Triple cork stunners at X Games

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Fiona

There is always huge excitement at the X Games XVI, held annually in winter and summer, and the recent Winter X Games was no exception. Since 2002, the Winter X Games has taken place at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado, and it was here late last month that something very exciting indeed happened.

Yes, of course, the whole event and all the competitions are extremely exciting but in particular something extraordinary happened in the air.

In the Big Air contest, spectators watched with dropping jaws as not one but two snowboarders pulled off an amazing triple cork – and landed it. For Mark McMorris it was the first time he’d tried a triple cork. He’s reported as saying: “I was trying back 14 double corks and it just felt possible.” So he went for the triple cork. “The first one I landed on my feet, but fell over. The second one I got.”

If you’re not up with the high-speed progression of snowboarding tricks in recent months, let’s give you the lowdown. In the summer, another awesome Norwegian rider Torstein Horgmo pulled the first-ever triple cork on a massive jump in his home country.

Then at the winter X Games, Horgmo managed to do it again, landing the triple cork trick on his final run of the big-air competition. He went on to win gold – and he did all this while nursing several broken ribs from an earlier accident.

After pulling off the trick, Horgmo confessed he “probably shouldn’t have gone for it”. “It’s maybe the stupidest thing I’ve done in my whole life,” he said. But the fans definitely welcomed the impressive stunt.

Sadness amid the highs at X Games

This Winter X Games was tinged with sadness, too. The event was dedicated to renowned freestyle skier Sarah Burke, who passed away on January 19, 2012 after a freak accident during training.

Other notable news form the X Games was Shaun White’s fifth year in a row taking gold in the Snowboard SuperPipe. This time scoring his first ever perfect 100.00 points.

We’re already looking forward to the Summer X Games!

Check out the video below!

All things bright and beautiful in Courchevel

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Fiona

Don’t you just love it when you see a skiing trend in actual real life? We recently blogged about a bright and bold fashion trend in ski and snowboarding clothing and during a ski trip to the fabulous Three Valleys resort of Courchevel it was clear that this All Things Bright and Beautiful fad is being played out on the slopes. Suddenly it seems as though skiers and boarders are not only in competition to swish down the slopes faster and more beautifully, but they are also keen to outshine their peers in brighter-than-bright ski jackets and trousers.

Bright and bold skiing outfits

A top ski clothing combo for men, as seen on both skiers and boarders in the French Alps, is bright orange or yellow matched (?!) with bright blues and greens. Orange ski trousers were being partnered with fabulously blue jackets, while so many more men than ever before seemed happy to don yellow ski trousers and partner this with blue, red, green or orange ski jackets.

For women, the skiing clothes fashion focuses on bright pink, turquoise, lime green and some jackets feature several of these colours at once. The most popular look was either black or white trousers and a very brightly coloured jackets or else a black jacket combined with bright pink or bright green ski trousers.

And there was fur everywhere! Fur edged collars, hoods, cuffs, hems, trousers and hats. Seeing as Courchevel is a destination for the rich and famous in top resort 1850 (as well as the more budget conscious in Courchevel 1300), there appeared to be a fair number of Russians sported actual real-live fur clothing too. We’re not in favour of real fur but the fake fur-edged outfits looked pretty smart… until, presumably, they become drowned by wet snow.

Rainbow coloured lift queues

No longer is it dull to stand in a lift queue. Simply look around and count the number of different colours of jackets and trousers. See if you can match trousers with jackets (even if they are on other people) and count the numbers of shades of rainbow hues on display. We can recall years when ski clothing was black, white, pastel or faded out. These days, the clothing offers fabulous splashes of colour and fun, even when there’s a whiteout.

Top tips for wearing ski clothing colours with style

* Pulling off a combo of bright orange trousers and a bright green jacket isn’t easy for everyone. It seems to suit men, and especially boarders, the best.

* Avoid ski jackets and trousers that are exactly the same colour. So wearing bright yellow jackets and trousers is not going to be a winner … and you’ll most likely end up being called a Banana.

* Play it safe with a bold coloured jacket and black trousers or a black jacket and brightly hued ski pants. For women, bright pink and black look fab. For men, black pants and lime green jackets are swell.

* Accessorise with care. A ski outfit that includes black ski pants and a pink ski jacket only requires a little enhancement. Perhaps choose a white ski helmet with a pink design but try to avoid a full-on pink helmet! You could add a little contrasting colour with a pair of goggles that feature bright green or blue.

* Try not to go overboard with every item in a different colour – unless you want to look like a children’s TV show presenter. Bright is great but only in small amounts.

Is it a snowboard or a surf board? No, it’s a snurfboard!

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Fiona

There is no denying the similarities between surfing and snowboarding – and now a group of inventors have come up with a board that can both surf and snowboard. The “snurfboard” can be used to ride the waves as a surfboard and then ride the snow as a snowboard.

The project – which was a joint venture between Signal Snowboards, Surf Prescriptions and Future Fins – wasn’t easy because the board needed to work perfectly on the ocean and in the snowy mountains. While similar style activities, each sport requires a different shape of board, water and snow carving potential and the ability to absorb shock in both environments.

So, the team decided to build a snowboard inside a surfboard. First a surfboard was re-engineered with the aim of insetting a wooden snowboard along the entire length of the surfboard. This took some careful slicing with a knife, a bit of mathematics and a few churning stomachs, racing hearts and sweat. Then a centre fin was added. And after that, the whole snurfboard was coated in fibreglass.

But the test was always going to be in the action. First up was top surfer Rob Machado, who was asked to put the snurfboard through its paces on the ocean waves. “I’m excited. I love the tail, already. It’ll work, for sure,” Rob said when he first took a look at the board.

After waxing it up, the new board revealed its ability on the waves. “I like this real low rocker. It carves really good,” said Rob.

Then came the test on snow. This time it was pro snowboarder Curtis Ciszek’s turn. Curtis rode the board with the snowboarder stabilising centre fin in place so the board would respond well at high speeds. Curtis had a ball on the snurfboard.

Take a look at the board in action on this YouTube video: A Fish Out of Water

Don’t lose out on skiing time

Posted on January 12, 2012 by Fiona

Skiing in a family or friends group is great fun… but it can sometimes become a little frustrating. How many times have you waited for seemingly hours at a mountainside café or the top or bottom of a chairlift while others a) try to work out where you are b) head to the wrong chairlift c) end up skiing the wrong piste d) get caught up in a long queue e) become swallowed by a queue for the café? Or whatever.

Of course, thanks to mobile phones it has become easier over the years to stay in touch with fellow holidaymakers while in a ski resort, but even then it can be difficult to explain which chairlift you’re at, or the exact café. Don’t they always look so similar?

Now a new app could make life a lot easier for skiers and snowboarders. The MotionX-GPS App for iPhone and iPod touch has been enhanced with a new ski/snowboard mode. The new features allow you to see exactly where your friends and family are on the mountain via live position updates. This is sure to make it a great deal easier for meeting up on the slopes and tracking each other.

Most importantly, however, the app will mean you do not waste valuable time waiting around for each other, and instead get in more hours of skiing and snowboarding!

Snowboarder’s ‘rail ride’ world record-breaker

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Fiona

A sports student from England has “rail ridden” his way into the Guinness Book of World Records. Calum Paton, of Tamworth, Staffordshire, snowboarded along a rail to hit 78 metres. The Record rail ride took place at Sno!Zone – Milton Keynes’ Indoor Slope – where some 60 snowboarders were attempting to beat the previous record of 67.9 metres.

Following th monster rail ride 16-year-old Calum said: “I couldn’t believe it when I went past the mark. We had been trying for four or five hours and I was one of the last to go at about 11.45pm.

“I got past the 40 metre mark and you kind of know it’s going well, then it is just about keeping it together.”

Calum took home a framed certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records and £1,000 in prize money. He plans to spend the cash on a snowboarding holiday.

Calum gave a bit of insight into the technique of a rail rider. He said: “To rail ride you need to have really good balance and you have to practice at it a lot. But I’d never attempted it on this scale, so to get the record was pretty special.”

What to look for in a new snowboard

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Fiona

If you’re looking to update your snowboard, or it’s your first snowboard purchase, there are several features to look out for. Snowboard designers have been busy coming up with ways to make carving and off-piste riding a whole lot easier, and in many cases, more aggressive.

These days there are snowboards to meet all riding aspirations and in particular many boards now come with new traction and camber technology. Various snowboard brands have their own versions so it will require a little explaining.

Camber is the way that a board is shaped from nose to tail. It also takes into account the weight of a person standing on the board. Basically, more camber at each end offers better float when heading off-piste. You need to take into account the flex of a board, too, because the more flexible it is the greater the degree of lift at the nose and tail. While flex and camber might be ace off-piste, a stiffer board will probably suit on-paste riders much better.

What’s this snowboard traction all about?

Traction comes from “side cuts” on the boards. Rather than a standard-looking side cut that just bends in at the waist and back out at the nose and tail, new side cuts either have an indentation creating a kink or an outward bend creating a bump in the side cut. Some have waves all the way along the sidecut edge to offer more points of contact with the snow when turning on the board. Visually you can notice these waves looking right at the board or by putting it on its edge and looking down the sidecut.

Licensed by Lib tech for use by snowboard manufacturers, such as Roxy and Rossignol, is Magne traction. The most basic description is “edges with wavy lines”. More specifically, this design has serrated edges, rather like a bread knife that offers more grip and control when on the snow. So instead of just one line of an edge for cutting into the snow when carving, the Magne traction offers several points of contact for increased likelihood of contact when turning.

Burtons boards use a similar design with two extra contact points along the sidecut. Salomon call their sidecut the “Equalizer”. Meanwhile, Bataleon, has also brought out boards using their Triple Base Technology (TBT). Here’s how TBT is described: “A TBT snowboard is flat between the bindings with angled side bases that are lifted with gradually increasing angles. The uplift starts from flat in the binding area to a maximum increase at the widest point of the board. With the new updated TBT there is a slight extra uplift happening after the effective edge end to create an even looser feeling without sacrificing control.” The sidecuts of many Bataleon boards also offer extra traction but without over-doing the cut into the snow.

It’s worth taking several boards for a test-ride if you can – perhaps hire a board for a day – before buying because each board is different and will suit a range of rising styles.

* Tell us what you think of the new technology.

With thanks to Nassfeld from Flickr for the header image.

Know your snowboard lingo

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Fiona

If you’re planning to buy a snowboard it’s a good idea to know your base from your bevel, and you camber from your goofy. Here we bring you a guide to some of the technical snowboarding terms.

Base: This is the underside of the snowboard and the area that is most in contact with the snow, unless you’re giving it some air time, in which case it’s the part that all your fans will see when your riding above their heads. Base graphic designs are popular and very varied.

All-important dimensions of a snowboard

Bevel: If someone talks about having their edges sharpened, they will be referring to the bevel, or the degree of angle that the edges have been sharpened.

Camber: If you lay a snowboard flat on the ground you’ll see there is a bit of space between the centre of the board and the ground. This is because the board has a camber and its weight rests on the nose and tail of the board.

Edges: The length of metal that runs down each side of the snowboard.

Effective edges: The edge area of a snowboard that cuts into the snow when your’re riding and is therefore “effective”.

Flex: This is referring to the flexibility of the board. Flex determines how a board will go into and out of a turn, and according to various snow conditions.

Front Foot: This is straightforward as it’s the foot that is mounted closest to the nose of the board. What makes riders different is whether they are regular (left foot forward) or goofy (right foot forward).

Leash: A short strap that can be attached to the snowboard and the rider to prevent the board slipping away if you fall or when you’re jumping off a tricky chairlift.

Nose – The front end of the snowboard.

Rocker: This is the opposite of camber, so when the snowboard is placed on a flat surface, it rests only on the centre area

Side cut radius: The radius of a circle that makes the hourglass shape of a snowboard.

Stance: The position of a snowboarder’s feet on their board.

Tail: The rear of the snowboard.

Toe edge: The edge of the snowboard where your toes are positioned.

Twin Tip: This is a board that is deigned with an identical nose and tail so that the board can be ridden the same in both directions.

Waist width: The width of the centre part of the board from one side to the other.

Thanks to Sport Communities on Flickr for the header image.

Beat the wobble for better skiing

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Fiona

Do you wobble when you stand on one leg? Is it worse when you stand on the other? Have you ever tried balancing on a Swiss ball but never quite mastered anything better than rolling over flat on your face? Aargh. Well, this is not the best news if you want to be in tip-top shape for the skiing and snowboarding season.

That’s because BALANCE is crucial to the fine art of skilful skiing and snowboarding.

Four great ways to get to grips with your balancing act for skiing

Simple, but effective: You could be watching the veg come to the boil, brushing your teeth or catching a few minutes of TV. But whenever you have a little time to yourself try standing on one foot and balancing. Swap feet each time you do this move so make sure that you even-out your training. If you can stand still with one foot lifted, try swinging your arms around and holding your balance. Then shut your eyes!

Gym tactics: Many gyms have a Swiss ball or a BOSU. These are brilliant items of kit for assisting with improved balancing. A simple exercise on the Swiss ball is to sit on the ball with your feet flat on the ground. Try lifting one foot up and straightening that leg while still holding your balance. Do the same with the other leg. And then try both. With the BOSU, balance on one foot on the top of the BOSU while doing bicep curls, or start with both feet on the floor and alternate toe taps.

Yoga poses: Yoga is superb for all-round strength and balance boosting. In particular, the Warrior pose will help to get you in perfect shape for time on the slopes this winter.

Chairman of the Board: Invest in a balance board. We’ve blogged about this great piece of kit, which is perfect for improving lower-body muscle strength and boosting balance.

Thanks to Girolame from flicker for our header image.

Chairlift tips for snowboarders

Posted on December 1, 2011 by Fiona

Continuing our Top Tips for Beginner Snowboarders’ blog series, here we bring you a few essential tips on “Getting off a Chairlift”. Failure to manage this could mean a) failure to ever go higher than the nursery slopes b) abject embarrassment c) injury d) injury of a chairlift friend or partner.

This is not to say that the first time you try to board a chairlift you won’t be a little jittery. Whether you’re on skis or a snowboard, negotiating a chairlift can be a tricky business but it’s especially the case for snowboard riders.

Snowboarder guide to tackling a chairlift

Before you reach the chairlift prepare to board by taking your back foot from the snowboard binding. You’ll need to skate along with your front foot still on the board and the other pushing you, like riding a skateboard. Use the stomp board for your back foot on the board.

Next you’ll push through the barriers to the chairlift. As soon as you’re allowed through, “skate” towards the red line where you should stop. It’s easier to stick to the outside seats if possible.

Once you reach the line, look back to watch for the chair coming towards you and as the chair comes to the back of your legs, sit down.

To ensure that your free leg doesn’t get trapped between the chair and the ground when you sit down, stick your free foot out in front of you.

Reach to pull the handrail guard over your head and make sure that your hand and leg are clear.

Once you’re on the chairlift you can relax, let your foot in the board relax and hang below the chair, while you look around at the scenery.

How a snowboarder gets off a chairlift

Be warned: This is a little trickier. When you see the “Prepare to Get Off” sign, start manoeuvring yourself so that you are sitting sideways in the chair and in the same direction as your would normally ride.

As the chairlift approaches the ramp, point your board forward, but your free foot on your stomp pad and hang one side of your butt off the chair. (This isn’t comfortable but it’s vital for a smooth off-load.)

When you re at the ramp, and you have lifted the chairlift handrail, let your board slide along the snow and then stand up with your weight forward allowing the chair to give you a small push. Be careful not to hold on to the chair but it’s fine to let the chair give you a bit of momentum (although not so much that you lose control and go careering into your fellow passengers).

You should be able to glide smoothly to a safe place before stopping to strap your back foot into your board. Make sure you’re clear of other people coming off the chairlift behind you. This all sounds very simple but it does take concentration and control and a fair bit of confidence!

Top tip for chairlift negotiation for snowboarders

The chances are you’ll be taking lessons, so make sure that your instructor shows you some of the easier chairlifts (for practice) and tells you about the chairlifts to look out for. There will always be chairlifts in each resort that offer their own kind of challenges, such as a fast and ferocious approach, a steep landing or a tight descent.

How to buy a snowboard

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Fiona

As with all technical snow sports, the number and range of snowboards on the market is massive. There is a snowboard to suit all tastes, budgets and riding desires. So how do you go about choosing the perfect snowboard for you?

If you’re just starting out, it’s a safer bet to rent a snowboard. That way you’ll find out if you really do enjoy this sport, once you have overcome the first hurdles of learning to snowboard.

What's your choice of snowboarding?

Now you’ve decided to buy a snowboard

What is your chosen snowboarding passion? All mountain or freeride snowboarding; freestyle, powder, back country, boardercross? And who are you? A beginner, intermediate, expert, man, woman or child? And how tall are you and what do you weigh? All these factors need to be taken into account when buying the best board for you. See, nothing is ever straightforward!

So there are: Freeride snowboards, freestyle snowboards, backcountry snowboards, wide snowboards, powder snowboards, children’s snowboards, women’s snowboards and boardercross snowboards.

Consider your riding ability when buying a snowboard

Beginner: Snowboarded one to three times.

Intermediate: Board three to five times a year, turns are no problem, you can ride fakie and catch some air.

Advanced: Oh, you’re looking fab and skilled on and off piste!

What type of snowboarding do you most enjoy?

All mountain or freeride style: You like to carve, ride on and off-piste, do a few tricks and have fun.

Freestyle: You’re a keen trickster, enjoying the half-pipe, jumping, spinning etc.

Carve or Alpine style: This is high speed and includes lots of hard and accurate carving.

Now for the snowboard dimensions

Length: Most experts advise that when standing a board up against you that it should land between your chin and nose.

Width: Ensure you have a board that is wide enough to prevent your heel and toes touching the snow when you turn.

Weight: A heavier snowboarder needs a board with stiffer flex, while lighter riders should go for softer flex.

Once you have made a list of all your likes and dislikes, plus your personal statistics, it’s time to shop around. There are a multitude of brands and designs, as well as prices.

Simply Piste Blog

Skiwear & Ski Clothing Blog

Category Archives: Snowboarding