Snowboarding

Better Get Some: Tariff Refund Portal Opens

by The Editors on April 20, 2026

After a ridiculous tariff policy that he didn’t even understand, Felon 47 gets to watch as $166 billion of that money goes right back to the importers it was stolen from in the first place thanks to a new online portal from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, according to a story on Gizmodo.

Now, CBP said in court filings that importers paid roughly $166 billion in tariffs under Trump’s unconstitutional policy. . . The agency says it will process refunds in phases, according to its website. The first round will focus on tariffs that have been paid but not yet finalized because they’re still under federal review, as well as some that are within 80 days of finalization. Later phases will handle older, fully finalized tariffs.

There are so many business owners who voted for the clown. Hopefully, after this they’ll at least think about it before making more bad decisions in the future.

[Link: Gizmodo]

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Snowboard Documentary Discussions

by The Editors on April 19, 2026

OG snowboarding lensman Dano Pendygrasse and writer/editor Colin White joined a crew of snowboarding’s capture crew for a group discussion at the Whistler Museum on April 13, 2026 to talk shop, according to story in Pique Newsmagazine.

Snowboarding is cool. It’s radical, dynamic, and colourful. But we, the non-boarder population, only really know that because there are people there to capture it. . . That documentarian role was the focus of an April 13 panel Whistler Museum, where a multi-generational panel explored how snowboard culture in Whistler has been captured and shared.

It’s always nice to get together and talk story about the good ol’ days of shred. For more from all those involved, click the link.

[Link: Pique Newsmagazine]

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Vail Resorts Sued by 2,000 Instructors

by The Editors on April 17, 2026

It just couldn’t happen to a better company, but over 2,000 current and former ski and snowboard instructors have joined a “collective action Fair Labor Standards Act lawsuit” against Vail Resorts according to a story in Ski Area Management.

Quint et al. v. Vail Resorts, Inc., was first filed in 2020 by three Beaver Creek employees, two ski instructors and one lift ticket scanner, who allege Vail Resorts violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by not paying snowsports instructors for time spent traveling between work sites, putting on and taking off gear and equipment, and attending training, as well as not being reimbursed for costs of work-related equipment purchases and cell phone use.

Apparently, 24,000 employees were eligible to join the suit, but the deadline to join was April 15, 2026 so if you’re not in on it you’re out. Good luck to the employees. The days of ripping off seasonal workers need to end. Especially now that resort workers don’t really have many options when it comes to where they can work.

[Link: SAM]

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RIP: Snowboard Ambassador Paul Alden

by The Editors on April 12, 2026

Snowboarding would not be the same today without the hard, caring work of Paul Alden (shown at the SIA Skullcandy booth in 2009). Mr. Alden died April 9, 2026 from injuries suffered after a slip in his home, according to a post from his son, Skullcandy founder Rick Alden. Mr. Alden was 89.

“My father, Paul Prince Alden, passed away yesterday morning,” Rick said on Instagram. “He slipped in his home, striking his C2 spinal cord on the edge of his desk, rendering him immediately quadriplegic. Our sister Carole began compressions immediately, keeping him alive until he could be stabilized on a respirator. . . About 36 hours after his fall, and in accordance with the directives outlined in his DNR order, his respirator was removed.”

In the mid 1980s, at a time when the wild, punk rock kids of snowboarding needed an adult in the room, Mr. Alden was there to communicate with ski resorts in a calm, consistent, persistent, business-minded style that helped open US resorts to snowboarding. While working at Burton Snowboards, Paul’s kind attention to snowboarding and snowboard competition, helped usher in the biggest boom winter sports has ever seen. In retirement Alden went on to be a Level 2 certified snowboard instructor at Targhee for 22 years, bought a ski resort, and consulted with many movers in Action Sports and business. We are forever grateful for his guidance, support, and true love for the sport and all the people involved.

Our thoughts are with the entire Alden family. Especially, his wife of 67 years, Sharon.

According to story on Eye on Sun Valley:

Alden is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Clarisse; and Scott, a son. He is survived by his wife Sharon; his children Mary (Jim) Moore, Carole (Doug) Andersen, David Alden, Rick Alden, and Clare Chadwick; 25 grandchildren; and 37 great-grandchildren.

A viewing will be held Friday April 17 from 6-8 p.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meetinghouse at 135 East 2000 South in Orem, Utah. Funeral services will follow Saturday April 18, with a viewing prior to the 11 a.m. services from 10-10:45 a.m. Interment will be in the Alpine (Utah) City Cemetery.

(Jackson Hole Guide) Paul Alden, 89, Saw The Snowboarding Vision

(Snowboarder Mag) Snowboarding Pioneer Paul Alden Has Died At The Age Of 89

(Idaho Stateman) Remembering Paul Alden: Man with Idaho ties helped get fringe sport into Olympics

(Deseret News) A pioneer in the rise of competitive snowboarding dies

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Burton CEO John Lacy Steps Off

by The Editors on April 8, 2026

John Lacy, the CEO of Burton Snowboards is reportedly leaving the company after 29 years, according to story on MSN.com.

A Burton spokesperson confirmed Lacy’s planned departure, saying: “John and Donna have come to a mutual decision that it is time for John to pursue his next chapter beyond his role as CEO. He will remain with Burton through the end of June to support a smooth transition.

Donna Carpenter will apparently step in as interim CEO, as she does. And hey, with AI here, who really needs an extra person on the payroll?

[Link: MSN.com]

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Super-Mega Passes Get Class Action Sued

by The Editors on March 25, 2026

The two corporations who own the global snow resort business with their Super-Mega Passes (Alterra Mountain Company and Vail Resorts Inc.) have been sued (again), this time in the U.S. District Court of the District of Colorado, according to a story in KDVR News.

The lawsuit was filed against Vail Resorts, Inc. and Alterra Mountain Company, alleging the companies unfairly increased prices and used bundling tactics with their multi-mountain season passes. . . “For years, skiers have been told that soaring lift‑ticket prices, reduced choice, and overcrowding are simply the new reality. Our complaint alleges that these outcomes are not the result of healthy competition, but of exclusionary conduct by two companies that dominate access to the most desirable destinations,” said Greg Asciolla, Chair of DiCello Levitt’s Antitrust and Competition Litigation Practice.

The suit basically alleges everything that we called out in our old post “The Sinister Plot Behind The Super Mega Pass,” and. . . no duh.

Vail Resorts, of course, disagrees saying in a statement that: “We believe these claims are without merit. We launched the Epic Pass in 2008 to make skiing and riding more accessible, reducing the price of a season pass by 60%. We’re proud that 18 years later, it’s still one of the best values in the industry, especially following our further 20% price reduction in 2021.”

Vail’s math on value, while arguable, is in reality quite wrong. The discounts only appear if you use both inflated daily lift tickets prices and inflated skier days into the equation. If you can’t tell, we hope DeCello Levitt wins this lawsuit, however unlikely that may be, because there should be a cost to ruining the resort experience for everyone worldwide.

For a deeper dive into the lawsuit check out Stuart Winchester’s breakdown on The Storm Ski Journal and Podcast substack.

[Link: KDVR.com]

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This Looks Like Ryan Wedding’s Last Run

by The Editors on January 23, 2026

It appears that former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding’s run from the law has finally come to an end as shifty-eyed FBI director Kash Patel has officially announced the alleged drug kingpin’s capture in Mexico, according to a story in the New York Post.

Wedding was taken into custody Thursday night in Mexico — where he was believed to be hiding out for more than a decade evading authorities seeking to bring him to justice for running his violent drug empire, officials said. . . “To tell you how bad of a guy Ryan Wedding is, he went from an Olympic snowboarder to the largest narco traffickers in modern times,” Patel told reporters at the Ontario International Airport in California, flanked by US and Canadian law enforcement officials.

Will be interesting to see how this all plays out. Seems the current administration is more interested in theater than true justice.  Click the link for more details.

[Link: New York Post]

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The 2026 US Olympic Snowboard Team

by The Editors on January 22, 2026

If you haven’t been paying attention, 2026 is a Winter Olympics year. Not really sure where, but we’re sure GROK knows (ah ha, turns out they are in Cortina, Italy, February 6-22, 2026).

Yesterday, US Ski and Snowboard  announced their snowboard team and, not to brag, but we’ve heard of exactly six of the 25 blessed shreds listed. The crazy part is that the US is sending two Parallel Giant Slalom racers. . . finally. Oh, and Jamie Anderson is sadly not on the list.

For the entire athlete list please follow the jump.

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The Pure Stoke of Sliding on Snow

by The Editors on December 20, 2025

When the editors of The Snowboarder’s Journal decided to go with a pure stoke photo for the cover of their print magazine, they never imagined how far the story of Mike Yoshida’s photo would carry. . . or, maybe they did.

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Grok’s Top Ten Holiday Gifts For 2025

by The Editors on December 18, 2025

Editors Note: The following story was written and illustrated entirely by Elon Musk’s alter ego Grok. We may get paid if you buy something, though that is unlikely at best. We are doomed.

As we wrap up 2025, the action sports world is buzzing with innovative gear that blends performance, sustainability, and style. Whether your loved one is chasing waves, carving powder, or grinding rails, these gifts stand out as the most popular and practical picks this holiday season. From game-changing accessories to must-have essentials, here’s our curated top 10—balanced across surf, snow, and skate.

Follow the jump for all the details.

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