Two Canadian snowboarders won bronze medals Thursday as the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup arrived in the U.S. at Sunday River, Maine. The podium results in parallel giant slalom marked Canada's 13th and 14th medals of the current World Cup snowboarding season. Alexa Loo of Richmond, BC won the bronze medal in the women's race, edging out Claudia Riger of Austria.
“Somehow I am just in a better head space here. Race conditions were awesome. The snow was great, the organization was awesome, and we had better training,” said Loo, winning her second career World Cup medal. “I tried to do the same run every run in the ladder. For me the goal was drop the hammer and ride.”
Amelie Kober of Germany won the gold, defeating Japanese rider Tomako Takeuchi. New England's own Michelle Gorgone (Boston, MA) finished sixth.
"I felt good all day," Gorgone said. "Sometimes you go into a course and it's made for you and you're blowing people away and sometimes you're just well matched. Today I was well matched. It was definitely within reach, but I wasn't blowing anyone away."
Gorgone took a turn too wide and went out in the second run of the quarterfinals.
As far as U.S. Snowboarding Alpine Head Coach Steve Persons is concerned, Thursday's race is going to be a positive thing for Gorgone.
"I think it was a step in the right direction for her. She's started to pick up her top end speed, so we've had some good results for her," Persons said.
"I got a little off balance and started going toward the fence and never went back the other direction where I was supposed to go," Gorgone said. "I felt good today but there's not much I can do now."
"I'd like to have seen her go another round just for her confidence, but I do think it will help in the next two races," Persons added.
The Men’s races saw defending World Champion Jasey-Jay Anderson of Mont-Tremblant, Quebec also grab the bronze medal, stepping on the podium for the 53rd time in his career. Benjamin Karl of Austria won his second consecutive parallel giant slalom, defeating his teammate Siegfreid Grabner. Karl now has five victories to his credit.
“It was a bit icy at the end of the course, but overall the equipment held on all day, and everything unfolded quite nicely. It was my mistake that cost me. I was too aggressive I was trying to revenge last week’s dual against Benjamin Karl, but that obviously didn’t work out,” Anderson said after the race.
No U.S. men made it past the qualification round.
"I think the guys are riding fast. Their top-end speed is there, it's just not making those few mistakes. Today there was no room for any mistakes." Persons said.
Action at the 2009 Visa U.S. Snowboarding Cup continues Friday with men's and women's snowboardcross qualifications.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Blake Lamb flips over stunts on BMX
At 16, Blake Lamb has suffered more injuries than a Vietnam veteran.
The Joplin High School student has broken both ankles, both arms, two ribs and a few fingers.
And, no, he has never played a down on the Joplin gridiron, gone elbow to elbow in an Eagles’ basketball game or banged bodies on the JHS soccer field.
In fact, Lamb’s extracurricular activity that has inflicted such abuse takes place far from the Joplin High School campus. Three to four days a week you can find him at the Bridge.
A diehard BMX rider, Lamb practices and competes fervently in bicycle motocross.
His battlefield? The Bridge’s Autumn Ramp Park. His goal? To be No. 1 in his sport.
Ever since beginning BMX competition four years ago, Lamb has excelled, winning five events. The most recent and most important came on Feb. 11, when he won the Monster Energy Drink BMX Tour Contest at the Bridge, thus giving him a sponsor (Monster Energy Drinks) for the first time.
Lamb competed in a field of 40 riders, ranging from 12 years old into their 30s, to capture the title.
“I get free gear and energy drinks,” he said. “Right now I compete mostly in local contests and it is about riding and having fun but when a contest comes around it gets down to being serious.”
Little did Lamb know that when he got a bicycle for his 10th birthday that it would lead to this.
“My cousin David Green got me motivated and pretty much got me really into BMX,” he said. “I started going to the Bridge every day. I used to be a bad kid and this helped me get out of trouble.”
Lamb said when he started riding, he thought he was doing it just for fun.
“Then, I started improving a lot,” he said. “And the Bridge manager (Jeremiah Anderson) told me to start riding in competition. I was about 11 when I started winning stuff, improving and getting to meet pros. All that got me more motivated.”
The Joplin High School student has broken both ankles, both arms, two ribs and a few fingers.
And, no, he has never played a down on the Joplin gridiron, gone elbow to elbow in an Eagles’ basketball game or banged bodies on the JHS soccer field.
In fact, Lamb’s extracurricular activity that has inflicted such abuse takes place far from the Joplin High School campus. Three to four days a week you can find him at the Bridge.
A diehard BMX rider, Lamb practices and competes fervently in bicycle motocross.
His battlefield? The Bridge’s Autumn Ramp Park. His goal? To be No. 1 in his sport.
Ever since beginning BMX competition four years ago, Lamb has excelled, winning five events. The most recent and most important came on Feb. 11, when he won the Monster Energy Drink BMX Tour Contest at the Bridge, thus giving him a sponsor (Monster Energy Drinks) for the first time.
Lamb competed in a field of 40 riders, ranging from 12 years old into their 30s, to capture the title.
“I get free gear and energy drinks,” he said. “Right now I compete mostly in local contests and it is about riding and having fun but when a contest comes around it gets down to being serious.”
Little did Lamb know that when he got a bicycle for his 10th birthday that it would lead to this.
“My cousin David Green got me motivated and pretty much got me really into BMX,” he said. “I started going to the Bridge every day. I used to be a bad kid and this helped me get out of trouble.”
Lamb said when he started riding, he thought he was doing it just for fun.
“Then, I started improving a lot,” he said. “And the Bridge manager (Jeremiah Anderson) told me to start riding in competition. I was about 11 when I started winning stuff, improving and getting to meet pros. All that got me more motivated.”
Billabong's Flaunt It
Billabong's Flaunt It is an all-girls slopestyle & rail jam snowboard series that is aimed at giving girls from all levels a chance to 'Flaunt It', while providing over $20,000 in cash and prizes to vie for. Waterville Valley is one of only two US stops with four others taking place in Canada. The first six events are qualifiers for the Series Finals to be held at Mont Tremblant, Quebec. Each qualifying event will boast a cash purse of $1,500 plus the winner from each qualifier will receive airfare and accommodations to the series finals at Tremblant. The finals have a cash purse of $8,500 with $4,000 going to 1st place! In addition tons of product and prizes will be given out based on best scores, best tricks, style, etc.
The Waterville contest is being designed with fun in mind and Billabong invites all east coast female shredders to come out and Flaunt It. The slopestyle contest will be jam format so that everyone can get pumped watching each other, learn new tricks, and not feel the dreaded 'it's now or never' pressure in the traditional contest format where only a few runs are allowed. Each competitor will be allowed to do as many runs as they want with the judges watching carefully throughout the day to determine the standout riders.
There are only 30 spots for the Waterville event so log onto billabong.com/flauntit to secure your spot.
Schedule For Each Event
- 8am-9:30am registration at the Event Yurt and warm-up
- 10am -1pm Slopestyle Jam
- 1pm-2pm lunch break
- 2pm-4pm Rail Jam
- 4pm Awards
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Global Surf Industries launch the new Webber Mini Fish..
The latest addition to the GSI Webber range of surfboards is the Mini Fish. Sporting high volume, for paddle and glide, deep raked twin fins and curves that fit into and grip the wave, the Mini Fish allows riders to surf the wave rather than the board.
Here's what Greg Webber has to say about the Mini Fish: "The Mini Fish is designed to rip small waves, not just handle them."
"With a bigger jump in thickness than width, huge paddle power is achieved while still maintaining the rail to rail feel which gets lost with much wider boards. The rocker is lower than a performance short board but not as low as some retro fish designs which are very restrictive on rail, and are hard to "fit" into the tight curves of smaller waves. As a result you can pump the mini fish as hard as you would a normal short board but with the bonus of huge increases in glide and flow and paddle power."
"Use as a twin or tri fin or twin with stabilizer, depending on the degree of grip verses freedom that the waves or you demand... The bouyancy and spring of SLX epoxy construction only enhances every performance element." Sounds like the board for you? You can find out more information, read reviews, watch videos and download the specs for the Mini Fish here. And you can find your nearest Mini Fish dealer here.
www.surfindustries.com
SSC Eastern Surf Assn. releases 2009 contest schedule
009 SSC-ESA Surf Contest & Special Events Schedule kicks off with contest #1: March 14-15 – High tide 10:51 am. Other contests to follow are:
**Mid Atlantic Regionals** April 22-25 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. By Invitation
Dragon Boat Festival- Saturday, May 1 at Brittlebank Park. Folly Beach Wahine Team Captain-Hale Horstman
Contest #2: May 16-17 – high tide 1:37 pm
Folly Beach Wahine Classic: May 30-31 – High tide 2:00 pm
Contest #3: June 20-21- Summer of Surf Contest Sponsored by Charleston Watersport.
Contest #4 & DJ McKevlin Gromfest: July 18-19 – high tide 5:00 pm Sponsored by McKevlin's Surf Shop.
** Surfer's Healing: Tuesday, August 11 at the Folly Beach Pier** We are volunteering to help with this event. Please contact Nancy or Tim for more info.
Contest #5: SC Governor's Cup & Liquid Shredder Team Challenge: August 29-30
**Eastern Surfing Championships "Easterns"**: September 20-26 in Cape Hatteras, NC. By Invitation.
Joe Hiller Longboard Classic & Charleston Watersports Fall Surf Expo: Oct. 24-25 – high tide 1:01 pm
Contest #6 (or make-up date if needed): Nov 7-8 – high tide 10:53 am
All contest dates are subject to change. All ESA Points contests are bolded.
www.surfesa.org
**Mid Atlantic Regionals** April 22-25 Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. By Invitation
Dragon Boat Festival- Saturday, May 1 at Brittlebank Park. Folly Beach Wahine Team Captain-Hale Horstman
Contest #2: May 16-17 – high tide 1:37 pm
Folly Beach Wahine Classic: May 30-31 – High tide 2:00 pm
Contest #3: June 20-21- Summer of Surf Contest Sponsored by Charleston Watersport.
Contest #4 & DJ McKevlin Gromfest: July 18-19 – high tide 5:00 pm Sponsored by McKevlin's Surf Shop.
** Surfer's Healing: Tuesday, August 11 at the Folly Beach Pier** We are volunteering to help with this event. Please contact Nancy or Tim for more info.
Contest #5: SC Governor's Cup & Liquid Shredder Team Challenge: August 29-30
**Eastern Surfing Championships "Easterns"**: September 20-26 in Cape Hatteras, NC. By Invitation.
Joe Hiller Longboard Classic & Charleston Watersports Fall Surf Expo: Oct. 24-25 – high tide 1:01 pm
Contest #6 (or make-up date if needed): Nov 7-8 – high tide 10:53 am
All contest dates are subject to change. All ESA Points contests are bolded.
www.surfesa.org
World's best gather on Goldie for ASP Champs Crowning
The ASP World Champions’ Crowning is set to commence this Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre beginning at 6:30pm. Surfing’s “night of nights”, the ASP World Champions’ Crowning, is a gala event, hosting the world’s best surfers as well as distinguished figures from the surfing industry in honor of the 2008 ASP World Champions.
Kelly Slater (USA), 36, reigning and nine-time ASP World Champion, will accept his unprecedented ninth ASP World Title award on Thursday, days before beginning his hunt for an incredible 10th Crown at the upcoming Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile.
Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 21, reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion, receives her second consecutive ASP Women’s World Title cup, and the young natural-footer will soon embark on a campaign to make it a three-peat in 2009. Gilmore will begin this weekend at the opening event of the 2009 ASP Women’s World Tour season, the Roxy Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile.
Other ASP Dream Tour athletes to be recognized will be respective Runner-Ups Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, and Silvana Lima (BRA), 24, as well as Rookies of the Year Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, and Nicola Atherton (AUS), 22.
Bonga Perkins (HAW), 36, and Joy Monahan (HAW), 22, will take the ASP World Longboarding and ASP Women’s World Longboarding Titles respectively, while Nathaniel Curran (USA), 24, and Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 18, will take home hardware for their respective No. 1 finishes on the ASP World Qualifying Series last season.
In addition to honoring the champions from 2008, the ASP World Champions’ Crowning will also recognize athletes who have yet to be announced, those earning the 2008 ASP World Tour ‘Most Improved’, the 2008 ASP Women’s World Tour ‘Most Improved’, the ASP Service to the Sport Award and the prestigious Peter Whittaker Award.
The 2008 ASP World Champions’ Crowning will begin at 6:30pm on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Awards Recipient List:
2008 ASP World Champion: Kelly Slater (USA)
2008 ASP Women’s World Champion: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
2008 ASP World Tour Runner-Up: Bede Durbidge (AUS)
2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Runner-Up: Silvana Lima (BRA)
2008 ASP World Tour Rookie of the Year: Dane Reynolds (USA)
2008 ASP Women’s World Tour Rookie of the Year: Nicola Atherton (AUS)
2008 ASP World Tour ‘Most Improved’: TBA
2008 ASP Women’s World Tour ‘Most Improved’: TBA
2008 ASP World Longboard Champion: Bonga Perkins (HAW)
2008 ASP Women’s World Longboard Champion: Joy Monahan (HAW)
2008 ASP World Junior Champion: Kai Barger (HAW)
2008 ASP Women’s World Junior Champion: Pauline Ado (FRA)
2008 ASP WQS No. 1: Nathaniel Curran (USA)
2008 ASP WQS Women’s No. 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Peter Whittaker Award: TBA
ASP Service to the Sport: TBA
www.aspworldtour.com
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Mountainbiker joins BMX elite
One day the 24-year-old was coaching juniors at the Rotorua BMX Club track, the next he was on his way to a high performance camp for New Zealand's top BMX racers.
Pattle spent the first three days of this week at a three-day camp for New Zealand's top BMX riders at Auckland's Millennium Institute.
The strange thing about that is Pattle previously carved out his cycling name as a downhill mountainbiker while just "dabbling" in BMX racing.
In a story which could become the Kiwi cycling version of the Walt Disney movie Invincible - the true story of a barfly who becomes a pro American footballer - Pattle impressed national BMX coach Ken Cools.
"I was helping coach the juniors down at the track and [Cools] was there. I asked him for a programme for the nationals and he said "get on your bike so I can see where you're at" Pattle recalled.
Cools was so impressed, Pattle was fast-tracked to this week's camp in Auckland where he learned about the science of the Olympic sport and was tested for strength and technique.
As a result, the camp has gone some way to showing the former national mountainbiking representative, who has spent the past six winters in Europe racing downhill, that there is another possible pedalling life on a different stage.
"I'm pretty much putting the mountainbiking on the back foot," said Pattle, who has attended five Mountainbiking World Championships and picked up podium finishes at Oceania Championships as a senior and junior in downhill.
"I haven't decided if I'll even do the [mountainbiking] nationals next week, my focus is BMX - this could potentially lead to the road to London Olympics in 2012," he said.
A tailor-made training programme is coming from Cools and Pattle is prepared to "give it a go" for a chance at the Olympics.
He is one of the elite local hopes when the Rotorua BMX Club hosts its annual Rotorua Cup meet tomorrow.
The event, the club's only flat pedal specific race, attracts some of the country's best riders with Olympian Sarah Walker and promising Tauranga-based junior Kurt Pickard expected to line up.
Pattle will race in the elite men's division, along with clubmate Dave Mohi and he's confident they have a local edge on the about 400-metre track, which features 18 jumps and obstacles.
Racing starts from 3pm and about 300 riders are expected to take part.
4th Annual Queens Cup Open
The 4th Annual Queen's Cup Open registration has began and is filling up fast! The Queen's Cup Open is the first all women's ski and snowboard event hosted by Park City Mountain Resort and presented by K2. The festivities begin March 27th with slopestyle on the 28th and My Super Sweet Park starting on March 30th-April 3rd. My Super Sweet Park is the first all women's ski and snowboard super park and is INVITE ONLY. You can also qualify for an invite by winning QCO slopestyle on March 28th.
To register, please go to queenscupopen.com! Do you think you have hot design skills? Find out more information on our site for ways for you to earn free entrance to QCO through our FRESH t-shirt design contest.
For more information, check out queenscupopen.com and for any additional questions, feel free to email queenscuppc@yahoo.com.
Related Aricles:
3rd Annual Queen's Cup Open
SNOWBOARD TV x Snowvision.com Queens Cup Clip
College Night at Mountain High: A Rocking College Party
Mountain High is bringing a rocking college party to the mountains this winter with its brand new program, College Night at Mountain High. College Night at Mountain High is a series of three Thursday night parties created for Southern California college students and will take place from 5-10pm on December 11, 2008, February 12, and March 12, 2009.
“After talking with local collegiate ski and snowboard teams, we realized the need for a series of events that would bring Southern California colleges together on the mountain,” said Laura Johnson, Marketing Manager at Mountain High. “The idea received really strong support from the industry and we’re excited to be working with an awesome collection of partners.”
College Night will take place at the Bullwheel Bar & Grill at Mountain High’s West Resort and will feature live DJs, $1 hot dogs, $20 night lift tickets (with college ID), and hookups from a collection of industry partners. Active Ride Shop, BNQT, ForUs Magazine, FUEL TV, Southern California Collegiate Snowsports Conference (SCCSC), S.W.A.T., and Transworld Snowboarding will be in attendance, ensuring College Night rocks to its fullest potential. Hookups include:
* Awesome giveaways like a four day S.W.A.T. snowboard trip and passes to live tapings of The Daily Habit on FUEL TV.
* Discounted subscriptions and giveaways from Transworld Snowboarding.
* A chance to preview FUEL TV’s new snowboard shows like “Snowboard Diaries” and “Flipside”.
* Special college discounts and giveaways from Active.
* Hookups and party photos from ForUs.
* Event coverage from BNQT, FUEL TV, and Transworld.
Join crews of kids from dozens of college campuses and bring your friends for a rocking college party on College Night at Mountain High. Check out mthigh.com/college for details.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Mammoth Opens Super Duper Pipe
For the fourth year, Mammoth became one of a handful of resorts in the world to open a 22-foot tall, Olympic sized pipe, this Sunday, and the only resort in North America with three different sized pipes.
Here’s details from the press release:
With 22-foot-tall walls measuring in at over 500-feet in length and constructed with over 42,000 cubic yards of snow, the Super Duper Pipe is truly massive. The pipe lies on a 16.5 degree slope which was completely re-graded in September 2008 to provide a more ideal surface for the pipe. This will mark the fourth year a 22-foot pipe has been constructed at Mammoth Mountain.
“I’m very happy that we are able to put such a high level of quality and dedication into our world-class terrain parks, even with tightened budgets due to these tough economic times,” said Rusty Gregory, CEO of Mammoth Mountain.
In addition to the 22-foot Super Duper Pipe, located in Unbound Main, Mammoth currently has an 18-foot Superpipe, also in Unbound Main, and a 10-foot Halfpipe in Wonderland Park. Mammoth Mountain offers seven total terrain parks with features ranging in size from entry-level bumps and rollers in Disco Park to professional-level 85-foot jumps in Unbound Main.
Mammoth Mountain has received over 310 inches of snowfall to date for the 2008/09 winter season including 73 in the first half of February. With a current base depth of 8-13 feet, Mammoth is committed to remaining open until Memorial Day, with a possibility of remaining open into June or July if condition permit.
Showcase Showdown
Whistler Blackcomb’s Showcase Showdown is back Saturday, February 28 with a new format; the Backyard Slopestyle. Inspired by the mini-parks in locals’ backyards all over Whistler, the Showdown will blow the scene up with a snowboard slopestyle at the base of Whistler Mountain. Despite the larger venue and cash prizes on the line, the chill vibe of the backyard throwdown will remain.
The top three men and women will feature in Sandbox’s next snowboard film “Shine On,” and $5000 cash and prizes from event sponsors including Nixon headphones are up for grabs.
The Women’s competition will take place from 9am to 11am. The Men’s competition will start at 11am with Finals starting around 4pm.
Athlete Registration Information
Athletes can register in person at any Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations desk. Registration is $50+GST per rider and is open to 60 men and 20 women. Competitor’s check in will take place on Friday, February 27 at the Village Showcase Snowboards from 5-7pm.
******Helmets and bibs are mandatory for all runs including practice.
For registration and more event information call 1-800-766-0449 or visit www.showcaseshowdown.ca
All 4 The Kids integrates art show for SurfAid Int. event
All 4 the Kids announced today it will have an art show featuring work by top artists, including Steve Fawley and Daniel Coleman. All 4 the Kids is a new non-profit organization whose mission is to provide children of global action sports destinations with tangible items that will help enrich and save their lives.
As a 501© (3) organization (pending), All 4 the Kids was formed to operate with no overhead, so that each and every dollar raised will go straight to the children who are its focus.
All 4 the Kids was founded by three-time national amateur champion and former WQS Pro Mike Reilly, who along with a select group of friends, wanted to make a positive impact in the lives of the children he saw when traveling the world surfing. With Mike’s travel experience in mind, each All 4 the Kids fundraising activity will focus on a specific initiative that directly affects the lives of children living at or near a popular action sports destination.
As a 501© (3) organization (pending), All 4 the Kids was formed to operate with no overhead, so that each and every dollar raised will go straight to the children who are its focus.
All 4 the Kids was founded by three-time national amateur champion and former WQS Pro Mike Reilly, who along with a select group of friends, wanted to make a positive impact in the lives of the children he saw when traveling the world surfing. With Mike’s travel experience in mind, each All 4 the Kids fundraising activity will focus on a specific initiative that directly affects the lives of children living at or near a popular action sports destination.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Billabong's Flaunt It
Calling All East Coast Female Shredders to Billabong's Flaunt It at Waterville Valley
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Waterville Valley, NH Jan. 30, 2009- Billabong's Flaunt It is an all-girls slopestyle & rail jam snowboard series that is aimed at giving girls from all levels a chance to 'Flaunt It', while providing over $20,000 in cash and prizes to vie for. Waterville Valley is one of only two US stops with four others taking place in Canada. The first six events are qualifiers for the Series Finals to be held at Mont Tremblant, Quebec. Each qualifying event will boast a cash purse of $1,500 plus the winner from each qualifier will receive airfare and accommodations to the series finals at Tremblant. The finals have a cash purse of $8,500 with $4,000 going to 1st place! In addition tons of product and prizes will be given out based on best scores, best tricks, style, etc.
The Waterville contest is being designed with fun in mind and Billabong invites all east coast female shredders to come out and Flaunt It. The slopestyle contest will be jam format so that everyone can get pumped watching each other, learn new tricks, and not feel the dreaded 'it's now or never' pressure in the traditional contest format where only a few runs are allowed. Each competitor will be allowed to do as many runs as they want with the judges watching carefully throughout the day to determine the standout riders.
There are only 30 spots for the Waterville event so log onto billabong.com/flauntit to secure your spot.
Schedule For Each Event
- 8am-9:30am registration at the Event Yurt and warm-up
- 10am -1pm Slopestyle Jam
- 1pm-2pm lunch break
- 2pm-4pm Rail Jam
- 4pm Awards
LG Snowboard FIS World Cup Big Air Discipline in Downtown Quebec City
For a first time in North America
Quebec, Friday, Dec. 12th 2008 – Martial De Rome, president of the Quebec World Cup Snowboard Inc., announced the presentation of 4 rather than 3 World Cup disciplines this year! On Saturday February 21st, 2009, Quebec City will be hosting the LG Snowboard FIS World Cup – Big Air discipline. This very spectacular discipline will take place in the downtown area of the city, as in many European cities, in the Parc de l’Ilot Fleuri, close to the Dufferin-Montmorency interchange. Quebec City has once again charmed an international sport federation and brought it to add another World Cup in Quebec!
Chantal Lachance, vice-president of Gestev, a company specializing in events management, was glad to announce another substantial event in the region. " It’s another great opportunity to show an oversized project that will for sure give the city a young, trendy and lively showcase, and this, in preparation for the 2013 World Championships."
Big Air discipline ?!?
A Big Air is basically a huge jump. Riders depart from the top of the course to obtain an optimal speed before reaching a jump from which they do an aerial movement before landing in a specific area. It can be compared to aerials in freestyle skiing.
The impressive structure – 40 m high and 110 m long – implies putting up very imposing scaffoldings! In order to secure the structure, build up started on Dec. 1st so that it gets stabilized in the frozen ground. A 2nd round of work will be conducted at the beginning of February. This second round of work’s goal is to install the floors of the structure to support 14,000 cubic feet of snow. Meanwhile, inquisitive people will still be able to drive their cars under the structure on St.Vallier Street!
With a Half Pipe of Olympic level and the Big Air in the downtown area, snowboarding is honoured in Quebec. Furthermore, Quebec City is the only location amongst the 20 cities of the World Cup circuit to present 4 disciplines. In addition to the World Cup – Big Air discipline, the Snowboard Jamboree hosts the Half Pipe, Parallel Giant Slalom and Snowboardcross disciplines, also at the World Cup level. The festival takes place in Stoneham Mountain Resort, from February 18th to 22nd.
Preparation towards the 2013 World Championships
The spectacular structure in the downtown area is directly linked with the decision of the FIS to grant the 2013 Snowboard World Championships to Quebec. "We had to hold this discipline and show that we are able to do it in an urban context. It is also in our philosophy to bring the mountain to the city" added Chantal Lachance. It is the first time in history that the FIS grants to the province of Quebec a World Championships, all board sports taken together.
What is the Snowboard Jamboree?
It is THE grand happy snowboard and lifestyle gathering…
In addition to being a step of the World Cup circuit, Snowboard Jamboree also offers lots of freestyle amateur side-events such as the Stairsmasters, the Kinky Rail Jam, the Jambo Jam Open, the FitSpirit Snow Challenge, and the RBC Riders. It is the perfect opportunity for our future athletes to learn more about their sport and be able to participate to a safe and organized competition oriented towards their level and needs, and this, at the mountain resort as well as in the city.
LG/FIS World Cups that will happen during the Snowboard Jamboree are all sanctioned and organized by the Canadian Snowboard Federation (CSF).
For more info, visit snowjamboree.com.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Mountain High and ROXY Present Sunset Sessions: Park Clinics for Girls
Mountain High Resort, ROXY, and SNOWBOARD Magazine have partnered to create Sunset Sessions, a new series of evening park clinics for girls in January and February. Geared towards girls who are comfortable on green and blue runs, Sunset Sessions provides an encouraging environment where participants can progress at their own pace with Mountain High’s certified female coaches. The ROXY Team ups the experience by hitting the slopes with the girls and providing ROXY product demos.
Sunset Sessions is offered in two four-week sessions and takes place every Wednesday in January and February from 7-9pm. For $99* each participant receives a four week clinic, a free subscription to Snowboard Magazine, an opportunity to demo ROXY snowboards, and a chance to ride with the ROXY Team. Each clinic ends with complimentary hot drinks and dessert.
“At Mountain High we’re always looking for new ways to encourage more girls to get involved with snowboarding,” said Laura Johnson, Marketing Manager at Mountain High. “Last season we launched a successful 30+ women’s learn-to-ride program and look forward to adding Sunset Sessions for the 16-29 year old demographic. We’re excited to have ROXY and Snowboard Magazine as partners to add to the experience for the girls.”
ROXY has been supporting women’s snowboarding since 2003 when the brand introduced its first line of snowboards. ROXY also puts on The Roxy Chicken Jams, a series of all-female pro snowboarding events that began four years ago in Innsbruck, Austria. ROXY's pro snow team includes world-class athletes Torah Bright, Alexis Waite, and Amber Stackhouse.
Don’t just ride this season, up your ante at Sunset Sessions at Mountain High.
Sunset Sessions: Wednesdays from 7-9pm, $99* per session
Session 1: January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009
Session 2: February 4, 11, 18, 25, 2009
Space is limited; please reserve your spot early by calling 760.316.7830. For more information visit mthigh.com/school/sunsetsessions.
* Lift tickets and rentals not included. Discounted lift tickets available at signup.
Mountain High is Southern California’s closest winter resort located just 75 minutes from Los Angeles and Orange County. The area consists of three separate mountains (Mountain High East, West, and North), and offers a wide variety of high-speed lifts and alpine trails, the world class Faultline Terrain Park, an outstanding Winter Sports School, and the region’s largest tubing park. Snowmaking covers more than 80% of the slopes delivering consistent snow conditions from November through April. Mountain High is traditionally the first resort in Southern California to open each season and the only local area with night skiing seven nights-a-week. Get more at mthigh.com.
Red Bull Buttercup Series - Big Boulder
Red Bull Buttercup is an extra creamy new contest series on the East Coast, stopping from Maine to New Jersey and everywhere in between. Red Bull has built a super fun, custom butterpad that will be traveling to each resort in the series. Set at the base of your local mountain, under the lights after the lifts are closed, Red Bull Buttercup is all about how much style you can spread onto the butterpad. Jib, bonk, tap and slide your way across the multi-featured pad however you like, just make sure you lay it on with a lot of smooth buttering.
Overall style and creativity will help the cream rise to the top in this jam format contest. Only tricks that include buttering will count for judging, so be ready to spread it on in this purely pasteurized competition!
Red Bull Buttercup is divided into two divisions: pro and am. Registration for the am division is free. First, second and third place will receive prizes from Rome SDS, Oakley and Red Bull. Registration for the pro division is ten dollars and the winner at each mountain will take home all the cash from sign ups. Top three in the pro division from each stop also get spots in the Red Bull Buttercup Finals at Mount Snow, Vermont on February 28, 2009. At finals there's $1,000 and a trip to Windell's or Woodward up for grabs for the shredder who can lay out the most creative and smoothest style on the butterpad. Check out redbullbuttercup.com for more info on how to spread your butter.
SCHEDULE:
January 24th – Seven Springs, PA
January 24th – Stowe, VT
January 30th – Mountain Creek, NJ
January 31st – Sunday River, ME
February 14th – Big Boulder, PA
February 21st – Loon, NH
February 21st – Holiday Valley, NY
February 28th – Mount Snow, VT FINALS (pros only)
Corona Pro at Mount Maunganui commences on Friday
New Zealand’s best surfers line up to contest the Corona Pro at Mount Maunganui commencing Friday. The three day event has attracted the best surfers in New Zealand including current Corona Crown Series ratings leader Maz Quinn (Gis), new National Champion and home town favourite Matt Hewitt as well as New Zealand’s highest ranked surfer on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) Bobby Hansen (Gis).
The Corona Pro takes place from the 13th – 15th of February and is the third of six events on the Corona Crown Series for 2008/09. Despite an ordinary performance at the Hyundai National Champs presented by Quiksilver, Maz Quinn still leads the ratings and goes into the Corona Pro as the number one seed.
Quinn placed second at the first event of the year and ninth at the Nationals which is not the ultimate start to the year considering he won three of the six events on last years Corona Crown Series. However this weekend could mark the event that he turns things around.
“Well it doesn’t sound as though conditions will be epic but it would be good to get a win under my belt and extend my lead on the ratings” commented Quinn.
“A win is a win even though this event is only a four star. The winner of the series will need to do well in the key six star rated events as well” added Quinn on the overall goal of finishing number one on the Corona Crown Series. The last three events of the series are rated higher meaning more points and prize money on offer.
Of the talent laden field Quinn noted the small conditions will suit the small guys under 60kg but that he has some good ‘grovel boards’ so is keen to see how things pan out. Young local giant killer Matt Hewitt is back at home after opting out of his international commitments in Australia to contest the Corona Pro this weekend.
“It is definitely good to be competing back at home ‘cos you know your own break better than anywhere else. Plus you have your home comforts and you don’t have to hang at the beach in the sun all day which can be taxing on the body” commented Hewitt.
Hewitt’s run of form since winning his national title in January has continued. Last week Hewitt surfed to 17th place in an event on the ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series, his best result to date. The series caters for surfers under the age of 20 and at 17 years of age, Hewitt is starting to make inroads into what many regard as the toughest proving ground in the world.
Known as a very proficient small wave surfer, Hewitt echoed Quinn in regards to who should excel in these conditions “Yeah it will suit the young local boys. You will have to be light footed and have good wave selection because there aren’t many waves coming through at the moment”. Hewitt is only back in the country until Monday when he flies out to Hawaii for two weeks training on the North Shore of Oahu.
Bobby Hansen, winner of the O’Neill Sequence Surf Shop Pro the first event on the Corona Crown Series is also back in New Zealand after missing the National Champs. Hansen is New Zealand’s top ranked male surfer on the WQS at 79th and is already gearing up for another massive year travelling the world trying to qualify for the ASP World Tour.
Other surfers to look out for this weekend will be the likes of Richard Christie (Gis) who won the event in 2008, local surfers Nick White and Tim O’Connor and Gauranga Ormond (WGM).
Jessica Santorik (Rag) will lead the Women into the event as the number one seed. Santorik won the first event of the Corona Crown Series and was also runner up to Daisy Thomas (Chch) at the Nationals. By winning the title, Thomas reversed the results of the first event.
Santorik and Thomas will do battle again this weekend and attempt to fend off a bunch of fellow combatants including 2008 Corona Crown Series and defending event champ Mischa Davis (Piha), Jayda Martin Fitzharris (Gis) and local surfer Laura Rishworth (Mnt).
The Junior Division takes on a new look in 2009 with the age bracket being lifted to Under 20. The change in age was made to coincide with the ASP and also to bridge the gap between the previous Under 18 Boys Division and the Open Men where many surfers were lost to competition due to the large age gap.
The change has seen a bunch of excited teenagers rush to get their entry in and contest the division. The likes of Tim O’Connor (Mnt) and Paco Divers (Sandy Bay) are two surfers that will take advantage of the new age bracket.
Small swell is again predicted for this weekend as the East Coast unseasonably ‘dry spell’ of quality surf continues. The Billabong Pro was to be staged at Whangamata at the end of January but had to be postponed due to lack of surf and this weekend’s forecast is only slightly better.
There is a low pressure system moving across the country on Thursday. There is a front associated with this system and it will be accompanied by strong northerly winds. Although the wind is short lived, forecasts predict a small increase in swell for Friday – the first day of the event.
There is a further south east swell forecast to build on the Sunday and while that direction is not ideal for Mount Maunganui, it is anticipated that the swell will build.
See below for the top surfers on the 2008/09 Corona Crown Series ratings after two of six events.
Open Men’s
1, Maz Quinn (Gis)
2, Gauranga Ormond (Whmata)
3, Matt Hewitt (Mnt)
4, Luke Cederman (Rag)
5, Chris Malone (Gis)
6, Blair Stewart (Gis)
7, Tim O'Connor (Mnt)
8, Leon Santorik (Rag)
9, Daniel Kereopa (Rag)
10, Keone Campbell (Tara)
11, Ryan Hawker (Piha)
12, Dan Scott (Whmata)
13, Bobby Hansen (Gis)
13, Kierin Van Der Helder (Rag)
15, Paco Divers (Sandy Bay)
16, Jay Quinn (Gis)
Open Women’s
1, Jessica Santorik (Rag)
2, India Wray- Murane (Muri)
3, Jayda Martin-Fitzharris (Gis)
4, Laura Rishworth (Mnt)
5, Daisy Thomas (ChCh)
6, Alexis Poulter (Rag)
7, Ella Williams (Whmata)
8, Rosa Thompson (Auck)
9, Thandi Durham (Tara)
10, Nicola Colson-Koster (Auck)
www.surfingnz.co.nz
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Mountain High and ROXY Present Sunset Sessions: Park Clinics for Girls
Mountain High Resort, ROXY, and SNOWBOARD Magazine have partnered to create Sunset Sessions, a new series of evening park clinics for girls in January and February. Geared towards girls who are comfortable on green and blue runs, Sunset Sessions provides an encouraging environment where participants can progress at their own pace with Mountain High’s certified female coaches. The ROXY Team ups the experience by hitting the slopes with the girls and providing ROXY product demos.
Sunset Sessions is offered in two four-week sessions and takes place every Wednesday in January and February from 7-9pm. For $99* each participant receives a four week clinic, a free subscription to Snowboard Magazine, an opportunity to demo ROXY snowboards, and a chance to ride with the ROXY Team. Each clinic ends with complimentary hot drinks and dessert.
“At Mountain High we’re always looking for new ways to encourage more girls to get involved with snowboarding,” said Laura Johnson, Marketing Manager at Mountain High. “Last season we launched a successful 30+ women’s learn-to-ride program and look forward to adding Sunset Sessions for the 16-29 year old demographic. We’re excited to have ROXY and Snowboard Magazine as partners to add to the experience for the girls.”
ROXY has been supporting women’s snowboarding since 2003 when the brand introduced its first line of snowboards. ROXY also puts on The Roxy Chicken Jams, a series of all-female pro snowboarding events that began four years ago in Innsbruck, Austria. ROXY's pro snow team includes world-class athletes Torah Bright, Alexis Waite, and Amber Stackhouse.
Don’t just ride this season, up your ante at Sunset Sessions at Mountain High.
Sunset Sessions: Wednesdays from 7-9pm, $99* per session
Session 1: January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009
Session 2: February 4, 11, 18, 25, 2009
Space is limited; please reserve your spot early by calling 760.316.7830. For more information visit mthigh.com/school/sunsetsessions.
* Lift tickets and rentals not included. Discounted lift tickets available at signup.
Mountain High is Southern California’s closest winter resort located just 75 minutes from Los Angeles and Orange County. The area consists of three separate mountains (Mountain High East, West, and North), and offers a wide variety of high-speed lifts and alpine trails, the world class Faultline Terrain Park, an outstanding Winter Sports School, and the region’s largest tubing park. Snowmaking covers more than 80% of the slopes delivering consistent snow conditions from November through April. Mountain High is traditionally the first resort in Southern California to open each season and the only local area with night skiing seven nights-a-week. Get more at mthigh.com.
Sunset Sessions is offered in two four-week sessions and takes place every Wednesday in January and February from 7-9pm. For $99* each participant receives a four week clinic, a free subscription to Snowboard Magazine, an opportunity to demo ROXY snowboards, and a chance to ride with the ROXY Team. Each clinic ends with complimentary hot drinks and dessert.
“At Mountain High we’re always looking for new ways to encourage more girls to get involved with snowboarding,” said Laura Johnson, Marketing Manager at Mountain High. “Last season we launched a successful 30+ women’s learn-to-ride program and look forward to adding Sunset Sessions for the 16-29 year old demographic. We’re excited to have ROXY and Snowboard Magazine as partners to add to the experience for the girls.”
ROXY has been supporting women’s snowboarding since 2003 when the brand introduced its first line of snowboards. ROXY also puts on The Roxy Chicken Jams, a series of all-female pro snowboarding events that began four years ago in Innsbruck, Austria. ROXY's pro snow team includes world-class athletes Torah Bright, Alexis Waite, and Amber Stackhouse.
Don’t just ride this season, up your ante at Sunset Sessions at Mountain High.
Sunset Sessions: Wednesdays from 7-9pm, $99* per session
Session 1: January 7, 14, 21, 28, 2009
Session 2: February 4, 11, 18, 25, 2009
Space is limited; please reserve your spot early by calling 760.316.7830. For more information visit mthigh.com/school/sunsetsessions.
* Lift tickets and rentals not included. Discounted lift tickets available at signup.
Mountain High is Southern California’s closest winter resort located just 75 minutes from Los Angeles and Orange County. The area consists of three separate mountains (Mountain High East, West, and North), and offers a wide variety of high-speed lifts and alpine trails, the world class Faultline Terrain Park, an outstanding Winter Sports School, and the region’s largest tubing park. Snowmaking covers more than 80% of the slopes delivering consistent snow conditions from November through April. Mountain High is traditionally the first resort in Southern California to open each season and the only local area with night skiing seven nights-a-week. Get more at mthigh.com.
Nat Young gears up for 2009 ASP N America Pro Juniors
The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) North America Pro Junior Series may still be over a month away from kicking off its season, but Santa Cruz standout Nat Young, 17, has already warmed up his competitive chops by competing in a few events in Australia. The goofy-footer is hoping that the added international experience will give him an edge over the competition as he enters into the 2009 season.
Young, who finished second on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series last year, was one of six top junior performers to represent the U.S. in the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Narrabeen, Australia last month. The toe-headed ripper hung around to compete in the ASP Grade-4 Hurley Burleigh Pro Junior as well and feels that competing in the Australian events has boosted his confidence entering the 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior Series season.
"I think I have a little bit of an advantage going into this year," Young said. "I will have done a couple contests before the first North America contest, but the main advantage will be confidence. I have just surfed against the best juniors in the world from all different countries. I have also learned a bit more contest strategy so I will be confident going into the first contest."
Young feels that competing at the heightened level of competition has pushed him to step up his game, but he now has to adjust back from the man-on-man heat format adopted at the ASP World Junior Championships to the traditional four-man heats used in ASP North America Pro Junior Series competition.
"Competing in Australia has just made me surf the best that I can because I have been surfing against the world's best," Young said. "The format is different though, so I will have to get used to four man heats again." Young's competitive prowess is not the only thing that has heightened since his stay in Australia. The up-and-coming talent has boosted his free-surfing skills as well.
"I feel like my free-surfing has progressed," Young said. "I have been surfing with guys like Kai Barger, Evan Geiselman, Dillon Perillo, Mitch Crews, and some other really good surfers and have just been taking notes from each of them." Young's refined competitive skills coupled with his improved free-surfing will undoubtedly make him a serious title contender for this year's ASP North America Pro Junior Series Title.
"I want to try and win the season and world’s," Young said. "That's the main goal." Look for Nat Young to start his season off on the right foot with the first event of the ASP North America Pro Junior Series season, the Ezekiel Pro Junior presented by Jack's Surfboards, running from March 25-29, 2009.
www.aspworldtour.com
www.aspnorthamerica.org
Young, who finished second on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series last year, was one of six top junior performers to represent the U.S. in the Billabong ASP World Junior Championships in Narrabeen, Australia last month. The toe-headed ripper hung around to compete in the ASP Grade-4 Hurley Burleigh Pro Junior as well and feels that competing in the Australian events has boosted his confidence entering the 2009 ASP North America Pro Junior Series season.
"I think I have a little bit of an advantage going into this year," Young said. "I will have done a couple contests before the first North America contest, but the main advantage will be confidence. I have just surfed against the best juniors in the world from all different countries. I have also learned a bit more contest strategy so I will be confident going into the first contest."
Young feels that competing at the heightened level of competition has pushed him to step up his game, but he now has to adjust back from the man-on-man heat format adopted at the ASP World Junior Championships to the traditional four-man heats used in ASP North America Pro Junior Series competition.
"Competing in Australia has just made me surf the best that I can because I have been surfing against the world's best," Young said. "The format is different though, so I will have to get used to four man heats again." Young's competitive prowess is not the only thing that has heightened since his stay in Australia. The up-and-coming talent has boosted his free-surfing skills as well.
"I feel like my free-surfing has progressed," Young said. "I have been surfing with guys like Kai Barger, Evan Geiselman, Dillon Perillo, Mitch Crews, and some other really good surfers and have just been taking notes from each of them." Young's refined competitive skills coupled with his improved free-surfing will undoubtedly make him a serious title contender for this year's ASP North America Pro Junior Series Title.
"I want to try and win the season and world’s," Young said. "That's the main goal." Look for Nat Young to start his season off on the right foot with the first event of the ASP North America Pro Junior Series season, the Ezekiel Pro Junior presented by Jack's Surfboards, running from March 25-29, 2009.
www.aspworldtour.com
www.aspnorthamerica.org
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Shaun White to snowboard on ramp in Manhattan
NEW YORK: Taxi drivers jump out of their cabs to hug a surprised Shaun White.
The snowboarder and his red, flowing locks became familiar to many folks who had never given his sport a second thought before his gold medal at the 2006 Olympics. A popular ad pitchman with his own clothing line and video game, White appreciates any opportunity to expand snowboarding's audience.
This week, he's leaving the mountain for Manhattan, competing on a nine-story ramp with the city skyline as the backdrop. The competition, Red Bull Snowscrapers, will take place at a park on the East River on Thursday night.
"It's important to do things like this because it stirs it up and gets people out of their element, shows them something new," White said Wednesday. "Our sport's always changing, so it's nice to show them something different."
White is 22 and already has been a professional snowboarder for nine years. The Flying Tomato is aiming for the Vancouver Games a year from now, his second Olympics.
He concedes he enjoys looking around and taking in the scenery when soaring through the air on one of his tricks. This view will be a bit different from what he's accustomed to.
The fans gazing at the sight of the snowboarders won't be the same as usual, either. The rare appearances on the East Coast always seem to draw big crowds, White said.
"There's so many fans," White said, "so many people excited to see us ride and do our thing because you don't really get us out here that often."
Terms of Use
The snowboarder and his red, flowing locks became familiar to many folks who had never given his sport a second thought before his gold medal at the 2006 Olympics. A popular ad pitchman with his own clothing line and video game, White appreciates any opportunity to expand snowboarding's audience.
This week, he's leaving the mountain for Manhattan, competing on a nine-story ramp with the city skyline as the backdrop. The competition, Red Bull Snowscrapers, will take place at a park on the East River on Thursday night.
"It's important to do things like this because it stirs it up and gets people out of their element, shows them something new," White said Wednesday. "Our sport's always changing, so it's nice to show them something different."
White is 22 and already has been a professional snowboarder for nine years. The Flying Tomato is aiming for the Vancouver Games a year from now, his second Olympics.
He concedes he enjoys looking around and taking in the scenery when soaring through the air on one of his tricks. This view will be a bit different from what he's accustomed to.
The fans gazing at the sight of the snowboarders won't be the same as usual, either. The rare appearances on the East Coast always seem to draw big crowds, White said.
"There's so many fans," White said, "so many people excited to see us ride and do our thing because you don't really get us out here that often."
Terms of Use
Ride Snowboards Art Reception at evo
A huge thank you to all of the participants in Ride's Snowboard Art Contest 7! With more entries than ever, the decisions were tough, but we are stoked to show the top entries off to the world. Check back soon to view the finalists work here on our site.
Join us in Seattle on February 7th, for the Snowboard Art Reception event at evo in Fremont. Come by for tasty beverages from Pyramid and Jones Soda, musical goodness from DJ Mullet and see the Grand Prize Winner announced.
The finalists of the SBA Contest will be featured in the evo Times Infinity Gallery for the month of February, so even if you can't make it the night of the party, come by later to check it out.
Thanks to the evo crew, Stella Color, Jones Soda, Pyramid Breweries and all the artists that make this event possible.
For more info, visit ridesnowboards.com/sbac7.
AWARDS for Ride's SNOWBOARD ART 7
Best of Show: $1000 and a one-of-a-kind Ride Snowboard featuring the winning artwork
1st Runner-Up: $500 and a pair of Ride Bindings
2nd Runner-Up: $300 and a pair of Ride Boots
3rd Runner-Up: $200 and a Ride Jacket and Pant Combo
Snowboarding Event Brings the Mountain to the Masses
In a winter in which stock prices and temperatures have plunged, a scene on the Lower East Side of Manhattan defies the notion of scaling back in bad times.
Over the last three weeks, a massive snowboard ramp has risen in East River Park, in the shadow of the Williamsburg Bridge. Nine stories tall and 150 yards long, it required more than 100 workers to build, and it has lured 16 of the world’s top professional snowboarders to compete in Thursday’s Red Bull Snowscrapers, billed as the largest urban snowboard event in North America.
Riders, including the 2006 Olympic snowboarding gold medalist Shaun White, Travis Rice, and Terje Haakonsen, will zip down the ramp and soar 50 feet while performing aerial maneuvers before touching down on either side of a 36-foot-long ramp. A panel of judges will rate the best moves and style. The winner will get $50,000 of a $100,000 purse.
Admission is free. The event will also be broadcast live on the MSG Network and replayed on NBC on Feb. 15. A producer for Snowscrapers, Jack Fleming, put the cost of staging the event in the high six figures.
Such a sum might seem foolhardy in a recession, particularly when several snowboarding competitions have been canceled this season. But for those planning new events, going big, especially on television, is seen as a way to increase an audience for a sport seldom seen outside of the Olympics or X Games.
“It’s a small percentage of folks that get to go up into the mountains and see snowboarding, and see these guys,” Fleming said. “And to bring them into this urban setting where there’s millions of people, and bring the mountains to the people, is super important for us, good for the people of New York and good for the sport of snowboarding.”
Last month, a record number of viewers watched the Winter X Games on ESPN, up an average of 8 percent from 2008. In December, the Winter Dew Tour began a three-event series featuring snowboarding and skiing disciplines, broadcast on NBC.
“Snowboarding is starting to become a little more prevalent and people are starting to understand it a little more, like what a halfpipe is,” said Rice, 26, who is regarded as the sport’s most versatile rider and a favorite to win Snowscrapers.
But while the audience for snowboarding seems to be growing, the sport has contracted in other ways.
Last year, Rice started a snowboarding competition, Natural Selection, in Jackson Hole, Wyo. But it was canceled this year amid struggles by its main sponsor, Quiksilver, whose stock price has plummeted.
Two premier competitions in Europe were canceled this season on the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour. Snowscrapers was added as a new tour event.
Meanwhile, snowboard and related equipment sales were down 5 percent from August to December 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, said Kelly Davis, research director for SnowSports Industries America, a trade group.
But apparel sales have increased slightly over the same period, suggesting that many non-snowboarders want to dress as if they were headed to the slopes. The sport has made a target of such consumers.
“It’s selling a lifestyle,” Davis said.
With a network television platform, the Dew Tour has already distinguished itself on a crowded snowboarding calendar.
With its television deal, Snowscrapers likewise has an opportunity to showcase the sport and its athletes with a major spectacle in a unique setting.
“We get to show snowboarding to more than people who just have a special interest for it,” said Haakonsen, a founder of the TTR world tour who has run a signature contest in Norway, the Arctic Challenge, for 10 years. “I think the format will be great and there will be good action, I hope.”
All 16 riders will attempt their best tricks during an hourlong jam format. The top eight advance to a final.
With such a huge ramp, there will be a small margin for error. Overshooting the landing area means falling 50 feet; coming up short means striking the spine in the middle.
“It’s going to be challenging and dangerous,” Rice said. Then he added a sentiment that could also apply to the snowboarding economy these days: “But it’s going to separate the men from the boys.”
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