by The Editors on January 2, 2014
In business, barriers to entry are a good thing for well financed companies. Anything that can make it difficult for competitors is great. The same goes with Olympic snowboarding. Shaun White (with the help of GoPro) can spend a hundred grand to build and staff his own halfpipe, inflate an airbag, and spend a week just to add another 180 to his big trick rotation. That’s a pretty big wall to slam down in front of his competitors. Will it work? Guess we’ll all find out in Sochi (if the pipe doesn’t get destroyed in some terrorist plot).
by The Editors on December 26, 2013
Being Olympic season it’s very important to start telling the stories that will become headlines should a athlete win a medal. Here is Gretchen Bleiler’s pre-Olympic story: Vision. It lays out all the drama surrounding Bleiler’s brave return to competitive snowboarding after a serious eye injury.
Remember this story, because should Gretchen make it to the Sochi Games, you’ll be hearing it before each and every run she makes.
by The Editors on December 26, 2013
Salomon Snowboards says it best when talking about Annie Boulanger’s riding:
With a calculated and calm demeanor, she broke away from the contest scene in the early days of her career and shifted focus to riding backcountry–an area of snowboarding largely dominated by men. Using Alaskan faces and BC cliff bands as her proving ground, Annie has crossed gender lines and today has become one of the most respected female riders out there.
We just watched this edit, and we agree.
by The Editors on December 23, 2013
From the looks of this edit Len Jorgensen had a pretty good season. Hopefully, this year is going to be just as good. . . hey, mambo!
by The Editors on December 20, 2013
We’re not just saying this to be down: we could listen to Jamie Lynn talk and watch him ride all day long. Here’s a short bit from Jamie at home and the Mt. Baker Banked Slalom. The secret? “Breathe and is to stay high through the corners.” Listen and remember.
by The Editors on December 20, 2013
Filmmaker Matt Devino is biting off a pretty big hunk of snowboard philosophy with the feature length self-funded documentary he’s been working on. It’s called “Definition: Snowboarding” Here’s how he describes the project:
Snowboarding will be an in-depth look at all of the genres of Snowboarding through the eyes of Pro Riders and non-pros alike. I aim to create film that both the general public and the hardcore snowboarder will enjoy, and to share all of the amazing aspects of riding instead of the homogenized X-Games/halfpipe riding most people are familiar with. Ultimately I want to inspire new people to go snowboarding for the first time, and reinvigorate current riders to get out there and enjoy their boards more often.
So what is snowboarding exactly? Our answer would make a pretty short film: it’s fun. There. One word. Discussion is over. Luckily, Matt is going to take it a little deeper (or in Nick Visconti’s case way, way deeper). If you’d like to help Matt this project done, click here and help him out.
by The Editors on December 20, 2013
With no real winter storm falls so far this winter and most resorts getting a late start, this Alaska snow sure does look inviting. Especially with Elias Elhardt and Gigi Rüf in the drivers seats.
by The Editors on December 19, 2013
Today, a major snowboard company is excited to announce that both of its new flagship stores in a big city are now officially open and ready for the holidays and the riding season. Their new store on that one street opened its doors to customers for the first time today, and last month they opened another one in that other part of the city, just a quick stop off the highway on the way to the local resorts.
The newest store is located in the city’s historic neighborhood. The flagship store offers local snowboarders a curated selection of products, including boards, boots, bindings, outerwear, apparel, accessories and bags, in addition to limited edition items, collaborations, and one-of-a-kind collectibles.
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by The Editors on December 17, 2013
Years ago, (seems like a lifetime now) I rolled in late-night to a bar called Whiskey Creek in Mammoth Lakes, California. It was a weeknight and the place was half empty, but the other half was all local: goggle tanned ski instructors, lift ops on their last dollar, off duty cat drivers, and bored, alcoholic wives of the idle rich scattered around the room. The band had just finished playing and I made the mistake of rolling up to the bar next to an older guy who had already been there too long. He turned, one hand on an old fashioned, looked me straight in the eye and before I could say hey, said, “I’m working out a way to put anyone in “the zone” any time they want.”
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by The Editors on December 17, 2013
Former Snowboarder Magazine National Sales Manager Kyle Kennedy is dropping the “er” from his job title and stepping into the publisher position at the Boulder, Colorado based Snowboard Magazine.
“Kyle brings a wealth of sales and marketing knowledge to our crew,” says Editor-in-Chief Susie Floros. “His connections in the industry run deep, and his motivation and love of the sport is inspiring. I have no doubt that Kyle’s going to help us continue to take SNOWBOARD to the next level.”
For the official word from Storm Mountain Publishing follow the jump.
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