If your inspiration for decorating dollhouse miniatures comes from interior design magazines or TV show, do not forget the scale in which you are working. It sounds self-evident, but so many of us lose sight of that fact, when we gaze at all the wonderful fabrics offered to us.

Following are some guidelines to stay focused on what is most important: you are searching for a perfect fabric to use in a dollhouse miniature. Now please don’t say, “Duh!” just yet.

I strongly feel that when we focus primarily on color, and don’t keep the “technicalities” of pattern size and the weight of the fabric in mind at the beginning of the design process, we risk falling in love with an inappropriate material. The color is gorgeous, but perhaps the pattern is too large, or the fabric too stiff and heavy. But it’s such a beautiful color! Right, then we try to force this material into our project and the next step is usually to start over.

Fortunately, we can “audition’ fabrics before we buy them.

Brick Mortar Stores

Educators tell us we all learn in three different ways: visual, auditory and kinetic – touching. The trick for teachers is to figure out which the three is the primary portal to the brain or each of their charges. We have a kinetic learner in the family. When he encounters something new, he says, “Let me see!” grabs the object. This darling is kept out of fine glassware and porcelain shops.

Fortunately for miniaturists, fabric stores give us the opportunity to hone our kinetic skills, without fear of breakage.

Choosing The Right Pattern

One trick is to cut a one inch square out of a piece of stiff paper or a plastic card. I prefer a plastic card because its convenient to keep in my wallet.

Scan the bolts of fabric in the rack and pull several that might be suitable. Remember, you are considering color, pattern and weight, all at the same time. To zero in on pattern, pass the one inch window over a fabric. This expands your choices because even large flowered prints may have areas like stems, buds and leaves that may be useful to your design.

This video from Joanne’s Minis gives a good demonstration of the One Inch Window technique: http://youtu.be/zXd38Jm4bpI

Wrinkles Are Good.

If you need pleats on curtains, dresses or furniture skirts, the fabric must hold a crease, Scrunch the material in your hand and see if it wrinkles. If it does, it’s a prospect.

Stains Aren’t Good.

Wet a small spot with some saliva and see if it stains. This will be important if you want to use glue anywhere and don’t want it to show.

Fraying, Sometimes Good.

Check out the cut end of the cloth to see if it frays. You don’t want to be sewing tiny seams and have it fray apart. On the other hand, you want it to fray a bit, if a fringe is in your plan.

Weight Control.

Pay attention to the weight of the material. If it is heavy, it may be too thick for miniature work. I feel comfortable working with cotton, light-weight wool, cotton and silk blend, rayon and some other light-weight fabrics – if they behave the way I want. Regular quilting cotton or similar materials have the qualities I like for most projects

Online Shopping

No local store can compete with the variety of fabrics available online. And you need not be overwhelmed by the number choices. A “long tail keyword search” gives you ample control on what is presented to you.

As an example, start with “fabric tiny prints.” Narrow it down by adding “cotton” or “large weave.” Use as many key words as you can, before the search engine gets totally confused and nothing but irrelevant choices are offered.

Using Both Online and Local Shops

Here is a recent experience I had. Custom made curtains are a popular item in my online shop, I received an order for pleated curtains in shade of gray that aqua throw pillows would love. The local JoAnns had nothing useful; same at Jay’s Fabrics. Online shopping was next.

First I went to several tried-and-true websites and used the internal links to browse. Still no luck, so I went to my favorite browser and entered this long tail keyword string in the search field: “dollhouse curtain fabric brocade cotton gray” and got links to three possibilities. The descriptions of the fabrics looked good. I did a screen print of each and emailed them to the customer. She made her choice, I made and shipped curtains. All is well.

It would have been much easier, less time-consuming, ergo more profitable if I could have found what I wanted at a local fabric store. They sell to a mass market, and the miniature artisan gets lost in that demographic. In the end, there is always a way. Sometimes we just have to learn new things.

If you’ve experienced camping in the winter, you know more than anyone else how a warm, delicious meal can make all the difference. But preparing and cooking food when it’s snowing can be a tough job. You’ll have limited time and resources that’s why you should go for quick and easy recipes.

With these warm and hearty winter camping recipes, the taste and comfort are not compromised even though they’re quick and easy to prepare!

Warm One-Pot Ramen Soup

What you need:

• 1/2 cup buckwheat soba noodles (or your choice of ramen noodles)
• 4 pcs. Dried shiitake mushrooms
• 1/2 cup dehydrated ground beef
• 1/2 cup freeze-dried vegetable of your choice
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon Sriracha
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• Salt to taste

Prepare all ingredients at home beforehand to make transportation and cooking at the campsite easier. At home, combine the soy sauce, Sriracha and the sesame oil in a small container with a cover. Place the noodles, mushrooms, meat and vegetables in separate ziplocs.

When you’re ready to cook at the campsite, fill a pot with 2 cups of water. Add the noodles, mushrooms and vegetables to the pot and bring to a boil. Cook until noodles are tender, about 5 mins. Stir in the ground beef and the sauce and remove from heat.

Allow to cool for a couple of minutes before consuming.

Campfire Vegetarian Chili

What you need:

• 1 3/4 cup black beans
• 1 3/4 cup kidney beans
• 1 3/4 cup diced tomatoes
• 1 can chipotle peppers, seeded and sliced into small pieces
• 1 can (12 oz) beer
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 small avocado (for topping), peeled and sliced
• Cheese (for topping)
• Salt to taste

In a pot over a campfire or a grill, heat the oil and cook the onion for 5 minutes or until tender. Add the black beans, kidney beans, tomatoes and beer. Season with garlic powder and cumin. Add desired amount of chipotle peppers.

Cook chilli for 20-25 minutes over medium heat. When ready, remove from heat. Top with avocado pieces and cheese. Add salt if needed.

Best served warm.

When you’re camping in the winter, you deserve only good food to keep your energy levels up and to battle the unforgiving cold. Try any of these satisfying warm and hearty meals perfect for winter camping!

Drag racing, a contest between two cars beginning from a complete stop over a distance of a 1/4 mile (1320 feet) depends heavily on first 60 feet of the race, or the launch. The technique used for launching varies greatly depending on the how the car is equipped. The type of transmission, which wheels are being driven, tires, power, suspension and track preparation all play key roles in how to go about getting the best launch possible from the car.

Improvements on the time it takes for the car to travel the first 60 feet down the track have significant implications on the final ET (estimated time). As a general rule, improvements in the 60 foot time, are magnified by 2x on your final ET. For example, a Dodge Viper GTS that runs a 12.2 @ 120 MPH in the 1/4 mile with a 60 foot time of 2.0 can make significant improvements to it’s 1/4 mile times by obtaining a better launch. If the Dodge Viper GTS is able cut .2 (two tenths) of a second off it it’s 60 foot time, by covering the first 60 feet in 1.8 seconds, it’s final ET for the 1/4 mile would be around 11.8 @ 119 – 121MPH. More examples can be found by searching through the thousands of 60 foot records in the http://www.dragtimes.com drag racing database.

The best possible launch is obtained by obtaining the optimal balance of applying the most amount of power to the ground with the least amount of wheel spin. If too much power is applied during the launch and the tires spin, the resulting 60 foot time will be poor. The same goes for not applying enough power, thereby causing the car’s engine to bog, and having the car limp off the line slowly.

When launching a car with an automatic transmission, a technique called power braking is used. After properly staging the car at the drag strip’s staging lane, tightly hold down the brake with one foot, while slowly applying the accelerator peddle with the other foot. The car’s engine RPM (revolutions per minute) should slowly increase to a point where the car will either start to move or start spinning the tires. Hold down both the brake and accelerator peddles just below the point where the car is starting to move or spinning the tires. When the christmas tree lights reach the last amber light before the green, lift off of the brake and slowly push the gas peddle all the way down. The correct RPM to launch at will be different every car depending on all of the variables mentioned earlier. Start conservative with the first launch and keep increasing the RPM at which the car is launched at during the subsequent runs. If the car starts spinning the tires after the launch, lower the launch RPM and try again.

When launching a car with a manual transmission come to a complete stop after the car is properly staged. Press the clutch in all the way with one foot while pressing the accelerator peddle down with the other foot, raising the engine RPM to a constant moderate level for the first launch. Lift up on the clutch peddle to the point where the car is just about to start moving and hold both peddles still. When the christmas tree lights reach the last amber before the green, slowly release the clutch while quickly applying the accelerator peddle enough to launch the car quickly, but not too much to induce a large amount of wheel spin. Start conservative with the first launch and keep increasing the RPM at which the car is launched at during the subsequent runs. If the car starts spinning the tires too much after the launch, lower the launch RPM and try again.

To obtain better launches and bring down 60 foot times even more, the use of drag radial or full slick tires can be used on more powerful cars that have trouble launching at any RPM on regular street tires. Drag radials and full slicks usually require a burnout to heat up the tires and clean them from debris for optimum performance. A burnout is a rapid spinning of the car’s tires while the car stays relatively still.

All wheel drive cars (AWD) are typically the easiest to launch because the engine’s power is distributed to 4 wheels instead of two. Rear wheel drive (RWD) cars typically launch better than front wheel drive (FWD) due to the transfer of weight to the rear tires during the launch, causing an increase in traction. If the car has aftermarket adjustable suspension, adjustments can be made specific for drag racing to increase the weight transfer to the driving wheels.

The track’s launch pad preparation also plays an important role in how well and how hard cars can launch. The launch area is usually prepped with traction compounds to add to the stickiness of the track. A well prepped track will definitely help drop 60 foot times and result in lower 1/4 mile times.

During the breaks and cool down periods between drag racing runs, make detailed notes about how you launched on the back of each timeslip. These notes can help you diagnose launching issues, fine-tune subsequent launches and show improvements in the search for The Perfect Launch.

What can be more American than cooking chicken? To be honest everyone has his or her own unique way of cooking up the perfect batch of chicken. Chicken is such a versatile piece of meat and can be prepared in many ways such as roasted, boiled, broiled, grilled, stewed, baked and don’t forget fried. No matter how you decide to cook chicken, there is always a wrong and right way to go about cooking chicken.

Before I give you the details for making perfect chicken, I would like to touch upon some things you want to avoid.

How Not To Cook Chicken

– Chicken dishes prepared from thawed out chicken will never taste as good as fresh chicken. Therefore, stay away from frozen chicken.

– Never buy chicken and cook it right out of the package. You should always prepare you chicken properly before cooking.

Tips To Cooking Perfect Chicken

– You must always use fresh chicken. Fresh chicken wins the taste test when compared to frozen. You really can tell the difference.

– Buy the right bird for the cooking task at hand. Believe it or not, your cooking method should determine what type of bird you purchase. Just ask you local butcher which bird is best for roasting, frying or broiling.

– Buy whole chickens and cut them up yourself or have the butcher cut the chicken into pieces for you.

– Don’t get too extravagant when it comes to seasoning. Your seasoning mixture should not entail mixing every spice and herb in your kitchen cabinet. Salt and pepper and maybe one other spice or herb works best.

There you have it, what to avoid when cooking chicken and tips for cooking the perfect chicken.

If you are looking for the best iPhone case, you are on the right page. Given below are some tips that may help you opt for the perfect case for your iPhone. By following these tips, going for the best one will be a lot easier for you. Read on to find out more.

#1. Type of Case

Today, iPhone cases come in a lot of types and colors. The primary factor that you must consider before making this choice is the purpose of using the product. Do you want to protect the screen, or do you want to safeguard the backside from scratches? If protection is not your number one priority, we suggest that you opt for an ultra thin one.

#2. Raised Lip for added Protection

We all end up dropping our phones from time to time. If you are worried about dropping your phone and damaging the display screen, you should go for a case that features a raised lip. This way your phone will be safe even if you drop it face down.

However, the downside is that the case makes it a bit inconvenient to make the edge swipe when you want to go back to the back screen.

#3. Transparent Cases

A clear or transparent case is your best bet if you don’t want to ruin the look of your phone. However, the downside to these cases is that these plastic cases get scratches pretty fast and tend to develop a yellowish tint with the passage of time. Therefore, you may have to go for a replacement case every few months.

#4. Openings for Jacks and Ports

You should consider the bottom part of your phone before you buy a case. The case must feature an opening for the headphone jack and the lightning port for your headset. Also, if your phone case is excessively thick, you may find it hard to mount it or insert the headphone jack.

#5. Weight of the Case

Also, make sure that you go for a case that won’t add too much bulk to the headset. In other words, lights cases are much more comfortable as they can make it easier for you to hold your phone for hours.

So, what you need to do is test the case physically to find out if you it can meet your needs.

#6. Consider the Skin Color and Pattern

If you want the least protection for your headset, you should go for your desired skin color or pattern. This will improve the look of your device while offering some degree of protection against scuffs. Although these headset cases won’t prevent damage in case of a fall, they can still be useful to some degree.

Long story short, if you are looking for the perfect iPhone case, we suggest that you follow these tips. They will make it easier for you to make the best choice. Hopefully, you will find these tips helpful in making an informed decision.

Is there such a thing as perfect horse racing system or a perfect horse? Without doubt, the search continues for the perfect system and horse. In the meantime, people have not stopped betting online and offline.

The Perfect Horse Racing System?

If you have the Midas touch or sheer genius, you have never lost at the race tracks, local or international. Perhaps that’s the time to say you have the perfect system.

For those not in the know, a horse racing system is a method of selecting race horses to bet on. Selecting horses for the races is not as easy as it sounds. It requires mind-bending exercises and an extensive and in-depth understanding of all the types of existing criterion. With this knowledge, you can always ask the bookie for a better offer. Knowledge of both the numbers and horses makes a lethal combination and a killing at the races. Profitwise, you will be doing fine, even better, than a thousand other punters.

Whether it’s the Kempton, Epsom, Windsor, Ascot, Lingfield, or Goodwood racecourse, it does not matter. You have a smart system, albeit not a perfect one. Your system makes sense in the selection of your bets, whatever and wherever the racecourse.

You haven’t made a 100% win on all races, but you have made more winning strikes than last year when you did not have a system. So it’s not perfect, but what you have is better than most. It is backed up by sound ideas, not mere speculations.

Betting on the Perfect Horse

Betting on perfect horses is not the real score. Hard core punters chase value bets, which they know makes them more money compared to backing up the top favorite. But knowing how to place your bets should not prevent you from relying on an established horse racing system.

One horse who won all his races was a thoroughbred racehorse that started his racing career in Epsom in 1769. He was an average horse in looks and smaller than other thoroughbreds. It was his ability to bring his legs quickly forward, a feat larger animals cannot duplicate, that made him a champion. According to scientists trying to reconstruct the perfect horse, Eclipse was just right in every way.

Another famous horse who made such a positive impact on the public was Seabiscuit. He started his career unnoticed, but went on to win race after race despite his knocked knees. It was no secret that whenever Seabiscuit saw his rivals, he dashed ahead to win the race.

Another famous horse was Exterminator of 1918, a famous iron horse who could carry as much as 140 pounds over distances of 2.25 miles. War Admiral was another racing great who had a string of wins and losses. He raced Seabiscuit but lost during the much publicized Pimlico special.

Your horse racing system may not back the perfect horse, but it will show you the way to select the horses that will give you the profit, whichever bet you choose. There is no perfect system, no perfect horse, and no 100% winning strikes – something’s gotta give. It is still your choice that counts.

Kettlebells are possibly the best piece of workout equipment you could invest in. Besides being a fun way to get in shape, kettlebells can be used in many ways. Strength, cardiovascular and muscular endurance are all improved with kettlebell training. So what is this tool and where did it come from? Kettlebells originated in the 1800’s in Russia. Who else to have a single tool to exercise with that could do so much? Kettlebells were used in markets back in the day, as weights.Literally weights to hold things down. Well, since men (and women now) can’t resist seeing if they can lift something, it became a sport. A kettlebell looks like a ball basically, with a handle on it. Not just any ball, but a weighted ball that can be purchased and used as a workout tool starting at 5 lbs. and going up to over 100 lbs. Make sure that when you speak of this amazing tool, that you say kettlebell: not kettle ball. That seems to be the common thing that people get wrong.

One of the biggest questions that is asked is “what is the difference in using a kettlebell, versus using a dumbbell or free weight?” The answer is simple. A kettlebell has the center of gravity in the middle of the ball. In order to swing a kettlebell, you must keep your core engaged the entire time. This makes it a great tool for strengthening the back and the abdominal muscles. It used to be said that we should “baby” a bad back. Now, countless studies have shown that when done properly, kettlebell training strengthens the muscles surrounding the entire core. Kettlebell training as actually great for preventing back injuries and keeping your back and abdominals strong.

The basis of all kettlebell moves begins with the swing. With the kettlebell on the floor about a foot in front of you, you bend down with slightly bent knees, feet hips width apart and grab the kettlebell with both hands. The first motion is to pull the kettlebell behind you and up close between your legs while in a slightly squatting back position. The core is engaged to keep you balanced with chest and head up and looking forward. The kettlebell swing is a move that is generated from a hip hinge back, to propelling the kettlebell forward and up.

It is a movement that when executed properly, engages your core to remain stable, and your glutes and legs to generate the forward movement. The greatest thing about swinging a kettlebell is the way your heart rate soars and your blood pumps. This happens even with the most well trained weight lifter. Due to the weight of the kettlebell and the power at which the kettlebell is swinging, you are getting a great cardio workout as well as a muscular workout. This is a single tool that can be used for many reasons. Weight loss due to the amount of calories burned during a workout. Progressive strength due to the fact that as you get more conditioned, you can keep moving up in weight of the kettlebells.

Most importantly to some, cardiovascular endurance is also improved as this tool creates an oxygen debt that is greater than many other exercises. As one becomes more efficient in kettlebell training, the weight of the person to the weight of the kettlebell is the ratio that keeps the training intense. Above all, kettlebell training is fun. It is never boring. You are always competing against your last workout in a way that forces you to get stronger and swing longer. Pretty soon you are going for numbers of swings, while the calories are being torched and your muscles are burning with fatigue.

Think that this sounds like a great tool? I have just gotten started. Kettlebell swings are only the first move to master when beginning a program with kettlebells. From there, the possibilities are endless. There are many other exercises that these heavy weighted balls with a handle are used in. From old school cleans, to the classic clean and jerk, the old style of hardcore training has come back. Single handed swings to using double kettlebells while swinging is popular. Turkish get ups, to rows, to many forms of squats are used. Deadlifts, goblet squats and lunges are some of the more popular exercises in bootcamps and classes. When you master all of these, maybe you are ready to consider a competition. With a sport that just a handful of years ago was only heard of in other parts of the world, comes a competition that is not for the weak.

Kettlebell Sport is a fast growing competitive sport. The competitions are filled with just as many women as men these days. As a matter of fact, pound for pound, the women are cleaning up the trophies. With events that last as long as ten minutes of swinging the kettlebell from a clean and jerk, to a snatch, this competition is grueling. Athletes congregate to try to outswing in numbers of swings and kilograms of weight to beat their peers.

Efficiency is the way to a winning place at the end of the day. Still some of the top world competitors come from Russia to compete with us Americans, killing it on the platform nearly every time! The Americans are soon gaining on them. Some of the smallest women are cleaning and jerking a kettlebell that is one third and more of their bodyweight. Since you are only allowed to change hands one time in the ten minute event, these women and men have trained hard. Check out Kettlebell Sport on You Tube for videos of this amazing competition that is fast becoming popular. This is an athletic event that has to be seen. Although swinging a kettlebell can be done by pretty much anyone, those dedicated to training and intensity are on the platforms here. They are powerful, and are some of the strongest and most conditioned athletes out there.

If you are looking for a tool that does it all in the world of fitness, then pick up and swing a kettlebell. It might take a few swings with a good trainer coaching you but once you have it down, you will be hooked. Want to lose body fat? Swing a kettlebell. Looking to increase your cardiovascular capacity? Start swinging. Like to add some muscle to a weak frame? The kettlebell is your tool for all. If this sounds like something that you have been looking for, then make sure you get your coaching done in the right place. Make sure you learn from someone that is certified in teaching Kettlebells. When you find the gym with the right trainer, the sky is the limit.

Make sure you are cleared to train in this manner by your family health care practitioner. Even if you have back issues, you can get the blood flowing and the supporting muscles around your core stronger. Elevate your heart, your mood and your strength levels with Kettlebells. The one piece of workout equipment for optimal fitness.

Making the decision that you want an outdoor kitchen is simple. What is not so simple is actually creating an efficient, attractive, entertaining and cooking space that you and your family will use and enjoy is quite a bit more difficult.

Go into your outdoor space and think of how the perfect outdoor entertainment area would look like in your backyard. Imagine this as if money was no object, then take an imaginary picture of this perfect space for your memory.

Now evaluate this perfect space one step at a time. First, how much (or how little) of the items in this space do you really need? You may have imagined a huge, built-in, fully outfitted outdoor kitchen like you may have seen on a television cooking show. But if you use the grill only once a month in the summer, then you money might be better spent elsewhere. If that is the case, then you may be happy buying a basic, small, freestanding grill with a nice prep table next to it.

On the other hand, if you do spend several months a year eating and entertaining weekly in your backyard, cooking complete meals, and regularly inviting guests over, then the bigger setup might be just right for you.

Your lifestyle is just as important of a consideration as your outdoor cooking style, so think about all of the different ways you might use the new space, then plan accordingly. As an example, suppose you love the flavors and smells of grilled food, but really do enjoy eating and entertaining indoors (no insect or weather problems to deal with). So in your outdoor space, maybe you might think of focusing on creating a simple, well-equipped grilling area, and not put as much into the entertaining and dining aspects of the space.

Others do enjoy the outdoor entertaining aspect, so more effort should be put into the patio furniture and dining area. If this is your style, then it makes plenty of sense to design an outdoor kitchen to those needs. You may take some of the things you like in your indoor kitchen and bring those to your backyard space. For example, if you have an island or bar in your indoor kitchen where everyone regularly gathers around to watch you cook, then place a kitchen island in your outdoor space as well.

The size and scale of the outdoor kitchen and entertainment space depends on how many people will use the space. If usually only having family get-togethers outside, then you might only need seating for 8 to 10. But if you regularly host large, catered events or buffets, then multiple tables and other setups might be necessary.

Would you like to be able to keep dishes outside and handy instead of carrying them from the house? If so, installing cabinetry might be the answer.

Does it matter if you have to carry dirty dishes back into the house, or would you prefer to have an outdoor sink with plumbing to do those chores outside? If it is the latter, then a wet sink should be a consideration.

Another aspect to consider is the climate. If you live in a particularly cold area, putting in some type of enclosure or protection for your outdoor kitchen area might be the smart think to do.

You should now have a fairly good idea of what combination of cooking, dining, and entertainment space you want your backyard entertainment project to include. Once you have that understanding, then adding additional items to the whole layout will be easy. Just try to keep your outdoor kitchen design as practical as possible, and you will ultimately create the perfect space for your needs.

This article will help you with your snowboard setup in a few easy to follow steps. What I love most about snowboarding is the simplicity. One person, one snowboard and one fresh line is all you need to have the time of your life. Simple alterations to your equipment and stance can really affect how your board will perform and ultimately how awesome the ride can be. Here are a few quick tips for the perfect snowboard setup, so that next time you’re on the mountain you can strap in and shred without any restrictions.

Boots

The first point of contact between you and your board. Soft boots are good for freestyle riders, as they are more forgiving at slow speeds. Stiff boots are better for free riding and carving as they give more support at high speeds and a more solid connection between you and your board. If you have a stiffer boot, but you want to experience how a soft boot feels, try loosening your boots up and making a few turns.

Next, getting the fit right is essential. Your toes should touch the end of your boot and when you apply pressure to the tongues through your shins, your toes should slide back slightly, but still have light contact with the inside. There should be NO heel lift when pressing your shins against the tongues. Remember that your boots will ‘pack out’ or expand inside as they wear in, so it’s better to start with something a little tight as they will loosen over time.

Bindings

The next point of contact to the board. The first consideration here is the position of the bindings on the board. For normal and freestyle riding, you want a more centred stance, i.e. the nose and tail are the same length. This will enable you to ride regular and switch with ease and is the most versatile. When riding powder, most people prefer a set-back stance. By moving both bindings back by 1 inch or so, you are effectively lengthening your nose and shortening your tail. This will move the centre of mass towards the back of the board, raising your nose and helping the board to stay above the surface in deeper snow.

Stance Width

The distance between the centre of both bindings. Quite simply, the wider your stance, the more stable you will be, but the narrower your stance, the easier it will be to initiate a turn. Super steely park kids may give the impression that the wider the stance the cooler you look, but this is not the case. If you are at an intermediate level or above, you really wont need so much extra stability and it may slow your turn initiation. I am 5’8″ and I usually ride a 155cm board with a centred stance. I find the most successful stance width to be around 21.5″. Take a screwdriver with you up the mountain, or use the courtesy tools provided at lift stations in most resorts. Start with a stance that feels comfortable and wide and then every couple of runs, reduce it by 1/2 an inch or so. I guarantee that you will notice how much easier it is to start a turn with a narrower stance. Play around with it for a couple of hours until you find the sweet spot that suits you.

Binding Angle

Important to get right so you don’t put unnecessary strain on your calves and knees. Usually you will find that people with a centred stance will ride 15/-15, 12/-12 or 9/-9. Having your binding angles as a mirror of each other will help switch riding and will allow you to be more versatile. Although some people who don’t ride switch as often and just want to charge powder with a set back stance will be more comfortable with a slight angle on the front and less on the back, e.g. 15/-9. Finally, you need to consider the angle of your high-backs. Almost all bindings will have some way of adjusting the high-back angle. Freestyle riders prefer less to no angle, which will be more forgiving when sliding boxes and rails. Increasing the angle so that the high-back is pointing more into the back of your leg will give you more support when initiating a heel side turn. This can make a huge difference if you have never tried it.

It is important to make any changes to these settings one at a time. Decide on a centred or set back stance, then alter the width, then your angles. It will be well worth it and you won’t have to worry about finding the perfect settings for your board again. Now with the perfect snowboard setup you will be able to concentrate on improving your riding, safe in the knowledge that your setup isn’t holding you back! If you’re interested in reading more useful articles about winter sports or you want to book your next ski/snowboard trip, visit our website here.

What is perfect pitch? It’s when tones can be identified when heard. For example, if I play a G note on the piano and someone can name that note correctly, they are considered to have perfect pitch.

Is perfect pitch necessary in order to play and create music? NOT AT ALL!

You don’t even have to know what notes you’re playing in order to make music. Having perfect pitch is not the great asset some would have you believe it is. Yet many students want to acquire this skill.

Let’s see what having perfect pitch can actually do for you. It can let you know what key you’re playing in. Nice, but we have key signatures that make this task obsolete. Most musicians are already aware of the key they’re playing in before they sit down to play. Even jazz musicians determine key before playing. True, they may deviate from the original key but having perfect pitch is not required for this.

You can tell what note you’re playing when you play it. So what! A typist knows what letter they’re typing when then input it into the keyboard but knowing what the letter is doesn’t make for good writing.

Having perfect pitch is not really a skill anyone should waste their time learning. If you do have it (and some people are born with this ability) then great. If you don’t, please save your time and energy and don’t be sold on the idea that knowing what note you’re playing will make you a great musician. It won’t. It will make you aware of what note you’re playing and that’s that. Nice for the ego. Unnecessary for making music… no matter what instrument you play.