by The Editors on October 16, 2008
Thanks to Burton’s Love Line and Primo Line of snowboards a Vermont “community-based nonprofit organization with more than 38 years of experience” is going to refuse donations from the company this year, according to a story on WCAX.com.
Spectrum Youth and Family Services is rejecting donations from the company. Each year the “Burton Chill Program” provides homeless and at risk teens with free gear and lift tickets at Bolton Valley. . . . Administrators at Spectrum say they will not participate this year, because the company is producing products that go against Spectrum’s values.
Guess that’s just another cost of trying to be everything to everybody.
[Link: WCAX.com]
by The Editors on October 16, 2008
Snowboard mountaineers John Griber, Doug Stoup and Sean Busby are headed south to lay down some first descents in Antarctica. And Busby, the 24-year-old University of Utah student, former Olympian, and Wasatch Academy Snowboarding director is the star of the show, especially since he has diabetes.
The trip, which begins Oct. 25 and ends Nov. 15, has visits along the way to such misnamed places as Paradise Bay. . . The crew involved will spend time on the frozen continent documenting their travels and experiences. They will also take satellite phones and laptops in order to upload daily broadcasts and updates to children’s hospitals where patients suffering from diabetes are receiving treatment.
Nothing like a few first descents to give the kids a little hope.
[Link: Deseret News]
by The Editors on October 16, 2008
Props Snowboard and Skateboard Shop in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada went up in flames in the early hours of October 15, 2008, according to a story in the Winnipeg Sun.
I would say an early damage estimate would be in the region of $500,000,” said Det. Darryl Drewniak, of the arson strike force, who was among the first investigators on scene. “There is substantial damage to the property.”
It would appear that arson was suspected in the “mysterious fire.”
[Link: Winnipeg Sun]
by The Editors on October 15, 2008
Ray’s Apparel and Split Clothing will be no longer in 60 days according to an Adam Sullivan story on Transworld Business.
“Rays Apparel has always been a very profitable company,” explains Ray’s Apparel president Jim Stark. “We got into mid-2008, probably about May, and started running into the same economic woes and problems that our competitors have been having. And for the past four or five months, we’ve been losing money. And it certainly looks that way for the balance of the year.”
While more than 60 employees will reportedly be out of a job, Stark says Split will “continue shipping product into 2009.” The Split brand, however, is up for sale. . . seems like it would be a perfect for one of the mall chain stores. PacSun? Buckle? Zumiez? Anyone?
[Link: Transworld Business]
by The Editors on October 15, 2008
London’s Battersea Power Station lights up October 23-26, 2008 as the Freesports On4 Freeze is unleashed on the British Isle. While we’ve been a little hard on big, fake, uber-snow sport spectaculars like this and San Francisco’s Icer Air, they are probably fun for little Johnny and Janie Doad who never get to see snowboarding in person.
We don’t feel bad for the big name snowboarders who definitely get paid by attending. We just feel bad for the c-level show ponies who have to do their dancing bear routines in hopes of landing Shaun White style paydays in the future. And hey, Cypress Hill is playing the main stage so that might be worth a few hucks off the scaffolding booter.
[Link: London Freeze via Londonist]
by The Editors on October 15, 2008
The 200-foot-long tunnel that takes Lake Mary Road under The Eagle Express lift at Mammoth Mountain collapsed on Friday, according to a story in the LA Times .
Mammoth Lakes officials are say the cause of the collapse has not been determined, but the incident doesn’t appear to be a random event. A bike path has been under construction along Lake Mary Road and a second tunnel was being dug about 20 feet on the downhill side of the original tunnel at the time of the collapse.
No was was injured in the collapse, but it has closed Lake Mary Road in both directions. A detour has been set up to allow traffic up to the Lakes Basin. Kind of nice that this happened now and not when the mountain is open and the loaded with snowboarders.
[Link: LA Times]
by The Editors on October 15, 2008
Mark Sullivan, the founder of Snowboard Magazine has officially launched a new website for snowboarders called MTNOPS.com. Here’s what he says about it:
What Facebook does to link people with common friends, MTNOPS does to unite people of common interest. Users naturally connect based on where they are and what they want to do. What Google does for search, MTNOPS does for predictive search. It delivers the content users want without them asking for it. What Shopper.com does for people interested in buying technology, MTNOPS does for targeted goods and services. It brings the best deals in any product category directly to the consumer. . . .MTNOPS is a real community that is virtual, not a virtual community.
While this sounds like hyperbole, Sullivan and programmer JP Stoermer have created an interesting mix of social networking, blogging, content aggregation, and product recommendation centered around snowboarding. There are still a lot of glitches, many 404 dead-ends (it’s currently the third most popular page on the site), yet the base concept is solid and the interface perfectly minimal and forward.
It is obvious that a lot of thought went into MTNOPS and if Sullivan and crew can get ahead of the bugs it could become a necessary site for all snowboarders.
[Link: MNTOPS.com]
by The Editors on October 14, 2008
The Coca-Cola Co has just signed a deal with Intrawest to be the “official beverage” at 10 of their resorts.
Coca-Cola North America and its bottle partners in the United States and Canada will continue to be the official beverage providers at 10 of Vancouver, Canada-based Intrawest’s destination resorts: Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort (Florida); Snowshoe Mountain (West Virginia); Winter Park Resort, Copper Mountain and Steamboat Ski Resort (Colorado); Mountain Creek (New Jersey); Stratton Mountain (Vermont); Panorama Mountain and Whistler Blackcomb (British Columbia); and Mont Tremblant Resort (Quebec).
All we wanted was a Pepsi, just one Pepsi and they wouldn’t give it to us.
[Link: Phoenix Business Journal]
by The Editors on October 14, 2008
Rome and Consolidated roll out the limited edition Libertine Drunk with the following rant:
If you think the same logo that’s on that nut-hugger swim suit, golf ball, tennis skirt, jump rope, baseball bat and rollerblade might as well be on your next pair of snowboard boots, what will snowboarding look like in five or ten years? Will it be influenced in a way that’s true to our history? . . .The Libertine Drunk, a collab between the Rome SDS and Consolidated Skateboards, is a limited edition get-together of two brands who think sporting goods companies aren’t snowboard or skate companies.
We’re no fans of Nike either, but seriously? Can this be any more like slurping up someone else’s vomit?
[Link: Rome Snowboards via Shayboarder]
by The Editors on October 14, 2008
The Apple iTunes store is now sporting the latest film Forum Or Against’em from Forum Snowboards for about the cost of one premiere beer: $5.99.
Looks like it’s finally time for us to check it out in the privacy and comfort of our own home. Apple TV here we come.
[Link: Forum Snowboards]
Thanks to Burton’s Love Line and Primo Line of snowboards a Vermont “community-based nonprofit organization with more than 38 years of experience” is going to refuse donations from the company this year, according to a story on WCAX.com.
