Bored Yak

3rd Rail Jam Coming to Meadows

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Looks like a non-scaffolding rail jam. Winner-take-all? Graffiti artists and DJs? Everyone gets a free Kangol? They better sign up some breakdancers quick for the full hip hop effect. Saturday, February 25. Get to Meadows' site for the 411.

Mt. Hood Meadows Announces Spring Pass Dates and Dollars

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:38:00 +0000

Maybe the snow will come in the spring. It can't just not snow this 'winter,' right? That in mind, Meadows is offering a $149 unlimited spring pass good from March 12 until the lifts stop turning. That should give you two months. If you buy before then, you get $20 midweek lift tickets until March 9. You really only need to ride three times to make that a good deal.

Gear Review: 2012 Homeschool Snowboarding With Teeth 2.5L Shell Jacket Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 06:30:00 +0000

Portland, Oregon is home to a new outerwear company in Homeschool Snowboarding and they are out to refocus the game. Ultimate breathability folks, pay attention. You sweat, it condenses inside your gear, you get wet from the inside out. When it isn't even raining or snowing or maybe even wet outside at all. You're sweating, so you stay wet. Garbage bags are water-resistant, but we can do better. Enter Cocona xcelerator technology. Activated carbon from coconut fibers. You need to keep the kit in a locked briefcase. I don't understand it, they do. End of the day, hyper-breathable and still water resistant. Now on to the real jacket.

The hood actually works OK over my XL dome-piece.

First off, the breathability listed at 30,000gm performs as advertised. I wouldn't advise playing a basketball game in Death Valley in it, but for snowboarding and related exercise (hiking to your favorite spot) it shines. On New Year's Day, I hiked out Mt. Baker's Shuksan Arm to Safety Ridge in conditions that would normally have me in just a base layer. The With Teeth jacket (vents fully open, of course) was up to the test more than my hungover head and gut were. The only thing I could compare it to is my Volcom Gore-Tex Soft Shell. It's close, but I give the edge to the Homeschool jacket. I might have to wear the Volcom again to compare. I haven't worn it all year.

Do me a favor, though, don't buy a jacket like this and wear cotton underneath. I know, not everyone has access to the full Cocona Continuum Trifecta (that's base, mid and shell layers). God knows, I wish I did. Just get some wool or polypro. You can pick this stuff up second-hand at Goodwill or Army surplus joints anywhere. You sweat into cotton, it doesn't much matter what your shell is, you're going to be wearing your sweat far longer than is comfortable. Sorry for the rant, but cotton kills, remember?

The water resistance is rated at 10,000mm, not stratospheric by any stretch. The argument is that unless you're drinking from a fire hydrant, you don't need anything more. In fact, more would sacrifice breathability and we'd be back to that Hefty bag scenario. In my days with this jacket, I would agree. It's seen plenty of wet northwest conditions and I've never felt better. Now, water doesn't always bead right off. Sometimes it looks like it's seeping, but like I said, I've never gotten wet. This is a 2.5L jacket. Good enough for Mt. Hood this winter (more rain than snow) should be good enough for anywhere.

The company calls their fit the "Homeschool Engineered Fit." It's not tight or flattering, but it's not baggy either. Sorry ladies, no women's-specific cuts. I measure a 29 1/4" sleeve and a 38" chest and went with the large size. Partly because I like my jackets a little bigger and partly because this one doesn't have wrist gaiters and I have to run the cuff straps over the thumb to keep things dry. This takes some effective length from the sleeve.

I would still like a wrist gaiter on every jacket.

How about that hood so prominently displayed in the top picture? Homeschool calls it the Darth (wind) Hater. It's adjustable via three elastic tabs ( two side, one rear). The front zipper comes to your lower lip and the panels on the sides come to the bottom of your goggles. Ideally, all you have to worry about are your nose and lips. I rarely use hoods, but this is the best I've seen. A smear of your favorite weather proofing on nose and lip (I use Dermatone) and you're invisible to the elements.

Up until now I've been pretty positive, but it's not all powder days and sun rays in this jacket. The front zipper is a big and burly Riri Aquazip, that's great. Why then do you need an inside storm flap and a 3/4-length outside flap for it to get caught on (which it does every time)? I say get rid of the inner flap, which is usually the culprit, and keep the outer which gives you the option to throw the coat on with just a couple snaps and the central, magnetic closure.

I'd like a better powder skirt. Homeschool uses the snaps, which are good, but there must be a better fix. Just because I like my jacket a little bigger shouldn't mean my powder skirt works worse, which seems to be the case now. I hate the fact that the zippered skirt is patented, but if you put the loops for the snaps a little lower on the pant, that would be a good start.

That's it, kids. That's all for the negatives. Snaggy zipper, good-but-not-great pow skirt and no wrist gaiters. Can you live with that? Are you OK with no flashy color options? If so, you get a long list of benefits. Breathable, water resistant and still supple fabric. The best hood in the game. Well thought-out pockets including a chest media pocket, a clear pass pocket and magnetic closures on the waist pockets. A Recco reflector. Mesh-backed pit zips. Fully-taped seams and mesh lining. All with a clean cut and subtle styling. No neon outside, but the print inside shows some classy flair.

Durability is always a question in a quick review like this one. The With Teeth retails at $325. For that price, I want a jacket that will last a few years. Here it is mid-February on an off snow year. I've taken it through the trees a bit and taken some good spills in it and it hasn't shown any wear yet. Whether it holds up for years to come will be revealed in the years to come. For now I can only say that I recommend giving Homeschool Snowboarding and the With Teeth jacket a chance.

Check back later for long-range updates in the 'My Gear This Year' series as the years go by.

Double Helicopter

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 01:08:00 +0000

BOOM!

Thanks to A Man and Ft. Lewis for making this otherwise military people-killer into something of a punchline. If you don't know you better axe somebody. And I didn't download the damn video, so I can't show you if you axe me.

27th Baker Banked: Another Legend

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:54:00 +0000

Yup, last one to the party, no doubt, with the 27th Annual Legendary Baker Banked Slalom info. Had to make the haul down I-5 yesterday with some stops. Then, crashed out early because today was a powder day at Meadows. Who'da thunk? That crazy ice layer is still lurking, though. Tripping heel edges you thought were going to spray powder all over the free world. Serious damage done today. In a real way. To my meat box. Not some metaphorical 'destruction.' I feel broken. Enough about me, though, things got legendary over the weekend. Let me tell you what eye saw.

Saturday. Hard to get motivated when it's been raining all week. More on that later. Managed to get down there and check out the race. Even demoed some gear: Jones Hovercraft, Yes Pick Your Line and Now IPO bindings. All good in different ways. You will hear more, but here's the teaser.

2013 Yes Pick Your Line

2013 Jones Hovercraft and Mountain Twin flanked by Yes men

JF Pelchat sets me up with the Now IPO.

Mervin boards I didn't ride. Look for C3 BTX next year.

What about the race? I watched a few folks from the top and a few from the middle. Not much middle ground as far as the race. Folks were either slaying or getting bucked. Gnarly-ass course. Makes me wonder whether I really want to get accepted to ride in it. Gwyn Howat said that for the first time ever some of the banks were over her head. And she's no pixie at six feet tall. Another first, mid-week the course was an icy mogul field and the crew was praying for rain. You read that right. They can't just power-till the course, so the only natural cure would be the four-letter word we usually curse. It came. Course softened. What could have been a bobsled track got downgraded to 'challenging.' Thank the rain. Ha. Just make sure it knows its place. For example, don't rain on the salmon feed/handplant contest. Thank you.

Who is this, Marben? Where's the light from, God?

So much food they were giving it away at the end.

The grindage up top was looking tasty, too.

Sunday Finals. No demos as my crew again lacked motivation and the demo tents were packing up early. I did get a glimpse of some pro men's runs and some groms' after them. Let me tell you something, it's easy to appreciate video-part-quality snowboarding when it's on a screen in front of you, but it's even easier to appreciate when it's carving down a hill in front of you. Professional athletes on a closed course. Sit back and watch. If you can't watch Josh Dirksen take his LBS turns and aspire to replicate them, you're either Terje or you're numb. Not everyone films a three-minute shred-porn section every year, but, much like REM said, everybody turns. Sometime. Still, no one ever says, "I want to turn like Josh Dirksen." Well, I do. Maybe next year I'll ask all the micro-groms who their favorite riders are. I will take special note of those who respond with Dirka-Dirka-San. All that said, this is a results-based game, no one cares what you look like, you gotta WIN! Overheard in the lodge before the awards, "Dirksen has all the qualities you envy in a person except the ability to win." I should have asked that dude his name, I'd love to have an attribution for that. You know who you are, third floor of the lodge around 4pm. Of course he goes on to take second AGAIN. Maybe he just knows that silver is the only real duct tape color. Everything else is an impostor. Who would want that? Temple Cummins came in third because the only place he ever lands at this event is on the podium. Terje won because he's that good. He had to bounce to Norway and the World Snowboard Championships before the awards, though, because he's in demand. And because he's that good.

Scotty Wittlake praying

Scotty Wittlake slaying

Another special moment for me that day was Kevin Pearce's presence. What can you say? Has a time ever mattered less? Kevin looked more stoked than anyone at the awards ceremony. What an inspiration to anyone who's ever had to come back from a serious injury. Traumatic brain injury to gnarly banked turns in a couple years. Ending in Banked Slalom entries for life. See you next year, Kev. Wear your helmets, kids.

Watching Milo Malkoski race and win his first gold was pretty cool, too. You can read all about it on his proud pop's blog. What he won't tell you is that dad was pacing/racing Milo down the first half of the course. Talk about a stoked dad. Milo's time was just a little slower than the old man's, too. What does he get when he finally beats you, Johan?

Who says the groms don't take it seriously?

Hearing the crowd go nuts when someone from Glacier wins is amazing. Makes me wish I could have been there when Lucas DeBari won in 2007. Must have been off the meter. My first year was 2008, when Temple won it and I thought that crowd was nuts. I couldn't even hear Danielle Davis's name getting called this year. And this wasn't her first win. Glacier loves its own.

Sarah Taylor, "I get second every six years: 2000, 2006 and 2012."

Maelle Ricker owns the women's pro division. This year marked her sixth win in a row. And she won by almost five seconds. She also wrecked into the fence in her second finals run. Like a true pro, she unstrapped, hiked up around the gate, took a bow, buckled back in and finished her run without a DQ. Is the mark of a pro the flawless winning time or the unwillingness to give up?

That quote sums it up.

Finally, I just can't top Baker for getting together with all my shred buddies. I have quite a few that I only see there. I wish I could see them more often, and I wish I'd stop missing some even there, but as long as the Legendary Banked Slalom goes down, at least I'll know where they'll be for that one weekend in February. You guys know who you are. See you next year!

Mt. Hood Meadows Chairway 2 Heaven, Sunday

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:49:00 +0000

Yes, CHAIRway. Apologies to Led Zeppelin. Here's the deal, speed dating on Meadows' Blue chair. If you know anything about this chairlift, you know 'speed' isn't usually anywhere in the mix. It's a nine-minute ride barring any slowing or stoping, which usually happens due to the exit ramp being among the gnarliest lines on the entire mountain.

Anyway, the lift lines are split into one line for ladies and one line for fellas. I guess it's hetero only, look, I don't make the rules. You get nine minutes to get to know one another and then decide. Did he blow you away with his use of 'bro' as almost every word in a sentence? Did she flawlessly navigate that dicey exit ramp? Perhaps it was meant to be. Make your way to the 'Meadows Mingle' near the bottom of the lift for some mellow tunes from Barry White or Luther Vandross while feeding each other chocolate-covered strawberries by the fire pit.

Take a long walk on the beach over to Mt. Hood Meadows' website for full details.

The Winter Beard

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:07:00 +0000

This is a winter beard. I haven't touched it since Thanksgiving, except some mustache trimming, so I can eat respectably. Contrary to the belief of my snow buddies, this is not a year 'round feat of facial hair. Plenty of folks wouldn't even recognize me in the summer months. When that thing goes so goes 10 years from my face.

Right now is supposed to be mid-winter. I should be in mid-season form. Instead, Mt. Hood has less than a third of it's normal snow. I've ridden so little, my legs are atrophying. The sun is shining on Portland so much that folks are sporting flip-flops and tank tops. Meanwhile, I have to check the address on my mail to make sure I'm in the right town.

This is Portland. In February. The trees are starting to bud out! Flowers are popping up thinking it's April already.

Why bring up the beard? I'm holding it hostage. If it doesn't snow another foot at Meadows by the time I get back from the Baker Banked Slalom (check my twitter @Boredyak for updates and results), I'm shaving that thing off. I must admit, I've already had to trim it because of a bald spot that developed from my constant fidgeting and plucking.

You hear that, snow!? Show yourself or the beard gets it!

This beard is for you, snow! A token of my respect for your ability to chill my chin. Regardless, your seasonal visits and their resultant mounds of fluff always bring me joy. What now? Now you only come around every once in a while. Where's the joy in rain? I drive for hours to get to where the rain turns to snow. Now that place is getting farther and farther away. Mountains are no place for rain. No one ever made rain angels.

Board Exam: 2011/2012 Lib Tech Travis Rice Limited Edition Snowboard Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:43:00 +0000

What the rep said: All-mountain freestyle; mellow magnetraction; C2 power banana for better edge hold, stability and pop; true twin shape

Stats/Setup: I checked in at 6'1" (1.85m) and 170 pounds (77.3kg) when I rode the Travis Rice Limited Edition in a 157 with Salomon Dialogue Boots (size 9.5) and some old Technine MFM Pro bindings at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon. Count the prepositions in that sentence.

Conditions: Hardpack, ice, some slush

Check out Lib-Tech's site for the goods

First impression: Dig that limited edition Art of Flight graphic by Mike Parillo

The Ride: A nice deep sidecut has the T.Rice going edge-to-edge like a tweaker standing on a rocking chair. When the turns open up, the mellow magnetraction shines. It's not as aggressive as the MTX found on some of Mervin's other boards, but it will hold on even when you're carving like a Euro hardbooter. I don't know exactly which boards have which version of magnetraction, but my guess is the deeper the sidecut the less need for a deep magnetraction. It works for this board anyway. It charges hard and holds on tight.

Another shining area is the stability. Even at 157 when I'm used to something longer, I was comfortable at speed, through chop and falling off stumps and jumps. This is a damp board that likes speed and likes a challenge.

The pop was pretty good. I've found Lib's C2 poppier than full rocker (or their earlier BTX), but not as poppy as full camber. This is to be expected as it has rocker between the feet, but camber to the contact points. The C2 does give you that little bit of buttery flex advantage over camber, though, for those who like to get your press on.

Bottom Line: It's not going to get you into a helicopter followed by a helicopter all by itself, but it can do everything else. In general, a hell of a lot of fun to ride. I wish I could've ridden the 161 and ridden it in a wider variety of conditions because this seems like a great all-mountain freestyle board.

Similar Boards: My Never Summer SL-R

Bonus Package: As a bonus to the Limited Edition board, the LE package includes The Art of Flight book, DVD and Blu-Ray all in a collector's edition box. It's a rad little package that I paid $80 for. Check it.

The art of book, Field Notes for scale

What's inside

The collector's edition, pop-up box

Current State: Snowboarding

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:36:00 +0000

Out Now!

Remember that book David Benedek started working on two and a half years ago? Me neither. But I reserved a copy way back then, so I got the update today when it finally released.

I can only imagine the labor of love that project was. It ended up as two books designed to be viewed simultaneously. Craze. Check it out at David's site and then just go buy a copy. Never mind the price. There's no snow out there anyway. Just stay inside and read.

Board Exam: 2011/2012 K2 Turbo Dream Snowboard Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:18:00 +0000

What the rep said: The Turbo Dream is flat between the feet with an early rise nose and tail (slightly higher nose), Harshmellow dampens vibration underfoot, Carbon web stringers will pop your socks off.

Stats/Setup: I'm checking in at 6'1" and 170#. I rode the Turbo Dream in a 159 with Salomon Dialogue Boots (size 9.5) and K2 Formula Bindings at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon.

Conditions: Hardpack, ice, some slush

First impression: Some bright-ass bindings, but nothing else out of the ordinary.

The Ride: Right off the lift all systems were go. The board went edge to edge just fine on slow, short-radius turns. Pop was OK, probably due to its stiffness and carbon webbing and in spite of its reverse camber profile. Stability at speed and on landings was a high point. Nothing bothered the Dream on that front. Again, this board is pretty stiff longitudinally, maybe a little less so torsionally. Also not a board you'll be pressing too much.

Then, it came time to crank a turn. Higher speed carving was a sore spot as the board wanted to wash or rotate a little. I would attribute this to the camber profile and traditional sidecut. Reverse camber boards that carve best have some sidecut augmentation, whether it's magne-traction, grip tech, vario power grip or what have you.

Stolen from K2's 2011/2012 site. Check it while you can.

Bottom Line: I was disappointed in this board. It might serve well as a pow board, but I can't see riding it in all-around resort conditions. The stability was there, but the sidecut didn't lock on like some of the alternative sidecuts that are available leading to a looser turn than I'd like. Overall, I think this board might work better with regular camber.

I have a buddy who has an older model of this board, maybe I can get him to weigh in on it in the comments.

Similar Boards: Bataleon Omni

'Guch Teaches You the Backcountry

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:07:00 +0000

Last post I was talking about how we didn't have any snow. One week and nine feet of snow later and we're back in business. Of course, going from cold to rain, back to cold and dry and now a bunch of wet heavy snow has left the snowpack about as unstable as it gets. Who could possibly teach us about about how to have fun in such a minefield? Umm, Bryan Iguchi? Just to be sure, this isn't meant to replace any structured or accredited avalanche training, just 'shop talk'. Probably more like common sense stuff, which is not nearly common enough these days. Maybe like that North Face thing. Come check it out, though. At the very least, you hear some stories from a guy who has a few and a lesson worth repeating. (Seriously, THE GUCH!) Maybe you'll learn a thing or two while you're there and meet some shreds who like to get out and get after it on the other side of the ropes.

Burton Mountain Festival Coming to Meadows

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:35:00 +0000

There's nothing better than riding pow. Since I'm not going to Alaska or the Alps any time soon, I'll have to settle for riding other peoples' snowboards at the Burton Mountain Festival this weekend at Mt. Hood Meadows.

Aside from the snowboard demos, they're throwing a big ol' party with music and dancing and games of chance or at least a 4-star TTR event that can qualify you for the qualifying rounds of the US Open. A mini-park will be set up for those shred-kins too young for the main even, but whose overbearing parents insist they work on their double cork before nap time. And judging by the list of sponsors, you'll be tripping over caffeinated beverages and hair care product samples all day long. But at least you'll be out there and on some free gear. That's fun, right?

Board Exam: Arbor Wasteland 2011/2012 Snowboard Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:03:00 +0000

What the rep said: The System is how rocker should be. Parabolic rocker means more rocker at the waist and less at the tips and Grip Tech gives you four extra contact points. This all sounds so familiar.

Stats/Setup: I'm checking in at 6'1" and 170#. I rode the Wasteland in a 161 with Salomon Dialogue Boots (size 9.5) and some old Tech Nine MFM Pro Bindings at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon.

Conditions: Hardpack, ice, some slush

First impression: Another fine wooden topsheet from Arbor

The Ride: This is my second nose-to-tail rocker demo, the other being the much softer Arbor Cascade. The flex was stiff enough to maintain pop, but still soft enough to butter like a cheater. Not so soft that you just fall over the tail when you try to press, though. Maybe a 6.5 out of 10 (10 being your femur).
The Grip Tech sidecut held on through everything I threw at it and that included every size turn imaginable. When you're cruising a resort on a mediocre snow day, that's the one thing you have time for, lots of turns. The Wasteland got edge-to-edge quickly and locked in hard, like a ninja.
Stability was on-point, but I didn't throw anything huge at it. Speed wasn't a big issue and the air I got just wasn't that big. Speaking of which, the dampness was only moderate. Not as damp as my Never Summer, for example. This is a matter of taste, I know, as some people think overly damp boards feel 'dead.'

For all the blood and guts, check out Arbor's site.

Bottom Line: I'm impressed with this board. It does everything you could ask of it at the resort. It's as good as a rockered board could be. With the full rocker and elongated nose, it should perform well in powder, too. If that is the case, I could easily ride the Wasteland every day. You won't want to ride it in an actual wasteland, though; no water.

Similar Boards: GNU Altered Genetics BTX (not C2)

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:30:00 +0000

How do you measure a good year? By all accounts, 2011 was good to me. Since this blog is about snowboarding, let's review that.

Last winter was all-time. Snowfall was plentiful, the trips I took mostly panned out and I got a few firsts that blew my mind. Watching the gnarly sessions at Superpark 15 at Mt. Bachelor won't easily be topped. The highlight of the season was still my first heli trip as part of Tailgate Alaska, but I also had some of my best days at Mt. Hood Meadows, just finding new zones with my friends. When June rolled around, I was ready to hang up the gnar boots and lace up the hiking boots.

The one thing that bummed me out last year was a trip I took to Mt. Bachelor over Martin Luther King Jr. Day where it rained on the mountain the whole time and none of us so much as touched our boards. I even had a friend up from Colorado. And I forgot the shred flicks at home. We drank so much beer... During a normal year it would have been far more depressing, but last year turned the corner, just like this year is sure to do. Like Joe Walsh said, "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do."

In the young 2011/2012 season, I've already had firsts. My first ever snowboard race was a couple weeks ago at the Dirksen Dirby. My result was as bad as it gets, but it was still a super-fun experience that I look forward to doing again in the coming years. Also, a couple months ago I wrote my first ever published snowboard article for Transworld Snowboarding magazine (Halldor Helgason's Pro Spotlight, Dec. 2011). Following that were two in their January issue (Ethan Deiss and Austen Sweetin interviews) and one in frequency: The Snowboarder's Journal issue 9.3 (Mike Parzialle profile). Theses I hope will be just the first of many gigs with the big mags and finding ways to get money for things that I like to do anyway.

The three best magazine issues yet!

The riding this year hasn't been amazing, but the season is long and just taking off. Starting in the new year, a friend gets a weekday off, so last year's Method Mondays will be this year's Tindy Tuesdays. Even as I mash this keyboard it is dumping snow both at Mt. Hood and my New Years destination, Mt. Baker, so things are turning around quickly. Maybe that Nina chick is going to show up after all.

Here's hoping that 2012 greets you with nothing but powder and smiles. Happy New Year from Boredyak!

Dirksen Derby: Survival

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:46:00 +0000

What it's all about

The Derby is demolished. The courses took 10 guys six days to build and brought over 300 riders to town to rip it up over three days. Why? Tyler Eklund, that's why. In 2007 he broke his spine practicing at USASA Nationals and is now paralyzed from the neck down. This year the Derby raised over $18,000 for him. The stoke he gets from it is immeasurable. He even takes runs down the courses with the help of Oregon Adaptive Sports. I'd imagine it's a weekend he looks forward to all year.

Parrilla, chowdering the masses

Terje and Dirks with super-secret tech

This year the Dirksen Derby was bigger than ever. More riders, more money and more buzz. Terje made the trip, but the deafening roar at the top of the venue was the chant for Curtis Ciszek. Haakon missed the mens' podium by a scant .04 seconds to speed racer Dustin Anderson who took the bronze glove. Bellinghamster Blair Habenicht had something, breaking the beam in second, but Norway was not to be denied as Knut Eliassen Nitro-boosted his way to the top. These top three will now compete in the Derby Elite division whenever they return. Speaking of the Elites, Curtis was getting so much noise because he was the defending champion. Scotty Wittlake and Austin Smith put down Ridgemont High-style fast times, but Curtis wasn't flinching. Repeat champ, fastest time of the day, bragging rights for another year. For all the complete results check out mtbachelor.com. Also, quality video on Yobeat and ESPN.

Austin Smith and Bryan Fox trying to catch Curtis

Knut, "This has been the coolest event I've ever been to."

If you're looking for my name, go ahead and skip to the bottom. I didn't belong in the finals (sneaked in on a timing error) and I went out and proved that. My run on the red line was as slow as possible without falling and then I fell twice trying to make up for it on the green line. You're welcome, Donny. You weren't last. The courses were super-tight, but also fun as hell, like Baker's squirrely little brother.

For the record, Jake Blauvelt qualified on a timing error, too.

If only we could get something like that together on Hood to benefit Snowdays. Did I mention they raised over $18,000 for Tyler? How rad is that!?

None more rad

As for the rest of Bachelor, they've got a hell of a mountain open right now. Yeah, there are some 'unmarked obstacles' (rocks and treetops, like those seen in the middle of the Derby courses), but they also have legit parks. We're talkin' real jump lines, not just rails, but some nice 40 to 50-foot booters in there. Also, they're only two lifts from being 100% firing. No Summit, no Northwest. Outback is a go for all your dingo- and kangaroo-chasing pleasures. For what it's worth, Saturday was 10-times busier than Sunday. All that only a three hour drive from Portland. Problem is, that's twice as far as Mt. Hood.

Dirksen Derby Day 2: Carnage and Tribute

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 07:05:00 +0000

I just got back from the A-Rob movie premiere and it put me in a bit of a funk. For his part in Manifest, Aaron Robinson could have been the next big thing. Or at least the next underground, cult 'big' thing. For those of you who don't know, Aaron died before the movie wrapped. His friends finished the movie for him and did their best to end it on a positive note. I can't help but think about the one guy who wasn't in the room, but should have been. The guy everyone was talking about, but not one said a negative word. The guy pictured on the commemorative snowboard up for silent auction (if it went for less than a grand, it's a travesty). I just can't help but wonder why.

In more amusing news, I made the finals of the Derby. Amusing because I fell on the right course and almost fell on the left. Timing error, they said. Come back tomorrow. OK.

Also, it was a demo day at Mt. Bachelor. Does it sound like a good idea to ride four different boards on race day and have some guy who is not you set it up before you race? I'm just sayin'. Keep an eye out for reviews of this year's Arbor Wasteland, K2 Turbo Dream and Lib Tech Travis Rice. All good rides, but my favorite was the Wasteland. Get to Meadows tomorrow (12/18) and get your own board swapping. I don't know where the demo tour goes after that, but if you live in Washington or Oregon, you might want to look it up...

Dirksen Derby Day 1: Practice

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:11:00 +0000

View from the cone's summit

Not much to report from day one of the 5th Annual Dirksen Derby. I only got here in time to scope one of the courses. It's quick and the berms are large. They cram 20 turns into a 30 second course. Gnarly. It was pretty shaded by the time I took any pictures, so I'll leave you with the following and say better luck tomorrow.

Bank swallows man whole

The big accomplishment for the day was climbing the cone at Bachelor for the first time. It was a mostly sunny 33°F outside, so the hike was tame and the view was endless.

Stay tuned for more Derby action tomorrow as I try to stay off my ass and wiggle my way down the dragon's back. Also, the premiere of Aaron Robinson's movie 'Manifest' is tomorrow (7pm at the 7th Mountain Resort near Bend). I'm looking forward to that and I'll let you know how it goes.

Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Hey kids! You know what time of year it is. That's right, time to give gifts no matter what religion you do or don't ascribe to. If you want to buy your favorite blogger something special this year, buy Ed Segovia a combination VCR/DVD player. He seems like the kind of guy who watches a lot of old shred movies. Let's get him a little update to the digital age.

Yes, it should also have a remote control and lots of space around it

If you're too young to know what a VCR is, well, it's like a DVD, but the size of a book. A big book like Harry Potter. If you're too young to know what a book is, it's like a Kindle, but made of dead trees. May I not live to see the day that you don't know what trees are...

Anyway, if you want to buy your eighth favorite blogger a present, go ahead and buy me an Airblaster Ninja suit. No, I didn't get one last year (or the year before or before that). I'm a size medium and I prefer the black, merino wool kind. Yes, the one with the hood. If you ask me, they should have named the hoodless kind the samurai suit.

What kind of ninja doesn't have a hood!?

God bless us all, every one! If you're too young to know who Charles Dickens is, ah hell, just look him up on Wikipedia like you kids do with everything else. Now go play outside!

My Gear This Year 2012: Pants in Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:08:00 +0000

They keep your ass dry. Directly - you can sit down in snow and stay dry - and indirectly - they connect to your jacket in such a way as to keep snow out of that seam. They are pants. 'Pant suit' is a fun phrase to say, but I don't know what a pant suit is. Here is my stable of leg coverings for the year.

Homeschool, DC and Burton Ronin (L to R).

Far left is the 2012 Homeschool Snowboarding Line Up pant in Night (black). I got these at the beginning of the year in exchange for a review and haven't worn them on snow yet. They are 10,000mm water resistant and a booming 30,000gm breathable. Cocona fabric, ladies and gentlemen. My first impression is that the fabric feels supple, not cardboard stiff like some other highly waterproof gear. They have a reasonable four pockets and an accessory holster on the right leg. Basically it's a place to put your hat and/or gloves when you take them off, so you don't set them down and lose them. One possible negative is that they took the whole asymmetrical pockets thing a step too far as they have just one back pocket, one cargo pocket (and the holster) and one hip pocket zips on the side and the other on the top. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Homeschool kit performs, this stuff could really be the future. Keep an eye out for more reviews as I ride with these.

In the middle of the rack is the DC Baker pant. The bananas. They are last year's model (2011) and samples. They run 15k on both stats. (they call it Exotex, I don't know why) The fabric is flexible if a little thin. Given that, they feel a little drafty on snow. Also, semi-translucent and a light enough color that they were instantly and irrecoverably dirty. Six pockets is borderline too many. They have a nice bungee cord in the cargo pockets that you pull up to keep your cuffs from dragging as you walk. This is a nice feature because they are baggy. They are also the only pants I have that are Large instead of Medium. A good pant. The water resistance and breathability are both on-point. Cold on a windy day, though.

The brown bibs on the end are Burton Ronins that I bought off one of those deal-a-day sites in spring 2008. I think that's when they stopped making the Ronin line. Anyway, 20k x 20k, but started to lose their resistance to the wetness last year. The spray-in Nikwax isn't reviving it either. I love me some bibs, though, and quality bibs are harder and harder to find. So good in pow. Maybe this is the year someone finally buys me a ninja suit for Christmas (merino wool, black, size medium, please). Anyway, this is the baggiest of the three. At medium it's almost as big as the DC large. The bibs, which are removable, keep it up. It's got six pockets and snap up cuffs. One cool feature is that it has venting on the inner and outer leg. All the other pants only have venting on the inner leg. All are mesh backed (none have insulation, either). The other bummer about these is that the right leg ripped when I tried to pull them out of a buckled binding. I had to Shoe Goo them back together. They were good while they lasted, but the writing's on the wall.

Pants, with the possible exception of gloves, are the outerwear piece that wears out fastest. Don't get caught with your pants down, always make sure you have a backup if you can. Nobody likes a soggy butt and your first defense against that uncomfortable ride home is some quality pow trousers.

Check the other "My Gear This Year 2012" gear review pages: Jackets and Boards.

Limited Edition Milosport Oakley Crowbars

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:02:00 +0000

This just in from the good doods down at Milosport. That's in Utah, if ya don't know.

Check the strap. Sickest.

Winter Driving Prep

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:29:00 +0000

Inherent in the grand adventure of snowboarding is this paradox: the better the powder day on the mountain, the worse the roads will be on the way there. There's just no way around it. The plows can only keep up for so long. Inevitably, compacted snow and ice will send many would-be snowboarders for extreme closeups with guard rails or worse. But it doesn't have to be that way. Enter Paul Eklund, pro rally driver and car builder, 27-year rally veteran and three-time Alcan 5000 Winter Rally competitor. More importantly, Paul is a long-time rally school teacher. Who better to advise you on matters of traction and get you up and down the mountain without a visit to the guard rail?

Bored Yak: When did you drive in your first rally?

Paul Eklund: 1983

BY: What inspired you to start?

PE: I worked at a rally and saw John Buffum in a Group B Audi Quattro spitting fire.

BY: How long have you been making your living working on cars?

PE: I've been making parts for 13 years.

BY: When did you drive in your first snow rally?

PE: That's a good story, first real snow experience was driving and ICE RACING on the Alcan 5000 Winter Rally in 2000.

BY: What are the major differences between driving on snow and ice, wet pavement and gravel?

PE: The levels of grip, but more importantly the consistency of the grip, which actually makes ICE easier than GRAVEL (it is usually consistently poor grip).

BY: Have you had any accidents or close calls on snow and ice, be it rally or civilian driving?

PE: None yet (except while racing which I had a few wild spins after the finish in sprint races on ice). I watched a few people spin out in front of me, so it was easy to predict by watching them.

BY: This time of year, shops start talking about 'winterizing' your car. What do I really need to do to get my car ready for the cold months?

PE: Check your battery (age/condition), get proper tires and make sure your antifreeze is less than 5 years old. For EXTREME conditions or overnight on the mountain, synthetic fluids (oil and tranny), a battery blanket and block heater may be advisable.

BY: You always say things like 'making yourself a better driver is the most important thing you can do for your car' (disclaimer: Paul runs a rally school where he can turn your money into driving skills), does this hold true for winter driving?

PE: Absolutely. Cars and tires come and go, but YOU stay with you so knowledge is power when it comes to winter driving.

BY: What should I do if my car starts to slide? Should I be worried that my car will catch dry pavement and roll?

PE: Steer into the slide and add a little power to stop the drift then ease up on everythin (gas, brake and steering) and let the car settle before driving it to a safe spot. Your car will not catch traction and roll, just LOOK to where you want to go. Getting out of a SPIN just requires a little PRACTICE which is why I recommend a school (ed. go to www.get-primitive.com for the rally school schedule)

BY: What's the number one thing you see drivers do that makes them lose control? What should they do - or not do - instead?

PE: Number one mistake is to panic and slam on the brakes and to look at the spot that they do not want to go. The car will almost always get there (like a guard rail).

BY: Past skill, a good set of snow tires helps, right?

PE: Nothing beats studs for traction on ice, but they do chew the roads. Good studdless tires work well and some are even better than studs on the snow. Snow and ice are different - remember that (different traction).

BY: Any recommendations? Studded, non-studded, chains?

PE: Personal preference, but for the money the Cooper WeatherMaster WSC is a great multi-purpose winter (or all year) tire. It can be studded for those who need it. Chains are great for the occasional user.

BY: What do you keep in your car's winter safety/emergency kit?

PE: I use Subaru's Extreme Weather emergency kit with shovel, water, space blanket, little first aid, matches, flashlight and a few other perfect goodies in a little case $39.95.

BY: Is there any other piece of equipment (past driving skill and tires) that I could buy, or look for when I buy a car, to make my drive to the mountain safer?

PE: Get a Subaru... 'nough said

BY: Do you see people buying or modifying their cars in ways they think will help them, but actually will hinder them?

PE: Worst mod is to stiffen the suspension in any way or restrict its movement (lowered, stiffer, big swaybars, or low profile tires) Soft is good for the winter.

BY: What's the difference between AWD and 4WD? Is one better or worse?

PE: It is really a matter of semantics and not really very different. Typically AWD is considered 4WD all the time where a 4WD can disconnect the drive to the front wheels.

BY: What about front vs. rear vs. AWD/4x4 in snow?

PE: AWD is best because you get drive to all the wheels, but a good FWD car does extremely well in the snow too, it just may be a little tougher to get going. RWD is tricky in the winter and the worst for safely getting around. AWD/4WD can be deceiving as it can get any (even an ill-equipped) car going, but stopping is a whole different matter and then it comes down to the tires.

BY: Is there anything else you would like to add about snow and ice driving?

PE: Learn a little theory on weight distribution in a car and handling characteristics then practice, practice, practice.

BY; How do you maintain sanity while driving 500 miles per day in the dark across Canada and into Alaska in the Alcan Rally?

PE: Get a great co-driver (essential) and you really have to enjoy driving. I look forward to 2012 Alcan Winter Rally.

BY: Any run-ins with Ice Road Truckers?

PE: In 2000 while driving up the HAUL ROAD to Prudhoe Bay, the truckers were none to happy to have us on "their" road and made it clear with white outs (rubbing the edge of the plowed road with their huge trucks, often with 3 trailers and creating a snowstorm) and also creeping over towards us as we passed them. In 2008, we saw them filming IRT while we drove on the frozen Mackenzie River north of Inuvik. Our Forester Turbo hit 123 MPH on the frozen river.

Yes, 120mph. No, you should never try this.

BY: Any wildlife encounters, maybe they're all hibernating?

PE: I saw 4 wolves in 2000 which was spectacular and we always see bison, moose and caribou along with the ocasional fox and ever-present ptarmigan. Close calls in general? We had a young moose break out onto the road and run just ahead of us one time, then disappeared instantly into a group of stunted evergreens (they only grown to about 10 feet tall way up there).

BY: Any tips for ice slaloms?

PE: Ice slalom is a special animal as far as driving challenge and the key is to be extremely smooth; initiate turns way, way, way, way in advance; use the throttle to modulate; keep suspensions and tires soft; look way the heck ahead and be sure you are in a Subaru.

BY: You've seen the sport of rally go through some changes, much like the changes snowboarding has gone through. What do you think about the evolution, complete with energy drink sponsors and X-games?

PE: I see why organizers are heading towards closed-course-type rally (so they can charge an entry fee to watch) but it is diluting the true sport and I'm not sure if it will really catch on. Seems to be eroding, not growing, the grassroots base which is essential for the sport to continue.

BY: You've been racing since before Travis Pastrana was born, do you have any good stories about him or Ken Block, arguably the two who brought about much of the 'X-games-ification' of rally?

PE: Thanks. They are both really great guys and I am surprised that they even remember me when we meet at SEMA or other events. I don't have a lot of juicy stories, but Travis did get excluded from Day 1 of an Olympus Rally one time and entered the regional rally the next day in my class to get some practice. The very first stage found him off the road, on his side, after tumbling the car and he was screaming at everyone to go faster and urging us on as we went by, within inches of his stricken car.

BY: Thanks, Paul. Any shout outs?

PE: Subaru NorthWest Region, Exedy Clutches, T-Scandia Motors, Cooper Tire

5th Annual Dirksen Derby Dec. 17-19

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Here's what you need to know-

This is not a tightly regimented event, so details are still in flux.

The GOLDEN rule: All proceeds from everything go to Tyler Eklund, a friend and rad kid who was paralyzed while snowboarding. Paralyzed. Think about that when you reach for your wallet.

Dirksen Derby Kickoff Party: Friday, December 16th. Doors @ 7pm, Band at 8. Location: the Poet House in downtown Bend. All ages. Music, Drinks for 21+, Raffle, and “Broken Board” art auction. All proceeds go to Tyler.

Racing: The whole weekend! Depending on weather, snow fall and poor planning, the schedule of the event will remain flexible. All participants are expected to be on-hill both Saturday and Sunday ready to either race the course, cheer on their fellow competitors, bash some windlips or stuff their faces with Parilla clam chowder. If everything goes perfectly as planned, Friday the course will be open for timed practice, Saturday we will hold both the Mens qualifier and the Splitboard race, and then Sunday will be everything else (the top Mens qualifiers from Saturday, Derby Elites, Womens, Older and Wiser, Groms and Sit-ski). But remember, the actual schedule can change quickly!

Registration: $25 per racer, per event. All proceeds go to Tyler. Racers can register online at MtBachelor.com or at Mt. Bachelor`s West Village lodge on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning (8:00-10:00) or Sunday morning (8:00-10:00). There will NOT be a limit to the amount of competitors allowed in the event. Discounted lift tickets will be available at registration.

Sponsors: Our exclusive list of sponsors include: Salomon snowboards, Patagonia, Dakine, GoPro, Mt. Bachelor, Hydro Flask, Oregon Adaptive Sports, Boneyard Beer, Smith Optics, Drink Water, Spark R&D, Rebound Physical Therapy, Parilla, Gummi Love, Skjersaa's, SideEffect, Aspect, Exit Real World, Mt. Hood 26, DeckTech, BAF, Mountain House, and Skull Candy.

Salomon Team Vacation Hits Hood

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Catch them TODAY, like NOW, at Timberline. Also, tomorrow 12/2 - that's right, we're in December now - they'll have a demo at T-line. Saturday and Sunday, they're moving on to Meadows. When I say 'they' I don't mean some bunch of jabronis, 'they' includes Jed Anderson, Bode Merrill, Louif, Grenier, Dirksen and more. Go check out Salomon and get your slalom on.

My Gear This Year 2012: Jackets in Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:58:00 +0000

Part two in this year's look at my gear and its upkeep will focus on the stuff that keeps my torso warm and dry. I'm lucky enough to get some outerwear almost every year. Some because I'm good at trivia, some because I can convince people that my word can be construed as marketing, some through connections and some just because I pay hard dollars for it. One thing is for sure, now is the time to go through you jacket pockets. This year I found a goggle bag and a dollar. Thank Terje I didn't find anything rotten like I have in the Snowdays jackets (banana peel). Now on to my closet...

L to R: Homeschool, Holden, Columbia (w/ liner),
Volcom, Billabong, Neff

First up, the Homeschool Snowboarding With Teeth jacket in Ever (green). Well isn't that clevergreen. Homeschool sent me a kit to review for this winter, their first year with outerwear on the market. I haven't worn it riding yet, so I can't say much, but it is 10k waterproof and a whopping 30k breathable. It's comfortable. The fabric is nice and flexible right out of the wrapper. Enough pockets, not too many. Good pant to jacket connection. Some conspicuous omissions: wrist gaiters. The hood barely covers my XL helmet. I'm intrigued by the Cocona fabric technology. You'll hear more about this as the season plays out.

Next is the 2010 Holden Harvieux. It's a sample. 10k water and 5k breathe. Yeah, I get that inside-out sweat feel sometimes. Not a storm jacket, but my opening day jacket this year and my most stylish coat. To me this means I feel like I 'should' wear it around town, but I usually don't. I only wear the jackets in that picture around town when it's really pouring. Except the Neff. I save those jackets and their DWR for snowboarding. A regular hoodie will get you by in Portland. Especially when you're used to colder places. Anyway, the Holden jacket is nice in that it has wrist gaiters, as every jacket should, but surprisingly few do. It keeps me dry, but its pow skirt is worthless unless you have a zipper that fits (I don't). A good number of useful pockets and then one with a fake button top, but real side-zip entry. I thought it was a fake pocket for months. The hood actually fits comfortably over my King-dome helmet for those extra stormy days. The liner is Cocona and the rest of the coat is recycled poly. As Holden says, it's eco-friendlier, which is a plus in my book. I still wouldn't pay retail for it at $260. It needs to come through better than that for that price. Then again, I'm not into fashion.

That gray and green piece (and the darker layer to its right) is the 2011 Columbia Powder Bowl Parka. Columbia sent it to me because they identified me as a passionate blogger. And they wanted to crack into the snowboard scene. I said about all I have to say about this coat in this post. One thing a friend of mine brought to my attention is that this jacket might be good for hunters who sit in one spot for long hours. This means it might also be good for snow filmers. Just not people who are constantly riding. That said, I do keep the layer in my bag at all times.

What you see next is the Volcom Gennerman. Gore-Tex Soft Shell. Bought it in '08ish on one of those deal-a-day sites. Best jacket I've ever had. Amazing water and sweat resistance. Same goes for durability. Perfect number of pockets, that being four. That might have been a little before the era of wrist gaiters, so it has that excuse for not having them. The pit-zips don't have mesh backing, so if you ever have to open the vents you risk snow entering the 'no snow zone.' It has the standard Volcom Zip-Tech pow skirt, but also clips that work with belt loops for a more universal appeal. I wonder why more companies don't do that. Some jackets just work and this is one of them. I'd have no problem paying retail for this.

The black and green stripes? That's a little Billabong number. Mark Frank Montoya handed it to me when I correctly answered the question: Who did the music for Nicolas Müller's part in Saturation? This was at the Optimistic? (2007) premiere. Here's the thing, I had never seen Saturation. Still haven't. Justin Hostynek was up on the mic giving clues and and shutting people down. It was getting awkward for a second. Then he said something like, 'He might even be here tonight.' And that was the give away. Scott Sullivan. I try to wear this jacket when I'm riding with a big group. It's easy to pick out. Nothing special. Middle of the road stuff. Touchscreen compatible mobile device pocket. Good pow dress (the snaps). Starting to need the spray-on waterproofing (I use Nikwax TX Direct). I might have sold it if it didn't fit so well. Kinda ho-hum, but it has gotten me through a few years now.

Finally, you can guess by the print that the tech hoody on the far right is the Neff. That was a late-season sale purchase. For a road trip where I didn't have a rain jacket or a warm coat. Guess that means I bought it in '09. Saved my bacon in a Mississippi downpour. Pair up the animals type weather. Me out in my Neff checking out the swamps. Looking for gators. Saw none. She sees the spring slopes and city streets only. Breathes like a Hefty bag. The vents are always open. The pow skirt zips off when you don't need it and has those snap closures that can fasten around belt loops when you do. Thumb loops, too. Good piece. Knows its role. I just wish it was more breathable.

Having more than one jacket is key. You can switch things up and not wear the same jacket back to back, over and over. This increases the durability more than you can imagine. Now, I know not everyone is lucky enough to have six jackets, but when you see that I only paid for two of them, well maybe I've given you some ideas as to how to get cheap or free jackets for yourself. Of course, most involve luck. Some involve buying used, buying in the springtime or finding sample sales. Get some Gore-Tex Soft Shell if you can. That fabric is perfect. Keep an eye out for Homeschool Snowboarding, though. They could be a hometown sleeper.

Check out my other "My Gear This Year 2012" reviews: Boards and Pants.

My Gear This Year 2012: Boards in Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:15:00 +0000

Going into every year is a good time to take a look at your boards and think about your needs (usually wants) for the coming season. I have a few boards and a few wants. Let's take a look, shall we?

First, old faithful. The 7 iron. The trusty, if rusty. She's always there for me and can do almost everything I ask. My 2001 Option Kevin Sansalone 158.5.

Man's best friend

This is my first non-Wal-Mart board. I had no idea what I was doing when I bought this board. Riding or buying. CCS was happy to take my money, all the same. Its default stance is set back three inches with a long nose and short tail. And I grew up riding 500' vertical Midwest hills. Now, it has broken in just right. It still has a medium flex and is cambered, which I like. Now, I also live closer to the mountains it was meant for.

As I said, this board handles it all. Hardpack at resorts. All but the deepest of pow. Trees. Banked slaloms. Jumps. Speeeed. No jibs, though, homey don't play that. I will continue to ride it until the base builds and covers up some of the lurking stumps and treetops. Then it will be my pow board.

So far, I haven't done much damage to the board at all. No core shots. The edges are fine. I did break a quarter-size chunk out of the topsheet, but I 'repaired' it with a sharpie, so it looks more normal. I'm thinking about P-Texing it, but it's small enough, that I don't think it matters.

Canadian board, Canadian quarter

I am seriously entertaining the notion of splitting this board. I absolutely will split some board in the next year. Getting out there on a splitboard is just the next logical step. It's either split the Sansalone or this one:

Full House

I have on good authority that this is a Never Summer SL 164 prototype. I believe 2004. A friend of mine won it and three other beat up boards in a poker game for a $15 bet. When I told him I was visiting the Never Summer factory, he just gave it to me.

What can I say about this board? I've never actually ridden it. I has a blown out edge and a large core shot in the base. I've been using it to practice my P-Tex work and I'm thinking of splitting it.

Git yer tetanus shots.

You should see the other board.

Next up is a 2009 Stepchild Corporate 155 that I got for doing some work with Snowboarder Magazine.

Dig that graphic.

This is another early-season, thin-coverage board. Weird thing is, I've never really damaged my 'early season' boards, while my main board has two core shots. More on that later. I can't complain much about this board, other than it's too small. It's fun for springtime cruising. It handles pow and trees OK. It's got that camber pop. It doubles as my girlfriend's pow board. Being directional, this board can really lay down a nosepress - pow or park.

This brings us to the end. My everyday driver. Nothing fancy, but a real blue-collar board. My 2010 Never Summer SL-R 158.

Don't know what SFD means? Better axe somebody!

The 'new' board. Jack of all trades, master at none. Closer to twin than the Option. It also has a little rocker between the bindings and camber outside. This makes it float OK in powder, but not like the Option. This also aides butters and slightly detracts from pop. Dampness is where this board shines and that's important in the Northwest. That and stability were two big selling points for this board. See, I spend most of my time on the ground. I'm not fooling anyone otherwise. Might as well get a board that can handle it. I maybe should have gone with the 161, but other than that, this board is perfect for me. That and I got it at the end of the year for 40% off. Miserly instincts die hard.

Middle left and lower right

Here's the bummer, a season and a half in and I've put two core shots in it. Not that rad when you consider how NS prides themselves on their bases. One was my fault, I tail tapped a rock. The other, I have no idea, but it looks like it almost took my edge out with it. A little P-Tex kleenex wipe and she's good as new. Let that be a lesson not to ride your good board when the conditions are a little thin.

Anyway, that's how the gear is looking this season. A couple boards, mostly all-rounders. Hardly a full quiver, but I'm not complaining too loud. In a perfect world, the Stepchild would be my girl's pow ride, the SL prototype would be P-Tex practice only, the Sansalone would be the early-season board, I would ride the SL-R 75% of the time and I would have a deep pow stick and a splitboard (possibly the same board). As it is, I'm ripping, saving and plotting. Anybody got a split Charlie Slasher or a Whale?

Check out my other "My Gear This Year" reviews: Jackets and Pants.