The one bar that the Supernatural event at Baldface February 4, 2012 set higher than any other was for hyperbole. What looked like an insanely cool freeride snowboarding contest became the greatest snowboarding event ever and a “game-changer” that completely rearranges everything we know about snowboarding competition when left in the hands of a squadron of energy drink promoters. Have “the last 30 years of snowboarding . . . inevitably led to this place?”
As everyone knows, Travis “Yeah, I won my own event” Rice won on a course he designed, at a mountain he choose, in front of judges he selected, at a made-for-TV event that he endlessly hyped. And what a storybook finish it was for his major sponsor to see him destroy the best snowboarders in the world (thanks for coming, guys) in front of the Brain Farm Cinema cameras.
The fact that Rice is arguably the best all mountain snowboarder in the world (and a good guy) who earned his contest win hardly even matters when it gets weighed down by all this. But hey, this is snowboarding designed to sell more caffeinated sugar water drinks, and that’s the way they do it, apparently.
On a not entirely unrelated note: the next time you invite all your friends to a party it would probably be in good form to leave at least one slice of pie for them.
Follow the jump for the complete results and official word from that drink sponsor. [click to continue…]
“Chip Wilson exemplifies the values of a visionary entrepreneur,” Peter Gustavson, founder and chair of the Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year Award committee, said in a statement Monday. “He turned a passion for health and fitness into a world-wide movement and has inspired countless others through his unique outlook and commitment to quality. His values permeate everything he does.”
The annual snow buying cycle is well underway and with it comes the nationwide on-snow demo tours. The Western Winter Sports Reps Association holds two separate events in California (in addition to their Northwest demo)—the Nor Cal demo was held at Alpine Meadows on Monday and Tuesday, February 6 and 7, 2012 and will end the week with two consecutive days for SoCal retailers at Mammoth Mountain on the 8 and 9th.
Though the WWSRA/SIA National Demo at Winter Park, Colorado was well attended, according to WWSRA Director Cami Garrison, this years buying cycle and subsequent demos have been a bit of an afterthought for many retailers struggling in the current season. “When I went to SIA we literally had only 40 people pre-registered for the Nor-Cal event,” she says. “But, as soon as we got back, bam—everyone started signing up.”
All told, Garrison had 256 people sign up ahead of time for the Alpine Meadows event and by the end of day one she gauged attendance at about 390. For $25 a person, retailers are able to test boards, boots, bindings, accessory items from the various rep and manufacturer booths set up in the parking lot at the base of the resort. The WWSRA also throws in free beers and a hot-dog lunch each day.
According to Derek Thompson story in The AtlanticVail Mountain’s revenue isn’t down at all this year. While we find that pretty hard to believe Vail Resorts CEO Robert A. Katz says that’s exactly how it is this year and that the reason revenue is not down is because Vail has made their business about much more than snowfall.
Vail and Whistler hedge against bad snow by turning skiers into members. “Just under 40 percent of our lift tickets come from season passes sold before the ski season begins,” Katz told me. For just under $700, skiers can buy the Vail Epic Pass, which offers total access to all six Vail Resort mountains.
In other words, Vail gets people to give them money ahead of time and then when no snow comes the resort doesn’t have to worry about it because they already got paid. Genius. And, since people have already paid they’re more likely to come stay in hotels and eat resort food even though the snow sucks. And that is reportedly good snow farming. . . or something. For the rest of the story, follow the jump.
Yesterday, we got to make a few laps with Burton’s Dave Downing and checked out the the new Anon M1 goggles with “Magna-Tech.” In the past swapping lenses usually resulted in fogged, smudged, and maybe even cracked lenses. We usually just get another pair of goggles before we swap out lenses. Those days are over with the M1. Magnets snap the lenses right into place just like that. . . rad.
Mountain High local Spencer Link topped riders like Yale Cousino, Scotty Vine, Trevor Jacob, Ian Thorley and Garrettt Warnick to take win the Cholula Triple Air Show at Southern California’s Mountain High. Link rode away with $5,000.00 in cash and a really, really large bottle of Cholula sauce. Follow the jump for the official word and complete results. [click to continue…]
Pretty much everything went as planned except that Kelly Clark did not win. In fact, after qualifying second behind Gretchen Bleiler with only one run in the pipe, she skipped her second qualifying run and did not start in the finals. Here’s what she had to say about pulling out.
“After taking a crash in semis practice yesterday I am not feeling 100% and am not going to compete in the finals tonight at the Canadian Open,” Clark said. “With many events left in the season, I need to rest up and make sure I can ride at my fullest potential in the contests to come.”
Spain’s Querald Castellet took advantage of Clark’s absence and rode away with the win. Japan’s Ryo Aono took the men’s pipe. And slopestyle was simply a continuation of the Chas Guldemond and Jamie Anderson show.
Follow the jump for more official details and complete results. [click to continue…]
Here it is: The official trailer for Think Thank’s 9th video Mind The Video Man. Starring: Jesse Burtner, Scott Stevens, Ted Borland, Chris Beresford, Sean Black, Sam Hulbert and welcoming to the Think Thank family; Curtis Woodman, Ryan Paul, Nial Romanek, Brandon Hammid, Kyle Lopiccolo, Brandon Reis, Jaeger Bailey and more.
“Mind The Video Man” explores progressive freestyle snowboarding with those in the vanguard and those about to make their mark, while asking the question, “What’s happening with the snowboard video, where is it going next and how will that impact our culture.” Follow the video man and his crew as they push the limits of possibility and progression through creativity in an attempt to create something of meaning that will stand the new media onslaught and the test of time. Mind the video, man.
