130 Search Results for "design"

• Life In Focus Teaser By F-Stop Life In Focus Teaser By F-Stop

  • From: fstopgear
  • Description:

    Life in Focus takes us behind the scenes with the F-Stop Staff Pro Team to capture them in their element, and to show the world their story of how they became the pro's they are. The series will present a different f-stop Staff Pro in each episode exploring their world along with the techniques and skills that distinguish them from the rest.
    
    F-Stop's collaborative effort with the team is an essential cog in the product development process. Working with industry leading professionals to design and build the ultimate camera packs and bags is an ongoing endeavor that has helped them to become the brand and company that they are today.
    
    For more on Life in Focus and F-stop

     

  • 1 month ago
  • Views: 13
  • Not yet rated

• Claim Your Place - The Wonder Claim Your Place - The Wonder Reels

  • From: whistlerblackcomb
  • Description:

    This past season Whitstler Blackcomb invited you to discover wonder. Watch a re-cap of the places you claimed and the stories you told as we journeyed together to map the wonders. And, get a hint of what's in store for next winter.

    Credits:
    Produced by Whistler Blackcomb and Origin Design & Communications
    Filmed by Switchback Entertainment and Sherpas Cinema
    Edited by Switchback Entertainment
    
    Watch More Whistler Blackcomb Videos
    
    
    

  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 11
  • Not yet rated

• Sessions Outerwear Celebrates Sessions Outerwear Celebrates 30 Years With The Shane McConkey Signature Jacket

  • From: mikehardaker
  • Description:

    
    In celebration of 30 years of excellence, Sessions Outwear is bringing back the Shane McConkey signature jacket.  Featuring 20,000mm Waterproof/15,000g/m2 Breathability rating and fully taped seams, the McConkey signature jacket is perfect for keeping you warm and dry. The Original Shane McConkey Signature Design is available in True+ Fir color ways and will be sized XS-XXL.
    
    Retail price is set at $280. Available in Stores this September with proceed going to the nonprofit shanemcconkey.org.
    
    “McConkey,” Shane’s feature-length documentary is set to be released later this year showcasing the legend in all his glory pioneering the progression of his sports, and the path he paved to conquer his dreams.
    
    Check out the trailer of the film, which will be featured at the Tribeca Film Festival April 20, 2013
    
    

  • Blog post
  • 2 months ago
  • Views: 135
  • Not yet rated

• Carving Through History with C Carving Through History with Chuck Barfoot Part Two: Barfoot is Back

  • From: jakedesroches
  • Description:

     

    From building some of the first snowboards nearly thirty-five years ago, to ending production almost ten years ago, Chuck Barfoot has seen a lot. He’s been around long enough to know the difference between what makes a good board, what makes a mediocre board, and what makes a great board. In re-entering the world of snowboard manufacturing, one thing is certain, Chuck Barfoot is fully committed to crafting great boards.
    
    Beginning in the 2013-14 season, we will once again have the opportunity to ride brand new Barfoot snowboards. The boards will be produced in small batches, not in lots of 10,000, to ensure quality. The boards will also be hand made right here in the USA, in the factory Chuck’s board-building partner, Ernie Delost, owns in San Diego, California.
    
    The benefits of producing at a factory close to home are many, but I say it really comes down to just two, quality and control. Barfoot described it to me in terms of red tape; “We can be building that board and have a few people go, ‘You know what? We’d like to have the flex changed a little.’ And we are able to make that change within minutes, versus months and months of people freaking out. There’s a lot less red tape because it’s Ernie and I making decisions and we can make them on the spot.”
    
    To many, this will come as a relief. A lot of riders (and skiers) out there are simply fed up with cheaply produced (but still expensive) boards and skis that are made in a factory several thousands of miles away, oftentimes in China. But those are big brands that pump out dozens of models of boards, and sell thousands of them worldwide. Luckily for us, that’s just not the Barfoot way.
    
    Next year, Barfoot will have two boards available to the public. One is a cambered, all-mountain slayer, and the other is a rocker-camber hybrid freestyle board. The all-mountain board will feature a low profile camber and a longer than standard transition between the camber and the nose and tail lift. The freestyle board will feature a slight rocker between the feet, a little bit of camber underfoot, and be coupled with an early-rise nose and tail. Barfoot has two design features for us that will really set these boards apart.
    
    First, every board at every length will come in a narrow, standard, and extra wide width. Barfoot explained why; “So that we can have people who have a size thirteen versus a size seven, but still ride a 158, ride the same board. They can have a board that fits them, rather than have something that they have to wrestle with, or a board with toe and heel drag.”
    
    Second, Barfoot’s binding inserts will feature an extended width design. This pattern will allow for a rider’s bindings to be mounted with two to three extra inches of variation, which leads to a board that fits each rider better. Barfoot explained his reasoning to me again; “Because you know, if someone has a 20-inch stance, someone has a 22-inch stance, someone has a 24 inch stance, they can all ride that same board. It offers a lot of adjustability for your stance, more so than other boards that are on the market.” This will also let riders push their bindings way-way back for powder days and re-center them for days when the snow is not as deep.
    
    I tried to get Barfoot to go into detail on the materials he will be using. But that is something he wants to keep secret for now. He assured me that all materials from the base, to the cores, to the top-sheets will be of the highest quality, and like I said earlier, will be hand built in Ernie Delost’s San Diego factory.
    
    One thing that long-time Barfoot fans, and those looking for the best performing snowboard possible, will be interested in, are custom-made boards. Sadly, Barfoot isn’t quite ready to open the custom-shop to the public. But he did say, “Making custom boards available to the public is something we want to do. We do make custom boards for some of our riders now.” So all hope isn’t lost, especially considering that this man truly loves building boards.
    
    “It’s something that I love doing, because we’re making a board that fits you like a glove.” Barfoot went on further; “It makes me happier than hell when I’ve got somebody on one of my boards going, ‘Damn! There’s nothing that rides like this.’ Or, ‘This board is so perfect for me!’ Then you hear them talking about pow days or whatever they did, something outrageous, and they landed it, and the board worked perfectly and you’re like, ‘Yeahh!’ It’s like you did it yourself."

    Shop for snowboards online at http://dogfunk.com, while giving back to TGR. 

    Photo Caption: Barfoot building one of his first snowboards, December 1978.
    Photo Credit: John Roskowski
    
    

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 100
  • Not yet rated

• Carving Through History With C Carving Through History With Chuck Barfoot Part One: The Old Days

  • From: jakedesroches
  • Description:

    

    With each year that passes, the opportunity for seeing, meeting, and speaking with a snowboarding legend diminishes. The passing of Tom Sims last September is a stark reminder of this. The ranks of the original riders, the guys who took what we would consider simple wooden or fiberglass planks to the snow, are fading fast. On Friday February 1st at the SIA Snow Show, I was fortunate enough to come across one of the original riders. I was lucky enough to meet Chuck Barfoot.
    
    After speaking to Chuck and his board-building partner Ernie Delost, I was nearly at a loss of words. I had never met a stranger who had lived through so much snowboarding history, let alone helped to create it. I knew I needed to learn more about this man. Before he parted to meet with old friends on the snow show floor, I asked if he would be willing to do a brief interview with me the next day.
     
    Being simply a down to earth guy, he agreed to come back the next morning and speak with me for fifteen minutes. This fifteen-minute meeting turned into a thirteen-minute interview plus another twenty minutes of great conversation, just talking, laughing, and enjoying the snow show vibe.
    
    Chuck Barfoot is a humble, inspiring, and truly good man. We should be thankful he loves snowboarding so much, because without him we might still be riding wooden boards with black grip tape and skyhooks for bindings (ok, it probably wouldn’t be that bad).
    
    This is Chuck’s story.
    
    The Old Days
    
    Chuck Barfoot started surfing in Beach Haven, New Jersey in 1961. Nine years later, in 1970, he moved to Santa Barbara, California and was living with Tom Sims. Chuck was well positioned to help craft the snowboarding industry that we know today, but he didn’t know it.
    
    It was 1977; he was working for Tom Sims, building prototypes and doing research and development on the classic skateboards and surfboards that Sims produced. At this point, he had never even touched his feet on a board and placed that board on the snow. He was a surfer and a skater. He had no idea how much his life would change.
    
    One day, Tom Sims approached Barfoot with a project Bob Webber and Tom had worked on. According to Barfoot, it was a “yellow plastic ski board with a skateboard deck on it.” It had black grip tape, and skyhooks for the riders’ feet. The board worked, but it had some problems.
    
    The grip tape would pack with snow, and the skyhooks were permanently mounted regular or goofy. There was no switching the skyhooks from regular to goofy, or vice versa. At the time, these snowboards were a rare thing (the word “snowboard” wasn’t even used yet). If you had a board, you wanted to share it with all your friends. With the skyhooks mounted only in one direction, if your friend was regular and you were goofy one of you was simply out of luck.
    
    Tom Sims approached Barfoot with the crude snowboard device and said, “What can we do to fix these problems?” Barfoot gave the board a quick look up and down and replied, “Well first, get rid of the black grip tape.” He replaced the standard black tape with a sheet of clear plastic grip tape, and then sprayed the board with a coat of silicon to help relieve the skate deck from packing with snow. Thinking about how to fix the skyhook problem, Barfoot took rubber bungee cord and bolted it to the top of the skate deck, running from tip to tail. Instead of having a set mounted position, a regular-footed rider could now stand on it, set his feet underneath the bungee, ride down a hill, and then hand the deck over to his goofy-footed friend.
    
    Snowboarding could now be shared.
    Sims knew Barfoot was onto something. Shortly after this, Sims approached Barfoot again and asked, “How about building me a fiberglass prototype of a board I built like in 1963?“ Always the tinkerer, Barfoot began working on what he described as, “a little four foot bullet with a v-bottom.”
    
    At this point, it was 1978 and Chuck Barfoot had still never ridden a snowboard, a snurfer, or even one of those plastic ski boards. Barfoot finished his fiberglass copy and knew he could do better. He took the board back to Tom Sims and immediately said; “I can build something way better.”
    
    Sims told Barfoot to go for it, and go for it Barfoot did. He wanted to craft a board that would let surfers and skaters like him carve through snow just like they were surfing or skating.
    Barfoot began designing his first snowboard in his head; “The idea was like putting two skis together, with camber and channels.” The channels ran along the sidecut of the board, allowing loose snow to flow (at this point, boards were only made for riding powder). He started by building a mold, “a solid rectangular fiberglass shape, with camber, v-shape, nose and tail lift, and sidecut.” After the mold was complete, Barfoot built his first snowboard.
    
    It was time for him and Bob Webber to begin the nearly thousand-mile journey from the Southern California Coast to entry three between the Snowbird and Alta ski resorts. At the time, entry three was a series of switchbacks winding up the mountain. He had no idea that his life was about to change forever.
    
    We aren’t all lucky enough to first experience snowboarding riding in 18 inches of champagne Utah powder on Christmas day, but lucky for us, Barfoot was.
    
    “I remember taking off, taking my very first toe and heel turns, 15 yard beautiful carves all the way down the freaking mountain.” Chuck reminisced. He wore a red, white, and blue jersey, and after getting to the bottom he grabbed his board, held it high above his head, and screamed. “YEAHHH!”
    
    Chuck Barfoot and Bob Webber weren’t the only ones enjoying a miraculous Christmas. By some stroke of luck, fate, or both, they spotted another rider, sporting a snurfer-like board with a rope on the nose, coming down the mountain. It ended up being Jeff Grell’s older brother, Jay (Jeff was one of the designers of the highback binding).
    
    Barfoot was amazed. “We were like ‘Oh my god!’ So we snowboarded together all day long.” The three pioneers enjoyed a day of powder, laughter, and camaraderie that truly created history. To this day, riders across the world unknowingly seek to emulate those three young men as they search for that perfect day of freedom, riding, and friendship.
    
    Barfoot continued to work for Sims for the next several years. But that day was the real beginning of Barfoot Boards. His mind and more importantly his heart were in it. He worked hard, building one of a kind snowboards. Each new board was a little bit different from the last, a little lighter, just a bit more flex, a new shape.
    
    “I did about fifteen different models until I had boards that worked, really-really well.” He described his motivation for building boards. “It was basically just to surf snow.”
    With such a simple goal in mind, Chuck lovingly built boards for Sims until the 1980 – 1981 season, when he left Sims Snowboards and founded Barfoot Boards. He continued to build individually crafted snowboards and skateboards for the next twenty odd years. Until, around the 2003 – 2004 season, his company had grown too large. It was out of control and unfocused. It became such a problem, that he decided to stop producing snowboards (he continued to craft surf-style longboard skateboards under the Barfoot brand).
    
    Chuck didn’t sound happy as he said this. “Things were being done for not the right reasons. It was more about money and all that stuff.” Chuck was fed up with the corporatism that had invaded his, and so many other good companies.
    
    “My philosophy has always been, build something really good, that works. Take care of someone and they'll be back, and your company will grow and the money will come with that. And that's not the corporate world. And I am so far away from the corporate world.”
    
    Fast-forward ten years, and lucky for us, those same snowboard corporations, the mass media, and most importantly, the internet, created a huge market for snowboarding. The market was so big, that people wanted something smaller, something personal. People began demanding a product made just for them.
    “The internet got so many people getting ahold of me saying, ‘You need to be building boards again. My fifteen year old Barfoot is at the end of its road, I need a new board.’ So my old partner, Ernie Delost, him and I got back together again. So him and I, we are hand building the boards in his factory.
    
    We design them together. We hand build them in house, and that’s just what I love doing. So that’s why I'm building boards again. It’s for the right reasons.” As Chuck said this, the grin on his face widened to remind me of a child’s first visit to a toy store, his mind hungry for the possibility of building even greater adventures.
    
    What really amazed me about my meeting with Chuck Barfoot was his willingness to become my friend after just speaking a few words with me. I never once caught a rude tone come out of his mouth, and it was hard to catch him without a smile. The word that kept coming up was “personable.” With his business, Chuck wanted to, and still wants to create a personal connection with every single one of his customers (and many more lucky people, like me). He was also very humble. It never once seemed like he was boasting, or trying to make what he did out for more than it was. Long after our interview was over, and just before we said our goodbyes, Chuck Barfoot left me with one last history lesson.
    
    “All credit really goes to Dimitrije Milovich, Winterstick founder. He was the one that set the right direction. P-tex base, sidecut, steel edges, swallowtails — it was straight up surfing on powder-no rope attached.”
    
    Remember to check back later this week for part two, “Barfoot is Back,” a sneak peek at the new Barfoot Boards.
    
    Save big on 2012-2013 Snowboards when you buy online through Dogfunk.com, while giving back to TGR

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 74
  • Not yet rated

• Inside The Jib Factory Inside The Jib Factory

  • From: sethlightcap
  • Description:

    
    
    X Games terrain park builders Snow Park Technologies to star in reality TV show on National Geographic Channel.
    
    Story and Photos By Seth Lightcap
    
    Reality TV has shown us dirty jobs, dangerous jobs and of course, ‘only in Nevada’ jobs (see Cathouse). But for once, you’re late night channel surfing is about to drop you into the boots of a talented crew doing a really freakin’ cool job.
    
    Ever wonder what it takes to build an X Games halfpipe or design a super-human sized slopestyle feature? You’re about to find out as the exploits of Snow Park Technologies, the rockstar terrain park builders tasked with creating the X Games courses and signature resort terrain parks at Sun Valley, Northstar and Vail, will be featured in a reality TV show on the National Geographic Channel. The eight-episode series, called ‘Mountain Movers’, will air in late-spring 2013.
    
    Snow Park Technologies (SPT) was founded on the sunny So-Cal slopes of Snow Summit Resort in 1997 by then Snow Summit terrain park director Chris ‘Gunny’ Gunnarson. Gunnarson’s offshoot terrain park consulting business has since grown to become the world’s foremost designer and builder of resort terrain parks, competition courses and signature park features. SPT is known for it’s exacting logistical expertise and innovative production abilities having built every Winter X Games course there’s ever been, as well as next-level park features like the cubed halfpipe that SPT created for Red Bull and Simon Dumont at Squaw Valley in 2011.
    
    The talents of SPT’s crew of cat drivers and jib builders attracted the attention of NatGeo Channel who are currently filming SPT’s operations as they criss-cross the globe building halfpipes and terrain parks. The show will offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse at SPT’s unique construction efforts, said Gunnarson.
    
    “‘Mountain Movers’ will tell the story about the design and construction efforts that go into the work we do at SPT, and the different conditions and environments we deal with along the way,” said Gunnarson. “The idea is that each episode will follow one project from start to finish — from initial design and planning through the execution of the project on site.”
    
    
    
    Armed with a no-nonsense, get-it-done-right attitude, Gunnarson will take a lead role in the TV series as the show chronicles the SPT president’s moves leading the company.
    
    
    
    
    
    Beyond strictly on-snow, on-location scenes, Mountain Movers will showcase SPT’s new Jib Factory, a cavernous office/production facility in Verdi, Nevada where they design terrain park layouts and build the rails and wallrides. SPT’s drive to bang out on-time construction, delivery and installation of such features will be a focal point of the show. This massive 40x30 foot wallride (the biggest SPT has ever built) was constructed early-January in the Jib Factory for the 2013 Winter-X Snowboard Street course.
    
    
    
    
    
    Snow Park Technologies’ lead fabricator Tyrone Coyne is arguably the king of terrain park rail and jib building. Coyne built the world’s first “fun box” (a slide-able park feature with lexan plastic on top of it) when he was working at Snow Summit Resort in the late ’90s and has been designing and crafting signature terrain park features for SPT ever since. With a masterful eye for jib design and a steady hand with a welding torch, Coyne is the shop supervisor of SPT’s Jib Factory. Get ready for some heavy metal moments as the NatGeo cameras capture Coyne in action building monster features.
    
    
    
    Laying down corduroy in a snowcat may not sound that riveting, but sculpting jumps and halfpipes should present some interesting angles on some serious cat-time. SPT Project Manager, Corley Howard (shown here), and the legendary halfpipe cutter and SPT Business Director Frank Wells will be two of the cat drivers featured.
    
    
    
    “The weapon of choice is the Prinoth Bison X,” said Howard, talking about the best snowcat for building terrain parks. The Italian-made Bison X is a terrain park-specific snowcat equipped with special features that allows them to push snow more efficiently than a standard grooming cat that’s designed to go faster up and down ski runs. SPT has its own custom-wrapped Bison X that will star in the TV show and snowcat snafus will be a likely source of tension in the story line.
    
    
    
    
    
    SPT uses a software program called Google Sketch-Up to create 3D renderings of what a terrain park feature will look like on the mountain before it’s built. These drawings allow SPT to precisely present its suggested park layouts to resort and event management. The dimensions of the drawings can be used to determine the amount of steel needed to build a rail or the water volume needed to make enough snow to build a jump or halfpipe. These drawings depict a new jump line at SPT partner resort Alpine Meadows.
    
    
    
    
    
    Nobody builds bigger, badder jibs than SPT. Inside the Jib Factory, SPT fabricators Sean Picard and Erik Jakobsen prepare a couple gargantuan rails for primetime. Two of these rail segments came together to form the ‘Bat-wing’ rail featured in the 2013 Winter X slopestyle course.
    
    Look out for more info on ‘Mountain Movers’ including scheduled air dates at snowparktech.com.

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 88
  • Not yet rated

• Seth Morrison Crowned King Of Seth Morrison Crowned King Of The Hill

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
    
    After thousands of Facebook votes, Seth Morrison has been crowned Teton Gravity Research’s King Of The Hill.
    
    It’s no wonder.
    
    The big mountain badass skier has one of the longest careers in freeskiing history, and he’s still charging today. Seth has been around since before Teton Gravity Research ever loaded a camera and he continues to wow audiences in our films to this day. He’s as close to a house hold name as there is in freeskiing. He’s a legend - a true king of skiing.
    
    It was close, though.

    
    
    Freeskiing pioneer JP Auclair almost took it at the end. He lost by only 19 votes. Nineteen votes! That is so very, very close.  JP helped design and bring to market the Salomon 1080 ski in 1998 – the first-ever twin-tip ski. He also co-founded Armada skis in 2002 and starred in the street skiing segment from All.I.Can. – one of the most celebrated segments of all time. JP is a true master of freeskiing and has done more for the sport than almost any skier in history. Keep on pushing it, JP!
    
    Check out the final bracket below and two choice edits from Seth and JP.
    
    
    
    

    
    Seth Morrison's segment from Under The Influence.
    
    
    
    JP Auclair's segment from All.I.Can.

     

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 78
  • Not yet rated

• Eye Catchers: 10 Noteworthy Sk Eye Catchers: 10 Noteworthy Ski Products From SIA 2013

  • From: gregfitzsimmons
  • Description:

    The SIA Snow Show rolled through Denver last weekend like a carnival—it popped up quickly, took over for a few days, and disappeared overnight. There was some serious shoptalk and geeking-out that went down during the four-day ski and snowboard trade show. We were on the floor throughout, scouring the booths, talking with brands, and checking out the gear that’s on-tap for next season. There’s a lot for skiers to get excited about next year, from bindings and backpacks to skis and jackets. Here are ten pieces of gear that we were introduced to at SIA and think you need to know about.
    
    
    
    Kastle FX Skin
    
    Kastle has come up with the answer for the age-old problem of getting shit stuck to the glue of your climbing skins: make a skin without using glue. Like an octopus, the FX Skin uses thousands of tiny suction cups to stick to the ski, which means dirt, water, and dog hair are no longer a worry when slapping your skins on for the climb. For now, the FX Skin is only available cut to fit the Kastle FX line of skis, which are worth checking out, too.
    
    
    
    Völkl One & Two
    
    The One (blue) and Two (red) skis by Völkl are the perfect ski for jibbers looking “to take it the backcountry.” With “early” taper in the tip and tail and full rocker, this line will be the go-to quiver for guys looking to spin and stomp, get pitted and arc pow turns—like Dash and Dylan. A multi-layered wood core promises a poppy feel, the vertical sidewalls mean bomber quality, and the playful tail will allow for skiers to get creative in deep snow.
    
    
    
    
    
    K2 Shax
    
    We’re always psyched when we can consolidate gear and cut down on the equipment we have to schlep in packs during backcountry missions. So, people were talking at SIA when K2 unfurled their new “shax”—a combination of an ice ax and rescue shovel. This thing has many functions: rescue shovel, hoe, deadman anchor, flat surface for cooking, and, now, a removable handle with an interchangeable ice axe head. It all packs down into the size and weight of a normal shovel. The Shax is the go-to tool for booting up the couloir, building booters, and rescue situations.   
    
    
    
    Rossignol Soul 7
    
    The hype surrounding the Soul 7 (and Soul Series) is loud right now, and rightly so. The Soul 7 is 106mm underfoot with “Powder Turn Rocker” and boasts a new ultra‐lightweight core and new Air Tip technology that has reduced the ski weight by 20%. “At 106 underfoot, the Soul 7 is the new do‐it‐all, go‐to ski,” said Rossi pro Matty Richard. This ski is the bridge between backcountry, freeride, and freestyle; it’s super light for going uphill and spinning of features, but doesn’t compromise an ounce of performance when you’re clicked in. This one’s a blaster.
    
    
    
    Dalbello Krypton Lupo (Sean Pettit Pro Model) Boot
    
    Dalbello’s KR2 Series is building on the momentum it’s seen over the last few years, and unveiling a new pro model called the Lupo S.P. that looks and feels burly. Sean Pettit’s 98mm last pro model boot is geared for big mountain charging, and keeps the hiking and skinning in mind, too. With an ultra-burly cuff, high-traction mid sole rubber, and replaceable toe and heel, this 130 flex, three-buckle boot is legit.
    
    
    
    Smith Inspired Designs Helmet and Goggles
    
    The new Smith I/D Project has created a series integrated—as always with Smith—goggles and helmets based on colors and graphics that the athletes are clamoring for and inspired by. The end products are sweet. Sage’s Chakana I/O goggle and Vantage helmet boast a matte purple look and incorporates Incan mythology that Sage believes in and Bobby Brown’s Digital I/O goggle and Maze helmet are inspired by the London tube map when he was in the UK at the Olympics.
    
    
    
    Patagonia PowSlayer and Untracked
    
    The Patagonia PowSlayer kit has garnered a devout following in its first year on the market for its lightweight and durable design and freeride fit. The second iteration of PowSlayer is only getting better! With an articulated fit made for charging skiers, thoughtful design that allows for backpack straps, high-back bib with belt loops for après, and sick colors, the PowSlayer is a must-have kit. And, the Untracked pant and jacket blends a hardshell’s waterproofness with the breathability of a softshell. Look for awesome color combos like Yvonn’s favorite, army green with purple.
    
    
    
    Mammut Pro Protection Airbag Backpack
    
    Mammut has recently acquired Snowpulse which means that the airbag in all Mammut snow packs will be geared 100 percent toward snowsports. The new Pro Protection Airbag pack is the perfect example of an avalanche airbag pack that is designed for the serious skier. 35 liters of volume means there’s a ton of room for overnight hut trips, the back entry makes it easy to get into the pack’s main compartment, and the shape of the Snowpulse airbag aims at helping combat trauma in an avalanche in addition to helping flotation. Mammut is also working on a canister rental program with retailers to make sure that when you travel to BC or Europe from North America you don’t have to stress about your canister.
    
    
    
    
    BCA Tracker3 Beacon and BC Link Walkie
    
    The Tracker has been a go-to beacon for backcountry skiers for a long time because of the ease of use, and now the Tracker 3 comes in a smaller package. The T3 still boasts the industry’s fastest and most precise pinpointing with an instantaneous display, but it’s now 20% smaller and lighter than the Tracker2 and has three antennas. The BC Link walkie means that backcountry travel and communication aren’t mutually exclusive. Going one-at-a-time doesn’t have to compromise communication anymore. The real-time communication system is easy to use with gloves on and designed to be worn with all backpacks.
    
    
    
    Dynafit Beast Binding
    
    If you’ve been on a month-long hut trip or haven’t paid your internet bill for awhile, you might not know that Dynafit is unfurling The Beast. The 16 DIN binder has created a frenzy among charging backcountry skiers and for good reason. The Dynafit Beast 16 DIN binding is serious. The frameless touring binding is looking to change the entire binding category, blurring the once definitive line between an alpine binding and a touring setup.
    
    A Few Other Products to Note:
    
    Tyrolia, Elan, and Fischer will be producing a 16 DIN alpine binding called the Adrenaline that looks to be a solid competitor to the Jester, Driver, and others on the market. It’s lighweight design, low profile tow piece, and tight mounting pattern make it a binding to check out if you’re looking for a bomber alpine binder.
    
    Line will be unveiling the Sick Day Series of skis that athletes like Colter Hinchliffe, Andrew Whiteford, and Max Hammer had a major role in the development of the three-ski line—with widths of 125mm, 110mm, and 95mm underfoot. Line’s Sick Day Series are surfy, stable, and fun.
    
    Chris Davenport recently joined forces with Scarpa to create the Freedom SL Freeride Boot. It’s lightweight (3 pounds, 15 ounces per boot), durable (Pebax and carbon-fiber construction), strong (120 flex), and comes stock with an Intuition FR Speed liner.

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 284
  • Not yet rated

• Eye Catchers: 10 Noteworthy Sn Eye Catchers: 10 Noteworthy Snowboard Products From SIA 2013

  • From: ericodlin
  • Description:

    The SnowSports Industries America snow show just finished up in Denver, where attendees had the pleasure of scoping out all the latest and greatest goods from nearly every brand under the sun. At SIA, industry people from all over the world come get a look at next year’s gear and see what kind of new technology has been cooked up for our shredding pleasure. It’s quite the spectacle, and for gear gurus, it’s a little slice of heaven.
    
    This year, there was an endless amount of new goodies to be found around every corner, but here is a list of 10 of the most interesting or innovative snowboarding products we came across.
    
    
    
    Union Factory Travis Rice Signature Model
    
    Union is on top of the binding game, and this pro model binder is proof. Building from the Charger and Atlas models, Union and Travis came up with the Factory. It features a beefed up highback, killer heel padding, an uber-cush’ ankle strap, and three-degree canting in the foot bed. This looks like a real powerhouse binding, matching superior comfort with next-level response.
    
    
    
    Anon M2 Goggle
    
    Quick change lenses are the latest tech from the goggle world, and Anon’s new M2 really stood out. The lens attaches to the outside of the frame via high-powered mini magnets for fast, on-the-fly lens swaps and convenient snow clearing. We saw a guy actually throw the lens into place. Anon tests the lense's ability to stay put with the same machine Burton uses to test its binding ratchet strength, so you need not worry about loosing a lens during a wreck. With a nice-fitting, mid-sized frame and tons of color way and tint options, the M2 definitely stands out.
    
    
    
    Burton AK Freebird Jacket
    
    This lightweight 3L GORE-TEX piece has a clean look and a cut built for shredding. A great feature unique to the Freebird jacket is that is has two mesh pockets on the inside designed to hold your splitboard skins when not in use. The legendary Dave Downing brought this jacket to our attention, pointing out the value of keeping your skins dry and warm for faster touring set ups. That means more laps, more pow, more fun.
    
    
    
    Jones Aviator
    
    This is the newest offing from Jones Snowboards. The Aviator is a cambered, directional, all-mountain banger, ideal for hard carving and getting jiggy with the whole mountain. Its 3D power camber has a light two-degree bevel at all four contact points, which gives a loose, less catchy feel to the time honored pop and control of camber. I’m willing to bet we see a bunch of Jones’ freestyle riders ripping on this deck next season.
    
    
    
    Capita Black Snowboard Of Death
    
    Don’t let the dark name scare you away from this amazing snowboard.  Capita’s flagship model got a little re-designing for the upcoming season. By setting back the cam-rock and lengthening the shovel and tail, the B.S.O.D. is even more of a do-all freestyle/freeride deck. With its new profile, killer shape, and psychedelic graphics, this board is simply rad.

    
    
    K2 Snowboarding Speedlink Touring Poles
    
    Sure, they’re just poles. But, K2 has produced some of the finest splitboarding poles we’ve ever seen. With just one quick lock lever, they’ve reduced the collapsed length by 6 inches, making it only 13-inches long broken down. They’re small enough to fit into almost any pack with out sticking out the top. When you’ve reached your summit, you just flip the one-lock lever, and just kind of smash the pole straight down and it collapses all the way down in one motion. That’s smart.
    
    
    
    Lib Tech Speedodeeps By Travis Rice
    
    Lib’s got a new pow shape that looks like it’ll be soooooo much fun on those deep days. Designed with Travis, this twin features a short running length, a jumbo tip and tail, and BTX banana tech to make for one heck of a floating powpow machine. Available in 162, this replaces the infamous “banana hammock”, and will offer the user the option to turn their snowboard should they find themselves on non-powder type snow.
    
    
    
    Jones 30L R.A.S. Ready Pack
    
    Here’s a great example of a rider’s needs pushing design. This 30L pack comes ready to hold Snowpulse’s removable airbag system. That means you can use the pack with or without the airbag. Add an internal wire frame for support, color coded buckles for additional load options, and that it weighs only 6lbs 7oz with the R.A.S installed, and you have the recipe for a terrifically designed backcountry pack.
    
    
    
    K2 Kwicker Split System
    
    Remember clickers? Well, in case you forgot, K2 has brought them back for our backcountry pleasure. This system gives you a lighter set up, and quicker change over times than your traditional split kit. As A.J. from K2 explained, the boot/binding has been engineered to feel and flex just like a boot in a strap binding would move. With over two years of R&D, and many backcountry seekers not afraid to have a separate A/T set up, this could be the next big thing in splitboarding. In the words of A.J., “It’s the balls.”

    
    
    DC Travis Rice Signature Boot
    
    OK, we realize that we have included Travis Rice’s whole set up in this top 10 list. This was not intentional. It just goes to show that not only is he a fine shredder, but that he is pushing product design forward as well. DC’s redesigned Rice signautre boot is bomb proof. They put the upper boa dial back on the outside of the boot, got rid of the wrap design for the lower, designed the outsole with sledding in mind, and wrapped the whole toe box in ballistic Superfabric. The result is a boot that comes very close to being un-blow-up-able. It also comes stock with Remind insoles for happy feet. And Torstien just won the X Games big air wearing these. I think the proof is in the pudding.
    
    Do you see a trend here? We are pleased to see that backcountry riding and splitboarding are the catalyst for most new ideas and designs this year. The demands of those two elements of snowboarding are bringing more fun new things to the table to further enhance our enjoyment of the mountains. Cheers to you, innovative shred engineers! Hope this gets everyone fired up to get out and do what we all love to do: RIDE!

  • Blog post
  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 340
  • Not yet rated

• Smith I/D Inspired Design Proj Smith I/D Inspired Design Project

  • From: idarado
  • Description:

    Check out the Smith I/D Inspired Design Project.

    Watch More Videos By Smith Optics

     

  • 3 months ago
  • Views: 12
  • Not yet rated

• News: Burton Snowboards And Li News: Burton Snowboards And Lifebeat Debut New Salt-N-Pepa Collaboration Snowboard

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    
     
    Pepa (of Salt-N-Pepa) to Visit the Burton SIA Booth Thursday to Celebrate the Partnership
     
    DENVER, CO - Burton Snowboards and Lifebeat, a national non-profit that uses music to raise awareness and funds in the fight against HIV/AIDS, announced that they have partnered up on an exclusive line of women’s snowboards for winter 2014. Debuting today at the SIA Snow Show in Denver, Burton’s 2014 women’s Lip-Stick Restricted snowboard is at the heart of the partnership and features iconic female hip-hop group and longtime Lifebeat supporters, Salt-N-Pepa.
     
    To celebrate the partnership, Pepa and a representative from Lifebeat will make a special appearance at the Burton booth this evening at 5 p.m. (booth #1965) to promote the collaboration and create awareness around the organization. During the happy hour event, Pepa will also announce the winner of the Burton x Lifebeat raffle, which will award a 2014 Burton Lip-Stick board signed by Salt-N-Pepa to one lucky winner. All proceeds from the event will go to supporting Lifebeat’s fight against HIV/AIDS.
     
    The boards are on display exclusively at the SIA Snow Show in Denver, and will be available at select specialty retailers and Burton Flagship stores in early September 2013. For a first glimpse of this exciting new collaboration, check out the image of the 2014 Burton Lip-Stick featuring Salt-N-Pepa. And stay tuned for more details on the board design and graphics later this year.

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 240
  • Not yet rated

• Dynafit Debuts DIN 16 Tech Bin Dynafit Debuts DIN 16 Tech Binding - The Beast

  • From: leelau
  • Description:

    

    The rumors have been flying fast and furious. It might not be one of the worst kept secrets of next year's ski gear, but it has to rank among the top failed skunkworks. A tip of the hat first to Marius Schwager for pictures that fed Internet frenzy and piqued interest of drooling Eric Hjorleifson wannabes worldwide.
    
    Perhaps Dynafit doesn't keep secrets particularly well, but they sure design pretty stuff. The Beast 16 binding is designed for aggressive downhill performance, yet still has a reasonable weight at 935 grams per binding; which compares favorably to other bindings of its class and intended use. The Beast 16 is also frameless and is supposed to retain Dynafit's touring characteristics.
    
    It's worth noting that in a pique of marketing gobbledygook consistent with with the Free Touring moniker coined for boots, the Beast 16 is targeted to “Free Tourers.” Its attractive black and green colors are sure to complement your snazzy Dynafit Vulcan boots and Huascaran skis.
    
    The full set-up: Dynafit Huascaran skis, Vulcan boots, and The Beast 16 binding.
    
    The Beast 16 toepiece. Note that the toe pincers pivot out and in to clamp the boot from the side.
    
    A closer look at the toe piece. Note that the hole patterns will be different.
    
    The center piece in this shot is what you step on with your boot to engage the toe.
    
    First, I'll present some general features of the binding, then follow up with details courtesy of Drew Saunders, director of operations at Dynafit.
    
    General
    
    Some of this general information is further outlined in Dynafit's press release, while some is courtesy of Dynafit.
    
    Sales and accessories details
    
    - Expected price is $1000. Release date is Oct 2013
    
    - Brakes are provided in 105 mm, 120 mm, and 135 mm sizes
    
    - Crampons are in the works
    
    - Limited initial production run of 2,500 units
    
    General gear nerd talk
    
    - The binding mount pattern is unfortunately totally new. Basically, the binding pattern is designed to be wider underfoot. This makes sense given the intended target market that will be mounting this binding on wide skis (the minimum central width for the mount pattern is 80 mm).
    
    - The rear heel fitting is different. Boot retrofit kits can be purchased for any boot where the heel fitting is affixed with screws (I believe this means BD boots are SOL, feel free to point out in the comments any other boots that can't be retrofitted)
    
    - Frameless system – that means no frame is attached to the boot as it lifts in tour mode. This is worth mentioning, as it is a product differentiator from the competition.
    
    - Beast 16 will have 6 mm ramp angle (compared with Vertical/Comfort/Radical ST/FT 17mm ramp, Speed Radical 15mm and Speed Superlight 3mm). At 23 mm (heel) and 17 mm (toe) above the ski, the Beast is designed to have a low binding height.
    
    The Beast 16 heel piece in ski mode, brakes deployed and binding forward on track.
    
    The Beast with heel in tour mode. Such a chunk of metal should impress all the gnar bros.
    
    Close up of the boot-binding engagement point. The metal fangs should contact the boot bail (unknown if that improves retention).
    
    Closeup of the teardrop shaped heel pins.
    
    Closeup of the new heel fittings. Unknown how this will work as a retrofit. Sure hope no dremelling of fancy carbon/Grilamid is involved.
    
    Detailed gear nerd discussion:
    
    Thank you to Dynafit for patience and time answering all these questions.
    
    DIN:

    - The Beast is DIN 16. While all Dynafit binders are developed to ISO 11088 there is not an actual DIN standard for bindings past DIN 12, so that 16 measurement is from Dynafit.

    - DIN Adjustment is only via the heel. The toe release is not adjustable. As with the previous generation tech bindings, vertical and lateral release is adjusted via different screws (see picture 11 and picture above).
    
    Step-In System:
    
    Dynafit touts in the marketing material that the Beast is step-in. It's not quite what one would expect, as one might commonly view as step-in (think Marker, Fritschi or Salomon mechanisms, to cite some examples). You will step into the Beast's toe piece the same way as you step into the previous generation’s toe piece. In other words, there will still be the marrying toe fitting to toe pins fiddle factor, especially in deep snow. Where there is some purported improvement is in the heel, where less entry force is required for the heel. (see picture 5 below). The boot will contact the grey metal jaw and as it does so, depressing the gray metal jaw causes the entire heel unit to slide back on a binding track away from the boot. Once you clear the gray metal jaw, the heel unit slides back into place.
    
    
    
    Toe:
    
    The toe is on a spring mechanism, with a return to centre and rotates/pivots approx 10 -15 deg (see picture 2). While this mechanism lends to elasticity (in the sense of theoretically having some small bump absorption and return-to-center character), there is no adjustment mechanism for the toe.
    
    The toe pin attachment point is angled from the side in contrast to the previous generation Dynafits, where the toe pincers come at the boot tech fittings from the bottom and side. As you step into the center of the toe piece, the toe fittings are on two levers that swing in and engage the boot pins from the side. Theoretically, that side-loaded attachment point, coupled with the fact that the toe can rotate, should add to binding elasticity characteristics.
    
    Heel:
    
    There is forward pressure in the heel. I couldn't see if there was an adjustment mechanism to dial in forward pressure (perhaps that's inherent to the mechanism to adjust for boot sole length?) This should aid elasticity.
    
    Heel and toe attachment points are the same as in previous generation bindings. The heel pins are spring loaded and are guided into the heel insert track, then the spring load forces them back in to the center of the heel insert track (see picture 9). The heel slots are quite a bit wider than the previous generation of Dynafit bindings. Perhaps that, too, aids elasticity in that there is more latitude for the heel to move from side to side — but that's speculation on my part.
    
    One big issue with the previous generation of bindings was over reliance on heel pin strength, in that the entire boot rested on the binding with only incidental contact on the brake pad. With the Beast, the boot now rests on both the pins, plus the brake pad (see picture 8).
    
    Another change is the ovalization of the heel pins (see pictures 3 and 4). Previous generations of Dynafits had round pins, which by their nature only contacted the heel insert at one point. The ovalized pins contact the heel inserts with more surface areas. Better mechanical contact theoretically should result in more solid contact, which should then improve strength and retention, all things being equal.
    
    

    At this point in time, there are only a few athletes on the binding in BC including Hoji, Trevor Hunt and a few of Dynafits reps and marketing people. Skiing and performance impressions accordingly will have to wait.
    
    Shop for you next pair of Dynafit bindings at Backcountry.com

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 268
  • Not yet rated

• News: Patagonia Signs Kye Pete News: Patagonia Signs Kye Petersen And Pep Fujas To Global Ambassador Team

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Kye Petersen is now a Patagonia Ambassador. Photo via Spatziba.
    
    Ski Athletes Pep Fujas and Kye Petersen Join Patagonia as Part of The Company’s Growing Ambassador Line-Up and Expanded Commitment to Snow Sports
    
    VENTURA, Calif. — Patagonia Inc., a leading designer of core outdoor, surf and snowsport apparel, equipment, footwear and accessories, is pleased to announce that Pep Fujas and Kye Petersen have joined the company as Ambassadors. Both individuals embody the company’s core values, come equipped with a life-long dedication to skiing and a desire to ride in the best outerwear possible. As a company, Patagonia has increased its focus in the snow sports category with a major update planned to its outerwear line in Fall 2013. Fujas and Petersen, like other Patagonia Ambassadors, will collaborate closely with the company’s designers to provide first-hand input on every aspect of product performance and design. 
    
    “We’re excited to welcome Pep and Kye to the Patagonia family,” says Josh Nielsen, Patagonia’s Global Category Marketer for snow sports, “Both athletes embody the values and direction of Patagonia Snow and we look forward to working with them closely as we continue to build and evolve our technical product range to meet their needs and the needs of the core end user.”
    
    Kye Petersen, hailed as one of the most talented multidiscipline ski athletes of his generation and winner of the 2012 Powder Magazine Full Throttle and Best Natural Air awards, notes about Patagonia, “I wanted to partner with Patagonia because of their quality, long-lasting products. Everything is well thought out and simple, nothing you don’t need. I like how the product is trustworthy and also the fact that it’s made from recycled materials.”
    
    “I think my skiing style fits with the brand as I’m often exploring new mountains by foot and finding myself deep in the backcountry of remote and pristine mountain ranges,” continues Petersen. “I’m also spending long days in the mountains in all kinds of conditions and putting my gear through rigorous testing. I’m super stoked to start a collaboration and help each other continue to get better in what we are doing!”
    
    Pep Fujas is now a Patagonia Ambassador. Photo by Chris Benchetler.
    
    Fujas, a ski film icon regarded for his innovative approach to skiing and distinct style says, “Part of the reason I joined Patagonia is that they practice exactly what they preach.  The company philosophy isn’t just a moniker or marketing scheme, it’s a way of life that is lived by each and every employee, one which is mindful of their impact on the natural world from creation and design to production and distribution.”
    
    “Patagonia has the highest quality products and they take pride in every garment they make,” continues Fujas. “I know with Patagonia that they have so much experience and have made quality gear for so long that I will be able to perform without having to think about being cold or wet or uncomfortable.” 
    
    Fujas and Petersen join a team of Ambassadors that includes Josh Dirksen, Carston Oliver, Ryland Bell, Forrest Shearer, surfing’s Malloy Brothers, Gerry Lopez and climbing’s Tommy Caldwell, Sonnie Trotter, and other notable athletes at the height of their sports.

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 111
  • Not yet rated

• News: 2013 Ouray Ice Festival News: 2013 Ouray Ice Festival This Weekend in Colorado

  • From: mikehardaker
  • Description:

    
    LOWA Boots is planning a very visible and strong presence at the 2013 Ouray Ice Festival that will take place January 10-13 in Ouray, Colorado.  Earlier this fall, LOWA announced their sponsorship of the Hari Berger Speed Climbing Competition to honor the legendary climber who won three Ice Climbing World Championships while wearing LOWA boots.  In addition, four-time World Ice Climbing Champion and LOWA athlete, Ines Papert, will conduct a clinic on moderate-mixed climbing and host a multi-media show entitled “Rock and Ice.”  Amid the festival-like atmosphere will be the LOWA boot tent, stocked with demo product for ice climbers to test drive.
    
    Friday afternoon Ines will host her clinic in the LOWA tent followed by a session on ice.  She will have posters in hand to autograph. Later that evening, Ouray attendees can enjoy her presentation of “Rock and Ice,” a thrilling journey into her world.  Afterwards will be an autograph session of her book by the same name.  The event will be held in the Main Street Theater (630 Main Street) from 8:30 to 10:00PM.  Admission fee: $15
    
    On Sunday she will award the women’s prizes for the Hari Berger Competition. Ines has worked closely with the LOWA design and product testing teams over the years and was instrumental in the design of the Ice Comp IP. A champion of many climbing competitions, including those at the Ouray festival, she will be competing there again this year.
    
    Hari Berger was an all around champion competition ice climber before he lost his life in 2006 in an accident while climbing in Austria…but his legacy lives on.  LOWA’s sponsorship of the event doubles the Festival’s cash prize opportunities. The Competition will be held on Sunday, January 13. There will be individual men’s and women’s classes, each with $2000 in first place prizes, second place of $1000 and $500 for the third place finishers.
    
    Colorado climber and LOWA ambassador, Jim Davidson, will be on hand periodically throughout the festival. Jim’s book, The Ledge: An Adventure Story of Friendship and Survival on Mount Rainier, was a 2011 best seller for adventurists across the country.
    
    In addition, LOWA invites both male and female festival participants to demo their world-class German climbing and mountaineering boots including the Weisshorn GTX, Mountain Expert GTX and Ice Comp IP GTX models. The boot tent team will be led by Chad Gallwitz, LOWA’s experienced sales representative in the Rocky Mountains. Representing the LOWA factory, Rolf Eberhard, a veteran of numerous summits including one on Mt Everest, will be in the tent and on hand to award the men’s Hari Berger Competition prizes. Assisting Chad and Rolf will be Christian McConnell from LOWA’s U.S. office.

  • Blog post
  • 4 months ago
  • Views: 218
  • Not yet rated

• News: Ex-Forum Rider Austen Sw News: Ex-Forum Rider Austen Sweetin Signs Binding Deal With NOW

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    - Sweetin brings street to the team but kills it in the backcountry -
    
    WHISTLER, BC – One of the biggest up-and-comers in snowboarding, Austen Sweetin is also one of the most complete rider’s strapped into a snowboard today. Hailing from the powder-choked and coffee-drenched Pacific North West, Sweetin loves coffee, throws down large in the backcountry, and he kills it in the streets. With a huge bag of tricks and tons of passion to shred combined with his next generation PNW style, Sweetin has already begun etching his name alongside the PNW greats.
    
    Peter Line, one of the most innovative snowboarders of all time, says, “It’s hard not being stoked on a snowboarder shorter than me and one from my local Ski Acres. Austen is sick. He’s an all-around rider who loves snowboarding to death, which in my eyes is more important than anything.”
    
    JF Pelchat and NOW Bindings are very excited to have Sweetin join the NOW team as it grows to include some of the most progressive and diverse riders on the planet today.
    
    “I’m super stoked to have a young blood Northwest rider on NOW," Pelchat said. "Austen is everything a snowboarder wants to be: he can ride and kill everything – pow, park, or urban – he does it all.”
    
    Sweetin, who also moonlights with some skateboard sponsors, loves the skate-influenced bindings, a perfect match to his skate-influenced riding style.
    
    “I’m excited to be apart of a binding company created by snowboarders and influenced by skateboarding,” Sweetin said.
    
    From big lines in Alaska charged by snowboard veteran and NOW team rider Jeremy Jones to up-and-comer Austen Sweetin slaying it in the streets, NOW’s revolutionary binding design and Skate-Tech technology is just as at home in the backcountry as it is in the urban stomping grounds of today’s street scene. Built around the NOW IPO hanger, the worlds’ first skate-influenced binding is the most innovative and progressive binding on the market today and offers riders a smoother and more precise ride. The future is NOW.

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 161
  • Not yet rated

• News: NWT3K Introduces New Lev News: NWT3K Introduces New Level of Customization to Outerwear

  • From: nwt3kouterwear
  • Description:

    

    Northwest Technical Outerwear Allows for Individuality in Snow Sports Apparel
    
    New company allows skiers and snowboarders to build & customize Jackets.
    
    Seattle, WA December 18th, 2012 – Last week, Northwest Technical Outerwear (NWT3K) began a new era in the
    winter outerwear market by introducing the first high-quality, affordable, and customizable jacket available to
    the public.
    
    NWT3K recognizes that skiers and snowboarders love individuality almost as much as they hate seeing their
    name brand jacket sitting mirrored next to them on the chairlift every season. NWT3K aims to shake up the
    industry by utilizing new website technology that offers a simple interface for consumers to pick colors they
    love and the features they need. Customization aligns with high-quality technical jacket features, designed
    specifically to combat common problems riders face on the slopes. From wide cuffs that easily fit around your
    gloves to durable, color schemed velcro, Northwest Technical Outwear caters to the distinct, die-hard snowbird.
    
    Founder and CEO, Nick Marvik, strongly believes that you should be able to express your personality through
    not only your riding style, but also your outerwear style. “Most companies release only a few jacket options
    per season, so it’s inevitable that you’ll see some look-alikes on the mountain. Our brand means that you
    are able to represent yourself through a jacket design that is timeless. With NWT3K, your gear will never be
    considered ‘last season’s jacket’.”
    
    NWT3K is also a passionate advocate for keeping their products USA-made. The company has ensured that
    production remain in its home city of Seattle, WA – without passing the cost on to customers. This supports
    local businesses and allows for riders to receive their custom jacket directly from the factory, resulting in a
    much faster time to delivery.
    
    NWT3K’s custom jacket builder allows riders to:
    
    -Choose from 12 different colors for the body, arms, and hood areas of the jacket

    -Choose from 10 different zipper colors

    -Choose from 10 different velcro colors

    -Choose from 16 different zipper layouts

    -Add additional features such as pits zips
    
    Custom Jackets start at $289. Visit www.NWT3k.com for more information.
    
    About Northwest Technical Outerwear
    
    Northwest Technical Outerwear, LLC is a start-up outerwear company that streamlines their ski and snowboard
    jackets around customer personalization, satisfaction, and experience. The company’s design allows snow
    addicts to customize the colors and technical features featured on their jacket, while stile providing the durable,
    high quality elements enthusiasts expect from big-name brands. As a new player in the snow sports apparel
    industry, NWT3K hopes to shake up the standards for product technology, design, and innovation. Founded
    and scaled by a full-time college student and ski junkie, NWT3K jacket features are developed with the avid
    skier and practical functionality in mind. They are also advocates for “USA Made,” and have managed to keep all
    production based directly out of their headquarters’ city of Seattle, Washington.

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 286

• News: Rail Destroyer Frank Apr News: Rail Destroyer Frank April Joins The NOW Bindings Team

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    

    Frank April’s urban style is a perfect match for the innovative design of NOW Bindings
    
    WHISTLER, BC – Canada’s “la belle province” of Quebec has been at the forefront of the snowboard scene for the better part of three decades turning out a consistent flow of amazing riders and some of the most entertaining urban snowboarding ever seen. The current crew of riders everyone is watching are the French-Canadian urban riders behind the Déjà Vu Movie project, a snowboard movie featuring eight of the most progressive street riders in the industry today; among them, 25 year-old Frank April.
    
    An urban rider constantly pushing the limits of what can be done in the streets, Frank April is among the elite of snowboarding’s who’s who of urban snowboarding. With his recent selection to this year’s X-Games Real Snow video contest and winner of “Jib part of the year” at this year's Reels Festival in Annecy France, Frank has the reputation for creative and unprecedented urban skills on some of the most unusual features. NOW Bindings is very excited to welcome Frank to its’ growing team of the most innovative rider’s in the sport today.
    
    “I am very stoked to have Frank join the team and push the street scene with our NOW bindings. He is an amazing snowboarder and an awesome person.  Frank adds creativity and uniqueness to our pro team and we are very excited to have him rock our bindings.  Welcome Frank and have an amazing winter., ” says JF Pelchat, founder of NOW.
    
    The world’s first skate-influenced binding, NOW bindings are built for the street with the Skate-tech technology, NOW provides unmatched performance, comfort and response. It is no wonder that NOW is finding its way on the urban scene from coast-to-coast. With the no-back built into NOW’s revolutionary binding design, street rider’s can now get the skate feel and mobility of no-back’s without loosing binding functionality.
    
    “Hands down the best binding i have ever ridden, so comfortable and precise,”  Frank April said.

    With the NOW IPO in stores, on the mountain, and in the street across Canada and the US, the revolution being forged by NOW Bindings has just begun. The future of street riding is NOW.
    
    Make sure to check out Frank April and friends in the Déjà Vu teasers and vote for Frank in ESPN’s Real Snow video contest beginning January 6, 2013.
    
    About NOW Bindings:
    NOW is a revolutionary binding company focused on creating innovative, relevant technologies for today’s snowboarder’s. We are a rider-owned company dedicated to improving snowboarding through our products and beliefs. As the Overall Winner of the prestigious 2012 ISPO Award celebrating technology and innovation, NOW Bindings is a game changer in binding design and function. The Future is NOW.

    Connect with us:
    Web – www.now-snowboarding.com
    Twitter - @nowbindings #rethinkyourride #futureisnow
    Facebook - www.facebook.com/nowsnowboarding
    Instagram - @nowbindings

  • Blog post
  • 5 months ago
  • Views: 166
  • Not yet rated

• The Deep - The Wonder Reels Ep The Deep - The Wonder Reels Episode 4

  • From: whistlerblackcomb
  • Description:

    Powder is a commodity. It's rareness is what makes it valuable. Those in the know, know, the moment must be embraced. And the powder stashes are the place.
    
    Credits
    Produced by Whistler Blackcomb and Origin Design & Communications
    Filmed & Edited by Switchback Entertainment
    
    Click Here To Watch More Whistler Blackcomb Videos

     

  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 42
  • Not yet rated

• Gear Review: 2012 Trew WyEast Gear Review: 2012 Trew WyEast Softshell Jacket

  • From: warpigsinfin
  • Description:
    I've gotten to play with TREW's WyEast softshell for the last two months, and am declaring it a lightweight (23oz), packable, stylish soft shell jacket with a pretty manageble pricetage ($200).  
    

    
    Though it's still early season I've taken this jacket out on 5 backcountry ski adventures in conditions ranging from 10*F with high winds and blowing snow to 50*F with high winds and drizzly mist.  The WyEast kept me warm and dry while venting my sweat effectively.
    
    I've also taken this jacket climbing/mountaineering 3 times, and have ridden my bike all over the valley with typical Jackson Hole fall (fickle) weather including high winds, drizzle, torrential snow dumps, and drastic temperature swings.
    
    In my experience the TREW WyEast softshell has proven itself a reliable jacket across the spectrum of conditions I've experienced over the last two months and still looks/feels new after ~40 days total of use.
    
    TREW says the following about the WyEast on their website, and it's a surprisingly accurate description:
    
    

    "THE WYEAST: Durable, Breathable, Comfortable.
    
    Three seasons, one mission: getting after it. Moving like water, you are everything and nothing. You break like the wind. You party like a beast. Your jacket is the WyEast.... Designed with excellent range of motion and weather resistance for alpine ascents, but slim-fitting and breathable enough to layer under a shell on brutally cold days, the WyEast softshell is crucial to your cold-weather arsenal. A plush fleece lining and supple, yet burly polyester rip-stop face fabric give this jacket last-call comfort that belies its rugged capabilities. Built for the rigors of a life on and around snow, for springtime Cascade ascents and midnight truck repairs, it complements our line of hardshell jackets like a second thought. Anatomical design, welded and reinforced laser-cut pockets, and rock-solid construction testify to its TREW roots."
    
      Here's what I have to say about the WyEast: 
      THE GOOD
      *lightweight at 23oz and packs down small
      *slim fit great for wearing under a shell or mountaineering
      *stretchy fabric does not restrict movement
      *very breathable yet water resistant
      *cozy liner, especially around shoulders/mouth
      *solid zippers (not the kind that wear out quickly)
      *big hood with good drawstrings
      *good powder drawstrings at the waist
      *big waist pockets and good interior pocket
      *long sleeves, good velcro sleeve closures
      *more affordable ($200) than others (Arcteryx hooded softshell is $398)
    
      THE BAD
      *only comes in two color schemes (though pretty sweet colors)
      *made in Vietnam (better than China, but not made locally.. but what is?)
      *big "thumbs up" logo on the back left shoulder may upset Negative Nancy
      *bright red is a bad color choice for fighting the New American Revolution
      *black is a great color choice for fighting the New American Revolution
      *embedded chick magnetism may make romantic fidelity difficult
      *no headphones built into the hood
      *no bungie roach clip for my "goggle wipe" (Burton used to include these) 
      *doesn't fit a German Shepherd very well.
      *only available in sizes S-XXL (won't fit "Average Americans" above 350 lbs)
      *keeps me from sweating but does nothing to control my body odor
      *pisses me off that this jacket didn't exist years ago.
    
      SO THERE YOU HAVE IT FOLKS.
    
      Check out the WyEast right here...
    
    

     

     

     
  • Blog post
  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 271
  • Not yet rated

• News: Conde Nast Traveler Read News: Conde Nast Traveler Reader's Poll Names Top Ski Resorts

  • From: TetonGravityResearch
  • Description:

    Everyone knows Jackson Hole is the best place to ski - except for Conde Nast readers.
    
    The readers of Conde Nast Traveler have spoken, and clearly the majority of them are smoking crack! Er, drunk on Dom Perignon? In this Condé Nast Traveler's 2012 Reader's Poll: Best Places to Ski & Stay in North America the readers chose Deer Valley over Jackson Hole. Hm, that's troubling. And the Westin Hotel in Avon, Colorado, beats the Hotel Terra in Jackson Hole? Ish don't think so. ...
    
    With our offices located at the base of The Big One - Jackson Hole - right next to the mighty red tram that takes you to, ahem, THE TOP, perhaps we're a little biased. ... But hey, what do we know, right? Read on and let us know what you think about this list.
    
    Condé Nast Traveler's 2012 Reader's Poll: Best Places to Ski & Stay in North America
     
    Top 20 Ski Resorts:
    1.        Telluride, Colorado
    2.        Whistler Blackcomb, B.C.
    3.        Deer Valley, Utah
    4.        Jackson Hole, Wyoming
    5.        Beaver Creek, Colorado
    6.        Sun Valley, Idaho
    7.        Stowe, Vermont
    8.        Vail, Colorado
    9.        Aspen, Colorado
    10.     Crested Butte, Colorado

    Read the full list
     
    Top 50 Ski Hotels:
    1.        Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa, Avon, Colorado
    2.        Four Seasons Resort, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
    3.        Four Seasons Resort, Whistler, British Colombia
    4.        Hotel Terra, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
    5.        Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa, Lake Placid, New York
    6.        Amangani, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
    8.      Lake Placid Lodge, Lake Placid, New York
    8.      Stow Mountain Lodge, Stowe, Vermont
    10.    Hotel Telluride, Telluride, Colorado
     
    Read the full list
    
    How Does The Poll Work?:

    The results of this Condé Nast Traveler poll were derived from our annual Readers’ Choice Survey. The questionnaire was available to all readers through a secure Web site. The final tabulation of 46,476 responses was done by Global Market Insite, Inc., of Boston. All candidates were rated on a five-point scale—excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor—on a variety of criteria, including Terrain & Conditions, Lifts & Lines, Après-Ski/Activities, Local Dining, and Local Ambience for ski resorts; Rooms, Service, Dining/Food, Location, Overall Design, and Activities/Facilities for hotels. Criterion scores, which represent the percentage of respondents rating a ski resort or hotel excellent or very good, were averaged to determine the overall score. Only ski resorts and hotels that received a required minimum number of responses were eligible for inclusion in these rankings.

  • Blog post
  • 6 months ago
  • Views: 123
  • Not yet rated