Burton Snowboards and Bindings

Looking for Burton Snowboards and Bindings. Burton has been ripping up the snow industry for decades. These guys were the frontiers, and they helped pave the way for the sport we know and love today. Burton Jackets and Pants have the best designs, and they will keep you toasty warm on the slopes. So if you are looking for the new Shaun White gear, or if you just love Burton snowboard gear and equipment and Burton bindings you will find them here at Tightboards.com your Burton online warehouse. Oh, and remember our free shipping policy always rocks!

Special Blend Outerwear

Special Blend Outerwear has been creating top of the line outerware for those of us who pound the slopes. Chosen by some of the top riders in the world, Special Blend, competes and comes out on top. Chwck out our Special Blend Mens Snowboard jackets and Mens Special Blend Snowboard pants. We also carry Snowboard Jackets and Pants by Special Blend for Women. Below you will also find other Special Blend apparel like, Hats, beanies Special Blend T-shirts, Hoodies and Belts. Be sure to make note of the discounts on Special Blend as well as the free shipping that we all love!

Element Skateboards

Element Skateboards is at the top of the very top of the Skateboard industry. Element is more than a brand, its a lifestyle. Check out the gear with everything from Decks and Skate Shoes to Tees, Shorts, wallets and more! Give your mouth a rest and let Element say it all for you this summer.

Billabong

Billabong International makes Billabong-brand surf and extreme sports (skate- and snowboarding) apparel and accessories. Products sporting its wave logo include: board shorts, swimwear, T-shirts, jackets, backpacks, and footwear. Board riders and wannabes can buy the firms gear at specialty sport stores and a few Billabong stores in more than 90 countries. The company sponsors surfers, skaters, and pro surfing tournaments in Australia, South Africa, and Spain. In 2001 it bought Element (skatewear) and Von Zipper (sunglasses and goggles).

Spy Optic Goggles

Spy Optic Goggles are snowboard goggle with a message. Spy offers the top of the line in Goggle technology and style that is both impressive and expressive of the rider. Even if you cant ride very well...you will be able to see all of the good riders clearly even in the driving snow...and you will look totally cool while you sit on the mountian and "take a break". So pick up you pair of Spy Optics this season with discounts and free shipping...you cant go wrong!

Smith goggles

Our goal over the past 40+ years has been to drive technology and create products that are engineered to fit and perform perfectly every time. Our products evolves, our goals remain the same. We continue to offer the most fashionable and technologically advanced products on the market.

Oakley Sunglasses

Oakley Sunglasses are the very best in quality design, polarized glasses and goggles that will last for years. Trust the brand that has outlasted and out performed its competitors. Pick up your new oakley sunglasses or goggles today and save with free ground shipping!

Granade goggles

This movement has been going strong for seven years now. We have never worn a suit to work a single day in our lives and are not about to start now. Our eyes are open. Each day we use them to view the world in a new light. Each day we learn new lessons and we incorporate these discoveries into new possibilities, you have become exactly what THEY want you to be. Humans are not submissive by design. They allow themselves to become that way. We are kids; we will never lose that. Even when our skin has turned splotchy and wrinkled we will still be listening to rock and roll and coming to work hung over. We are here to live on, join us!

Quiksilver eyewear

Quiksilver was founded in 1970 in Australia, when Torquay surfers Alan Green and John Law came up with the idea of selling wetsuits for a living. They redesigned the wetsuit, creating one that was specifically designed for surfing, and over time, introduced a range of surfwear products, at a time when there was little competition.
They were successful enough in Australia that they caught some attention overseas, and in 1976, agreed to sell the distribution rights in the United States for several million dollars. This was followed, in 1984, by a move into the European market, and the creation of Quiksilver Europe. More recently, they have begun a foray into the Asian market. Along the way Quiksilver has been setting the bar high in the board industry, with cutting edge style, comfort and quality.

What is a Chalet Holiday Anyway?

A White Planet Chalet Holiday has all of the benefits of a luxury hotel, combined with the pleasure of staying with friends.

The chalet is fully catered (breakfast, afternoon tea and 4 course evening meal). Your food - inclusive of your holiday, will be prepared by highly professional chefs who have a wide range of experience both in the UK and in Europe. Let them help you to enjoy the whole Alpine experience when you sample our unique style of food: a mixture of modern-European and traditional-French style cuisine accompanied by complementary local wines.

In the evening sit at the table to enjoy your meal and discuss the day's skiing or boarding over a candle-lit table. Finally, adjourn to the lounge with fresh coffee and after dinner chocolates to relax in front of a log fire. Why not choose something from the chalet bar. You will be guests in our chalet, run by "hosts", who wish to make you feel at home. Your bedroom and the communal areas are cleaned every day (excluding staff day off) and your towels are changed mid week.

So, you can help yourself to the tea and coffee, put your feet up on the sofa and feel free to walk about the chalet in your slippers.

The Battle is Tightening for the Freeride World Champion Title

Final Two Contests Are:
Nissan Freeride de Tignes, France 8-13 March
Nissan O’Neill Xtreme, Verbier, Switzerland 14-16 March

Mammoth – Sochi – The Alps – Tignes – Verbier

Tignes,– Two more contests to go before the first ever Freeride World Champions, men and women, will be revealed. The world’s best freeride skiers and snowboarders have just completed a week of top level freeriding at the Swatch O’Neill BigMountain Pro. In a few days it is time to meet up again for the Nissan Freeride de Tignes and then the final stop of the Freeride World Tour in Verbier for the Nissan O’Neill Xtreme one week later. The suspense is growing with a very tight ranking. Who will be crowned Freeride World Champion in skiing and snowboarding in 10 days? Stay tuned to find out…

The Freeride World Tour started off in January with the Nissan Mammoth Challenge, before heading to the Nissan Russian Adventure, at the 2014 Olympic host resort, Krasnaya Polyana, Sochi in Russia in early February. Last week, the male riders showed their skills at the Swatch O’Neill Big Mountain Pro, a mobile event in the Alps. Legendary snowboarder Jeremy Jones won the event overall with fast and fluid riding and Swede Kaj Zackrisson won the skiers category, with powerful skiing, taking huge air and riding at 112 km/h at one stage of the contest! We are now close to the final epilogue of the Freeride World Tour.

This weekend, the top 45 male and female riders are meeting up in Tignes four the fourth contest, Nissan Freeride de Tignes, Saturday 8 March. A number of freeride contests have already been held in this resort, famous for its freeriding with a number of local stars, like the Freeride World Tour contestant, re-known skier and Paris-Dakar stage winner Guerlain Chicherit: “It’s a special feeling to ride a contest at home, a lot of friends will watch the contest and I really want to do well, even more than elsewhere.”

Local organiser Dino Raffault, who has a vast experience in sport events management including a number of freeride contests in the Alps, is looking forward to seeing the best riders of the sport in Tignes: “We are happy and proud to be part of the first edition of the Freeride World Tour and to host the best riders of the circuit for a few days here at the number one freeride resort of France.”

All is at stake to crown the Freeride World Champions in less than two weeks but there are a few riders standing out so far. On the male skiers’ side the battle for top podium is tight between the French veteran skier Seb Michaud, soon 35, and one of the oldest riders in the skier’s line up, and the young but talented former freestyler Henrik Windstedt from Sweden. Henrik Windstedt, 24, has not been competing in world circuits of freeriding before, but has five victories of the Nordic Big Mountain Championships under his belt. The young Swede is currently leading the Freeride World Tour (FWT) ranking, watched very closely by second placed Seb Michaud. Aurélien Ducroz, the French skier from Chamonix, is nipping at their heels on third position after a great performance at the Big Mountain Pro, taking second place behind Swede Kaj Zackrisson, who won a second year in a row. Kaj Zackrisson could not collect any points for the FWT ranking though, as he entered the Big Mountain Pro as a wild card.

Austrian snowboarder Flo Orley is leading the snowboarders’ ranking list after two solid contests, taking a win in Russia and a second place in the US with fast, fluid and steady runs. He maintains in the lead of the ranking system after a fifth place at the Big Mountain Pro. With an impressively strong first run at the Big Mountain Pro, French boarder cross world champion and snowboard pro Xavier de le Rue took second place and has therefore climbed to second overall on the FWT ranking followed by the two Swiss riders Cyril Neri and Alex Coudray, both on third place.

On the female side, the riders have not been competing in the Freeride World Tour since the Nissan Russian Adventure in early February. Among the world’s top female freeriders American Jesse McMillan is leading the skiers ranking, closely followed by Swedish Marja Persson and Alaskan Elyse Saugstad, both on second place. Elyse Saugstad was qualified from the Freeride World Qualifying Series and has proved to be one of the strongest female skiers out there.

On the snowboard side Austrian Bibi Pekarek is leading the Tour, and in points Swiss pro snowboarder Geraldine Fasnacht is second but unfortunately she had a bad landing in Russia, tore her crossed ligaments and cannot continue riding this season.

The Grand Finale: Nissan O’Neill Xtreme de Verbier, 15 March (reserve days 14-23 March)
Since its start in 1996 the “Xtreme” has been considered the most prestigious event in the world of freeriding. For the “grande finale” of the Freeride World Tour the elite of freeride skiing and snowboarding will tackle the mythical North Face of theBec des Rosses, 3222 m, Sunday 15March.

Live Coverage of Nissan Freeride de Tignesand Nissan O’Neill Xtreme Verbier
In Tignes and Verbier, for the first time ever, a Freeride contests will be broadcasted live, thanks to a satellite feed, with different camera angles directly from the mountain. With a growing interest of the sport of freeriding, the live feed will get a broader audience as close as possible to the action.
The two contests will be transmitted live on www.freerideworldtour.com and www.freecaster.tv as well as on TSR2, National Swiss TV.
Click directly on the images below to download them in hi-definition:

Check out news, updates, photos, riders and events information on: www.freerideworldtour.com

Partners: the partners of the Freeride World Tour events are:
Nissan, O'Neill, Swatch, The North Face, Tignes, Verbier, Mammoth, Scott and Da Kine.



The Freeride World Tour (FWT) consists of five contests with the world’s best male and female skiers and snowboarders:

1. Nissan Mammoth Challenge (USA), 22 - 26 January – first possible contest day 23 January. 56 riders in total: 19 male skiers and snowboarders, 8 female skiers and snowboarders, including two wild cards men, one wild card women per discipline and three riders per discipline from the Nissan Mammoth Quest (first contest of the Freeride Qualifying Series). Prize money: 40 000 USD

2. Nissan Russian Adventurein Sochi (RUS), 31 January - 5 February. 44 riders in total. 16 male skiers and snowboarders, 6 female skiers and snowboarders, including two wild per discipline. Prize money: 40 000 USD.

3. Swatch O'Neill Big Mountain Pro, a mobile event in the Alps, 24 February - 2 March. 26 riders in total: 13 male skiers and snowboarders, including fivewild cards per discipline and the top 8 of the Freeride World Tour ranking after the two first contests. Prize money 80 000 USD.

4. Nissan Freeride de Tignes(FRA), 8 - 13 March. 44 riders in total: 16 male skiers and snowboarders, 6 female skiers and snowboarders, including two wild cards per discipline. Prize money: 40 000 USD.

5. Nissan O'Neill Xtreme in Verbier (SUI), 14 - 23 March. 32 riders in total: 12 male skiers and snowboarders. 4 female skiers and snowboarders, including four wild cards men and two wild cards women per discipline. Prize money: 100 000 USD.

The Freeride World Qualifying Series (FWQS) consists of three contests:
1. Nissan Mammoth Quest (USA) 15-17 Jan 08. 76 riders in total. The top 3 placed riders per discipline progress to the World Tour and the Nissan Mammoth Challenge one week later.

2. Nissan Freeride Montafon (AUT) 9 – 14 Feb 08. 76 riders in total.

3. Roldal Freeride Challenge (NOR) 1-4 May 08. 22 riders from the FWQS.

The best athletes(top 4 men + top 2 women)of the FWQS 08 qualify for the Freeride World Tour 09.

Results:
Please see complete result and FWT ranking lists at www.freerideworldtour.com

45 Riders competing at Nissan Freeride de Tignes 8-13 March (scheduled contest day Saturday 8 March)

Snowboarding at Alpe d'Huez

click here for lift pass details and pricing Snowboarding Whether you are a jibber or a freerider Alpe d’Huez is the place for you. It boasts 235km of groomed piste riding in an area that stretches over 10,000 ha. The lift system is superb with many gondolas, cable cars and chairlifts which can move 98,000 people per hour! The great news for beginners is that there are protected areas where excessive speed is prohibited and the resort doesn’t have too many drag lifts which will be helpful in your progression. The system is also very efficient and gives you great riding time for time spent on lifts. From Pic Blanc (3330m), you can descend the Sarenne piste which at 16km is Europe’s longest black run, which takes up to one and half hours! Or you can take on the steeps of the infamous Tunnel run; a real knee trembler! Snowpark If you prefer jibing or “air time” the snowpark is the place to hang out. It offers a 300m vertical drop and 2km of descents with more than twenty bumps and jumps, a boardercross, a halfpipe and a 12x10m swimming pool in the spring. Freeride If your passion is freeride, Alpe D’Huez is exceptional with over 20 classic long off piste routes with all terrains; steep faces, open plateaux, gun barrels, couloirs and plenty of hits with a vertical drop of over 2210m making a trip off piste a real must. The must do’s are La Grand Sablât, La Pyramide, Combe da Loup, Col de Couard. Mountain guides are available and you can even get back to resort in true free ride style with a heli pick up from the more remote parts of the mountain. Floodlit Boarding at Night If that’s not enough you can even ride at night on the Signal floodlit piste 3 times a week.

Ken Block must really like Missouri! Last weekend he proved dominance at the state's 100 Acre Wood Rally, round two of the 2008 Rally America National Championship, taking the win there for the third straight year. His teammate Travis Pastrana was hot on his heels, taking 2nd place.

100 Acre Wood is one of the fastest courses on the circuit as gravel roads flow through trees and blind corners and crests… commitment is a prerequisite here. This year's event saw sleet, below freezing temperatures, and chilly rain in the days leading up to the start, making the roads icy and even more treacherous.


While most of the competitors were struggling with the gnarly conditions--spinouts, crashes, flats, and mechanical issues--Ken seemed to just settle in. Ken looked confident as he charged on the roads he's become familiar with, as he bagged wins there for the last two years. Travis stayed within striking distance for most of the rally, but just couldn't seem to close the gap to less than 30 seconds.

Electric Eyewear

Electric Eyewear, founded in Southern California, is a premium lifestyle brand in the Surf, Ski, Moto/MX, Skate, and Snowboard industry. Electric eyewear is an industry leader with a forward approach to eyewear fashion and technology. With Rock Star styling and Marketing Mojo, Electric’s energy can’t be stopped!

Electric eyewear makes sunglasses and snow goggles with the consumer in mind. Electric sunglasses come in a variety of styles including polarized lenses, non polarized lenses, wire frames, and acetate frames. Electric snow goggles are one of the best in design and functionality. With a roster of professional athletes and musicians including Riley Metcalf, Amanda Scheller, Bam Magera, CKY, Derek Garland, and Matt Hayward to name a few, Electric Visual has proven to be a leader in today’s market.

With the design skills of Kip Arnette, Electric Visual will continue to push the limits. Combining fashion forward thinking with modern design and functionality, Electric Visual will continue to produce quality eyewear for surf, skate, snow, ski, and moto sports. Start your day off right with a pair of Electric sunglasses.

YES to Hold 2008 Massachusetts Snow Challenge

BOSTON – Youth Enrichment Services (YES), a non-profit organization that offers low- and moderate-income Boston area kids outdoor and practical learning activities, announced the 2008 Massachusetts Snow Challenge to be held at Wachusett Mountain ski resort on March 15.

Skiers and snowboarders are invited to spend a fun-filled day on the slopes while raising money for YES to support positive Boston youth experiences.

Highlights of the day’s activities include the following:

• There will be a slope-side barbecue for families and friends.
• There will be a boot throwing contest, ski pole spinning contest, frozen t-shirt challenge, and other activities for the whole family.
• Skiers and snowboarders will form four-person teams (individuals are also welcome and will be placed on a team) for a fun race down a NASTAR course. To participate, teams must raise or contribute at least $300 while individuals must raise or contribute $80.
• Prizes will be awarded to the fastest teams, those that raise the most money and the one that demonstrates “YES I Can” effort. For each additional $200 raised by a team, one second will be deducted from the team time, so snow sport prowess isn’t necessary.
• The price of registration includes a lift ticket, lunch, goody bag and participation in the race.

“The Massachusetts Snow Challenge is a great way for skiers and snowboarders to spend a day with their friends, co-workers, club members or family while raising money for a good cause,” said Mary Williams, president of YES. “And the focus is on having fun. Whether you are an experienced or beginner snow sport enthusiast, this event is for you.”

The slopes open at 8am, while the challenge race is from 11:30am – 2pm. Children under 11 taking the MBTA Ski Train to Wachusett will get a train ride for free. In addition, discount lift tickets to Wachusett ($25) can be purchased at the www.masssnowchallenge.com and are valid from 3/15/08 through the end of the season.

Event sponsors include Citizens Bank, Wachusett Mountain, Wachusett Ski Shop, Egan Entertainment, BEWI Productions, Mountain Dogs Alpine Outfitters, and the MBTA Ski Train. To sign up as a participant, please go to www.yeskids.org or call 617-267-5877.

About Youth Enrichment Services (www.yeskids.org)
Since its founding in 1968, Youth Enrichment Services (YES) has helped more than 100,000 low- and moderate-income Boston area youth build self-esteem and foster life-long respect for themselves, others, and the environment through participation in outdoor and practical learning activities. Research shows that YES kids who remain committed to the program over time - serving as junior counselors and volunteers - graduate high school, attend college, and obtain jobs at a higher rate than their peers. YES also helps local youth agencies and schools offer challenging programs to reward and motivate their members/students. YES is unique in taking kids out of their familiar urban environment and challenging them with both summer and winter outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, and biking. YES is a 501(c)3 educational institution and is registered with the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office of Public Charities.

XTERRA Winter World Event

The XTERRA Winter World Championship will be held from March 7 - 9 at Utah’s Snowbasin ski and snowboard resort.

The event includes the much awaited and extremely unique XTERRA Snowboard Scramble which is more commonly known as the Dash for Cash. In this competition, snowboarders ride the lift to the top of the Snowbasin for LeMans style start. After reaching the mountain top, they will strap their boards and race to a spot down the slopes for the next short ridge climb.

The first male and female snowboarders to cross the finish line at the lodge will win $500 each.

Aside from snowboarding, the XTERRA Winter World Championship involves other activities: ski mountaineering, mountain biking, running, and snowshoeing.

What is Windells Camp?

It's a place in the mountains to experience unstoppable camp fun! It's a place to make friends, a place to ride with the pros, a place with the friendliest staff, and a place with the best superpipes, kickers and rails. It's a place where beginners to experts can fine-tune their skills. By complimenting our incredible on-hill program with an abundance of off-hill activities, we've formulated the perfect solution to all your camp needs.

10 Things to know about Windells Camp

1. Windells is the only snowboard/ski camp with its own private campus
2. For 21 years Windells has been the leader in snowboarding camps
3. Park and pipe maintained daily
4. Skateboard campers at Windells take day trips to visit Oregon's legendary skate parks
5. Every US Olympic medal-winning snowboarder has attended Windells
6. Windells has camp sessions in the summer, winter and spring to help you progress year round
7. Windells features poured concrete obstacles throughout the campus
8. A majority of campers come back year after year
9. Everyday campers enjoy the best coaching on the hill and a variety of activities in the afternoon and evening
10. Windells is called the "funnest place on earth" for a reason

Off-Piste Clinics

Intro to off-piste (two days)
This is a great clinic to introduce you to your first taste of powder. We will supply you with all necessary equipment required, transceiver and shovel, and explain how to use them. Once you are feeling comfortable with your equipment we can then venture further and further off-piste. By the end of the day you should have more confidence, knowledge, and know how to ride the different snow conditions you will come across off-piste.

Ability
Level 3

Advanced off-piste (two days)
This clinic will take you steeper and further off-piste spending a maximum of time in the deep stuff. Again we will supply you with the necessary equipment and run you through a quick a transceiver search as well. After that we will take you to some of the most beautiful hidden spots Verbier has to offer. We will work on developing your technique and show you how to always be safe when hiking, riding and choosing lines off-piste.

Ability
Level 4 and above

Coaching
Do you feel like you want to go faster but lack confidence and control? Find bumps impossible? Do you tense up and go back to your old habits on the steeps (just kick that board around)? Can’t hold an edge on a carve turn? Want to go off-piste but keep getting stuck? Want to learn some new tricks but don’t know where to start? Well if you can relate to any of these or if you feel like you are not progressing any more and want to avoid the pain aches and bruises then maybe private coaching is for you. If you’re getting frustrated or even thinking about going back to skiing then let our snowboard coach improve and transform your technical riding all over the mountain weather it be pulling tricks in the park, carving, bumps or simply guiding you into the untracked.

The Volcom Peanut Butter Jam 2008

Waterville Valley(February 16, 2008)- The Peanut Butter and Rail Jam is Volcom’s amateur snowboard contest series. The goal of the series is to give something back to the kids. Deviating from the established way snowboard contests are run, we put our heads together and came up with a fresh format. Instead of having three rails in a row, we put them side by side to create a rail zone. This boosts the energy level and fun nature of the contest because everyone is together, riding, hiking, and watching in a big group. There are four divisions; 15 & under, 16 & over, Girls and Open (pro-am). The contest runs in a jam format so there are no scheduled runs. You can hit each of the rails as many times as you want during your 20 minute heat. The judges only care about tricks you pull, so you don’t need to worry about falling. The event is absolutely free, on a first come first serve basis, and boasts tons of free prizes and PB&J sandwiches! Also, Everyone who enters walks away with a bag of Volcom goodies! See you on the hill!

Bansko Snow & Board

Discover Snow and Spa Bansko, a perfect destination for intense relaxation and well-being during your mountain spa holiday. During the winter, Ski or Snowboard in the amazing Pirin Montains and then indulge yourself and enjoy spa delights with our exclusive body & beauty treatments. Get some new energy and vitality in sauna area, and let our qualified beauticians and masseuses pamper you! During the summer months enjoy the world famous Bansko Jazz Festival, horse riding, walking, Kaikking and other alpine pursuits in this stunning environment.

One bedroom suite living room.

Five Star Accommodation

Five star Luxury self catering accommodation in arguably the best new development in the old town of Bansko, Bulgaria. We offer self catering apartments with 5 star hotel service with concierge and full room service. A thriving, modern, inexpensive ski destination Bansko is Bulgaria’s number one ski resort.

Indulging head massage

As well as having the best snow record and the longest ski season (15 Dec – 15 Apr) of all Bulgarian resorts, the new multi-million Euro investment in the ski area has provided Bansko with one of the most advanced ski centres in Europe. The highlight of this being the direct gondola ride which carries skiers and snowboarders from the town, right up to the first stop in the resort.

Pirin Mountain.

Bulgaria's most popular destination

Bansko is located in South Eastern Bulgaria just two hours from the Capital Sophia, the newly developed resort is currently being considered for the winter Olympics 2012 and its popularity with skiiers & snowboarders of all skill levels has made this one of the most popular skiing locations in recent years.

Old town of Bansko, close to apartments.

We can arrange transfers for you, ski and snowboard hire and lessons, and of course your Spa and Beauty Treatments. There are 5 apartments in total to book together for Groups, perfect for Girls Weekends, Birthdays, Special occasions and Corporate Bookings.

Meribel & La Tania Chalets

ALL THE WORLD LOVES MERIBEL!

For more than 60 years, skiers from all over the world have come to spend thier holydays in MERIBEL. Located in the heart of the 3 Valleys, the biggest ski area in the world with 375 miles of groomed runs, Méribel have one of the most efficient lift systems. In the Méribel Valley alone, more than 400 ski instructors are at your disposal. The village has kept its traditional style, in harmony with the mountain setting. Every building has been constructed using local stone and wood.

MERIBEL-MOTTARET is a small friendly hamlet with doorstep skiing, a perfect location to discover the 3 Valley's area. The resort offers a wide choice of high quality hotels, chalets and apartments. Good amenities ensure that non-skiers and skiers alike will find plenty to do in the resort. Besides, Méribel has developed a host of facilities for children.

Park & Pipes - Whistler Blackcomb

The level of skill being displayed in all of the Whistler Blackcomb Parks is astonishing these days. The progression we are seeing in athletes is at light speed and tricks formerly reserved for the rare mutants are now being thrown with ease by local kids skipping school to ski and ride. (Don’t skip school!) This week I witnessed 16-year-olds throwing double back flips, 19-year-olds spinning corked 10s and a 4-year-old slide a four foot round bar. This progression has pushed the Park crew to step up and create the best possible playground for these athletes and then work backwards to ensure we have a smooth progression. The bar is being set high for the next generation and we are doing our best to evolve at the same rate.

The Parks all got new set-ups this week, some even seeing changes daily. On Whistler Mountain we changed up the top section to include a new barrel bonk in addition to the stump jibs as well as freshening up Bobcat with a never-been-tired-before combo box with a quad kink. There are also new jump styles on Chipmunk and two “Skate Style” spines with log and metal coping for every transfer trick imaginable.

The Choker Park saw the addition of the Quicksilver and Nintendo boxes set up in series as mellow up-boxes as well as the addition of a mini shack booter style step over jump. The Superpipe rebuild has resulted in the best pipe I have ridden in a long time and special props go out to Andy Morrison for his epic 17 hour shift grooming the pipe se we can all rip it this week!

The Terrain Garden continues to be one of the busiest parks with hordes of newbie riders getting their legs on the small jumps, mini spine, boxes and rails offered up in this line. We are hoping to add a few more basic flat boxes to the mix so trick development can progress here too.

The HL Park has basically been split into Lucas Land’s rail line for metal grinders and the main park for jumpers. The left line continues to be the BIG XL line while the right side offers up the L / XL multi-takeoff options.

If you have not been up in the parks yet this year, you are missing out! Don’t wait to see it in next year’s vids, come on up today.

Top 10 Snowboarding slopes in the USA

1. Alpine Meadows Tahoe City, Calif

2. The Canyons Park City, UT

3. Kirkwood Kirkwood, Calif.

4. Mammoth Mountain Mammoth Lakes, Calif

5. Mount Bachelor Bend, Ore

6. Park City Mountain Resort Park City, Utah

7. Squaw Valley Olympic Valley, Calif.

8. Mount Hood Meadows Mount Hood, Ore

9. Stowe Mountain Resort, Stowe, VT

10. Schweitzer Sandpoint, Idaho

11. Big Sky Resort, Big Sky Montana

12. Crested Butte Mountain Resort, Crested Butte, CO

Hot time on cold slopes at Snow Trails Winter Carnival

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP -- Ileah Shaffer and Jeff King paid a heavy price in light clothing Saturday.


Shaffer, a 25-year-old Akron resident, cruised down the slope in a white bikini. "This is actually only the third time I've ever been snowboarding," Shaffer said. "I think I fell like five times, but I lost a bet and that's why I'm here."

King, 25, said his scantily-clad trip could have been avoided.

"I bet the (New England) Patriots would win the Super Bowl and lost that," said the Akron resident, who sported a gray, blue and red-striped Speedo. "But it's all good. I got confidence."

Cars lined Possum Run Road on Saturday as snow enthusiasts packed Snow Trails to help celebrate the 47th annual Winter Carnival.

Sporting a black string bikini, Carmen Spillman, 19, said this was her first year entering the famous bikini race.

"I worried about going too fast, but I guess that's the point of the race," the Bellville teen said. "I would definitely do it again."

Amy Johnson and Jeanie Smith drove in from Sunbury to participate.

"It's an adrenaline rush," said Smith, 19. "I would do this until I'm 40."

Wearing a red paisley Speedo, Chad Schlereth, 23, said he's a veteran in the Chippendale competition.

"I've done this three years, and I get a new Speedo every time," the Mansfield resident said. "I'm not embarrassed. This is just a good ol' time."

Despite a few snowballs tossed his way, Tom Traxler, 38, said he also enjoyed the experience.

"My kids overheard me say that this would be easy and they didn't let me forget it," Traxler said, laughing.

Chris Steffey, 31, said his wife and two children cheered him on as he skied down the hill wearing a colorful Speedo and matching set of beads.

"Oh no, I'm not embarrassed," Steffey said with a laugh. "Look at this body."

Joe Russ carried a green Wright State University flag in place of his ski poles.

"We're going to send that to our college president," said friend and fellow Chippendale competitor Eric Thomas, 22. "I'm sure he'll be real proud."

Earlier in the day, several competitive skiers and snowboarders entered the Amstel Light Challenge through a snowy obstacle course.

Quinton Glenn, 11, said he took 37 pictures of his father Walter, the first competitor of the day.

"I've probably done this six times," said Walter, 57. "It's getting a lot harder."

Derek Cuthbertson, 36, and his wife Amy, 34, were the only married team to compete.

"This was kind of a challenge against my husband," Amy said. "But it was pretty hard running up the hill with that snow tube. It felt like it was 100 pounds.

"It was fun to do once, but probably not again."

Nippon Pipe Practice

The greatest irony in the world of competitive snowboarding is that the absolute worst thing a rider wants (or a contest organizer, for that matter) is snow. It may seem counterintuitive, but stormy days are a contest’s most feared adversary.

That “dreaded” snow god reared itself on Thursday at ALTS Bandai resort, home to the 2008 Nippon Open. An event day in which the women’s parkstyle qualifying and semi final rounds were set to go forth, blustery winds and a snowstorm that began a day earlier, forced the postponement of parkstyle, leaving only a poor visibility pipe for riders to practice on.

Of course the upside to such a tragic situation is that it allows all the athletes to avoid man-made terrain and get into, what some might call, more soulful snowboarding environment; namely, fresh freeride pow…and plenty of it.

With over a foot of fresh snow with even deeper wind drifts, much of the Nippon Open snowboarding contingent headed up the lifts and off the trails to get into the knee deep turns awaiting in the woods.

And while setting up a camera on the side of a pipe can typically guarantee and handful of usable photos, shredding Japanese tree stashes most certainly does not…sorry!!

DEFINITIONS

Snowboarding is an American original.

Snowboarding is the trend sport of the Nineties.

Snowboarding is the latest trend in video gaming.

Snowboarding is the greatest thing I have ever done.

Snowboarding is the name of the game in Cool Boarders.

Snowboarding is one of the newer, trendier winter sports.

Snowboarding is an incredibly challenging, yet rewarding sport.

Snowboarding is the fastest-growing winter sport in the United States.

Snowboarding is one of the most challenging and rewarding snow sports around.

Snowboarding is a relatively new sport and has only been around for about 20 years.

Snowboarding is one of the fastest, if not the fastest, growing sport in the world.

Snowboarding is a sport that combines agility, endurance, acrobatics, and spinning skill.

Snowboarding is a new sport in India and Solang is the only place where it is taking place.

Snowboarding is a very fast sport, in which you stand sideways on a board about 5 feet long.

Snowboarding is a sport that has no dividing lines with people of all ages becoming involved.

Snowboarding is a more recent invention than skiing but has already overtaken it in popularity.

Snowboarding is a very easy sport to learn and someone can quickly discover the joys of gliding.

Snowboarding is a gift that offers true freedom. I would like to share this gift with all of you.

Snowboarding is the hottest new way for thrill-seekers of all ages to get to the bottom of the mountain.

Snowboarding is a mix of carving and sliding motions but conventional skateboards aren't designed to slide.

Snowboarding is the only snow sport at the Winter Olympics that does not differentiate between men and women.

Snowboarding is an emerging sport and Bud Light has shown a strong support of shredders and corkscrewers everywhere.

Snowboarding is a popular sport in many alpine resorts, offering the participant feelings of exhilaration and freedom.

Snowboarding is an extreme sport where a rider is lifted to a desired trail (path) on the mountain by way of chairlift.

Snowboarding is the relatively new sport which can be visually compared to skateboarding and surfing except done on snow.

Snowboarding is one of the most popular and newest clubs at ASR. This club began the winter of 1999-2000 and had 15 members.

Snowboarding is the fastest-growing sport in America today, and it has gained full-medal Olympic status faster than any other sport.

Snowboarding is an elitist community. Recognition comes with being sponsored, having the ability to "go big," and sticking the biggest air.

Snowboarding is the fastest growing winter sport in the world and Performance Snowboarding is the largest snowboard outfitter on the planet.

Snowboarding is an OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) marketplace. Many companies pay other manufacturers to produce some or all of their boards for them.

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Office Boyz

Ambitious desk jockeys from the greater SoCal area descended upon Bear Mountain last Friday, February 22, for IS Design's annual Office Boyz event. It was all donut eating and mini-bike features—a perfect lead-in to Saturday's GvR. Check the link below, and note how Transworld Skateboarding's Eric Stricker can puff out his cheeks and grab at the same time—sick! All shots taken by IS Design's Karl Fuhre, before he went to jail for fighting at Chad's place.

Dragon Eyewear

Its summer time, and if you live anywhere near where we live then the sun is winning the battle of the "squint". Luckily for both of us...we carry Dragon Eyewear. Dragon is leading the charge to protect our eyes from harmful UV rays...while not sacrificing our precious egos to do so. Dragon Shades come in various designs for men and women that will keep you squint free and super stylin. Check out our selection of Dragon Sunglasses, and experience the quality today!

Dakine

DAKINE celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year! DAKINE prides itself on developing products for the top professionals in every board sport. DAKINE has built a reputation for innovation and quality for over a quarter of a century!

DAKINE Backpacks are top in quality and design. Look also for their hydration system to keep you going no matter what the situation. Here you will find everything for a day out on the slopes: DAKINE beanies, board cords and leashes, board locks,edge tuner kits, top technology in glove design, Stomp pads board bags and travel bags. If you are looking for quality...look no further than DAKINE.

686

Since Michael Akira West first stepped on a skateboard in the early eighties, he always had quirky ideas. Mike spent most of his time street skating in Los Angeles and Venice Beach, until 1985, when a good friend introduced him to snowboarding. The concept of actually skating on the snow added a new element to his life. Throughout the following years, Mike worked and rode at a local mountain in Big Bear, listened to punk-alternative, hip-hop, and jazz music, collected loads of sneakers, artwork, vintage clothing, and finished school at the University of Southern California. Over years of living the lifestyle he loved, Mike learned one important thing.

"Why not do something that you are already into? Why do you have to work and then play? Can you not do both at the same time?" - And that is exactly how things got started.

On November 13, 1992, the 686 clothing company was formed. Contrary to many circulating rumors, the 686 name comes from a crucial date in the life of Mikes grandmother (June 6th, 1986). Since the beginning, 686 has been all about providing the riding community innovative and fashionable outerwear and clothing inspired directly from the same Los Angeles urban and artistic principals it was founded upon. The companys more than you expected philosophy of providing customers progressive and fashion forward designs is world known and often imitated by others.

Products like the trademarked SMARTY line of removable liners, the trademarked TIMES line of limited edition co-branded products, the trademarked ACE line of collaborative artist projects, the patented TOOLBELT line of functional belts, and fabric innovations in Waterproof Denim, Corduroy and Herringbone, all make up the 686 name. Controlled growth, clean design, an obsession to make products better, and a belief to enjoy life is what 686 is all about.

Visa US Snowboarding Cup

The Nokia World Cup Tour returns to Whiteface Mountain Ski Center and the nearby Adirondack Mountain resort in Lake Placid, New York with the Visa US Snowboarding Cup on March 1 - 3.

The said event will kick off with the Visa SBX Championship Series on March 1 at the Boreen Trail at Whiteface. Meanwhile, the SBX Team event, a new addition to the series, will be held the following day.

The US stop will be concluded with the Parallel Giant Slalom to be held at Draper’s Drop on March 3.

Visa US Snowboarding Cup schedule of events:

• Friday, Feb. 29: SBX qualifications from 9:30 am - 2 pm
• Saturday, March 1: SBX final heats begin at 1 pm
• Sunday, March 2: SBX team event begins at 1 pm
• Monday, March 3: PGS qualifications from 9-11 am, PGS finals from 1-3 pm

SOS Outreach

PORTLAND, OR – SOS Outreach, a non-profit organization that works to build character and self-esteem in at-risk and underprivileged youth through snow sports instruction and an associated curriculum, is pleased to announce a new partnership with Mt. Hood Skibowl. Skibowl joins Mt. Hood Meadows and Timberline as the third resort on Mt. Hood to donate lift tickets, equipment rentals, and snowboard instruction to Portland-area students participating in SOS Outreach programs during the 2007-2008 ski season. The combined dollar value of this critical support from all three resorts exceeds $35,000.

“Experiencing the mountain environment is especially valuable to youth who haven’t had the opportunity to get out and about and explore all of the options that surround them,” says Troy Fischer, Terrain Park and Assistant Operations Manager at Mt. Hood Skibowl. “Skibowl is very excited to provide that opportunity for all those involved in the SOS program and to watch them grow and learn new skills and life lessons with their peers,” Fischer adds.

“Skibowl provides the perfect atmosphere to escape from the normal daily routine and allows visitors to enjoy the serenity and simplicity of the mountains,” says Malee Lucas, National Program Coordinator for SOS Outreach. “Our work would not be possible without the generous participation of our ski area partners,” Lucas adds.

Founded in Colorado 14 years ago, SOS Outreach continues to grow and is now entering its eighth year of operation in Oregon. During that time, more than 350 young Oregonians from the metro area have participated in the popular SOS Outreach ‘Learn to Ride’ program, which features five days of professional instruction, lift tickets, and all necessary gear. ‘Learn to Ride’ students also complete an associated curriculum that focuses on five core values: courage, discipline, integrity, wisdom, and compassion.

This season alone, more than 45 students from metro-area schools, including Portland Youth Builders, Mt. Scott Learning Centers, and Reynolds Learning Academy, will join SOS Outreach on Mt. Hood. For many of these students, this is the first time they have had the opportunity to try a snow sport, and the experience can be truly life changing – both on the hill and in everyday life. In fact, several ‘Learn to Ride’ graduates from the Portland area are now continuing to work with SOS Outreach through its ‘University’ program, which includes a four-year continuing curriculum and also incorporates community service and life skill workshops.

Megan Barrett, a teacher at Mt. Scott Learning Centers, speaks to the positive impact she has observed during the school’s three-year partnership with SOS Outreach. “SOS encourages my students to support one another, and also teaches them self-reliance and discipline. It's incredible to watch students go from worry and doubt to happiness and pride when they make it down the hill for the first time without falling. At the end of the five days, there is a bond between the kids and their teachers that lasts far beyond the mountain. Through SOS, for the first time in their lives, many of these kids are experiencing the pride and confidence that come from personal success. Through SOS, these kids learn that they are the type of people who are capable of anything.”

About SOS Outreach
SOS Outreach, formerly Snowboard Outreach Society, is a non-profit organization that builds character and self-esteem in at-risk and underprivileged youth through snow sports. Headquartered in Colorado’s Vail Valley, SOS Outreach offers multi-day snowboarding and skiing programs at 30 resorts in eight states. More than 2,500 kids will participate in SOS programs during winter 2007-2008 – the organization’s 14th year.

In Oregon, SOS Outreach is entering its eighth year. During winter 2007-2008, SOS is offering Portland-based Learn To Ride (LTR) and University snowboarding programs on Mt. Hood – at Mt. Hood Meadows, Mt. Hood Skibowl and Timberline resorts. SOS also offers programs in Central Oregon – at Hoodoo Mountain Resort and Willamette Pass.

BURTON JAPAN: THE HISTORY OF BURTON SNOWBOARDS’

Burton had already opened a European headquarters in Innsbruck, Austria in 1986, which was growing and expanding each season. In Europe, the wall that divided east-and-west Germany was broken in 1989, the world was changing, and everything seemed to be going global. In the mid-nineties, the Internet was still in its early consumer stages, but it had already made foreign markets seem closer than ever before. Burton saw the opportunity to officially “globalize” the sport of snowboarding while still maintaining the devotion to quality and image that was born in Vermont.

The setting: A small garage in Londonderry Vermont; the year, 1977; Jake Burton Carpenter made his first snowboard in part by drawing influence from the idea of the "Snurfer.” A few years passed by, and soon he was ready to show the world base models for what would eventually become the Backhill and the Performer. This massive step forward in snowboard development happened in a farmhouse in Manchester. Jake's Volvo wagon was the only form of inventory and distribution, and the free customer phone line rang 24 hours a day in his bedroom.
Over the next 15 years, countless snowboard manufacturers were born and the sport of snowboarding began to change
people’s lives everywhere. Snowboarding’s influence was not limited to the eastern United States - in time its presence was felt all over the world by young, adventurous people.

Jake knew that as the sport grew Burton would grow as well, so in 1992 he moved the head office to Burlington, Vermont, and opened a manufacturing center “for snowboarders, by snowboarders.” Burton maintains its leadership status globally by continuing to produce the most innovative snowboard equipment in the world every single year.

In 1995, the Japanese branch of Burton Snowboards was born in Urawa, Japan. Up until this point Burton had worked
with the Ogura Trading Co. to distribute its product in the Japanese market. The Ogura Trading Co. would then hand
the product over to regional agencies to sell to local shops. This process resulted in a major lag before the Japanese
consumer was able to buy, let alone see, the product on the shelves. To maintain a consistent image and message,
Burton had to part ways with the Ogura Trading Co. in order to streamline its foreign distribution. Burton has
always been a rider-driven company, taking tons of feedback from riders seriously. The formation of Burton
Japan allowed them to tap into the Japanese riders’ opinions better than ever before. In turn, this enabled
Burton to produce better product for the snowboarders of Japan. The office in Japan also allowed Burton to support
their Japanese riders fully and help strengthen snowboarding’s image overall.

In order to achieve improved distribution and sales in Japan, Burton has taken steps to change
distribution. As a result, a Rep system was introduced in 2001. Sales territory was subdivided and
each region was given to a specific rep. This new system is what Burton calls the JSN (Japanese
Sales Network) and has modernized the process of getting the product in the stores in a timely
manner in Japan. The purpose of this new strategy was to improve the service and support
Burton provides to its dealers, as well as consumers.

Japan is critical to the success of Burton Snowboards. Over 29% of Burton’s total sales come out
of Japan. In 2003, Japan was the first market where snowboarders made up more than 50% of
resort attendees. It’s not uncommon to see a line up of more than 100 people waiting for a store
to open so they can get their hands on a limited quantity of a unique product. Brand image is
critical in Japan, as it is in Europe and North America. So, the new office, with its metropolitan
location and sophisticated design will help Burton grow and serve its riders better.

Burton’s place in the Japanese market allowed them to cater specifically to the snowboarders of Japan. In
recent years Burton has even issued pro-models to Burton riders Yoshinari Uemura and Narufumi
Yoshimura, both native to Japan. In the spring of 2002, Burton Snowboards moved from its
suburban Urawa location to Tokyo. The new office is centrally located in the district of Shibuya, one of Tokyo’s
hubs of youth culture and shopping. Burton had the opportunity to design their new building from the ground up.
There are five floors; first floor is Gravis, second floor is Analog Clothing and the Financial group, third floor the
Operational team, fourth floor is Sales and Marketing. The fifth floor is devoted to the Burton showroom. The
environment on each floor is unique, but there is a definite vein of continuity running throughout the building. Team
riders, customers and editorial staff drop by the new office and hang out in the many lounge areas. The new office
with its prime location is now a hub of activity.

CHOOSE YOUR SNOWBOARD

CHOOSE YOUR SNOWBOARD
Now its time to pick out the RIGHT board for you, if you are a:

All Mountain/Freeride boarder :: your choices are many as this is the most popular type of board and can be used anywhere on the mountain.

Freestyle/Technical boarder :: your boards are built for performing tricks; spins, airs and riding fakie (backward). Freestyle boards are very responsive; the soft flex makes them forgiving and easy to turn, which also makes these good beginner's boards.

Alpine/Carve boarder :: then you want a longer board for riding and carving downhill, these boards are stiffer and narrower than other types of boards. Alpine/Race boards are not made for doing tricks.

So far so good, now that the appropriate type of board for you has been determined. Theres just a few more things to consider, for instance:
Brand, Price $, and Graphics, not necesarily in that order because these choices are all personal.

Brand
There are well over 50 brands to choose from. Many boarders choose to buy the same brand as their favorite pro snowboarder. Some buyers choose to ride a brand made locally. There are alot of ski companies that have hopped on the snowboard explosion. Do your homework and research the brand that interests you for what ever reason.


$ Price $
A new snowboard costs between U.S. $99.00 and $600.00. This buying decision is directly related to how much money $ you can spend on your snowboard. Most Snowboard companies offer a selection of boards at different prices. The higher end boards are usually called Signature Series and are designed by a pro rider and usually carry their signature. These are the tippy top of the line boards and the highest priced, sometimes only a limited edition is produced. The least expensive or Price Point Series boards are produced for the buyer whose most important decision making factor is price.

Graphics
Snowboards are a great way to get a message across. Most buyers choose a snowboard because of its graphical nature. This is a way to show the world your inner spirit, or not. Snowboards are quickly becoming works of art. Most Snowboard companies provide a large selection of designs and colors to choose from. Many manufacturers will keep the same graphic for the model type board regardless of size. Others use graphic design to separate board size. There are a lot women's boards coming out with some really cool girly designs too. Some companies like Monson snowboards will actually let you design your own graphics. Graphics is a personal decision and should be considered only after the proper board characteristics have been decided. But most riders choose a board based on graphics rather than compatability.

TIME TO BUY

Wait, Rent first
If you are beginner it is a good idea to rent. This will allow you to try a few different styles, models and brands of Snowboards. Most resorts offer snowboard rentals. Board, boots and bindings can all be rented at the same time. Many local sporting goods shops also offer snowboard rentals. This is helpful to do the day before so all proper adjustments can be made.

What about a used board
A used board is a great way to go if your budget is tight. Used boards can be found on the internet, newspaper classifieds, online bulletin boards . Most used boards ride just as good as a shiny spankin new one, unless its physically cracked or broken, a used board can provide as much fun as your rich buddies signature model.

Hey What about Last years models ?
This is a good way to get a new board at a great price. Unless some new material is found in outer space, it is a safe bet that last years model will ride just about as good as this year's. Summer time is a great time to start your search for last years model, (even though its the same calendar year). Most shops want to get rid of these boards so they can make room on their shelves for the new boards.

The Burton Demo Tour

The 2008 Burton Demo Tour features over 200 stops where riders can test ride the latest Burton gear for FREE at their favorite local resort. The Tour also includes 10 Super Stops— 10 weekend-long events with a dedicated sponsor village and after-parties for local riders.

New this year, the Demo Tour will host Learn To Ride (LTR) events and AM Series competitions at select stops. The AM Series gives amateur riders an opportunity to qualify for the US Open Snowboarding Championships, held March 17-23, 2008 at Stratton, Vermont. The LTR component will allow people that have never been snowboarding the opportunity to Learn to Ride for FREE at select stops.

Every stop on the Demo Tour will give riders of all ages the opportunity to try the latest Burton gear at no cost. The hottest Burton boards, boots and bindings for men, women, girls and boys will be available to demo. Riders must be 18 or older –OR– have a parent or guardian present with credit card and ID to demo gear.

The Super Stops, scheduled throughout the season at 10 select resorts across the U.S., are sponsored by Volvo, Paul Mitchell, Emergen-C, GORE-TEX®, Snowboarder, R.E.D. and ANON. A dedicated Super Stop sponsor village will have a huge array of new products for riders to try out and win free gear, including:

Volvo – On-site with three hot Swedish product reps showing off the XC90 Sport Utility, the All-New Volvo XC70 crossover and C30 coupe and giving away great Burton merchandise including new snowboards every day!

Paul Mitchell – “Head for Change” at the Paul Mitchell booth, where fashion savvy meets environmental awareness. It’s all about clean (h)air & clean water, and the Paul Mitchell pros will school you in keeping this earth – and your hair - looking great!

Emergen-C – Visit us in the Burton igloo to stay healthy and energized through the winter season with FREE Emergen-C samples!! While hanging out at our mobile Feel the Good™ Lounge, enter The Emergen-C “Everything But The Board” Sweepstakes for a chance to win a FREE trip for two to the U.S. OPEN, $1000 cash and a year’s supply of Emergen-C. Or enter online at www.emergenc.com.

Vans Cup Cometh!

The 4th Annual Vans Cup at Tahoe comes to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort this weekend with a field that includes nearly all of snowboarding’s brightest stars: Andreas Wiig, Danny Kass, Mason Aguirre, Chad Otterstrom, Andy Finch, Todd Richards, J.J. Thomas, Leanne Pelosi, Alexis Waite and Jana Meyen are among those confirmed to compete for a prize purse of more than $200,000.

For those that can’t be on the mountain, Vans and Sportnet are teaming up to present live webcasts of the event on Friday, February 29 and Sunday, March 2 at www.vans.com. Friday night’s jam session will be followed with a cast of the Superpipe finals on Sunday which also features highlights from Saturday’s Slopestyle finals. Tune in both days for a chance to win a pair of custom Vans shoes and a Boost Mobile phone with 100 minutes. 5 lucky winners will be announced on air and contest information can be found at www.vans.com.

Friday, February 29
5:00 PM – 6:45 PM Rail Jam (live webcast at www.vans.com)

Saturday, March 1
8:30 AM – 11:30 AM Men’s and Women’s Slopestyle Qualifying
11:30 PM – 3:00 PM Men’s and Women’s Slopestyle FINALS

Sunday, March 2
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM Men’s and Women’s Superpipe Qualifying
12:30 PM – 4:00 PM Men’s and Women’s Superpipe FINALS (live webcast)

The Vans Cup at Tahoe is made possible by the support of Rockstar Energy Drink, Boost Mobile, Pro-tec, Snowboarder Magazine, Sportnet and FUEL TV, the 24/7 action sports lifestyle network. Each will represent at the vendor area that will include games and giveaways plus Vans and Pro-tec product demos including a preview of next season’s Vans x Boosted snow outerwear collaboration.

For more information on Vans and the Vans Cup at Tahoe, visit www.vans.com

Shaun White Auction

Helmet worn during 2008 Winter X Game; Ebay auction to benefit Wings for Life charity.

More than 45 one-of-a-kind items will be up for bids on eBay’s Wings for Life Charity Auction this March 13-30. With just a click of the mouse, buyers get the chance to own David Coulthard’s actual Red Bull Racing Formula One race car, Olympic Gold Medalist Shaun White’s 2008 X Games helmet, motorsport legend Travis Pastrana’s signed jersey and skateboard star Ryan Sheckler’s signed board. Even aviation enthusiasts can get their fill with a Red Bull Air Race World Series weekend package for two including a two-seater flight with the Series’ current world champion, American Mike Mangold. All proceeds will benefit the Wings for Life Spinal Cord Research Foundation – and all bids start at just 2 dollars!

Athletes from around the world have donated memorabilia and trophies that cannot be purchased anywhere but in this auction. Additional contributions include items from international superstars, such as Cyril Despres’ Dakar-winning 2007 KTM bike, 2006 MotoGP World Champion Nicky Hayden’s racing helmet, B.A.S.E. jumper Felix Baumgartner’s jump suit and World Champion surfer Sofia Mulanovich’s surfboard. All of the items are original, signed and open to public bidding.

Eddie Wall On Daily Habit

Airing Thursday, February 28 at 9:00 pm Eastern Time (6:00 pm Pacific Time) and telecast three additional times, Eddie Wall will appear on The Daily Habit.

Today the gnar will be shralped. Snowboarder, skater and all-around Renaissance man Eddie Wall joins us in the studio. Also, Jordan gets some lessons in snowboarding and love from the Burton Learn to Ride program in Breckenridge. Plus, actor Brian Austin Green is here to talk actions sports and his new show “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles.”

Eddie Wall’s sponsors include: DC, Smith Optics, Foursquare Outerwear, Forum Snowboards, Vestal Watches, Mammoth Mountain Resort, and Jack’s Garage.

Brighton Park Laps

This winter Utah has had many a pow day, but in the last week or so we have been experiencing a bit of a dry spell. This means time to get out of the backcountry and streets to have a little fun in the park! It also means not waking up as early to get first tracks or to hike out to a good jump.

Taking advantage of waking up late with me on this particular day were friends Desiree Melancon and Harrison Gordon. An early afternoon stop at 711 and we were on our way to Brighton for some good old fashion park laps. The sun was high without a cloud in the sky when we pulled into the lot. “we are really getting an early start” i said while checking my phone. it was 2:30 p.m.

We hopped on the Crest lift and it brought us up to exactly what we were looking for. One fun dorky park lap after another. It was just what we needed to break up the month we have been having of serious pow days and rail missions.

Brighton’s park has a fun, little, skateboarding, hyperactive, jibby feel to it that always guarantees a good time. The current setup contains all sorts of fun features including a triple line of fun jumps, 3 different wall rides, kink rail, kink box, mail box, down street style rails, and a mini sized half pipe.

With all the fun little features it was a good thing we got there late because out legs got tired quick. Check out the elph vid put together from a few of our laps. Get info on tickets, weather and other park updates at skibrighton.com and brightonterrainparks.com. Get out and shred the park before we get more snow!!

Holy Oly 2008

“The Celebration of Northwest Pride” went off under bluebird skies Saturday February 23 at Summit East at Snoqualmie. The 5th season of the Summit’s signature event featured local legends, super pros and up and coming groms from around the northwest. Snowboy Productions erected a massive quarter pipe and jib line at the base of the famous Oly beer can water tower. Lib Tech was out in full force and there were bananas aplenty as numerous riders chose the Skate Banana to shralp the QP.

Vee Lay took home the day’s top honor as the Oly’s “official” scoring remained questionable at best, but there was no denying that Vee Lay, Danny Kass, Pat Milberry, and Austin Hironaka among others were destroying the hand shaped QP. Lay joins the likes of Peter Line and last years winner Sammy Luebke as Holy Oly champs.

Some information

After snowboarding debuted in the 1998 Olympics with two events, it returned in the 2002 and 2006 Olympic games. In Italy in 2006, snowboarding consisted of four events in both men’s and women’s competition. The sport is slated to continue to grow in both participants and popularity for future winter games. As a professional sport, snowboarding is governed by the International Snowboarding Federation (ISF).

Snowboarding, like skiing, is a winter sport that’s difficult to participate in where snow is not prevalent. However, most ski resorts in the United States also have slopes dedicated to snowboarding. There is less gear required for snowboarding than skiing, with the board being the primary piece of equipment. Burton is the most popular board company, started by snowboarding pioneer Jake Burton Carpenter in the late 1970s.

Snowboarding styles include freeride and freestyle, which describes the most popular form of the sport and includes jumps, spins, and other tricks, as well as the wildly popular halfpipe. Freestyle snowboarding allows snowboarders to showcase their skills and maneuverability, especially on the halfpipe. Freeride is the most generalized style of snowboarding and involves simply making one’s way down the decent of slopes or mountainsides. Many resorts maintain freestyle parks with rails and halfpipes, as well as freeride slopes for beginning to advanced snowboarders. While snowboarding holds the image of a “rebel” youth male sport, the sport appeals to men and women alike in many age ranges, and beginners continue to enter the sport at all stages in life.