Snowboarding Blog & Snowboard Reviews

Val d’Isere Review

Rami — Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:28:25 +0000

Ah Val d’Isere! I finally got the chance to ride on the magnificent mountains of the French Alps at Val d’Isere. It was beautiful weather all week long with blue bird skies and a golden sun. Despite having not snowed in the region for about 3 weeks, conditions were very good. Yeah, there were patches of ice here and there, but 90% of the terrain was covered with good snow that only got better as you soared in elevation. Starting at about 1850m, a few lifts and a mountain train will get you to a peak of 3650m! With a vast terrain to cover, you can easily spend a week here without getting bored. Off the mountain (or apres ski as they liked to call it), you could wander around the village and the street shops or you could walk into expensive shops and restaurants. For those on a budget, there were a few options, but if you’re going to Val d’Isere, it’ll be worthwhile to spend some money.

The only downside to the trip was the rather quiet night life. We went the first week of February, so that could be it, but for a world class resort like Val d’Isere, I had higher expectations. In any case, we had a great time there and we are definitely going back next year. And if you’re still wondering whether you should go, Val d’Isere gets two big thumbs up from us. We definitely recommend you visit the resort soon.

The ‘Apres Ski’ Activities

There were plenty of restaurants to choose from with a variety of local French and ‘Alps’ cuisine.
The party scene was alright with a few options to choose from, including some pubs and clubs.
Karting and the BMW circuit were a fun surprise.
For those who like to play online craps or poker, I’m sorry to inform you that we didn’t find any casinos or ‘underground’ gatherings for such activities.
The Val d’Isere village committee organizes regular street shows and we managed to catch a couple of them during our 5 day stay at the Village. Needless to say, we participated in one of the street dances!

What We Loved

Awesome and endless terrain – about 24,000 acres
About 1900m of Vertical
The snow parks
The green learning zone
Blue-bird skies, golden sun, and great conditions
Very stretched out and well placed lift systems – we did not experience much crowding
The food, the shops, and the apres-ski shows and beer spots

What We Didn’t Love So Much

It’s a bit expensive
Quiet night life (I think the prices are driving away the party animals

Lucky Enough Snowboarding Project

Rami — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 21:44:17 +0000

I got an email earlier this week from a young rider who is looking to spread the word about a project of his. Here’s a description of the video:

In the life of a child athlete on the verge of breaking into the professional circuit, there is a transitional career stage. This “coming of age” period separates those who will have a lasting career from those that don’t quite have what it takes. With the project we propose, we plan to document the next year of Seamus O’Connor’s snowboard career–his transitional period in the snowboard industry. This footage will be used to create a feature length documentary that captures the road he has to go down and the challenges he must overcome to attain the success he dreams of. Only time will determine the outcome in his career, so it’s an exciting project.

Check out the video below and click here to read more about his project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/illthinking/lucky-enough

Recon-Zeal’s Transcend Shows Us The Future of Goggles

Mo — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:02:14 +0000

Recon-Zeal’s sexy Transcend goggle

We’ve had our eye on Canadian-based Recon Instruments for a while now, especially when they announced that they would collaborate with Zeal Optics to enter the winter sports goggle market with a revolutionary product estimated for the end of this year. We are absolutely blown away by what they have come up with. Not only does the Recon-Zeal Transcend goggle completely transform the reason we cover our eyes while we ride, it ushers in a completely new era in snowboarding technology.

Let’s get down to the facts.

Features

World’s only fully-capable GPS goggle.
Real-time speed, latitude/longitude, altitude, vertical distance traveled, total distance traveled feedback.
Chronograph/stopwatch mode for timing runs, clock, and run counter.
Temperature sensor
Accelerometer
Gyroscope
3-Dimensional lens
USB-capable
$399 for SPX version, $499 for SPPX

How does the goggle display all this info?

This is the part we love. The lens has a built-in micro-LCD display that sits right below your right eye (yes, serious black ops stuff). When you put the goggle on all the information is displayed in a user-friendly dashboard that appears to hang six-feet in front of you. Glove-friendly buttons on the outside of the lens help you navigate the full-color display and user menus. One menu will show you stuff like your current speed and altitude, another one will show you your fastest run alongside a few other stats, and somewhere along the way you can punch a button to drop a location marker you can view later on a map.

Transcend's Built-In Micro-LCD Display

The Lens

There are currently two models for this line of goggles. The Transcend SPPX is fitted with a polarized photochromic lens. That’s right, this lens will get darker or brighter adaptively depending on sunlight conditions. The brighter it is, the higher the rate of activation of the photochromic pigment and the darker the lens will get. In low-light situations the lens becomes much clearer as the pigment remains deactivated. The Transcend SPX comes fitted with your standard high-end polarized lens without all the fancy photochromic features.

Software

Recon Instruments developed a special program for this product that you comes with the goggles. Using the Recon HQ application, you can plug the goggle into your system and upload all your data. The software will pull-up actual maps of the resort you just rode, layout all your tracks on it, and give you all your stats. You can connect to the Recon Instruments website and share your info with an online community that’s becoming increasingly popular. Recon has also talked about the possibility of a software development community for more apps that can potentially be accessed directly from the goggles.

Recon HQ Application

This is one product we definitely cannot wait to get our hands on for the 2010-2011 riding season. Products like these can definitely help a rider get the most out of the relatively short-lived action on the slopes. Besides, who doesn’t want to feel like a commando while shredding some pow?

Check out the official product page here.

Thank You Whistler!

Rami — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 01:18:15 +0000

Well I’ve spent the past week or so kicking off the season at Whistler Blackcomb and I just got back this morning. What an awesome start to the season this has been so far, so I really hope everyone else has had the chance to kick of theirs. I just wanted to post this to let you know (and serve as a self reminder) that I’ll be posting a few new posts this week including a full review on Lib Tech’s latest Travis Rice C2 Power Banana board (and I think many will be happy to hear the results).

In the meantime enjoy this video while I get some much needed rest in an actual bed (for a change).

Click here to view the embedded video.

5 Winter Exercises Outside the Gym

Rami — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:36:43 +0000

Winter is right around the corner, and for some that means the lost desire to work out. Some of us will be confined to our couches, snuggies, and hot cocoa, while others will still seek to find their adrenaline rush in the coldest of days. Regardless of which bucket you belong to, below is a list of some exercise activities you can still do in the winter to keep yourself in shape.

Staying in shape, especially keeping your leg muscles and abdominal area in top condition is the best thing you can do before and during the winter season. Nothing is worse than having your legs fail on you halfway down a run.

Go Downhill skiing/snowboarding/sledding

Well this one was obvious. If you’re not snowboarding during the season on a regular basis, then we need to talk. If you have decided to go to a ski resort, that’s even better! 60 minutes of riding or skiing burns about 500 calories (slightly less or more if you weigh less or more than 150 lbs).

If you are a naturally fit individual, none of these activities should be too difficult for you. Snowboarding and skiing rely a lot on abdominal and leg strength, along with flexibility. If you want to tone up your abs and leg muscles before your trip do some exercises in your home gym. Check out these other exercises you can do to improve your new winter hobby in snowboarding and skiing (in addition to keeping in shape during the winter time)

Snowshoeing

Trekking through the depths of snow, works your leg muscles as well as gets your heart rate up. If you want to get a serious workout in, bring a partner along so you can motivate each other to keep a steady pace going (highly effective). A 30 minute hike is a great way to get your cardio in for the day.

Snow Shoeing doesn’t have to be an intense workout though, it can also be a great activity for a group of people; bring your friends or family along to check out the winter-y sites in your local park.

Go to your local parks and recreation center to see if there are trails around that you can rent snowshoes at.

Cross-Country Skiing

Cross Country skiing is one of the most demanding winter sports that anyone can do. Heck, it’s an Olympic sport! Whatever you put into your workout – no matter what it is – is what you are going to get out of it. If you want to train for a winter cross-country skiing race, all power to you. I am sure you can find these races all over the country. However, just like snowshoeing, cross-country skiing is also a great way to just get outside and venture out to your local parks and check out the scenery.

Run Outdoors

Now that it is the winter, going to the gym can be a hassle because all of the treadmills, or ellipticals will be taken up, so why not run outdoors. If you want to time yourself or run a certain distance, map out a path first with your car. If that’s not your cup of tea, just do a search on your smartphone’s application market for a number of cardio timing and tracking applications.

Find a nice area that you can run and be safe in. Big neighborhoods are always my personal choice. The elaborate houses decorated to the 9s with their seasonal cheer always put me in the winter spirit. Also, most of the time the roads and sidewalks will be shoveled, plowed and even salted for your running needs. You should aim to do 20-30 minutes. Also make sure you are dressed to stay warm.

If you don’t want to run through the neighborhoods, go on your town’s main roads or “over the river and thru the woods.” I’m sure the path to grandmas house is always a nice journey!

Shoveling

It is a necessary evil. Do you realize how much shoveling can help tone your body? Please use your legs! Don’t just use your upper body and back. If you shovel incorrectly (just like if you are at the gym and throwing up 500 pound weights to show the 95 pound teenage boy next to you how it’s done) there is a high percent that you will throw out your back! And then in that case, you really won’t be able to stay in shape for the rest of the winter season and will be stuck on the couch in your snuggie drinking hot cocoa and baileys just like the rest of us lazy humans out there.

Shoveling is also a great way to get on your neighbors good side, and will make you feel good about helping those around you, especially during the holiday season.

I cannot stress enough the importance of careful exercising, warming up, and stretching before a workout. And as always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask in the comments section of this post.

Videos to Get You Pumped For the Season

Rami — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 16:50:06 +0000

As everyone gets ready for the new season, one thing’s for sure: this season you’re going to rock it harder and faster than you ever have. Why? Well, because if you don’t, you’re going to be disappointed with yourself and you’re going to spend the next summer season regretting it. So if you’re anything like us, you appreciate a good snowboarding video to get you in that pumped and ‘ready-to-rock-it’ mood. Here are some videos I found that will help do just that.

Pony Tale Teaser

Click here to view the embedded video.

Random Freestyle

Click here to view the embedded video.

Nike 6.0 D-Pad Session

Click here to view the embedded video.

F’ It Teaser

Click here to view the embedded video.

Don’t Panic Teaser

Click here to view the embedded video.

First Snow Dump Reports of the 2010-2011 Season

Rami — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:46:37 +0000

Nothing ushers in the new snowboarding (and skiing) season better than a wave of snow dump reports. Since I’m sure all our readers are anxiously waiting to hit the slopes, here’s a list of the latest snow dumps.

Fernie in British Columbia gets 20cm (7.9 inches) of snow: The resort was hit by a snow storm bringing along with it up to 20cm of snow in the upper alpine of Fernie’s legendary 5 bowls. With the predicted La Niña weather cycle for the Pacific Northwest, cool temperatures and more snow than the resort’s annual 29 feet (8.9 meters) of snowfall are expected. Fernie Alpine Resort is (tentatively) scheduled to open for the season on Saturday December 4, 2010.

Whistler Blackcomb gets 30cm (11.8 inches) of snow: The Pacific storm sweeping through BC brought along with it almost 30cm of snow into the Whistler Blackcomb twin mountains. The predicted La Niña weather cycle for the region is expected to keep temperatures cool and result in more snow fall than Whistler Blackcomb’s annual average of about 34 feet (10.25 metres).

Utah is reported to have received 50cm (20 inches) of snow: National Weather Service expects an additional 1 to 5 cm of snow today (October 27) as a result of what is known as ‘Lake Effect Snow Showers’.

Buying Your First Snowboarding Jacket & Pants Guide

Rami — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:37:59 +0000

Even though I had no plans to purchase anything at this year’s Ski & Snowboard Show (the board I wanted was not going to be available at the show), I still went since attending the show has become the official unofficial kick off to the season (side note: I have goosebumps just thinking about what an awesome season this year is going to be!). I met up with a few friends, 3 of them being beginners. Long story short, I spent about 4 hours helping them pick out what they needed and man was it a lot of fun! More importantly, that experience made realize how hard of a time it is for a new rider buying his/her first snowboard and set of gear. Given how popular my ‘Buying Your First Snowboard: The Most Comprehensive Guide‘ article was, it made sense to write a similar article about buying your first snowboarding jacket and pants (this applies to both Men’s and Women’s gear).

Snowboarding Jacket

Finding a good jacket is essential. Not only do you want a jacket that will keep you warm and dry, you also want a jacket that will last a few seasons and can be worn in different weather conditions. Essentially, there are two types of jackets that you can consider:

Snow Jacket: This is your traditional thick jacket that requires minimal layers to be worn underneath it. They can vary in thickness, but typically speaking, these jackets are thick and can keep you very warm. The warmest kind are made with Goose Down feathers. The advantages of this kind of jacket is in its ability to keep you very warm. The downside is, you are going to sweat your ass off if there’s any sun or if it’s not cold enough. Also, the warmer ones are usually pretty expensive. It’s a good option for those extremely cold conditions, but on not so cold days, you’re stuck with an overpriced jacket that’s going to make you uncomfortably hot.
Shell: As the name would imply, this is a thin shell jacket that would be worn as the outer most layer. These wont keep you warm by themselves given their thin construction, but they are designed to keep you dry (water resistant) and block out as much wind as possible. The advantages of this kind of jacket is in its versatility. Worn as the outer most layer, all you need is a warm flees and thermal worn underneath to keep you warm, even under extremely cold conditions. I personally wear a shell jacket with a flees and a ‘stay dry’ thermal – this is what is known as a 3-Layer System. If you find that it’s an exceptionally cold day, all you need is a thick flees and you will stay warm. If it’s an exceptionally warm day, go for a normal flees and simply keep your shell jacket air vents open – you can even unzip the jacket if it’s too warm.

The Features of a Good Jacket:

Windproof: Wind greatly affects the temperature within the snowboarding jacket, so you need a shell jacket that keeps as much wind as possible. Your body generates a lot of heat while you ride and you want to make sure that heat stays trapped underneath your shell jacket. I’m sure I don’t need to say this, but for clarity’s sake, if any of that cold wind makes it into your jacket, the heat your body generated is going to be lost. The easiest way to tell if a jacket is windproof to check whether the jacket is made with fully taped seams (basically every seam, regardless of whether it will come in contact with wind, is fully taped). You will want to avoid jackets with ‘critically’ taped seams. This basically means, only seams that are expected to be most in contact with wind are taped, while other seams will not be.
Waterproof: It goes without saying, you need a jacket that is waterproof. Whether it’s rain, falling snow, or snow from the ground, the dryer your jacket, the warmer it will keep you (and the lighter it stays). The easiest way to figure out how water resistant a jacket will be is by checking its water resistance measure (how much water, measured in mm, can be suspended above the fabric before water seeps through). Mid-range jackets will have water resistance between 5,000 mm and 10,000 mm. You will want a jacket that is no less than 10,000 mm, but preferably 15,000 mm. Generally speaking, the highest measure is about 20,000 mm, but that’s overkill for snowboarders.
Breathability: A good jacket should be able to resist liquid water while allowing water vapour to pass through. This basically allows the sweat generated by your body to evaporate and escape through the jacket. The easiest way to figure out a jacket’s breathability is by checking its breathability measure. Mid-range jackets will have breathability measures between 5,000 g and 10,000 g. Anything between 5,000 g and 15,000 g is good, but obviously, the higher the better.
Air Vents: Make sure you find a jacket with easily accessible (remember that you will have gloves on and nothing is worse than trying to fetch that tiny zipper grip) air vents. These will prove very useful if it’s a bit warm but not warm enough to justify unzipping the jacket or even using a thinner fleece. With these air vents, you can just open them up as much as you need to allow a little cool air to enter. These are usually located on the sides.
Gore-Tex: You will undoubtedly come across products with Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex is basically a type of fabric that is extremely water proof, wind proof, and overall considered as a high grade type of material. Many different brands use Gore-Tex to ensure the buyer that they are buying something of excellent quality. While this may be true, Gore-Tex products are much more expensive and more the most part unnecessary, especially for beginners. Gore-Tex fabrics have the equivalent of 20,000-25,000 mm water proofing. You can read more about their technology here.

Snowboarding Pants

For the most part, pants are very similar to jackets as it relates to things to consider when buying one. You can purchase pants that have a built-in thermal layer to keep you warm, or you can buy ‘shell’ pants and wear a separate thermal layer underneath. I’ve tried both options, and personally I prefer the two-layer system for pants. One other thing I would point out is to avoid tight pants. When trying them out on the store, just keep in mind that you will want something loose so that you don’t feel restricted on the slopes.

The Features of a Good Pair of Snowboarding Pants:

Windproof: As with jackets, you need pants with fully taped seams.
Waterproof: While with jackets you could get a way with 10,000 mm waterproofing, you will want nothing less than 15,000 mm for pants. Pants come in contact with the snow a lot more than your jacket (every time you sit to do your bindings) and nothing is worse than wet pants and boxers/thermals.
Breathability: This is much of a concern for pants, so anything above 5,000 g is good enough.

Layering

As suggested above, the ideal set up to use different layers. For jackets, a 3-Layer system is best. As you may know, the ideal way of clothing for every activity is to use different layers. Generally, it is advisable to follow the Three layer system. The first layer is your base layer and consists of thermal/’stay dry’ underwear. The middle layer is generally a fleece or anything else that keeps you warm. And the outer most layer will be your shell jacket as described above. The advantage of the layer system is in its flexibility. Typically speaking, your shell jacket and base thermal layer don’t change much, but the middle layer will be more of a variable depending on the weather and temperature.

For pants, you can go with 1 layer, but make sure the built-in thermals are warm enough. However, I would recommend a Two-Layer system, to accommodate for extra warm or extra cold days. With a Two-Layer system, you can find a water and wind proof pair of pants as the outer layer. For the base layer, you will need a good pair of thermals. I have a set of two; a slightly thicker pair for those extremely cold days, and a normal pair for all the other days.

In case you’re curious, my set up consists of the following:

Jacket: AK 2L Softshell Jacket, which I am VERY happy with (link goes to my official review).
Fleece: AK Fleece, which is no longer available.
Base Layer: HH Dry; this is more of a ‘stay dry’ base layer than a thermal (link goes to Helly Hansen’s product listing page)
Pants: Ripzone Trilogy Pants (link goes to Ripzone’s pants listing page)
Pants Thermals: Old school 100% cotton long johns.

In summary, I wanted to keep this as simple as possible so I didn’t go into too many other details. As long as you watch out for the above things (and make sure you get a set of gear with the above requirements), you will have yourself an excellent jacket and pair of pants. Brand, design, and features like pockets, etc… will depend on your preference and budget. Honestly, you don’t need to spend too much for a good jacket, but it won’t hurt to buy a high quality one from the beginning. Good jackets last 4-5 seasons (even more if you really want them to), so don’t skimp out too much. As for pants, they are typically less expensive, and you should be able to find an excellent option for no more than $200. Just make sure it has at least 15,000 mm water proofing!

As always, please feel free to leave your suggestions or questions in the comments section.

World Snowboard Day 2010

Rami — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:41:49 +0000

It’s about time that the masses can say: the season’s around the corner and I can’t wait!. I don’t know how many of you find yourselves shuffling in your snowboard around your apartment during the off-season, but I’m certainly guilty of it. So when the season is literally around the corner, I can’t help it when I start obsessing about every little thing that I want to do this season.

One of those things is the World Snowboard Day which is taking place on December 19 2010. So far they have 26 events in 13 countries so be sure to check out the one in your area. If there isn’t one, then may I suggest you plan one yourself. Just like every year since its inception in 2006, the world’s snowboarding community will come together on Sunday, December 19 for one big day of madness. Snowboarding federations, schools, clubs, shops, resorts and even riders will have the chance to put together a day that will offer numerous free activities to seasoned riders and beginners alike. These activities will include product testing and demos, contests, pro rider signings, parties, concerts, and environmental awareness (no tribute would be complete without some kind of environmental agenda).

Last year, 139 events were organized around the world and when you compare that to the 4 that took place in 2006, it’s obvious that this day delivers. More information will be made available on the website but in the meantime you should watch the trailer of this year’s edition on www.world-snowboard-day.com.

Verbier, Switzerland Resort Review

Rami — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:09:25 +0000

One of the resorts that I had the chance of riding this season was Verbier. In fact, I got a chance to go twice and it would be very unfair to both the resort and you if I wait too long to write up this review. My first trip to Verbier was a quick 2 day experience in February as I was passing through Geneva on my way back to Toronto. My second trip to Verbier was a 5 day non-stop riding and partying bonanza with my closest friends, whom I hadn’t seen for almost 2 years!

60 Second Elevator Pitch

Everyone has heard about Verbier at one point or another. Whether it’s epic stories about their nightlife, their ‘drink till you pass out on the hills’ philosophy, or their slopes and backcountry offering, there’s a wicked time to be had at this popular Alps resort. If you’ve never been to Verbier, you have to go. Families, couples, and friends will have an insane time as there really is something for anyone. Everyone is pretty friendly and you’ll have a wicked time exploring the endless terrain – Verbier is part of the Les 4 Vallees ski are which includes the ski resorts of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon with a total of 410 km marked runs. Just make sure you’re not wallet shy, because this place is not cheap, but well worth it!

What We Love

Excellent lifts, on-piste and off-piste terrain – it’s endless!
The nightlife, food, and parties
It’s the Alps
Powwwder
Tuesday nights when the Chalet girls have their night out!
Old school log/wood chalet and availability of cheaper accommodation close to the center of the resort
Professional patrol and emergency rescue system
Insane weather!

What We Didn’t Love

Expensive (with that said, its worth it)
The terrain is obviously not beginner/novice friendly
Limited accommodation for trips less than 7 days

Best For

Party lovers
Off-piste and backcountry dare devils
Anyone looking to marry rich

Worst For

Inexperienced riders and skiers
Park junkies (the current park is pretty decent, but nothing you can spend more than a few hours on)

Tips

You can save money by staying down the mountain in Le Chable now thatthe new evening bus service which runs between it and Verbier is active.
Make sure you are there at least on a Friday or Saturday night.
Tuesday night is when the Chalet girls have their night out, so make sure you are ready to shred snow on Wednesday with no sleep at all!
Wednesday nights are the quietest so plan for Wednesday to be your easy night in.
Have the fondue at Le Caveau
If you plan on going off-piste/backcountry, shell out the extra 4 CHF for insurance which includes a free helicopter emergency ride (we got stuck somewhere way off off-piste, and after about 90 minutes of endless exploring, we called ski patrol who sent us a helicopter to get us out from what they called the “late march melting snow trap”.)

Have you had a different or similar experience? Share it with us in the comments!