Stop us if we’d said this before, but we’d put Boa on all our shoes just to get rid of bulky, unsightly laces. That’s part of the reason why Vans’ new Verse snowboard boots look so good.
Offering extensive technical range and precision across two different lacing zones, the Verse is formulated with the Boa® Custom Focus Plus system, allowing for double optimization in and around the boot. Paired with Vans’ adjustable Custom Slide-Guide, the Verse provides maximum heel-hold and a more personalized, comfortable fit. The Verse lacing system is also protected by a waterproof zip-up shroud to seal the lower portion of the boot from the elements, keeping your feet dry during long days on snow. Complete with heat-moldable Custom Liners and UltraCush V3 footbeds, this versatile all-mountain snowboard boot features Vans’ new lightweight and responsive Ultimate Waffle outsole that offers first-rate heel dampening and asymmetrical arch support.
Sounds like a good pair of boots. For the rest of the features (and photos), please follow the jump.
Gnu and Airblaster have teamed up to create a vibrant collection that includes men’s and women’s ninja suit baselayers, waterproof/breathable Freedom Suits, a Ninja Mask, winter parkas, waterproof sweatpants and a Gnu Snowboard. What else do you really need this winter? For all the details, click the link.
Burton just launched their new 2018 Team USA Snowboarding uniforms inspired by NASA. Jake Burton, not always the biggest fan of snowboard team uniforms,has been very honored to outfit the team for the last four Olympics. Here is his explanation.
“The sport of snowboarding is neither nationalistic nor team-oriented in nature; however, all of that changes for a minute every four years during the Olympic Games,” said Jake Burton, Founder and Chairman of Burton Snowboards. “If the global expectations are that U.S. snowboarders represent their country in a uniform, then Burton wants to design and manufacture it. By doing so, we assure U.S. riders that they will have outerwear they can trust to perform at the highest level with a look they have input into and ultimately respect. Simply put, they want snowboarding outerwear, not athletic wear, and who better than Burton to provide it.”
If someone is going to do it, it might as well be Burton. And here’s what Greg Dacyshyn has come up with for 2018.
Inspired by the rich history of the American space program, the 2018 U.S. Snowboard Team uniform is both innovative in function and retro-futuristic in design. On the futuristic side, both the competition jacket and pant have a liquid metal look, thanks to an exclusive iridescent silver fabric coated in very fine, real aluminum. Burton custom developed the fabric solely for the 2018 uniform by infusing an extremely lightweight aluminum-coated fabric typically used for audio equipment with highly technical properties ideal for snowboarding in any weather condition. The end result is a super technical, lightweight and waterproof fabric that reflects and deflects light as well as sound. Next, to pay homage to the spirit of the American space program, the competition jacket also features hand-drawn patches depicting the American flag and ‘USA’ in space-age font. Even the inside of the jacket is highly detailed, with artwork sewn to the lining that includes Korean translations of helpful lighthearted phrases like ‘Do you speak English?’ and ‘Wish me luck!’.
We like ’em. Just wish they came with a full mirrored isolation helmet so we wouldn’t have to talk to people on the lift. Do they? For the official word from Burton, please follow the jump.
And taking the top spot and Gold Medal with a splendidly frightening twist on his normal Halloween crossdressing, comes Jake Burton Carpenter as Lindsey Vonn. (Be sure to click through to the last photo. We cried.)
In the 1990s when most of the major snowboard companies quit making Alpine race snowboards, one person stepped in and made boards for nearly everyone who still ran gates. His name was Chris Prior and the boards were Prior Snowboards.In later years, his namesake company came to make much more than race boards. Sadly, the Whistler, Canada based snowboard craftsman and innovator died suddenly at home on October 15, 2017, according to a story in Pique.
Prior passed away suddenly in an accident at his Whistler home. He was 51 years old (the family has requested an autopsy). . . He was a son, a brother, a boyfriend, a fearless creator, an adventurer, an innovative businessman, a quiet soul, a down-to-earth pioneer with his own vision, a local legend. . . “Every single day started with a full-on huge, happy attitude,” said girlfriend Lauren Bramley, who met Prior in 2010.
Five years ago Tahoe snowboarders Abe Greenspan and Lee Collins decided they wanted to make their own boards. So they did. They started Tahoe Lab. And in this profile from The Tahoe Daily Tribune they explain the whole idea behind their craft snowboard brand.
The duo never intended to grow TahoeLab as big as Burton, K2, Lib Tech or others. They mostly just wanted to be able to pay rent for their 600-square-foot shop. . . “We’re big into snowboarding, we’re big into the backcountry and we were dissatisfied with what was out there so we started making our own,” said Collins, a 40-year-old Yale University graduate, Tahoe resident since 2000 and president of TahoeLab.
It’s always good to see people doing things outside the fray and enjoying it. For the rest of the Tahoe Lab story, click the link.
Sometimes it’s hard to be a punk rock fashion line in the grand house of Gucci. Try though they might it seems that Volcom just can’t live up to the expectations of its parent Kering, according to a story on SBGmedia.
Kering reported revenues in its Sport & Lifestyle segment grew 15.9 percent on a currency-neutral basis as a 17.3 percent jump at Puma offset a decline at Volcom. . . Volcom’s performance continued to be hampered by the challenges faced by specialist distributors in the US.”
Academy Snowboards would like you to consider their new “Made in the USA” Graduate Series of classic, directional, cambered snowboards that reportedly work like a snowboard should.
Transworld Rider of the Year, X Games athlete, and snowboarding legend Chad Otterstrom designed the Graduate Series, to go everywhere, and do everything. This board is made in the U.S.A. at the Never Summer Factory in Colorado. It is a directional camber. The camber ensures maximum stability, and ability to hold an edge no matter how steep the terrain.
“Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. I think these are the most attractive boards of all the Academy boards. I mean that.” For the official word from Academy, follow the jump.
Remember that one day when it seemed your great grandma’s car began collecting dings and scratches almost over night? “What happened here,” you’d ask. And great nana would say “Oh, that was when I was in getting groceries. I came out and the car was dinged. Someone must have backed into me.” The next week it was a scrape down the passenger side, or a smashed front headlight. “I don’t know, honey. People are just driving terribly these days.” Eventually, great nana had to leave her car in the garage and let someone else do the driving. But that was okay. You still got to see her all the time, but you didn’t have to worry about her being out on the road.
Sorry for that closeout wave of nostalgia. So, what were we talking about?
Sometimes it’s hard to be a punk rock fashion line in the grand house of Gucci. Try though they might it seems that Volcom just can’t live up to the expectations of its parent 
