Yes, in the most of the Western world December means Christmas. For skaters it means something else: it’s Tampa AM time. And this year, thanks to money from the Nike footwear empire the entire event will be again broadcast live online.
Wonder what Bjorn Leines is up to? Oh, wait. Here we go. Looks like he’s did a little snowboarding last season, huh? We’ve always loved the way Bjorn spreads his wings when he flies.
December is Avalanche Awareness month at Jones Snowboards and they’d like you to watch thisHigh Fives Foundation edit as a reminder that venturing into the back country is dangerous and there are many things to know before you get out there. Here’s High Five’s top five list to enjoying the back country and getting back safe.
1. Get Educated. Learn about avalanche safety by taking a class.
2. Know your skills, know your surroundings. Check out forecasts for weather and conditions before you go.
3. Have the proper equipment and know how to use it (avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, and airbag).
4. Never travel alone. Always ride with partners in a group and have a plan.
5. If you don’t feel comfortable, don’t go. There is always tomorrow when using good judgement.
And if you really want to be safe, don’t go into the back country at all.
Think your two-hour drive to the mountains is long? Xavier de Le Rue and Lucas Debari are currently on a trip to Antarctica and getting there requires a five-day boat trip. One upside: it’s doubtful they’ll run in to any other film crews out boosting their lines.
If you’re going to hang out with skateboarders you might as well bring a camera and get the shot. At least that’s what Arto Saari has been doing lately. And, from the looks of his photos it would appear that Saari has another epic skate career in the works.
The artist/filmaker Thomas Campbell aka T Mossian has a new book out titled Slide your Brains Out.
The first of ten projected volumes in Um Yeah Press’ surf photobook series, Slide Your Brains Out compiles work from the past 15 years. Often lo-fi and gritty, other times lush and saturated, Campbell’s compositions–which include portraits and action shots of some of the best surfers in the world–are always surprising and full of emotion, from melancholy to exultation.
Transworld Surf’s Justin Cote drops in with a page view a-bomb with The Hottest Girls In Pro Surfing 2012 Edition. Yes, it’s just the sexist “girls that give us boners” kind of photo feature that you’d expect, but then again, apparently, being sexy is what drives the entire world. As a bonus, all 20 of them will kick your ass on the waves, so there’s that.
The list begins at 20th place with Courtney Conlogue and finishes right where you’d expect.
Each year, apparently, Shaun White takes a chance to remember the birth of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ by handing out products from all of his sponsors in a marketing promotion called White Christmas. The festivities begin on December 3, 2012 on Facebook.com/ShaunWhite and continue for 8 days. Not sure we’re going to make it to “the Facebook,” but we’re sure millions will. Day two is free gum for goodness sake. . .
We won’t even mention how often, as kids, we dreamed of skating around Santa Monica with Jay Adams. Now, through the magic of video we all get to do just that with a slightly, older, wiser Jay on his Z-Flex P.O.P. board.
