FIRST ANNUAL RETRO SNOWBOARD THEME PARTY

Saturday, December 6
Sandy’s Pub at the Resort at Squaw Creek

[Squaw Valley USA] November 30, 2008 - The First Annual Retro Snowboard Theme Party is taking place on Saturday, December 6 – just in time to celebrate the start of the 2008-09 season! In Squaw Valley tradition, partygoers must dress to impress in retro snowboard gear. Sandy’s Pub at the Resort at Squaw Creek is hosting the winter kick-off bash. The party starts at 10 pm and prizes will be awarded to those donning the sweetest retro outfits.

Squaw Valley’s finest, DJ Nasty Nate, will be spinning tunes until 2 am. Cover for the party is only $3 and all retro Bunnies and Barneys attending must be 21 or older.

Sponsors include Porters, Elite Feet, Smith, Neff, SnowBomb, Squaw Valley USA and the Resort at Squaw Creek.

The most up-to-date operations schedules, event calendar, lift ticket deals, and season pass information are available at www.squaw.com.

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Get the Flash Player to see this player. Chris Harrigan doing a one footer

Located between blocking rock and boone off of highway 321. Has the best terrain park in the southeast. Check the website. NC Represent!

http://www.appterrainpark.com/index.asp


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white hills ski resort clarenville newfoundland


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Last winter TW Photographer Kevin Zacher traveled to Japan with Kevin Pearce, Nicolas Muller, Mason Aguirre, and Mikkel Bang. Jake Burton came along for part of the ride and doing his best to keep up with the young bucks in the land of the rising sun. Pick up the January issue for the full-story, but until then dig these outtake photos from their mission to Niseko.

Photography Kevin Zacher

some guys from germany….

Africa’s first ever snowboarding film.

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In conjunction with the release of Forum or Against’em, this exclusive clip is part of the Forum Fridays project – select clips, not part of the final cut, but worthy of your viewing pleasure.

This installment features Quebec with bonus footage from Stevie Bell, Eddie Wall, Jake Welch, Nick Sauve

Forum or Against’em is Forum’s fifth team-video release, upholding the progression of an acknowledged movie-making process that has produced prior noteworthy films. The video can be downloaded for $5.99 in the United States iTunes store.

Buy it here at the Itunes store.

Buy the Forum Or Against’m 2 Disk Collectors Edition Box Set DVD direct right here.

COPPER’S SUPERPIPE IS OPEN

Turkey with a Side of Superpipe, Please!

Copper Mountain is pleased to announce the Superpipe is open!  For the 4th consecutive year, Copper is home to the first Superpipe in North America.  Copper’s Park and Pipe team, in conjunction with SPT, opened the pipe today to crowds of skiers and riders anxiously waiting to drop in.

Copper’s Superpipe will host the USSA Grand Prix, Dec 12-13, also look for the Paul Mitchell Progression Session on the evening of Dec. 13.

Skiers and riders are enjoying more than 130 acres of Copper terrain with 9 trails and 6 lifts this Thanksgiving Weekend.  The American Eagle and American Flyer lifts are open from the base area, in addition to the Easy Rider surface lift, Pitchfork and Gem lifts accessing beginner terrain.  The Super Bee lift is open with access from Skid Road only. Ptarmigan trail can be accessed by the Super Bee or Excelerator lifts.

Copper hosts its first Carpool Celebration Day this Saturday, Nov. 29.  On Carpool Celebration Days, guests arriving with 4 or more people in their vehicle will receive hilarious bumper stickers, premier parking, great deals at Copper food courts and can be entered to win Copper season passes for next winter.   Restrictions apply - for details about Copper’s new carpooling initiative, please visit www.coppercolorado.com/environment.

Meet Mike Yoshida.

Behind The Lens: Mike Yoshida

TWS: So, for the record what’s your full name, astrological sign, birthplace, age, and current place of residence?
Mike Yoshida: Michael Ryoji Yoshida, Scorp, Anchorage Alaska, 30, Bellingham/ Seattle

T: When did you move to the lower 48?
M: When I was 17 straight of High School, moved to Seattle for a summer, then bounced up to Bham in the winter of ‘96

T: Why Bellingham?
M: Mostly because of school, and I had a couple buddies there I knew. Not because of Baker, at the time I couldn’t afford to snowboard, so that came later.

Bryan Fox

T: When did you start snowboarding?
M: I started snowboarding in ‘91. But I never really started to progress until I started riding baker and Mt. Hood. I rode a bunch up in AK at the local rope tow, and my buddies and I used to build jumps off of roads and old housing developments. Also a little bit of riding at Alyeska, but that’s about it up until I started to ride at Baker. My parents were never down to take me snowboarding too much, so I used to shred this mini hill in front of my house.

T: What’d you think of Baker when you first rode there?
M: I thought it was pretty sweet, but honestly I thought it was a bit gnarly. I’d always get cliffed out or lost, and until I learned the hill better, I was scared for my life most of the time.

T: When did you start shooting snowboarding?
M: Somewhere around 2000? I had a pretty sweet Canon that my dad let me borrow, and I started to bring it up to the hill every day.

MDPeople

T: How’d you first get published, it was an afterhours semi-anonymous drop at Frequency The Snowboarders Journal right?
M: For the record, I think my first published shot was a Mt Baker Snowboard Shop ad that came out in ‘01 I think. But yeah, my afterhours Frequency submit was my first legit shot. I just found out where the office was, and shoved a bunch of prints and scanned images under the door, and crossed my fingers. I think almost a year later they ended up using a shot for their contents page.

T: I remember seeing a lot of your early work was black and white prints, why did you or do you like shooting black and white film?
M: Well…shooting film in general was a very exciting time for me. Basically, you’re always wondering if you got the shot, and it’s so nerve wracking when you actually go to pick up your film. I got into black and white, because there is a lot of latitude to messing with the print in the darkroom. Pretty much the same stuff people do in photoshop, but you get to do it with your own hands, and produce a piece of art you can hold, as opposed to a digital file that flies across the world on someones FTP. Also the higher ISO grainier films are great for shooting in low light, and that is what I’m subject to a lot of the time up here in the NW.

Lando (left), Burtner (right).

T: And now you’re working for K2 right?
M: Yeah, I shoot all the riders, ads, and catalog as well.

T:Who are your favorite riders to work with?
M:Well, the K2 team is such an amazing group of people. Every one of them has such an amazing work ethic, and a distinct personality. I think it’s pretty epic that I get to work with some of the most amazing riders out there, and that they have been people I looked up to, even before I worked for K2. Aside from K2, I get to work with Think Thank a little here and there, which is always a good time. Jesse and his crew are always out there giving it 110%, so that’s cool to see.

T: Any plans for this winter yet?
M: I have a couple ideas for some produced shots, but that will probably be done around the spring time. I could tell you, but you’ll have to wait and see on that one…Also, K2 has been talking about doing some team trips, so we’ve been discussing the locations and logistics of that. Other than that, I’m just crossing my fingers for a good winter up here in the NW, and I’ll most def be up in Whistler, and maybe out to the QC. We’ll see, it’s always like you hit the ground running around Jan. 1st

Genovese (left), Engle (right).

T: Any advice to aspiring photogs?
M: Yeah, take your time, and think through your photo. Think about the composition, what takes the shot to the next level, and always try to move on to the next angle once you think you got what you want. Don’t be afraid to try something new, or experiment. There are a million ideas and photos that have been done before, so just try and put a new twist on what you’ve seen, or better yet come up with some crazy new shit.

Louie Fountain

Don’t know much about the kid other than he’s an up and comer from Austria riding for Red Bull, Nitro, Volcom, VZ.  Check Marc’s Vid and prop it if your down.

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Snowboarders have the chance to step up their game this season when Echo Mountain hosts its second annual Sims Pro Series Camp, the season’s first chance to clinic with some of snowboarding’s most elite professional talent!  The two day weekend camp offers personalized snowboarding instruction by Sims’ pro riders Steve Fisher, Colin Langlois, and Erich Dummer as well as Echo’s own elite instructors. The registration fee includes lift tickets, two full days of training and lunch from Qdoba Mexican Grill.  Attendees are invited to check out the latest Sims product at the Sims display where Sims Pro Snowboarders will be signing autographs and giving away thousands of dollars worth of free Sims “swag” including t-shirts, hoodie sweatshirts, stickers and gifts.  Camp attendees will also be eligible for giveaways including Sims snowboards each day at the camp’s raffle.  To round out the weekend event, a jam session will be held at the end of day two for campers to showcase their new skills and win great prizes.     
 
Founded in 1976 by Tom Sims, the Sims brand is entering an exciting new era in 2009, with an A-list professional team and a complete line of performance boards, hard goods, outerwear and accessories available at Sports Authority doors nationwide. Learn more about Sims team, product and history at www.simsnow.com <http://www.simsnow.com/> .
 
Echo Mountain is Denver’s closest, cheapest and freshest ski and snowboard area located just 35 miles from downtown and 12 miles above Evergreen. Echo Mountain offers skiing and snowboarding terrain and features for all ages and ability levels. The area, which sits at an elevation of 10,500 feet, features night skiing and riding, 100% snowmaking coverage and full skier services including rentals, demos and ski and ride school programs. For more information and driving directions, visit echomt.com or call 303.325.7347.
 
When:          Saturday, December 6, 2008 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 7, 2008 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where:           Echo Mountain, 19285 HWY 103, Idaho Springs, CO  

How:               Pre-registration for the camp is available at http://www.echomt.com/, or onsite at Echo Mountain.  Space is limited so early registration is recommended.
 
Cost:               2-day program
$99 for non-season pass holders
$45 for Echo Mountain ’08-’09 season pass holders
For lodging accommodations, check out the Shred ‘N Bed package at Quality Inn at Evergreen Parkway by calling 303-526-2000.
  

Unfortunately Premature Jibulation at Sugarbowl had to be canceled this season due to scheduling and lack of snow.  Fortunately the Premature Jibulation will still be going on at Boreal this Saturday the 29th.

Make your way over to Boreal this weekend for some good times, product toss, free hot dogs and early season shred.

Keep an eye out for more events that should be rolling into Sugarbowl later this season…

Email ridercouncil@romesnowboards.com

Seattle, WA – November 26, 2008 – With the season just gearing up, youth around North America are pulling their equipment out of storage and starting to plan their competition schedule for the year.  Here in the great Northwest, the Gromfest Crew may still be waiting for snow, but we’re finishing up our own winter schedule.

If you haven’t heard, the Great Northwest Gromfest is back and planning another year of amazing qualifiers at local resorts, all gearing up for the 2009 Gromfest Finals next July at Whistler.  While Gromfest has a good following already in the Northwest, the non-profit event will be expanding to include some resorts in the Northeast this winter as well as the Rocky Mountains.

What follows is the first set of qualifiers to be announced for the season.  Show up to any of these mountains and compete in the listed event and you could possibly qualify to come compete next summer.  Keep checking back as more mountains will join this list in the weeks to come:

Summit at Snoqualmie – Washington
12/19 – Jib This!
3/7 – Oakley Uprising
3/14 – Mamafest

Mt. High – California
12/13 – Oakley Uprising
1/31 – Utility Superbowl
3/14 – Active Sponsor Me Slopestyle

Tamarack Resort – Idaho
2/21 – Payette River Series – Slopestyle
2/22 – Payette River Series – Superpipe

Whitefish Mountain – Montana
1/30 – Night Riders Park Series 1
2/20 – Night Riders Park Series 2
3/6 – Night Riders Park Series Finals

Park City Snowboard Team – Utah
Head to www.pcsbt.org for all the details on how to join the Park City Snowboard Team.  Up to 3 members who commit and work hard this season will be chosen to compete in Gromfest.

Oregon Interscholastic Snowboarding Association – Oregon
If you’re in high school in the Portland, Oregon area, head to www.oisa.org for all the details on how to get involved in OISA.  Up to 3 members who prove their skills will be chosen to compete in Gromfest.

Special thanks to all of Gromfest’s sponsors, including but not limited to Whistler, Camp of Champions, SPAUSA, Arbor, Ride Snowboards, Vitamin Water, POW Gloves, Stepchild Snowboards, Circa, Signal Snowboards, Woodward, Spacecraft, DVS, Snowboard Magazine, Skullcandy, and Snowboarder Magazine.  Check out info, pics, videos and more of Gromfest at www.gromfest.org (here)

About Gromfest:
Gromfest started in 2006 as an amateur skate and snow competition that gives kids 18 & under the opportunity to be in the spotlight and show off their skills.  No crazy rules, no crazy requirements, just crazy riding.  In addition, Gromfest donates proceeds to non-profit, alternative sports programs that benefit kids.  By doing this, Gromfest is assuring bright futures.

Media Contact:
Ryan Simpson
ryan@gromfest.org
425-829-9933

IN A BAD ECONOMY, SQUAW OFFERS GREAT DEALS

This winter everyone can ski or ride Squaw at a discounted rate, here’s how:

[Squaw Valley USA] November 26, 2008 - With winter a-knocking, skiers and riders are gearing up for the season and many are looking for deals and discounts. And they are in luck! There is a value program designed so that weekenders, vacationers, locals, beginners, college students, military personnel, Bay Area skiers, families – virtually everyone can ski or ride Squaw for a discounted rate.

Reload your lift ticket online for a discount on your next day(s) lift tickets – Whether you ski at Squaw two days in a season or thirty, you can enjoy $5 off every adult lift ticket after you purchase one adult lift ticket – by reloading your lift ticket through the Fasttraks Club. Here’s how it works: On your first visit to Squaw, you purchase your lift ticket at the ticket portal at full price ($79 regular/ $83 holiday). Now you have a reloadable lift ticket (more of a card than a paper ticket) and you can log on to squawshop.com to join the Fasttraks Club. As a Fasttraks Club member each lift ticket purchased online is $74 every day - a savings of $5 per regular lift ticket and $9 during holiday periods! Along with discounted lift tickets, guests who reload their lift tickets online skip the ticket counter and go directly to the lifts. Coming soon!

$299 College Season Pass - Any college student enrolled in a full course schedule at a 2 year, 4 year, or graduate program at a college or university is eligible for $299 Season Pass. The College Pass is valid Sunday through Friday, with regular holiday blackout dates. Full-time students must bring current school photo ID, a copy of course schedule or registration, and a signed letter from school registrar/dean/school official stating full-time student status to Squaw Valley’s Special Tickets office. Required information can be faxed to 530- 452-7141 (Special Tickets) along with College Pass form. The College Pass Form is available at www.squaw.com/college-pass.

The $10 Kids Ticket - All children 12 & under ski and ride for only $10 every day, all season. This lift ticket price makes Squaw Valley North America’s most affordable major resort for families with young children.

Frequent Skier & Snowboarder Program - Register for $5 online or $10 at any ticket window, then for every four days you ski throughout the season, your fifth day is free. To maximize savings, members can ski & ride on Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday for a discounted price. These discount days count towards the non-restricted fifth day free ticket.

Central Reservations - Book your ski vacation through Squaw Valley USA’s Central Reservations for the biggest discounts on Lodging/Lift Ticket packages. Our Central Reservations’ agents can offer you the best deals on Ski and Stay packages because it is the only booking service that is part of the ski resort. Ski-n-Stay packages start as low as $69 per person, per night, including lodging and lift ticket. Call 866-366-7261 or visit www.SquawVacations.com.

Kids Stay FREE – Many Squaw Valley lodging properties offer complimentary lodging for children 12 and under when traveling with their parents. Combine this with one of many lodging and lift ticket packages offered through Squaw Valley Central Reservations to maximize the savings. Call 866-366-7261 for details.

$25 - $35 Beginner Packages on Learn to Ski & Ride Days – On December 13 & 14, 2008, Squaw Valley joins other North Lake Tahoe resorts for this regional Learn to Ski & Ride weekend. First-time skiers and riders are eligible for $25 beginner packages all weekend, space permitting. $25 beginner packages include: lift ticket, lesson, equipment rentals! On January 11, February 8, and March 8, 2009, Squaw will be holding its own Learn to Ski and Ride Days. First-time skiers and riders are eligible for $35 beginner packages that include lift ticket, lesson, and equipment rentals.

Multiple-Day Lift Tickets – The more days you ski, the more you save. Squaw Valley offers one of the area’s best multi-day rates – save as much as $220 off the daily rate.

The $29 Lesson Upgrade – Any guest enrolled in a group lesson at Squaw Valley USA can upgrade to the next level on the same day for only $29 (a $20 savings).

FREE night skiing & snowboarding with all daily lift tickets – All day and half-day lift tickets are good until 9 pm, Friday-Sunday and during holiday periods or 7 pm, Monday-Thursday. That means one lift ticket can get you over 12 hours on the slopes (night operations run from mid-December through early April).

Save on gas! Ride the Shuttle from Sacramento or Reno - Every Saturday, beginning in January, Squaw Valley runs a round-trip shuttle from Sierra Snowboard and Ski, conveniently located on I-80 in Sacramento. The new shuttle provides Bay Area and Sacramento area skiers with an environmentally-friendly and cost-effective mode of transportation. Included in the price of a lift ticket, for no additional cost than the price of a lift ticket (shuttle ride includes 1-day lift ticket), Bay Area and Sacramento skiers and riders can park their cars at Sierra Snowboard & Ski and load the shuttle. Squaw Valley runs free daily shuttles for guest commuting to Squaw from South Lake Tahoe or Reno, arriving at 9:30 am and leaving at 4:30 pm.

Local Residents’ Deal - The Squaw Club - Full time residents of the Reno/Tahoe area (or living in a 50 mile radius of Squaw Valley) can enjoy great savings all year. Every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, lift tickets are only $49. Join the club for $5 and start saving midweek. New for 2008/09, this program will be a direct-to-lift program. When you become a Squaw Club member, you register with a credit card and you will be issued a pass with your photo on it at Special Tickets. Each day you ski or ride (Tue – Thu) your credit card will automatically be charged $49.

Purchase discounted Squaw lift tickets at your local ski shop – If you live in the Bay Area, Sacramento, Reno, or anywhere nearby, you can purchase lift tickets at a discounted price at your local ski and sport shop. Participating shops include REI, Sports Basement, Bobos, Lombardi’s, Mel Cottons, Reno Mountain Sports, Sports Chalet, Santa Rosa Ski and Sports, Sierra Snowboard and Ski, and many more. Ask your local ski shop!

Military Ski & Ride Free - All active duty, U.S. military personnel ski or ride FREE, 7 days a week. Blackout days include December 25, 2008 – January 4, 2009, January 17-19, 2009, and February 14-16, 2009.

Squaw Valley USA is Lake Tahoe’s #1 ranked ski resort by SKI magazine and Squaw Valley is ranked among the top 15 North American ski resorts (#9) by OUTSIDE magazine. Squaw’s expansive terrain and state-of-the-art lift network (4,000 skiable acres, six peaks, 16 open bowls and 33 lifts) allow skiers and riders to spend less time combating crowds on congested slopes, less time waiting in lift lines, and more time skiing and riding. With a new and improved night park and superpipe, and a brand new mid mountain restaurant, “The Arc” – this winter is a better time than ever to experience the legendary Squaw Valley.

The most up-to-date resort operation schedules, events and season pass information are available on www.squaw.com

For Great Lodging Specials Call 866-366-7261
or visit www.squawvacations.com

Just when you thought your Thanksgiving weekend couldn’t be any more eventful, ROME has chosen Boreal Mountain resort to host the 5th Annual Premature Jibulation. Join us this Saturday, November 29 2008 from 10am-4pm for good times, product tossing and free hot dogs! This event will feature local shred kidz jibbin’ for a chance to win a ROME board, bindings, outerwear, bragging rights and more! Sorry skiers, this event is a snowboard only contest. Rome Snowboards has covered all competitor fees for the day, all you need is a Boreal lift ticket or season pass and a signed liability form. Under 18 will need a parent or guardian’s signature to compete. So grab your shred stick and head up to Boreal this Saturday.

Escape the couch. Escape to Boreal. For all the all the latest mountain
news, pictures and updates please visit www.rideboreal.com or the blog spot
at www.borealterrainpark.com.

2008 Podium at the CoverGirl Snow Angel Invitational. Photo: Jeremy Swanson.

With the snow beginning to fall on resorts it’s time to start gearing up for the 2009 competitions, as top riders begin to get their legs back under them, and amateurs set their sights on making names for themselves. Three contests are featured including the CoverGirl Snow Angels Invitational, the Roxy Chicken Jam, and the Nikita Chickita Jam. These competitions all have the same theme of a relaxed environment geared at fun times and catered towards the riders. Here’s your guide to these three exclusive all women’s competitions that will be going down this winter.     

ASPEN MOUNTAIN AND SNOWMASS OPENING THANKSGIVING DAY
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27

Aspen/Snowmass Kicks off the Season with 150 Acres of Terrain
World Cup Ski Racing and New Restaurants

Aspen Mountain and Snowmass will open for the season as scheduled on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 27. Snowmaking teams have worked around the clock to ensure the opening despite dry conditions in the second half of November.  Snow is forecasted over the Thanksgiving Holiday, which should allow for the opening of additional terrain as weather conditions permit.

The Aspen Winternational FIS Alpine World Cup races are this weekend, November 29-30, bringing the world’s fastest women skiers to Aspen Mountain.  The Giant Slalom will kick-off the event on Saturday and the Slalom will be on Sunday.  Robert Randolph and the Family Band will play the first Bud Light Hi-Fi Concert of the season at the base of Aspen Mountain on Saturday at 7 p.m. followed by a fireworks extravaganza over Aspen Mountain.

For the best deals during the Thanksgiving Holiday and throughout the season visit www.aspensnowmass.com/deals.

Travis Rice And The Mega Movie

From the exclusive first look behind the scenes of That’s It, That’s All in the TransWorld Sept Issue 2008

Words By Melissa Larsen

All Photos Tim Zimmerman

“You want to hear a story about Travis Rice? I’ll tell you a story about that kid.”
The agent at the Jackson Hole airport check-in counter tags my snowboard bag through to Valdez, Alaska and leans over with a Cheshire-Cat grin: “When Travis was about five years old, he would come into the ski-patrol shack with his dad every day. He always wore this patroller jacket that came down past his knees, and he would just tear around the place. It didn’t matter what you told him. He just ran around and did whatever he wanted.”
I stand at the counter patiently, waiting for the story to continue. It doesn’t. That’s it. That’s the end. A moment of awkward silence passes between us. The man’s eyes crinkle in amusement as I struggle for comprehension. And then it dawns on me.
“So, basically, nothing’s changed,” I say.
He shrugs his shoulders and, with raised eyebrows, smiles again. “You tell me.”

Two days later, I’m sitting in the back of a helicopter next to Curt Morgan, the other half of Travis’ new production company, Brainfarm. (Curt and Travis met back when Curt was making movies for Grenade and continued working together on the Community Project.) We’re in the Chugach mountain range, in an area of the Valdez backcountry known as Science Fiction. It’s the second sunny day they’ve seen in three weeks, but the weather is a mixed blessing: The sun arrived the day before with a giant windstorm, and the slopes that haven’t been wind-hammered have been wind-loaded. Safe, rideable aspects are few and far between. The consensus among the riders—Mark Landvik, Nicolas Müller, Jeremy Jones, and Travis—is that, while they might have found some lines that look good enough to film, the conditions are such that none of them can really “send it,” or ride to their full potential. Frustrations are mounting as the day wears on.

The Final Act
Alaska is the last stand in the behemoth battle that Travis and Curt have been waging against “uncontrollable forces” over the last two years in a quest to create their tour de force: a snowboard-adventure epic entitled That’s It, That’s All—a cinematic vision described by those who’ve seen pieces of the project along the way as “the Planet Earth of snowboarding.”
Under the guidance of AK riding veteran Jeremy Jones, Curt and Travis have spent the last fourteen months planning this Alaska trip, trying to take into account every conceivable snafu that could arise to thwart them. They’ve given themselves a month to wait for a window of good weather. They’ve hired guides from H20—the Valdez heli operation that holds use-permits for the most amount of terrain in the area—procured two dedicated helicopters and pre-paid for 96 hours of flight time.
Mention this number to any professional skier, snowboarder, or lensman with AK filming experience and watch their eyes grow wide as they do a cost calculation in their heads. Even with a substantial cost-per-hour discount, 96 hours is an unheard of amount of time for any film crew to spend flying in a heli. This extravagance is one of the many that has created such a buzz in the snowboard community. When it comes to going over the top in ways that no shred-movie company has ever even thought of before, Travis and Curt are standing in the eye of a hurricane of their own creation with their eyes on the prize, while around them rumors and prophecies of both doom and greatness swirl.
Over the radio an H20 guide out flying a few peaks over with another film crew is calling in a zone that they’re intending to land in and ride. A swift answer comes back from headquarters: that zone is off limits. Travis’ crew has already scoped it and called dibs. The others will have to go somewhere else. This is what pre-paying for 96 hours of heli time gets you—first pick of every unridden peak within H20’s permit range. And it’s worth every penny. The weather’s only supposed to hold for a week. That’s one week to shoot the final all-our-remaining-eggs-are-in-this-one-AK-basket segment that will bring the filming portion of this two-year project to a close. The pressure is on.
Back in the camera helicopter, Curt has his handheld radio pressed against his forehead. Travis has just delivered some harshly worded opinions about how he believes the remainder of the day’s events should unfold that are in direct contradiction to the plan Curt just tried to implement. Curt has his eyes closed and lets out a deep exhale before deferring to Travis’ plan with a short, sarcastic reply.
Curt dismisses the moment as the result of creative tension. Travis will later apologize for the outburst, explaining that they had been waiting for so long for a good filming day, he was impatient to get things moving. And he and Curt are both alpha males, so they inevitably clash over whose way is right from time to time. The tension is always temporary.

A New Way Of Seeing Things
Jeremy Jones has just been dropped off on a nearby peak, so we take off to set up the aerial shot. He is perched on a narrow ledge above a long, razor-thin spine. Between Jeremy and the spine is a fifteen- to twenty-foot drop. Between him and that drop is a blind rollover. From where he sits, he can’t see a thing besides the valley floor below him.
Hovering above Jeremy, the consummate professional with nerves of steel (who, by the way, is riding with a broken arm) as he waits patiently for the various cameramen to take their positions, is gnarly enough. Then Curt leans over and shows me his perspective. He’s holding a small monitor that’s displaying what the heli camera is looking at: Jeremy, in the center of the frame, is solidly in focus, while the valley floor beyond spins around him like a room after a night of heavy drinking.
Anyone who’s watched a decent snowboard movie in the last ten years has seen Jeremy standing on top of a miniscule mountain peak, preparing to descend some hairball spine in Alaska. But no one has ever seen anything like this. From this perspective Jeremy is less like a snowboarder, and more like Luke Skywalker in that scene in Star Wars where Vader’s just chopped off his hand, and he’s dangling by one arm from the bottom of a floating pod building above an endless sea of clouds. The depth-of-field captured by the camera is frightening. It looks like the slightest wrong move will send him tumbling thousands of feet to his doom. Terror rips up my spine, and I fight back the urge to vomit. And finally, I understand what all the hype around this movie is about.
The hype is a bazillion-dollar Cineflex camera system mounted to the bottom of the helicopter. It’s hard to get a technical description in layman’s terms of exactly what this thing is. Until now, most snowboarding captured on film from the air has been the result of some brave lensman in a harness leaning out of a heli door with a handheld camera. In contrast, this camera sits in a ball-in-socket mount that’s fiber-optic gyro-stabilized, which means it doesn’t rattle, so the images it captures are smooth like butter. And it has a 360-degree rotational view, which means it can spin in all directions, making it possible to film a subject regardless of where it’s positioned under the heli.
The Cineflex (which, incidentally, was used exclusively to film the award-winning documentary, Planet Earth) is similar in design and function to the more famous Wescam and Pictorvision XR, which are the camera systems most commonly used in the filming of blockbuster Hollywood movies like Lord Of The Rings—both of which have also been employed to film a good portion of this movie. The main difference between the three systems is the Cineflex is lighter and shoots HD, while the other two shoot 35mm film. Beyond that, they’re basically the highest-end camera systems around that, according to Curt, deliver “super high-def, IMAX-quality footage” that “no one of our age or bank-account status could ever really afford to rent or borrow or buy.”
And therein lies the reason no other action-sports movie production crew has tried to use a Cineflex or Wescam before. It’s not that they don’t want to, it’s that few companies—including Brainfarm—can afford to. So how has this duo supposedly been able to obtain these Holy Grails of cinematographic equipment? Apparently, in the case of the Cineflex, Curt tracked down a few of the small number of people in the world who own one and talked them into letting him use it.
The feat sounds deceptively simple. One of the things that makes Travis and Curt such a fearsome team is that when it comes to obstacles, they both seem to have been born with a kind of superhero ability to walk right through them like they’re not even there. When it comes to the art of persuasion, though, Curt’s in a class of his own. The universally agreed upon opinion among all who know him is that he can talk anyone into just about anything.
“I’ve always wanted to see more aerial riding shots,” says Curt when asked about what motivated him to attempt the impossible. “It’s my favorite way to watch snowboarding. And there are some great shots out there, but I’ve always thought it could be done better.”
I watch Curt in action on his version of “better.” The scene inside the heli is hectic. Mark Hryma—a Cineflex designer and operator who has over fifteen years of experience, but is relatively new to shooting snowboarding—is sitting shotgun in the cockpit with a monitor and gianormous knob-filled control panel on his lap. Curt is sitting in the back seat next to a stack of whirring electronic boxes, looking into the monitor on his own lap, directing. The flow of orders from the back of the heli is constant, as Curt coaches Mark through every aspect getting the shot just right.
Both Mark and Curt are trying to direct the pilot—an ex-army vet who’s flown more hours than almost any other pilot in Valdez, but has never had to fly with a camera before, and can’t quite understand what Mark and Curt are trying to get him to do. The situation is tense for everyone. Because the heli is hovering above the riders, he can’t see them, has no frame of reference for where he’s supposed to be, and often gets confused. Just when they think they’ve got a shot lined up, the pilot drifts off course, and they have to circle around and start over. At one point he even accidentally lets the heli drift down on top of the riders, who have to yell over the radios that he’s about to blow them off the mountain with his rotor wash.
We make another practice pass over Jeremy, and Curt explains to Mark what he’s trying to achieve: “When we come over the top, I want to see what he’s seeing. We want to start off blind and see the drop just as he gets over the rollover and sees it himself. Everything in the shot should be revealed to us just as it’s being revealed to him.” Curt turns his screen toward me so I can watch. My stomach heaves again. “I want people to feel,” he continues, “I mean, really feel, what it’s like to be up here, riding things like this.”

Travis Rice: Producer/Star
In the third That’s It, That’s All teaser, Travis explains how he wants this movie to show what snowboarding is like for him. A montage of shots of Travis getting angry and chucking his snowboard flashes on screen while Travis says, “I’d say it’s when I feel passion. That is, if passion is a combination of utter joy and frustrational rage.” It is a strange thing to watch. It’s a side that those of us who are mostly used to seeing Travis when he’s home in Jackson, happily ripping pow laps with his friends sans camera entourage at the resort, haven’t really seen before.
Four days into the trip I get to witness an outburst live. The wind has blown a giant, perfectly shaped orb of snow directly above a beautiful, long, steep-transitioned landing, and the crew has built a massive cheese-wedge takeoff on the other side. Viewed from the top of the ultra-long, steep run-in, it looks like the jump will send them right into the glacier crevasses in the valley beyond. It took them almost a day to construct, and to say Travis and Mark Landvik are excited to reap the fruits of their labor would be an understatement.
Unfortunately, when we arrive at the jump in the morning, the sun has heated up the snow so much that Mark and Travis can’t get enough speed to clear the orb. Fortunately, they brought a bag of rock salt to throw on the takeoff. Unfortunately, when they start to spread it out they realize that it’s rock salt mixed with gravel.
They experiment with alternative solutions. One of the helis hovers a few feet above the takeoff in an attempt to cool down the run-in with the wind of the rotor blades. Travis strips off every top layer down to his polypro, to eliminate wind resistance, and points it in a full tuck at the jump from what seems like 10,000 feet away. But for all his effort, he still has to throw his board sideways at the top of the takeoff because he knows he’s not going to make it.
He hops off the wedge, unstraps, stares up at the run-in for a long minute, and then with a cry, turns and savagely attacks the bag of gravel-salt with his snowboard. The moment lasts maybe seven seconds. No one else even seems to notice.
“Travis is intense, man,” laughs Brainfarm filmer and production assistant Brody Thompson when I mention the salt-bag assault during dinner later. “But this is his job. Aren’t we all intense at our jobs when we really passionately care about what we’re doing?” He points out that less than five minutes after the jump was declared dead, Travis had a new plan.
“Travis likes to turn everything into a competition,” he explains. “Not because he has to win, because he’s cool if he loses. It’s just more fun for him if he’s trying to win.”
This is Travis’ movie; his level of involvement goes beyond being a rider—he’s a producer, he’s a director, and, make no mistake, he is the star, not by words, but by actions.
“His level of snowboarding is so high,” says team photographer Tim Zimmerman, “that when I try to shoot with other people, I just get bored. When other snowboarders ride with Travis, I swear they ride better. And I get so used to what I see that it just becomes normal for me. Like the Mosquito Creek gap he did this winter. He jumped a canyon! And I show people the photo and they’re like, ‘Holy shit! That guy’s crazy!’ But I’m so used to it. Then I try to go shoot with other people, and they’re doing like a regular backcountry jump, and I just… can’t get excited about it. It’s a problem.”
Asked if he thinks he rides better when Travis is around, Landvik responds: “I think he and I feed off each other. But there are times when he’s throwing double cork 1080s and shit when I’m like, ‘Well, what am I going to do now? Am I going to do a 720 off this jump?” No. I’m going to do the biggest method I’ve ever done in my life.
“It seems like every trip I’ve been on he’s trying some new crazy trick,” Landvik continues. “And he gets it, like every time. It doesn’t matter if it takes him one try or 50. He’s going to get that trick no matter what. If it breaks him, then he’s broken. From what I’ve seen, though [laughs], he never gets broken.”
“From what I’ve seen up here so far,” says Jeremy, “it’s clear that Nicolas [Müller], Landvik, and Travis are all leaders. They’re so professional and so motivated. But Travis is just one step beyond … for example, one thing I’ve never seen before—he can spot jumps from the air. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been up here with freestyle riders who fly around trying to find jumps for weeks and find nothing. Travis is just like, ‘Boom, there’s one. Put us down right there. We’re going to build the thing this way, and it’s going to be sick.’ And it is.
“Another thing is, I’m watching his riding progress like every run—I mean, real big-mountain freeriding. He just has a really good sense. It’s hard to explain. Mark and Travis are very similar-type riders. They’re really powerful—stomp everything. And Nicolas has his own totally original, creative style. I just think you have to be a little demented for some of the bigger stuff, and… [laughs] Travis is a little demented. If he decided that’s what he wanted to do, he could really take true big-mountain riding to a new level.”

Moving Forward
Though praise of Travis’ shred skills by riders who are praise-worthy in their own rights is not unexpected, considering the main complaint about Travis and Curt’s last movie project was that Travis’ riding overpowered everyone else in the film, to hear it is somewhat troubling. Asked if that might be a problem with this movie as well, cinematographer Gabe Langlois answers, “The Community Project was an awesome idea, but it was complicated, and there wasn’t enough time to really pull it off the way, I think, they wanted to. But this is a two-year project, so we’ve really been able to take our time and plan things out the right way.
“Thing about Travis is, he really respects people who can actually snowboard, like who can do a good-looking turn and actually ride a mountain—as opposed to, you know, sliding around between jumps. So, he’s put together these kind of ‘dream teams,’ where the people have been handpicked for each trip based on the riding they all are the absolute best at. But, basically, everyone in this film he’s picked because he completely respects them and loves how they ride, and he really just wants to snowboard with them. And it shows.”
“The rad thing about this movie,” says Landvik, “is Curt is on the exact same level as Travis, just on the film side. And he really wants to change the perception of snowboarding for other people in so many different ways. It’s not like your typical shred video, where it’s all people’s parts you might only like one or two of them. It’s like a snowboarding documentary. You get involved with the riders and the places they go to. You care about everything that happens.”
“A lot of inspiration for this film,” adds Travis, “is just wanting to show these places that we get to go and the cool shit that we do. And through a visual lens that can actually give you the feeling of being there. This is the first time I’ve ever been able to show someone footage and feel like they’re really getting to see the same thing that we see when we’re out there.”
“And maybe people will never get to see the things we do,” says Curt, “but we really just want to inspire people to go out and travel and explore for themselves. I know not everyone can afford it, but you can figure it out—anyone can. You just have to take it one step at a time.”

For more of Tim’s photos check out his website here

TransWorld teams up with CMH for another epic Snowboard session in the Canadian Interior.

In March 2009, TransWorld and CMH team up for Shred Sessions at CMH’s Galena Lodge. This trip is open to anyone with strong riding skills and an appetite for powder. You shred the terrain of your dreams along with a legendary guest Pro rider, CMH guides, and the TransWorld crew to shoot.

TransWorld will be there to document the action; slide shows go down midweek, and we’ll send you home with a CD and a custom signed print to prove that it was real. Board giveaways, bonfires, and guaranteed vertical are all part of the deal.

Limited seats still available, for more info check the CMH website here

Shred Session I runs March 21-26, 2009 at Galena Lodge.

Shred Session II runs March 26-30, 2009 at Galena Lodge.

Check the photo gallery from last years endless powder trip with guest Pro Gretchen Bleiler.

Photos Nick Hamilton, Kurt Hoy, and Mike Welch

Limited seats still available, for more info check the CMH website here

Results from the 2009 Resort Poll

Top 10 Overall Resorts	Top 10 Pipes
Top 5 East Coast Resorts/Parks/Pipes	Top 10 Parks

Video from the 07/09 season. Endeavor contest entr

Clips from the 07/08 season

Last season was my first winter on the Transworld payroll. It was a trip. The winter started in Munich  wandering around with 40,000 crazed Germans at the Air and Style. From there it was on to Austria with Fox, Smith and Mills. We shredded the streets of the Arlberg and got our legs back under us.

After that I headed up to Mt. Baker around New Years and got a week of pow days. I hung with old friends, met a bunch of new ones and got to document a heavy session on the Mt. Baker Road Gap. Barrett Christy drove by us as we were hanging out on the road. Seemed poignant. It was then that I fell in love with that corner of the world.

In January I spent some time at Bear, experienced the hype machine that is the X-Games, almost lost my mind in Vegas at my first trade show, and then after staying up all night at the Riders Poll, stumbled onto to a plane headed to Jackson Hole.

I woke up in the Tetons and it was dumping. Natural Selection was something else. Watching so many legends tear around that mountain was unreal. I was in awe of both them and all the snow I got to slash.

After that is was back up to Baker for the Legendary Banked Slalom, another soul-charging experience, that was over way to soon.

February faded into March and I did my best to keep up. I got to return to Montana and see that not much had changed. And then it was April before I knew it and I was still getting powder on my face.  May came and I was in Washington with the These Days dudes, getting the last of it at Summit at Snoqualmie. A lot of it is still a blur.

I’ve spent a lot of time pouring over these photos recently, the images are burned into my brain. But… it isn’t these fractions of seconds that really get me going anymore, these are merely the Point A’s and B’s.   Because…now, as I’m growing increasingly (almost unbearably) anxious about the coming winter, I find myself returning (or retreating?) to the time spent in between, on the roads to and from, with the friends that helped me along, in those quiet moments, alone, fatigued, frustrated, cold, not knowing, but trusting and going, and somehow happening across a moment worth documenting.

That shit’s exciting.

Thanks for looking.

-Liam

Grouse Mountain


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P a r k   C i t y   M o u n t a i n   R e s o r t   K i c k s   O f f   t h e   W i n t e r   S e a s o n   o n   F r i d a y ,   N o v e m b e r   2 8

P a r k   C i t y ,   U t a h   ( N o v e m b e r   2 5 ,   2 0 0 8 )       P a r k   C i t y   M o u n t a i n   R e s o r t   o p e n s   f o r   t h e   2 0 0 8 - 0 9   w i n t e r   s e a s o n   t h i s   F r i d a y ,   N o v e m b e r   2 8 ,   2 0 0 8 ,   w i t h   P a y D a y   a n d   F i r s t   T i m e   l i f t s .

C o l d e r   t e m p e r a t u r e s   h a v e   f i n a l l y   a r r i v e d   a f t e r   w a r m   w e a t h e r   a n d   a   l a c k   o f   p r e c i p i t a t i o n   h a s   a f f e c t e d   t h e   r e g i o n   f o r   t h e   l a s t   t w o   w e e k s .   P a r k   C i t y   M o u n t a i n   R e s o r t   s   s n o w m a k i n g   t e a m   h a s   b e e n   w o r k i n g   n o n - s t o p   t o   p r e p a r e   t h e   R e s o r t   f o r   o p e n i n g   d a y .   T h e   s n o w m a k i n g   t e a m   c o n t i n u e s   t o   m a k e   s n o w   t h i s   w e e k ,   t e m p e r a t u r e s   p e r m i t t i n g ,   i n   o r d e r   t o   p r o v i d e   e x c e l l e n t   c o n d i t i o n s   f o r   o p e n i n g   d a y ,   w i t h   w a l l   t o   w a l l   s n o w   o n   t h e   r u n s   t h a t   a r e   o p e n .

P a r k   C i t y   M o u n t a i n   R e s o r t   h a s   a   d e t a i l e d   s n o w m a k i n g   p l a n   i n   p l a c e   f o r   t h e   n e x t   m o n t h   t h a t   f o c u s e s   o n   p r o v i d i n g   t h e   m o s t   t e r r a i n   o p e n   f o r   a l l   a b i l i t y   l e v e l s ,   a f f o r d i n g   R e s o r t   g u e s t s   t h e   b e s t   p o s s i b l e   e x p e r i e n c e .   T h e   R e s o r t   s   s t r a t e g y   i s   t o   o p e n   t h e   L o w e r   M o u n t a i n   f i r s t ,   a n d   t h e n   m o v e   t o   t h e   B o n a n z a   a n d   S i l v e r l o d e   a r e a s ,   f o l l o w e d   b y   K i n g   C o n   a n d   f i n i s h i n g   u p   i n   a r e a s   t h a t   a r e   m o s t   n e e d e d .   O f   c o u r s e ,   n a t u r a l   s n o w f a l l   h e l p s   i n   a l l o w i n g   P a r k   C i t y   M o u n t a i n   R e s o r t   t o   q u i c k l y   o p e n   m o r e   o f   t h e   m o u n t a i n .

P a r k   C i t y   M o u n t a i n   R e s o r t   s   s n o w m a k i n g   p l a n   i s   a s   f o l l o w s :

1 .   F o c u s   o n   t h e   L o w e r   M o u n t a i n ,   i n c l u d i n g   P a y D a y ,   T r e a s u r e   H o l l o w ,   F i r s t   T i m e   a n d   P i c k   N     S h o v e l .
2 .   S h i f t   o f   s n o w m a k i n g   o p e r a t i o n s   t o   t h e   B o n a n z a   a r e a ,   i n c l u d i n g   U p p e r   H o m e r u n ,   M u c k e r s ,   C l a i m j u m p e r   a n d   º - L o a d .
3 .   S n o w m a k i n g   i n   t h e   S i l v e r l o d e   a r e a   t o   i n c l u d e   P a r l e y   s   P a r k ,   S u n n y s i d e   a n d   P r o s p e c t o r .
4 .   S n o w m a k i n g   t r a n s f e r s   t o   t h e   K i n g   C o n   a r e a ,   C B ‘ s ,   T o w n   r u n s   a n d   u p p e r - m o u n t a i n   T e r r a i n   P a r k s .   ( P l e a s e   n o t e   t h a t   t h e   T o w n   L i f t   i s   s c h e d u l e d   t o   o p e n   f o r   u p l o a d i n g   a n d   d o w n l o a d i n g   d u r i n g   t h e   f i r s t   w e e k   o f   D e c e m b e r ) .

A s   p a r t   o f   t h e   i m p r o v e m e n t s ,   t h e   R e s o r t   a d d e d   a   b r a n d   n e w   h i g h - s p e e d   q u a d ,   C r e s c e n t   l i f t ,   f r o m   t h e   b a s e   a r e a .   C r e s c e n t   l i f t   w i l l   o p e n   w i t h   t h e   U p p e r   M o u n t a i n .

P a r k   C i t y   M o u n t a i n   R e s o r t   o p e r a t i o n s   c o n t i n u e   t o   o p e n   t h i s   w e e k   a n d   n e x t :
N o w   O p e n
L e g a c y   S p o r t s :   1 0   a m       6   p m   ( o n   F r i d a y ,   h o u r s   w i l l   c h a n g e   t o   8   a m       6   p m )

W e d n e s d a y ,   N o v e m b e r   2 6
A l p i n e   C o a s t e r :   1 1   a m       3   p m   ( o n   F r i d a y ,   t h e   h o u r s   w i l l   c h a n g e   t o   n o o n       4   p m )
K r i s t i ‘ s   C o f f e e   C a f È :   1 0   a m   t o   4   p m   ( o n   F r i d a y ,   t h e   h o u r s   w i l l   c h a n g e   t o   7 : 3 0   a m       5   p m )

F r i d a y ,   N o v e m b e r   2 8   ( O p e n i n g   D a y )
P a y D a y   a n d   F i r s t   T i m e   l i f t s :   9   a m       4   p m
L e g a c y   C a f È :   1 0 : 3 0   a m       3   p m
L e g e n d s   B a r   &   G r i l l :   1 1   a m       7   p m

F r i d a y ,   D e c e m b e r ,   5   ( c o n d i t i o n s   p e r m i t t i n g )
G o r g o z a   P a r k :   ( S a t / S u n )   n o o n       8   p m ;   ( M - F )   1   p m       8   p m

Burton Escapade EST in greenstreet
The coziness, response, and cushioning will pump up any freestyle tear you take this binding on. The True-Fit design creates a women-specific binding from strap to baseplate—everything is tuned. The Sensorybed slab of foam with its heel gel implant slurps up sudden impacts. The lack of a baseplate and the mesh-lined highback make for featherweight mobility and unparalleled response.
$279, burton.com

Shredin at alpine in 2007 with the crew!

Nothing like big like Whistler Blackcomb, but fun. about 30-45 minutes from North Bend, WA.


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Salomon Code Light
Light is not simply the name of the colorway, but also the most appropriate adjective for describing this lightweight binder. The strong and responsive composite base with dual-layer dampening removes that underfoot jitter for enhanced board control. Asymmetrical highbacks will let you dial in a natural stance and drive the your heel edge with ease.
$199, salomonsnowboard.com

Technine Basketball in boston
Custom-molded shell-toe straps that lock your feet in with style just like you were sportin’ the old-school kicks on the court. The toe, ankle, and forward-lean adjustments are all tool-free, and the sliding toe and heel ramps detail the fit. Rubber grips on the aluminum ratchets keep the straps from slipping up when you’re tightening things down.
$250, technine.com

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You want more? Watch these!
LNP Teaser
Bjorn Leines Teaser
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Max Legend Teaser
Eiki Helgason Teaser
Marius Otterstad Teaser

686 SIGNS LOUIE VITO TO GLOBAL PRO TEAM

Irvine, CA, November 24, 2008 — Westlife Distribution is pleased to announce the addition of Louie Vito to the 686 Global Pro Team.

Louie is a 20-year old Ohio-native who currently resides in Sandy, Utah. This past year, Louie was crowned the overall Chevy U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix series title champion. He found himself on top of the podium again two days later at The Jeep King of the Mountain Superpipe Championships in Squaw Valley, California. At the Vans Cup, Vito took second place behind Danny Kass.

Despite his successful career, Louie hasn’t forgotten where he came from; he still finds time to give back to his roots, hosting a very successful charitable rail jam every year in Ohio.

Vito says about riding for 686, “I am stoked to join the 686 family.  Their outerwear is tech and is perfect for riding icy pipes to sledding in the backcountry.  It is cool to be a part of a company that was started by a snowboarder and snowboarding has been the main focus since day one.”

“When we first started talking to LV, I was blown away by his charismatic personality,” says Kristin Cusic, VP of Marketing at 686, “His track record speaks volumes for his riding ability, but his personality is what really brings him up to that next level. We couldn’t be happier and think it’s a perfect fit.”

Vito’s other sponsors are O-Matic snowboards, Monster Energy, Nike, Vestal, Kicker, Capix Helmets, Spy Optic, Skullcandy, Boost Mobile, Grenade, Utility and Neff.  Photo attached courtesy of George Crosland.

Rider owned and operated, Westlife Distribution USA LLC is the parent company of 686®. Since 1992, Westlife has provided the riding community with innovative, progressive, and technical apparel and outerwear found in specialty retail locations throughout the world. Log on to www.686.comfor more information.

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INTRODUCING TREW

Stylish and Technical Outerwear, Company Launches Through TREW Tour

HOOD RIVER, Ore. (November 24, 2008) − A love for the mountains, passion for the sport, and a need for technical, yet stylish outerwear set three guys on a mission to create the ultimate outerwear collection for the true rider.  The true rider being the person who loves first tracks, knows the meaning of earning their turns, and has fun “gettin’ ‘er done” on and off the mountain.  Tripp Frey, John and Chris Pew are proud to announce the creation of TREW and its inaugural TREW Tour.

TREW’s premier men’s collection consists of three jackets and two pants, each available in three colorways.  The collection re-invents classic pieces with updated colors, technologies and fits.  TREW will also be offering hoodies, tees and beanies in addition to its core outerwear.  The price points will range from $30.00 to $479.00 and will be available at independent retail shops throughout the country.

Tripp, John and Chris are Hood River transplants by way of Michigan and North Carolina and will be touring the U.S. and Canada to formally launch TREW, share the brand’s philosophy and have some fun.  A customized TREW RV, complete with solar panels, will be traveling throughout the U.S. starting in December and ending whenever the snow melts.  The three of them intend to visit snow destinations in British Columbia, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Each stop will be unique to its own; however, each stop will include product previews, giveaways, barbeques, beverages, visits to the local pubs, and of course riding.  TREW will also be meeting with local retailers to present the collection throughout their journey.  Information and updates about the TREW Tour will be posted continuously on TREW’s website www.TrewGear.com.

Be sure to keep an eye out for the TREW RV in your town; if you see it, stop by and say hi.  To learn more about TREW or the TREW Tour please check out: www.TREWGear.com.

TREW
The TREW customer is first on the tram and knows what it means to earn their turns in the backcountry.  He is friends with the locals wherever he goes and knows that being TREW means being who you are and doing what you love; and above all having fun.  Trends come and go, but the fun of being on the mountain with friends remains a TREW constant.  TREW provides men’s outerwear that combines the technicality and comfort needed to stay on the mountain from sun-up to sun-down while adding style to take you into the night.  Founded in 2008 by Tripp Frey and Chris and John Pew, TREW price points range from $30.00 to $479.00 and will be sold though a network of independent retail shops through out the country.  For more information please visit www.TREWGear.com.

Day of the big avalanche:

It was the second day that we were filming in southern Wallis next to the little town called orcieres. I was out with my mate, professional freeskier Henrik Windstedt, on a photo shoot with Christopher Sjorström and Miriam Lang Willar and a mountain guide, for two days in the area near Orcières, close to my home in the border region between France and Switzerland. We had a helicopter that was able to bring us quickly upwards and to take shots from the air. After skiing four smaller lines, I looked at a spectacular north face that was about 2,500 metres high. The snow conditions were quite stable and got us more and more confident but we still knew that there was a sketchy layer underneath that last big snowfall and that we still had to be careful. We took off quite late, around 12 cause the heli was not available before and up there in these north faces we didn’t really feel the temperature rising. We were riding these mini golf lines that felt just great and the only small slap that went didn’t really warn us that much and we didn’t feel like taking that much of a risk going in this face…that was partly already tracked. As we were getting filmed from the heli and as the lines were not extreme at all, we took it quite easy, doing some nice turns, probably way less focused than earlier in the day. At the top of my line, Ididn’t really take the time to get to feel and study deeply my line. The heli was standing in the air waiting so I kind of had to hurry to strap in and drop into the shred. When that small slab broke I just pointed down towards my right, and kind of got away from the big cloud. I tumbled and kept going but I still had some advance to reach that spine where I would be or think to be safe but here is what I didn’t expect: the small avalanche put pressure on the bottom of the slope which released all around me. Suddenly all I could see was just a giant puzzle and of course no escape. It felt natural to just pull the handle of my abs and hope for the best. As the huge washing machine tumbled me like I never felt anything close, I just fell unconscious until they found me around 10 min later. I was a wreck. Henrik had luckily found me and taken out the snow from my mouth and cut the strap of my helmet that was strangling me. I didn’t respond for 15 min. It must have been the worst time for these guys… I have very vague memories of this phase as well as some from my heli ride with the rescue team that arrived maybe half an hour later. I can still remember the noise of the heli with the wind in my face as well as the guys that were with me. When I got to hospital, everything started to get better and better. I remember fighting in my head to really get everything back which came along with the positive results of all the scans and test they would have done on me. My wife was there on my side as well as a lot of friends that were filming in the area. It was just a miracle… I looked pretty bad with my red eyes that I kept for about a month and the only injury I had was a torn internal ligament on my knee. After two km and 1200 meters getting smashed in the biggest avalanche… All I can say is that some miracle happened that 29th of March… It was not my time to leave that day…

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So if it’s not too impertinent a question, how can such a thing happen to an experienced professional like yourself?

Xavier: Mountains always involve danger. Even in the best conditions, you can make a wrong move on your descent and trigger an avalanche. It’s something you have to be aware of constantly. That’s why I look at the line very closely, and I check where I could escape to if the slope suddenly slides or if too much snow starts to move. Unfortunately, I didn’t check closely enough that day. You should never forget the rules, especially when you want to push yourself to your limits. The whole situation showed me that, no matter how careful and experienced you may be, you can never be 100 per cent certain, so that’s why you must always take precautions. Avalanche beepers and airbag rucksacks are therefore also always part of my equipment.

Can you describe what happened in more detail?

Xavier: At about 2 p.m., I got the signal from my crew to start my descent. Everything was being filmed and photographed from the helicopter. The timing and the light are extremely important for a shoot like that, so I didn’t have much time to double check. On the upper section, a small slab of snow came loose between the rocks, which didn’t really worry me too much. I often say in such situations that speed is your best friend. This time, even that didn’t help. I picked up my pace until I was going along at a fair speed, and at first everything indicated that I’d managed to get away from the white monster and I’d be able to laugh about it all afterwards. Then I noticed these huge cracks everywhere underneath me. The entire slope suddenly contracted in fractions of a second, and there was absolutely no way, even at full speed, I was going to escape. When I look back now, I simply didn’t take enough time to check my line and consider good escape routes. So I’m doubly thankful that everything turned out OK in the end.

What then? How did you survive?
Xavier: When I realised that the mountain was pulling me downwards, and I had no chance of escape, I pulled the release handle on the airbag rucksack. I just reached for it intuitively – I didn’t even think about it. Then I felt myself tumbling over several times. It almost seemed as everything was in slow motion. Afterwards, I still have a few memories of how my friends found me about two kilometres further down. My first proper memory, though, is in the hospital.

…wow, two kilometres! How did the others find you?
Xavier: I was very, very lucky. The airbags protected me from being overwhelmed by the mass of snow. I lay on top of about six metres of hard-packed avalanche snow. If I’d been under this pack of snow, I’d simply have been crushed. Although I lay on top of it, my mouth and nose were filled with snow. I was unconscious and my helmet was strangling me so that I couldn’t breathe. It took about ten minutes for Henrik to come down to where I was. He saw the red airbags in the snow, but actually they thought I was much further up the slope and were going to look there. Nobody really believed, though, that I could have survived.

It sounds so dramatic. What have you learned from this, and what advice would you give to other riders who go freeriding?
Xavier: Take things one step at a time and always image the worst-case scenario when making decisions. Most of all, don’t rely on your equipment. We talk about people taking more and more risks when they go off freeriding. It’s definitely the wrong way to go, whatever the situation. We had the same discussion a few years ago about avalanche beacons. For me, the airbag and the pieps have become essential parts of any skier’s equipment, and I always carry them. This doesn’t mean that I take more risks when it comes to decisions about mountains, but when something goes wrong, they help me out. It’s also why the ABS Airbag has now become hugely popular among professional freeriders. I actually feel rather uncomfortable now if I don’t have the airbag rucksack with me, or if I’ve forgotten my beeper. However, both things are very different. The avalanche airbag is very easy to use and can prevent you from being buried under the snow, which is the most important thing. You need practice and experience for the beeper, and you can be found more quickly if you get buried by an avalanche.

Do you still think about it a lot:
Pretty much especially cause it’s being shown around in mags films and stuff but I feel quite fine about it. I know the first few times on top of big lines after a big snowfall are going to feel strange but I’m quite confident and I still feel that there is stuff I have to do up there. Even a few days after, I already wanted to go back which to be honest surprised me quite a bit.

Will it effect your riding in future?
It will not effect my riding at all but it will definitely effect my routine especially when filming. I’m really careful with the conditions usually and rarely take the bet on a run when I don’t feel it. But when it gets to filming you sometimes get into this acceleration that makes you do strange things. I will definitely be conscious with that..

How did you think about danger and avalanches before your accident? and has there ever been a time that you been really scared? How do you deal these kind of moments?

I’ve always been quite scared of avalanches, and that since I was a kid. In the last decade, I’ve been able to understand better that phenomenon and getting close or living it quite a few times.
Two years ago I got dragged into some cliff bands by a small but badly placed snow pocket that broke. I really saw myself gone, and to be honest it’s been quite hard after that. Way harder than this time. Maybe because I then did an obvious mistake, maybe because I really had some time to see the cliffs coming… who knows, it took a long time before I could love snowboarding and feel comfortable with avalanche danger. The strange thing is that I don’t really anything like that this time even though it’s been way more radical…
Anyways, even when I ride for myself, I don’t really push the limit by trying to open this or that run. I’m quite mellow and I do gnarly stuff only if I really feel it. I try to get away from these groups that push it all the time, I mean everyday, that routine is something that I find dangerous. These film sessions are for me these times of the season when I kind of go for it and I like the fact to not abuse of the good star that could shine upon my head… On the other hand, I like to spend time up there to get to feel good in all the winter environment, get used to the snow, to the conditions… this is how you get comfortable and I would say more in control of the terrain and all the risks… there is a limit to that that brings the danger back as soon as you feel too comfortable. It’s tricky all this. It’s a lot about feeling and discipline at the same time. Two opposite attitudes, but you can’t be up there without using both of them…

For me info on Xavier go to his website here

And check out his part in the new Standard Films release Aesthetica.  Standard Films website here

Buy Aesthetica direct here

Check Dice K’s Website here

Check out the Tadashi Interview we did recently here

Havin a good time at Stevens
just re-posting it so more peeps can see
check it

Get the Flash Player to see this player. Liam didn’t jump high enough then went into a half Nollie front flip to rib grind to half front flip out

digital camera footage

Johnny, Mikey, and Eero just emailed news that their first TV Episode is up

Click here to watch

About Me

8mile once was a sty of a basement suite in Creekside, Whistler B.C. that many pro snowboarders called home or found themselves one morning with both their shoes missing is now a crew of guys that like to keep living that lifestyle that was formed within that small proximity. This is a snowboard movie of professionals living their (sometimes not so glamorous) lifestyle, filmed and edited in the interest of good times.

www.8milelife.com

In an Email from Johnny, Mikey, and Eero

“we launched their first 8mile TV episode.”

Watch it here

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BUY THE DIRECTORS CUT HERE ONLY ON iTUNES

If you’ve seen this year’s breakout snowboard feature film, These Days you’ve seen highlights and the heavy stuff—the mind-numbing succession of radical shredboard trickery; the hardest-hitting young guns, throwing down on all terrain. But there is more to the story, and that is why the creators of These Days have created another version of their seminal 2008 film. The new These Days Director’s Cut, available only on iTunes, features more behind-the-scenes drama, personality, a new soundtrack plus loads of unseen action that didn’t fit the original movie format. There’s a lot more to producing a part and a movie than can be squeezed into a half-hour flick. So, now you can dig into this new edit that will take you a bit further into the hours and moments- get These Days Director’s Cut!

It took a little longer than expected, but our Fall website is finally live.  The site is more user friendly and easier to navigate, wth our same smooth and subtle approach to the overall look.  We’ve also gotten with the times and added a mapped-out dealer listing to make it easier for everyone to find a local ELM Company dealer.  New seasons and limited collections will be added as they come into delivery.  So keep your eyes peeled. —Dan at Elm Company

Click here to go there.

Sean Genovese wears quite a few hats. He snowboards, makes snowboards and films snowboarders. Him and Jeff Keenan started Dinosaurs Will Die and it’s Sean and Jesse Burtner that put out the Think Thank videos. Simply put, Sean is DIY incarnate and his example should make us all ask ourselves, what the hell am I doing for snowboarding?

TWS: Hey mang, gotta minute?
Sean: Might have two, or three even.

T: Cool, was hoping I could do a quick interview.
S: Sounds sketchy, it doesn’t involve me taking off any clothes does it?

T: Yep
S: Okay then.

T: You’re the one preaching the marketability of sex with Dinosaurs Will Die right? Tell me a little about how you guys started the company
S: Ya. sex is good. It’s natural. Sex had nothing to do with why we started DWD though. I think that it was “because we saw a need for it in the industry,” actually, we did…A real, by the riders for the riders kinda deal. Jeff and I were both riding for other companies and had a bunch of ideas that weren’t getting used… and may not ever have been used if we didn’t start Dinoaurs. Everyone was in the “FUN FUN FUN” stage. We like to have a good time… but it just wasn’t us. And we wanted people to know that there was still people in snowboarding that weren’t wanting to be marketed in that light. Fuck’n gross.

T: What light did you want to be marketed in?
S: I dont know… whatever we ACTUALLY are…

T: What are you ACTUALLY?
S: Still figuring that out. Ha…. I’m an astronaut, or an alien…alienated, maybe, or maybe I do that to myself.

T: You sound confused. Is running a snowboard company hard?
S: Naw, not to bad. It’s a lot of work, but its not really hard. Working heavy construction in the rain is hard. The “business” side of anything is just a pain in the ass I think. Its got ups and downs…and ins and outs, like sex I guess.

T: So how many years have you been at it now?
S: pretending I have a real job? Been sponsored for a long time. But dinosaurs is in its 4th season. and been working with ThinkThank on vids going on 6 seasons now. how long is a “long time” you think? sounds like i’m 60.

T: Knees of a 60 year old maybe, heart and mind of a 16 year old
S: Ha. ya eh? Immature zit face, that’s crippled below the waste.

T: So are you making money of DWD?
S: Fuck no. Its been growing non-stop. So as long as we can afford it, the money it makes goes right back into it. we’re like a non-profit organization for now. Until we cash in and get the fuck out!

T: Growth is good, and it must be rewarding to be able to do what you set out to do…Do you think it’s important for snowboarders to making products for snowboarders?
S: No its not…but, if you like going shopping with your parents and letting them pick out your new school clothes, then…We ride and film video parts and read all the mags and watch all the vids, so we have our opinion of what we like, and though it might not be everyone’s, its a hell of a lot better than most. Nothing is based on “market trends” nothing that we make. Like say… “whoa. tight pants are cool right now… and kids like bright clown clothes right now… here’s an idea, lets make a bright, tight pair of pants… and hey, lets make em insulated to puffy, tight, bright pants.” Fuck. We know that ain’t gonna work. Make em black and tell the kids to learn a thing or two about layering. Call it money in the bank. But, I just speak for myself.

T:Cool, that should do ‘er. Thanks Sean, gonna go eat some lunch.
S: Sounds good. Now that I’ve rained on snowboarding, go eat some lunch and think of all the good things about it. Hahaha. Like going fast.

To check the Dinosaurs Will Die website click here

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Video by Justin Gunson

College Night at Mountain High: A Rocking College Party
FUEL TV, Transworld Snowboarding, Active, BNQT, ForUs Magazine, S.W.A.T., and Southern California Collegiate Snowsports Conference join College Night at Mountain High.

Wrightwood, CA (November 20, 2008) – Mountain High is bringing a rocking college party to the mountains this winter with its brand new program, College Night at Mountain High. College Night at Mountain High is a series of three Thursday night parties created for Southern California college students and will take place from 5-10pm on December 11, 2008, February 12, and March 12, 2009.

“After talking with local collegiate ski and snowboard teams, we realized the need for a series of events that would bring Southern California colleges together on the mountain,” said Laura Johnson, Marketing Manager at Mountain High. “The idea received really strong support from the industry and we’re excited to be working with an awesome collection of partners.”

College Night will take place at the Bullwheel Bar & Grill at Mountain High’s West Resort and will feature live DJs, $1 hot dogs, $20 night lift tickets (with college ID), and hookups from a collection of industry partners. Active Ride Shop, BNQT, ForUs Magazine, FUEL TV, Southern California Collegiate Snowsports Conference (SCCSC), S.W.A.T., and Transworld Snowboarding will be in attendance, ensuring College Night rocks to its fullest potential. Hookups include:

-Awesome giveaways like a four day S.W.A.T. snowboard trip and passes to live tapings of The Daily Habit on FUEL TV.
-Discounted subscriptions and giveaways from Transworld Snowboarding.
-A chance to preview FUEL TV’s new snowboard shows like “Snowboard Diaries” and “Flipside”.
-Special college discounts and giveaways from Active.
-Hookups and party photos from ForUs.
-Event coverage from BNQT, FUEL TV, and Transworld.

Join crews of kids from dozens of college campuses and bring your friends for a rocking college party on College Night at Mountain High. Check out mthigh.com/college for details.

THE SUMMIT AT SNOQUALMIE’S MASTER DEVELOPMENT PLAN APPROVED BY FOREST SERVICE

Snoqualmie Pass, Wash. November 21st, 2008- The United States Forest Service has publicly announced approval of The Summit at Snoqualmie’s Master Development Plan (MDP), making way for a variety of improvements and additions at the ski area over the next several years.

“Our goal has always been to continue to improve our resort while striking a balance between what best benefits both people and the alpine environment,” said Trevor Kostanich, director of planning and development for The Summit. “Ten years and countless hours of collaboration and hard work by the Forest Service, consultants, local conservation groups and The Summit, as well as comments by the public, have lead to this decision. This truly is an exciting time for us and our guests.”

Major improvements included in the MDP include construction of six new chairlifts, three new surface lifts, realignment and/or replacement of many existing lifts, night lighting on 25 new trails, additional parking and a mountain-top restaurant at Summit East. As part of the agreement, The Summit will be donating approximately 390 acres of land near Summit East to the Forest Service to be used for conservation. Another 100 acres of land near Cave Ridge at Alpental will be donated to the Forest Service to be added to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area.

After original submission of the MDP in August of 1998, The Forest Service embarked on an extensive environmental impact study spanning 10 years. Throughout this process, The Summit worked closely with environmental groups including The Sierra Club, The Mountains to Sound Greenway, The Alpine Lakes Wilderness Society, The Mountaineers and Conservation NW to recommend alternatives that would be most beneficial to the environment and visitors to the ski resort.

“We are thrilled to have the go-ahead to implement many of these improvements and additions in the next several years,” said Dan Brewster, general manager. “This decision, along with this season’s new Silver Fir Express Chair, will help usher in an era of remarkable improvements to our resort.”

Complete documentation of the Final Environmental Impact Statement and Record of Decision for The Summit at Snoqualmie Master Development Plan proposal can be found online at http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/projects/summit-at-snoqualmie/.

The Summit at Snoqualmie, operated by Boyne Resorts, is a proud partner of the USFS offering equal opportunity recreation. Boyne Resorts is the largest family owned four-season resort company in North America; founded by Everett Kircher in 1947. In addition to The Summit, Boyne Resorts owns and/or operates award-winning mountain and golf resorts and attractions throughout the United States and Canada including Cypress Mountain near Vancouver, British Columbia, the Official Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard Venue for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, Big Sky Resort in Montana, Boyne Mountain, Boyne Highlands, The Inn at Bay Harbor - A Renaissance Golf Resort and Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark in Michigan, Brighton in Utah, Crystal Mountain in Washington, Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, Sugarloaf and Sunday River Resort in Maine and Gatlinburg Sky Lift in Tennessee. For more information on Boyne Resorts, please visit www.boyneresorts.com.

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In conjunction with the release of Forum or Against’em, this exclusive clip is part of the Forum Fridays project – select clips, not part of the final cut, but worthy of your viewing pleasure.

This installment features the Whistler backcountry, with bonus footage from John Jackson, Peter Line, Joni Malmi and Pat Moore.

Forum or Against’em is Forum’s fifth team-video release, upholding the progression of an acknowledged movie-making process that has produced prior noteworthy films. The video can be downloaded for $5.99 in the United States iTunes store.

Buy it here at the Itunes store.

EASY ACCESS AND DEALS MAKE RENO-TAHOE THIS WINTER’S BASECAMP

Highest Concentration of Ski Resorts and All Within Reach

RENO, Nev. (Nov. 11, 2008) With an abundance of deals and transportation options, Reno-Tahoe is one of the most convenient and cost effective winter escapes. Aptly coined America’s Adventure Place, the region is home to the highest concentration of ski resorts in North America, which, coupled with gaming and a lively entertainment scene, makes this High Sierra ski destination this winter’s hottest ticket.

The Reno-Tahoe International Airport (recently named one of the most efficient airports in North America by the Air Transport Research Society) has more than 160 daily flights from 22 non-stop destinations, including Seattle, Portland, Phoenix, Chicago and Atlanta, and 26 one-stop destinations. Guests staying in some of Reno’s larger hotel-casinos can take advantage of free or low-cost airport transportation.

Once here, guests can cash in on lift ticket savings at many of Reno’s hotel-resorts. Circus Circus packages start at $69 per person and include one night’s lodging, one full-day lift ticket to Mount Rose-Ski Tahoe and a $5 food voucher. A three-night package starts at $175 and includes an additional lift ticket to Squaw Valley, Northstar-at-Tahoe or Alpine Meadows. Discounted lift tickets can also be purchased at the bell desk. Daily transportation to and from several ski resorts is also available.

The Peppermill offers “Ready to Go Ski Packages” starting at $69, with lodging upgrades and additional lift tickets available. Guests can customize their own ski package to fit their personal preferences. Eldorado Hotel packages also start at $69.

The Silver Legacy’s Northstar-at-Tahoe Family Ski Package includes two night’s accommodations, one all-day lift ticket per adult, one free lift ticket per child under 12 and one $7 food credit per adult. The Silver Legacy’s Adventure Desk, run by Sierra Adventures, assists guests with snow gear and equipment rentals and books an array of day trips, including dog sledding, sleigh rides, snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

The Atlantis offers customized packages starting at $59. Guests interested in experiencing the new luxury towers and looking for a good value will appreciate the midweek packages starting at $139 which includes two nights, one lift ticket to Mt. Rose, one ticket to Northstar-at-Tahoe and roundtrip shuttle service.

Guests staying in Reno can also get discounted lift tickets and transportation to and from ski resorts through the Tahoe Ski Shuttle (www.TahoeSkiShuttle.com).

Winter travelers choosing to stay closer to the lake can still find great deals and packages. Located on the beautiful shores of Lake Tahoe in Incline Village, the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe’s ski packages start at $279 per night and include two lift tickets (per night) to Diamond Peak, deluxe accommodations, $5 match coupon in the casino, ski valet, shuttle service within Incline Village and complimentary shuttle to and from ski resorts.

Ski resorts are also stepping up to offer convenient getaways. Alpine Meadows recently partnered with more than 70 properties for its new online vacation center.  In addition to packages with numerous larger properties in Reno, Alpine offers lodging getaways with the River Ranch Lodge (a mere three minutes from Alpine’s base lodge), Granlibakken Resort in Tahoe City and the new eco-friendly Cedar House Sport Hotel in Truckee, all with complimentary shuttle service to and from the slopes.

Travelers looking to forgo cars and winter driving all together can take advantage of the North Lake Tahoe Express (www.northlaketahoeexpress.com). The daily airport shuttle service runs from 3 a.m. to midnight to, and around, North Lake Tahoe and Truckee from the Reno-Tahoe International Airport. To make a reservation, call (866) 216-5222.

Ski resorts such as Squaw Valley USA and Northstar-at-Tahoe offer free shuttle service to and from Reno. Shuttle service starts mid-December and is available until early April.

Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place offers visitors a year round, 24-hour destination—a play all day and night atmosphere you won’t find anywhere else. Reno-Tahoe boasts the highest concentration of ski resorts in North America, all surrounded by 30-feet of average snow pack and 22,000 acres of skiable terrain. Reno-Tahoe skiing and back country adventures come complete with breathtaking views of Lake Tahoe and the Sierra Nevada with the added bonus of unlimited recreation, dining, entertainment and 24-hour Nevada-style gaming excitement.

For more information about Reno-Tahoe, America’s Adventure Place call 800-FOR-RENO

(800-367-7366) or visit www.VisitRenoTahoe.com

Matt Ostler & Jerry Wilson getting back in the swing of things?

Face it, Tara Dakides has been one of the most idolized female snowboarders in the sport. Her journey through life and snowboarding has been marked by intense highs and lows, dark stories that few know about. In her new documentary Against The Grain Tara recounts the grainy times and digs up the route that she took to pave the way for fellow snowboarders. Tara was the only female to land a full part in a Mack Dawg Productions film and her timeline of video footage delivers a renaissance of how well she really could, and still does ride a snowboard. Swimming through drugs, emotional oscillations and a battery of injuries, the film brings forth wise words with a tale to be viewed. Here’s Tara’s take behind the film.

Do you think stirring up your past in the documentary somewhat centered you and gave you a better understanding of yourself?
I learned a lot and revisited the things I have done, but it also made me realize how much I have grown and how many things are in the past. I realized how thankful I am to have had those experiences and become a stronger woman, and I know I can always land on my feet in any situation just by relying on myself—it’s comforting. It brought me closer to my family and kind of resolved, not resolved, but opened up some beautiful and meaningful conversations with my aunts and mom and brought me closer to them. But it definitely stirred up a lot of stuff. It’s when you put yourself out there it’s scary and I don’t like to be vulnerable [laughs].

Looking back at your journey from a teen to where you are now, would you have changed anything?
Yeah, I would have slowed down a little bit more and appreciated each step and instance instead of getting stressed in the chaos of everything when things were happening so quickly. I invested my money well, but I probably would have saved it a bit more. I would tell people who are making more to save it. Have a strategy when the sun starts to go down. If you’re fortunate enough to actually make a really good living snowboarding, it’s not going to last forever. Enjoy it, but don’t be stupid, create an avenue for yourself afterwards or store it away. Other than that I wouldn’t change anything. I partied, travelled the world, and met amazing people and friends I still have in my life now.

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Against The Grain Teaser

Where do you think you would be had you not bought that ticket and hopped on the bus to Mammoth with just a few belongings?
I would have continued skating and going to punk rock shows. And I would have figured something out. Before things started taking off in snowboarding, I was body piercing so I wanted to be a hairdresser/body piercer and open up a salon in Venice that did tattoos, piercings, hair, and an acoustical lounge/café. That was when I was like seventeen so there weren’t many places like that at the time and Venice was probably the funkiest spot. I went down a little drug road too for a while, but I know I would have pulled out of it.

How has the film changed your relationship with your family? Did that come before or after the film?
I mended stuff with my family years before this film came out. I don’t blame my mom or my family for the decisions they made. I probably would have done the same thing in their position and I try not to hold onto stuff that eats you up inside. My mom is a great woman and a strong woman who has taught me a lot. Before I went to do the film I had to go to my family and ask them if it was something they wanted to be a part of, and if I should even do it. Not only because it would be exposing for me, but for my family as well. And she was all for it and very supportive and so was my dad, but he couldn’t be a part of it for health reasons. I learned a lot about them in the process so I could say I know more about them, their lives, their stories and the upbringings that got them to where they are. Good question.

Follow the photo gallery on the next page.

Grenade Gloves’ Iconic Logo at the Center of School Conflict in Colorado
Students Fight Censorship at School for Right to Display Grenade Logo–and Win!

BRIGHTON, CO—November 18, 2008– Fans of Grenade Gloves won an all-out battle for free speech at their school in Brighton, Colorado.  Friday, a group of students at Brighton High School were asked by high school administrators to remove Grenade stickers from their cars or face serious disciplinary action.

Kathy Gustad, an English and Journalism Teacher and head of the school newspaper at Brighton High School says several students were called into the school Vice Principal’s office on Friday and told to remove the Grenade stickers from their cars, because they were allegedly offensive and a symbol of terrorism.  Ms. Gustad says the students explained that the grenades are simply logos for snowboard/ski gear company Grenade Gloves, and that even a number of teachers sport the stickers, but the kids were still ordered them to remove them.
After the incident, Ms. Gustad and the students contacted the Student Press Law Center, an organization which provides free legal assistance to students on free speech issues. Ms. Gustad says the SPLC encouraged them to fight the sticker ban.

On Monday, the students went back into the office to declare that they would not be removing the stickers.  Students say they were told that they would be ticketed if they parked on school grounds, and could also face more serious disciplinary action.  Tuesday the students obeyed by parking their cars off school grounds, but did not remove the stickers.  The students are also running extensive coverage of the story in their school paper.

Late Tuesday afternoon, school administrators changed their minds, and decided to allow Grenade stickers at school.   The school district spokesperson, Allison Lockwood told Fox-31 News, “This is what they teach the kids to do–to speak up if they think something is not fair, and they did that, and it had an impact on the decision.”

Grenade President and two-time Olympic silver medalist Danny Kass is sending a large box of stickers to the students to congratulate them on their efforts.  Kass told reporters Tuesday night, “I’m really proud of those kids and fans who stuck up for it, and stuck up for their rights and made it acceptable.”

The Grenade logo represents a unique company that exploded onto the snowboarding and action sports scene.  The Portland, Oregon-based company encourages living a brave, constructive lifestyle to the fullest.  There’s no war connection, and Grenade has never advocated violence.  The Grenade slogan is “Make Gloves, Not War.”

grenadegloves.com

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WeSC and Nokia, present a whole new type of street-fashion accessories: Nokia + WeSC Visual Sound.

Red, blue and green make up an alphabet of color. Like letters can formulate words that turn into stories, these colors can form all others and turn them into compositions of great complexity. Broken down to its smallest component, the hue of a specific color is the result of its unique electromagnetic radiation – a frequency, or basically a rhythm. Sound is equally dependent on wave formations. The equivalent alphabet is the pitch of a sound, which in turn is its specific frequency. All art is the result of vibration. Maybe this explains the electrical feeling you get when experiencing it. Sound is color and music is vision. This is a sound and color-coordinated collaboration between Nokia and WeSC.

WeSC has produced an exclusive range of headphones designed to match Nokia’s new, Nokia 5220 XpressMusic and Nokia 5320 XpressMusic cell phones. The Nokia + WeSC Visual Sound collaboration, available in red, blue and metallic green color ways, will be sold exclusively in selected telecom shops and WeSC concept stores in Scandinavia, from the 18th of November, 2008.

For more info visit www.nokiawesc.com

Hey everyone, we are looking for a intern in the video/web dept here at Transworld Snowboarding Mag. Please email Joe Carlino- Joe.Carlino@transworld.net if you are interested, tell all your friends who might be into it! Check out the requirements below.

Web/Video Intern-
Tasks:
• Work with Transworld video crew
• Edit footage for web
• Compress videos for web
• Upload videos to web
• Manage online content
• Edit bonus footage for Transworld’s new film
• Manage and find music content

Requirements-
Knowledge with:
• Final Cut Pro
• Video compression programs like- Compressor, Sorenson Squeeze and Visual Hub
• Experience with video compression and exporting
• Interns must receive college credits for their internship and you are able to work here in our Oceanside/Carlsbad CA office.

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usually has a couple jibs up


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Hello,

We’re stoked to announce that we signed with Mark Edlund. Not much
introduction needed for Mark  with sick video parts in the finger on
the trigger flicks. Marks innovative riding and style fits the

snowboards so well that a lot of good things will come from this i the
near future !

Here’s what Mark had to say after the first few days riding our
Bataleon Triple Base boards !

“The boards are sooo sick! they ride even better than they seem, for
real no bullshit. duude shit feels like it has soo much pop! you can
carve up steeper more rough trannies because the contact points dig in
all hard, it feels like you can kinda cruise up whatever all buttery.
also its been really icy here (utah icy that is) because it rained for
like 2 seconds and hasnt snowed since, riding icy shit on the boards i
feel confident that i can hold my edge, and that im not gonna hook an
edge at all on a super uneven hard surface, so that part is good, also
tbt makes for some more buttery shuffles! i like how you dont have to
necessarily be on an edge and you kind jus point where ya want it to
go. seems like there you dont have to muscle things as much, at first
i was scared to ollie as hard as i could and did know what to expect
to happen with that baseshape! ahha. well as you can see i am more than pleased! YEAH4IT !”

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Want to learn more trick that will impress the babes? Check out the full version of 20 Tricks VOL.2
BUY 20 TRICKS VOL. 2 on iTunes HERE!

BUY FULL DVD VERSION HERE with FREE Transworld Snowboarding Subscription!

Sponsorship deal thing

Hi , I’m Emily and have just turned 9 this is my vid of 2008 season

Stop four of the Oakley REVTour hit SoHo, New York this past Thursday, and in true Oakley style the huber scenester neighborhood of Manhattan, was taken over for a full day with The Rolling O Lab set up on both Thompson and Watts street. The party inside at Red Bull Space was an incredible venue completely transformed into an Oakley showroom of apparel, eyewear and branding galore.

To top it off, no Oakley party would be complete without some banger athletes; making the trek to SoHo were seven-time Winter X Games gold medalist Tanner Hall, Transworld SNOWboarding’s October Cover boy Dustin Craven, Skier of the Decade, Seth Morrison, and snowboarding’s bad girl Laura Hadar. And for everyone’s listening pleasure, Oakley eyewear rider and now Virgin Records recording artist – Trevor “Trouble” Andrew busted out an insane show before jumping on a plane for his next gig in Amsterdam.

Things kicked off around 7pm with a line out the door and around the building at Red Bull Space, chalked full of invited VIP accounts and media. Once the guests made it to the door they were given a wristband and backstage pass with a group number to build their own custom Oakley goggle. One flight up the stairs and the guests were given a REVTour t-shirt and greeted by the Red Bull “Wings” girls with free drinks. All the Oakley signature goggles were on display as well as Gretchen Bleiler’s new apparel line.

When your number was called guests made there way over to the custom goggle display case to pick out the specific frame, out-rigger, strap and lens they wanted. To say people were stoked would be the understatement of early snow shred season. Classic statement’s ranged from, “dude I am going to look so sick when I shred Killington this weekend” – to – “bro, do you even understand how cool I look right now?”

Trouble came on stage at 9pm to a ruckus roar of 300+ crazed Oakley fans. Tearing up the stage and the dance floor Trouble literally brought the house down, playing all of his hits to the crowds delight. The best part had to be when Trouble called out the dude who could not stop mushing on the dance floor and proceeded to join him jamming out to “Either Way”.

Things did not stop their, guests were given private tours of the Oakley Rolling O Lab, presented with their custom goggles and tore up the dance floor until midnight. The after-party was just down the street at Naked Lunch, big ups to the manager Jeff for putting up with the 150 plus people we brought into his very nice establishment.

Make sure to catch all the action on FUEL TV’s the Oakley Week on “The Daily Habit” January 12th – 16th. Next up for filming the Oakley Week is Seattle, Washington with Chanelle Sladics, Jake Blauvelt, Kye Peterson, Rory Bushfield and JP Auclair.

Lots of people need to be thanked for making this night go off, but at the top of the list has to be Lindsay from Red Bull, Quigley, Mata, Wakeling, Trevor, BK, Junior, Tomlin and crew from Oakley Sales, Oakley athletes Seth Morrison, Tanner Hall, Dustin Craven, Laura Hadar, Trevor “Trouble” Andrew, photographer Michael Loccisano and as always the O Lab Crew for crushing it with private tours.

Photos by: Michael Loccisano

snowboarding… at the patch…

SECOND ANNUAL COOGAN KELLY MEMORIAL RAIL JAM SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 29 Presented by SnowBomb and Squaw Valley

November 17, 2008 - SnowBomb and Squaw Valley USA respectfully announce the Second Annual Coogan Kelly Memorial Rail Jam, to take place Saturday, November 29. A year ago, the Tahoe/Truckee and snowboarding communities lost a rising star when Charles “Coogan” Kelly was slain at a party in Reno, NV. Coogan was a successful competitor on the rail jam and snowboard competition circuit around Tahoe. In its second year, the Coogan Kelly Memorial Rail Jam is a tribute to Coogan, a passionate snowboarder and friend. In his memory, SnowBomb will donate all competitor registration fees to the Coogan Kelly Foundation.

The Coogan Kelly Memorial Rail Jam is open to riders of all ages and talents and consists of both men’s and women’s ski and snowboard divisions. Registration is at 9 am, practice starts at 11 am, and the competition will begin at 1 pm. If time allows a special Best Trick Jam Session will follow the competition.

The Coogan Kelly Memorial Rail Jam is free for spectators, as it is scheduled to take place on Searchlight (lower Exhibition) located near the base of the mountain. Entry fee for all riders is $10 and helmets are mandatory for all competitors. Athletes under the age of 18 must have a parent or guardian present at registration to sign a liability release form.

The Coogan Kelly Foundation raises money for the Coogan Kelly Scholarship awarded each year to young aspiring snowboarders to help advance their careers. Contributions to the Coogan Kelly Foundation can be sent to: Truckee Tahoe Community Foundation, c/o The Coogan Kelly Foundation, PO Box 366, Truckee, CA 96160. More information on the Coogan Kelly Memorial Rail Jam is available on www.snowbomb.com and www.squaw.com.

Nov. 17, 2008 Interested In The Ultimate Study-Abroad Alternative? Westminster kicks off 5th annual Winter at Westminster program for ski/snowboard fanatics

SALT LAKE CITY– Imagine as a college student you could spend a semester skiing or riding the Greatest Snow on Earth while still taking a full load of classes. Believe it or not, there is a program that offers such an opportunity! For the fifth year in a row, Westminster College is hosting its widely popular Winter at Westminster (W@W) program, a study-abroad alternative for students across the country. With snow already on the mountains, this year’s program is gearing up to be the best ever, and applications are due by Dec. 15, 2008 for the spring 2009 semester.

W@W challenges students academically as well as physically by allowing them to ski or ride 50+ days, participate in a wide variety of winter recreation activities and take 12-16 transferable college credits to stay on track for graduation.

This year’s activities include a full schedule of skiing/riding at nine first-class resorts, including the Canyons, Alta, Snowbird, Snowbasin, Park City Mountain Resort, Deer Valley, Solitude, Brighton and Powder Mountain. The program also offers unique events like avalanche certification, Nordic jumping, yurt camping, winter mountaineering and Olympic camp, just to name a few.

“Winter at Westminster not only offers great winter activities, it also hosts guest lectures and offers internships to students with professionals in the outdoor industry,” said Liz Rogers, program coordinator. “Students will get the ultimate winter experience in this program.”

The total cost for the W@W program, including one semester of tuition and fees at Westminster, room and board in on-campus housing and the activity fee, is $17,564 - well below the average tuition for a single semester at many private institutions. For more information or to apply for the program, visit www.westminstercollege.edu/snow . W@W is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=18489869608

Westminster is a nationally recognized, comprehensive liberal arts college. With a broad array of graduate and undergraduate programs, Westminster is distinguished by its unique environment for learning. Westminster prepares students for success through active and engaged learning, real world experiences and its vibrant campus community. Westminster’s unique location, adjacent to the Rocky Mountains and to the dynamic city of Salt Lake, further enriches the college experience. For more information, visit www.westminstercollege.edu.

TARGET’S LIMITED EDITION OF UBISOFT’S SHAUN WHITE SNOWBOARDING VIDEO GAME NOW AVAILABLE

Exclusive Version Adds Content You Won’t Find Anywhere Else, Including Target Mountain

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Nov. 17, 2008 – Snowboarding phenomenon and Target athlete Shaun White has made his way to Target stores in virtual form, as the exclusive edition of Ubisoft’s newest action sports title, Shaun White Snowboarding, is now available.

The special Target edition of the game, available on the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Playstation 3 computer entertainment system and Wii home video game system from Nintendo, will have exclusive extended content and features that consumers won’t be able to find anywhere else, including the Target Mountain – an entire mountain environment found only in the Target edition. Gamers will also be able to take advantage of exclusive jibs and additional scenes. Additionally, players will be able to cozy up in the game’s virtual version of the Target Chalet, the real-life mountainside home where Shaun and his fellow Target athletes hang out with friends and family at the annual Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado. Among other exclusive features, the Target Chalet is the only indoor environment anywhere in the game.

“We are really excited about the additional content our exclusive version of Shaun White Snowboarding brings to Target guests,” said Troy Michels, Target Lifestyle Marketing. “With the help of Ubisoft and Shaun, we think the Target limited edition of the game offers an enhanced experience and helps showcase the Target brand and our partnership with Shaun.”

Shaun adds, “I’m really excited to have the game out in stores! I also can’t wait for people to check out the Target edition with the extra mountain and the Target Chalet. Hopefully players will be stoked.”

Shaun White is an Olympic gold medalist and has 42 professional wins, including seven Winter X Games gold medals. He was also the first athlete to win gold medals in Winter and Summer X Games in unique disciplines. White has collaborated with Ubisoft’s award-winning development team to create Shaun White Snowboarding. The game features open-world mountains across the globe, where players are free to define their own experiences and express themselves through tricks, unique riding styles and highly customizable avatars. Players can also hang out with their friends and have fun off the board by throwing snowballs, hiking to access secret spots and filming their friends doing tricks.

For more information about Shaun White Snowboarding, please visit www.shaunwhitegame.com.

Burton Hires Brad Kremer to Lead Cinematography Division

BURLINGTON, Vt. (November 17, 2008)—Burton Snowboards today announced that Brad Kremer will head up the company’s cinematography division where he will direct and produce all Burton films, commercials and blogs, as well as manage its film crews worldwide. Moving forward, Burton team riders will focus exclusively on Burton film projects under Brad’s direction.

“Brad is, without a doubt, one of the most highly regarded and influential snowboard movie filmers/directors in the industry,” says Mike Nusenow, Senior VP of Global Marketing for Burton.  “He will play a crucial role in our media efforts in the years to come.”

Brad most recently headed up creative efforts at Mack Dawg Productions and is regarded as a pioneer and innovator in the snowboarding industry. He is also the winner of four of the snowboarding industry’s Movie of the Year titles and has directed and edited eight feature-length snowboarding films. In addition, he has co-directed or led 11 films over the past 14 years, including the highly acclaimed Follow Me Around, Double Decade and Picture This.

“It has always been a dream of mine to work for Burton,” says Brad. “I am honored to be a part of such an amazing team and I am looking forward to redefining snowboard media with Burton.”

Gabi Viteri Goes for Broke on this Monster Close Out, this rail maybe Snowboardings Version of the Jamie Thomas Leap of Faith gap?

Photos Chris Owen.

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BUY NO CORRECT WAY HERE

You want more? Watch these!
LNP Teaser
Bjorn Leines Teaser
John Foy Teaser
Max Legend Teaser
Eiki Helgason Teaser
Marius Otterstad Teaser

A fresh, new, core snowboard shop located at 2927 W. Cary st in Carytown. We offer the latest products from premium companies such as Capita, DC, Flux, Forum, GNU, LibTech, Monument, Nike, Union, Roxy and many more. We also carry many exclusive products that will be near impossible to find anywhere else in the region.


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A short teaser for a “For Fun” Snowboard flick from the 07/08 season. Riding from: Robert Bench, Jay Hergert, Josh Vester, Austin Blair, Greg Phillips, and many friends!

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Video by NC Productions

If you want to be featured on TWsnow.com, just upload your Monday Mallet to the user section below and simply TAG the video MONDAY MALLET. Each week we will feature one of you on the marquee! E-mail angry.intern2@gmail.com for more info.

The UVM Snowboard Club hosted their 3rd annual rail jam on November 12, 2008. Over 80 kids showed up for their crack at 250 dollars but it was Ben Sullo who took home top honors from the night. Featuring the riding of Yale Cousino, Christian Manhard, Christopher Fredette, Riley Nickerson, Dakota Whitaker, Sawyer Deen, Ralph Kucharek, Ben Sullo & Luke Haddock.

Filmed & Edited By Matt Colton.

Coltrain Visuals

What do these tricks all have in common? sw bs rodeo 9, sw bs rodeo 12, cab double cork 10.  David Benedek put them all down on this jump in Cauterest, France.  Check the Vid

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I am not sure who made this, i just found it and it is sick as shit, if this is yours im sorry, i just haven;t seen it up here, and it deserves to be seen, and if anyone knows who’s this is tell me

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Riders: Aaron Biittner, Andreas Wiig, Darrell Mathes, DCP, Devun Walsh, Eero Ettala, Eero Niemela, Heikki Sorsa, Iikka Backstrom, Jeremy Jones, Jussi Oksanen, JP Walker, Lauri Heiskari, Seth Huot, Wille Yli-Luoma

Double Decade has high expectations, as it is Mack Dawg’s celebration of 20 years of filming. Decade, definitely one of the sickest shred flicks ever, was the midway point to where they are now. Devun Walsh, JP Walker, Jeremy Jones, and Wille Yli-Luoma all had insane parts in Decade, and ten years later they all have put down equally insane parts. These guys are relentless, and so is Mack Dawg. This film offers a reflective semi-documentary style look over the progression of snowboarding that MDP has captured, with looks back at classic shred flicks like New Kids on the Twock. One thing MDP has always been good at is letting the riders show their personalities, and it always looks like they are having a good ol’ time. SO TO THE HATERS: SHUT THE F*** UP.�    

Some details—Eero Ettala is one of the most underrated shredders in the industry. Disagree? His opening section speaks for itself. Devun Walsh opens his part by showing he can still throw massive spins in the backcountry (you gotta see the crazy hit he boosts in the beginning of his section, also can be seen on September’s cover). DCP’s fast aggressive style is well complemented by a sick NOFX song. (Every shred flick needs at least one hardcore song like this) Jeremy Jones and JP Walker have pushed the envelope so far on wallrides, making it hard to think of how it could progress any further. Another veteran rider for Mack Dawg, Jussi Oksanen, shows he still has mad skills, as he never sacrifices style for his massive spins. He nails the ender for this flick.

Double Decade is worthy of its title, as Decade was, as JP Walker said, “monumental”. Mack Dawg continues to capture a great variety of urban and backcountry riding, with seasoned veterans and many of the best riders out there filling the sections. The soundtrack gets the go in this flick as well, with some songs that will be in your head while you shred. Happy 20th Mack Dawg, you get a 3 ½ out of 4 ass-kickers. 

West Dover, VT (November 14, 2008) – Officials at Mount Snow announced today that the mountain will open to the public at 8 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2008.

Details of the opening are being kept under wraps. “I can tell you that we’ll be open on 11/22/08, we’ll have top to bottom runs, and freestyle skiers and riders will not be disappointed,” hinted Mount Snow’s general manager, Kelly Pawlak. She added that information including open lifts and trails, amenities and lift ticket pricing will be released on Wednesday, November 19.

Pawlak said snowmaking will resume this Sunday night and run through the week, although she would not say which trails, or how many, would be included in the plan. “That’s our secret for now,” winked Pawlak. She noted that Mount Snow’s 251 new-technology fan guns, the most of any resort in North America, are “ready to roll.”

Mount Snow opened a small terrain park to the public, free of charge, on October 19 and kept it open until November 5, 2008.

Mount Snow’s website will be updated frequently as opening day nears, and guests are urged to check the snow report daily for updates.

The New Shaun White Snowboarding Video Game Launch Party, Hollywood, Ca.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008- Ubisoft’s new video game has been all the talk lately in the world of snowboarding, and it’s due in stores this weekend! MTV and Target teamed up with Ubisoft to present the video with it’s very own launch party this past Tuesday at Boulevard3 in Hollywood, California on the ever famous Sunset Blvd. Top person of the night? Shaun White of course! And in perfect theme with the night, all was “White”… the ladies, REAL snow, an antler chandelier and even a polar bear! The venue was decked with a snow lodge feel, open bars, and Shaun White Snowboarding video game stations throughout for all to test drive.

MTV’s reality TV show’s who’s IT list was out in full form. Audrina from The Hills, Tila Tequila, Kelly Osbourne and Pro Skateboarder, Bam Margera were just a few of the celeb faces seen out in the crowd supporting the new video game launch.

Make sure you get your video this weekend, check it out at http://shaunwhitegame.us.ubi.com/(here)

The dopest place to ride in AK, our one and only alyeska!


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THE O’NEILL EVOLUTION, 2009
Run With Gravity

05 January, 2009 – 10 January, 2009

Jakobshorn, Davos, Switzerland

Davos, Switzerland, 11 November 2008. The O’Neill Evolution is living up to
its name more than ever for 2009, with the 6-star TTR event evolving to push
the boundaries of freestyle snowboarding in a way never seen before.
Inspired by the heights to which the riders fly in the world-class quarterpipe
at The O’Neill Evolution every year, the idea of playing with and defying
gravity has paved the way for its advancement.

Ice sculptures will adorn the kickers and start gates of the new slopestyle
course, live music from top bands will be integrated into the heights of the
actual course, and its original evening-time format attracting thousands of
spectators, ensure that as well as being one of the most challenging and
creative events on the TTR World Tour, it is also about getting out there and
enjoying the experience.

One of the most obvious developments within the O’Neill Evolution is the
introduction of a world-class 5Star slopestyle course, which will replace the
halfpipe format and sit next to the world-renowned 6Star quarterpipe at the
base of the Jakobshorn in Davos.

O’Neill is excited to welcome back Claes Hoegstrom who will once again
lend his expertise to the shaping and construction of the quarterpipe as well
as to a slopestyle concept, focusing on flair and originality.

O’Neill event manager Bernhard Ritzer said: “This year the O’Neill Evolution
will live up to everything that we believe in here at O’Neill. It’s about the
riders and spectators enjoying a unique and fun experience, while at the
same time we explore new ground in freestyle snowboarding through
creativity and innovation. With the addition of an extraordinary new 4-feature
slopestyle course, the riders will be encouraged to play in their surroundings
more than ever.”

As one of only six 6-star TTR World tour events this year, and with one of the
most inspiring setups on the tour as well as an impressive $100,000 prize
purse and highly coveted TTR ranking points, the O’Neill Evolution continues
attract the best riders in the world as one of the leading snowboard freestyle
events on the planet.

RIDERS
The top 10 riders from the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour will be invited
to the 6-star O’Neill Evolution in addition to 6 wildcard invitees. These 16
riders will meet the 16 qualifiers from the open qualifications..
The seeded riders will be announced during the coming weeks.

FORMAT
In a break from the norm, The O’Neill Evolution will be using a new heat
system – based on that of a surf contest. 4-man heats will start in the round of
32 snowboarders, and from the round of 18, this will be down to 2-man
heats to determine the finalists and the winner.
Changing over to this K.O. system will guarantee an exciting contest with a
clear undisputed winner.

PROGRAM
Mon 05 Jan Training
Tue 06 Jan Training
Wed 07 Jan Slopestyle Qualification
Thu 08 Jan QP Qualification
Fri 09 Jan Slopestyle Finals
Sat 10 Jan QP Finals

LIVE WEBCAST
The O’Neill Evolution will be broadcast live at www.oneilltv.com,
www.freecaster.tv and www.tv.mpora.com

PRESS CONTACT
O’Neill Europe bv
Daan Meijer
p. +31 71 5600800
e. press@oneilleurope.com
w. www.oneilleurope.com

bla bla bla

What qualities do all of these top ten pipes share? They’re huge and they’re constantly maintained. Want to dial in those spins and increase your air time in the pipe? We suggest you train in the best.

* About The Poll: The online Resort Poll is voted on by both subscribers and the online readers of twsnow.com—in total over 1,600 readers logged on to cast their votes. Readers were given the opportunity to vote on the three best resorts they visited during the 2007/2008 season, ranking them on 21 different categories. Some 154 resorts across North America and Canada were judged, after the numbers were crunched, ten in each category rose to the top.

1. Buttermilk, Colorado

The sleeping giant of Buttermilk awoke this year with a roar. The 500-foot long, 85-foot wide, and 21-foot deep Superpipe residing in the hills of Aspen is not only the largest pipe in the Rockies, but is also the Resort Poll’s number one pipe. The success of this beast lies in the dirt foundation with the grooming equipment to match, the right amount of sunlight (the pipe runs southwest to northeast), and above all, the park staff’s commitment to precision sculpting. Shapers Yannick Rioux and Kyle Bradley relied on an eighteen-foot Zaugg Pipe Monster to slice clean transitions this past year and they’re gearing up for an even better pipe this year with a 22-foot cutter to match the newly shaped dirt foundation. The park crew’s crucial decision to close the pipe in the early afternoon (around 2:00 p.m.) throughout the winter kept the pipe from getting too sloppy and allowed it to maintain its consistently consistent shape, says Terrain Park Manager Greg Boyd.
buttermilkresort.com

Shaun White, about to drop into the winning Pipe. Photo Adam Moran

You don’t hit jumps blind, thanks to the Resort Poll, you don’t have to blindly pick which resorts you hit up either. Study this best parks list and try to hit up all ten of ’em … why not?

* About The Poll: The online Resort Poll is voted on by both subscribers and the online readers of twsnow.com—in total over 1,600 readers logged on to cast their votes. Readers were given the opportunity to vote on the three best resorts they visited during the 2007/2008 season, ranking them on 21 different categories. Some 154 resorts across North America and Canada were judged, after the numbers were crunched, ten in each category rose to the top.

Logan Short shoots for the moon at Whister. Photo Scott Serfas

1. Whistler/Blackcomb, B.C., Canada

A switch was flipped for serious improvements in the parks at Whistler/Blackcomb this past season. Firstly, a changing of the guard in park management saw Brian Finestone take the reins with a plan to re-invigorate the park offerings at WB. He explains, “The first thing was to keep the parks fresh by switching up the setups weekly so riders would always have something different to discover. We also got creative with our fleet of rails, boxes, and picnic tables by setting up new combos that mimicked urban, skate-style features. I encouraged the crew to come up with creative stuff and let them just go for it.” The park crews also expanded the size of several parks utilizing dead space in existing parks and building hits on parts of runs that were unused in the past, which ultimately added several acres and a dozen new features to the resort’s ample park offerings.
whisterblackcomb.com

Wildwood Rail Jam at Great Divide, Montana

Photos by Jeff Hawe

Words by Mark Theizen

Thick, misty fog chokes the dark forest. A dozen fires turn wood to ash as the scent of smoke fills the mountainside. Hundreds of uniformed warriors are gathered here.

It’s like a scene in Braveheart, except the uniforms are made of Gore-Tex, and instead of swords, steel is shaped into snowboard edges and handrails; oh, and gangster rap pulsates through the woods at deafening volume – welcome to the Wildwood Rail Jam.

While there are many rad pre-season events around the country, with new ones every year, this event is different than most. Invite only? Nope, just sign the waiver. Big Prizes? Only a round of applause. On a big structure downtown? How about halfway up the mountain in the glades on a patch of snow surrounded by mud (bring your F250). This isn’t San Francisco, New York City or even Salt Lake City; this is Great Divide Ski Area. This is Montana.

The brain-child of Joe Pope and Tyrel Thornton, the November 8, 2008 Wildwood Rail Jam and Base Lodge Bash is the product of years of pre-season jib jams, and it went down like this: a twenty stair to thirty stair with a round-bar and box on each, two giant-sized picnic tables for those not ready to step up first strap-in of the year, and an impromptu sesh on a kicker to goal-post trees. Well over a hundred and fifty snowboarders and skiers satisfied their early season cravings by hucking their bones down the features as organized chaos ensued.

Eventually the judges whittled the field down to ten for a final jam session. Up-and-comer Eric Gronneberg claimed the title in the snowboarding category for his 270 on 270 off on the thirty stair. The stoke carried on late into the night as a live show and movie premier by NC Productions went down in the lodge and another jib box was lit up on a patch of snow at the base.

Moral of the story – support your local scene and work with the mom and pop areas that will allow you to pull off great events like this one. Big thanks to Great Divide, Joe Pope, Tyrel Thornton and the Big Sky park crew, Papu at four-O-six, and all the kids that rip in Montana, where the men are men, and so are the women.

ROME COMMUNIQUE:

ROME LIMITED EDITION BOARDS—THE POSTERMANIA AND ANTHEM SS

11.13.2008

With snow flying and the resorts opening up in North America and Europe every day, the Rome SDS is introducing their 2008-09 Limited Edition Collection: two limited-edition new board designs featuring two new camber lines to enhance your park and powder pleasures—the Postermania 1985 and Anthem Superlight Series (SS).

To slide in between the Artifact 1985 and the Notch 1985, Rome unveils the reverse-camber Postermania 1985.  While the Artifact 1985 is dialed in for late night rail sessions and the Notch 1985 prefers tree lines and pow-filled gullies, the Postermania for riders who like to shred jumps, powder lines, rails and ledges.  With Rome’s Reverse-Free camber line tuned for a pure freestyle approach to the mountain and park, this profile also gives the board a natural de-cambered shape when up on edge for better edge hold and control through a turn.  It also lets the rider generate more edge pressure in the tip and tail for stronger turn initiation and completion.

Created for riders who value first chair on a pow day, who ride inbounds with power, and who are down to hike for untracked chutes, the other limited edition deck in the collection is the high-tech Anthem Superlight Series (SS). Loaded with innovations like the Airpop Core, the bamboo-driven PowerAmp Technology, and the CarbonBiax Alloy Laminate, the Anthem SS is a super-poppy, kill-it-all model that rivals the Rome Design for lightness.  Rome’s new Hybrid camber profile combines the pop of camber for most of the body of the board, with the added float of reverse camber in the nose and tail.

Check with your local Rome dealer for when they’ll be available.

www.romesnowboards.com

having fun!

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Footage taken from Transworld Snowboarding Video Magazine Vol. 1

PORTLAND, ORE. (Nov. 10, 2008)– Powder comes to the Pearl on November 22 when the Art Institute, Salomon & Bonfire Snowboarding, along with all their friends at US Outdoor and Scion present: the second annual Backyard Bang rail jam!

From noon until 4 p.m. there are no lifts and no limits—as some of the best local and National snowboarders annihilate the king size jib constructed by Snowboy Productions in front of the Art Institute on Northwest Davis between the 11th and 12th.

Win free lift passes, Bonfire, Salomon and Skull Candy gear—check out the Art Institute—and celebrate the new season from the Widmer VIP deck. If you like good music and good food—nothin’ slides down as easy as a Cobra Dog and a handrail. Best part about it? It’s all free—all fun, rain or shine.

For more info call 503 228-6528, or check out artinstitutes.com/Portland or www.salomonsnowboard.com

Opening day is going to be a banger – will you be there? The Backyard Bang - November 22, from 4-8.

Thanks to event sponsors: Salomon Snowboards, Art Institute of Portland, US Outdoor Store, Skullcandy, Bonfire, Windell’s, Scion and Paul Mitchell.

GRENADE HELPS OPEN THE SEASON AT MAMMOTH WITH SPECIAL SHOWING OF THE BONED AGE

Mammoth’s got the snow–Grenade’s bringing the flick and the party to celebrate an early opening

PORTLAND, OREGON – November 12th, 2008 – Grenade Gloves is heading to California for an impromptu party to help kick off opening weekend at Mammoth.  Mammoth Mountain opened earlier this week, and the celebration continues throughout the weekend, as the Grenerds show up to shred, enlist Army recruits and show their new film, The Boned Age.

Grenade will be showing The Boned Age Thursday, November 13th at 9:45 at Whiskey Creek, located at 24 Lake Mary Road, Mammoth Lakes, CA 93546.  Of course there’s an after party to follow, and it’s all free and open to the public.  Grenade sponsored athletes will be there offering plenty of giveaways and free Grenade Army enlistment.

Joining two-time Olympic silver medalist snowboarder Danny Kass in the all-star cast of The Boned Age are Scotty Lago, Benji Ritchie, Gabe Taylor, Kyle Clancy, Lucas Magoon, Travis Rice, The Dingo and Dave England of MTV’s Jack Ass.

The film’s title pays tribute to the 1994 cult classic film The Stoned Age, and features its own version of the infamous “Blue Torpedo” wagon and “gnarly eyeball” seen in the original.  Clips are here.

The Boned Age recently wrapped up its international tour with stops in major U.S. cities as well as in Asia and Europe, hosted by Danny Kass and The Dingo and including athlete appearances, contests, giveaways, free Grenade Army enlistment and after-parties featuring DJs and musicians Feli Fel, Lil Jon, Shawty Put, Mr. Choc, DJ Revolution and Tina T.

WORLD’S TOP SNOWBOARDERS SHAUN WHITE AND HANNAH TETER LEAD IMPRESSIVE LIST OF ATHLETES COMPETING ON WINTER DEW TOUR

Winter Dew Tour to Kick Off Dec 18 at Breckenridge Resort in Colorado

NEW YORK – November 12, 2008 – The Winter Dew Tour today announced the world’s top snowboard athletes that will compete for the coveted Dew Cup and a share of the $1.5 million prize purse offered at the end of the three-stop series, which will kick off December 18 in Breckenridge, Colo.

The athlete roster reads like the who’s who of professional snowboarding, highlighted by multiple X Games and Olympic medalists including Shaun White, Hannah Teter, Andreas Wiig, Travis Rice and Gretchen Bleiler.

“I feel like the Dew Tour is gonna be huge and I’m really looking forward to riding on the entire series this year,” said Teter. “The roster of athletes that will be competing on the Winter Dew Tour is sick. It’ll be a fun battle to see who comes away with Dew Cup at the end of the season.”

White, who’s competed in skateboard vert on the Summer Dew Tour, will be the first Summer crossover athlete. White was the Dew Tour season points leader for skateboard vert in 2007, and was awarded the coveted Dew Cup for his efforts. After successful Summer season’s, White will compete in the superpipe discipline on the Winter Dew Tour. The 22-year-old from Carlsbad, Calif. has been a force to be reckoned with in competitive snowboarding since the tender age of 14.

“This is shaping up to be as impressive of an athlete field as anyone could hope for in a winter event; the Winter Dew Tour competition is bound to be a fight to the bitter end,” said Wade Martin, AST president. “With more than 28 hours of original programming on NBC, MTV, MTV2 and USA, there will be action-packed content for the crowds onsite in addition to the fans at home tuning in to the broadcast.”

The roster of snowboard athletes includes the following notables:

Snowboard Superpipe
• Shaun White
• Mason Aguirre
• Trevor Jacob
• Hannah Teter
• Gretchen Bleiler
• Kelly Clark

Snowboard Slopestyle
• Travis Rice
• Andreas Wiig
• Danny Kass
• Kevin Pearce
• Jamie Anderson
• Hana Beaman
• Torah Bright

The complete list of Winter Dew Tour competitors will be released on Monday, Nov. 24.

Similar to the Dew Tour’s summer competition structure, the Winter Dew Tour will be based on a cumulative points system as the top snow athletes battle it out for a piece of the $1.5 million prize purse and the chance to take home the Dew Cup at the conclusion of the season in February.

The complete 2008/09 Winter Dew Tour schedule is as follows:

Event Date Location
Stop 1 Dec. 18-21, 2008 Breckenridge, Colo.—Breckenridge Ski Resort
Stop 2 Jan. 8-11, 2009 West Dover, Vt.—Mount Snow Resort
Stop 3 Feb. 19-22, 2009 Lake Tahoe, Calif.—Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort

LOS ANGELES, CA — FUEL TV, the action sports and lifestyle network, is pleased to announce the launch of Friday Production’s new series “Snowboard Diaries” airing Tuesday nights at 8:00 pm ET/PT, beginning December 30, 2008. The five-part series stars the best snowboarders in the world including 2007/08 Swatch TTR World Champion Kevin Pearce, X Games Gold Medalist Torstein Horgmo, Eero Ettala, Pat Moore, Jake Blauvelt, Hampus Mosesson, Mikel Bang, Mads Johnson, and others. Each episode fuses the basic human value of “the struggle” with the sport of professional snowboarding, thus making a connection with snowboarders and non-snowboarders alike.

Filmed throughout the 2007/2008 snow season, Friday Productions had unique access to snowboarding’s most talented riders as they spent the winter living out their lives competing in contests, filming their video parts, and riding epic backcountry terrain. Friday captured all the highs, lows, drama, despair, and triumphs to create “Snowboard Diaries.”

“We’re very excited about premiering ‘Snowboard Diaries’ on FUEL TV,” says Shon Tomlin, FUEL TV Vice President, Programming and Development. “The producers of the series have consistently brought us great snowboard programming. Director Greg Martin has a keen eye for, and an understanding of the sport. I think viewers will be impressed with both the stories of each of these riders and the amazing footage that was captured throughout the season.”

“‘Snowboard Diaries’ promises to be a unique observation into the lives of some of snowboarding’s most compelling characters,” says Sandy Stevenson, Producer, Friday Productions. “Expect some surprises in these shows!”

“We were lucky to work with such a dedicated and fun group of riders, it almost made the production seem easy,” says Greg Martin, Director, Friday Productions. “With this series we had the chance to film from a Paramotor [a powered paraglider] and ended up with some sensational results. We captured some amazing images not yet seen in snowboard filming.”

This is the third series that FUEL TV and Friday Productions have partnered on. Friday Productions also produced the hit snowboarding series “Terje’s Season Pass” and “The Sorsa Project” and both air regularly on FUEL TV.

“Snowboard Diaries” will premiere on FUEL TV on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 8:00 pm ET/PT and new episodes will debut over the next four Tuesday nights. The show will continue to air on FUEL TV throughout the winter.

If you don’t get FUEL TV, you will be able to watch “Snowboard Diaries” online for free on www.hulu.com or you can download it from the iTunes store for $1.99 each episode.

That’s right, ladies, get your design on.  Snowboard Connection is hosting a contest where crafty women can design a tee shirt layout for a prize package that will include the winner’s design on a future Snocon shop shirt and hoodie.

The Rules:
The contest is open to female artists only.

The design should be a maximum of two colors.  Monochrome time!

The design should be winter inspired.

The design should incorporate the Snowboard Connection logo, available at the following two links:

Snocon Logo <https://shops.companybe.com/SnoCon/images/contest_snocon_logo.jpg>  (Hi-Res JPG)

Snocon Logo <https://shops.companybe.com/SnoCon/images/contest_snocon_logo.eps>  (Vector EPS)

The final design should be 300 dpi or vector based and should be print ready.

Designs are due December 8, 2008.

Send your final design to kelly@snocon.com

Grand prize:
A $100 gift card to Snowboard Connection, a tee shirt and hoodie with your design printed on it, and many other goodies.

Vote:
We all know how important voting is.  The top 10 designs will be on display at Snowboard Connection Ladies Night, December 10, 2008 at the A24 (South Lake Union) location of Snocon.  The winner will be selected that night.

Good luck to everyone!

www.snowboardconnection.com

Zach Allott

Hot Dawgs and Handrails 2008 event. Can not believe there were so many people at a “summer time” event!

Keystone

TransWorld Launches Directors Cut Exclusive to iTunes.  Get behind-the-lens and see how the best new snowboard film of 2008, These Days was made. The new Director’s Cut picks up where the original left off to bring you into the crazy process of making a cutting-edge snowboard movie. With new, unseen footage, new soundtrack and a new vibe, you’ll definitely want to get this.

Click here for TransWorld Itunes store These Days Directors Cut

Want more behind the scenes, more footage and new songs,Get These Days Directors Cut on itunes HERE.
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Video edited by Liam Gallagher

TransWorld Launches Directors Cut Exclusive to iTunes.  Get behind-the-lens and see how the best new snowboard film of 2008, These Days was made. The new Director’s Cut picks up where the original left off to bring you into the crazy process of making a cutting-edge snowboard movie. With new, unseen footage, new soundtrack and a new vibe, you’ll definitely want to get this.

Click here for TransWorld Itunes store These Days Directors Cut

Get the Flash Player to see this player. Roxy riders Erin Comstock, Kjersti Buaas, Torah Bright and Alexis Waite charge through the park. Jumping rhythm lines, gapping over a mine-shaft, and getting tricky on unusual features is all just another day in the park for these girls! www.roxy.com

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Five More Days To Get Mt. Hood Meadow’s 4X4 Season’s Pass Deal!

The deadline to cash in on Meadows’ phenomenal group deals is fast approaching. The special 4×4, 3×3, 2×2 and Group of 10 – 10 Time Pass expire at the end of this week—November 16. Get to SkiHood.com and get signed up!

And while you’re there, check out the Meadows Blog to see progress on a bunch of new improvements being implemented by the resort, including opening 160 acres of expert terrain accessed through a gated basis in the “S&R” Cliffs. It’s called Search and Rescue Cliffs for a reason – it’s gnarly in there, thick trees, cliff outcroppings, steep drop offs. It is definitely double black diamond expert terrain that only the best snowboarders should venture into. We suggest heading out there with a partner and carrying a beacon, probe, and shovel and the knowledge to use them. And as always obey the closures.

There’s also an additional 20 acres of terrain to the skier’s right of Tamarack off of Hood River Express opening, as well. This is very steep tree skiing – the name is “Far Right Trees” or FRight Trees for short.
Also, our plans to have a military weapon for avalanche control in Heather Canyon march forward. The platform has been constructed and the Howitzer is on property. Training will proceed and if all goes as planned we should have the Howitzer ready for control work this season. The weapon will allow for a higher level of safety for our patrol staff, which in the past has had to deliver the explosives by hand. The Howitzer will make the delivery of explosives more efficient which should lead to more consistent operations in Heather Canyon.

For more information, head to www.skihood.com (here).

Mountain High Begins Snowmaking in Anticipation of Opening Day

Wrightwood, CA (November 5, 2008) – Mountain High began its first snowmaking operations of the season late last night. Within a 10 hour window the snowmaking crew laid down several inches of new snow on four trails at the West Resort. Temperatures are forecasted to drop into the twenties tonight and snowmaking is expected to continue whenever possible. An opening date has not been set, however the start to Southern California’s winter season could take place within the next several days, weather permitting. Long term forecasts are calling for possible natural snowfall beginning Sunday with potential for frequent Pacific storms and snow through mid-November.

“We had a window of about 10 hours of good snowmaking last night and if the weather cooperates, we plan to resume snowmaking tonight,” said Karl Kapuscinski, President and CEO of Mountain High. “We look forward to opening as soon as possible and being the first resort to open in Southern California for the 12th year in a row.”

Thanks to an extensive snowmaking system covering 80 percent of its terrain, Mountain High is traditionally the first resort to open and the last to close in Southern California. Mountain High has one of the largest snowmaking systems in the country and, on a good night, can make enough snow to cover a one mile stretch of the 405 freeway with a foot of new snow.

This season snowmaking efficiency has been increased by installing 25 new top-of-the-line Ratnik snowmaking nozzles. The nozzles utilize a new patent-pending design requiring half the amount of compressed air for snowmaking. This results in increased efficiency, reduced fuel consumption, and energy savings. Best of all, manmade snow is real snow. It is made using only two ingredients: compressed air and water.

A limited number of Mountain High season passes are still available at a discounted price of $349 (save $250). Visit mthigh.com (here) for details.

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BUY NO CORRECT WAY HERE

You want more? Watch these!
Bjorn Leines Teaser
John Foy Teaser
Max Legend Teaser
Eiki Helgason Teaser
Marius Otterstad Teaser

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www.alcatrazskates.com

Choose fun!


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Focus Snow and Skate


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BURLINGTON, VT (November 6, 2008) – Burton Snowboards and Calgary Olympic Development Association’s (CODA) Canada Olympic Park today announced that they have decided to move the upcoming Canadian Open Snowboarding Championships to February 2-8, 2009. Due to the recent cancellation of the Session at Vail, an optimal window has opened in the North American snowboard event schedule.  

“With the Session no longer happening, it frees up a window in the calendar that we have looked at in the past as strategically beneficial to the event,” said Burton Events Director, Liam Griffin. “This week leads up to the FIS World Cup at Cypress in 09, and it also leads up to the Olympics in 2010.  Since the Canada Olympic Park pipe was the template that the Cypress pipe was based off of, this gives riders the option to hit two events in western Canada in a row.”

Due to the change in dates of the Canadian Open, the Burton European Open (BEO) is now the next event in the Burton Global Open Series. Celebrating its 10th year, the special birthday edition of the Burton European Open will take place in Laax, Switzerland from January 9-16, 2009.  

With events scheduled year-round and in six countries, the Burton Global Open Series offers riders the chance to earn points towards a male and female championship title, each worth $100,000, currently the largest single payout in competitive snowboarding.
 
The Burton Global Open Series is also part of the Swatch Ticket To Ride World Snowboard Tour (TTR), the largest group of independent freestyle snowboard events in the world. TTR ranks riders based on their results at participating competitions and crowns a TTR World Champion at the US Open. For more information on the Swatch TTR World Tour, visit www.ttrworldtour.com.

Take I 91 to exit 9 then rte 12 to claremont, nh. Go towards newport on rte 11, follow to sunapee circle. Mtn is on the right as you enter it.


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A hill that used steroids once or twice. www.skibluemt.com


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its a big ass down rail you have to hit itfrom the right because on the left of the rail its about a 25 foot drop its a fat rail aswell and also there is a step down probably 15 feet high and a 10 foot gap its pretty rad me and my buddys are the only people who have hit it


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Arkive Skate & Snow
428 E 2600 N #2
Ogden, Ut, 84414
801-737-1213
www.arkiveskate.com
www.myspace.com/arkiveskate


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Westerville, Ohio
Snowboarding at a local park in 6 inches of snow

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Get ready New York. Check it out here redbullsnowscraper.com

With the help of Waterville Valley in New Hampshire, he designed a 12’ x 8’ canvas wall ride structure at the base of a jump, which he painted using his snowboard as a big palette knife.

a wooden rail behind the building by the skatepark


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fs 3er

Small central shop which sells:Burton,Anon,Analog,Gravis, Globe, Tensor


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07-08 snowboarding season from dubuque iowa

Photo by Matt Dee
featured on http://www.grenadegloves.com/news.php?id=346

We decided after printing the 2009 Good Wood Board Test feature in the October issue to share a few more photos with you. Enjoy! 

To read more about the testers click on this link:

Good Wood Board Testers

and to see the winning boards click on this link:

Good Wood Boards

snowboard promo 07 08

Friends, Sun, Snow, Sweet

8 peaks, great parks, oh and look for Norman the lift attendant when you go there. You can\’t miss him, he\’s the tall black guy who yells all the time, he is the shit.


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Get the Flash Player to see this player. The first in the new season of podcasts from Roxy! Kjersti Buaas has had enough of nice girl Torah Bright and sets out to fight her to the death. Featuring cameo appearances from many of the top female snowboarders! http://www.roxy.com

Seven Springs THE RADDEST RESORT ON THE EAST


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The FIS competition season is underway. That means regimented contests run by skiers for snowboarders. This winter isn’t specifically about who goes to the Olympics, it’s about earning spots for team USA. I caught up with U.S. Snowboard Team Assistant Halfpipe Coach Ricky Bower to find out what, if anything, has changed going into snowboarding’s fourth Olympics.

What’s new heading into this winter Olympics?
The main change since the last Olympics is that FIS created a world ranking list. It starts January 18, 2009 and goes through January 18, 2010—it ends basically right before the Olympics start. For your country to have riders go to the Olympics, they need to place in the top 40 for the men and top 30 for the women. Then the number of people that you have in the top 30 or 40 determines the number of riders you’re allowed to have in the Olympics. You can have a maximum of four. Which is the same as the old maximum of four per discipline.

Is that going to cut out some countries?
They’re just going to have to get in the top ranking, which might be harder for other countries to do. The last time you just had to have 120 points, which is about the equivalent of a top 30 finish, but now we have the addition of the rankings.

So the FIS World Cup series this winter is just about securing spots for the U.S.?
Yes, that’s just for getting the nations quota spots. It determines how many starts your country gets. So, for the U.S., we’re trying to get 4 and 4 for the halfpipe. Then the actual qualifying for the riders to be selected for the Olympic team will be the same as it was for 2006, which is the Grand Prix series. And that’s next winter, not this coming winter, so it will be right before the Olympics.

What FIS events we should pay attention to this winter?
The first one that will count towards this ranking is the World Championships in Japan, which is conveniently scheduled right during the X Games, so we’ll miss that first one. But then after that riders are going to FIS World Cups in Bardonecchia, Cypress, Stoneham, and La Molina that we probably wouldn’t normally be going to.
Cypress is the test event for the Olympics for next year. It will be a good event and we’ll have the top contenders there: Shaun, all the top girls—Gretchen, Kelly, and Hannah.

Is the circuit the same for all three snowboard “disciplines”?
There’s some cross over. Cypress will have halfpipe, boardercross, and alpine. The World Cup at Stoneham will have boardercross and halfpipe and an alpine event. Then, there is a U.S. event for boardercross in Maine.

Thanks for getting us all caught up Ricky. Keep checking back at twsnow.com for Olympic updates. We also wanted to give you a quick heads up that the deadline for the initial ticket request phase for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games is this November 07, 2008, at midnight US EST. Go to cosport.com to request tickets for the individual events. Ticket requests will be entered into a lottery and successful requests are confirmed the first week of December.

2008-2009 FIS World Cup Schedule:
February 7, 2009: Bardonecchia, Italy. Halfpipe.
February 13–15, 2009: Cypress, CAN Olympic Test Event (Snowboardcross 2/13, Halfpipe 2/14, Parallel GS 2/15)
February 19–22, 2009: Stoneham, CAN (Snowboardcross 2/9, Halfpipe 2/20, Parallel GS 2/22)
February 26–28, 2009: Sunday River, Maine (Parallel GS 2/26, Snowboardcross 2/28)
March 13–15, 2009: La Molina, Spain (Snowboardcross 3/13, Halfpipe 3/14, Parallel GS 3/15)

sick hand rail for the gnar shredders


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urban as it gets mother fucker


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first chair on opening day on the backside of stevens in 2008

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Seth Roberts grabbin indy fs3 photo: solo

great family scene, with a solid number of days for an east coast resort. nice park crew and great runs


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http://www.calabogie.com/pages/winter-fun/the-mountain.php


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a pretty sweet place


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the hottest new shop in teton village. featuring lib,gnu,rossi,unity,rome,ride,amplid,quik,roxy,nomis,volcom,armada,4front,analog,oakley,electric,anon,landyachtz,vans,spacecraft,bern,red,and many other great summer clothing products as well as skate.


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What does it take for a resort to make it into this top ten list? The resort has to meet or exceed our reader’s high expectations—we’re not talking about expectations involving slopeside concierge service or five-star dining, we’re talking park maintenance and epic powder conditions. We want fast lifts that open early and close late, good inexpensive food, a great park, and a mellow place to sleep so we can wake up and do it all over again. We want to have a pow-slashing, park-bashing, hot-tub-splashing, nightlife-thrashing good time—that’s how you get to be a top ten resort.

* About The Poll: The online Resort Poll is voted on by both subscribers and the online readers of twsnow.com—in total over 1,600 readers logged on to cast their votes. Readers were given the opportunity to vote on the three best resorts they visited during the 2007/2008 season, ranking them on 21 different categories. Some 154 resorts across North America and Canada were judged, after the numbers were crunched, ten in each category rose to the top.

775 Bank St. between second and Third


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currently heading up http://grenadegloves.com/news.php?id=346

Since 1987.


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Nice little mountain !
www.skibromont.com


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Jo Kim @ Beaver Creek

Derrick Block @ Bever Creek

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Jason Graves @ bev-o

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Torstein Horgmo slammed it shut with his last part hammers in Standard’s Aesthetica. The new killers, like Torstein, know that contest results and video parts strike the perfect balance for a steady pro career. He is off to a damn good start. This Norwegian kid is just getting his winter under way, so we got him to talk before he hits the road for a long winter of flinging himself.

How much time will you spend at home in Norway this winter and how much time traveling? Where are you heading?

Well I’m home now, and leaving in a couple weeks. Then I’ll be back for Christmas & New Years and that’s about it! I’ll be gone all season pretty much. I think I’ll be mostly in the states all winter. I’ve got a Visa now, so I can come in and out of In-n-Out as much as I want. I’d give up a lot to have that Double-Double in Norway!

When you are in the states, where is your home away from home? Keep your sled, lay your head?

My truck mostly, ha ha! I don’t stay in one spot for too long, so I mostly just crash at friend’s places. I walked away from last season without buying a sled, I just borrowed—but I’m getting one this year. I honestly don’t have a clue where to keep it while I’m gone. Probably get some type of storage solution somewhere.

Talk about the DC ams.

Buzzard (Chas Guldemond) is killing it in his own way, Lonnie’s shredding so strong and landing like a feather every time, and Ryan Tiene’s sending it in the backcountry. They’re a good crew and super fun to hang out with.

What movies did you like from the past year

I filmed for Standard’s Aesthetica and Park City’s I ride Park City, so I’m into those first off … I just saw These Days and those guys really killed it. Double Decade was a big must see for me, and I’m Down with People! He he. Otherwise, Batman was crazy!

Daniel Franck, Terje,  Andreas Wiig. Comment on the Norwegian tradition

Those guys have all set the standard year after year, and done so much for snowboarding and what it is today. Very Inspirational to me, the North way.

Who do you see coming up, new Norwegian blood?

There’re a lot of them, but I think we’ll hear a lot about names like Ståle Sandbech and Gjermund Braaten, very soon.    �

What are you looking forward to the most for this season?

Riding with my friends. I also can’t wait to learn new stuff and see new places.

seth roberts photo:michael

hard way cab1 Crail tailpres - Seth roberts Photo: scott curtis

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�Pat Moore is someone you can all ways count on. I spent the whole season shooting with Pat. In that time I got to see a side of him that many people don’t get to see. Pat is all ways willing to lend a hand or help anyone out at any time. He’s actually one of the nicest guys in snowboarding. He gives 100 % every waking moment. Let’s just say he is a very passionate person. Check him out in the Forum movie “Forum or Against ‘Em” and you will see what I mean.

Oh yeah, he is really good at snowboarding too.

 -Ian Ruhter

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Opening Day at Wild Mountain, Taylors Falls, MN. A typical opening day except it was 60 degrees!

snowboarding from dubuque, iowa. 07-08 season

Jay Peak 07-08

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TJ Schneider’s project The Snowboard Realms: Season Two releases Wednesday, November 5th at 5pm (pst) for your viewing pleasure.  Grab some popcorn, maybe a bad boy soda and enjoy here:

thesnowboardrealms.com

While you’re at it check out TJ’s art at tjschneider.com

The season is coming!

Shread,follow cams, watch it in high quality on you tube

shreadin hood in late aug

“1000 at f5.6: A Scott Serfas Photo Exhibit”

What: Exhibit
Host: Scott Serfas
Start Time: Friday, November 28 at 6:30pm
End Time: Friday, November 28 at 11:00pm
Where: Red Bull Headquarters and Lounge

Click (here) to warp over to scottserfas.com

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BUY NO CORRECT WAY HERE

You want more? Watch these!
Bjorn Leines Teaser
John Foy Teaser
Max Legend Teaser
Eiki Helgason Teaser

WEST DOVER (November 1, 2008) – Mount Snow offered its first lift-serviced terrain of the 2008-2009 ski season this morning, opening the Discovery Shuttle lift at 8 a.m. and offering guests a terrain park with over a dozen features.

The opening marks the first lift-serviced terrain in Vermont for the 2008-2009 season.

Lift tickets were sold for $10, with all proceeds donated directly to the Guy Hawkins fund. Over $1,800 was collected and will assist local cancer patients and their families.

Approximately 300 skiers and riders showed up for the “Tricks for Treats” jib session on Launch Pad, enjoying a free barbeque, free Halloween candy, and music. A costume contest was held, and Rory Bruder won a snowboard for his ice cream cone get-up, while Ashley Coulthard won a pair of skis for his “ski bum” outfit.

Mount Snow will fire up its fan gun snowmaking machines on several top to bottom trails tonight, continuing to stockpile snow in preparation for lift service from the summit. Mount Snow was the first mountain in New England to open with top to bottom terrain in 2007.

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polejammin

BONFIRE Bees & Keys Down Vest, $100
The liner is an original piece of artwork by Seattle-based artist Luke Yates.
bonfiresnowboarding.com 

Wild Mountain

Mt. Moran Teton National Park above Jackson, Lake

my friends wanted me to throw together a edit using a song and effect used in FDOT’s Familia. just random clips from a tape from last year

shifty backlip seth roberts photo by scott curtis… thanks

Seth :Shifty Backlip : Cameraman:scott curtis Sony Fx1

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Video By Justin Meyer

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Check out all the past Diaries Down Under.
#6
#5
#4
#3
#2
#1

Ryan Arrington shredding the horse in Winter Park. Taken by Jay Stewart.

best ski film since ever

soundtrack (is hilarious) by order
flight of the bumble bee
pokemon theme song
numa numa song

front nose

Get the Flash Player to see this player. summer jib pole jam jibbing snowboarding
Chris Johnson, Lynndon Novak, Colton Jobst
Winnipeg Manitoba
Hope you like our little video. We have a couple more that we’re gonna throw together soon.

&rel=1">&rel=1" />some shit from last season

kink rail to frontside bs on ledge, yay for winnipeg

Nicolas Müller is an amazing snowboarder—someone we can all admire for his seemingly natural ability to crush-it on all terrain. But what is possibly even more admirable, is his choice to SPEAK OUT about things that matter. Things like global warming, sustainability, and environmental awareness. When so many pros never bother use their position as opinion leaders and tastemakers to any responsible end, its nice to hear from someone who actually has some thoughts and opinions and ideas. Read up.  —jm

How did you become aware and concerned about your “impact “ on the planet?
It started with becoming a Vegetarian and choosing to eat organically grown produce only. In the beginning I did it mainly for my own health and soon I realized that we influence the whole planet with our actions.

What do you think is the most significant action you take to reduce that impact?
Not eating meat. The amount of water, nutrition, farmland and fossil fuels consumed to make one piece of meat gets me going for weeks. With today’s population on this planet, it is straight up ridiculous to think you need meat with every meal. If we keep consuming at this pace we will need several planet earths to provide the resources.

How do you reconcile the use of helicopters and snowmobiles in your work?
There’s no doubt that I use a lot of fossil oil for my travels around the world as a professional snowboarder. Again, meat production is before global traffic when it comes to climate impact. In South America alone, in the past 25years, 20 Million hectares of forest have been burnt and cut down to make space for cattle. Those trees would put a lot of C02 in the ground. I am also at the forefront of the SuddenRushAtlanticRainforest Institution, where I offset my C02 footprint by purchasing forest that becomes national forest after I bought it. Forever and certified by the Governement of Brasil.

Do you see awareness, environmental stewardship  and individual responsibility spreading/growing?
No doubt, there’s a great energy on this planet today. People start to think, they are bored of their consumer lives and they are beginning to question things instead of believing everything. There’s a lot of manipulation out there, but everybody can still choose for themselves who they want to support with their dollars, which equals their energy.

Talk about your new board?
The EcoNico is the most environmentally friendly board in the line. We could say it’s like a prototype with the most up-to-date green technology in making boards at Burton. It has a FSC farmed woodcore, recycled metal and plastik, no laquer topsheet, and water-based inks printed on recycled paper, to name a few things here. Every year there will be a progress within my board that will trickle into the whole board line the following season.

What is the next step you can take to further your cause of environmental awareness?
I see it like this, you can’t totally change overnight and nobody is perfect either … But the thing I am trying to do is to consider the sustainability in every action. And that can go as far as thoughts. I don’t want anything that I do to have a negative impact on myself or on the big wide world.

How do you keep yourself informed about these issues?
By sharing and meeting with people that believe in similar ways. From books and websites, documentary films. A lot of it also just came together in my head from observing nature, our civilization and society and thinking about it a lot. I am an introvert … I think a lot … sometimes too much.

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