Academy Snowboards is stoked to announced that they have signed OG Tahoe style master and all-around legendary snowboarder Chris Roach to the team. Yes, that Chris Roach. Here’s the details:
We will be releasing his limited addition Master Series this fall. It is a directional free ride destroying machine so get ready. Here’s a sneak peak with more details to come. The board will be available in 55, 57, and 61. You can check it out on any of out on snow demos. Also a percentage of sales from this series will be going back to the revert foundation.org to help underprivileged kids go shredding.
Burton has licensed a bit of its “Step On” binding technology to DC so they can build a boot that fits. We were going to say this was the first time Burton has licensed their tech to another company, but we were reminded that they may have done some licensing with their 3-D binding hole pattern at one point, and there may be some others that we’re forgetting. Anyone? Either way, it’s a nice thing to do for people who want DC boots, but want to use them with the Burton Step On binding. Here’s what Chris Cunningham, SVP of Product at Burton had to say about it:
Ultimately, we’d like to see Step On become the standard platform that all non-strap-based boot/binding interfaces are based on, regardless of brand. And we’re really happy that DC will become the first brand to license Step On technology so that riders who prefer DC boots can also benefit from the convenience and performance of Burton Step On bindings.”
Yes, owning the standard for step-in bindings would be quite nice. The DC boot, which looks pretty good (we’re BOA fans), will be out for men and women in the fall of 2020. We still haven’t tried any step-in bindings since they came around the last time and we’re looking forward to trying out the Step On soon. For the official word from Burton, please follow the jump.
Yeah, yeah, we know, weed is the new snowboarding. Over the years we’ve been prone to making repeatedly lame, cliched jokes about weed because, well, we’re not all that into artificially altered states in general.
There are, however, those who take the legalization of marijuana and the business surrounding it seriously. Action super agent Circe Wallace is one of these. And her Hot Nife line of cannabis products has put her right back in the spotlight where ever she goes.
Last weekend she was in Aspen for a cable TV stunt sporting extravaganza and the local paper interviewed her on her business and weed in general. If you’re interested in an intelligent discussion on the topic, please click the link to read the painfully titled High Country: Snowboarding legend Circe Wallace carves her way into cannabis. Get it? High and carving. . .
We didn’t view much of the cable TV stunt sporting extravaganza held at Buttermilk Resort in Aspen, Colorado last weekend. The Eastern Sierra motel we were staying in didn’t get that channel, even if we would have wanted to. The one piece we did catch after returning to civilization was the third and final run of the obesity inducing fast food chain sponsored halfpipe competition. And while watching we noticed a few things:
Can you believe Danny Davis is still switch tricking his way onto the podium. Kudos Dano. Your diabetes drink sponsor must be pleased with your performance, especially when seeing their logo blazing brightly from your forehead. Still don’t know how you can ride so flow with your hood up.
We were shocked and surprised to see iPod going anywhere near an icy halfpipe. It was reassuring to see that a TBI (and recently broken nose) haven’t slowed him down nor dimmed his Vronsky charms for dazzling the green drink girls. Great to have you back, Iouri Podladtchikov…even in a Cookie Monster pelt jacket.
Scotty James’s high five victory lap was the most honest thing we’ve seen in a while (and granted, we haven’t seen much lately). But it’s always heart-warming to see someone who so appreciates where they are and how the crowd fits into the equation.
The biggest question we had from the event (second to wondering why all the slopestyle girls had black eyes) was this — is this snowboarding? We’re not asking because we know what snowboarding is. We stalled out on the sidelines years ago and have no idea what “professional” snowboarding currently is or where it’s going, but still we wonder. . . is it this?
The Vans Park Series (our favorite skateboarding web show) has announced their 2019 Pro Tour schedule. This year the Vans Park Series will touch down in five major countries.
“Our mission to inspire youth and grow skateboarding participation around the world by promoting skateboarding’s unique and creative culture remains our number one goal,” said Bobby Gascon, global director of action sports, Vans. “With Vans Park Series now in its fourth consecutive year, we are dedicated to growing the foundation for park terrain skateboarding competition and cultivating an elite class of professional athletes who are deserving of international recognition.”
Even better news: The VPS World Champs will begin Salt Lake City, Utah on September 7, 2019. Stateside for the first time. For all the details, please follow the jump.
Former pro snowboarder and athlete manager Roberta Walker was seriously injured on December 8, 2018 when she was hit by a truck while cycling in her hometown of Leucadia, California. Since then she has been in the hospital in a medical coma.
She suffered catastrophic injuries that included a traumatic brain injury, a fractured skull, 2 burst fracture vertebraes, 9 broken ribs, a broken clavicle and sacrum. She was immediately rushed to a trauma center and underwent major surgery to save her life. She was induced into a medical coma and has been fighting for her life. So far she has undergone 2 brain surgeries and 2 spine surgeries and experienced many complications due to the critical nature of her trauma.
Progress has been slow and seeing as the driver had only the minimum insurance required by law, the bills are beginning to pile up for J.P and Roberta, but there is something you can do. Please click this link to visit their GoFundMe page and make a contribution. Anything will help.
Tony Hawk and Mike McGill are together again to help flat-fee real estate company Home Bay move some units. Home Bay’s CEO couldn’t be happier, according to a story on Inman.com.
Home Bay CEO and chairman Ken Potashner says the ad has caused an “explosion” in interest from consumers excited to take advantage of Home Bay’s automated process and the subsequent savings that average a little over $15,000, according to the company, which presently operates in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Texas and Colorado.
Okay. Seems like a pretty good idea. And it’s always good to see skaters act (bummer Lance couldn’t make it). Not sure if Realtor’s will go extinct or not, but we’re pretty certain no one is going to miss them.
Sal Masekela has come a long way since we first met him in the water at our home break. He was paddling out we were coming at him on a wave. And he started laughing his deep, infectious chuckle, “That’s the slowest I’ve ever seen anyone surf in my life.” We took it as a compliment. Then, he reappeared as receptionist at Transworld Media, then singing karaoke at an industry conference. Next thing we knew he was the voice of action sports. And he was exactly what mainstream action sports coverage needed — a surfer/snowboarder who could think, talk, and hold a mic all at the same time.
Outside Magazine just posted the official Selma story written by David Shultz. It’s titled Unlikely Preacher of Action Sports and it goes a little more like this:
Sal Masekela steps off a helicopter onto the white sands of Tavarua Island Resort, a tiny speck in the Fiji archipelago, and walks into a gorgeous open-air restaurant that overlooks a world-famous reef break appropriately dubbed Restaurants. He greets the Fijian staff by name, hugging them, asking them about their lives since his last visit.
Damn. Still a baller after all these years. For the rest of the celebrity profile/career reset piece please, by all means, click the link.
Following on the heels of House of Vans and Apple’s “Town Squares” concept comes Burton Snowboards hopes to create an entertainment hub in a new space that has become available at its global headquarters in Burtonton, Vermont, according to a story in Seven Days Vermont.
Burton Snowboards wants to repurpose warehouse space at its global headquarters in Burlington for an entertainment hub anchored by an 8,000-square-foot concert venue. . . Justin Worthley, the company’s senior vice president of human resources, envisions food and beer options that would complement the band space and turn the South End campus into a destination for visitors.
Beer is always important. Lots and lots of beer. Because drunk people are the best. Sadly, Burton will first have to get the zoning changed, as music venues are only allowed on Burlington’s Pine Street and must be under 5,000 square feet. Party on, Burlington.
Yeah, yeah, we know, weed is the new snowboarding. Over the years we’ve been prone to making repeatedly lame, cliched jokes about weed because, well, we’re not all that into artificially altered states in general.
