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Word is that the next Absinthe film to arrive after their huge success Neverland will be called NOW/HERE and feature a slew of the top riders including…

Nicolas Müller :: Romain deMarchi :: Annie Boulanger :: Wolfgang Nyvelt :: Bode Merrill :: Marie France Roy :: Dan Brisse :: JP Solberg :: DCP :: Jake Blauvelt :: Sylvain Bourbousson :: Lucas Debari :: Jules Reymond :: Fredi Kalbermatten :: Bjorn Leines :: Cale Zima :: Tadashi Fuse :: Taka Nakai :: Terje Haakonsen :: Gigi Rüf

Line-up looks siiiick but I am a bit surprised to not see Travis Rice in the list (yet?), either way I can’t wait to see some sneak peaks. I will post them here as soon as I find any of course

via WhoaSnow

The Alta Lakes part from SixEleven’s movie “This Is Serious.” This is from a DVLP Clothing team trip to the Alta Lakes Observatory last winter. Dang, fool, watch out for that tree!

www.sixelevenproductions.com

www.altalakes.com

via www.frqncy.com

3^rd Annual Mikey P. Jam

Saturday

March lucky 13^th, 2010

What to expect for the 3^rd Annual Mikey P Jam?  It will be a similar format to the last two years, Fun! 

The course is a combination of rails, box slides and big jumps.  Riders are judged on: variety of tricks, amplitude, style, and execution/landing.  It is all done in a jam format that keeps the fun factor high.  The Area 76 Terrain Park employees keep the course smoothed out and sculpted for your jibbing pleasure.  Along with the perfectly groomed park we have DJ Nevada & DJ Kelly spinning the music.  There is plenty of room for spectators to ride through the area and check out the high flying action.  Non-riding family and friends are able to walk over from the lodge to the terrain park. 

Registration will be at the Stewart Lodge from 8-10am.  Riders Meeting at Area 76 Terrain Park at 10:30.  Competition to follow.

$20 dollar entrance fee, if needed $10.00 lift ticket for non pass holders.  Entrance includes long sleeve t-shirt with Mikey P Jam artwork, unique park features for the jam, loads of fun, awards ceremony with general raffle for all participants!  Oh yeah, an after party with live band Noise Tractor and DJ’s.  Push up contest and handstand contest into the night.. 

The 2^nd Annual Mikey P Jam took place this last season at Terry Peak Ski Area, under another big blue magical sky.  It was truly perfect weather for this snow sport competition/celebration. 

Registration was bright and early at the Stewart Lodge from 8-10am.  We had most of the prizes laid out for the early morning stoke at registration.  It really looked impressive with more than enough schwag to cover two tables.  Custom Mikey P Jam Mugs and Hats, Boards, Skis, Wii Nintendo, goggles, Hats, Gloves, Bindings, etc…  We had some of the finest Mikey P Jam volunteers holding down the registration, which was a busy job with a mad rush at registration closing time, go figure…  We registered participants up until 10:30 and had to cut some off, sorry!  There still were a record number of participants with 104 riders. 

Riders’ meeting was close to 10:30, with most of the riders there anxious to get riding, it was kept short.  Riders were told they would be judged on style, amplitude/aggressiveness, difficulty, variety of tricks, and of course the landing.  All riders were told be courteous, and encouraging to all the other riders, “who will be the next Mikey P”…  With that the 15 & Under Boys skiers and boarders were released to hike to the staging area at the top of Area 76 Terrain Park for an 11am start.  On Schedule! The action was aggressive and progressive.  For a real living of what happens join us again this year, March lucky 13^th  2010, for the 3^rd Mikey P Jam. For more information call 605 641-4963 or e-mail

via www.frqncy.com

Hurricane Ridge, WA (February 26, 2010) — Once again the strapless weekend is set for Hurricane Ridge the last weekend of March. And remember, you’re allowed to dirnk within park boundaries, making the Baked Slalom all the more entertaining.

via www.frqncy.com

Mt Baker, WA (February 26, 2010)

The Mt Baker Splitboard Festival will be taking place March 27 and 28. frequency TSJ is a proud sponsor of this event–reserve your spot now for a chance to stay at the Mountaineer’s Lodge, a five minute walk from the lifts, and take part in a weekend of splitboarding clinics, tours and more.

From event organizer Terry Schmidbauer:

“For a weekend in March we will gather together in the Pacific Northwest to tour the backcountry, share our stories and maybe even learn a few things about the passion we call Splitboarding.

The history of Snowboarding can trace it roots back to the Mt Baker backcountry, an area noted for its early snowfalls, deep winter snowpack, and late season riding. So what would be a better place to hold this inaugural event than the Mt Baker area?

We will be staying at the Mountaineers Lodge which is close to destinations such as Artist Point, Table Mountain, and Herman Saddle. The Lodge has a breathtaking view of Mount Shuksan and is only a five-minute walk from the lifts of Mt Baker Ski area.

So, if you have been Splitboarding for a year or a decade, this will be an event to remember.

Date: March 27th and 28th.

Lodging and meals: Mt Bake Mountaineers Lodge, $70 for full weekend.

Events include a Splitboarding Techniques Class, a Basic Avalanche Awareness Class and a raffle to benefit the Friends of the Northwest Weather and Avalanche Center.

For more information and to register go to: www.splitboardfestival.com.”

See you there!

via www.frqncy.com

Sun Peaks, BC (February 24, 2010)

With Olympic fever firmly upon Vancouver and having already sampled the slim pickings on the north shore, I made for Sun Peaks Resort over the weekend to escape the crowds in the city. Despite the poor snow year on the coast—Whistler’s solid base in the alpine notwithstanding—the interior of British Columbia has remained just cold enough to keep the mountains of the Okanagan in stellar shape. With this in mind, I opted to check out Sun Peaks Resort, 45 minutes north of the mountain biking Mecca of Kamloops and a 4.5-hour drive northeast of Vancouver.

Rising out of a dry, high plateau, Sun Peaks is the only significant peak for some miles—this was apparent as I emerged from the fog and couldn’t see anything short of the Monashees jutted out of the fog bank to the east. Up top, temperatures hovered around freezing under bluebird skies and there was little wind—“the best day of the year”, as a snowboarding mom told me on the chair.

It’s no wonder that Sun Peaks is a favorite for families and the Austrian Ski Team alike. Long, wide-open groomers dominate the mountain, with a few short steep tree shots adorned with snow ghosts and very few tracks. There is a mellow upper bowl serviced by a t-bar, which was seeing considerable action in the unusually mild conditions, with lineups quickly growing and sending me down into the trees and back to the village.

The bottom of the mountain held the attraction for the younger crowd, a long park, over which you could hit a half-dozen perfectly shaped tables ranging from 10 to 50 feet before loading a high speed quad back to the top. And the park was surprisingly empty until the afternoon, making for flowy laps in the morning, only having to dodge the occasional kid lining up the rail line mid-mountain.

Indeed, Sun Peaks lived up to its name, serving up two days of perfect weather, and long, empty groomers and park laps. Throw in a solid snowpack and a few snow-ghost bonks up high—and even the occasional pow turn—and it was a perfect complement to the Olympic madness down on the coast.

Thanks to Melanie Simmons and the rest of the crew at Sun Peaks for a great weekend—I hope to see you again soon.

via www.frqncy.com

If a sport as young as snowboarding could have an “age old discussion” it would surely be: What are better Flow or traditional ratchet / strap bindings? You’ll see the discussion happening every couple days on snowboarding forums, much to the annoyance of the regulars. I hope that the info below will answer a few of your questions and help you to make the right decision.

Flow bindings

Flows are the original “rear entry” binding. They have one large strap section that is fixed over the top of the foot and a highback that drops down for access into the binding. They are considered the “marmite” of the snowboarding world, with most riders either loving or hating them.

Pros:
Fast easy access
Distribute pressure evenly across the top of the foot
No on-the-go adjustment;  just lift the high-back and go

Cons:
Hard to get on when there’s a build up of snow or ice on the base plate
Very hard to get on in deep powder
Hard to make quick on-the-go adjustments
Can be heavier then ratchet bindings
Might not be as responsive as traditional bindings
Can’t rotate high-backs and have limited forward-lean adjustment

Ratchet bindings

I’m going to guess that 95% of bindings on the market are based loosely on the traditional ratchet model. They have 2 straps that fix your foot to the snowboard, one around the ankle and one over the toe. The “high-back”, where the back of your boot rests, is fixed. They clearly do the job, when you consider how many models use this formula.

Pros:
Are quickly adjustable
Often give better control, due to a well adjusted fit
Are generally light
There’s more choice
Easier to clear the base-plate of snow and ice

Cons:
Can be (marginally) slower to put on
Can put pressure on localised areas of the foot, ie toes (toe cups like Burton’s can help this though)

My opinion

I, personally, sit in the ratchet camp. The first pair of bindings I bought were Flows and I got them because I’d heard that they were easy and quick to use. When I moved to ratchet bindings after that, I decided I would never go back, they gave so much more control, were far easier to adjust and were actually easier to put on a lot of the time. So, I personally think that Flows solve a problem that isn’t there. I’m certainly not alone in feeling that way; when you look around at people who live or do seasons in the mountains, you’ll rarely see anyone wearing Flows.

I haven’t mentioned some of the other rear-entry bindings, like the K2 Clinch (that also have adjustable toe and heal straps). As combined bindings, they’ll have a lot of both the Flow and Ratchet pros, so are growing in popularity. But to be honest, for me, they still solve a problem that isn’t there and I’m not interested in the extra weight and complications.

Don’t just take my word for it though, check out some of the forum discussions, but maybe don’t bother starting new threads… there’s plenty of them already out there!

Nonstopsnowboard.com instructor and improver courses.

via nonstopski.com

Hey, my name is  Adam Bowcutt and I am a snowboarder.  Welcome to this week’s tasty round-up of snowboarding blog posts, articles and forum topics from around the world.

Begin your path to park progression

Snowboarding can take many forms.  The extent of its creativity and progression is only limited by our imagination.  It’s amazing what can be done on a snowboard.  An increasingly popular part of snowboarding is park riding.  Many resorts across the globe allocate a good chunk of time and money on developing their terrain park. They cater for the strong need of riders to launch themselves off a jump or slide a rail.  Common sense and knowledge can help keep freestyle snowboarding fun and safe.  But, where should you start?

Get acquainted with park riding HERE courtesy of ezinearticles.com

Imagine a city full of park

A quality terrain park can draw the discerning park rat to a particular resort.  Riding a reputable park compared to a lame one can be like the difference between  fine dining at the Ritz or chomping on a burger at MCdonald’s.  Quality is important.  Some parks are kept in pristine condition by a passionate park crew.  Others are simply left to deteriorate due to lazy park staff or lack of resources and funding.  A safe, fun and progressive terrain park can create good times for snowboarders wanting to push their freestyle skills.  At the highest level Park City Mountain resort, training ground of double Olympic gold medalist Shaun White is an example of venue providing a top quality terrain park.  It has certainly served Mr. White well!

Read more HERE courtesy of RideUtah.com

Where to park & ride ?

Choosing from the many terrain parks dotted around the world can be a tough decision.  Shall I go somewhere with a perfectly shaped pipe but with limited box or rails features ? or, opt for a resort that has a plentiful rails minus a halfpipe ? It’s difficult enough finding  the right mountain at the right time with good snow conditions let alone one with a progressive and well kept terrain park.  Perhaps find some help in the form of a park guide that will advise you on the best spots to get your freestyle fill.

Check out some top parks HERE via MySnowParks.com

Read more HERE courtesy of TerrainParkSaftey.org

Easy style it

It’s all good and well choosing your ideal terrain park to shred.  However, it’s in every body’s interest to learn about and practice terrain park etiquette and safety.  ‘Smart Style’ is an easy to follow guide to riding a park safely.  A simple example is ‘look before you leap’. It may seem obvious to scope a jump out before you hit itbut it’s pretty impressive how many park users will hit a jump their first run through.  Consequences of this can be tragic.  Season ending injuries can be easily prevented by listening to ‘Smart Style’

Developing and mastering your skills in the terrain park can be very rewarding as well as extremely fun! However, before you step out of your comfort zone it should be a priority to be safe and courteous in the park.  It’s not just for advanced freestylers, but also for complete park beginners.  We all have to start somewhere, so to keep terrain parks fun for everyone get smart and easy style it.

Check back next week for more

NONSTOPsnowboard.com

via nonstopski.com

Thanks to Adam, Jack and Martin for their update on life in the Nonstop Banff camp:

Monday 15^th Feb – This was an awesomely aggressive day on the hill at Sunshine. Conditions were perfect, with amazing visibility and grippy snow! In the evening there was an organised bonfire, where songs were sung, beer was drunk, and lucky underwear and bras were sacrificed to the snow gods… Aggressive!

Tuesday 16^th Feb – At Lake Louise today. The snow was pretty fresh and powdery in the right places. The trouble was getting there, with visibility pretty much an aggressive white-out, it certainly did make things ‘interesting’. It’s the first time we have had bad visibility though so we can’t really complain! One of the snowboarding groups endured a gruelling 2 hour hike up a mountain with our legs buried in powder! But the run down was like nothing else! Epic powder and aggressive isolation.

Wednesday 17^th Feb – The snow gods produced for us after our sacrifices. This made for the best day we have had so far at Mount Norquay. I spent the day with the director of club ski, Paul Thrasher. He lived up to his name and his reputation. We slayed the bumps and hit the park. My favourite day skiing so far.  The evening was pretty good too, one of the boarders played an aggressive set at the local night club and we celebrated Tara’s Birthday.

Thursday 18^th Feb – At Lake Louise! An aggressive amount of people missing after last night! Weaklings! Snowboarders went up the intense button lift and had an amazing run on untouched powder! Then spent the afternoon throwing down in the park! Can you have a day much better than that?!

Friday 19^th Feb – This was a day off the slopes for most people, but for a few it was the start of the CSCF Race coach course. For myself and Jack, it was a race against time to complete the aggressive Norquay challenge. 27 runs off the big chair, equalling in a vertical decent of 35000ft! We made it….just! Sleep was on the agenda for that evening.

Saturday 20^th Feb – A very aggressive day for me, recovering from yesterdays skiing. It was the second day for the race coach crew, and they were blessed with fantastic weather today. Very sunny and great visibility.

Sunday 21^st Feb – The final day for the race coach people, and they certainly went out with a bang. Everyone had cause to celebrate with 100% pass rate. I think they have taken to the après ski culture quite aggressively!

Week 7 summary: AGGRESSIVE!

By Adam, Jack and Martin

Read all of the other course diaries for the Banff 11 week instructor course here.

Find out how to take part in Banff ski instructor courses here.

And check out the Banff snowboard instructor courses here.

via nonstopski.com

This week the Red Mountain crew have been making the most of one of NONSTOP’s credited activities – Backcountry Touring. Here’s Adam Gordon’s accounts of a long, but rewarding, day.

The backcountry credit activity started in a pretty relaxed fashion (a key characteristic of Rossland life) by collecting touring skis and snowshoes up at the hill and playing with said new toys. A briefing with Harry (our guide) followed, then off up Silverlode, fully laden with the backcountry gear (although in my case I was mainly laden with an outrageously enormous packed lunch).

One quick discussion and a ride up Motherlode later, we were waiting at the marked backcountry exit between Rino’s Run and Silver Sheep, with Record Peak our ultimate objective. There was undoubtedly a little apprehension, but mainly excitement, thanks in no small part to the 30 cm of fresh we were headed towards!

After dropping in to the gully which separates the tourists from the hardcore, we skinned and shoed ourselves in the appropriate kit and started to break trail (actually Harry did that bit, thankfully…). After around a 30 to 40 minute hike we were in a spot called the Helipad on White Wolf Ridge, a little warmer than when we started but looking forward to the first turns of the day. The snow was so epic that a few of us didn’t make so many turns as planned, and after about 10 big Cs (and the occasional air) we were back in the flats, ready for the real climb.

Heading up onto Record Ridge was not too challenging, until the kick turns started. An acquired skill it seems, that took a few tries to acquire…  An hour later we were lightening our packs considerably at Record Peak. Lunches done, it was time to take on the north face. A rather intimidating cornice had built up on the ridge, but our highly experienced and endlessly chilled guide Harry found us a drop in point, and drop in we did, into seriously sick pow. A few pitches later, and all too soon, we were back in uphill mode, but not before watching our tail guide Stacey shred her last few turns. We congratulated ourselves on being the first NONSTOP group to take on Record’s north face, and got hiking.

Another 20 minutes took us into a tasty boulder field filled with pillows and drops. A slightly aggressive line put me on my ass, luckily the others made a better job of things. A final 30 minute hike took us into the locally renowned D.L.’s Trees. Yet more steep and deep and we were out at the base of Paradise Chair, with grins almost too big to fit on the lift. All in all, an excellent way to spend a Saturday.

See all the previous course diaries from this year’s instructor cours in Red Mountain here.

Look into doing an ski instructor course in Red Mountain here.

Or snowboard instructor courses here.

via nonstopski.com