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Naturally - I Want This Snowboarding Movie - Featuring Jake Blauvelt

October 16, 2013, 4:36 am
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Jake Blauvelt is one of my favourite snowboarders at the moment and i've been awaiting for the 'Naturally' movie for a while now but it seems the wait is finally over.

The snowboarding movie 'Naturally' charts two winters in the life of Jake Blauvelt and some epic power shredding and terrains that will make your jaws hang. Check this out!

 

You can get the full movie from iTunes here:

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/movie/id715154646?affId=2122161


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Boarding without bindings - It's snowskating and it's fun

October 17, 2013, 8:13 am
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Snowskating
Today we look at snowskating and showcase some of the coolest videos of this old but emerging fun way to play around on a board in the snow. Snowskating is basically a cross between skateboarding and snowboarding and i've always wondered why snowskating has never taken off in popularity. After all, snowskating has actually been around since 1964! The 'Snurfer' is considered to be the first snowboard to ever hit the market, but it could arguably be called the first snowskate, since it was without bindings.


I guess the biggest problem is safety with using a snowskate. There's no bindings so of course it's more dangerous (even though you have a leash), not just for the boarder but for other people on the slops.

And then there's the problem with braking, it's harder of course. Like when you get off the ski lift and your boots aren't strapped into the bindings, takes longer and more effort to stop. But hey, you can do flip tricks like this so who cares, all good fun!

Snowskater
Image Source: Flickr
This is what a skateboard looks like - this one is from ambitionsnowskates.com, same people as the first video below (if you watch one video below, watch that one!). I also like the fact that if you search Google for 'snowskate', Wikipedia don't have the first result, it's these guys!

Snowskate



Icon and Ralston also make some cool snowskates.

There's a Facebook community for snowskaters which you can join here: facebook.com/snowskaters


Best of Snowskating Videos

This first video from ambitionsnowskates.com is one of the best snowskating videos I have seen to date and feel positive it will give snowskating the media coverage it deserves.













Snowskating Photos





Image Source: Flickr


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Fun Powder Boarding Video - NW Powder Dreams

October 18, 2013, 2:24 am
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For snowboarders, powder is our friend, we love it, we crave it - especially for us boarders in Europe! This video we feature today titled 'NW Powder Dreams' features some epic fun powder boarding from Stevens Pass.

We loved how they capture the camaraderie of riders really well in this video which is all filmed on a GoPro Hero 3 Black Edition.

Great footage guys!

 

I was really impressed by the footage from this GoPro HERO3 Black Edition which you can now pick up really cheap from the likes of Amazon.



The new GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition is available now too, costs a little bit more but even better footage and stills.



The footage was all filmed at Stevens Pass, Washington. For more information on the resort, visit www.stevenspass.com





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The Crash Reel - A Must Watch Snowboarding Documentary

November 11, 2013, 7:29 am
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I watched the snowboarding film called 'The Crash Reel' last night which follows the life of professional snowboarder Kevin Pearce. The epic half-pipe rivalry between Pearce and Shaun White back in 2009/10 is now well documented in snowboarding folk lore. With both intensely practicing more and more breathtaking and dangerous jumps and tricks leading up to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, everything suddenly changes for Kevin when a horrific crash not only shatters his Olympic dreams at just 22, it leaves him fighting for his life.


'Crash reel' is a terms used for video montages of spectacular falls and had Kevin's fall not been so serious, the accident would easily have ended up on one of those reels. But it was very serious. The film tells the astonishing, hugely affecting story of Pearce’s life up until the accident and his recovery afterwards and uses highly personal and highly emotional footage involving family and friends. When Kevin recovers, all he wants to do is get on his snowboard again, even though medics and family fear it could kill him.

You can see in this video Kevin practising for the jump that ended his career.


And this is the trailer to this amazing documentary:



Finally, this is an interview with Pearce where he openly talks about the crash reel documentary, the accident, his recovery and his future.




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Into The Mind Movie - One All Surfers and Snowboarders!

November 14, 2013, 6:54 am
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'Into the Mind' is a movie featuring snowboarder DCP (David Carrier Porcheron) as he surfs Costa Rica and snowboards British Columbia, but there’s far more to it than that. Those of you out there who surf and snowboard will know the similarities between slashing a snowy bank and a good old hack off the lip.

Unique athlete segments over a multitude of mountain sport genres depict the connectivity of Earth, and window into never seen before moments. Explore how we begin our perception of self, construct the foundations of confidence, and are ultimately led up the path of self-actualisation. As Buddha once said, “The mind is everything. What you think you become.” Into The Mind is about becoming. Check out the stunning trailer here:



For more info, check out the website at www.intothemindmovie.com


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Top 5 snowboarding moments that defined the sport

November 1, 2013, 3:33 am
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Snowboarding has changed so much in it's very short but colourful history and here we feature the top 5 moments that have defined the sport.

1965 - Sherman Poppen invents 'The Snurfer'

Sherman Poppen is attributed with starting the snowboarding craze. It was Sherman that decided to fix two junk skis together, head out to his backyard, stand on his new creation sideways at the top of a hill, and “surf the snow”. He called this creation “The Snurfer” derived from 'snow surfer' and from here a sport was born. A couple weeks later, he added a rope to the front to aid in turning and help avoid the Snurfer from flying away in a wreck.




Poppen patented the Snurfer “toy” – a 42: x 7” “plank” and licensed it to Brunswick and subsequently Jem for production. Product ramped up, and the modern-day snowboard’s grandfather took off – more than 750,000 of them were sold over the following 15 years. As we all know, the rest is history.



1978 Burton versus Sims

The late 1970's saw the birth of two of the main powerhouses in Snowboarding – Burton and Sims. On the East Coast, Jake Burton Carpenter (a.k.a. Jake Burton) moved from Long Island to Londonderry, Vermont, in the 1977-78 winter season and started making and selling a Snurfer knockoff called the “Burton Board”. As a start contrast to today, Burton sold six Burton Boards his first season. Out on the West Coast during the 1978-79 winter season, skateboard icon Tom Sims developed a similar Snurfer replica which became the first Sims snowboard, but was equally unsuccessful.

Both Burton and Sims were willing to stick it out, and their dedication paid off as they became the two main snowboard manufacturers, Burton on the East Coast, Sims out west. Over the next ten years the two brands fought head-to-head to become the big dog by innovating and redesigning their respective “snowboards”, creative and inventive marketing, and quite simply fighting it out. Think political advertisements just before Election Day.

The main difference between the two key figures in the early snowboard industry, and their companies, was the character of the men themselves – Jake Burton was and remains a savvy businessman passionate about snowboarding, while Tom Sims was a surfer/skateboarder/snowboarder that was out to have fun. The outcome of this battle of early snowboard superpowers is Burton’s continuing domination of the snowboard industry, while Sims sold the brand name to Collective Licensing, which continues to sell Sims Snowboards through Sports Authority.


1984-1990 Ski Resorts begin the end of outcasting Snowboards

Through the 1980s, snowboarding and snowboarders across the globe had one major obstacle to face – Where to ride? At the time most ski resorts wouldn’t let the single-plankers on hill. Reasoning for the outcasting varied, but was typically attributed to insurance liabilities or simply the desire to keep their skier customers happy and free of the influx of rebellious, young snowboarders.

Significant effort was put into a diplomacy campaign to get resorts to allow snowboards and snowboarders access to the lifts and runs. Some of the early resorts that got on board required “certification tests” while others were persuaded to allow the young snowboarders access. In 1984-85 40 U.S. resorts allowed snowboarders on hill and lift. By the 1990 winter season, that number had jumped to 476. To this day the struggle is still not over, though. Three U.S. resorts continue to refuse snowboarders access.


1990-92 Doug Waugh Invents the Pipe Dragon

Where would snowboarding be without freestyle? Well, we’d likely still be riding nearly-flat planks, holding ropes for control, and wearing fluorescent ski suits and pointy mohawk “tuks”. That’s why we simply have to shout out to Doug Waugh and his ingenious invention of the Pipe Dragon.

In the mid-80s a few resorts were making man-made halfpipes, but their quality, smoothness, transitions, size, length, everything about them left much to be desired. Hand-forming the half-pipe shape was incredibly labor intensive and maintaining them was even worse. Most resorts felt it was a waste, and couldn’t be bothered to include this type of feature.

Someone called upon a farmer by the name of Doug Waugh in 1990 to make a machine to aid in building halfpipes. He compiled a few pieces of farm machinery into what would become the first “Pipe Dragon”. Essentially, a resort could amass a large pile of snow, drive this nasty looking fire breathing snow eater through it, and have a smooth, nicely shaped halfpipe. By 1992 the machine was tweaked and modified into a production-ready piece, and basically became a necessity for any resort that wanted a decent halfpipe for their terrain park.

Pipe Dragon

And thus, we have the birth of terrain parks. As the features became easier to create and maintain more and more resorts were building them. As the parks became more common, freestyle skiing and snowboarding became more popular, and began the evolution into the modern day form of snowboarding we all know and love.


1998 Winter Olympics – Snowboarding goes mainstream

To sum up snowboarding’s Olympic debut, there’s nothing better than Jake Burton’s summation: “Japan just did not go that well. It was kind of a disaster.” The 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan saw the Olympic debut of snowboarding. The result was less than desirable:
  • Terje Haakonsen, who proved himself as the best snowboarder in the world at the time and one of the all-time greats, boycotted the Games.
  • Ross Rebagliati from Canada took the first Olympic Gold Medal but it was revoked after he tested positive for trace amounts of marijuana. Shortly thereafter it was returned as “pot” was not technically banned at the time.
  • Two ladies on the U.S. Snowboard Team refused to wear their team outfits at breakfast in the Olympic Village.
  • It was later revealed that the U.S. Olympic Snowboard Team coaches didn’t actually snowboard.
Nonetheless, after a few more Games, snowboarding is one of the most popular sports in the Olympics, boycotts, pot, and uniforms aside.


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A Buyers Guide to Snowboard Jackets

November 10, 2013, 3:20 pm
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A snowboard jacket is an essential item when snowboarding and here are some top tips of what to look out for when buying your jacket.

1. Breathability index

Breathability is the most important function of a snowboard jacket because water attacks from the inside as well from the outside and if your snowboard jacket isn't able to expel that moisture out quickly and efficiently, you’ve had it!

Of course, underneath your snowboard jacket you need to have something at least as breathable – if the moisture can’t get to the jacket, than you won’t be able to use the potential of it. We recommend looking for an index of at least 10k and especially if you sweat a lot or you snowboarding in warmer times – go for 20k+.



2. Waterproof rating

The second most important function of a snowboard jacket is to keep you warm, dry and comfortable all day long when snowboarding. Up in the mountains you are exposed to the elements such as the wind, cold temperatures and snowy conditions so you need protection from all of these. 

There’s nothing worse than being wet on a cold winters day on the mountain and therefore your jacket needs to be very waterproof. You need to check the waterproof index of the snowboard jacket you are looking to buy.

The waterproof rating is for the outer shell material and it basically stands for how many millimeters of water it can withstand for a 24 hour period before leaking. The snowboarding conditions you will likely be faced with is an important factor is looking at which jacket to buy. Now unless you are a weekend snowboarder that spends half the day in the bar, you shouldn’t seriously consider anything with an index below 10k or 10,000mm. Some of the best materials out there like Gore-tex and Event reach about 30k or 30,000mm.

A 20K rating or 20,000mm means that a jacket's fabric can withstand 20,000 millimeters (almost 66 feet) of rain in 24 hours before its wearer gets wet. So a 5K jacket can take up to 16 feet of rain in 24 hours. Given that the record for the most snow in a day is about 6 feet, both options sound pretty damn waterproof.

You should also know that a jacket's waterproof rating is for the fabric, not the entire jacket. A jacket's fabric might be able to handle several feet of snow, but if the seams aren't sealed, then snow/water can usually get in. So if you want the best waterproofing for you snowboard jacket, look for a fully seam-sealed jacket (also called fully taped). A 20K waterproof jacket is virtually pointless if the seams aren't taped.

So a 5K jacket's fabric can withstand 16 feet of water but manufacturers generally don't tape all the seams (if at all). These jackets often have a waterproof coating (DWR or Teflon, for example) instead of a waterproof membrane integrated into the fabric (like The North Face's HyVent). Zippers aren't waterproofed. If it dumps snow, you probably won't stay dry very long. The 5K jacket is typically a lifestyle piece or a jacket to wear on sunny days—not one I'd rely on for waterproof protection in the backcountry or on poor weather day on the slopes.

With a 10K snowboarding jacket you can confidently wear it out on a powder day in Utah or Colorado or wear it during a short cloudburst. But it might not hold up to wetter coastal snow or hours in the rain on the Olympic Peninsula. Do take note of its construction for example, are its seams taped? Does it have waterproof zippers? Does it have a membrane construction?

A 20K jacket will keep you dry in nearly any condition. A manufacturer that bothers to make a jacket from 20K-rated fabric with a membrane is probably going to cover every seam and use waterproof zippers and storm flaps. I would feel confident in any coastal snowstorm in a 20K jacket.

For a jacket that is guaranteed waterproof (and breathable), go with Gore-Tex. A jacket with this fabric must meet very specific requirements from Gore-Tex.

Manufacturers such as Bonfire, Burton, Quiksilver and North Face use Gore-Tex is some of their snowboard jackets. We recommend searching online for Gore-Tex snowboard jackets to get the best deal.


3. Wind protection

Snowboard jackets are generally divided in hard shells and soft shells. As the name suggests, hard shells are the ones providing good wind resistance and if you’re looking for a good all-around jacket, you should look for such.

Soft shells can come in handy in the warm spring days, but even then, you’ll be better off with a nice breathable hard shell and less layers underneath.


4. Insulation or not?

Some snowboard jacket are just a hard shell membrane that protect you from wind and water, but leaves you open for the cold elements. These are meant to be used with an additional layer of fleece underneath that you can take off when it’s warmer. It's often easier to just buy a snowboard jacket which comes with insulation - one less thing to think about when heading to the slopes early in the morning.


5. Powder skirt

The powder skirt is a piece of cloth with elastic on the bottom side that keeps snow from getting in under your snowboard jacket. We highly recommend this if you are learning to snowboard for the first time as you will spend a few days on your rear! It usually has a snap system to attach it to your pants, so that snow access is sealed off.

Whether or not you need this, ultimately depends on your preferences. If you'll be shredding through deep fresh powder then it may prove quite useful, but if you prefer the groomed slopes and an occasional off-piste downhill, the powder skirt will be pretty much useless.


6. Jacket Pockets

These days, snowboard jackets come with so many pockets it's crazy. I've found money deep in forgotten pockets from 3 years ago. When it comes to pockets on your jacket, you should ask yourself the following :
  • Will I need a pocket for my MP3 player or phone so it’s easily accessible without the need to unzip my snowboard jacket? Some snowboard jackets like the Burton Audex Jackets which have a built in music/phone system with speakers in the hood that makes listening to music and making calls whilst snowboarding a real pleasure.

  • is there a big pocket, where I can stick my gloves in on a warm spring day?

  • is there a small pocket on the sleeve for the ski pass and is there a place to attach older ski passes that work with bar code readers?

7. Recco reflector

The Recco reflectors are commonly built-in into snowboard jackets. They are an inexpensive passive piece of equipment that you’ll probably never need to know it exists. But in the rare occasion that you turn out buried under an avalanche in one of the 600 resorts using Recco locator equipment, it may save your life.


8. Length

When considering the jacket length, again its personal preference and fashion taste but one thing to consider is chair lifts - they can get quite chilly on colder winter days and having an additional layer of clothing to sit on could save your rear from freezing!


9. Fitting

Normally, when you are buying a non-insulated jacket, you should always keep in mind that it is meant to be combined with one or more layers below, so better look for a more relaxed fit that could accommodate at least one fleece under it.


10. Jacket Brand

We will not give our preference over one jacket brand or another because it’s hard to judge a product by the label on it. Of course, relying on a well-known brand name gives you a better chance of getting something of quality. If you go by the above tips then you won't go far wrong.

Buying A Snowboard Jacket Summary

To recap then, here are a few things we recommend when buying a snowboard jacket:
  • Buy a breathability index of at least 10k. If you sweat lots or you snowboarding in warmer times then go for 20k+
  • Buy a snowboard jacket with a waterproof rating of 20K - this will keep you dry in nearly any condition.
  • Choose hard shell if snowboarding in colder winter months and wear a breathable hard shell with less layers underneath in warmer spring like conditions.
  • Get a snowboard jacket which has insulation.
  • Powder skirt for those learning to snowboard - otherwise don't bother unless snowboarding in deep powder.
  • Buy a jacket with pockets that can accommodate your needs - a place for your MP3 player, phone, wallet, sunglasses and gloves, that sort of thing.
  • Always keep in mind that a jacket is meant to be combined with one or more layers so look for a more relaxed fit that could accommodate at least one fleece under it.
  • We recommend trying a few jackets on in stores to see which you like and then going online and finding the best price. 
We hope you find this guide to buying a snowboard jacket useful. Happy snowboarding!


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Top 10 Snowboarding Resorts Around The World

November 13, 2013, 8:34 am
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Showcasing the ten of the best snowboarding resorts in the world that fulfil most snowboarders demands for powder, parks and apres ski.

1. Tignes, France

The longest season in Europe, the closest slopes to the sun, some of the best powder and, as part of the Espace Killy, 180 miles of pistes: Tignes is the premier snowboarding resort. You will find more boarders here than anywhere else; the big motorway blue runs are perfect for beginners, while the vast off-piste plays host to the Freeride World Tour every year.



The snow park at nearby Val d'Isère has great progression on the jumps, and there's even a lost valley of tunnels and little jumps (great for children) down near the resort. There is also good summer boarding at the Grande Motte, and a summer fun park. The après-ski is preferable to that of Val d'Isère: it's very relaxed and you can wear your snowboard gear in most of the bars at the bottom of the lifts. There's no better functioning resort for snowboarding in the world. If you are looking for a cool hotel in Tignes then you won't be dissapointed as there are loads to chose from.


2. Mayrhofen, Austria

In the heart of the Austrian Alps in the Zillertal valley, Mayrhofen has become the home of Austrian snowboarding. A superb mixture of high-quality freeride terrain, a welcoming and laid-back Tyrolean atmosphere and one of the leading terrain parks in Europe (Vans Penken Park) make Mayrhofen a necessity for any avid snowboarder.


The resort also stages some world-class events: the Aesthetiker Jam is a five-star event, and the Snowbombing weekend every year is a great party. Nearby Kaltenbach is great for untracked powder; and the resort's proximity to the Hintertux Glacier allows for year-round riding.


3. Whistler, Canada

Home to more pro snowboarders than anywhere else on the planet. Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are a boarder's dream: trees, chutes, bowls, parks and perfect pistes.


The town itself feels slightly artificial and twee but it is on the mountain that Whistler distinguishes itself from its competitors. Backcountry riding – accessed by snowmobile – has become very popular.


4. Verbier, Switzerland

Verbier has some of the best freeride and backcountry terrain in the world. The finals of the Freeride World Tour take place annually on the Bec des Rosses, which is one large and dangerous no-fall zone. Mont Gelé is a unique mountain experience in that a single cable-car takes you to more than 11,000ft and to a choice of descents down an unpisted mountain.


Freestylers have the use of the 1936 Neipark, which has a good mixture of kickers, boxes and rails. Verbier is also a great place for British snowboard schools: for the best in friendly tuition, use Es-ride.


5. Snowpark, New Zealand

Located between Queenstown and Wanaka in South Island and built as a specific terrain park three years ago, Snowpark features more than 40 kickers, rails, boxes and a world-class superpipe, and has become a must-visit venue for snowboard freestylers.


The resort has a selection of pimped condos on the piste with hot tubs and all mod cons. There is night riding on Tuesday and Friday, but the resort has no board hire – so you have to bring your own stuff.


6. Myoko, Japan

The Japanese have embraced snowboarding culture, leading the way with the sport's innovations. This hidden gem, just two hours from Tokyo on the bullet train, receives 40ft of snow each winter. It offers floodlit terrain parks as well as the unique experience of riding through birch trees.


The atmosphere is unmistakably Japanese: most households have mini JCB diggers to clear snow rather than shovels, while a dip in the local hot springs is the perfect way to unwind.


7. Hemsedal, Norway

Hemsedal is a picture-book snowboarding resort just over two hours' drive from Oslo. It has 25 miles of runs and terrain to appeal to all standards, as well as accessible backcountry, a faultless snow park and even floodlit night riding until 9pm for most of the season.

It differs from many other resorts in Norway in that beginners are not forced to use dreaded drag lifts everywhere: the lift system here is quite varied. Hemsedal has been attracting top freestyle riders for years and staged the Arctic Challenge in 2001. Sophisticated but quite expensive après-ski.


8. Avoriaz, France

Designed in the Sixties to blend in with the surrounding rock formations, Avoriaz is one of the first resorts to have a snowboarder-only section, including a pipe, park-and-ride area and its own lift; you can also get a snowboarders' passport covering all aspects of the resort.

Avoriaz is part of Les Portes du Soleil: one of the largest linked areas in the world, including Les Croisets and Morzine, which are top boarding locations in their own right. It is also home to a great array of terrain parks while Burton, the snowboard manufacturer, has created one of its five "The Stash" parks here. Also on offer are quad-biking, snowmobiling and climbing.


9. Revelstoke, Canada

Revelstoke Mountain Resort, located in British Columbia in the Selkirk Mountains, has opened for its second season and is still a work in progress – but might be worth a visit before the crowds get there.


It gets on average 40-60ft of snow and offers North America's greatest continuous vertical drop. Although it is very much a fledgling resort in terms of snow-park development, it offers extensive cat-boarding – riding caterpillar-tracked snowcats to access miles of untracked powder.


10. Livigno, Italy

Not many people think of going to Italy to board, but this is one of the best-kept secrets around. Situated in the northern Italian Alps, Livigno is a duty-free zone and remarkably inexpensive.


The town is basically a long road along which free buses run, with wide pistes on either side that are great for beginners. Freeriders can access some of the most beautiful powder fields half an hour's hike away. The one hitch is the long transfer – more than three hours from Milan – but unlike in duty-free Andorra, you can enjoy fine Italian cuisine.
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First Patent Snowboard (1939) - Pictures and Video

November 17, 2013, 12:17 am
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This is an exclusive video of the first snowboard patented in USA in 1939 sent in to us by Stephanie (Burgeson) Dorn which features her Grandfather, Gunnar Burgeson who co-invented the snowboard. S

nowboarding sure has come a long way since 1939 and we are glad that Stephanie decided to share this great video and pictures with us and our readers of Snowboarding Days.

Video of first patent snowboard (1939)


What Stephanie (Burgeson) Dorn's father, Don Burgeson has to say about his dads invention....

My dad, Gunnar Burgeson, came to the U.S. from Sweden when he was 18 years old and settled in Oak Park, IL. In 1939 my dad co-invented the snowboard with his brother Harvey Burgeson and relative Vern Wicklund. They filed the first patent for the snowboard in 1939 [U.S. Patent 2,181,391]. My dad was 31 years old at the time of the invention and at least 5 snowboards were made and I have 3 in my possession.

Growing up we would call the snowboard a “bunker”. As a kid I used the bunker all the time. My dad would take my brothers and me to hilly areas in Illinois and Wisconsin. We would generally jump a fence to get onto someone’s property and use the bunker to ride down the hills.

Standing sideways we would secure our rear foot under a leather strap that looks like a belt buckle that accommodated different sizes of shoes. Our forward foot was placed behind a piece of wood fastened to the board. The front of the board had a rope that we would hold with one hand – this rope would help us slow down the board and served as a break. Our other hand would hold a stick that had a hole with a piece of rope we’d put around our wrist – this helped us with balance. The entire board was made of oak and was bent slightly to a concave shape weighing at least 15 pounds, maybe more.

I never knew that my dad patented the bunker until I saw the January 16, 2004 Sports Illustrated article on snowboarding that listed the timeline of the sport that began with my dad’s patent. And, little did I know growing up that my dad’s invention would take off and become an Olympic sport with such a following. Watching the Winter Olympics I am reminded of my dad and my childhood growing up using the first snowboard on some little hills in the Midwest. Snowboarding sure has come a long way since 1939.

Pictures of first patent snowboard (1939)

Here are pictures that Stephanie (Burgeson) Dorn sent in of that first board from 1939...






Pictures provided by Don Burgeson, Son of the co-inventor of the snowboard.

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Noah's Snowboard Shop - Sponsored Review

November 23, 2013, 4:01 pm
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As a UK snowboarder living in Cornwall, shopping for snowboarding gear is a pretty limited affair. Unlike surf stores which there are hundreds, there's very few specific ski/snowboard shops. Those that do exist (usually within a sports/outdoor store) often price their snowboard gear way too high compared to online retailers. So you won't be surprised to hear that I do most of my snowboard shopping online where I can get more gear for my money.

Another massive benefit to shopping online is you can get 'cashback' from the likes of Top Cashback which over the past few years as accumulated in giving me cashback of well over £1,000 from my online shopping which included snowboarding gear.


There are some excellent snowboarding e-commerce sites on the web and one such website we'd like to feature today for our readers is Noah's Ark. They sell bikes and snowboards - two of my favourite hobbies - if they sold guitars they would be my dream store! Their snowboard section is called 'Noah's Snowboard Shop' which is a rider-driven store giving you the low down on what you need, whether you're a beginner that's just starting out or you've been snowboarding for years.

They sell gear including snowboards, boots, bindings, jackets, pants, gloves, helmets, goggles and even snowboard tools and cameras such as the GoPro.

What I like about the website is it's clear and easy to use - the navigation is very user friendly and as you can see from the landing page image below, the categories are well defined with easy to use clickable images:


Once you are in a particular category, all the products are really easy to scroll through.  



Noah's snowboard Shop has a great selection of cool snowboards, from kids to adults at great prices. They are one of the very few shops that I found to sell the kids Star Wars snowboards which I'm really tempted to get one for each of my boys.



To visit Noah's Ark website go to: www.noahsark.co.uk


This is a sponsored post
(although I have been paid to write this review, the thoughts and feelings are of my own)




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Top 10 Ski & Snowboard Apps for Smartphones

January 15, 2014, 7:42 am
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Technology seems to have made every phase of our lives more convenient in some way or another, and mobile devices have enabled us to have access to tools and information no matter where we are, and what we’re doing. They are just as useful when talking about recreation as they are with business applications. A prime example of this is the vast number of skiing and snowboarding-related mobile apps that have appeared on the market.

Photo Source: David Finch
Here are 10 great mobile applications for your smartphones that can enhance your experience when slashing through the snow on your skis or boards. I've tried to find both Apple and Android app download links where possible but many of these are only available on Apple phones.

Ski and Snow Report

While there are many apps coming out that give you snow reports, this one seems to be the most popular, with the best ratings. You can customise this app to give you detailed information that can be easily customised according to the locations in which you like to ski or snowboard. It’s very simple to use and the stats are always reliable.





AlpineReplay Ski & Snowboard

If you are looking to geek out with some statistics related to your riding, this is the app for you. It can measure your speed, distance, elevation, and the calories you burn. It’s like a running or walking app, but custom made for the mountain. It’s great for following your progress as a skier or snowboarded over the course of a season.





SkiTips

If you are a beginner, this is the perfect app for you – it’s like having a ski instructor in your pocket. The app gives you detailed lessons on the fundamentals of skiing that are very easy to follow and understand, as well as advanced techniques for more experienced skiers.

Photo Source: Samuel Miller


In The Snow Magazine

If you are a skier or snowboarder, then you probably know about this great magazine. This is the mobile app version of this insightful magazine and website.




SnowEdge

Don’t be fooled by the very rudimentary design of the app, it’s actually very high tech and allows you to measure your speed when cutting down the slopes and your longest airtimes when doing high-flying tricks on your board.




SnoCru

This is another hybrid app that has just about everything you can ask for – snow reports, weather reports, the ability to measure your speed, verticals and distance travelled, and great integration with social media websites.




ActionShot

Want to get photos of your killer jumps and treks down the mountain? This is a great app for that. Photograph your action sequences to look like they just came out of a pro skiing or snowboarding mag.





On the Snow's Gear Guide

Looking to buy new gear? This app is a great guide for finding out about all of the latest boards, skis, boots, and other accessories you’ll need.



Pano

Use this app to get incredible photos of your mountainous surroundings. It’s the perfect photo app for getting amazing mountain panoramas that will help you to always remember the view from the top.




Snocator

This is an integrated app that gives you snow reports and weather condition information, but also full GPS maps for various trails all over the best and most popular ski and snowboarding resorts in North America. However their snocator.com website seems to have been hacked.


Try this link to download for Apple


Skiing and snowboarding is thrilling enough without technology, but these great smartphone applications can definitely enhance your experience in the snow even further.

About the author

Jon is a fitness fanatic. He particularly loves snow sports and is currently gearing up for the 2014 ski season. For those looking for cheap snowboarding equipment Jon recommends companies such as The Board Basement, who stock a wide range of discounted products.


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Shaun White Crashes - Video From Mammouth Grand Prix Slope Finals

January 17, 2014, 12:54 am
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Shaun White is human after all! The snowboarding superstar had a nasty crash yesterday on his first run of the Mammouth Grand Prix Slope Finals. He was fine and went on to be 2nd on the day.



Then later that day he did this....



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Great Scott! Back To The Future Design Snowboard

January 17, 2014, 1:00 am
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I spotted this awesome Back To The Future inspired snowboard on Reddit earlier this week and had to showcase it here. This is a custom snowboard but someone seriously needs to make this graphic for the rest of us.


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Board terminology: A guide for the beginner or the returning amateur

January 24, 2014, 9:04 am
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The terminology that surrounds the sport of snowboarding can be pretty inscrutable to the layperson. Combined with the fact that the terminology is intertwined irrevocably with the equipment a snowboarder uses, and evolves over time, an absence of a decade (or more...cough) from the sport can make something like choosing a board pretty intimidating. So let’s take a look at what some of these ubiquitous terms mean, in the hopes that even an enthusiastic thirty-something can get back on the slopes, and not have a bad time.

Let’s discuss basic board types first.

First, you have all-mountain boards. This are the most common board style you'll find, designed to handle a variety of terrains, and where you should begin. The majority of snowboarders remain on an all-mountain board forever.

Freestyle boards are generally shorter, more flexible, and lighter, designed for more dynamic use, riding rails, jumps and tricks. Frequently reinforced to take a little more abuse than other boards.

Freeride boards are designed for backcountry use, in completely natural, un-groomed snow, and clumpy or deep powder. They're stiff, and stable for downhill speed, not ideal for tricks or varied terrain.


Powder boards are, as the name implies, focused like a laser on a fast powder experience. With a wide base, and upturned tips, they're designed to not get bogged down in the deep stuff.


Splitboards are a Frankenstein hybrid between cross-country skis and a snowboard, designed for backcountry use, the idea being that you use the skis to climb in untracked areas, and reunify the halves to carve your way downhill. For dedicated and experienced backcountry enthusiasts only.



A few words about various board-related terms.

A "directional" board is designed to travel in one direction, having a front and rear. "Directional twin" boards can be reversed, but still have one end more suitable to lead. A "true twin" board is equally good for travel with either end facing downhill.

A "wide" board is wider than other boards, because some riders have huge feet, and your heels create drag if they hang over. Ask your dealer if your shoe-size necessitates a wide board.

"Camber" refers to the bend in a particular board. Different cambers are for different styles of ride. "Regular" camber (which looks like a cat's mouth in profile) is designed for stability and tight control on groomed runs. A "reverse" camber or rocker board (which looks like a smile) is more forgiving for novice riders and in powdery conditions. Truth be told, new cambers are devised for virtually every aspect of board riding, so you could spend a lifetime finding a camber right for you. TheClymb has a solid selection of different boards and snowboarding equipment to investigate, at up to 70% off retail.

Hopefully this brief overview will help the enthusiastic amateur navigate some of the terminology that surrounds this exciting sport. Happy carving!


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5 Tips for Using a GoPro Camera While Snowboarding

January 29, 2014, 9:16 am
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If you’re reading this, you love snowboarding. You love watching snowboarding videos online. You’ve probably thought about making videos of your own adventures on the slopes. But wait! Put down your board, take that GoPro off your head, and read this first.

Abe Alzouman, a professional video editor who specializes in extreme sports, says that if you want your GoPro videos to turn out amazing, you should follow these five tips:


1. Use the right settings!

Abe recommends 720p at the maximum frames per second (fps) your camera allows (that’s 120fps on the latest GoPro model). This is the best setting for super slomo. But if you’re, say, hanging out in your hotel room, cut your fps in half.

“This will allow more light to hit each frame and give you a much brighter and better picture,” explains Abe.

Use the maximum fps so you can see your jumps in super slomo. (Works for kiteboarding and snowkiting too!)



2. Use Protune wisely

Protune gives professional editors a much wider range of colours and brightness to work with, but it doesn’t make raw footage look that great. If you know you’re taking your footage to a professional editor, turn Protune on. If you’re editing the video yourself, turn it off.


3. Shoot the same scenes from multiple angles 

If you’re shooting your own run, do it a few times with the camera mounted in different positions. If you’re shooting someone else, put yourself in a different filming position on each run. The different versions can be edited together to give the sequence a multi-dimensional look.

Pass the GoPro around and shoot from different positions to make your video multi-dimensional.



4. Take photos, too

Adding photos to your video makes the rhythm more interesting. But don’t use the simultaneous photo and video setting—you’ll lose half your fps. Abe recommends using the 12MP Wide to get the best photo quality. Try the multi-shot settings: Abe likes 5 shots per second (sps) for getting good group photos and 30/2sec for shooting a jump or trick.

5. Get closer

GoPro footage looks best when you’re up close and personal. If you’re filming a friend going off a jump, get as close as you can (assuming you trust your friend’s jumping skills, of course). If you’re shooting from a distance, try to have something stationary in the foreground. Abe says, “Seriously, it looks so much cooler the closer you are to your subjects.”

Follow these tips, and your GoPro footage will look totally pro. Can’t guarantee the same for your boarding skills, though; that’s a whole different post.

Click here to get even more GoPro tips from Abe.

About the Author

Laurel Shane is a freelance writer and editor who regularly writes about video for VideoTov, an online video-editing service. Click here to learn more about VideoTov and watch more amazing videos.




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This Under Armour Olympic ad will give you the chills - Sponsored Video

February 7, 2014, 8:15 am
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The Winter Olympic Games opens today in Sochi, Russia. Hurray! and we'll be featuring some of the snowboarding events here on snowboardingdays.com. With that in mind, this sponsored video from Under Armour sets the scene. They have used the iconic 1972 Summit Series as inspiration for Team Canada’s ColdGear Olympic uniforms, which feature a state of the art design that retains body heat. The video below entitled Cold War connects one of Canada’s pinnacle hockey events to the new-age sport of snowboard cross, uniquely featuring a Team Canada snowboarder racing downhill as the ad cuts back and forth between on-mountain action and footage from the famous “Summit Series.”


Sponsored Video

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4 Relaxing Activities After A Session On The Snowboard

April 8, 2014, 2:19 am
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Snowboarding is easily one of the most enjoyable activities when at a ski resort for your holidays, though you will already know the sort of an effect it can have on your body after a long day. For that reason you should take heed of some great tips that can help you to relax after a long stint in the snow. We have provided you with just that with four of our top tips.

Get A Massage

One of the most obvious ways to relax after a day’s action on the slopes will be to get back to your hotel and take advantage of their massage services. This can help to limit the amount of muscle aches that you may already be feeling. This can help you to be fully ready for another days worth of snowboarding the very next day.

A Few Drinks At The Bar

This option depends on just how much snowboarding you are planning to do on your holiday. It is strongly advised that you do not drink every night if you have a jam-packed schedule on the slopes. Do remember that this is a holiday though so you will want to enjoy yourself at the bars on the odd occasion. It can also be a great way to relax whilst meeting fellow snowboarders.

Hit The Hot Tub

Hot tubs are a great remedy for aching bones and muscles; the heat helps to relax all of them, especially after a day out in the cold. Most hotels will have hot tubs available and steam rooms too which are great for relaxing. You will soon be fully refreshed and after a good night’s sleep ready once more to jump on that snowboard.



Play Poker Online In Bed

Sometimes the best thing to do is get straight to your bed. The only problem is that you need something to do whilst laying back and relaxing. Foreign television is not always that great so if you have a laptop or mobile phone you can play games online such as poker with the Full Tilt Poker mobile app. There are a wide range of formats that you can play, so depending on whether you want a quick game or a long tournament, the choice is yours.

These are some simple tips on activities you can do to help your body recover from an auctioned packed days’ worth of snowboarding. What’s great is you can opt to do a one or more each night depending on your particular circumstances. Perhaps have a massage, head to the bar and then finish up with a game of poker.




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Sponsored Video - The North Face Longer Days Campaign

April 15, 2014, 9:24 am
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The arrival of springtime sees most ski resorts wind down to closing for the season. As we pack away our snowboards and recall our favourite powder days of the season, it's tinged with sadness that the snowboard won't be out again for another 7 months or so. But on the flip side, springtime brings longer days and in the mountains it's not the snow that brings fun.




There is of course amazing hiking, biking, climbing and general fun exploring in the mountains to be had. Springtime sees the scenery transform from white snow covered mountains to stunning lush green terrains full of wildlife. Hiking and cycling trails emerge as the snow thaws away and so whilst we miss the snow and all the fun to be had on a snowboard, the springtime brings new adventures.





With many people leading busy lives, staying connected with the outdoors gives everyone a chance to refresh their spirit and stay active while discovering the world.

The North Face has launched the Longer Days campaign which gives consumers the inspiration to run, hike, climb and explore longer this spring.

Check out their video for inspiration:


You can follow The North Face on Facebook and Twitter.

The new free Explorer app is available on iTunes and Google Play and gives you a chance to take part and share your achievements.

This post has been sponsored by The North Face, but all thoughts are our own. 

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Snowboarding Music - Best songs to shred along to

September 1, 2014, 2:21 pm
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We've complied the ultimate snowboarding music shred playlist of what we reckon is the coolest snowboarding songs to ride along to. Of course everyone's music taste is different. We love rock, some hip hop, grunge, indie, pop, acid jazz...basically a bit of everything.

Of course your snowboarding music depends on your mood and riding style but this list covers everything from chill to hardcore.

We encourage you to comment below with any songs you think we've missed off this snowboarding playlist so together we can come up with the definitive snowboarding soundtrack.

Infected Mushroom - Riders on the storm

Cake - I will survive

Bomb the bass - Megablast

Beck - Loser

T-Rex - Children of the Revolution

Linkin Park - Bleed it out

Fun Lovin Criminals - Scooby snacks

Gustavo Santaolalla - Apertura

Mansun - Wide open space

Phantom Planet - California

Sigor Ros - Hoppipolla

Status Quo - Pictures of matchstick men

The temper trap - Sweet disposition

The Wombats - Jump into the fog

Elbow - One day like this

Caesars - Jerk it out

Heart - Crazy on you

Lifehouse - Hanging by a moment

Aerosmith - Living on the edge

Arcade fire - Funeral

Ash - Innocent Smile

Band of Horses - Funeral

Biffy Clyro - Mountains

Blind Melon - Galaxie

Blue Öyster Cult - Don’t Fear the Reaper

Guano Apes - Open your eyes...and of course....Lord of the Boards...and here's the video:


Credence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son

Offspring - Bad Habit

Oasis - Acquiesce, Morning Glory, Champagne Supernova

Beastie Boys - Sabotage, Intergalatic

Bush - Come Down

Chemical Brothers - Hey boy Hey Girl

Coldplay - Speed of sound

Daft Punk - Alive 2007

Damian Marley - welcome to jam rock

Deftones - Be Quiet and Drive

Delays - Nearer than heaven

Doves - Pounding

Dubsteps - pretty much most there songs! 

Eddie Vedder - Hard Sun

Eels - Novacaine for the soul

Elton John - Rocketman

Fleetwood Mac - Crazy on you, go your own way

Foo Fighters - My Hero, Everlong

Goldfinger - Superman

Gorilla Biscuits – Start Today

Gomez - Bring your loving back here

Guns and Roses - Welcome to the jungle

Happy Mondays - Step On

Idlewild - American English

Incubus - Certain Shade of Green, Drive

Iron Maiden - Aces High

Jamiroquai - Space Cowboy, Corner of the earth, feel so good

Jazzmatazz - All four albums!

Jay-Z - Unreasonable doubt

Jimi Hendrix - Hey Joe

Jimmy Eat World - The Middle

Kasabian - Club Foot, Underdog

Killers - When you were young

Kings of Leon - Charmer

Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love

Less Than Jake - Scott Farcas Takes it on the Chin

Linkin Park - in the end

Live - I alone

Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy

MGMT - Kids
  
Minus The Bear - Knights

Moby - One Of These Mornings

Nirvana - Smells like teen spirit

Mayer Hawthorne - One Track Mind

Motorhead - Ace of Spades

Mr Scruff - Get a Move On

Mumford and Sons - Sign no more

Muse - Hysteria

Pale 3 - In my head

Paramore - Ignorance

Peal Jam - Alive

Puddle of mudd - Blurry

Quicksand – “Dine Alone” – Slip

Radiohead - Creep

Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Any album, any song!

Reef - Come back brighter

Rolling Stones - Paint It Black, Sympathy For The Devil

Rage against the machine - Wake up, know your enemy

Rihanna - Rude Boy

Silversun Pickups - Well Thought Out Twinkles

Stereophonics - Roll Up And Shine

Stone Roses - Good Times, Breaking Into Heaven

Supergrass - Alright

Shad - Wild

Steppenwolf - Magic Carpet Ride

The Cure - Boys don't cry

The Faint - Danse macabre

The Postal Service - Give up

The Smashing Pumkins - Siamese dreams

The Who - I can see for miles, Baba O'Riley, Anyway, Anyhow, Anywhere

The Strokes - Is this it

U2 - Mysterious Ways

Verve - Come On

Other Snowboarding Soundtracks
The soundtrack from Shaun White snowboarding game is pretty cool:

“The Press Corpse” - Anti-Flag
“Gasoline” - Audioslave
“Berlin” - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
“Weapon of Choice” - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
“Don’t Fear the Reaper” - Blue Öyster Cult
“Hurricane” - Bob Dylan
“Someday Baby” - Bob Dylan
“Acceptable in the 80s” - Calvin Harris
“Clean My Wounds” - Corrosion of Conformity
“Time to Fly” - Dunk
“We Come 1” - Faithless
“The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” - Gil Scott-Heron
“Counting the Days” - Goldfinger
“Jump into the Fire” - Harry Nilsson
“Barracuda” - Heart
“The Fashion (Do or Die)” - illScarlett
“Anna Molly” - Incubus
“White Rabbit” - Jefferson Airplane
“Reason Is Treason” - Kasabian
“Stuntman” - Kasabian
“Cult of Personality” - Living Colour
“Working for the Weekend” - Loverboy
“Control” - Metro Station
“Of Moons, Birds & Monsters” - MGMT
“Time to Pretend” - MGMT
“Dashboard” - Modest Mouse
“Stompbox” - Overseer
“Rock Box” - Run DMC
“Ill Placed Trust” - Sloan
“Ring of Fire” - Social Distortion
“Save Yourself” - Stabbing Westward
“The Ballroom Blitz” - Sweet
“Perfect Wave” - The Beautiful Unknown (Formerly Barlow)
“Keep Loving Me” - The Draytones
“Waiting for Go” - The Dykeenies
“Alive & Amplified” - The Mooney Suzuki
“Great DJ” - The Ting Tings
“Every Inambition” - The Trews
“Animal I Have Become” - Three Days Grace
“Play That Funky Music” - Wild Cherry

And finally...how about...the sound of silence! no...not Simon and Garfunkel!  

Don't listen to anything but the sound of the mountain, especially if you are glacier or back bowl snowboarding. You just can't beat the stillness of the mountains and the sound of your board carving up the snow and the wind rushing in your ears....beautiful and one of the coolest sounds on Earth!

Happy Shredding!
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15 Cool Snowboarding Wallpapers

September 2, 2014, 2:15 pm
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A collection 15 cool snowboarding desktop wallpaper pictures for snowboard fans out there to brighten up their computer this season. Click each picture to enlarge.
















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