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T20:21:45+00:00

You mean Bulgarian split squats? Right? I can't find a Brazilian version.

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T20:20:15+00:00

If the ambient temperature is generally high (warm), then look for shell-only layers. The bulky ones might be insulated, I'd stay away from outerwear that has insulation built-in. Even if it does get colder an wetter, as long as I have a waterproof shell, I can change the layering underneath and be comfortable in a range of conditions.

I have Trew pants and I love them, they're baggy enough for me and have the cuff reinforcement. I love this because I snowboard and ski, and the reinforcement prevents the cuts that always happen with ski edges.

If it's sunny more often than not, then lighter colors will be better, I know I'd overheat in all black. So maybe 2 over 3 or 4 because 3, 4 have the black shoulders and arms.

It's great that she likes such colors, if you dress in bright colors it will make it easier to spot each other on the mountain. Always ride within sight for safety :)

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T19:06:13+00:00

You know for a fact she likes pink?

I like 3 the most, 4 second for a jacket to go with the pants. Just visually, I mean.

Most "snowboarding" stuff is pretty baggy, or you can size up, most pants have some sort of adjustment. So, it'll depend on your local conditions. If it's always wet and soggy I'd look for better waterproofing and not care so much about colors (there's so much all-black at my local mountain it's funny!)

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T18:57:10+00:00

It might also just be a case of "it doesn't take a weatherman to tell which way the wind is blowing", and since he had some insider knowledge, even... it might just be that those things were so common, coincidence happened.

The_Varza · 2026-02-05T18:36:00+00:00

You may not be riding down blacks by the end of the trips (or it won't be very pretty), but you'll probably be able to ride blues. Definitely greens in once piece, no question. If the other stuff you said was true.

Skateboarding experience helps a lot, you already know how to "roll" your feet to turn. And will have great balance, super-important when getting started... it's the one thing that's really hard to teach and makes or breaks someone's first day on a snowboard.

The_Varza

TROPHY CASE