NUMBER SEVEN WOOKIE'S WEIRD TALE ARIELLE GOLD IS ON FIRE

R: ALEX YODER P: AARON DODDS

SPRING 2013

B U I LT i n t h e b e s t f a c t o r y
WWW.NEVERSUMMER.COM

HAND MADE LONGBOARDS

T H E H O O L I GA n
Length: 40" Width: 10" Wheel Base: 27.6

S O L D I N O N LY T H E B E S T S H O P S
NS FACTORY BUILT, DENVER CO. MADE IN USA

R I D E R: A U S T E N S W E E T I N L O C A T I O N: R E V E L S T O K E , B C ZEAL OpTICS MAKES GOGGLES BUILT FOR THE ELEMENTS. CRAFTED AND DESIGNED IN BOULDER, COLO. USA .

EXPLORE MORE

ERIC WILLETT I/O GOGGLE & MAZE HELMET

SMITH GOGGLES ARE MADE IN THE USA LIFETIME WARRANTY

PHOTOGRAPHY BY AARON DODDS

ULTIMATE INTEGRATION
OFTEN IMITATED, NEVER DUPLICATED. AUTHENTIC SINCE 1965.

SMITHOPTICS.COM

R : C H R I S CO U LTE R P: B E N E NG L: SI LV ERTO N , CO

ISSUE 3.7

F O R E P L A Y

S P R I N G

CONTENTS

COV E R RIDER: Alex Yoder PHOTOGRAPHER: Aaron Dodds LOCATION: Silverton, CO

This was my first time to Silverton. About five minutes out the door of the Bonnie Bell cabin, aka Dragon's APX research lab, aka Chewy's high altitude day spa, I laid this little cliff face. At first it seemed to have a pretty flat landing. Blake Paul, Dodds and I took a few grassy, shallow snowpack pow turns down to the cliff to get a better look at it. It had a unique take off, almost like a banked turn that morphed into a perfect diving board and the landing looked surprisingly good. Dodds got set up and I did a little back one. Then Blake followed with a front three and we moved on. Thanks to Dodds, Pash, Chewy and Blake! - Alex Yoder

66

"don't get pinched, or you will be d i n n e r. "

SPRING ISSUE 3.7

14 FROM THE EDITOR 22 BLUE RIBBON 26 OUTSIDE THE BOX 28 LENSMEN 30 THE CHOP HOUSE 32 34 36 38 40 SOMETHING.NICE VIDEO STASH WEVE GOT COMPANY NEW TECH LAST RESORT 52 STYLE POINTS 62 LOGGING 72 ON BLAST 74 TRICK TIPS

PAGE

12

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

sailorjerry.com
RESPECT HIS LEGACY. DRINK SAILOR JERRY RESPONSIBLY.
2013 Sailor Jerry Rum, 46% Alc./Vol. William Grant & Sons, Inc. New York, NY.

FROM THE EDITOR

SPRING ISSUE
Lucky number seven. We present to you our

WORDS: ADAM SCHMIDT

the more homies we have involved, the better product we can present. See you on the road.

final installment of our third season, our Spring Issue. While this print volume is coming to a close, winter is in full swing. Winter Storm Q is ripping through Colorado as I type, opening up spots in Denver and filling in the snowpack throughout the state. The snow in the passes is finally starting accumulate and if there was eve r a t i m e to g e t o u t a n d g e t s h o t s , i t ' s n ow. We will be traveling here on to every corner to of the

state

from

out,

hustling

bring

you the best possible Colorado boarding for Volume 4. Feel free to reach out to us. If we are in your area, meet up with us. Let's make it happen. This is a community project and

PAGE

14

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

R: WYATT GLYNN P: BEN ENG

MASTHEAD

SPRING

ISSUE 3.7

EDITOR IN CHIEF ADAM SCHMIDT MANAGING EDITOR MIKE GOODWIN ASSOCIATE EDITOR MATTHEW SECKINGER ART DIRECTOR ANDREW LANGFORD ASSOCIATE DESIGNER CODY ADAMS OPERATIONS DIRECTOR BILLY CONNOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES JESSICA DEAL ALEXANDRA LOHR sales@snowboard-colorado.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS ROB BAK JEFF BROCKMEYER KELLI LYNN HARGROVE CHAD OTTERSTROM JJ THOMAS

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER AARON DODDS CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS RYAN BREGANTE, JEFF BROCKMEYER, BEN ENG, HILLARY CRIBBEN, JEREMY DUBS, JOEY GENE,JON HILL, ZACH HOOPER, MARK KELSIC, BEN KOELKER, ANDREW MILLER, ADAM MORAN, CYRIL MUELLER, JON PACIARONI, TERRY RATZLAFF, BRENNAN SCHLOO, RYAN SNYDER, OLAV STUBBERUD

@SNOWBOARDCOMAG

@SBCOMAG

@SBCOMAG

www.snowboard-colorado.com Snowboard Colorado is a free magazine distributed eight times per year, once a month from September to April. CONTACT ADDRESS: 565 E. 70th Ave. 8-E Denver, CO 80229 303-325-3040
Contributions: Snowboard Colorado Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited contributions unless otherwise agreed to in writing. Send all contributions and job inquiries to: info@snowboard-colorado.com To carry Snowboard Colorado in your store please send an email to distribution@snowboard-colorado.com. Copyright 2013 Core Market Media LLC. All rights reserved.

PAGE

16

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

R: TOR LUNDSTRM P: OLAV STUBBERUD

H A L F P I P E

E N T E R T

T H E W O R L D S G R E AT E S T

LIVE BROADCAST
F R I , M A R 1 : Mens Slopestyle Finals 12:30 2pm EST on Universal Sports F R I , M A R 1 : Womens Slopestyle Finals 3:30 4:30pm EST on Universal Sports S A T, M A R 2 : Mens Halfpipe Finals 12:30 2pm EST on NBC Sports S A T, M A R 2 : Womens Halfpipe Finals 3:30 4:30pm EST on Universal Sports

VA I L , C O
FEB 25

A I N M E N T

S L O P E S T Y L E
LIVE Webcast Feb 27 Mar 2
Get full event details and tune in

at Burton.com/USO

#BurtonUSOpen

SNOWBOARD EVENT

LO R A D O
MAR 2, 2013

FREE CONCERTS
F R I , M A R 1 : Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 6 9:30pm Solaris Concert Stage S A T, M A R 2 : Santigold 6 9:30pm Solaris Concert Stage S A T, M A R 2 : Skratch Bastid + Cosmo Baker 10pm 1am Dobson Ice Arena

B LU E R I B B O N
R: ARIELLE GOLD P: ADAM MORAN

ARIELLE GOLD
WORDS: KELLI LYNN HARGROVE

D.O.B.: 05/04/96 RESIDES: Breckenridge, CO HOMETOWN: Steamboat Springs, CO

SPONSORS: Burton, Red Bull, Oakley, Breckenridge Resort, USASA, Unequal, US Snowboarding

regular

f: 15 b: -12

21 in.

149 cm.

ARIELLE GOLD. Feel free to run with whatever cheesy, clich puns on "Gold" you can come up with because when it comes d ow n to i t , t h a t s w h a t s h e i s : g o l d e n . A s ev i d e n ce, m ay we present exhibit A: Arielles epic 2011/12 season. Kicking off with a second place finish at the Youth Olympic G ames in Austria, Arielle took fourth in the Grand Prix, which she complimented nicely with an explosive performance at the Burton U.S. Open in Vermont, once again walking away in fourth place. Sure, it s n o t a p o d i u m f i n i s h , b u t t h e 1 6 -ye a r - o l d s e p i c b a c k s i d e a i r landed her one spot behind some of the industrys best: Hight, Clark and Hollingsworth. Not bad for a rookie. Coming hot out of Vermont, Gold truly lived up to her last name, sitting pretty atop the leader board at the World Junior Championships and then again at the USASA National Championships. 2012 proved t o b e a c a t a l ys t ye a r f o r A r i e l l e , a s s h e ex p l o d e d o n t o t h e co m p e t i t i ve s ce n e a n d p u t h e r s e l f i n d i re c t co n te n t i o n w i t h some of the top riders in the game. This year she is even hotter. To s u m i t u p n e a t l y, t h i s g i r l r i p s .

p r o m i s i n g c a r e e r, t h ey a r e o n l y o n e i n g r e d i e n t i n t h e m a k i n g o f o n e f a n t a s t i c r i d e r. I f I h a d t o d e s c r i b e A r i e l l e i n j u s t o n e w o r d , I d s a y, h o l y - s h i t - t h i s - c h i c k - i s - i m p r e s s i ve . I t s a good thing Ive got more than one word to work wit h. A r i e l l e G o l d i s a n u p - a n d - c o m i n g t a l e n t , p u l l i n g f ro m a g ra b b a g o f s i c k t r i c k s t h a t a re e a r n i n g h e r a l l t h e r i g h t k i n d s o f a t te n t i o n . S p i n s a n d g ra b s a re o n l y h a l f o f t h e s to r y, h oweve r, and what truly makes Arielle a stand out is her style - she goes big, and she looks good doing it. If you had to slap a l a b e l o n h e r, A r i e l l e i s m o r e o f a h a l f p i p e j o c k e y t h a n a n y t h i n g , b u t t h a t d o e s n t m e a n s h e c a n t ow n o t h e r a re n a s w h e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y a r i s e s . At t h e Yo u t h O l y m p i c G a m e s i n I n n s b r u c k , A u s t r i a , G o l d n a i l e d a s i l ve r - m e d a l s p o t i n t h e halfpipe competition, an accomplishment she immediately d o u b l e d d ow n o n , re t u r n i n g to t h e s e co n d - t i e r o f t h e p o d i u m a f t e r l a y i n g d ow n a s o l i d s l o p e s t y l e r u n . G i ve h e r a p i p e o r g i ve h e r a b o o t e r - c l e a r l y t h i s g i r l c a n h a n d l e i t a l l . Its really no surprise that Golds style is getting her

T h a t s e n o u g h w i t h t h e s t a t s . W h i l e h e r r e s u l t s a r e n o d o u b t impressive and have played a big role in kickstarting a

noticed, since she learned to ride under some pretty perfect circumstances. Hailing from Steamboat Springs -

PAGE

22

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

which has quite the pension for producing insane talent - Arielle started snowboarding at seven, following in the f o o t s t e p s o f h e r o l d e r b r o t h e r, Ta y l o r. S i n c e d a y o n e , this brother-sister team has ridden, trained and traveled t o g e t h e r. T h e G o l d s h a v e t h e r a r e o p p o r t u n i t y t o r i d e f o r t h e s a m e r o o k i e t e a m , t h e U . S . S n o w b o a r d i n g Te a m , meaning each has a consistent support system, on-snow a n d o f f. Fe l l ow r i d e r B e n j i Fa r row h a s a l s o p l aye d a b i g role in influencing Gold, taking on the role of pseudob r o t h e r, a s h e l i v e s w i t h h e r f a m i l y a n d t r a v e l s a s a t e a m m a t e w i t h b o t h h e r a n d Ta y l o r. R i d i n g w i t h b o y s h a s helped push Arielle out of her comfort zone, motivating a n d p u s h i n g h e r t o r i d e h a r d e r a n d g o b i g g e r. T h e i r s t y l e s have helped influence hers, adding a unique element to her riding that stands out in the womens arena.

In addition to her brother and Benji, Arielle has a stacked roster of girls to ride with. As a member of the U.S. R o o k i e Te a m , s h e i s a b l e t o t r a i n i n B r e c k e n r i d g e w i t h a crew of solid snowboarders, like Haille Soderholm a n d Ty Wa l k e r, u n d e r t h e g u i d a n c e o f t h e t e a m s c o a c h , A s h l e y B e r g e r. A r i e l l e h a s d e v e l o p e d a s t y l e s h a p e d by both mens and womens snowboarding, which undoubtedly harbor some radical differences. Asked to choose between the sexes, as in which one shed rather s n o w b o a r d w i t h o n a n y g i v e n d a y, G o l d i s q u i c k t o t a k e the middle ground, populating her dream team with both b o y s a n d g i r l s . Ve r y P C o f h e r, f o r s u r e , b u t a l s o t e l l i n g . Golds style manages to stay svelte even as she puts in some serious airtime. No doubt the combined influence of mens and womens snowboarding has played a huge role in shaping such a distinct talent. Moving out of the local scene, Arielle has also had the opportunity to join the annual end-of-summer migration of snowboarders to shred in New Zealand - a place where

H A N D S D OW N O N E O F T H E M OST E XC I T I N G F E M A L E S I N THE GAME

the powder is bitchin while Colorado is still covered in green leaves and wildflowers. Last season Arielle actually made the trek twice, first to nab fifth at the Burton High Fives contest and then again for a round of shaking off the rust to get prepped for a killer season.

ISSUE

3.7

23

R: ARIELLE GOLD P: ZACH HOOPER

PAGE

New Zealand isnt all about working hard, though, and Gold definitely managed to put in some serious playtime. For i n s t a n c e , t h e r e w a s t h e t i m e s h e a n d Ta y l o r j u m p e d i n t o t h e g i a n t p o o l o f i c e - m e l t t h a t p a s s e s a s L a k e Wa n a k a . Bold, but nothing compared to the leap Gold took with h e r n e w l y - i n k e d s p o n s o r, R e d B u l l - a n d w h e n I s a y l e a p , I mean leap. A 134-meter leap - that s around 440 feet, if youre wondering - off of a bridge and over a gorge, with nothing but a giant rubber band strapped to her ankles. The highest jump in Queenstown, New Zealand - bungee jumping for the clinically insane. Im going to bet that as Arielle stepped up to take her turn, she was praying that Red Bull does actually give you wings. It s one of those things where youre on your way and yo u re re a l l y exc i te d a n d t h e n yo u g e t t h e re a n d yo u re j u s t t h i n k i n g , W h a t d i d I g e t m y s e l f i n t o? , s h e s a y s . Ye a h , that sounds like an understatement. But Gold is the type to go big or go home. This fearless attitude has served her well on contest days. Speaking of Red Bull, the brand welcomed Arielle to its team after her podium packed 11/12 season, adding a shot of adrenaline to an already awesome list of sponsors. Burton picked the young-gun up when she was only 9 years old, becoming her first sponsor and giving her a first taste of snowboarding as a potential c a r e e r. A t 1 2 , G o l d h i t a r o a d b l o c k , a l m o s t q u i t t i n g after a stagnant year of riding failed to offer much progression. Inspiration dwindled, motivation lapsed and snowboarding almost went to the dogs. The following s e a s o n , h o w e v e r, a g r e a t c r e w o f f r i e n d s r e f u e l e d t h e fire. A solid group, combined with a whole new quiver of tricks, and Gold was back on track. - BUNGEE JUMPING FOR THE CLINICALLY INSANE

PAGE

24

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

R: ARIELLE GOLD P: RYAN SNYDER

Th e ro a d i s n t e n t i re l y ye l l ow b r i c ke d , h oweve r, a n d t h e 1 6 ye a r o l d s t i l l h a s t o j u g g l e t rave l i n g , t ra i n i n g a n d f i n i s h i n g h i g h s c h o o l . A l l t h a t , p l u s t wo h o r s e s a t h o m e to t a ke c a re o f : S p a r ky a n d B u g s . Th a t s a f u l l p l a te, to s ay t h e l e a st , b u t Arielle is one determined girl. Post high school, she is looking a t a t te n d i n g We st m i n ste r Co l l e g e i n S a l t L a ke C i t y. Pa ss i o n , determination, and a killer work ethic - these are just a few of th e q u a l i t i es set t i n g Arielle up fo r s uccess . Gold is currently stationed in Breckenridge, where she is b u sy b a l a n c i n g o n l i n e c l a ss e s fo r t h e 1 1 t h g ra d e w i t h p u s h i n g the boundaries of a promising career as a professional s n ow b o a rd e r. Th i s p re c a r i o u s j u g g l i n g a c t h a s p rove d to b e t h e h a rd e st p a r t o f a n o t h e r w i s e d re a m j o b. A s we a l l k n ow, high school is enough of a shit-show without the added stress of globe-trotting, competing at an elite level and consistently h u c k i n g yo u r s e l f i n t h e h a l f p i p e. D e s p i te t h i s st ra i n , h oweve r, G o l d p u s h e s a s i d e d o u b t a n d co n t i n u e s to p u r s u e a c a re e r a s a p ro fe ss i o n a l b o a rd e r. A r i e l l e h a s p rove n h e r p rowe ss i n t h e halfpipe and can lay down a mean run in the park on command. Th u s fa r i n h e r c a re e r, co n te s t s h ave b e e n A r i e l l e s f o r te , a p r i m e ve n u e f o r s h owc a s i n g h e r t a l e n t s . L o o k i n g f o r w a r d , seasons crowded with contests seem to be on the horizon, but f i l m i n g i s by n o m e a n s o f f h e r ra d a r a n d b a c kco u n t r y v i d e o e dits m ay, i n t i m e, b e in the c ard s .

Arielle is absolutely killing it this season, taking first in halfpipe at the World Championships, second at the Grand Prix i n S a l t L a ke, t h i rd at t h e X G a m e s a n d , m o st re ce n t l y, f i r st at the Burton European Open. She is hands down one of the most exc i t i n g f e m a l e s i n t h e g a m e . A s fa r a s h e r o t h e r g o a l s a re co n ce r n e d , A r i e l l e ke e p s i t s i m p l e : I wa n t to g o b i g g e r. Th e groundwork has certainly been laid - a killer support system of friends, family, teammates and top-notch sponsors - but spend a little time with Arielle and it s clear that her grit, enthusiasm and raw t alent are what t r uly m ake her a rem ar ka bl e ri de r.

AS WE ALL KNOW, HIGH SCHOOL IS ENOUGH OF A SHIT-SHOW WITHOUT THE ADDED STRESS OF GLOBE-TROTTING, COMPETING AT AN ELITE LEVEL AND CONSISTENTLY HUCKING YOURSELF IN THE HALFPIPE

ISSUE

3.7

25

R: ARIELLE GOLD P: CYRIL MUELLER

PAGE

OUTSIDE THE BOX

R: AUSTEN SWEETIN P: HILLARY CRIBBEN

AUSTEN SWEETIN
INTERVIEW: MIKE GOODWIN

D.O.B.: 04/09/1991 RESIDES: Seattle, WA HOMETOWN: Seattle, WA

SPONSORS: Snowboard Connection, YES., Now, Ass Wax, Zeal, Beer Savage

regular

f: 18 b: -18

20 in.

146 cm. / 152 cm.

DON'T YOU DARE PUT MILK OR SUGAR IN THIS MAN'S COFFEE

What's up Austen? What's happening dude? Not much. I just got done with some lunch. Some lunch. What were you eating? Well, it was breakfast. I had some French toast and my girl got some waffles. That's right - it's Valentine's Day. Yeah, so we did, like, a little lunch thing. Am I breaking up your date? Nope. It is all good. We are back at the house now. Well, nice. How long have you been dating? Uh, like, eight months, maybe. Killing it. Ye a h ( l a u g h s) . N o t re a l l y s u re, probably that long. Since, like, June or July. Well, congrats. Heard you were out filming yesterday? Yeah, the past two days. We went and built one day and then yesterday we hit it. It's this big quarterpipe up on a tree. That's dope. Where at? Just up at Snoqualmie. We took today off and tomorrow it is supposed to be sunny so we are all going out on the sleds to try and get some pow shots. It snowed like a foot or so. You have had a pretty killer winter so far. Yeah, it has been pretty good in the Northwest. We had a couple bad streaks when it was rainy but we got a lot of snow, too. Who have you been out filming with? I have been filming with Austin Hironaka a lot. And then I have been filming with Brisse, and Bjorn Leines, Chris Brewster and Forest Bailey. Been filming for the Transworld video and just kind of mixing it up a little bit throughout the winter.

How has this year been different, compared to filming with Forum for years? It has definitely changed a bit. For the past three years, I have been filming with the same company - the Forum crew. We just went out together as a team and it was always pretty organized. This year it's different because of figuring where to go, who to crew up with and getting photographers and filmers and stuff. Definitely a little different but it's still really good. I guess you have had a lot of big changes this year. Moving to YES. and Now. Yeah. How did that come to be and how do you feel about it? I am hyped. I think YES. and Now are great companies to be with. I like how it is snowboarder owned and ran. Good group of guys behind it and the product is insane. How did you get involved with YES.? Had you talked to DCP or anyone prior to the Forum thing?

The Forum thing happened and they (YES.) were looking for a new rider. The day it happened, Peter (Line) was out having drinks with Max, YES.'s marketing guy. Or I guess he does all the product stuff for YES. and Now, like, a rep kind of. He was with him and I guess they just thought I would be a good fit for the team. DCP called me and we just started talking and it worked out great. So you didn't have to sweat it for too long at all? It all moved pretty quickly. I t m ove d p r e t t y q u i c k . I t w a s definitely stressful but I was fortunate enough to have my phone ringing a little bit. No one saw the Forum thing coming? Yeah, it was just like - we just got back from a catalog shoot and Forum tour and everything. It was pretty unexpected. Damn. What are you gonna do? Yeah. Did the YES. deal lead into getting on Now?

PAGE

26

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

It's worth coming out when it has warmed up to skate all the parks around Denver. I skated the Arvada park in the fall and that was one of the best parks I have ever skated. That one is insane. There are a bunch like that within, like, 20 minutes. Colorado Springs park looks pretty They kind of went hand in hand. Now pretty much sponsors the whole YES. team and I just talked to JF (Pelchat) and he sent me some bindings. I rode them and tried them all out and really liked them. It worked out well because YES. and Now are really close companies. It is cool to be a part of it. Will you be traveling or doing anything with those guys? I am going to link up with the YES. guys, like DCP and JP Solberg, I am hoping, up in Whistler in March. Definitely excited to get up there in the backcountry with those guys. They are all legendary. Fuck yeah. That will be heavy. It will be a good experience. I am excited. You going to end up in Colorado at all this year? I am not really sure. Maybe in the spring or something. sweet, too. Yeah. It's massive. Are you really particular about how you take your coffee? Me? Yeah. Strong and black. No sugar? No cream? No sugar. No cream. If I am going snowboarding, I usually bring two full thermoses. For the morning, if it is backcountry, it's, like, two thermoses in the morning and then I will usually bring some coffee out with me in the backcountry. I'll bring a jet boiler and a coffee press. Press some fresh coffee in the backcountry and warm up a little bit. T h a t ' s w h a t u p . D o yo u g e t a particular coffee? Usually I will buy the big thing at Starbucks, like, the French roast. But my favorite coffee is Frogwild. The only place I have found to buy

it is in Pemberton. I will stock up on that when I am in Whistler. I will get a couple bags and it will last me a month or two. Tofino Roasters has some of my favorite coffee, as well. Tofino is a little place on Vancouver Island - little fisher, surfer town. And they have Tofino Roasters and they have really good coffee. Lot of flavor, lot of strength behind it. You are a pretty serious coffee dude, huh? Yeah. I love it. Been drinking it since I was, like, eight. I hear ya. Can't function without it. I a m a l l a b o u t i t . I h a ve b e e n drinking these new things called Coco Cafes. I think I have heard of that shit. It is like a coconut water with a shot of espresso with a dash of milk in it. It is the best thing in the world. It's made by Vita Coco. I drank three of those one night and I was just full on snowboarding, wide awake at, like, six in the morning out in the streets filming. Best thing ever. Hydrate and caffeinate at the same time. How did you get turned on to that? Instagram. Kept seeing pictures on there. It works, huh? Yeah it does.

So lots of big changes for you this year but you seem pretty content? I am super content. Just finishing up outerwear right now and then I will be set with getting sponsors dialed. Sweet. Well, are you taking your girl to dinner or what? I am not sure yet. I might whip up something. No big plans? Nah. How bout you? I will probably just be sitting on my ass playing guitar. Nice, it's good to get a good jam in. I try. Do you play? Yeah, I play guitar, too. What are you into? I just jam whatever but I have a Fender Strat, like, a '63 issue one, and then I have a new, steel electric guitar made by Dean. Semi-hollow body with a really good bluesy sound to it. Hell yeah. I have a mandolin that I try and jam on, too, but I am still figuring that one out. Those can be weird, for sure. You bring a guitar on the road with you? Not in the streets, but when I do backcountry trips, I will bring a mini, travel acoustic guitar so I can chill out at night and jam a bit.

I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE MY PHONE RINGING A LITTLE BIT

ISSUE

3.7

27

R: AUSTEN SWEETIN P: HILLARY CRIBBEN

PAGE

LENSMEN

COMMUNICATION
The incredible shots you see in all the major snowboard mags aren't just random flukes. Ok, I take that back. Some of them are. The lucky ones. But a lot of them are crafted, set-up shots that have a lot of thought put into them. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to get the shot. Especially, in the backcountry. There are a lot of variables in backcountry snowboarding. The same goes for shooting photos in the backcountry. Riders put their lives in our hands, trusting us to not only get the shot of them sending it but to also scope out the terrain for what would look good and not be too dangerous. I see a lot of features that would make for an insane photo, and one part of my brain is saying send it while the smart part of my brain knows that it could end up in tragedy. A lot of times, the photographer will be under a spot, or to the side, where they have a better view of the landing, telling the rider who is sending it blind what to hit for the photo or video shot. That was exactly the case with Chad's 360 pictured above. We came across a ton of awesome pillow spots like this one on our recent trip with Eagle Pass Heli, a lot of which had a completely blind takeoff. That's where trust and communication come in hand. Some features aren't more then a snowball throw away from my lens. Others are all the way across the hill. I always carry a few radios in

WORDS: JEFF BROCKMEYER

my pack just in case we're riding something where we can't closely communicate. It's also very important that the rider tells you exactly where they plan to hit so you can envision where they will be in the air and where they will land. You don't want to miss the shot on that first go. A common thing we do is gather a few snowballs to toss out and show the exact trajectory before jumping. This helps us make sure we are in focus, the light is good and the rider will be where you want them to be. Then it usually goes down like this: The rider will usually ask, "ready?" We yell, "ready." Then the rider says, "drop in five." Drop. That's a pretty clear way to not blow it. So the next time you go shooting in the backcountry, make sure you talk. You don't want to blow the shot or get the rider injured.

ONE PART OF MY BRAIN IS SAYING SEND IT!

PAGE

28

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

R: CHAD OTTERSTROM P: JEFF BROCKMEYER instagram @thejeffbrockmeyer

IN CASH PRIZES!
APRIL 21, 2013 Mammoth Mountain, CA

$10,000

Visit activerideshop.com/brodown for details on the contest where style and creativity matter more than double corks.

TH E C H O P H O USE
R: CHAD OTTERSTROM P: AARON DODDS FOLLOW CHAD ON INSTAGRAM @CHAD_OTTERSTROM

MARCH
It's March and it's getting close to the end - if you're just a regular boarder, that is. There's actually year-round snowboarding in Colorado - if you're looking to ride every month around here, but that's another story. March is the best month of the year to snowboard, hands down.

WORDS: CHAD OTTERSTROM

11 a.m., when the landings and take-offs soften up, it's time to send that calculated maneuver you've been thinking about all winter. It's a little safer to land in the slush. Granted it's a good snow year, the snow stability usually gets a lot

Thinking back, I don't think I've ever had a bad March. It usually has snowed enough to fill most of the terrain in by now, even if it has been a bad year. And with the warmer weather, it's more likely to snow. The lift lines can get a lot shorter with the warm weather, as well. With all the nice weather down in Denver and Boulder, no one wants to come up because they think winter is over, but really it's all-time up in the mountains. With the warm weather, the snow also isn't as dry. I always said I moved to Colorado for the Champagne powder, but really I like the snow a little more dense. The Champagne is fun when it's four-feet deep, but with the more dense snow, it only needs to snow 10 inches and it's amazing. March has a mix of 30-degree pow days and 40-to-50 degree sunny, slush days. You can't really go wrong. As far as things to do, as I mentioned last month, there's the U.S. Open the first weekend of March in Vail. Pretty much explains itself. Shaun White, Torstein, Mr. McMorris - all putting on a show. Park days are real fun in March, as well. It's usually pretty crusty in the mornings, but after

better in March. So all those lines you've been looking at from off the road start to become a lot less risky. It's still important to be aware of what you're doing out there. March is when the backcountry season really starts for me. Jumps are easier to build because of the wetter snow and cliffs are all filled in, so you know there's not as many "unmarked obstacles." It's just a lot easier to get around, in general. Just because it's warmed up enough to go bike around town or go skateboard, don't be fooled. You're blowing it if you don't go out and snowboard every day you can this month. Halfpipes, park jumps, jibs, groomers, cliffs, lines, moguls, trees, pillows and powder are all going off, if you go out and look for it.

YOU'RE BLOWING IT IF YOU DON'T GO OUT AND SNOWBOARD EVERYDAY YOU CAN THIS MONTH

PAGE

30

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

FREE HELI

Scott Newsome Lead Guide. Owner.

Worlds First Certified ACMG Snowboard Guide

Photo: Jeff Patterson

www.EaglePassHeliskiing.com 1 877 WAY DEEP

SOMETHING.NICE
R: LOUIE VITO P: ADAM SCHMIDT FOLLOW JJ ON TWITTER @JJTHOMAS_

MISSING BY A THREAD
A lot of people know that I went to the Olympics back in 2002 and was fortunate enough to sweep the podium with Danny Kass and Ross Powers. What a lot of people don't know is that eight years later I was locked in a tie breaker to go back to the Olympics and missed the chance to compete due to a coach's discretion decision made by the U.S. Snowboarding Team.

WORDS: JJ THOMAS

compete at the last stop of the Dew Tour. I went on to win that event and the overall Dew Cup, which resulted in a $40,000 pay day for me, which I desperately needed since my main sponsor had dropped me at the beginning of the season. After that, I sat back at my parents' house in Golden and we all

I'm sure everyone thinks that this probably made me bitter and forever resentful towards the U.S. Team, and possibly competing in general, but actually, it's quite the opposite. When I made the team back in 2002 I was in a very similar position. It came down to fighting for the last spot, in the last run, of the last contest! Even after I won that contest it was up to the coaches whether to put me on the team or to pick up an extra skier instead for one of the ski teams. As it turned out, I was notified just 10 days before the Olympics were to start that I would be on the team that year. Fast forward eight years and I was pretty much in the same spot. After all five events had ended, Greg Bretz and I were in a dead tie for the last Olympic spot. When this happens, it's up to the coaches to choose who they think will be the best to represent the United States at the games.

watched the Olympic halfpipe event on television. It was fun, and a little hard to watch at times, but it was very interesting being just a spectator and knowing how close I had come to being there. Nevertheless, I fully embraced the whole experience. I was asked about it a ton that season and am still asked today and I always tell people the same thing. At the end of the day, you want to put yourself in a better position, meaning that ideally you don't want to be in that tie breaker spot to begin with. You want your skills and results to put you in those higher seeds so that your fate doesn't ride on politics and coaches. If you aren't able to do that, you run the risk of landing in a precarious position. Another thing I mention is that it all worked out perfect for me

I distinctly remember getting the call from the team telling me that they would not be taking me to the Olympics, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't sting; but having previously been on the other side of the coin and watching so many of my friends go through exactly what I was going through, I decided to take it in stride. I let myself be mad for a day or two, then, I completely let it go. I basically embraced the chance to experience the Olympic qualifying experience on this side of the fence. After all, last time this happened it went in my favor. This time I got to be the guy who supposedly got "shafted." Instead of being bitter for weeks on end, I looked at the schedule and saw that now that I wasn't going to the Olympics, I had the chance to

anyway. After having gone to the Olympics, I know that it's kind of a bust unless you come home with a medal and, honestly, I don't know if I could have pulled a podium that year. I think at best I would of finished fourth or fifth, so knowing that made my situation easier to swallow, as well. With the 2014 games just around the corner, I guarantee that you will see a few of these scenarios develop. Ultimately, it's inevitable due to the current qualifying process. Watching the U.S. snowboarders qualify for the Olympics is truly amazing. Sometimes I think it is even better than the Games themselves. In any event, I urge you all to stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled for this selection process.

PAGE

32

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

V I D E O S TA S H
R: COLIN SPENCER P: JEREMY DUBS
Riders: DCP, Romain De Marchi, JP Solberg, Tadashi Fuse, Frank April, Clint Allan, Benji Ritchie, Trevor Andrew, Mikee Pederson, Helen Schettini, Colin Spencer, Madison Ellsworth, Mads Jonsson, Stian Solberg, and others Sponsors: Yes, Vendetta, Snowboard, IFOUND, The North Face, Globe, Seaba, Levitation Project, Slytech, Whistler Blackcomb, Slash Snowboarding, OnBoard, Billabong, Now Locations: Squamish backcountry, Whistler backcountry, Washington, Hokkaido, Japan, Haines, AK, Southern Chile, Quebec, Toronto and East Coast U.S.

YES. - IT'S A MOVIE TOO

Where was the tightest spot you guys traveled to? Going to Alaska last year was very awesome. We scored great co n d i t i o n s , w i t h a g re a t c rew. S e a b a a n d Lev i t a t i o n P ro j e c t hooked it up! Drink of choice on said trip? B e e r s a n d a f ew s h o t s . N i c o N o l a n ra n g t h e b e l l a t t h e b a r 37 t i m e s i n o n e n i g h t , I t h i n k . We a l l wo ke u p w i t h to ke n s i n our pockets and a massive hangover. Also, we burned half his construction wood in a bonfire that night. What's one thing the crew won't travel without? We won't travel without our 420 boards. Those are so dope! Who chose the soundtrack for the movie? Paul Watt and Pascal Gallant worked hand in hand for this year's soundtrack with a little bit of input from Romain, JP and myself. We also showed the flick to a few close friends around Whistler to see if they dug it. Who did the filming and editing? Pascal Gallant, Paul Watt, Nico Nolan, Jeremy Dubs and Taro (Tamai) filmed it, and Paul Watt pretty much edited the whole thing. How many sleds were wrecked? Mikee's sled got fucked and he fucked up JP's, too. Best thing about being on the road? Focusing on filming snowboarding and riding as much as possible. Worst thing about being on the road? Being away from our families and the beautiful mountains of Whistler surroundings.

QUESTIONS WITH: DCP BY: MIKE GOODWIN

Is anyone allowed to say "no" to anything on the trip? We try to enforce a very positive approach to each trip. Would you? Yes. Who pointed the sketchiest line? Romain, I think. Romain is so gnarly! Where was it? Haines, Alaska in the Seaba tenure. I think it was called ''Drooling Grandma'' or something weird like that. How long did you guys spend in Japan? We s p e n t j u st a b o u t t wo we e k s i n J a p a n l a st s e a s o n . I t wa s amazing and very last minute. We booked our tickets three days before going there. I assume you have been to Japan a bunch in your life. How does this trip compare to ones in the past? It was so much fun to travel with my friend Benji Ritchie. And we got to link up with the right people. Taro from Gentemstick and his crew, they showed us the goods. Thank you so much! Wa s i t b e t te r t h a n t h at s u r f t r i p yo u to o k d u r i n g t h e v i d e o? Where was that? Japanese powder, noodles and culture is pretty much all time, although going to Chile in August and getting to surf epic point breaks and ride the Andes is also an unforgettable experience. Are team movies better than other movies? I feel like I love team videos a lot - like the Forum or Volcom ones. It's a great feel and it's very fun to make! And it makes sense.

PAGE

34

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

RC L E THIS CI NO SERVESOSE PURP

CELEBRATING

THE WORLDS BEST 5PANEL

THEPLANTED
Because CO legalized it.
WWW.YEANICE.COM

YEA.NICE
ITS A BRAND

ITS A 5-PANEL

photo: Mark Powell

WEVE GOT COMPANY

MANTIS UNITED
S n ow b o a r d i n g , d e f i n e d , i s t h e a r t o f h av i n g a r i d i c u l o u s l y good time. At the core, it has zero to do with labels and logos, cash or corporations. That said, every rider still needs quality g e a r i f t h e y r e g o i n g t o g e t s t o k e d o n - s n o w. E n t e r M a n t i s U n i te d , a co m p a ny b u i l t by r i d e r s , fo r r i d e r s . G row i n g u p a n avid skateboarder and snowboarder, Mantis founder Paul Kifer noticed a blatant difference between corporate and core, b e t we e n t h e g l o b a l g i a n t s a n d t h e h o m e g row n u n d e rd o g s . Af t e r m a k i n g t h e p i l g r i m a g e t o B re c ke n r i d g e i n 1 9 97, K i f e r and his crew sought a creative outlet for their obsession with snowboarding, and by 2002, design sketches began to stack up. With a solid focus on keeping true to his roots, Kifer launched Mantis in 2008, making his first moves within the snow market. Crafting unique designs instead of falling in-step with the "it" trends, Mantis is about drawing inspiration from their crews passion for sport and creating product that reflects that. Maintaining a connection to the heart of riding, Mantis seeks to earn and preserve the respect of core riders, of the people that inspired the brand in the first place. As Kifer puts it, the brand identity is more important than chasing an extra dollar. Th e b ra n d , t h o u g h b o r n a n d b re d o n t h e s n ow, h a s p l a n te d ro o t s a c ro s s a c t i o n s p o r t s , s u p p o r t i n g s u r f e r s , s k a te r s a n d

WORDS: KELLI LYNN HARGROVE

m o t o c ro s s a t h l e t e s a l i ke . G e t t i n g r i g h t d ow n t o t h e n a m e dropping, Mantiss team boasts ridiculous talent: rippers like Mike Casanova, Austin Julik-Heine and Willis Grigsby provide a taste of the insane riders currently gracing the brands roster. Wi t h a fo c u s o n a few s o l i d p ro d u c t s - s u n g l a ss e s , b e a n i e s , hats and belt buckles - Mantis isnt about taking on the entire industry. We don't want to make everything. We want to make a f ew t h i n g s re a l l y we l l , s ays K i f e r. Wi t h t h i s g o a l i n m i n d , the brand is staying true to these four markets, continuously refining and revamping within the areas that they already know so well. So far, Mantis is killing it, and considering their solid product lines, brag-worthy crew and unwavering commitment to staying true to the core of riding, the future looks bright. Fastforward five years and the company will have shelves stacked in 150 new retail locations, not to mention ten new lines of shades. At the end of the day, though, it s not about the green. Here is a group of people with their eyes on the right kind of prize - a d a m n g o o d t i m e. Wi t h a s o l i d g ra s p o n t h e ko o ky s o u l o f snowboarding, Kifer doesnt take it all too seriously, saying, at the end of the day, it's all about getting out to shred with your friends. Sure is.

PAGE

36

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

R: AUSTIN JULIK-HEINE P: TERRY RATZLAFF

NEW TECH

GRASSROOTS / SNOWBOARD COLORADO COLLAB

Getting their start in California, Ryan Connolly and the Grassroots crew started humbly, driving around the country and selling hats out of the car they were living in. The guys now call Denver home. They have settled into a warehouse downtown where they showcase all kinds of collaborations on hats, hoodies, T-shirts, tanks, posters, pins, snapbacks, stickers - I guess the point is that the dudes will work on just about anything. Though many of their designs are pretty heady, we took note of the diversity, and namely, the quality of their work and decided t h ey wo u l d m a ke a g o o d p a r t n e r fo r a h a t co l l a b o ra t i o n . We we re d raw n to t h e i r ve r s a t i l i t y a n d t h e n u m b e r o f d i f f e re n t o p t i o n s a n d s t y l e s t h a t t h ey m a d e ava i l a b l e , e s p e c i a l l y t h e printing they are able to do on the inside of the cap. So

AVAILABLE AT SNOWBOARD-COLORADO.COM

we sifted through some of our old issues and selected a f ew f a vo r i t e i m a g e s t o s i t r i g h t o n t o p o f t h a t e m p t y s k u l l o f yo u r s . Ava i l a b l e i n b l a c k a n d b row n , t h i s l i m i t e d e d i t i o n c a p n o t o n l y l o o k s s h a r p, b u t a p o r t i o n o f t h e p ro ce e d s g o to Protect Our Winters, an organization on the forefront of winter conser vat ion.

BUY LOCAL PROTECT OUR WINTERS

PAGE

38

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

MATT GUESS

RED GERARD

PHOTO : JEFF BROCKMEYER

SNIPER 1080 KS
The Sniper 1080 KS is our POV weapon of choice! If you want to get great first-person perspective shots, you could ask for no better POV rig than the Sniper 1080 KS. Add our Remote Mounting Plate, and you can attach accessories like our Camtroller or other remotes.
SNIPER MODELS:
SNIPER 1080 KS: for pov cameras With remotes ( shown ) SNIPER 1080: for iPhones, iPads, and their remotes SNIPER ATTACHMENT ARM : connect to prime33 or attach to 15mm rail system as an extra handle

FEATURES :

Fast Attach, Quick Disconnect POV & iPhone Tetherable Modular Attachment for Creating Multi-Grips Compact & Mobile Rapid & Tool-Free Adjustments Add a remote mounting plate and or a Trol kit.

CAMTROL.COM 888-7CAMTROL

ULTRA STABILIZER

UNIVERSAL MOUNT

UNLIMITED CONFIGURATIONS

1080 OF ANGLES

LIGHTWEIGHT

ARMORED PROTECTION

LAST RESORT
PHOTO: RYAN BREGANTE

VAI L

WORDS: R OB B A K

PAGE

40

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

ISSUE

3.7

41

PAGE

VAIL

SEVEN MILES WIDE BY SIX MILES DEEP

WELCOME TO VAIL. TOPPING OFF AT 11,570 FEET AND RUNNING ABOUT SEVEN MILES WIDE BY SIX MILES DEEP, IT IS THE LARGEST SHRED RESORT IN THE UNITED STATES. THIS PLACE MAKES OUTER SPACE LOOK SMALL! BRING YOUR SMARTPHONE TO MAKE SURE YOU DONT GET LOST. ALWAYS UPPING THE ANTE IN THE INDUSTRY, VAIL JUST CELEBRATED ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY. I find it strange that Vails 50-year anniversary lands on the final year of the Mayan calendar. Hm, guess the Mayans knew that in 2012 Vail would be this massive resort poised to take over the future. Just kidding. With the convenience of Denver being relatively close by, if youre driving up I-70 for a quick shred or flying into DIA with powder-filled dreams, this place is sweet. Or maybe spend just a few extra bucks and fly into Eagle County Airport and catch a 35-minute shuttle to your hotel or best friend's couch. Be careful, though. Sometimes that couch becomes a permanent bedroom for the season.

before the shred begins and hitting up one of Vail's many breakfast joints in the morning isnt ever a problem. The Popcorn Wagon, on Wall Street in Vail Village, is quick and easy and has the most amazing fresh-squeezed lemonade on the planet to wet your whistle on the chairlift ride up the mountain. Sitting down to a Pazzos breakfast is also a solid way to start the day. The hotels in town have sweet breakfast buffets, as well. Poach one of those if you can. After putting down a good little breakfast, its a good idea to head straight to the chairlift. This season, Vail opened a new, state-of-theart gondola in Vail Village. It replaced the old Rasta Bahn, I mean Vista Bahn, Chair 16, and will be the number one chair to honor the old gondola that was in that same spot when Vail opened in 1962. The gondola cars will also have heated seats and Wi-Fi. Ha, thats nuts. Anyway, on with the shred.

THE HOTELS IN TOWN HAVE SWEET BREAKFAST Theres nothing better than waking up to bluebird skies, pow and the chairlift right outside the door, but the I-70 shuffle isnt too bad if youre coming to Vail from down valley. You have to get some eats BUFFETS, AS WELL. POACH ONE OF THOSE IF YOU CAN

PAGE

42

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

R: STEPHEN LATERRA P: RYAN BREGANTE

VAIL

BOWLS: CHINA BOWL GAME CREEK BOWL SUN DOWN BOWL SUN UP BOWL TEA CUP BOWL SIBERIA BOWL MONGOLIA BOWLS PETE'S BOWL EARL'S BOWL

PARKS: GOLDEN PEAK SIMBA PARK PRIDE PARK

WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST

BLUE SKY BASIN 11,570

ESTABLISHED: 1962 SUMMIT ELEVATION: 11,570' BASE ELEVATION: 8,120' VERTICAL DROP: 3,450' TRAILS: 193 LIFTS: 31 ACRES: 5,289 SNOWMAKING COVERAGE: 461 ACRES LONGEST TRAIL: 4 MILES TERRAIN PARKS: 3 HALFPIPE: YES ANNUAL AVERAGE SNOWFALL: 350 INCHES NIGHT RIDING: NO
HI GH LIN E
NO

SOU RDO UGH

RT

CHINA BOWL SUN UP BOWL SUN DOWN BOWL SIBERIA BOWL

T

IEN

TE T

OR

FT

UP U AC

LI

HI

D OO HW

S
M MO UN

GH

CA

SU

GA
ILD WO O

NGAME O ME ON CR EE K

CREEK BOWL
B O R N
BA

SCA

PR

ID

IL

LA G

I TA
OP O NT

EX PR ES S

EA GL

FR EE
GONDOLA
LIONSHEAD VAIL SQUARE

A A RIV
LIF T

N N AVA

BAHN
SS ES PR P EX T FT LI

HN

TI

ISSUE

3.7

43

PAGE

at Hoodward in the Matterhood neighborhood (say hood sevens FROM THE TOP OF CHAIR 4, TAKE IN THE AMAZING VIEWS OF MOUNT OF THE HOLY CROSS times fast) will usually meet up here, too, which makes time for a quick bathroom or drink break inside the Mid Vail lodge. Getting on Chair 4 - oh, hell yeah - the Hollywood cliffs and Woopty If youre in the Village, head up this new beast of technology or up the "ganjala" from Lionshead Village. Once at Mid Vail or the top of the Lionshead Village Chair 19, Eagle Bahn Gondola, its time to destroy. Sometimes, with no definite destination on the hill, its fun to go for a drive. From the top of the Eagle Bahn Gondola, head east, down the mountain to Chair 2, Avanti Express. Oh, the infamous Chair 2 laps are great fun. Tons of natural and handmade log features litter the trees. Speaking of trees. A few good Chair 2 tree laps are sure to bring a smile (and cold teeth) to your raccooneyed, goggle-tanned face. After a few of those laps, you find yourself back at the top of Chair 2. Hm, options. You could take a couple Ouzo Glade laps in Game Creek Bowl or try heading over to Mid Vail, where the new gondola from the Village ends up and where both Chair 3, the Wildwood Express, and Chair 4, the Mountaintop Express, are located. Straggling friends who stayed out until last call and/or had a late-night backyard sesh Heading down the Sleepytime catwalk, around Sun Up bowl, to the Over Yonder trees is often quite a good bet. Theres a sweet hidden cliff line to score some good airtime in that area among some nice open-tree shred. Take a couple laps around that forest or the opposite side of the bowl for some wide open, Colorado pow turns! Head back up Chair 5 and rip the Sleepytime catwalk once more over into Teacup Bowls Red Zinger run. This will point you toward Chair 37, the Skyline Express. Either jump back on that 87-mile-long catwalk known as Sleepytime around and down and in or dip into the Marmot Valley run straight to the chairlift. jump! The chairlift goes directly over these amazing natural features. Stomp your shit, though. Slamming gets you tons of heckling from the peanut gallery on the chairlift. Rip a lap or two here and then from the top of Chair 4, take in the amazing views of Mount of the Holy Cross, the legendary back bowls and Blue Sky Basin. Now, its time to drop in to the back bowls.

PAGE

44

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

R: RYAN HRYCKIEWICZ P: RYAN BREGANTE

R: JOE TIMLIN P: BEN KOELKER

R: ROB BAK P: RYAN BREGANTE

ISSUE

3.7

45

PAGE

Going up Chair 37 to the epicenter of Blue Sky Basin is so sick. The lift goes right along the top of a super-huckable cornice, where the Dark Pie (David Pleshaw) has been seen chucking almost hundredfoot backies into pow. Its a must-do on a pow day. Ripping through the trees after the cornice kind of feels like you're on a downhill mountain bike trail with berms and single-track-style snake runs. And then, bam! You pop out at Chair 39, Petes Express. Off the top of Chair 39 and down to rider's right, only the experts will want to look for the backcountry access gates along the rope line to hit up Sieberts Stash cliffs, pillow drops and super fun, steep tree lines. Follow a single-track trail out through the trees or gully - just dont be first through the gully without a handy skier buddy to blaze trail! Then it's over to Chair 21, the Orient Express, in China Bowl. The views will keep you drooling. I know I still cant get enough of them even after 16 years of riding here. Vail also offers some badass backcountry terrain that is accessible from the Outer Mongolia bowl, which is east of Chair 21. But this is only if you come prepared with all the necessary equipment and knowledge of how to use it. This terrain is no joke, with almost 2,500 vertical feet of steep chutes or big, open pow, big cliffs and steep trees. Local knowledge is important here, as well. Northwoods is ripping with a capital R. It's where the Ravinos love their St. Pattys Day backflippin', jump chuckin', Champagne drinkin', beer-toasting party along the cliff line in the middle of this glorious natural playground. Northwoods laps are amazing. In one lap, you can drop a fun 15-footer and then either launch the nose rock or blast another 20-foot cliff. Then under the chair and over to Air Vail (the giant double-cliff drop that sends you through the air with enough time to think about where you want Its best to keep it in bounds. So, if you do stay in bounds and rip a lap in Outer Mongolia Bowl, youll end up back at Chair 21. Go left at the top, toward the Two Elk Lodge, for a quick warm up or a water. This is one gigantic, log building. Its pretty amazing and the views of the Gore Mountain Range are pretty sick. Take it all in and be stoked to be here, pumped to ride. Drop into Northwoods, Chair 11, from the Two Elk Lodge and get ready for some fun. LATE-DAY PARK LAPS ARE JUST ENOUGH TO GET YOU THIRSTY FOR AN APRES SKI BEVERAGE AT ANY ONE OF THE 4.7 MILLION BARS IN VAIL

R: CODY GILMORE P: RYAN BREGANTE 46

PAGE

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

to pick up girls at apres) and the entire cliff line of little 10-footers to these 30-to-40-foot doubles. My Capita Green Machine loves hitting the 30-foot narrow line drop between rock and tree. (As seen in past vids like SICK). Often there is a fresh pow landing. And now it's lunchtime! Rally to the front of the mountain by either taking the Riva Ridge trees from the top of Chair 11 to the Vail Village or by going past Mid Vail to hit those fun lines under the new gondola. Quick liquid lunch and a slice and now its about time to meet up with some other homies and walk over to Golden Peak, the third base area at Vail, and the location of the main terrain park. Yup, late-day park laps are just enough to get you thirsty for a n a p re s s k i b eve ra g e a t a n y o n e o f t h e 4 .7 m i l l i o n b a r s i n Vail. Hitting up Vendettas or The Red Lion for a couple tasty beverages is always a good plan. It is also entertaining to sit at Los Amigos right at the base of the new gondola in Vail Village and watch as the not so talented skiers slip and slide down the Pepis Face run. Its always sure to bring a few laughs. Oh, and you might as well get a pitcher of margaritas to share with your crew while you watch. I f yo u g o t a b u d d y, l i ke my f r i e n d L a n e, w h o co m e s to tow n and needs something that they forgot to bring, walk over to Buzzs Boards in the Village to get some socks or a new jacket or goggles. That shop rules! Give Buzz a high five and try one of the microbrews that Ethan's trying to swindle on you. Theres also Vail Skate Supply in Lionshead Village to shop at, as well. Barrys a great guy and is stoked to help you out. If those places dont have what youre looking for, then theres the largest Burton Store in the world in the Arrabelle building. Oh yeah, Vail just finished one of the most luxurious hotels in the world and a new Lionshead Village area. Oprah owns a unit here and Oprah is cool. One Track Mind has gear, too. There are quite a few good stores in town to service your spending needs. I find it easy to sit on my barstool with a cold beer and find stuff at Emage.tv on my smarter-than-me phone. Hey, back to beer. UH, BIG-CITY LUXURY DINING AND 10 BOUTIQUESTYLE BOWLING LANES PAIRED WITH A PBR FOR $3 DOESNT SUCK

R: BILLY RODRIGUEZ P: RYAN BREGANTE

ISSUE

3.7

47

PAGE

If you need to get your bowling fix and an amazing dinner, well, DONT LET THE APPEARANCE FOOL YOU, EVERYTHING IS MOUNTAIN CASUAL DRESS" Art (Barry Davis) closed his bar when the old Crossroads building was torn down, and now in the brand new Solaris complex youll find his latest endeavor, Bol. Uh, big-city luxury dining and 10 boutique-style bowling lanes paired with a PBR for $3 doesnt Garfinkels, in Lionshead Village, has the infamous shot wheel thanks Mike D. Go ahead, try it! Back toward Vail Village, the Four Seasons has an amazing apres ski special or having (Jeff) Potto fill up a cold mug at the Alpenrose restaurant is delicious, as well. Hm, sushi or Burgers? Got plenty of that in town, also. All in all, Vail has everything one could want in just a little valley in Vail has everything from a whole slew of fine dining restaurants and bars to just your normal ski-town dining and watering holes. Dont let the appearance fool you, everything is mountain casual dress, so no one is going to hand you a sport coat to eat dinner. Some places prefer that shred gear and boots arent worn after 9 p.m., so keep the ultimate apres to the other places, where youre bound to be talking about your sick cliff drop to another glazed-eye, goggles-still-on-head, stinky-boot-wearing, fan-ofthe-pub-crawl buddy at last call. the middle of the Rocky Mountains. Vail frequently hosts big name music artists; it is the new location of the U.S. Open; it's got the single largest collection of snowboard history in one place at the Colorado Ski Museums snowboard history exhibit, free high fives, glorious pow - you name it. Vail is one of the most amazing places in the world and a definite stop on the shred list for Colorado. suck. Art knows how to treat his team, too. Have a good high five ready for him and Pamcakes and he just might make you laugh until tomorrow, and Donavon will make sure you dont run out of drinks at the bar. This is truly a must-see and a good time.

PAGE

48

R: JOE TIMLIN P: BEN KOELKER

CAMERA RENTALS/SALES

CAMERA ACESSORIES

MEDIA PRODUCTION
EDUCATION / TRAINING
MOVIE THEATER SCREENING
PARK A VE
GONDOLA

(970) 423-6465
- PRESENT THIS COUPON FOR A-

FREE

* RENTAL

*MAY USE YOUR OWN CAMERA, OR A RENTAL AT REGULAR RENTAL PRICE. | OFFER VALID THRU 4/20/13

THE FUNNEST PLACE ON EARTH! | WINDELLS.COM

IAN BOLL coach

ERIK HOFFMAN photographer

PAGE

52

s T y l E

p o i N t s

r: austin julik-heine // p: terry ratzlaff // l: denver, co 53

PAGE

s T y l E

p o i N t s

r: forest bailey // p: aaron dodds // l: wolf creek, co

PAGE

54

FIND YOUR WINGS

AKINZ.COM

RYAN HRYCKIEWICZ

s T y l E

p o i N t s

r: jackson fowler // p: jon hill // l: boulder, co 57

PAGE

s T y l E

p o i N t s

r: cody booth // p: mark kelsic // l: berthoud pass, co

PAGE

58

PAGE

60

s T y l E

p o i N t s

r: chad otterstrom // p: jeff brockmeyer // l: eagle pass heli tenure, bc 61

PAGE

observing skate-spot secrecy is crucial

PAGE

62

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

LOG RIDING IS AN ECCENTRIC DISCIPLINE THAT ATTRACTS AN ECCENTRIC RIDER. MEET WOOKIE, A LOGGER. PROCEED AS WOOKIE WINDS A WEIRD TALE OF A LOGGER'S LIFE.

I would have to say that lumber jacking is the ugly sister of jibbing. Magnetically attracting skate influence to snowboarding - creeping the woods to find natural gems and learning the particular idiosyncrasies, allowing for true expression of style. Addictive to few, ignored by the populous, Colorado has become a destination for those desiring to get ugly.

WRITTEN BY WOOKIE

ISSUE

3.7

63

PAGE

Observing skate-spot secrecy is crucial. Crews travel the mountain, avoiding attention as they c ro ss r u n s a n d d u c k ro p e s , a cce ss i n g d e n s e ove rg row n f o re s t s a b a n d o n e d by re s o r t s a s u n m a n a g e a b l e. C l e a r - c u t t re e s , fe l l e d i n t h e woods, lying in no particular fashion. The expression session is born. Oblivious to how the powers that be embrace this filth, documentation begins, exposing how versatile of a vehicle snowboards are, as long as you don't care about the condition post-fun.

video parts and sequence shots set riders apart from the previous parameters. Such a hotbed of activity prompted the effects of overcrowding. Crews claimed possession of the newfound fun. Wrapping a log feature with barbed wire after a successful filming session was the highlight of this pissing battle. Glad that's over.

Climbing the ladder of possibilities, Jacks were getting more elevated and finding the end of the rainbow. Minus traditional skate rip-off tricks, size was all that mattered. Limited to the physical restrictions of bones, ligaments and tendons

The opportunity to prove yourself as a legitimate snowboarder was there for the taking. These o rg a n i c f e a t u re s p o s s e s s e d t h e u n favo ra b l e characteristic of a short shelf-life. Often collapsing during the first few sessions, the locations would stay double-secret safe. While the industry was being reinvented, fertile media opportunity was being farmed. Summit County and Eagle County were the epicenter of this movement. Creative

c e r t a i n a c c o l a d e s a re s t i l l ava i l a b l e f o r t h e appropriate robot. Logging is amidst a phase of exploring tricks that compliment nature's weird way of satisfying the need to get radical. Several years ago, Scott Stevens passed through Colorado during several of our media circus events. Defending logging, Scott opens his part in Defenders of Awesome

PAGE

64

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

gigi asks, so whats been thrown down on this?

with original, organic style. Check it! Hopefully the Colorado experience had an influence on his part - it most surely affected Colorado. Not just Scott Stevens. The Volcom Global Team j i b b e d t h ro u g h B e ave r C re e k b e t we e n t h e X Games and SIA for a logging experience. Revealing a new feature for their arrival, local amateurs shared an expression session with heavies Gigi Ruff, Seth Hout, Dylan Alito and Scott Stevens. Finally! Global riders pumping up retail shredders. Individually portraying how the feature should be painted. Gigi asks, "So what's been thrown down on this?" "Minus one pull, it's fresh." This seemed to pique his interest the most, but it happens off the grid. Two large pines had blown over, maybe even pushed that way by a disgruntled former cat operator, but, nevertheless, a stellar jib.

ISSUE

3.7

65

PAGE

Ascending the barkless, lodgepole pine was the first variable surface. Slick as greased snot while obviously the most speed-critical portion. The o p t i o n i s o p e n i n t h i s " C h o o s e Yo u r O w n Adventure" land, but what awaits as you regain gravity's pressure? Thick clumpy bark invites staying on edge and watching shrapnel fly. Not lasting long against the friction of fun, the landing limb becomes more variable. Skinny and smooth at the most popular contact points earns the tag of "chopsticks" for this session. Don't get pinched or you will be dinner.

within reach is safe anymore. But was it ever safe? Familiarized with the dangers, the logger creates an outlet now available for witness. Almost funny to watch, individuals express their version of a safety trick on a snowboarding obstacle course. Up one leaning tree and transfer to the other. The scenario is becoming all too familiar as the skill level increases. Trees blown to the ground overnight become limbless. Hanging out after hours, and sometimes mechanically assisted, the loggers remove the branches and a secret is created. Now how to keep it a secret?

Available technology has made it impossible to keep zones off the The log jumble - combining lumber with mouse t ra p co n s e q u e n ce s . M ove l i ke a s q u i r re l a n d test your nuts. The pain is swift and often with more than one reminder of how you failed. The progression was bound to happen, but with how much integrity? Grabbing, redirecting and Miyagichopping their way through the woods, nothing radar. Applications allow guests to track a tour of favorites with the skills of an informant. Attached to their ear is the ability to sell all your secrets to the public. Damn! Once upon a time, it seemed as if only true descendants of Lewis and Clark could find their way back to certain spots in the woods. Memorizing key points, hints to the access of fertile land. Now, fear strikes that one day I will see Joe Shmoe "check in" at one of our spots with a photo-graffiti quality

PAGE

66

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

shot of him before he fell off. Not trying to aid in this thievery, but several tracking devices have aided in relocating spots. EpicMix allows you to track it all. Damn. One question though - how much lumber did I log on EpicMix today? Well, how to hit these awful uses of wood? Aside from just blazing the lunch area railing, be coy. Certain Colorado resorts pride themselves in building structures with large beetle-killed timbers. Well, good for them. These surfaces are more durable than the traditional manufactured lumber with advantages of aesthetic and general one-of-a-kind jib potential. Favoring to cover their asses, resorts around Colorado categorized on-mountain-entertainment zones as terrain features. Since then, it has been a bit of a free for all on the "Wild West Towns" and "Little Buckaroo Zones" of the state. Thank you insurance issues. Please though, give the littles a little space. It was built for them. Stepping to a situation observed mentally many times takes the timing and alignment of a squirrel. Natural hazards play more into the difficulty of a feature than in the controlled terrain park. Listen to your instinct in the woods - this is not a good place to be caught slipping. Boom! Sprouts, seedlings, splinters or whatever you want to call them. Envious of elders as we crave their youth. These little boogers lack the 39 mph a sneeze (Mythbusters) provides to get up a big jib, but there are plenty of features to scale available. The right snow conditions, the perfect set-up turn and you get it - the spontaneous display of the personal bond between you and Mother Nature. Love you mom! Keep bringing the fun. Young, local jibbers Cody Warble and Jack Coyne ride Beaver Creek, where log features dot the terrain parks. When asked if he rides logs, Jack replies, "sometimes." Sometimes, huh. Perfect. Being elderly has allowed acceptance of a perfect response from youth.

ISSUE

3.7

67

PAGE

finish. Usually the wind blew it over while you were sleeping and left a little spunk on top for lube. So sack up and hit it on the fly while your friends scream from the next hallway. "We heard it, but what exactly "What were you doing over there?" " M y b u d d y l o st h i s i P h o n e. We we re d i g g i n g a ro u n d to f i n d i t . " Yo u wo u l d n ' t b e l i eve h ow gullible the public is, or should we be blunt and say the average volunteer. More than a few times the confrontation has ended there. Poaching snow from the run, discretely building on nature's gift. The fun factor grows. If a tree falls in the woods and no one is there to slide it, don't worry. It will happen soon enough, while the general public looks on like you're crazy. The logger has a saw in his pack and knows when to use it and when to put it away. Like waxing a ledge, natural opportunity abounds. A little buffing and the options are now feasible, but this is dedicated to the "a la mode" of jibs. Mother Nature start to Starting off slower than the last decade, snow has been a desired commodity. Less snow in the Central Rockies has forced an onslaught of lumber jacking. Wind has laid trees over that would have normally stood strong with a snow-supported base. These limitations spawned creation once again. While the skater hunts down a perfect pole jam, the logger finds deadfall and digs a hole. Catalyst to a feature just a bit too high to access. Plant the jam or wedge it between some down timbers. Pile some snow around it and ice it in. Ready to go. Sketchy entrance to an already temperamental spot. Low on the snow pack and high on impact, we jam up to get down. happened?" These moments have provided some of the fondest stories that have ever been exaggerated. Spitting with excitement, no one believes it could have been as awesome as your grin. We know the truth, though. For naturalists, the belief that an opportunity should never be passed has always echoed loud through the woods.

PAGE

68

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

If one thing has wasted more hours of energy to yield absolutely nothing, it's trying to create a masterpiece of a log feature. Slugging around pitfall snowpack, hoping to find moisture-laden snow to build an entrance or bury stumps in the landing, just to fail. It seems the biggest downfall of deadfall is that it must be played where it lies, so to speak. Moving dead timber around the forest receives certain negative results from anybody clueless to how useless that timber was decomposing under the snow. Speed tends to be the most combative issue. Berms through the woods lead to short windows of sight for entrance. Surprise! Now bounce across this feature keeping everything that can hurt you in sight. The general idea is great, but often is not reality. Wasting two days in the woods to just get soaked boots and pruned feet sucks. Weathered wood is such a fickle material to work with that it should be understood - sometimes shit don't work.

starting off slower than the last decade, snow has been a desired commodity. less snow in the central rockies has forced an onslaught of lumber jacking

for naturalists, the belief that an opportunity should never be passed has always echoed loud through the woods

ISSUE

3.7

69

PAGE

My earliest memory growing up was finding a wooden toy toolbox in the park. It came complete with pliers, hammer and saw. Pose the question, what to do with a saw? Proceeding to cut down the nearest tree, an adult crept up and caught my ass. Damn, didn't even know. The sound of the saw cutting wood was just too golden. A dilemma then as it will be in the future, sawing wood makes a distinct sound. Well, today, maturity is still trying to ruin fun.

Danger! Lumber jacking through the woods poses many unexpected hazards. The instability of the forest creates and destroys fun without care. Nature holds mute when disaster strikes. Aspens and lodgepole pines battle the threat of disease everyday of their lives. Dead aspens will often remain standing long after their community root system has shed support. Merely leaning against the trap can send hundreds of pounds of timber collapsing, knocking into spectator trees while creating a style of their own. Lumber lovers should always beware of the widow maker. Colliding into trees can have both direct and indirect consequences. Hard enough impact near the base of the tree can shake and break off the more fragile top. Sectioning off and falling ever so silently, the projectile targets the victim. Most likely, the local park's down-flat-down rail has never pile driven an unsuspecting participant post-trickery.

PAGE

70

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

it seems the biggest downfall of deadfall is that it must be played where it lies, so to speak

ISSUE

3.7

71

PAGE

A R T I N S TA L L M E N T

IN THE COMPANY OF SERPENTS

Sometimes, you just want it heavy; when the mood is dim, your thoughts are grave and there is a demon inside of you scratching at your gut, pleading for the freedom that can only come with sound of grimy, viscous sludge.

WORDS: TIM WENGER

pretty much just me dicking around, says Netzorg. A lot of times Ill actually write acoustically. Ill come up with ideas and bounce them off Joe. Their first demo was paid for in beer and AR-15 ammo, which is about

In The Company of Serpents is the answer to that beckoning call, answering with black sludge rock that soothes the craving for the darkest of the dark. Doom is a heavy, groove-laden style of metal, moving at a slower tempo than the crash-and-wail, ultra-fast heavy metal that often is the mental image of the genre. The overall effect is darker and, in many ways, more emotional and easy to catch than many of the faster styles of metal. This two piece started from the ashes of founding members Grant Netzorg's and JJ Anselmis previous bands, with the two coming together over a mutual desire to create this sound. Mine and JJ's previous bands were actually country tinged, says Netzorg, the frontman. Somewhere between Johnny Cash and Tom Waits. The two bands were playing a gig together and Netzorg played some Earth riffs during sound check, catching the attention of Anselmi. A brief conversation ensued. We were like, Oh man, we should totally form a doom band.' So the process began, with Netzorg and Anselmi putting together what became the bands first EP, prior to Anselmis departure and the inception of Joseph Myer as the groups drummer. When I write, its

as metal as it gets. They eventually made it into Module Overload Studios in Denver to record a proper release and had to pay for it with actual money. The album is available for purchase on cassette at www.inthecompanyofserpents.bandcamp.com, and is also available as a digital download. They laid down a good listen that can appeal not only to the sludge metal scene but also to stoner rock fans and anyone that can appreciate the core of heavy music without all of the overdone flash. Composing music this dark takes the two of them, etching away into oblivion to dial in the riffs the way they want. We throw a bunch at the wall and see what sticks, says Netzorg. We try and find something that we would want to listen to. Ive nixed many a riff after deciding that I dont like listening to it. The band has shared the stage with bands like Jucifer and Pallbearer, as well as a majority of the bands that make up the regional doom scene. Theres tons of fucking killer underground bands. Even in Denver theres a wealth of killer doom bands, says Netzorg. In The Company of Serpents gigs around town constantly, providing a perfect nightcap to a grey day out on the hill.

PAGE

72

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

P: MIKE GOODWIN

TRAVIS RICE BRYAN IGUCHI KEVIN JONES BJORN LEINES KYLE CLANCY MARK CARTER CHAD OTTERSTROM SHAYNE POSPISIL ADAM DOWELL BLAKE PAUL CAM FITZPATRICK ALEX YODER MIKEY MAHRON CHRIS RASMAN

TRICK TIPS

R: RANDAL L STACY P : AARON DODDS

BACKSIDE NOSEPRESS WITH RANDALL STACY

Ok, so backside nose press on a log. Roll up to it and get squared up. Pop your ollie and kind of lean forward after you ollie.
R : R A N DA LL STACY P: W IL L W ISSM A N

K e e p i t s t r a i g h t , k e e p i t p r o p e r. Yo u t u r n t h a t s i d e w a y s a n d y o u are getting hooked. Look at the end of the log and keep pressing it out through the end. Make sure you don't let it tap at all. Pop out of it squared up and r e a d y t o r i d e a w a y. S i n c e y o u are probably in the woods, make sure you are ready for some shit.

When you feel the nose of your board hit the log, lean forward into it.

PAGE

74

SPRING 2013

snowboard-colorado.com

SNOWBOARDS BUILT BY SNOWBOARDERS WITH JOBS

WERE AN AMERICAN BRAND

FACEBOOK.COM/WIMESHRED WWW.WI-MESNOWBOARD.COM

MANTIS UNITED WELCOMES AUSTIN JULIK-HEINE TO T H E T E A M

WO R L DW I D E SHREDDING
A C O L O R A D O C O M PA N Y | @ M A N T I S U N I T E D

W W W. M A N T I S U N I T E D . C O M
AV A I L A B L E AT : HILLS N RAILS | BLINDSIDE | THE GRIND | UNDERGROUND

AGENT

GIGABITE

P I S T O LW H I P

Nic Sauve Insurgent

Action by Oli Gagnon Portrait by Rick Levinson

See in color at anonoptics.com

You know the moments. The ones you always want to remember. The ones you tell your friends about in your abbreviated summary of your vacation. You'll find plenty of those moments here in Steamboat. More than you could ever capture in a few words. More than you can capture in a post. Or a text. Because it's the mission of everyone who's lucky enough to live in this special place, to help create so many of them for you. Start making memories. Visit steamboat.com