SnowboardSecrets.com

Flexmeter Wrist Guard Testimonial from Colorado

2012-01-25T20:10:00.000-08:00

"These are the only wrist guards that I trust, and I will not ride without them."

Doug's Left Arm X-Ray

Doug's Right Arm X-Ray

Lauren,
Was great talking to you this afternoon! As discussed, I work for Vail
Resorts with the on-mountain marketing team, both at Vail and at
Beaver Creek. My team is on the snow every day interacting with
hundreds of guests, and more importantly, doing lots of snowboarding.
At your earliest convenience, please send me a link to a flexmeter
proform, so that I can replace my old flexmeters, and continue
to tell our guests that these wrist guards are simply the best.

These wrist guards really are amazing. Two years ago I had a bad wreck
on my snowboard. I was actually wearing some other wrist guards at the
time, still managed to fracture / dislocate both of my wrists. All it
took to get me back on the snow was two titanium plates, 26 screws,
lots of PT, and some determination. Almost two years later, I am still
riding just as hard, 100+ days a season, with much thanks due to
flexmeter wrist guards. These are the only wrist guards that I trust,
and I will not ride without them.

What really makes the gloves so awesome for flexmeters is the super
wide palm / hand area that allows the wrist guard to slide into the
glove easily. The best way I can describe it is a super dexterous
glove with fingers from a size M and hand area from a size XL.

Also check out my sweet x- ray shots!

Thanks so much,
Looking forward to hearing back!

Doug A.
Vail and Beaver Creek, CO

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If you are a snowboard instructor or snowboard professional ask about our Flexmeter Pro-Form!
Write me at Lauren@SnowboardSecrets.com.

Order Flexmeter/Docmeter snowboard gloves with wrist guards built-in, Flexmeter wrist guards to wear under your gloves or mittens, and for skateboarding, and Azzpadz and BootyGuard Tailbone Protection, at...www.Flexmeters.com.

See our videos showing snowboard protective gear, snowboard wrist guards, snowboard gloves with wrist guards, and tailbone protection, including Lauren's fall off the halfpipe wall at USASA Nationals, here!

Flexmeter Double Splint Gloves ordered from the Other Company

2012-01-23T19:38:00.000-08:00

Lauren,

I am writing the email to request to purchase the Double Sided Flexmeter Snowboard Gloves in size large. I ordered a pair of these gloves from ___ last week in anticipation of my upcoming trip to Colorado for which I leave on Friday of this week. (i previously had seirus cranium gloves).

Needless to say, ___ sent me the single sided gloves instead. My initial conversation with ___ didn't even want to send me out the correct gloves the same 2 day fed ex for which I initially paid for to have the gloves in by me leaving for my trip. Two phone calls later and ___ offered me nothing more than the ability to return them since they did not have the double sided gloves in stock....saying they were on back order (even though they charged my amex, sent the single sided ones to me and gave me some half dumbfounded excuse 4 days prior to leaving on my trip leaving me without gloves. Some questionable "supervisor" almost mocked me when I asked to have the manager call me the next day.

Extremely poor customer service for a company, in my humble opinion who completely in the first place messed up the order. Needless to say probably will not be using that company again....and I would hate to have my product being distributed by this company or any representative of this company.

I rarely write about companies service but I felt that this probably needed to be addressed to the people who make/own the company who promote this product so they could see what a awful job ___ does with their product.

In summary, I really need a pair of these gloves (double sided flexmeter size large) prior to me snowboarding in colorado (my job doesn't give me the ability to have a broken wrist). If there was anyway I could purchase them from your company feel free to contact me.

JL, M.D.
Tampa, FL

Where i should put put my snowboard bindings? Q and A with Tom Buchanan

2012-01-20T08:57:00.000-08:00

Snowboard Q and A with Tom Buchanan
"Snowboarding has come a long way from the olden days when a board was little more than a stiff piece of wood."

Q. i ride freestyle and i was just wondering where i should put put my bindings, equal length apart? more to my nose or more to my tail end? Thomas P.


Tom Buchanan, Okemo Resort

A. from Tom Buchanan:

Freestyle riders [snowboarders] generally like small flexible boards with a twin shape (so the nose and tail are the same size, and so that the board rides the same way in each direction). The generally favored binding position for a twin is equal distance from the center. That allows for easy spins in both directions and, comfortable switch riding for take-offs and landings.

A typical directional snowboard for all-mountain riding is designed to be ridden with a longer nose than tail, but also works well for basic freestyle.

The binding position is just part of the design. Board designers also play around with core materials, side-cut, and camber, all based around a targeted stance. The further you move the bindings from that targeted position, the weirder the sidecut, camber, and core will perform.

If you have a twin board, the binding position will be easy to set with an equal sized nose and tail. If you have an all-mountain board (the most common type of snowboard) it will typically have a longer nose than tail, and I suggest you stick to roughly whatever the manufacturer has established as the reference stance. On a directional snowboard you can push both bindings out or in a bit without adversely affecting the ride, but they should generally be moved together. There’s nothing inherently wrong with pushing your bindings all the way back, forward, or setting them asymmetrically, but that might give you a weird ride and is generally not recommended. A local shop will be happy to look at your board and offer a suggestion for the best binding position to suit your riding style and body size. If you really want to play around with binding placement, go ahead, but please understand it’ll change the way the board performs.

Snowboarding has come a long way from the olden days when a board was little more than a stiff piece of wood. The technology inside a modern snowboard is completely amazing, and that really lets us push the sport to new levels. For example, many advanced snowboards have a core made of different kinds of wood placed in very exacting patterns around the center and around the bindings, which provides engineered levels of energy absorption and pop. The sidecut is designed to make the board turn easily, but in some cases the sidecut is placed off-center from the midpoint of the board to really focus turning power. And new hybrid camber boards use camber or reverse camber shapes based on the intended binding placement.

If you are interested in how snowboards are made, and you happen to be near Burlington, Vermont, Burton offers tours of their prototype shop on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s a great tour that’ll really give you a sense of what it takes to make the world’s best snowboards. The proto shop is called Craig’s, in honor of pioneering snowboarder Craig Kelly, and is profiled on a Burton page here. There is a video on the top of the page about Craig Kelly, and then the video shows what’s up inside the proto shop. (Editor's note, see a short video of the Burton Flagship Store and more here on SnowboardSecrets.TV (3rd video from the bottom) Burton Snowboard Museum, Flagship Store, and the Dogs of Burton, VT)

If you’re wondering what binding set-up the designers have in mind for your board, or how it will ride with a weird binding placement, you can always call the manufacturer directly. Their numbers are pretty easy to find on the internet, and most snowboard companies like to chat with the riders who are shredding their boards. Burton, the company that sells more boards than any other, has a toll free Rider Services phone line at: 800-881-3138.

If you still have questions, stop by your local shop or contact the manufacturer of your board directly. Then, go out and ride!

* * *

Tom Buchanan is an instructor and staff trainer at the Jackson Gore base of Okemo Mountain Resort in Ludlow, Vermont. He teaches group and private lessons for all age riders. In the summertime he guides and teaches fly fishing for Orvis in Manchester, Vermont. He taught skydiving for 25 years and is the author of “JUMP! Skydiving made Fun and Easy” published by McGraw-Hill.

Tom Buchanan
PO Box 261
Londonderry, VT 05148
802-824-4243 (Legacy)
802.451.6097 (Mobile)
Linkedin.com/in/BuchananT

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Don't get a broken wrist snowboarding!. Snowboard gloves with wrist guards designed by a doctor, built in! www.Flexmeters.com. Help prevent snowboarder broken wrists!

Want to know more about snowboarding? Snowboard Life Videos on www.SnowboardSecrets.TV.
And read about snowboarding and see pictures of your favorite athletes including Travis Rice, Shaun White, Andy Finch, Danny Kass, Gretchen Bleiler, The Dingo, Hannah Teter, Lucas Magoon, Tara Dakides, Danny Davis, Keir Dillon, Janne Korpe, Jeremy Jones, Forest Bailey, Kelly Clark, Kevin Pearce, Lindsey Jacobellis, and MORE! on www.SnowboardSecrets.com

Snowboard News on www.SnowboardNews.TV!

Fun snowboarders, skiers, and people around age 50 and up at www.Twifties.TV

.

Leg Pain While Snowboarding Q and A with Tom Buchanan

2012-01-13T19:22:00.000-08:00


Tom Buchanan, Okemo Resort

Question from Reader Chris

January 2011

hey well i have a question im not sure you can help with but i appreciate any an all advice. i had a old set up a burton royal board an k2 bindings its what i learned on an it was good .i had it for roughly 4 years i recently upgraded to a lib tech banana magic board with burton malativa bindings.....i understood the setup would need adjusting however after rougly 2 runs down the mountain my back left thigh into my knee was beyond pain. it feel like the worst cramp i have ever felt in my life .it starts in my lower thigh an hits my knee it feels all muscle no joint or bone pain from bearing my weight. i tried to widen my stance an played with my bindings it got better but never felt ok i understand some level of this is conditioning an muscle fatigue . i dont know what to do also my right (front foot) was getting sharp pressure point pain i think my boot is to big honestly because i feel like the foot is able to move around to much inside the boot but the heel is secure .im at a loss an would appreciate any help/advice thank you

Answer and Ideas from Snowboard Instructor Tom Buchanan and His Crew at Okemo

Hey Chris:

Lauren Traub Teton (at SnowboardSecrets.com) sent me your email with a request that I offer some thoughts about what might be causing your leg pain.

I am a snowboard instructor and staff trainer at Okemo in Vermont, and have been teaching for 10 years. I actually used your question as the foundation of a training session this week, which got some of our staff thinking about different ways to assess equipment and movements. So, thanks for giving my morning session some direction!

While it’s not possible to provide a definitive solution to your leg pain without looking at your equipment and seeing you ride, I can give you some things to think about. My general impression is that the problem is probably related to your riding style rather than the equipment itself, but the way your gear is set-up might be contributing.

It would help to know how many days you have been riding this season, what your stance width and angles are, and how you are using your body to turn the board. Absent that detail, I suggest you place your bindings at the reference positions on the board (probably the centered screw holes), and then use duck angles of about 9 and -9. That’s a pretty good start point, and from there you can change things up as needed.

A duck stance is sweet because it helps center your hips and allows you to easily move your center of mass from edge to edge while remaining balanced with hips and shoulders over the board. The duck stance also helps in using your ankles to efficiently pressure the board, and to ride with small muscles in a relaxed body position.

Often we see people riding in an old-school skateboard or surf style with twisted hips while leaning back toward the tail, and then kicking the board around with the back foot. That’s most visible while riding on the toe edge and is easily spotted because the riders back arm ends up over the toe edge. Twisting and tail lean is usually aggravated by bending at the waist. That riding style tends to place a whole lot of pressure on the backleg just above the knee, and it often twists or torques the front foot causing pain to the side of the shin. It may be your old set-up allowed you to get away with that, but the new set-up with reverse camber has reduced your feeling of stability which is increasing big-muscle torque. If that’s the case, the solution would be getting centered on the board in a neutral reference stance, then using gentler movements to turn the board.

You also mentioned that your boots might be too big, which could reduce foot control and thus require big muscle movements when smaller movements would be more efficient.

Finally, as a super-long-shot, there may be a canting issue with the Burton binding on the banana board. If the camber of the board is opposed to the cant of the bindings it may create a weird pressure dynamic. I think your bindings have a removable canting bed, so that might be something to look at, but honestly, I think that's a pretty big reach. I checked with Burton to learn a bit more about their canting system and they say it's just a couple of degrees and it relieves pressure because the knee can bend as it was designed, and that in any event when the rider is on a board the camber/reverse camber flattens so the type of camber shouldn't matter. Burton says they haven't heard of a leg pain issue associated with the canting in the Malavita binding. Of course the canting is foot specific, so if the right foot is in the left binding (and vice-versa), it might create a problem.

The overall pain issue sounds sudden and extreme, and that leaves me a bit puzzled. I'm wondering if you rode at all this year before switching to the Banana Magic board and the Malavita bindings, or if you just started your season with the new gear. I hate my first day of riding because there is always some kind of pain, and my riding generally stinks. Plus I'm usually on new gear so I'm confused and struggling to find a comfortable stance. My solution is to just ride and deal with the general fatigue, while working on riding movements to improve my position on the board and reduce torque. I’ve felt shin pain on the front foot a few times at the beginning of the season, and usually handled it by shifting that binding angle a bit more toward the nose. This year I actually did the opposite and shifted the back binding toward the tail hoping it would help me stay centered on the board, and not try to cheat the turns by torqueing my body. Being able to ride centered really helps as a foundation from which to move through and around. The muscle fatigue and small pains go away after a few days of riding as my body adjusts to being on the board.

In any event, I'm guessing your problem is primarily a rider issue, rather than an equipment issue, and that a couple of hours with an instructor would sort it out. Most major resorts have instructors that can identify and address issues like this, but of course not all instructors are created equal. Naturally I'd suggest a private lesson, but if cost is a concern upper level group lessons don't usually have many people in them, and if you let the resort know that you are looking for an experienced instructor who can sort out a technical problem you’ll get a good hook-up. If that's too much of a mouthful, simply asking for an AASI certified level 2 or level 3 instructor will get a qualified instructor who can think in tech-terms.

I hope this helps. Snowboarding shouldn’t hurt, and while there may be some fatigue and minor pains on the first day of the season, it sounds like your situation is more extreme. The gear you have is top notch, so I hope you can adjust your riding style to reduce those weird pressures and make it fun and easy.

Tom Buchanan

Tom Buchanan
PO Box 261
Londonderry, VT 05148
802-824-4243 (Legacy)
802.451.6097 (Mobile)
Linkedin.com/in/BuchananT

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See Tom Weiss on his Burton Malavita riding the Park from Top to Bottom at Mountain Creek, Vernon, NJ.

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Flexmeter Snowboard Wrist Guards - More Letters from Customers

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-08:00

see the video of Flexmeter FAQs here!

"If i would have just read your info and purchased a pair of Flexmeter Gloves from day one it would have saved me two years of pain and over 80 k in medical bills."

Gino Campagnolo, State College Pa

Dec. 11, 2011

Order Flexmeter/Docmeter Snowboard Wrist Guards and Sport Wrist Guards at www.Flexmeters.com!

More letters from Flexmeter customers here, in this blog, February 22, 2011. Scroll down below the article of Lauren working on 180s at Switch Academy, Mountain Creek, NJ.

Flexmeter Wrist Guards, and Gloves with Wrist Guards built-in are designed by a doctor and proven to reduce snowboard wrist injuries. Lauren from SnowboardSecrets.com is the US importer and distributor. She receives many letters like these from customers and people who wish they had been wearing Flexmeters!

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Letters from Flexmeter Customers

Jan. 9, 2011

Hi Lauren,

Thanks for your very informative website !!

i unfortuntaly broke / fractured my right wrist at Copper Mountain on New Year's ; really silly fall !! I was wearing pair of 'short' wristguards but fell on top of wrist / Arm and the wrist guard actually made it worse ..

anyway , planning to be back in 6 weeks and looking at the flexmeter gloves v/s wrist guards ...

Do you maybe have recommendation which one would give better protection ? .. I'm thinking that the wristguards would be litlle too big to fit under my current gloves and would be nice not to have to strap on guards separately; so leaning towards the  'build in' / glove ..

Please let me know :-) // Torge

Torge, what kind of wrist guards were you wearing?

Hi Lauren,

thanks for quick reply :-) ... i was wearing Dakine wrist guards which 'safed my wrist' many times before but they are just not 'designed' for this scenario / fall ... i hit some ice and actullly slammed backwards with entire body weight on top of the wrist; the guards have a bend, hard plastic splint on bottom .. it was such a silly / preventable fall as well!

reading through your website these are surely not ideal though and the double protection glove is likle way to go ; especially since i do not want to call it a season yet ;-)..     // T

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Jan. 9, 2011

Hi Lauren.

You probably won't remember but you helped me a couple of seasons ago with some Flexmeter gloves and guards. I live in Toronto, Canada and, at the time, our family was getting ready for a ski trip in Quebec. I wanted wrist guards for the trip but, at the time, you were already out of stock of the medium guards for the season but recommended the gloves to me which have worked great.

My 13 year-old son just started snowboarding this past weekend. In the order that I placed a couple of seasons ago, I included a pair of small wrist guards in anticipation of my son starting it up in the future. I'm pretty sure they fit him when I first got them but, unfortunately, it appears that they are now too small for his hands (he could not comfortably velcro the strap that runs across the palm). I had him wear his guards this weekend even though they were a bit small but I let him try my gloves at the end of the day and, not suprisingly, he is now begging me to get him a pair too.

John Y.

Toronto

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Order Flexmeter/Docmeter Snowboard Wrist Guards and Sport Wrist Guards at www.Flexmeters.com!

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Dec. 15, 2011

Lauren,

Yes, thank you for the email. Despite my efforts to get him to get some wristguards (I even sent him the Ski-injury.com linK). No luck!

So, please go ahead and send my original order of Flexmeter Gloves with DOUBLE wrist protection (palm and dorsal side) and the Azzpad.

via FedEx two day if possible.

Thanks for you extraordinary customer service!

Tom

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> Hi Lauren ,
>
> I see you have a new glove do you have it in stock in Lg ? if so I would
> like to order one set in Lg . I have also sent my wife's best friend your
> info i think they are planning to get wrist protection for their boys they
> are starting this year ..
>
> FYI .... I had surgery two weeks ago and it looks like I'm getting better
> .I had the hardware taken out and working to get into the snow in three
> weeks . I was reactive to the implant and the Dr's are scared !!! I have
> tons of info for anyone with questions. I am going to NYU Medical center
> in Jan to see if i can be a research candidate . I went to Johns Hopkins
> and they sent me to NYU .. Lots to tell . it all end with "If i would have
> just read your info and purchased a pair of Flexmeter Gloves form day one
> it would have saved me two years of pain and over 80 k in medical bills.
>
> Gino Campagnolo
>
> State College Pa

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Jan. 21, 2010

Dear Lauren,
My son Jake is an avid snowboarder and a very active kid in general. He is almost eighteen years old and has broken nine bones in his life so far. However, he has been wearing flexmeter wrist protecting gloves for about five, maybe six years now and has never and I repeat never had a wrist problem since wearing them. He will sometime do a jump as high as thirty to thirty five feet and has at times taken falls and never hurt his wrists. He is amazed at the protection the flexmeters give him. It has really made a difference in how he feels when he snowboards. He just feels better when he wears them. Also, dealing with your company has been a real pleasure. We feel that someone really cares about the safety of snowboarders and skiers in general and the service has been amazing! Thanks for all of your help.

Billy W

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Dec. 14, 2010
Hi Lauren,

I ordered Flexmeters from you a couple of years ago and would like to try the gloves with palm and dorsal protection. Can I order a pair of large ones?

Brit D
Houston, TX
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Dec. 11, 2010
Thanks Lauren!!!!!!! You rock! Great customer service from you. Please forward to your supervisor with my compliments!
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Order Flexmeter/Docmeter Snowboard Wrist Guards and Sport Wrist Guards at www.Flexmeters.com!

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SnowboardSecretsTV on YouTube Explodes in Popularity

2011-04-20T13:41:00.000-07:00

YouTube Channel SnowboardSecretsTV Explodes in Popularity

Hits 200,000 Total Views

Westchester County, NY. April 22, 2011 - SnowboardSecretsTV Channel on YouTube hit the milestone of 200,000 views on April 22, 2011.

The YouTube Channel created by internet entrepreneur Lauren Traub Teton has exploded in popularity, with channel views up a total of 50% since the recent US Open of Snowboarding in March 2011. 164 short videos are posted on the channel that encompasses snowboard events and parties, snowboard athlete interviews, skateboard events, music festivals, and more.

Begun in March 2009, the two year old grass-roots channel on snowboarding caters solidly to the Twifties demographic, that is the fun sporty people in their late 40s and up, with a total of 49% of viewers over age 44. 64% of viewers are over age 34 and 71% are male. The channel is considered grass-roots because it is guerilla marketed on a small budget via stickers handed out at live events, and internet word of mouth, instead of using traditional expensive advertising in magazines.

All videos posted at SnowboardSecretsTV on YouTube can also be viewed easily on the TV Channel Online at www.SnowboardSecrets.TV. Ms. Teton created the format for TV Channel Online out of a need to categorize her videos easily for viewers to find on the YouTube format. “Now you can click a category and see all our ‘US Open’ videos or ‘Snowboard Athlete and Coach Interviews’ easily, and users can search our site” says Ms. Teton. “The TV Channel Online format is so good and easy to use for viewers and video makers that it’s available to license” says Teton.

Video is a relatively new medium for Lauren Traub Teton. “I bought my first video camera, a Flip Video the moment I became aware of it, and then switched to my Canon Power Shot still camera which takes incredible video and is the perfect size.” Teton was awarded the Harold Hirsch Video Journalism award Honorable Mention with many favorable comments last month by NASJA (North American Snowsports Journalists Association.)

The most popular videos on SnowboardSecrets.TV are “JR Celski, Olympic Speed Skater” interview, “US Open Snowboarding 2010 Men’s Halfpipe Interviews - Peetu, Kazu, Iouri, Scotty Lago and Janne Korpe,” “USASA Nationals 2010 Injuries from Snowboarding Slopestyle,” “Sarka Pancochova,” and “Buff Headwear at Belleayre Mountain.” A 28-second video from the US Open Snowboarding Championship in March 2011 called “Excuse me, R U Danny Davis” continues to gain in popularity on the site.

SnowboardSecrets.TV is a division of Sport Secrets LLC, which is also the parent of Flexmeters.com, the US importer and distributor of Flexmeter/Docmeter snowboard wrist guards and gloves designed by a doctor and proven to reduce snowboard and skateboard wrist injuries. Lauren Traub Teton is the inventor of these websites: SnowboardSecrets.com, SnowboardSecrets.TV, SnowboardNews.TV, SnowboardEventsCalendar.com, SnowboardRegistry.com, SnowboardProfiles.com, Flexmeters.com, Twifties.TV, TwiftiesCalendar.com, Twifties.com (coming soon), TalkingNames.com, realpeoplemarketing.com, and MusicFestCalendar.com. She says that telephones are the new TV and 3 minutes is the new 30 minute show.

Snowboard Deaths

2011-03-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

This is not a happy topic, but also needs to be known in hopes that snowboard fatalities and serious injuries can be reduced. Headlines courtesy of Google.

See previous lists of snowboard deaths on SnowboardSecrets.com
and Snowboard News Blog.

3/3/11
Snowboarding death: Santa Teresa High grad, 22, 'loved the outdoors'
San Jose Mercury News
Lt. Bryan Golmitz added that Philip Walker was found on a defined course, and said that even experienced skiers and snowboarders can fall into these "tree wells." It can be terrifying, Golmitz said, when the person in the hole sees glimmers of people ...
See all stories on this topic »


	3/29/11 Snowboarder killed in Stevens Pass avalanche was UW student The Seattle Times Urquhart said the four friends were snowboarding down the mountain when McCarthy veered off in a slightly different direction and was hit by the avalanche. ...

3/28/11
Stranded Snowboarder Found Safe
KTVN
A snowboarder braved the elements before being found alive and well by search and rescue teams after being missing since Saturday evening. Authorities say Sean Voss of San Francisco went snowboarding with a friend in the back-country near Waterhouse ...
See all stories on this topic »


3/15/11	Dead child's parents solicit snowboard solution The parents of a fallen snowboarder are putting up $20000 in reward money to ... the risk of death goes up exponentially in avalanche or tree well accidents .... Andrew Bailey's injury diagnosed as a strain · Danville teen wins Intel ... www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/12/...

3/12/11
Tree wells concealed and deadly on ski slopes
HeraldNet
By Sharon Wootton Deaths by avalanche draw the most media attention, but there's another snow-related danger that is a threat to skiers, snowboarders and ...

3/5/11
It's been a grim week
PlanetSKI.eu
On average each winter season up to 60000 people in Austria need hospital treatment as a result of an injury while skiing or snowboarding.

3/2/11
Another Snowboarding Fatality
San Francisco Chronicle (blog)
Like many of the other snowboarders who have perished, Halperin was found in a tree well, having fallen head-first into the dangerous pits that surround many trees after heavy snowfall. As always, our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Halperin's ...
See all stories on this topic »

2/27/11

Body of British avalanche victim still not found
PlanetSKI.eu
The men who survived described the avalanche as a huge wall of snow and it is ... With more snow forecast in The Alps skiers and snowboarders are being ...

PlanetSKI.eu

2/26/11
Finnish snowboarder dies and another is injured in avalanche in ...
Helsingin Sanomat
A Finnish male snowboarder died on Thursday in an avalanche near the ski resort of Bansko ... One of them sustained injuries. ”I just spoke with the injured ...

2/21/11
Search resumes for missing snowboarder on Mount Hood
OregonLive.com
By Kimberly AC Wilson, The Oregonian Search and rescue volunteers and deputies from Clackamas County Sheriff's Office remain on Mount Hood this morning, planning a sunrise push to find a missing snowboarder. The rescue effort began shortly after 3:30 ...
See all stories on this topic »

2/16/11
ACROSS the BIG SKY
Great Falls Tribune
The Gallatin County Sheriff's office said Caleb Acker was snowboarding in the ... No other injuries were reported. The avalanche danger for the Bridgers was

2/10/11
Skier who collided with tree at Sun Valley Resort dies from ...
Bellingham Herald
Sibbach said the Wednesday fatality is the first and only death at Sun ... "Like any sport, there is a risk to skiing and snowboarding," Sibbach said. ...

2/1/11

Avalanche experts caution more big slides possible like Saturday's ...
RealVail
A female snowboarder Saturday triggered an avalanche estimated at 800 feet wide and ... in Saturday's incident not resulting more serious injury or death, ...

1/31/11
Rider injured Saturday in avalanche near Vail Pass
Summit Daily News
In November, there were six human-associated slides and one death — a patroller at Wolf Creek Ski Area. October saw one slide involving a snowboarder. ...

1/28/11

Name released in Retallack death
Nelson Star
The woman killed in a snowboarding accident last month while staying at ... When their guide returned up the hill and used his avalanche transceiver to ...

1/27/11

California Ski and Snowboard Accidents and Injuries - California ...
Accidents caused by negligent maintenance or insufficient avalanche control; ... Skiers and snowboarders can protect themselves from serious head injury by ... has successfully handled California ski accident injury and wrongful death ...
www.california-injury-lawyer-blog.com/.../california-ski-and-s...

Student killed at Lake Tahoe without Snowboard Helmet – SkiHelmets ...
A 22-year-old woman was killed Saturday afternoon in a snowboard accident at ... It is also the third death this winter at a Lake Tahoe ski resort. ... VIDEO: Ski Helmets reduce injury risk. Mr Private said: This article is ... Ski Vacations said: Helmets are useful expecially for extreme skiing and avalanches, ...
www.skihelmets.org/.../student-killed-at-lake-tahoe-without-sn...

1/26/11
Snowboarder dies in accident at Lake Tahoe's Granlibakken resort
Examiner.com
A young woman from Oakland died in a snowboarding accident on Saturday afternoon at Granlibakken resort in TahoeCity. Rahsheka Keith, 22, died when she hit ...
See all stories on this topic »

1/24/11
Snowboarder seriously injured during Crotched Mountain event
Boston Globe
By Taylor M. Miles, Globe Correspondent A 21-year-old snowboarder from Billerica was flown to a Boston hospital with serious injuries after he fell ...
See all stories on this topic »

1/21/11
Haines man recounts 21-hour brush with death
TheNewsTribune.com
Doctors told him he would never snowboard again and that he may not be able to return to his job as a carpenter. "It might be time to go back to school. ...
See all stories on this topic »

Galena High teenager who died at Mount Rose Ski Tahoe remembered as 'nice ...
Reno Gazette Journal
By Steve Timko • and Jaclyn O'Malley • January 21, 2011 Relatives of a 15-year-old snowboarder who died Wednesday after an accident at Mt. Rose-Ski Tahoe ...
See all stories on this topic »

1/13/11
Avalanche, ski accidents claim 3 lives
Flathead Publishing Group
TRAGEDY STRUCK Whitefish Mountain Resort again last weekend when a snowboarder and skier were killed in separate incidents at the ski resort. ...
See all stories on this topic »

1/12/11
North American Tree Well Fatalities Are Sober Start To Winter
OnTheSnow.com
Tree well deaths stand in a class by themselves known as Non-Avalanche Related Snow Immersion Deaths (NARSID). In short, a skier or snowboarder falls upside ...
See all stories on this topic »

1/11/11
3 men die while recreating in northwestern Montana
ABCMontana
Twenty-nine-year-old Scott Allen Meyer of Kalispell died in a snowboarding accident Saturday while a 68-year-old skier collapsed on an intermediate run and ...
See all stories on this topic »

12/30/10
Weather Expected To Help In Search For Snowboarder
KCRA Sacramento
Clear weather today is expected to help searchers as they continue to look for a snowboarder missing in the Alpine Meadows area since Tuesday. ...
See all stories on this topic »

3/13/10
Snowboarder was living his dream in Colo.
Northwest Herald
By SARAH SUTSCHEK - ssutschek@nwherald.com SPRING GROVE – The family of a Spring Grove snowboarder killed in an avalanche Wednesday said he had been living ...
See all stories on this topic

*****************************************************************************

1/15/10
Grand Marais snowboarder's body found near Vail, Colo.
Duluth News Tribune (registration)
The worst fears have come true for family and friends of missing snowboarder Jasper “Jaz” McGrath, as Eagle County, Colo., authorities confirmed Thursday ...
See all stories on this topic

1/9/10
Sketch of suspect in snowboard collision
Press-Enterprise (blog)
The San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has released a composite sketch of the suspect in a snowboarding collision that injured a 9-year-old girl ...
See all stories on this topic

1/7/10
Snowboarder Kevin Pearce is regaining consciousness; has been upgraded from ...
Los Angeles Times (blog)
Snowboarder Kevin Pearce has been upgraded from critical to serious condition, according to his doctors at the University of Utah hospital. ...
See all stories on this topic

12/30/09
Hofstra student killed in Vt. snowboard accident
Newsday (subscription)
Alex Westphal, 20, a sophomore business student at Hofstra University who played bass guitar and piano, died Christmas Eve in a snowboarding accident in ...
See all stories on this topic

6/17/09
Bangor sailor loses way on Mount Adams
Seattle Times - United States
Later he heard a rock fall from the peak and a rustling sound like a snowboard, and thought a rock formation was his friend Miller coming to rescue him. ...
See all stories on this topic

6/3/09

PlanetSKI.eu

Body of snowboarder found
PlanetSKI.eu - The Alps,UK
It's believed the man was walking with his snowboard when he triggered the avalanche. His body was found at the bottom of the Dar waterfall. ...

6/1/09

U.S. Snowboarding Mourns Death of Karine Ruby | Solspot
By Snowboard Mag
PARK CITY, Utah (May 30) - U.S. Snowboarding officials and athletes mourned the death of French Olympic champion Karine Ruby, 31, who was killed May 29 in a climing accident on Mont Blanc near Chamonix, France. Ruby, one of the great ...
Solspot - http://solspot.com/

5/31/09

Pro Ride End of Season Newsletter 2009

Pro Ride's toughest season is drawing to a close. On January 20th 2009 Anthony Crute; founder of Pro Ride, coach, friend and inspiration to us all, passed away in St John's hospital, Vancouver. To any of you who ever met Anthony you will know that this has been a tragic loss to family, friends, campers and the snowboarding community worldwide. You will also know that after 11 years of hard work making the camp what it is today Anthony would have wanted Pro Ride to keep on rocking. Let's use his inspiration, guidance and zest for life as motivation to push our limits and live life to the max... through us all, Ants rides on.

5/31/09

Snowboard champ dies in climbing accident, aged 31
Taipei Times - Taiwan
Ruby, who had competed at the highest level since she was a teenager, won two Olympic medals, six world championship titles and 67 snowboard World Cup ...
See all stories on this topic

4/15/09

Giving New Meaning to Snowboarding
Bostonist - Boston,MA,USA
Two unfortunate—or lucky, depending on how you look at it—fellows rode an avalanche down Mount Washington this weekend. The climbers slid 800 feet ...

4/10/09

EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Rescued Snowboarder
KOHD - Bend,OR,USA
Wednesday morning, Euteneier had parked at Mount Bachelor, heading on foot towards Todd Lake for some back country snowboarding and to celebrate his 30th ...
See all stories on this topic

Lost backcountry snowboarder rescued near Todd Lake
Bend Weekly - Bend,OR,USA
... disoriented during a snowboarding and hiking trip, Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordinator Sgt. Scott Shelton reported. ...
See all stories on this topic

4/8/09

Hypothermia killed Hatcher Pass boarder
Anchorage Daily News - Anchorage,AK,USA
25 when he fell behind his brother while the two were snowboarding, Matthew D. Theodore, 25, for reasons that remain unknown. Troopers say they found a 750 ...
See all stories on this topic

3/31/09

Snowboarder's death ruled misadventure
The Dominion Post - Wellington,New Zealand
Adele Sawyer, 29, a graphic designer originally from Manchester in England, was snowboarding with two others in the Organ Pipes, an advanced section of ...
See all stories on this topic

3/11/09

CORRECTION: Man critically injured in snowboarding accident at at ...
New Richmond News - New Richmond,WI,USA
Although we do not have any obligation to monitor this board, we reserve the right at all times to check this board and to remove any information or ...

Lake Elmo man seriously injured in snowboarding accident
Lake Elmo Leader - Lake Elmo,MN,USA
A Lake Elmo man has suffered serious injuries following a snowboarding accident late Saturday afternoon. Caleb Szajner, 22, of Lake Elmo was at Trollhaugen ...
See all stories on this topic

Snowboarder dies following fall at Trollhaugen
River Towns - River Falls,WI,USA
Szajner was snowboarding at Trollhaugen Ski Area in Dresser, Wis. on Saturday when he attempted a stunt with his board. According to reports, he landed in ...
See all stories on this topic

2/21/09

Autopsy Conducted On Snowboarder
MyMotherLode.com - Sonora,CA,USA
More details are known about the death of snowboarder Aline Christina Martins at Dodge Ridge Monday afternoon. Deputy Paul Tualla with the Sheriff's Office ...
See all stories on this topic

1/21/09

Name of snowboarder who died at Bridger released
Billings Gazette - MT, USA
By AP BOZEMAN - The name of a 32-year-old Bozeman man who died while snowboarding at Bridger Bowl has been released. Garden City Mortuary said Russell T. ...
See all stories on this topic

1/16/09

Snowboarding death defied odds
Olean Times Herald - olean,New york,USA
By Brian Lothridge ISCHUA - A 19-year-old Ischua man who was killed Tuesday after he was struck on Miller Hill Road while snowboarding was “in the wrong ...
See all stories on this topic

1/15/09

Mother of Snowboarder Killed in Accident Remembers her Son.
WKBW-TV - Buffalo,NY,USA
It is a sad reminder what happened on this road, a snowboard still on the side of it. Snowboarding was a passion of Adam O'Neill's. ...
See all stories on this topic

See previous lists of snowboard deaths on SnowboardSecrets.com
and Snowboard News Blog.

Snowboard Contest in Vancouver - $20,000 Purse!

2011-03-23T19:40:00.000-07:00

The Quiksilver Showdown Over the City is s Grouse Mountain’s marquee snowboard event and one of Canada’s top snowboarding events, It returns to the Peak of Vancouver this weekend (March 25 and 26). The public is encouraged to come up and watch top international and local snowboard talent competing for $20K in cash and prizes. This year’s event has a 4-Star ranking as part of the Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour, which is the premier event circuit in the world. The weekend consists of Friday Qualifiers, Friday Night Jib Session, the Saturday Park Session, and many other festivities throughout the weekend.

Showdown Over the City i Returning for the fourth time after taking an Olympic break in 2010 the event will showcase the very best in men’s snowboarding.

The Contest is broken down into two male specific categories: amateur and pro. Amateurs will compete on Friday, March 25 to earn a spot competing against the pro category Saturday, March 26. There is $20,000 total prize money up for grabs- $10,000 for first place, $5,000 for second, $2,000 for third and $3,000 for a rider judged best trick.

Showdown Over the City is a TTR World Snowboard Tour sanctioned event. It is a ‘4 Star’ event helping it garner increased media exposure and access to the world’s best snowboarders. TTR is the world’s foremost governing body for professional snowboarding.

New this year is for spectators is an onsite BBQ and Beer Garden. Additionally, Ford will be activating a test drive program at the base of the Skyride and Mervin Manufacturing and DC will be offering on mountain demos. Mountain guests who are looking to pick up some great new gear will receive up to 50% off all Quiksilver and Roxy products in Outfitters. Customers who spend over $50.00 will also receive a free gift with purchase.

See our exclusive video Slopestyle Battle 2011 - Willet vs. McMorris, US Open Snowboard Championship on SnowboardSecrets.TV and don't forget to subscribe to us on YouTube for more goodies like this!

We've got a video interview with Eric Willet and Mark McMorris who will be competing in the Showdown.

US Open 2011 Snowboarding Championships VIDEOS posted!

2011-03-14T17:21:00.000-07:00

We're back from the US Open Snowboarding Championships this weekend, and we've posted EIGHT videos of our adventures there.

You can see them on www.SnowboardSecrets.TV and it would be great if you can check out one or more. Our videos are currently among the highest ranking ones for the Open this year (and last) and we're trying to stay up their in the rankings by having lots of happy viewers like you! And if you like them, please spread the word! THANKS! Lauren

Excuse me, R U Danny Davis?? @ US Open Snowboard 2011

Our favorite of the videos is the absurd sounding "Excuse me, R U Danny Davis?? @ US Open Snowboard 2011 It's just 28 seconds, but Danny's kind friendly smile just caught me off guard and I couldn't think of anything else to say!

US Open Snowboard Championship 2011 - Friday! Pre-Cap

This video "pre-cap" takes us through Friday at the Burton US Open Snowboarding Championship 2011 at Stratton Mountain, VT. We meet Slopestyle Winners Eric Willet and Jamie Anderson for a chat before their contests. Luke Haddock, Ulrik Badertscher, Yale Cousino, and Sondre Tiller say a few words. We have a word with Slopestyle men's winners Mark McMorris, Chas Guldemond and near winner Jason Dubois as well as ladies winners Enni Rukajarvi and Silje Norendal. New " voice of the US Open" John Weaver tells us how he got his gig in the longer interview version. Lauren asks the mustachioed man the absurd question of the day "Are you Danny Davis?" and ... he is! We check out the rail jam set-up by daylight and "The Jam" action outdoors and in after dark. Then it's blacklight and dancing at the Burton Rider's Party. Video by Lauren Traub Teton exclusive for SnowboardSecrets.TV.

US Open Snowboard Championship 2011 - Saturday

Saturday at the US Open. See what happened besides the main halfpipe comp! A glimpse of Kazu Kohibo's unheard of victory lap down the MIDDLE of the halfpipe. Junior Jam practice. A drum circle in the red Burton tent. American Flatbread Company's yummy pizza and Smoking Bowls brings the soup shack to the slope. OP - aka Chris Toupence tours us around his 2012 Turbine Boardwear jacket in sunny lemon and lime and DaKine gloves.He drops hints about upcoming projects Haywire and American Snowboard Training Center - ASTC.And we dip into the show by The Sound onstage. Video by Lauren Traub Teton exclusive for SnowboardSecrets.TV.

Eric Willet and Mark McMorris Battle for the Slopestyle US Open 2011

US Open Snowboard Championship Slopestyle Battle 2011 - Willet vs. McMorris Eric Willet and Mark McMorris battle it out in the last runs of the Slopestyle. Before that Eric Willet gives us the low-down on the next day's upcomng US Open Slopestyle Comp and gives a shout out to his home mountain of Breckenridge, CO. This summer he plans to swing through Windell's, Camp of Champions, and hopefully New Zealand. He's on an Omatic Snowboard and got his start competing in USASA. Mark McMorris has been riding for Burton since October and stunned the world last week by landing the first backside triple cork 1440 trick at a TransWorld Snowboarding shoot, called "The Park Session," at Snowmass, Colo., on March 2, 2011. More at http://snowboardnews.tv/videos.php?category_id=43 Video by Lauren Traub Teton exclusive for SnowboardSecrets.TV.

Chas Guldemond, Michaela Davis-Meehan, and John Weaver - Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championship

Meet Michaela Davis-Meehan, Slope Styler from New Castle, Australia, who competes in the Rev Tour, Junior World Competition. European Open, and Australian Open. She rides for Billabong, K2, and Smith. Meet John Weaver, new "Voice of the US Open, who shares his secrets on the career path to announcing the Worldwide Opens. And meet local favorite and 3rd place winner in the 2011 slopestyle here, Chas Guldemond (at 3:17) Video by Lauren Traub Teton exclusive for SnowboardSecrets.TV

US Open Snowboarding 2011 Athlete Interviews

Luke Haddock interviewed by Ralph C. about The Jam plan, Jason Dubois from Quebec who came in 4th in Slopestyle. Meet Slopestyle ladies winners Enni Rukajarvi and Silje Norendal, and TTR Women's overall winner Jamie Anderson, at this breakfast interview. Video by Lauren Traub Teton exclusive for SnowboardSecrets.TV

Snow Fashionable at the US Open 2011 - Teen Style!

Meet Meghan Tierney who has appeared in our video "USASA Nationals 2010 Injuries from Snowboarding Slopestyle". Also Elijah from Manchester, Mary Kay from North Bennington, Jordan, Emily, Jaf/Elliot from North Bennington, and Mr. Green Jacket. See Meghan's debut on SnowboardSecrets.TV at http://www.snowboardsecrets.tv/videos.php?category_id=26 Video by Lauren Traub Teton exclusive for SnowboardSecrets.TV

The Jam Rail Jam at the Burton US Open Snowboard Championships

We show you the setup by daylight, and in action after dark. We talk to Sean Ryan, on crutches, Shaun Murphy, Chris Rotax, Brandon Reis, and Kade Madsen about the rail jam. And get an unsolicited shout out for wearing tailbone protection! Azzpadz at Flexmeters.com. Video by Lauren Traub Teton exclusive for SnowboardSecrets.TV

The videos we posted are:

The Jam Rail Jam at the Burton US Open Snowboard Championships

Snow Fashionable at the US Open 2011 - Teen Style!

US Open Snowboarding 2011 Athlete Interviews

Chas Guldemond, Michaela Davis-Meehan, and John Weaver - Burton U.S. Open Snowboarding Championship

Eric Willet and Mark McMorris Battle for the Slopestyle US Open 2011

US Open Snowboard Championship 2011 - Saturday

US Open Snowboard Championship 2011 - Friday! Pre-Cap

=========================================================================

Prevent Sports Wrist Injuries.

Flexmeters, designed by a doctor.

Wrist guards, gloves. Azzpadz Tailbone Protectors.

at www.Flexmeters.com.

Shaun White Drops Out, Mark McMorris Blazes New Ground

2011-03-09T10:07:00.000-08:00

Breaking Snowboard News - See it all on SnowboardNews.T V!

Mark McMorris lands first backside triple cork 1440

Snowboarder Mark McMorris, from Regina, Canada and riding for Max Henault's O'Neill Snowboard Team, has landed the first-ever backside triple cork 1440 at a TransWorld Snowboarding shoot, called "The Park Session," at Snowmass, Colo., on March 2, according to ESPN.com.

Leading the progession in spins besides McMorris are Sebastien Toutant, also riding for O'Neill. Torstein Horgmo, and Sage Kotsenberg are pushing spin progression bigtime as well as Kevin Jones, laying it down in the backcountry. Click these links to see interviews.

Shaun White Drops OUT of U.S. Open 2011

ESPN March 7, 2011 Two-time Olympic gold medal winner Shaun White will not compete at the U.S. Open Snowboarding Championships in Stratton, VT., this week, because he requires foot surgery.
More Shaun White videos here. Shaun White Photos on SnowboardSecrets.com here.

US Open 2010 Videos and US Open 2011 Coming March 11- March 13

2011-02-25T19:40:00.000-08:00

US Open Videos from 2010 on
http://www.snowboardsecrets.tv/videos.php?category_id=27

We've got interviews with Kade Madsen, Tim Humphries, Brandon Reis, Jeremy Thomson, Gabe McGovern, Shane Fortier, Ryan Paris, Graham Hoffman.

Also featuring Forest Bailey at the rail jam, and interview with Johnny Lazz after the rail jam (collision.) We've got Bud Keene, who was Shaun White's and the rest of the US Snowboard Team's Olympic Coach. And we've got Scotty Lago moments after he won and on his way to and from the podium.

Also an interview with Peetu Piiroinen who is TTR Ticket to Ride Winner for the 2nd year in a row, Kazuhiro Kokubo, Janne Korpi, and Scotty Lago. Cameos by IPod Iouri Podladtchikov, and Jake Burton.

info from the Burton US Open site:

General Event Info

Welcome to the 29th annual US Open Snowboarding Championships website. Be sure to check the schedule and formats as we have made a few changes. Also, the Mammoth Grand Prix has changed their schedule and Sunday is now their weather day. Remember, HELMETS ARE MANDATORY.

The 29th annual US Open Snowboarding Championships is the event of the season and one that you don’t want to miss!

Whether you are a competitor or a spectator, come take part in the longstanding US Open tradition at Stratton Mountain, Vermont.

But, be sure to keep reading as there are some cool new things going on this year that you won’t want to miss.

*First, be sure to mark your calendar because the USO is a WEEK EARLIER THIS YEAR!! The USO will take place on March 7-13, 2011.

*There is a whole new schedule, with the event kicking off with competition starting on MONDAY and the semi finals and finals for both halfpipe and slopestyle will be on DIFFERENT DAYS!

*ALL COMPETITORS MUST NOW WEAR A HELMET!

*Judges will be using the new Snowboard Live Scoring System (“SLS”) for the halfpipe and slopestyle semifinals and finals. Spectators on site will be able to see the SLS system first hand on the big screen, while viewers at home will be able to see SLS on the webcast. For more info on SLS, check the SLS overview in the “Info” section.

*New Formats! All of the BGOS events are using new formats for the finals. Now, finals for both slopestyle and halfpipe will consist of 10 men and 6 women, where the best of three runs wins. Men's Qualifiers for both HP and SS now consists of 30 riders.

*The Halfpipe and Slopestyle courses are MOVING! Both venues will be moving down the hill towards the sponsor village for better spectator viewing!

*Mini is the new presenting sponsor of the USO. They will be onsite with cool cars to check out and will be providing some great awards to the riders.

*The sponsor village will have a whole new look and feel. Food vendors, bigger sponsor set ups….all creating a more festival-like vibe.

As in year’s past, the USO is not only the final stop of the Burton Global Open Series, where the top 3 male and top 3 female riders in the series will split the $200,000 BGOS cash purse, but the USO is also the culminating stop on the men’s and women’s TTR World Snowboard Tour titles.

The USO is an “open” event, which means anyone can enter! Preference is given to the top 250 riders on the TTR ranking list. So if you have not taken part in a TTR event, be sure to check one out! Registration runs from December 7, 2010 to February 1, 2011. Click here for more details!

Schedules, formats, prize breakdown, venue info can all be found within this site. And be sure to check back for updates as they are posted.

See you at Stratton for the 2011 US Open Snowboarding Championships!
from http://opensnowboarding.com/Information.aspx?openid=USO
*******************************************************************************************************
By the way,

"Fortune Clothing™ is a newly developing brand aimed at producing wicked clothing accessories for snowboarders, skateboarders etc! For more information on the line, send email to: fortune.clothing@gmail.com. And tell them you saw it at SnowboardSecrets.com!

Steppin' Out with Lauren

2011-02-22T12:11:00.000-08:00


Alan Tecchio's column "SnoNation" in Steppin' Out, February 16, 2011

Enjoyed this issue! Besides the wonderful coverage of SnowboardSecrets.TV and the MountainCreek Switch Academy Video, and Tom Weiss Videos in Alan Tecchio's colum SnoNation, there was a no -holds barred interview with Capri Anderson talking about Charlie Sheen. Seldom do we see such candor. Nice photos of her too.
You can read Steppin' Out online in their easy flip format here.

Flexmeter Wrist Guards, Letters from Customers

2011-02-22T07:07:00.000-08:00

Flexmeter Wrist Guards, Letters from Customers

As the sole importer and distributor of Flexmeter Wrist Guards and Gloves for snowboarding and other sports, I receive hundreds of letters from customers and soon to be customers. The injury letters written by people who were not wearing wrist protection and are now ready to start are heart-wrenching and I have decided to share them.

And fortunately, a lot of the letters are from happy Flexmeter and Azzpadz Tailbone Protector customers, so they will lighten up the mix. Some are far away! Read on!

Lauren
www.Flexmeters.com
and www.SnowboardSecrets.com
and SnowboardSecrets.TV

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Dear Lauren,
My son Jake is an avid snowboarder and a very active kid in general. He is almost eighteen years old and has broken nine bones in his life so far. However, he has been wearing flexmeter wrist protecting gloves for about five, maybe six years now and has never and I repeat never had a wrist problem since wearing them. He will sometime do a jump as high as thirty to thirty five feet and has at times taken falls and never hurt his wrists. He is amazed at the protection the flexmeters give him. It has really made a difference in how he feels when he snowboards. He just feels better when he wears them. Also, dealing with your company has been a real pleasure. We feel that someone really cares about the safety of snowboarders and skiers in general and the service has been amazing! Thanks for all of your help.

Billy Weber 1/21/10
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Lauren, I LOVE the gloves. Am returning the unused wrist guards to you for credit. Thank you again! TP, 2/23/11
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Tell you what those guards are awesome! I could hardly feel them when I had them on! Definately a must for park riders! I couldn't imagine
riding without wearing these!

Thanks again!
Russ 1/8/10
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Hi Lauren,

I recently ordered a pair of flexmeter single wrist guards (size medium) from snowboardsecrets.com and I love them! I feel so much more confident as a beginner snowboarder with these wrist guards!

Unfortunately, during my second time using them, I lost one of the guards (the lefthand one). I was wondering if there is anyway I can purchase just one replacement guard?

Thank you,
C.H.
2.22.11
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Good day, how much will be the shipping cost for the Flexmeter All Season Wrist Guards with dorsal splint AND light palm protection (medium) specifically in Cebu City, Philippines and how many estimated days will it arrive?

Can I use these while wearing a sliding glove while I longboard??

-V.S., 2.22.11

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lauren,
I am currently writing you with a recently repaired broken wrist (4 days ago pins and a plate) from a snowboarding accident. I did not even realize there were wrist guards but now i do and have placed an order for the flexmeter guards and the azzguards as I fell ALOT on my tailbone too! I plan on getting back on my board as soon as ai can but are there any other body protectors (besides a helmet) that you reccommend for a newbie so I don"t end up in this predeicament again? Thanks for your help.

A. 2.2.11
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awesome, thank you Lauren! I don't recall the Fed Ex email but it might have slipped into my junk email folder.

I'm gonna be safer on the mountain this time, with these wrist guards in place.

Bill 1.11.11

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That is more than fair.. I swear by the gloves and am excited about having a 2^nd pair now! I just .sent you a payment of $xx through PayPal..The pair of Large gloves I use are a perfect fit.

R.S. 1.4.11

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Lauren,

I can't tell you how happy we are with the Flexmeter wrist guards. This is my son's second pair because he grew out of his first set. I never get any complaints from him about wearing them because they fit right under his snowboard gloves. So many of his friends have broken their wrists snowboarding, but, it's worth the price for a little piece of mind to know that, in the long run, I'm going to save a lot of money on medical costs, due to a broken wrist.

Thanks again for your great service.

S.H. 11.29.11

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Hi ya

Need another AZZPADZ Large...will pay pal next week...$56US plua how much for (slow) delivery..I think it was $9 extra last time.Just need total........... I bought a pair off you awhile back and there great..THX

D D 8/1/10

AUSTRALIA

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Hey Lauren,

Just wanted to let you know I received the tailbone protector today and test drove it. Very happy with it and how quickly it arrived here. Many more ass falls to be had and survived thanks to you.

Thanks Lauren I look forward to using it and not being scared of falling on my ass anymore. Maybe ill sell my snowboard and just ride that down!

Thanks,
Ryan 7/20/10

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Thanks again and am very very excited about these guards as I do have smaller wrists and the additional protection these look to afford is worth every penny to me so long as they hold up a few seasons and also like that I may have no need of the Brace>Cinch>Glove>Cinch and vice verse tango of gloves and guards anymore. I am also hyper mobile and the flexibility of this product has me giddy with excitement due to braces, guards and protective gear in general commonly restricting my movement a great deal, causing me to move abnormally and at times can even become painful (making wearing safety protection in the first place a discouraging prospect so as bad as it might sound the flexibility was one of the key selling points for me, the other was the professional, friendly assistance you offered concerning my purchase). Again, thanks very much for your time and hope to see you and your family (you said your husband was like 6' 7"? yeesh way to make me feel even shorter. haha) on the slopes.
Live, Learn, Laugh and Love,

Steven 7/13/10

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You have a great product.

D.M.

SF, CA 1/10

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Yes I got them and they're great.Thank you Lauren.
N.M. 1/25/10
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Thank you so much for your effort and attention.

I will send back the one pair of large guards.

My older son wore the other pair and said they didn't bother him at all while he was snowboarding.

What outstanding service!
You really have gone above and beyond.
I am really impressed!
Thanks so much

L. A. 1/14/10

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Thanks again for all the work over christmas. There are not many
people who would have worked as hard to help so Thanks! I have
talked to the facility manager here and everyone is keeping an eye out
for the fedex guy on Monday. Have you gotten a tracking number from
this order?

Thanks again,
Russ 12/26/09
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Lauren,

I received the Large Flexmeter gloves. Thank you so much. He leaves
Friday and will be having a fun, SAFE time snowboarding this weekend at
Wolf Creek!!!! I did not find a return envelope in the package for me to
return the Mediums. Thank you again for making sure he had them for his trip!
LC 1/14/10
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Hi-

This is a new order. We are pleased with the first order and like the comfort and quality of the wristguard.

Thanks, - K 12.20/09

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You did have a pair of mediums in stock that I bought right after I sent
my initial email. I've received them and got back on the ice shortly
after that and they are working well - falling doesn't even bother me.

Thanks for following up!

Kris 10/21/09

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Lauren,

The medium wrist guards fit best and I shipped the smalls out yesterday morning.

I got to try out my new guards last night. They were very comfortable and I felt better about skating knowing I had that extra protection.

I'm a novice skater and I hit the ice awkwardly about a month ago, and sprained my right wrist. I am stuck in a splint for another four weeks and I really don't want to re-injure it, or worse yet, have both wrists out of commission at the same time.

I hope the guards aren't put to the test too many times, but if they are, I think I'll come out of any falls much better than I did the first time. I only wish I had thought to get guards before my first session on the ice.

Thanks,
B. 5/13/09

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Boy, am I glad to get my Flexmeter #3s!!! My husband and I are both Trikkers (a 3-wheeled, human-powered cambering vehicle; see videos at www.trikketampastore.com). Since both of us make our living typing and working on the computer, Flexmeters are mandatory protective gear in our book, right up there with helmets! If you stop to think about it, the cost of a pair of Flexmeters is heckuva lot less than just one visit to the emergency room.

Regards,

Terry Lee Gonzalez

Tampa, FL 10/20/08

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Hi Lauren,

The gloves just arrived by FedEx so will be able to take them with me to London tomorrow.

Once again thank you for your amazing customer service and for caring enough about people that you have a website focusing on boarder safety.

Best regards,

Chris 3/17/08

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Hi I used the gloves yestarday, I am very pleased with them, they look great, are very comftable adn they feel top quality

thanks
best
d 3/10/08

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Nashoba Valley Ski Area Visit - Slopes, Lunch, Rail Jam, Tubing

2011-01-17T12:28:00.000-08:00

By Lauren Traub Teton

January 17, 2011

Our day at Nashoba Valley with Pam Fletcher was the kind of post-snowstorm bluebird day that skiers and photographers fantasize about. And Pam was one of the most charming, enthusiastic and welcoming mountain ambassadors and tour guide/teachers I have encountered. I had spent some time learning to ride at Nashoba ten years ago. The big surprises to me this time were the amped-up terrain park and the fantastic restaurant, The Outlook. Our group swooned at the surprise and variety of appealing choices on the menu! This is no fancified cafeteria. It is a destination restaurant and we enjoyed items like Wedge Salad with Gorgonzola, bacon bits and sirloin tips, fried calamari with hot cherry peppers, sushi grade tuna, and Signature Salad with roasted pairs and goat cheese. The vegan in our group was easily accommodated with a customized lunch. Picture windows overlook the slopes and happily there is a roaring wood fireplace. Nashoba Valley patriarch Alan Fletcher regaled us with stories of early days with no electricity, then tow ropes, and rocky hills to clear. It was hard to imagine while looking out at the smooth snowy hills populated by hundreds of grade school kids eagerly learning.

We had a thorough beginner's tour of the terrain parks, mini called Playground and full-sized called Sundance and were encouraged by Pam to slide the box on skis or board. The professionalism and resources of Park Manager Keith Kreischer and his crew were an amazing contrast to the days ten years ago when my friends who worked in the ski shop were the ones out digging the jumps in their spare time and begging for more features and support.

Keith explained that he has been to Cutter's Camp which takes place at Mount Snow and Mount Hood each year and that every change in terrain park features has to be documented. His crew spends a lot of time "keeping it fresh" by changing up the features of the park each week to please the local repeat clientele. They encourage the learning curve by offering a group called "The Gathering" where kids aged 12 and under ride with the park crew and learn tricks with coaching and supervision.

The park crew fabricates the rails and boxes and had a one-of-a kind "U-Box" reminiscent of a skate ramp covered with P-Tex. Park Ranger Bill insisted it was easy, but none of us tried it. After the park tour we warmed up at The Outlook over their signature apple crisp. I went back to Nashoba Sunday for the Freeride Series Rail Jam, and to take a look at the largest tubing park in New England. And I rode “Nashoba Trail,” a winding gem of a trail as exciting as a boardercross run. Last summer the new lakeside Tiki Bar at Nashoba was a huge hit, with some people driving 50 miles on opening day to check it out. Nashoba Valley hopes to welcome back ESWA next year.

See this article come to life in the accompanying Nashoba video here

The SnowboardSecrets Szine - Rail Jam, Discount Lift Tickets, Costa Rica...

2010-12-30T06:19:00.000-08:00

The Snowboard Szine (say "zeen)

By Lauren Traub Teton

Issue #60 12/30/10
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In This Issue
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1. 3^rd Rail Jam – 8 Stops – Killington and Mountain Creek Now

2. SnowboardSecrets.TV.
3. Discounted Snowboard Lift Tickets

4. Flexmeters Snowboard Wrist Guard Video
5. Twifties – Costa Rica Trip

Partner with us on your project, whatever it is. We’re always open to ideas. Just hit “reply.” And health, abundance and happiness in 2011.
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1. 3^rd Rail Jam – 8 Stops – Killington and Mountain Creek Now

You may already know from my writing and videos that I consider rail jams the best snowboard spectator event and the most fun to watch. The action is close, the tricks are unbelievable, there’s music, and great vibe from the crowd. You don’t have to be a snowboarder or skier to get close to the action because it’s at the base of the mountain unlike at most other snowboard events. But do wear thick soled warm boots with tread!

SnowboardSecrets.TV, my video channel, is proud to be a sponsor of the 3^rd Rail Jam Tour, with 8 stops nationwide. The tour encompasses a freestyle hip-hop concert judged by top DJs and urban graffiti as well as the rail jam. The “Battle Below Zero” will have as many as eight MCs performing their best tracks and being judged on their swagger, flow, style, lyricism, and their ability to rock the crowd.

I am headed to Killington, Vermont for the first stop, this Saturday New Year’s Day, at the main base by the Gondola. Action starts at noon. Sign up on the site for the after-party, at the Wobbly Barn at 9 p.m. You know there will be some great music and dancing there!

Next Sat. Jan. 8 the 3^rd Rail Jam action is at Mountain Creek, Vernon NJ. Come over and say hi to me and get some stickers. I’ll be wearing the crazy jacket from Grenade that you’ve seen on SnowboardSecrets.com.

http://snowboardsecretsblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/under-armour-3rd-rail-jam-competition.html.

Rider registration is open and the other stops on the tour are:

· January 22, Raging Buffalo, Ill.

· January 29, Echo Mountain, Colo.

· February 5, Arizona Snowbowl, Ariz.

· February 12, Bogus Basin, Idaho

· February 19, Mountain High, Calif.

· February 26, Beech Mountain, N.C.

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2. SnowboardSecrets.TV.

Speaking of www.SnowboardSecrets.TV, the site is absolutely rocking! I’ve posted 132 videos of snowboard life, athlete interviews, event and party coverage, favorite lodgings. snowboard safety and comfort tips, USASA, snowboard fashion, and more!

We’ve had almost 150,000 views. Check it out, it’s organized so you can find things easily, using the TV Channel Online (TVCOL.TV) interface template that we developed (and can license to you so you can get a video or article indexing site like this up in a week! And posting videos is super easy!)

Want to see inside the Xandau Snow Park in the Meadowlands, NJ, that’s in the news? We have the ONLY video online of the inside at http://www.snowboardsecrets.tv/videos_sub.php?category_id=33&parent_id=32..
Rails to Riches 2010 Rail Jam at Killington? It’s there. Snow Film Festival NYC, it’s there too on www.SnowboardSecrets.TV!

We also launched a new TVCOL.TV site YESTERDAY called www.SnowboardNews.TV. If you’ve got news and/or video on a resort, product, event, or other, we’ll post it! It’s $20 and your item will be seen!

Partner with us on your project, whatever it is. We’re always open to ideas. Just hit “reply.”

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3. Discounted Snowboard Lift Tickets and Lodging from Mountain Sports Club - Save $10 Here Now!

See the video where we interview the founder of Mountain Sports Club, and John Siewierski shows you how to save money on lift tickets, lodging, dining, golf and more. Then click the link and use the code below the video to save $10 on the card. It pays for itself and saves you real money the fist time out!

http://www.snowboardsecrets.tv/video.php?id=225

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4. Flexmeters Snowboard Wrist Guard Video

Don’t wait until AFTER you sustain a wrist injury to wear wrist guards!!

I have been the importer and distributor of Flexmeter Snowboard Wrist Guards and Gloves for over 5 years. Flexmeters, by Docmeter, are a line of snowboard wrist guards recommended on Ski-Injury.com where it says:

“My personal preferences would be the Flexmeter or [other] systems - both of these have been designed by doctors active in the management of snow sports injuries and both have considerable data to support their effectiveness.”

http://www.ski-injury.com/prevention/wrist_guards

I get tons of testimonials from my customers on the Flexmeter Wrist Guards and Gloves and excellent customer service we provide and many of my first customers are now coming back for upgrades.

Testimonials here: http://www.snowboardsecrets.com/flextesti.htm

We sell Azzpadz tailbone protector which are almost invisible beneath your snow pants. You can see how the Azzpadz saved MY butt in the halfpipe at USASA Nationals last spring when I fell off the halfpipe wall, in the video.

See our videos on Flexmeter and Azzpadz and they will answer most of your questions on which product to choose and sizing at http://www.snowboardsecrets.tv/videos.php?category_id=25

Order at www.Flexmeters.com.

We are the only ones who sell a wrist guard with DOUBLE protection, on the palm and dorsal side, as well as stand-alone wrist guards for skateboarding, Trikke, and other sports. www.Flexmeters.com.

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5. Twifties – Costa Rica Trip

Twifties are the FUN people around age 50 and UP! Fifty is the new 20, Twenty, 50, Twifty!

My friends and I are going to Nosara, Costa Rica for for yoga, relaxation, deep breathing, sun, surf, dancing, food, fun evolved people, and adventure!!

Want to come? It’s not an organized trip, just an invitation.

Travel in your own style, when, where, you like. Meet us there. Dates approximately 2/25 to March 6. Go to http://twiftiescalendar.com/ and sign up for the Twifties list and check the calendar. You can get links there to see videos of our NJ hike and Catamount Zip Line adventures.

Press reply and drop a line if you’re interested!

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See who's sponsored - at the Who's Who of Snowboarding
http://www.SnowBoardProfiles.com

and if you are sponsored by a shop or team, post YOUR profile up!

http://www.SnowboardEventsCalendar.com is the biggest snowboard events calendar in THE GALAXY!!!

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Thanks for reading The Snowboard Szine!

Partner with us on your project, whatever it is. We’re always open to ideas. Just hit “reply.”

Lauren
Editor and Creator of

http://www.SnowBoardSecrets.TV
http://www.SnowBoardSecrets.com
http://www.SnowboardEventsCalendar.com
http://www.SnowboardRegistry.com
http://www.SnowboardProFiles.com
and http://www Twifties.TV for the FUN people over 50!

Westchester County, NY
email Lauren@SnowboardSecrets.com or press "reply"

==========================================
If you like this newsletter, pass it on to a pal who wants
to know more about snowboarding.
They can subscribe at
http://www.talkingnames.com/snowboard-signup.php
and receive free "16 Secrets for Successful Snowboarding"

Copyright © 2010 SnowboardSecrets. All Rights Reserved
==========================================

Sugarloaf Chairlift Derailment - 6 People Injured

2010-12-28T10:23:00.000-08:00

CARRABASSETT VALLEY, MAINE (Tuesday, December 28, 2010) - Today, at approximately 10:30am, the Spillway East Chairlift experienced a rope derailment. At this time, we have 6 injured guests who have been treated and transported from the mountain.

All available mountain safety personnel are at the scene. The injured parties have been taken off the mountain. Additionally, the remaining guests on the lift have all been successfully evacuated from the lift.

As of now, the cause of the incident is still unknown and is under investigation.

The Spillway East chair is A 2 passenger monocable fixed grip chair manufactured and installed by Borvig in 1975. This lift was modified in 1983. Spillway East is 4,013 feet long with a vertical of 1,454 feet. This chair moves at a speed of 500 feet per minute and the chairs are 50 feet apart. Their are 162 chairs on this lift each weighing 140lbs. Spillway East has a 250 horsepower motor and has a capacity for 1,200 skiers per hour. The Spillway Chairs run parallel up the Spillway trail. Spillway East runs to the top of the Sluice Headwall and you can access all terrain below the Spillway X-Cut.

The chairlift receives routine daily inspections for safety. Additionally, the chairlift receives weekly, monthly and yearly maintenance and testing. The lift is also inspected annually for it’s safety from the State of Maine Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety.

Sugarloaf Mountain and it’s employees are concerned for the people involved, additionally the resort like to express gratitude to all the safety personnel that have responded to this incident.

Sugarloaf Mountainis absolutely committed to the safety of its guests and employees.

Sugarloaf Mountain will issue updates as more information becomes available.

Note from Lauren Traub Teton, editor SnowboardSecrets.com Blog:
Media were alerted of this incident by Sugarloaf's communication department within 90 minutes. We applaud Sugarloaf's handling of this unfortunate event in every way.

Under Armour 3rd Rail Jam Competition has Eight Stops on its “Snow Meets Hip-Hop” Nationwide Party Tour with DJ Image

2010-12-23T11:49:00.000-08:00

Under Armour 3rd Rail Jam Competition has Eight Stops on its “Snow Meets Hip-Hop” Nationwide Party Tour with DJ Image

Hip-hop parties on snow. Snowboard and ski rail contest and party with art and hip-hop music contest on the slopes. Eight resort stops nationwide starting with Killington Vermont on New Years Day 2011 and Mountain Creek, Vernon, NJ on January 8.

By Lauren Traub Teton

Under Armour 3rd Rail Jam Winter Tour invites all to join the excitement as the nation’s best amateur skiers and snowboarders compete at eight national rail jam contest parties at ski resorts across the nation. “This is the only contest series that includes a live hip-hop music contest all day called The “Battle Below Zero,” and on-snow graffiti” says tour impresario and multi-entrepreneur Timmy Grins.

Up to 150 riders and skiers will compete at each stop in a competition conducted in true jam format, meaning contestants take as many turns as they can fit in riding the handrail setup during the contest. Judges are stationed at each feature to provide the best scoring coverage possible. Each of four divisions will be competing for cash and prizes and there are music and dance after-parties at each stop on the tour.

“Rail Jams are the best event going for snow sport spectators” says Lauren Traub Teton, editor of SnowboardSecrets.TV and a sponsor of the tour. “Non-stop snowboard and ski derring-do riding on handrails, irresistible dance music, everyone dressed to the nines, and tons of swagger, all right before your eyes. It’s better than Cirque du Soleil! You don’t even have to be a skier or snowboarder to come out and check out this action, the rail jam is usually a short walk from the base lodge” says Ms. Teton. She adds “dress warmly and wear thick soled boots.”

The eight stops this season are:

January 1, Killington, VT
January 8, Mountain Creek, N.J.
January 22, Raging Buffalo, Ill.
January 29, Echo Mountain, Colo.*
February 5, Arizona Snowbowl, Ariz.*
February 12, Bogus Basin, Idaho*
February 19, Mountain High, Calif.
February 26, Beech Mountain, N.C.

New venues to the 3^rd Rail Jam this year are Killington, VT, Echo Mountain, CO, Arizona Snowbowl, and Bogus Basin, in Boise, Idaho. Each resort will design its own rail setup, and Under Armour will be awarding gear to the resort terrain park teams who create the sickest rail array. In past years Mountain Creek, NJ, Mountain High, CA, and Beech Mountain, NC had outstanding rail designs for the 3^rd Rail Jam.

Hip-hop culture reigns supreme at the Under Armour 3rd Rail Jam with live painting demos by graffiti crews and a freestyle music competition. The “Battle Below Zero” will have as many as eight MCs performing their best tracks and being judged on their swagger, flow, style, lyricism, and their ability to rock the crowd. Snowboarder Joe Valerie of Milford, NJ is the on-snow Master of Ceremonies.

Judges of the music competition are D.J. Dolamarx of “the coffin” radio show, DJ Image, a Bum Squad DJ, meaning he is one of the top 400 DJs in America and the world, and Timmy Grins, artist, entrepreneur and Tour Producer. A customized online radio station has been created for the tour with Slacker. The 3^rd Rail Jam station is filled with original hip-hop, rock, funk, and soul taken completely from DJ Image’s impressive 20,000-plus record collection. Listen at www.Slacker.com/3rdrailjams.

Event sponsors include some of the biggest names in fashion, action sports and technology such as Under Armour, Kangol, Bern, Beats by Dr. Dre, 33Third, Grenade, Launch Snowboards, and SnowboardSecrets.TV. The event’s energy continues as each rail jam is followed by pulsating after-parties that feature hot DJs, break dance crews and live hip-hop performances At each stop of the tour, sponsors will showcase their latest product lines and conduct giveaways for attendees.

Tour Promoter Timmy Grins throws down the gauntlet when he says “We intend to upset the set-up. We're carving out our own lane. For those who want to get in, we've got plenty of room for you. And if you don't, that's fine, you just won't be on the V.I.P. list for the after-party. But your girl will!”

The competition has four divisions: 15 and under, all girls, best of breed and skiers. Entry fee is $25, and $5 of each fee is donated to Amped 4-A-Cure, Cancer Research Foundation that uses music to help fight Cancer To register for the 3rd Rail events, go to www.3rdrailjam.com.

When asked how the contest came to be, Timmy Grins said “Patrick Hession, had an idea about trying to create a hip-hop/snow sport competition back in 2008. I do a lot of hip hop based events, and I always looked at skate and snow culture as a seamless progression of the hip hop lifestyle. You can see hip hop on the mountain and in the skate parks, and it's just a matter of giving it a forum. Which is what we’re doing with the 3rdRail Jam Series.

“How to Do the Rail Jam” video by SnowboardSecrets.TV tells you what to wear and where to stand to enhance your rail jam spectator experience.
http://www.snowboardsecrets.tv/video.php?id=170

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Theives love to steal snowboards Examiner.com - USA by Richard Macialek, Pennsylvania Snowboarding Examiner Park City's recent police blotter reported that several snowboards had been stolen from the slopes. ... See all stories on this topic
Don't let this happen to YOU! Lock your snowboard and register the serial number on SnowboardRegistry.com!

2010 Winter Dew Tour Breckenridge – Snowboarding

2010-12-21T18:55:00.000-08:00

2010 Winter Dew Tour Recap – Snowboarding

By Jackie Williams

The Nike 6.0 Winter Dew Tour finished up this past weekend in Breckenridge, Colorado with some awesome highlights. First, riders got to compete on Breck’s brand new 22-ft Superpipe. All of the athletes I talked to were super stoked about it; it enabled them to progress as riders and to be able to throw harder tricks. Another highlight is Jamie Anderson’s fifth 1^st place win in the Winter Dew Tour, first in the contest’s history. Everyone welcomed back Kevin Pearce, who was there to cheer on all the riders. He seemed the most excited to be there, making it the first competition he’s gone to since his accident last year before the Olympics.

For anyone not in the competition, they were enjoying the huge amount of powder that was falling all weekend. For those who were competing, it just meant a little frustration. All the fresh snow made the Superpipe super slow. But crowd favorite, Louie Vito dominated the Superpipe Finals and received a score of 90.25, while Queralt Castellet won the women’s Finals with her barrage of back 3, front 9, back 3 grab, front 5, back 5 and front 7.

SNOWBOARDING SUPERPIPE FINALS RESULTS

WOMEN

1. Queralt Castellet 85.25

2. Elena Hight 80.50

3. Kaitlyn Farrington 74.25

MEN

1. Louie Vito 90.25

2. Matt Ladley 75.00

3. Greg Bretz 73.75

The next day was the Snowboard Slopestyle Finals, along with more snow. Riders had to choose which drops, rails, and jumps they’d work for the best score. Slopestyle is the event to watch and really see the riders’ skills, from double cork 10s, backside 9s, you name it. They just come hurling themselves over these huge jumps like it’s nothing. When you’re there you really see how amazing and crazy they are. The talent is getting better and younger every day. Makes you want to step up your game after seeing what these teenagers can do!

SNOWBOARDING SLOPESTYLE FINALS RESULTS

WOMEN

1. Jamie Anderson 93.00

2. Charlotte Van Gils 84.50

3. Cheryl Maas 70.00

MEN

1. Torstein Horgmo 96.50

2. Mark McMorris 93.75

3. Chas Guldemond 88.50

Next stop for the Winter Dew Tour will be Killington, Vermont, January 20-23 and then finishing up the series in Ogden, Utah February 10-13.

SNOWBOARD FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS

2010-11-22T12:59:00.000-08:00

SNOWBOARD FILM FESTIVAL WINNERS

Winners announced of SNOW FILM FEST NYC 2010 AWARDS
PRESENTED BY SKULLCANDY

Filmmakers, Athletes, Industry and NYC ski and snowboarders pack 2 days of screenings at Tribeca Cinemas

See Lauren Traub Teton's Live Report about attending the Snowboard Film Festival here.
Videos with filmmakers and stars of the Snow Film Festival here.

New York, NY, November 22, 2010 – With two days of sold out screenings, over 2,500 people in attendance and numerous premieres and parties, the first annual Snow Film Fest NYC presented by Skullcandy (SFFNYC) wrapped up in the late hours of Sunday morning at Tribeca Cinemas and Lounge. The 2010 SFFNYC, held November 19th and 20th, featured an unprecedented arrangement of 24 ski and snowboarding films from around the world, intimate Q&A sessions with the filmmakers and athletes and lively parties with libations courtesy of Omni Wines Mille and the Skullcandy DJ crew.

The votes are in from our official 2010 screening panel and we are proud to announce the winners:

Best 2010 Ski Film:
THE WAY I SEE IT. Matchstick Productions brings the audience a work of epic proportions, catching the best athletes doing what the do best- skiing faster, spinning while flipping and grabbing and stalking the deepest stashes of snow, while still reminding the audience what makes this sport so special: adventure, passion, camaraderie and fun.
Best 2010 Snowboard Film:
NOWHERE. The Absinthe crew put on film the answer to a common question: What is the difference between exploring and being lost? Where you are lost or exactly where you want to be, it all depends on how you look at it. And this year we are looking at some pretty heavy shredding.

Best Documentary 2010:
SWIFT. SILENT. DEEP. Troy Beauchamp tells the compelling story of the most infamous secret ski fraternity, the Jackson Hole Air Force and the evolution of 50 years of extreme skiing.
Sean Pettit, Cody Townsend and Herik Windstedt take home the Best 2010 Ski Segment with their tricks in Matchstick’s THE WAY I SEE IT and Lucas Debari and Blair Habenicht steal the top prize for Best 2010 Snowboarding Segment for their combo part in Absinthe’s NOWHERE

NOWHERE rounds out their huge weekend wins with Best Cinematography 2010 award to Absinthe.

Swiss Artist Cali P takes home the Best Musical Score for Inspired media Concepts, Like a Lion soundtrack.

No surprise here that Viewer’s choice for Best 2010 Ski flick went to East Coast based Meathead Films’ WORK IT OUT. The SATURDAY NIGHT RIDE was unquestionably voted Viewer’s Choice 2010 Snowboard flick, entertaining the crowd with their creative fusing of shredding and pro wrestling in an all new sport.

Thanks to our distinguished 2010 SFFNYC screening panel for spending hours volunteering their time to watch these films: Senior Editor ESPN Action Sports Micah Abrams, UX Entertainment Group’s founder and producer Jason Burgh, CEO of Armada Skis Erik Snyder, David Reddick of Powder Magazine, art + music buff Pedro Mena, Shredder and athlete manager Yulin Oliver, Photog Craig Wetherby, Nikki Scoggins of Vans, and Mascha Van Tongeren of Shredunion.com.

Throughout the weekend, seven photographs curated by SFFNYC's official media partners, Powder and Snowboarder Magazines and two snowboard setups courtesy of Salomon, were up for grabs via a silent auction which raised $5,000 for Stoked Mentoring. SFFNYC also raffled off tons of prizes from our partners at Eastern Mountain Sports, Skullcandy, Killington, Surefoot, Baldface, The Northface and Nike 6.0 to raise money for the charity.

For a taste of true NYC, festival attendees were treated to old fashioned Egg creams courtesy of the Brooklyn Farmacy and Ice Cream Soda Fountain Shop. Popchips and Vitacoco also kept attendees hydrated and snacked in between screenings.

SFFNYC would like to thank our filmmakers for their continued dedication to bringing snow enthusiasts awesome eye candy and amping us up for the winter ahead: Swift Silent Deep Productions, Forum, Riley Poor, Travis Limoge/Pirate Productions, Gregory Stump, Chris James and Meathead Films, Jeremy Mills, Stan Evans, Rene Eckert, Eric Iberg, Shayne Nelson and Matt Koskenin/Inspired Media Concepts, Gerald Salmina, Steve Jones/Teton Gravity Research, Waide Hoyt and Joseph Fraioli/Standard Films, Erik Lavoie, Meredith Danluck and Jake Burghart, VBS TV, Quiksilver, and Vice Magazine, Level 1, Alterna Films, Absinthe, Poorboyz, Joe Carlino/Transworld, Flow and Andrew Mutty, Kurt Johnson/ WildCard, Think Thank, Poorboyz, and Matchstick.

SFFNYC could not have been made possible without the support of our partners: Joshua Berg, Rob Layer, Dennis Bruce and the entire Skullcandy crew, Tom Horrocks and Jillian from Killington, Alan Ando from Eastern Mountain Sports Soho, Jeff Penceiro from Baldface, Keith Torres of OmniWines, Ashley Otte of Powder Magazine, Chris Engleman of Snowboarder Magazine, Chris Cooper and Adam of Spraying Gravy, Jordan Harris and Justin McManus of SNAP, Sarah Ratcliffe of Surefoot, Thomas Sullivan of Bar13, Peter Freeman of Brooklyn Farmacy, Laurence Chandler of Undergrind + Proof7, VitaCoco, PopChips, Visine, Salomon, Bonfire, The Northface, Nike 6.0, Oakley, and our communities: NY Snowboarding Group, Ski Bums, Hoboken Ski Club, and New York Metropolitan Ski Council.

The inaugural SNOW FILM FEST NYC brought together avid ski and snowboarders, legendary photographers, film buffs and New York City audiences fascinated by the winter sports. It was a celebration of both the East Coast ski and snowboarding communities and the larger snow industry, but also the artistic integrity of the action sports film genre. Be sure to continue to check in at www.snowfilmfesnyc.com for images of the festival and updates on the 2011 installation.

www.SnowFilmFestNYC.com

Snowboarding Films at Fest NYC Live Report - November 19 and 20, 2010

2010-11-20T08:43:00.000-08:00

Snowboarding Films at Snow Film Fest NYC Live Report

by Lauren Traub Teton

The Snow Film Fest NYC 2010 kicked off at the Tribeca Cinemas last night and takes place November 19 and 20, 2010. This is the most snowboard fun we’ve had in NYC since last season’s Burton B movie premiere and party at the same spot. Filmmakers and athletes have flown in from as far away as Cali and Europe to support their ski and snowboard films and the public is there to show the love.

See videos with filmmakers and stars of the Snow Film Festival here.
See Snowboard Film Festival winners announcement here.

Twenty-four films have been chosen by a panel of industry experts for showing at Snow Film Fest NYC, and there will be prizes awarded in several categories including Best Feature, Best Short, Best Maneuver, Best Cinematography, Best Musical Score, and Best Animation. It’s not just a “sitting and watching films” festival because the Tribeca Cinemas has a full on bar and party room on premises and as viewers exit the theatre they are ushered right into the door of the party.

The pre-parties started on Thursday night at Snap sports bar and Epstein’s, so people were stoked and having a good time before the film part of the festival even began. Ticket specials were offered online to help keep guests from having to stand in line and advance sale tickets and movie descriptions are at snowfilmfestnyc.com.

Some of the highlights of Friday night’s snowboard films were Trans World Snowboarding’s “In Color” made by Joe Carlino, Flow’s “Witness the Sickness”and TGR’s “THE BIG ONE.” Meet Joe Carlino who is a surprisingly humble and very nice guy and his mom Maria and dad Sal, in this video. Maria is his unofficial press agent and greatest fan and supplied details of Joe’s previous awards, that Joe was too humble to offer up. Everybody should have Twifties parents like these. Maria kept the stoke going during the film and offered that “the California audience was more effusive during and after the showing.” We particularly enjoyed Chris Bradshaw's rail jam part set to Screaming Jay Hawkins “Put a Spell on You.” Seeing an athlete ride rails in two directions, that is: down, and then perpendicular was a new one on this snowboard journalist. Bradshaw aficionados Kade Madsen and the Sparta crew opined that this was not even the best they’ve seen from Bradshaw.

“Witness the Sickness” from the mind of Mutty and executed by the Flow Team is a fun offering and we’re still wondering how Tim Humphreys had the camera attached to his arm while filming himself in the air with psychedelic wind and graphics all around. And we’re loving Brandon Reis’ part set to Devo’s “Uncontrollabe Urge.” Scotty Lago is a lovable magnet for trouble as witnessed by his Olympic medal conversation on Jimmy Kimmel and a very broken motel room door with an angry owner outside. Turns out Flow is using all that footage that usually ends up on the cutting room floor and have turned it into a weekly series called “The Life” that will be released on Wednesdays. See our video interview with Kade Madsen at the Festival.

THE BIG ONE is a 16 mm compilation of 10 years of Teton Gravity Research’s epic ski and snowboard moments at their home laboratory in Jackson Hole, WY. The film premieres at the festival and we caught up with filmmaker Steve Jones who shared stories, including loading a film’s worth of reels backwards back in the day and ending up with nothing but “red.”

Saturday night expected high points on the snowboard side were the world premiere of "Todcast The Movie" starring Todd Richard s. We expected zany fun ala Todd in this one as we followed Todd Richards and his crew on their misadventures through New Zealand, Alaska, and beyond as they look for snow, waves, skateparks, massage parlors, and mischief. Frankly, who wants to be on a vacation trip with a cranky Todd Richards, even if it's for snowboarding, surfing, and skating. We never did see any search for massage parlors, though the helicopter hot tub scene was a nice surprise. The filmmakers told us they had to cut out the part where Todd had settled into a lodge and made friends with a cat, while the rest of the crew was chomping at the bit waiting for filming weather.

Also Saturday night is “At Equilibrium” whose director Rene Eckert (video interview here) is traveling the world premiering his film in 40(!) locations. AT EQUILIBRIUM is the fourth of a series of eastern European snowboard documentaries. After “Poland – A snowboard documentary”, “Slovaki A true movie about snowboarding” and last years highlight “From Romania with Love” this documentary deals with the passionate people developing snowboarding in Bulgaria. The snowboarders in "At Equilibrium" are amazingly similar to the ones I meet out on the hills here but Rene tells us that a snowboard costs the equivalent of several weeks pay in Bulgaria, keeping it as a sport for the privileged or sponsored.

“Stance” is the latest effort of Jmills Ent and is an exclusively female snowboard film to that aims to start a larger initiative to push snowboarding’s creative and cinematic boundaries. We interviewed filmmaker Jeremy Mills and two of the stars, Hana Beamon and Erin Comstock at the festival and Jeremy tells us how he achieved one of the highest viewerships of all time on this movie. Stan Evans is Jeremy's partner and his radio background helped insure that each rider's part worked fantastically with her music. We came in on the end of the movie and were thrilled to see two of the most exciting, and fun parts of the season. Lisa Filzmoser (killing it in her Helly Hansen) and RaewynReid (with a TWO song part!) are new heroes on our list of exciting riders this season.

Jeremy Pettit gave us a quick interview before his humourous film Forum's "F*ck IT" played. He has made so many snowboard films he can't even remember how many. Glad this snowboard film festival is finally giving us a chance to meet the eyes behind the lenses.

One film that has me curious because unlike much snow porno, it has a plot and a very offbeat one at that, is “The Saturday Night Ride.” Listen to this: When an ex pro snowboarder is released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit, the snowboarding world he thought he could return to has become something far beyond his wildest dreams. Pro wrestling and snowboarding have become fused into an all-new sport. Every Saturday night championship bouts are broadcast live on prime time TV. The riders have all become obsessed with battling each other in the ring and on the jump, in a quest to gain the world championship belt.” We saw the film and the plot was actually a tongue-in-cheek humorous pretense for the usual multi-part snowboard film. But the most amazing thing was that they actually built a boxing ring on snow and had riders jump over it with a lively crowd cheering it all on. We love creativity and humor in snowboard films.

"Hooked" by Pirate Movie Productions out of Europe also had a plot involving imprisoned snowboard pirates trying to break out of a castle. (Why do all the films with plots feature snowboarders in prison, we wonder?) Travis Limoge, originally of Essex Junction, VT and now marketing guy of PMP explained in the Q and A session how the snowboarders were summoned to the castle in Austria, not knowing what to expect, and became actors in costume as well as doing their snowboard parts for the film.

Absinthe's "Nowhere" finished the snowboard side of the festival at 1 a.m. in fitting style. To tell you the truth, after seeing 6 snowboard films on Saturday night, I don't remember much about it! There was a late party 'til 4a.m. back at Snap but lots of people stayed around the party lounge right at the Tribeca Cinemas til after 2 a.m. on Saturday night. This year’s first ever Snow Film Fest NYC can already be declared a smashing success and next year’s will be bigger and better once the word gets out that this is the best pre-season party anywhere!

Lauren Traub Teton is a video journalist, photographer and writer covering snowboard events, athletes, and parties as well as a snowboard safety advocate. She is the founder of SnowboardSecrets.TV and SnowboardSecrets.com. Also SnowboardRegistry.com, SnowboardEventsCalendar.com, and SnowboardProfiles.com.Also Flexmeters.com Snowboard and Skateboard wrist guards designed by a doctor. And Twifties.TV, for the FUN people over 50.

Get your message out to a laser targeted audience by being a sponsor on these sites.

Flow - Witness the Sickness

2010-11-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

Witness the Sickness !!!

By Lauren Traub Teton

Everybody’s talking about the music! This season’s Flow snowboard flick doesn’t stick to the usual gangster tracks and instead offers an eclectic variety of music from jazz to Devo. It dares to be different!

A jazzy rock score and animated images over the opening credits alert us that this is not just like all the other snowboard video offerings. We strongly approve of the fact that each rider’s name appears on the screen and it’s also a cool innovation that some of the dialog is sub-titled which worked out great when we saw this film for the first time at The North Star club in Boston last week with dj dance tracks playing over the film’s soundtrack.

Jeremy Thompson has the first big role in this flick. We like his part despite (or because of?) the number of falls of his that are shown. And who knew he could speak Japanese almost well enough to meet a girl?

Brandon Reis is big in Japan and his part is irresistible because it’s done to music by Devo, playing Uncontrollable Urge. We love the double front flip. Tim Humphreys goes huge and really gets around, to Japan, Mount Snow Vermont, Hunter Mountain NY, Sun Valley ID, June Mountain, and Sierra at Tahoe, CA, apparently filming himself as he flies through a psychedelic tunnel of wind and color.

We see part of Scotty Lago’s Olympic half pipe run and see him on Jimmy Kimmel’s TV show swinging the Olympic bronze over his head as he and Jimmy discuss other places Scotty‘s medal has shown up in the media. Also, what is that broken hotel room door with the angry motel owner outside? Poor Scotty is a magnet for trouble and we love him. The whole Flow team each gets a shot or 2 in this 27 minutes. We wish there was more of Sarka Pancochova riding, and especially expounding verbally as she does in her opinionated style. See our interview with Sarka at the Winter Dew Tour 2010 at Mount Snow. And to see what went into making this film, see the short video called The Life here.

Want to see video interviews we made with the Flow Team?

Sarka Pancochova Interview - Winter Dew Tour 2010 at Mount Snow, Vermont

Shane Fortier Interview with Ryan Paris and Graham Hoffman

Scotty Lago US Open Winner interview on the way to the podium

Flow Team Interview: Tim Humphreys, Brandon Reis, Jeremy Thompson and Kade Madsen

Gabe McGovern Interview US Open 2010 Thrsday

Brandon Reis + Nick Julius Interview - Winter Dew 2010 at Mount Snow, Vermont

Snowboard Films - Sugarloaf - Big Mountain. Big Love.

2010-11-19T10:00:00.000-08:00

Sugarloaf, The Movie - Big Mountain Big Love
by Lauren Traub Teton

Sugarloaf pride runs deep!

Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine has put out their own film this season and props and kudos to any mountain that takes on and successfully kills it like this on a project of this magnitude. We have two conclusions after watching this 21 minute video: Sugarloafers fiercely love their mountain, and if you haven’t had the Sugarloaf experience yet, you are missing something.

We learn some of the history of the mountain with lots of clips of rhythmic old school skiing and interviews. The canoe races, T-Bar, the infamous Red Stallion that had the only live rock acts in Maine at the time, and the sad (but funny) tale of anyone who tried to sleep upstairs while the band was playing. We learn that the trails are named after logging terms.

Twelve minutes in we join the modern world with the creation of Carrabasset Valley Academy in 1982 which has produced Olympians medalists in the three disciplines of freestyle, alpine skiing, and snowboarding. Seth Wescott, the two-time Olympic Gold snowboard winner in Snowboardcross shares his insights. Deep blue skies, and happy people who are proud to be Sugarloafers, is the message we carry away and that makes us want to make the long trek up to Sugarloaf for the first time ever, this season.

See our video interview with Seth Wescott after he brushes his teeth with Crest Pro Health!

Snow Film Fest NYC 2010

2010-10-29T05:12:00.000-07:00

Snow Film Fest NYC 2010

by Lauren Traub Teton of SnowboardSecrets.TV

Hey snowboarders, (skiers too),

If you’ve been waiting for the snowboard film festival season to start like I have, you are going to FLIP like I did when you hear this news. New York City is hosting a SNOW Film Festival. November 19 and 20 at the Tribeca Cinemas. Over 25 movies will be shown, with a non-stop party in the adjacent lounge space right in the Tribeca Cinemas. The ski clubhouse will have a bar, DJs, dancing, and likely a free liquor pour or two from the liquor sponsors.

We asked the event producer (and owner) Morgan Rae Berk how she was able to pull off this miraculous feat. We have put together a snowboard film party or two and we know what’s involved. It turns out Morgan is also producer of the NY Surf Festival for the last three years. She says her friends in the snow industry were bothering her saying “why aren’t you doing this for snow sports?” So she did and says the logistics are the same for putting on one movie or 21.” It will be more highly attended because there’s a collection of movies to curate, not just one movie” says Ms. Berk who is both a skier and snowboarder.

Athletes like Gretchen Bleiler, Grete Eliassen, Steve Jones from TGR and Tanner Hall are expected to be in attendance. The non-profit partner of the festival is Stoked Mentoring. They use action sports as a vehicle to mentor under-privileged youth and are happy if you want to volunteer at Stoked.org. Speaking of volunteering, you can help out at the festival and get to see some free movies.

Tickets go on sale November 5. You can get your tickets early starting November 1 using the presale code SFFriend10.

See the full festival lineup at http://www.snowfilmfestnyc.com/

Movies were submitted by the producers and 40% of them are movie premieres.

Here’s what the fest will include.

· Three days of screenings of independent short and feature films, cult classics, and world premieres from established snow filmmakers

· Q&A Sessions with filmmakers and notable snow athletes

· Panel Discussions on topics such as travel, the snow filmmaking craft and environmental issues concerning the snow peaked mountains of the world

· Snow Art & Expo showcasing new winter action sport products

Partners of the Festival from the snow industry are Powder Magazine and Snowboarder Magazine. Also local brands like, EMS, Killington, and a general partnerships with Ski Bums and the Fordham University Ski Club.

Have Your Own TV Channel!

2010-03-13T13:26:00.000-08:00

On Line TV Channels Invented - TVCOL.TV

Internet entrepreneur Lauren Traub Teton claims she has invented the perfect TV channel format for the Internet. The new TV channel software created by Ms. Teton is called TVCOL.TV for "TV Channel OnLine." Ms.Teton says "TV is new again. Three minutes is the new 30-minute show and 5 minutes is the new one-hour show. Telephones are the new TVs. And real people shown in video using products they really use is the new advertising, instead of paid actors pretending to use products they've never used."

"We need this TV Channel template for the internet now! Anyone who has over 9 videos posted on YouTube understands that they need an inviting attractive way to offer viewers their content in categories. Youtube serves the viewer by offering related content by other producers, but that will distract the viewer away from the target videos. We work WITH Youtube so your viewers have the option of also easily seeing what YOU have to offer on YOUR channel."

Teton and her tech partners have created TV Channels Online in an easy-to use format that let's the owner of the channel, group together videos or even text articles of their choosing from anywhere on the net, and categorize them to offer the viewing public on one site. Once a video is posted online, it takes 3 minutes to add it to your channel, and can be done from any computer that's online. See examples of TVCOL.TV at Twifties.TV and SnowboardSecrets.TV.

"The format is simple to use and available for licensing so that any person or business can now have their own TV channel on the internet virtually overnight" says Teton. "You bring the URL, we bring the software and get you started. We've been waiting for someone to figure out the progression of TV onto the internet. Original content and ease of use is it. Rehashing network TV shows from the 80's is not it."

Ms. Teton is the creator of: Twifties, SnowboardSecrets, Name One,TakingNames.com, Flexmeters.com, SnowboardEventsCalendar.com, SnowboardRegistry.com, SnowboardProfiles.com, realpeoplemarketing.com, OneTakeVideo.TV, TV Channels Online.TV and more.

For more info and to get your TV Channel Online up and running, contact Lauren@SnowboardSecrets.com and put "TVCOL.TV" in the subject line.

Ms. Teton has posted over 100 video vignettes on Youtube in 1 year and has received over 100,000 views. She has several "hit" videos that have gotten over 1000 views a day. And she has figured out a way to monetize her videos.

All this and she still has time to run 3 businesses and snowboard 30 days a year. She teaches her easy quick method of One Take Video that allows users to make and upload a video vignette in an hour or less. No expensive equipment or previous training or experience is needed to make videos this way. To learn Lauren's method for fast "no waste" video production contact Lauren@SnowboardSecrets.com and put "One Take Video" in the subject line.

###
Ed Hardy Snowboard Gear for Sale - RARE! On SALE!!
The RadXSports Store on eBay has a limited number of Men's and Women's Free Ride and Free Style boards designed by renowned Tattoo Artist Ed Hardy from the Winter 2010 Collection. The prices are marked down for the end of season sale. These are high performance boards manufactured in Slovakia at the Elan factory. The boards are sales rep samples and we have one of each design. Since the Hardy company never went into production with the full product line, there are maybe 10 of each in existence. That makes it collectible art as well as a great ride. They come without bindings. Details at http://stores.ebay.com/radxsports.

Flexmeter Special!

2010-03-01T06:34:00.000-08:00

Flexmeter Snowboard Gloves with Wrist Guards Built-In - SALE

March 1, 2010 -Size Medium Flexmeter Gloves with Wrist Guards Built-In are on SALE in US - limited quantities. This offer only until we sell our overstock. Flexmeter gloves and wrist guards are designed by medical trauma specialist Dr. Marc-Herve Binet, of Avoriaz Resort, France. They are the only sports wrist guards designed by a doctor and proven to reduce snowboard wrist injuries by 67 to 85%.

Flexmeter Medium Gloves with protective splint built-in - were $120 plus shipping - now $100 plus shipping.

Flexmeter Medium Gloves with dual protective splint built-in - were $140 plus shipping - now $120 plus shipping.

To take advantage of this limited time and quantity offer, you must email Lauren@SnowboardSecrets.com for ordering instructions. This offer will be rescinded when the overstock is sold out.

Other Flexmeter sizes and products are available at www.Flexmeters.com.
Azzpadz Tailbone protectors available too.

What kind of safety protection should you wear for snowboarding? See video demo of Lauren wearing her Flexmeter Wrist Guards and Azzpadz in the famous video "You Don't Have to Hurt Yourself to Snowboard!" Article too. Her e. http://www.snowboardsecrets.com/secrets.htm

Are Flexmeter Gloves warm? Yes! See our chairlift interview and demo here!.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQNIeunSP80 .

Flexmeter wrist guards are available without the gloves and are used as serious wrist protection in sports such as skateboarding, ice skating, inline skating, horseback riding, football, baseball, Trikke riding, BMX, bicycle riding, and more. www.Flexmeters.com

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month

2010-02-24T14:58:00.000-08:00

March is National Brain Injury Awareness Month

Dear Readers,

With the recent tragic brain injury of pro snowboard Kevin Pearce, and the shocking death of Natasha Richardson last winter after a seemingly minor bump on the head skiing, I want to bring this information to light. If you spend time doing and around active sports, you see people get conked on the head plenty. It's no joke. Read this and be educated about traumatic brain injury (TBI) and know what to do if you suspect it.

Lauren
editor SnowboardSecrets.com
and SnowboardSecrets.TV

Tips on Recognizing, Treating Brain Injuries During National Awareness Month in March

Spring break vacationers advised to exercise caution, plan ahead in case of medical emergencies

Alexandria, VA – As a reminder: March is Brain Injury Awareness Month. So, as Americans head off to sunny beaches, snowy ski resorts and other fun-filled destinations on their spring vacations, the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) advises them to use caution, to recognize the symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI), and to check into supplemental insurance and potential access to medical facilities, particularly if traveling remotely or abroad.

“Air medical crews and emergency physicians see a lot of travel-related injuries at this time of year, especially among college students on spring break,” said AAMS President Daniel Hankins, MD, FACEP. “That is why AAMS is urging everyone to exercise caution, to wear a helmet when engaging in activities that involve the risk of head injury, and to know when to seek medical attention for a TBI.”

One such student is Brandon Lacko of Columbus, Ohio, who suffered a severe head injury while jet skiing off the coast of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and required medevac transport back to the States following his accident.

“The local hospital was not able to treat Brandon’s brain swelling and other severe injuries, so he had to be airlifted,” said his mother, Renae Lacko. “The air-medical crew and U.S. trauma center team saved his life.”

Swift medical attention for TBI is key, experts say, because while most patients — who number about 1.4 million every year — are treated and released, TBI is still a major cause of death and disability, with approximately 50,000 Americans dying from it annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The good news, though, is that TBI often can be successfully treated if caught in time. “That is why it is imperative to recognize the signs and symptoms,” said Dr. Hankins. “Repeated vomiting, severe headache, dilated pupils, sudden lethargy, trouble focusing or remembering and rapid deterioration after a period of lucidity – these are all possible indicators of a potentially serious brain injury, which demands immediate medical attention.”

In addition to promoting TBI awareness, AAMS offers the following spring-break travel safety tips:

- Plan for potential medical emergencies. Most medical insurance plans do not offer coverage abroad, so check into short-term travel insurance and a medical evacuation membership. Also, know the location and type of medical facilities near your travel destination, and get a MedicAlert bracelet for any potential health complications.
- Make duplicates of travel and medical documents. Leave photocopies of your passport, itinerary, medical information and credit cards at home. Don’t keep all IDs, money, credit cards and travel tickets in the same place.
- Do your homework. Register international travel with the State Department, at https://travelregistration.state.gov, and check the CDC, at wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/, for travelers’ health tips.
- Get adequate training before participating in potentially risky recreational activities, especially when renting equipment – including skis, motor-bikes, boats or scuba gear. Also, use caution and obey the rules.
- Wear an ASTM-approved helmet when engaging in fast-action sports or recreational activities.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Protect your wrists and tailbone when snowboarding.
www.Flexmeters.com

Sarka Pancochova and JR Celski interviews at SnowboardSecrets.TV.

Shaun White in Playboy

2010-02-16T16:31:00.000-08:00

We just got this early scoop and are publishing it as we received it. Lauren

SHAUN WHITE IS PLAYBOY’S MARCH 20Q

Snowboarding’s Goofy Hero Talks about the Winter Olympics, Growing up with Tony Hawk, the Downside of Super Competitiveness and His Wandering Gold Medal

“It’s funny, because I’ve misplaced it a couple of times,” says Shaun White in Playboy’s March 20Q when asked where he keeps his Olympic gold medal (issue on newsstands now and online at www.playboydigital.com). “Then one day, I was in my mom’s car, and I went to put something in the back pocket of the front seat. I reached in and pulled out my medal. It was in a plastic bag. I was like, What? … So I’m stoked to have it again. It’s now in a safe place in my house in California.”

Shaun—also known as the “Flying Tomato” because of his long red hair—is already a legend in his sport at age 23. In advance of the upcoming Winter Games, he sat down with Playboy contributor Jason Buhrmester to discuss how early success affected his friendships in high school; his role as a stuntman for Disney; early family ski trips in crowded vans and hotel rooms; and whether or not he smoked pot with Michael Phelps. Following are selected quotes from their conversation:

On smoking pot with Michael Phelps: “With Phelpsy? Old Smoke on the Water? No. To be honest, I’ve never been into going there. My friends, I’ll admit, most of them do.…and now, because it’s Olympic time and everybody’s getting tested for drugs, you see them just sweating bullets, man. I’m like, Ah, whatever.”

On the pressure to perform in the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics: “Since I was 13 or so, I can’t remember showing up to an event where I wasn’t the guy to beat. I’ve always been that guy. Not that I was the best guy, but I was always the one who was counted on to perform at a certain level. And I like it, man… I can sit back and go, Wow, if everybody wants to talk to me about the Olympics, that means they think I have a really good shot at doing well. That’s an amazing feeling—that all these people have my back, in a way. To a certain extent they believe in me. I use that. I had a friend who put money on me last time around. I was like [pumps fist], Yeah! [laughs]”

On whether or not he cried after winning a gold medal in 2006: “It was debatable, man…I was starting to get choked up and I was at the point of crying—almost. I mean, my parents were there, the entire world was watching. And I remember Danny Kass made a joke. I swear. So it was a mix of a cry and a humorous thing that pulled me right out of it.”

On being upset at missing the 2002 Olympic snowboard team: “Well, I was 15. I didn’t really understand what the Olympics are all about. But everybody became aware of it in 2002 because the Americans swept the podium. All of the sudden it was this big deal…at that point I understood. I started seeing these guys everywhere, and I was getting phone calls about this guy being the best rider in the world. I was like, Yeah, I’m sure he’s great at that, but he doesn’t do everything. I pride myself as a snowboarder who can ride jumps, half-pipes, rails, whatever you put out there. So I was more upset to go through five contests and not make the big party at the end, you know?”

On his blue-collar background and family snowboard trips: “At first we’d take a really small van and drive up and stay at a Motel 6. We’d pile into a room and drop one mattress onto the floor and leave just the box spring for Dad. It was funny because I didn’t know any better. I thought, That’s cool—a slumber party. I was stoked. I had fun. And it made it possible for me to snowboard.”

On how high school classmates treated him after winning his first X Games medals: “That’s when it got weird. I was super-shy. I didn’t know what to do in that scenario. I remember being at school and thinking, Wow, these kids are really digging what I’m doing. This is awesome, and I’ve got all these friends. Then I started to pick apart the friends I had, like, this guy keeps asking me for stuff; this is just getting weird. I realized I was over it.”

On growing up with Tony Hawk: “He’s just a funny guy; he’s a great person. He has never sat me down and said, ‘Hey, here’s some great advice.’ It doesn’t really work like that with him. I was lucky to be introduced to the only guy I knew who could relate somewhat to what was going on with me. I remember hanging with him at airports, getting approached by tons of people and seeing how he dealt with it and how he was cool to every fan who came up. I’d see where he would draw the line and say, ‘Hey, give me a little space.’”

On doing stunt work for Disney: “It’s funny now because we were talking to Disney people about some stuff recently, and I told them, ‘I don’t know if you guys know this, but there was a show called The Jersey, and I used to stunt double on the show for this one kid, Elliott.’ I did skateboard and BMX stuff and even Rollerblading if they needed it. I mean, the kid couldn’t even ride a bike.”

Olympic Athlete Interviews from SnowboardSecrets.TV

2010-02-16T06:26:00.000-08:00

OLYMPIC ATHLETE INTERVIEWS HERE!!

The Snowboard Szine
SPECIAL BULLETIN !

exclusive from SnowboardSecrets.com
and our new snowboard internet TV channel
www.SnowboardSecrets.TV

from Lauren@SnowboardSecrets.com
2/15/10 Seth Westcott has Flexmeter Wrist Guards

==========================================
In This Issue
==========================================
Lauren is on a "radio tour" explaining Snowboarding in the Olympics and
Twifties and has been on 10 big radio shows in the last 2 weeks! List of shows and
clips here.
Also...

Olympic Athlete Interviews
We've got'em

Tonight is Snowboard Cross (Boardercross) at the Olympics.

This season we interviewed Snowboardcross/Boardercross athletes
Seth Wescott and Nick Baumgartner.
See what they told us about themselves in their word interviews at www.SnowboardProfiles.com.

See the video interview we did of Seth Wescott - find out about the secret tree stashes at Sugarloaf, and what Seth uses for Olympic brilliance on his teeth!
Here.

See the video we did of snowboard athlete and Olympic announcer Todd Richards here.

Torah Bright will compete in the Olympic women's halfpipe Thursday night and has an excellent chance at the podium. See our interview with Torah Bright right after she won the 2009 US Open here.

Shaun White looks good for the men's halfpipe podium for Wed., as long as he isn't too literally bent out of shape from his crash at the X Games. See our summer interview with Shaun White at the Tribeca Film Festival a few years back in NYC.

Torstein Horgmo and Jenny Jones were winners of the Dew Tour at Mount Snow 2 weeks ago. We've got the interviews here!

Shaun White trained in a private secret halfpipe last spring at Silverton, CO. Have you seen the videos? See 'em here!
http://snowboardsecrets.tv/index.php?page=2
http://snowboardsecrets.tv/index.php?page=3

==========================================
There were 100,000 snowboard wrist injuries last year.

Want to reduce the risk of snowboard wrist injuries to you
and your loved ones? Flexmeters!

Flexmeter Wrist Protector Gloves and Flexmeter Wrist Guards - http://www.flexmeters.com .
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I sell this product because I believe in it.
Lauren

==========================================
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Email Lauren@SnowboardSecrets.com for more info.

===========================================
Thanks for reading the Snowboard Szine!
Don't forget to register your snowboard against theft
at www.SnowboardRegistry.com
===========================================

Skier Overcomes Paralysis

2010-01-19T07:52:00.000-08:00

This story isn't about snowboarding, and it isn't even about skiing either though it may seem to be on first glance. It is about inspiration and the strength of the human will, and it brought a tear to my eye, so I will share it with you.
Lauren

Sipapu Employee Baffles Doctors:
Once Paralyzed, Now Skiing

Last week, Sipapu ski shop employee and Las Trampas native Frank Lopez made one extraordinary trip down the mountain at Sipapu. His legs were shaky, and his skis didn’t go very fast. However, this amazing journey had nothing do with his form or speed: Frank was skiing under his own power after countless doctors told him he’d never walk again.

On January 2, 2007, Frank’s day started like any other: he went to his job in Boston and during his lunch hour, he completed his daily workout at the gym. However, when he returned to work, things began to go very wrong.

Just 20 minutes after his workout, Frank felt a wrenching pain in his spine. Shortly thereafter, he began experiencing memory loss. His hands and legs started convulsing, and he was quickly losing feeling in his limbs.

“I knew something was wrong,” Frank said. “I thought it was a stroke, so I left the office and went straight to the subway.”

By the time he reached his subway stop, Frank couldn’t walk and couldn’t feel anything below his waist. With tremendous effort, Frank managed to get a cab and dialed 9-1-1.

By 6 p.m. that evening – less than six hours after his workout – Frank was paralyzed from the neck down.

Over the next three days, hospital physicians ordered a battery of tests to try and diagnose this bizarre paralysis. On January 5 – Frank’s 36th birthday – his doctor said he likely had a blood clot in his spinal cord, which could only be treated by placing a shunt in his spine.

The shunt would cause permanent paralysis.

Doing nothing would mean death, most likely within days.

“Paralysis or death: those were my two options that morning,” Frank said.
Frank agreed to have surgery. He took his last communion. He signed the Do Not Resuscitate form. Then he went to sleep, hoping for a miracle.

Eight hours later, he awoke and learned the good news: he did not have a blood clot in his spine. However, the physicians still had no explanation for his paralysis… nor did they think he would ever walk again.

Frank Lopez had always been an athlete. Growing up, he participated in every sport available in his small Las Trampas community, especially skiing. He was introduced to the sport as a third grader when some friends invited him to try it at Sipapu.

“My parents did not ski, so they didn’t want me to go,” Frank said. “My friends began writing letters to my mom, and she was eventually convinced to let me try it.”

The third grader fell in love with the sport immediately and spent many, many winters on the slopes at Sipapu; eventually he became a rental shop employee and ski school instructor.

“Being an instructor was fascinating,” he said. “I loved being able to instruct kids that wanted to learn,” he said. “I really found the most fulfillment in teaching the most challenging kids. Plus, the more I broke it down for them, the better I became.”

Now the man who had fallen in love with skiing – and sharing that love with others – was suddenly a quadriplegic, and no one could tell him why. In spite of his uncertain prognosis, Frank never gave up.

“I never believed I would be paralyzed for the rest of my life, not for one minute,” he said. “For days, I sat there in the hospital and tried to move my body.”

And finally, a small miracle happened: less than a week after his paralysis, Frank moved his left toe.

Doctors quickly ended the tests to try and diagnose Frank’s problem and, instead, focused their efforts on rehabilitation. After months of exhaustive work, Frank returned to Las Trampas using just a cane to aid his steps.

Once he returned home, Frank continued to do extraordinary things. He rallied his community (where his family was one of the 12 original families who established Las Trampas) to restore the historic Church of San Jose de Garcia. His body also continued to heal: he’s even regained some feeling in his legs – a sensation that doctors said he would never experience again.

His next goal was to ski again at Sipapu.

“I always loved skiing, and I promised myself I would feel that again,” he said. “I knew it would take some work, but it was important to me to do it.”

So, this season, he returned to work in the Sipapu ski shop, helping guests sign up for lessons or rent skis and snowboards. While he worked, he kept thinking about his goal: he wanted to ski on January 5, 2010 – his 39th birthday, and exactly three years to the day that doctors said he would never walk again. But when the big day arrived, Frank nearly talked himself out of it.

“I thought of a million excuses why I wasn’t going to ski,” Frank admits. “I was terrified. I was afraid I’d hurt myself. I feared I wouldn’t be able to feel it again.
Bruce Bolander, the son of Sipapu founders Lloyd and Olive Bolander, and his wife, Winonah, knew of Frank’s goal, and they weren’t going to see him give up.

“I went up to Frank that morning and said, we’re going on the slopes in 30 minutes!” Bruce said.
The Bolanders’ encouragement is just what Frank needed.
Most people are supportive, but Bruce and Winonah actually got in there and helped me achieve my goal,” Frank said. “They really cared about it as much as I did.”

So on the morning of January 5th, Frank stepped into his skis and stood in the lift line “shaking like a leaf.” But with Bruce’s aid, he started skiing.
“I took to it like a duck to water,” he said. “I knew what to do – it just took a lot of effort to make it happen. My legs were trembling from years of atrophy, but I was mostly in control.”

“You could just see the excitement in his eyes,” Bruce said. “His mental memory of skiing is phenomenal.”

When he finished his run and returned to the base area, his elation was obvious to everyone.

“I was doing these wide, long turns. I felt the whoosh of the skis. I felt the breeze,” he said. “And when I finished, all I could think of was three words: I DID IT!”

Physicians continue to have more questions than answers to Frank’s mysterious paralysis. And while it’s painfully difficult to not know why he was paralyzed – and how or if he will ever completely recover – Frank continues to make big goals for himself. His next endeavor is to bike the Boston Marathon.
Until then, he’s happy to be back at Sipapu.

“Lots of people told me I’d never walk again,” he said. “I took it two steps further – I decided I would not only walk again, but I’d ski, too. If someone says you can’t do something, it doesn’t mean it’s true. There’s always hope.”

Helmets for Ski Slopes - The Debate Continues

2010-01-06T14:33:00.000-08:00

Helmets for Snowboarders and Skiers - The Debate Continues

by Lauren Traub Teton
for SnowboardSecrets.com

A federal report estimates 7,700 head injuries could be prevented every year if skiers and snowboarders wore helmets.

The NY Times ran an article January 2, 2010 about how prevalent helmets have become on the slopes of snow resorts. Vail Resorts, Aspen Skiing Company, and Intrawest all have helmet policies for employees and recommend that their guests wear them. Stewart Levy, a Denver neurosurgeon says that wearing a helmet could reduce reduce the chance of sustaining a brain injury by 50 to 80%.

The flip side of the coin is voiced by Jasper "Jake" Shealy, a professor emeritus at Rochester Institute of Technology who says that in high speed crashes helmet use does not make a difference. Shealy who has studied head injuries among skiers for over 30 years also says regarding the ski slope death of Natasha Richardson "an unhelmeted head actually has more time and distance to decelerate when the snow is soft — as was the case in Ms. Richardson’s fall — and the fall is slow, because it will penetrate further into the snow than a helmeted head." He still believes skiers and snowboarders should wear helmets, but believes they should not be oversold on the safety a helmet will provide.

We at SnowboardSecrets.com spoke to Dr. Robert Williams of Vermont Children’s Hospital at Fletcher Allen Health Care who has been studying ski helmet use for years.

He says "I agree with Dr. Levy's impression that a helmet would have been expected to make a crucial difference in the Richardson tragedy. Although Professor Shealy's comments are well meaning, they may muddy the waters concerning the use of helmets. The medical literature is very clear that helmets are an effective method to decrease the chance of sustaining a traumatic brain injury while riding. Helmets are similar to seat belts in that they need to be worn every time a rider is on the slopes. There are no downsides whatsoever to wearing a helmet. I cannot imagine a practical instance in which a rider sustains a fall and would have been better off without a helmet.

It is also important to remember that resorts have changed dramatically in just the past few years. Much riding now takes place in terrain parks and gladed areas where the high speeds mentioned in the Times article are much less common. We published an article in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine that measured the speed of expert skiers and riders in the glades and on rails. In 85-90% of measurements, the speed of even expert riders was less than 15 mph. This is a speed where helmets can be expected to be highly effective. Since there are numerous hazards (trees, rocks, metal rails, machine packed snow) in these areas, wearing a helmet makes even more sense.

Riding in control is the first message to preventing head injuries, but it is essential to stress that wearing a helmet is always a good idea."

Dr. Williams, an avid skier and snowboarder, has worked with the University of Vermont for the past 6 years to study helmet use, and to develop a non-coercive approach to increasing their use that has proven to be very effective. The program is called PHAT (Protect Head at All Times).
See details at www.fletcherallen.org/PHAT.

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First Stop Of The Winter Dew Tour - Breck 2009

2010-01-04T10:03:00.000-08:00

First Stop Of The Winter Dew Tour 2009
Breckenridge, CO

by Jackie Williams for SnowboardSecrets.com

Breckenridge, Colorado - Sunday, December 20^th marked the end of the first of three stops of the 2^nd annual Winter Dew Tour. It was an amazing weekend with skiers and snowboarders from around the globe swarming in for the competitions.

And they did not disappoint! There were a lot of firsts at this year’s Winter Dew Tour:

Danny Davis claims the biggest score ever in the history of the Winter Dew Tour with a 96.50
Jamie Anderson’s 92.00 run in the snowboard slopestyle finals earns her the highest score earned a in the women’s event
Tyler Flanagan, 16 years old, earned his first ever victory in a pro contest in the men’s snowboard slopestyle final

Highlights from the snowboarding finals? You’d be screaming along with the crowds as Danny Davis threw it out hard on some insane double flips, 1080s and tail grabs on his first run in the Men’s Superpipe Finals. I felt sorry for everyone who went after him! He didn’t even have to do a thing for his second run – it was in the bag – but he still performed. Judges were looking for some major air, rotations and grabs.

Most of the finalists had solid runs, but seemed to play it safe. Riders like Iouri Podlachikov, JJ Thomas, and Mason Aguirre, though, hyped everyone up when they came screaming out to the pipe with huge airs right out the gate. The end of Mason’s run was awesome when he came too far out of the pipe and crashed into the fence – and spectators! That was great. I think it surprised him, too.

As for the Slopestyle Finals, the men’s competition ended with a trio of first-time podium finishers. “It feels amazing; it’s like a dream come true. I came out only wanting to get top ten, and I’m stoked that I came in first,” said Flanagan. “I’m chasing the Dew Cup. I’m trying to get that Dew Cup now!”

Anderson won the Women’s Slopestyle Finals by throwing a backside 180, a switchback 540, and a backside tailslide on the Nike 6.0 rainbow rail. Coming in second place was Sarka Panc, who landed variations of backside 180s, and third place went to Jenny Jones with a 67.50. “I was really nervous but I feel great to have won this first stop of the Winter Dew Tour season,” said Anderson. “I’m glad I pulled it together and landed what I needed to win the first run.”

So there you have it! The four-day competition ended with 32,000 people visiting Breckenridge to see their favorite athlete compete. The conditions were good, the sun was out, the crowds were hyped and the moose were roaming…

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RESULTS for Winter Dew Tour Breckenridge 2009

SNB SUPERPIPE MEN FINALS
1	Danny Davis	96.50
2	Iouri Podlachikov	91.25
3	JJ Thomas	84.75
4	Mason Aguirre	80.00
5	Steve Fisher	78.50
6	Zachary Black	75.00
7	Ilkka-Eemeli Laari	71.00
8	Fredrik Austbo	68.50
9	Roger Kleivdal	64.50
10	Janne Korpi	62.00
11	Matt Ladley	56.50
12	Scotty Lago	49.00

SNB SLOPESTYLE MEN FINALS
1	Tyler Flanagan	93.00
2	Sage Kotsenburg	90.00
3	Eric Willett	87.50
4	Torstein Horgmo	86.00
5	Halldór Helgason	85.50
6	Brandon Reis	83.75
7	Charles Guldemond	74.25
8	Sam Hulbert	62.50
9	Mikkel Bang	56.00
10	Scotty Lago	53.50
11	Heikki Sorsa	50.75
12	Stef Zeestraten	41.75

SNB SLOPESTYLE WOMEN FINALS
1	Jamie Anderson	92.00
2	Sarka Panc	80.25
3	Jenny Jones	67.50
4	Spencer O'Brien	42.75
5	Janna Meyen-Weatherby	40.75
6	Shelly Gotlieb	38.00

SNB SUPERPIPE WOMEN FINALS
1	Queralt Castellet	92.50
2	Sarah Conrad	89.00
3	Kjersti Østgaard Buaas	87.00
4	Kelly Marren	84.00
5	Elena Hight	83.75
6	Kaitlyn Farrington	80.25

The Winter Dew Tour continues with two more events across the US:

Wendy’s Invitational @ Snowbasin, Ogden, Utah (Jan. 15-17, 2010)

Toyota Championship @ Mount Snow Resort, West Dover, Vermont (Feb. 4-7, 2010)

The Eastern Boarder Video 2008 Review

2009-12-08T12:44:00.000-08:00

The Eastern Boarder Video 2008

reviewed by Lauren Traub Teton
for SnowboardSecrets.com

When it all comes down to it, why do we watch snowboard videos? My answer is to watch people have fun on the snow when we’re not on it ourself, and to see something new. EB’s Eastern Boarder Video for 2008 provides for these needs, in spades.

We love Scott Stevens stalling on a log rail then doing a forward somersault in the air off. We love seeing Colleen Quigley and all our other homegrown shreds doing their gnarly thing. And we love the price of this disc in this day of shrinking buying power, ‘cuz it’s FREE for the asking at your local Easter Boarder. Online too, here!

It’s the opposite of some of the slick vids you’ve seen, it has a feeling of being one step ahead of the cops and anarchy, and those antics are what we most love in a snowboard flick – just watching kids having fun while their adrenaline flows. Riding stuff they shouldn’t. Like brick walls and roofs and hey, is that a dam they’re sliding? Not every part is credited, we’d like to see the names of each entertaining perp who performs. We like seeing the always-stylish Niko Cioffi who besides his cool riding gets the most fashionable jacket award in this flick.

New Englanders are gnarly and not afraid to show their mistakes on film. Brandon Reis goes huge, clips a pine tree, and then lands upside down in it’s tree well in his first shot, with a cracked board. Chris Beresford shreds a SKATE park on his board. Yale Cousino gets best pants award.

For some vids, you know the crew sat and waited in their hotel rooms for days until bluebird skies appeared and avalanche danger passed. In this vid, it’s more like they said “Tonight’s the night” and the crew got together whenever and wherever for some ninja style filming. This film is like watching The Monkees with snowboards (ask your parents.) And we love it.

See the video now FREE here!

From EB's Site

This is the Eastern Boarder Movie. It is amazing that this is the first EasternBoarder Snowboard Movie with past riders including Eric Kovall, Alexi Garick, Doug Byrnes, Shane Flood, Nicke Franke, Jamie Mcleod and more. Its about time we did this, The video and EB team would not happen without the amazing riders and filmers that represent EB. Most of all we would like to thank the huge Eastern Boarder Family.

This is the changing of the guard, the talent has never been hungrier. Last season (08) was record breaking, tons of snow, tons of fun, tons of coverage. It might go down as the best season ever. This Movie features the riding talents of Tanner Pendleton, Teddy Lavoie, Colleen Quigley, Brandon Reis, Sam Hulbert, Chris Carr, Yale Cousino & Shane Fortier. Appearances by friends like Kade Madsden, Chris Beresford & Niko Coiffi & More. Chris Carr wraps up the video with some tricky tricks that need to be watched three times minimum.

This video was filmed by Tanner Pendleton, Matt Roberge and random others, If a person is in it they probably filmed a bit. Edited by Tanner Pendleton. Thanks to Tanner for his hard work making this movie happen, and thanks to Everyone for your support. Thanks to the sponsors, Watervile Valley, K2 Snowboarding, Red Bull, Oakley, Ride, & Forum.

The B. Burton Movie Premiere NYC 9.14.09

2009-10-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

by Lauren Traub Teton

Tonight was the first big movie premiere of the NY snowboard party season in NYC. Hundreds of people lined up in front of the Tribeca Cinemas on Varick Street downtown to see Burton's new 40 minute film. They showed the film in 2 theaters simultaneously, and then had a quickly scheduled second showing to accommodate the crowd. See the vid her e. Seeing the film in a theater instead of at a party gives you the chance to look at the film a lot more closely, hear the soundtrack, and enjoy it all comfortably. Burton is taking a page from the Warren Miller juggernaut in this regard.

The NY Snowboarding Meetup kicks ASS by the way, with 1660 members as of today, and over 100 attending tonight. Thanks Keith and Agatha for arranging the movie meetup! And so did The B. This movie, unlike most snowboard films actually kind of has a plot. Well, a theme is more like it. The "B" has a role in the film, as a 100 foot long playground at Northstar, Tahoe, for the riders to do tricks over and off of. Fun idea and photogenic too! See what the B looks like and what this evening was like in our video here.

Standout parts in the film went to Shaun White with the leadoff, riding his private halfpipe and dressed in a black catsuit. We actually see Shaun fall, and as we well know about Shaun White, that just makes him try super harder to succeed. (More Shaun White her e.)

Nicolas Mueller uses the Alps like his own giant natural terrain park and his riding reminds us why he was twice crowned snowboarder of the year. His buddy and business partner Fredi Kalbermatten has a part. Best part was Jeremy Jones (rail rider) from Salt Lake, looking lean and mean. He also astounds with his no hands motorcycle riding, and then, well, I won't tell you what else he does on the bike. You'll have to see it to believe it, but don't try it, please.

There's fun rail riding with great beats in the beginning. Snowboarding in an icy skate bowl was new to me, and then the little trick at the end where the 2 riders jump off their sleds and swap is cute, like something your parents might have seen on "The Monkees" tv show.

Shaun White himself made a quick late-night run through the premiere after-party (at Bar 169) where he appeard from midnight to 12:30, then took off in a cab, with cheers from his fans. This party actually had fancy hors d'ouevres served by wait staff on trays upstairs.

Here's a photo from last year's bowling party in Boston, with Nico Mueller lower right, Fredi Kalbermatten center, Liam Griffin upper left, and Yale Cousino upper right. Read our brand new interview with Yale Cousino here. And read about that Burton Boston party 2008 her e.

Flexmeter Wrist Guards. Designed by a doctor. For snowboard, skate, Trikke, roller derby, football, tennis, horseback riding, ice skating, and probably more. www.Flexmeters.com

Louie Vito on Dancing with the Stars

2009-09-27T12:21:00.000-07:00

Lauren Traub Teton
Editor SnowboardSecrets.com

Wanna see something cool? Check out the videos of Louie Vito on "Dancing with the Stars" from September 21, 2009. Louie is a 2 time Grand Prix winner and 21-year old pro-snowboarder going for the 2010 Olympic Team. He's from Bellefontaine, OH with a stop at the Stratton Mountain School along the way. I never noticed what a fabulously charming smile he has, and certainly never saw his buffed up arms when he was swaddled in snowboard gear at the US Open. See the 4 min. video with Louie's buff arms here.
See the official ABC 2 min. vid here.

Surprisingly, dancing is new to him. I thought snowboarding and dancing went together like boards and stickers. At least that is my observation from the many cool dancers I've encountered at snowboard parties, but perhaps they are a self-selected group. But Louie gamely ventures (way!) outside his comfort zone to learn the foxtrot and allegedly salsa too, though I haven't seen that vid yet.

Louie Vito and Lauren at the 2006 US Open (he was just 18!)

It can only help his future snowboard performance to learn the good straight posture and shoulders down relaxed strides he works on for the dances. There is a lot of cross-over between dancing and snowboarding. He says he doesn't need straight posture to ride, and has to stay "hunched over" but I say that knowing how to use the body in a versatile way is all good! And training the mind to keep learning new things is a life skill that always serves us well.

More pix of the 2006 US Open including up-close photos with Shaun White, Mason Aguirre, Hana Beaman, Freddie Kalbermatten, Sketchy D, Danny Davis, Elena Hight and more!

If you're interested to know why Belly Dancers are Natural Snowboarders, check out my article and pictures here.

Article sponsored by Flexmeter Snowboard Wrist Guards. Designed by a Doctor and Proven to reduce snowboard wrist injuries. For skateboard, Trikke, and other sports too.
Flexmeters.com

Gathering of the Vibes 2009 part 3 Sunday

2009-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Gathering of the Vibes 2009 part 3 Sunday
by Lauren Traub Teton

"This was truly the best Gathering of the Vibes I have been to in the 4 that I have attended."

The perfect festival weather roll we've been on since late Saturday night continued for the daytime GOV shows on Sunday. What a treat to hear Buddy Guy do a song with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. He sat in on their last song, and the show seemed to segue seemlessly into the Buddy Guy performance. Again, they keep you busy and there was astonishingly little downtime between acts at this year's Gathering of the Vibes.

Buddy Guy is a master of the blues and the audience boogied and loved it. "One leg to the East, one leg to the west, and Buddy was in the middle tryin' to do his best!" This 5 Grammy Award Winner learned at the elbow of Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf. Buddy Guy is continuing the tradition with a gifted amazing blond kid who plays in Buddy's band. Did someone say he was 12 years old? We couldn't hear his name but we know we'll be hearing from this next Stevie Ray Vaughn. We were doubly blessed when Grace Potter joined Buddy Guy on his stage for a song.

Crosby, Still and Nash played the final set of the Gathering of the Vibes Festival, that had been running since Thursday. On the first several numbers they sounded like they had drunk a 5-hour Energy Drink about 7 hours earlier. The set changed up the pace with a cover of the Stones "Ruby Tuesday." Storm clouds were quickly gathering, and having experienced a flash storm at this festival Friday night, it was just time to go. I planned to listen to the rest of the show in my car on WPKN who had been graciously broadcasting the music all weekend. But alas, CSN did not give permission for their show to be broadcast. I slipped away from Seaside Park and the crowd as the raindrops started to pelt, about 10 minutes before the end of the act.

In all, only about an hour of music was pre-empted by rain on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. Amazing considering the history of rain that follows this (and every NY/New England summer music festival I have ever attended.) We're sorry half of the moe show was lost in the evacuation Friday night. This GOV 2009 ran with military precision and here's a shout-out to all the people who made it happen and sacrificed sleep when needed. We hear planning of the next GOV starts 3 days after the last one finishes!

This was truly the best Gathering of the Vibes I have been to in the 4 that I have attended. The two years I went to the shows in Mariaville, upstate NY were magic. The first year back in Seaside Park ('07) was the settling down year. Now the magic is back. It wasn't just the music, it was the high vibration of the crowd. It is great to be with music lovers who are dancing and enjoying themselves. Magic happens in a loose flowing environment like this, and it did!

A couple of tips for GOV goers:

Ferry
*If you're coming from eastern Long Island, consider the Port Jefferson to Bridgeport ferry. I took it over this year and it was so pleasant. Make a reservation before. The cost was $51 for a car and driver. The ferry runs with precision. It takes an hour plus to get across, and drops you about a mile from the festival and you'll see signs to get you there.

If you're a Twifty
(Twifties are people who are in their late 40s and up and FUN!! And there were lots of them at Gathering of the Vibes!) consider buying VIP tickets. This year the VIP area had 2 spacious shady tents where the show could be seen. One tent had snacks, drinks, beer for sale, and a dance floor. The other one was furnished with cushy sofas. The VIP area is a refuge from the harsh realities of weather and a great place to chill. Of course you can go into the main concert area too from there.
VIP tickets usually sell out, plan early! VIP ticket holders get 2 catered lunches, close parking, a special camping area, and more.

Rain
It's no fun to sleep in water if you're not a fish. Bring an air mattress to raise your sleeping bag above water that will seep into your tent. Expect it!

Gathering of the Vibes 2009 part 2

2009-07-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Gathering of the Vibes 2009 part 2
by Lauren Traub Teton

Saturday night at GOV was possibly the best Saturday night EVER!!! It was the best In my 4 years of going based on music, weather, audience, and general VIBE! Friday night's noodly improve performances on the main stage were replaced by the Levon Helm Band's drum-tight performance where every note was in place, but many old Band favorites were freshly arranged and sounding superb. This perfomance reminds me it is time to watch one of the greatest music concert movies of all time again - "The Last Waltz."

Bob Weir and Ratdog totally surprised me. I have seen them many times and if last night turned out to be a show that didn't inspire me or the weather turned nasty, I was planning to slip out of the concert early and make for my bed and some needed catch-up sleep. Well, it was getting LIGHT when I finally got home, so I think that proves that this was one of the best Ratdog shows I ever experienced. The set kicked ass from start to finish, with the proper blend of dancin' tunes and spacey ones. The show finished up with "One More Saturday Night" and the crowd went wild. Light stick fireworks "went off." It's pretty to see huge handfuls of light sticks fly through the air, and you'll see it in the video. Just explain to me me how that fits into the heavy ecolgoy and recycling vibe of this show?

The weather was PERFECT in the 70s all night as we made our way to the 1:30 a.m. late show of Perpetual Groove on the Green Vibes Stage. It's the same venue where the Lettuce show was last night. You had to have a "Camping" ticket to go to the Green Vibes stage in the campground. Security runs like a well-oiled machine at this year's event and wristbands were checked at the gate to the campground. I had never heard Perpetual Groove, but being a dancer, how could I resist seeing a group with a name like that? I was not dispappointed as the dance scene raved and raged inside and outside the big white tent.

People slowly meandered back to their campsites at the end of this EPIC Saturday night at Gathering of the Vibes 2009.
More to come, and VIDEO whenI I have time to edit. Now going back to see Grace Potter and the Nocturnals at 2:30,

Gathering of the Vibes 2009

2009-07-25T12:19:00.000-07:00

Gathering of the Vibes 2009
by Lauren Traub Teton

Bridgeport,CT. July 25. Gathering of the Vibes summer music festival has returned to rock out Seaside Park in Bridgeport, CT.
See the vid here.
Heavy rain Thursday gave way to a perfect day on Friday. Campers were packed into the 370 acre park, and hay had been thoughtfully placed over a lot of the muddy areas for easy walking. Twifties - the FUN people in their late 40s, 50s, 60s, and UP were out in full force enjoying the fest. George Clinton and P-Funk got the crowd crazy with "We Want the Funk." Musical experimentation is what the Gathering of the Vibes stages were made for, and George and his band let it fly. A female singer changed up the pace and tone, and kept dancers on their feet for the changes in direction that the music took.

Deep Banana Blackout once again reveled in being the home team on their hometown stage. Jen Durkin, lead singer and glue of DBB looked glam and svelte in her black dress and glorious thick blonde dreds. Their were hints that they might reprise their famous Zeppelin set of GOV 2006 where Jen Durkin channeled Robert Plant on the two delicious Zeppelin covers, including "Whole Lotta Love" from the Red Sky set 10 years ago. (read about the 2006 Gathering of the Vibes and see pix here.)

But since DBB always keeps it all fresh, we were treated to a Santana song from Woodstock (the first one, that is) and the crowd danced their feet off! And Jen had her sister, and her "soul sister from another mother" join her on a tribute to Merle Saunders (of the Saunders/Garcia Band and much more.) UFOs of candle-powered globes with laser lights floated over the crowd. One has to wonder what happens if one lands on a tent.

Time between bands was short. Unbelievably short, not even 5 minutes to hit the portolet or get a beer. I never thought I'd ever say "there should be more downtime between bands." moe started their set on time at 10:30 but then a serious lightning storm whipped up and the audience was told "go back to your cars" 'til it blows over."

After about 90 minutes the storm passed, and the party was back outdoors with Lettuce playing some of the best funk of the night at an intimate venue under a tent, by the seaside. This was a reunion of the band started by high schoolers in 1992 in Boston. The weather was crisp and the humidity had dropped, the dancing was intense, great party weather once again.
See the vid here.

More to come...after it happens!

"Twifties" suddenly taking the world by Storm

2009-05-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

The new word and concept "Twifties" is suddenly taking the world by storm. How do we know? Because the word was uttered on Saturday Night Live on April 11, 2009.

It's in the Zac Efron Monologue at the opening of the show. You can see the skit on Hulu here.

Watch from 2 min. 34 seconds to 2 minutes 40 seconds if you don't have 3 minutes and 17 seconds, but it's cute and maybe you'll just want to watch the whole seg!

Twifties are people around their 50s (and UP!) who act like they're in their 20s. Like Lauren Traub Teton, the creator of SnowboardSecrets.com and this blog, who is also (coincidentally) the creator of the new word and concept "Twifties." Check out www.Twifties.com.

Lauren is also the host and provocateur on a new TV show. If you don't live in Northern Westchester County, you'll have to check out entertaining excerpts online on Youtube at Twifties TV soon.

By the way, Lauren will be working with a hot/cool snowboard clothing line this season, modeling snowboard gear for Twifties. You can see her swaggering in her Burton Zebra stripe matching hoody and snow pants in winter 2008/09 all over SnowboardSecretsTV and specifically at the discovery of Snow Cleavage in VT here.
Which snowboard gear line will she be modeling? We're not saying yet. Just know you'll want to wear it too when you see how good it looks!

Snow Parks and Terrain Parks of Austria and France

2009-03-19T09:48:00.000-07:00

The Snow Parks and Terrain Parks of Austria and France

by Annelies Van de Velde, for SnowboardSecrets.com

New! Be sure to check out SnowboardSecrets.TV for the World's First and Only
hosted Snowboard Interview Show on the Internet. Hosted by Lauren Traub Teton

Snow Park Heaven

Whether you’re a rubber-bodied gnarly kicker-god or a trembling-at-the-knees snow park rookie with a keen spirit; if you’re planning a ski holiday in Austria or fancy a bit of snowboarding in France and are looking to hurl yourself off silly obstacles, we’ve highlighted a couple of snow park gems to meet all your freestyle needs.

Mayrhofen - Austria’s best playground in the snow

Voted by snowparks.com as one of Europe’s best snow parks, the Vans Penken Park in Mayrhofen is simply sublime and is regularly home to Austrian and international pros who like to strut their stuff on its huge amount of obstacles. Newly opened in 2008, the park is now bigger, better and still fresh from new ideas and improvements. This includes the newly named Funjet lift which runs the whole length of the park and is the ideal place to sit back and watch all the fun. See what they did there?

Four separate lines neatly divide the boys from the men, so everyone can go their own pace. The easiest Fun line contains some cute mini-kickers, wall rides, boxes and banks, while the Public line steps it up a notch adding longer rails and bigger kickers. The Pro line does what it says on the tin, boasting some big air opportunities in the form of tables a quarter pipe and massive jumps including a 19m biggie.

With a half pipe and a Jib line containing a 12m rainbow box and 7m wall ride as the cherries on top of this snowy cake, the Vans Penken Park is a freestylers dream!

Website: www.vans-penken-park.com

Snow Park Event: Snowbombing, 29^th March – 4^th April 2009

Avoriaz - A French freestyle bonanza!

World renowned for being the first French resort to embrace snowboarding, Avoriaz is a haven for those looking to shred some snow and widely known as the French hub of freestyle. No less than four snow parks plus a competition-worthy half pipe nestle amongst its snowy banks, with more freestyle fun on offer in the surrounding Portes Du Soleil area.

Newest addition to this already inspired playground is The Stash: Europe’s first ecological snow park designed by Jake Burton. This park makes use of the natural terrain to create a mixture of freestyle and freeride, with a great mix of log jibs, road gaps and hidden powder slashes in un-groomed snow, with something to please all levels.

Another new area suited to the more advanced rider is Biotop. This jib-tastic space is home to the 30m long jib-monster that is the Golden Gate and the whole area has been designed with the environment in mind using only snow and wood.

For those who really want to step up the adrenaline, the ever changing Arare is Avoriaz’ advanced park with 800x80 meters of rails, kickers and corner jumps. You’ll often find quarters, step-ups or spines there too, as well as the daily maintained, super smooth Superpipe half pipe. Its huge vertical walls stretch 120m long and 5.6 wide and have serviced many pro riders in some awesome competitions.

And finally, if you’re feeling a bit knock-kneed after reading all this, La Chapelle is the perfect place to gently easy you into the bigger jumps, with forgiving jumps rails and boxes for the budding freestyler.

Website: www.snowzone.fr/index_2.htm

Snow Park Event: Burton AM, 21^st-22^nd March

Annelies adds:

Has this got you itching to shred some snow? Crystal Ski provides some great package deals to Avoriaz and Mayrhofen, so you don’t need to worry about food shopping and can get on with the more important things like shredding! Let’s hope it just carries on dumping till the end of the season …

Stratton Mountain Vermont Report, December 2008

2008-12-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

The Winter Season is ON in the Mountains!

Stratton Mountain Report, December 3, 2008

by Lauren Traub Teton
editor SnowboardSecrets.com

If you're waiting for more terrain to open before you have your first on-snow mountain experience this winter, you are missing OUT!! I rode Stratton Monday and Tuesday this week. They claim the highest percentage of open terrain now and we did not feel the least bit deprived. The ratio of skiers and riders on the hill to acreage was strongly in our favor. The late session Monday found me nearly alone on the mountain. You would have to wait a while for a chair mate if you didn't want to ride Ursa chair alone.

Having the mountain to yourself is the dream of every slider, and yet it’s so easily attainable by going before Christmas on a weekday or many other off-peak times. Play hooky! Spend a vacation day. You’d stay home if you were contagious, why not skip work for your health before you get sick?

Tuesday we got to experience an afternoon snow shower; the trails were fast and natural, not corduroy, as snow flakes pelted our eyes accelerated by our speed and the wind. The riding was challenging and exhilarating as I rode with my pack of locals who get to ride Stratton Mountain almost every day because of their work. They even know how to hit two different terrain parks on one run down, by doing a bit of extreme trail crossing. Beware the natural roller coaster of ice that leads into the smaller terrain park trail, it's a feature all on its own.

We heard in the Stratton Snow Phone Report, done on Tuesdays with style and gusto by our friend Will Risely, that the way to get the SES Park Pass now is to watch the safety video here and take the test at home, instead of in the cozy igloo at the top by the park as in days of old. We were amazed and admiring when Stratton started the SES terrain park safety certification a few years ago, and we wrote about it on our main website www.SnowboardSecrets.com where you can browse our original articles and photos about our favorite subject - snowboarding! - for hours.

The Stratton Mountain Inn is being spruced up nicely, starting with the far wing past the sauna and spa. We always like checking out the sauna there for some after-riding relaxation and stretching. We pray to see new carpeting on the stairs leading to the spa area soon. The Stratton Mountain Inn has such nice kind employees. They made sure I got my cell phone back when I left it on the table in front of the lobby fireplace (it helps that my name and contact info were pasted on it). And they even heated up my soup for my thermos as a special favor.

Nice new green carpeting was installed at the Stratton Mountain Welcome Center at the base on Monday. Our friends in Central Reservations tell us the Lift Line Lodge is popular with budget-conscious travelers because it is the closest motel to the mountain and also the least expensive. It’s just across the street from the Welcome Center and the base. Mulligan's pub seems to have a new trimmed down one-page list of offerings instead of the 2 fold menu. Their apple sundae went down smooth and delicious after a shared steak dinner. We hear that the old Foggy Goggle has re-opened recently as the Three Peaks Inn, with reasonably priced rooms, and good food.

The shops in Stratton Mountain's walking Village at the base are chock full of styly clothes, gear, jewelry, and there is a new outdoor barbecue and chairs outside restaurant wine/bar Domaine where the food is prepared by Perfect Wife (Manchester) chef Amy Chamberlin. We also hear there is a Monday snowboarders bbq of burgers and fun in a glade between trails, arranged by some savvy fun-seeking Stratton employees.

Back in Stratton Village, we did a fashion video shoot there (which you can see soon) outside the new Burton Store which takes the spot where Syd and Dusty's used to dwell. Syd and Dusty's is across the walkway a little closer to the Clock Tower. Shout out to Joe and Nicole at the Burton Store who helped us out with the shoot. Watch for SnowboboardSecrets.com Snow Fashion video to see what peeps are really wearing out there this season.

Jim Cardenali’s race camp for skiers is going on at Stratton again this week. Things are done seriously right, to yield quick results for motivated ski racer adults at this camp, starting with the fitting of the proper boots and skis. The Carving Arena by Reliable Racing uses short colored brushes as gates for some of the carving exercises at the camp. Jim Cardenali’s Race Camps are filled each session by word of mouth of past happy campers. One of his mottos is "if you're thinking, you're not skiing. Let the skis do their job."

If you would like to try out the Carving Arena and improve your riding or skiing on your own equipment so that you can face any trail in the East under just about any conditions, the newly formed American Carving Assn (ACA) is for you. Come learn the East Coast Survival Carve and take it up a notch on the hill Three weekend camps are scheduled. You will have fun and improve your skills and confidence. Grown-ups and Twifties welcome! Dates and locations are:
Jan 23 - 25 at Killington Resort, VT
March 6 - 8 Sugarbush Ski Resort, VT
March 27- 29 Stratton Mountain Ski Resort, VT Info at http://www.radxsports.com/ACA.htm

As I travel home on Route 91 South, I have found that Greenfield MA, Exit 26 at Route 2 west fulfills all of my traveling needs in the first 1/4 mile off the Interstate. There you can find gas, two budget motels if you need to break up you trip north or south, a 99 Restaurant, which is Massachusetts own home-grown steak chain, (I spent a summer working at one of the original 99s in Sudbury. MA). And Friendly’s, also of MA from Wilbraham. This particular Friendly's is one of the nicest units you will visit. Clean, with a pleasant ambience and nice people. They prepare me a super healthy steamed veg and mashed potato platter for $5.64. When I'm hungry I sometimes eat two plates of these perfectly cooked colorful vegetables, after a day of snowboarding.

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Snowboarders Trip - Annual All America Snowboard Trip to Winter Park, CO

Come Ride with Us! This ground package for Winter Park, Colorado take place February 11-15, 2009 and includes 4 lodging nights, at a motel convenient by free shuttle bus to the slopes, a 3-day lift ticket, several meals, and parties.

Organizer Lauren Traub Teton concocted the idea for this trip after signing up for ski trips and finding herself the only snowboarder in the group. "I love riding with skiers, but I want to have a trip where I can hang out and have fun with snowboarders, who share the same snow culture as me!" says Teton.

The trip is open to snowboarders of all ages and levels, including absolute beginners. Twifties, the fun people in their 50’s and up are specifically invited. The trip is a great way for first-timers to start out in a supportive atmosphere, and parents to try snowboarding. Also great for people who want to travel to snowboard but whose friends or family can't accompany them. Skiers are of course welcome but will be a minority.

Info and sign-up at http://www.snowboardsecrets.com/trips2008.htm

Ms.Teton, editor of SnowboardSecrets.com says "we had a great time last year and rode some steeps, and some powdery glades. I think two of our guests who met in WP got engaged after the trip." Photos here.

Info and sign-up at http://www.snowboardsecrets.com/trips2008.htm

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TGR's New York City Film Premiere 2008

2008-11-19T18:05:00.000-08:00

TGR's New York City Film Premiere 2008, and other Snowboard News

by Lauren Traub Teton

Teton Gravity Research's latest snow film “Under the Influence” premiered in NYC on Saturday, November 15 at Club Prime to a packed house of hundreds: mostly skiers and some snowboarders. The raffle stoked the crowd and the movie hushed them with awe. Big mountain riding is the order with TGR movies and the first scene is absolutely sick, with athletes being dropped by heli onto a wedge of mountain top that looks like the little sharp pointy curl at the top of your soft ice cream cone, then riding down.

We waited patiently and finally half way through we saw our first snowboarder part with Gigi Ruf. Victoria Jealouse rode like the star she is and looked lovely to boot. Why such a teensy part for the only fem rep in this film? Jeremy Jones, Big Mountain Rider is inspiring as one of the fathers of this genre and says in the film that the first time he rode Alaska he KNEW he had to make it part of his life. Not to be confused with the rail rider of the same name, this JJ rides for Rossignol and is brother of TGR founders Todd and Steve Jones. Jeremy has changed his color scheme this time around from his classic red jacket to yellow green. We like the red, so we can always spot him.

Kudos to Jeremy as founder of POW – Protect Our Winters, a united front for winter sports enthusiasts to raise awareness and funds to protect the environment from warming To see his million dollar smile, which you don't see in the movie, click here.

Back to the film, 18 year old skier Sammy Carlson amused us with his twin tip antics as much as any snowboarding rail rider. We love when he rode UP the stair rail and roof instead of cooperating with gravity the usual way.

After the flick, non-dancers filtered out and the late night crowd filtered in for dancing with smoke and lights. The TGR road crew under fearless leader (and former East Coaster) Dave Hudackso packed up the movie screens and gear in 5 minutes flat.

Models Made

Shout out to our pals at Emilio's Ski and Snowboard Shop in Queens, the oldest (and hippest) snow shop in the Boroughs for their work on this party. We worked with them last year for the successful Blur Tour Snowboard Film Premiere Party we threw down…town. Emilio's put on a rocking snowboard fashion show for us with special guest models Yale Cousino and his sister Amber Rood who have both since started successful modeling careers after that auspicious start!

New East Coast Film in the Works from Never Enough Entertainment

The East Coast film we showed last year at the party: ' Blur", by young Maestro Tom Vayianos will be followed by a new offering next season, tentatively titled "Breathe.” Tom's Huckfest Productions has a fresh new name too: Never Enough Entertainment. Watch for big things from them.

Kevin Corcoran now at Rossignol Snowboards

In other related news, our good bud Kevin Corcoran has landed a great gig for all concerned, working with Rossignol Snowboards and is excited to bring them together with activities and promotions he is currently working on. Such as his TV segments for the Weekly Events Report on The Mountain Report which is seen nationwide on Fox Sports, NY and NESN. Kevin will be creating a new grassroots campaign in New England to support and promote the retail sales of Rossignol Snowboards in shops.

Video Parks, Crotched Mountain and Mount Snow

Rossi will be a sponsor for Kevin’s brainchild – the Video Parks at Crotched Mountain, NH and new this year, one at Mount Snow, VT. Both Peak Resorts who are mad for making snow! If you don’t know about Video Park, you should because it’s been one of the coolest (in EVERY way!) under-the-radar local pro events for the last 2 winters. The mountains make a park with wild features including oil tanks and fire, and invite riders and their film crews to film the craziness under the lights. Crotched will be open to the public ‘til 3am that night as part of their seasonal Midnight Madness. Though I can tell you that if you’re out riding past 2am like I was, you can have the hill to yourself.

Video Park dates will be posted on www.SnowboardEventsCalendar.com and www.crotchedmountain.com/ and www.mountsnow.com/calendar.html.

Crotched Mountain’s site says Crotched Mountain is operated with love by Peak Resorts and if you know the crew there like we do, you know it’s true! Hey Chris and Craig. With a name like “Crotched” you gotta love it!

Winter Dew Tour

We’re all excited about the brand new Winter Dew Tour which will be the biggest East Coast Event this season with a total purse of $1.5 over three events. Jan 8-11 at Mount Snow. More to come on that…

Learn to Carve This Winter!
New organization formed to teach carving to snowboarders and skiers.

Snowboarders can wear soft boots or hard. Learn the East Coast Carve. with elbow on the snow, as performed by Ron "the Carvefather" Maita.

American Carving Association weekend events are scheduled so far for

Jan 23 - 25 at Killington Resort, VT
March 6 - 9 Sugarbush Ski Resort, VT
March 27- 29 Stratton Mountain Ski Resort, VT

We expect to have day clinics at Belleayre Mountain, NY.
Discounts on workshops if you sign up before Dec. 1 at http://radxsports.com/ACA.htm

Props to Reliable Racing of Queensbury, NY for donating the Carving Arena slalom set-up, and to the other sponsors: RadxSports, SnowboardEventsCalendar.com, EvilSports.com, Xocai Chocolates, and Flexmeters.com Snowboard & Sport Wrist Guards,

For More Info Contact:

Lauren Traub Teton, Director of Public Relations
American Carving Association
Lauren@SnowboardSecrets.com

Burton Movie Tour - Burton Party - Boston

2008-11-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

Burton Movie Tour - Burton Party - Boston October 2008

by Lauren Traub Teton

It's Always Snowing Somewhere

Boston - Saturday night October 18, 2008 saw the kick-off of Burton's new snowboard movie "It's Always Snowing Somewhere” in Boston, at uber entertainment club Jillian's near Fenway Park. The third floor was commandeered to hold hundreds of guests for the party and the space had plenty of room for bowling, couch-sitting and mingling in the front. Pool shooting and dancing went down in the back room under the steady party vibes of renowned Vermont DJ Russell from Lotus Entertainment in Burlington.

The underage part of the crowd was welcomed for an early autograph signing session with Burton Global Team riders including the Swiss crew of Nicolas Mueller and Fredi Kalbermatten. Other Global riders in attendance who are rarely seen on the East were Heikki Sorsa of Finland, and Natasza Zurek, and Mikey Rencz, both of British Columbia.

Holding it down with his usual East Coast stee-ehz was suave rail rider Yale Cousino. We hear Yale's doing some modeling and it's all in the family as his gorgeous sister Amber Rood is also breaking into the biz in LV, AND Yale's girlfriend Brooke Werner is appearing in a 2 page Burton ad featuring Nico M. inside the cover of the new December TWS. We wish a healthy and successful season to all these riders and models.

People actually did get to bowl with the snowboard stars, like in some new wacky but cool television reality series. Nicolas Muller is a pretty serious bowler it turns out, having grown up in Zurich. When I said "hey, you were snowboarder of the year" to him, he pointed out that he garnered that title TWICE, in 2006 and 2008! I really have to catch up on reading my snowboard mags. I guess I thought both those issues were from the same year. Btw, you pronounce his first name the French way, with no "s" on the end - Nicola. And his last name has an umlaut (2 dots) over the “u” but when the software doesn’t have an umlaut sometimes you’ll see his name spelled “Mueller.”

Fredi Kalbermatten hails from Saas Fee where I was privileged to see him ride way back in Sumer 2003 when someone pointed him out to me with local pride as I attended Nitro Snowboard Camp in the Pearl of the Alps. This tour was his FIRST time bowling and he was a game sport about it. Jillian's Lucky Lanes have auto scoring so that part's a snap. They'll even serve you food and drink right at the lanes. Hey wipe those greasy chicken nugget and french fry fingers next time before you pick up the red bowling ball, huh?

Liam Griffin who runs the events for Burton is a mad bowler, very serious about it. Yale Cousino has bowled a lot in the past and once he found out that the scoreboard posts radar bowling ball speed, he was intent on setting the lane speed record for a bowling ball. He’s so competitive. Check out his 29.25 mph speed

in the photo! And notice the pink bowling ball with the crack in it that resulted. It's actually a malted milkball inside there, just as you always suspected. And notice who won the game! Tom Vayianos of Huckfest Productions and director of last year’s “Blurred” bowled with us. He’s doing great at Emerson College. Josh Hudson and Erin, the Eco Architect rounded out our team.

Swag and raffle prizes were flying heavy and often under the capable bestowment of MC and Burton rep sans egal Brandon Halberstadt. Don't let that NH address fool you, he's from Massachusetts, like this reporter. In fact he spent early years living in the town that hosts one of the funnest little snowboard and ski hills outside of Boston, Nashoba Valley. I spent many sunny weekday afternoons learning to snowboard here, just a short ride from my ancestral home of Framingham. Brandon's bio bro/brah Billy Halberstadt was in attendance. He's a ski racer and was hanging with the crew from East Coast Alpine who were a very fun bunch to hang and dance with by the pool tables. Shoutout to Matt Beck, also on the Burton rep team – we missed you.

Behind all those that are behind this bash are the brains behind it all - Chris Copley. Known to every snowboard shop and shop kid in New England past and present, Chris is the guy that makes it all happen for Burton in the Northeast. Thanks Chris and all for a great party!

*************************************************************

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Lauren at the Burton Party -------------------------------------Danny Kass wears Flexmeters!

Grenade FilmTour for "The Boned Age"

2008-09-29T15:06:00.000-07:00

Snowboard Film Party Season is Back!

by Lauren Traub Teton

The Grenade Film Premiere Tour for "The Boned Age" hit Boston last Wed. night, September 24, 2008 at Revolution Rock Bar on High St. With little local advance notice the turnout was on the light side, but it just made for more face time with Danny Kass, The Dingo, Sketchy D., and Lucas "Gooner" Magoon, as they mingled before and after the film in and near the land of their roots.

We somehow missed one of the first parties of the season in the East, the Rome Party in Boston last week. Their 2 outdoor parties at Timber Ridge in Vermont last season were extreme, and we an vouch for the fact that they know how to throw a party. (Rome Londonderry Pop Festival
and Rome World Quarter Pipe Comp 2008

Check out SnowboardEventsCalendar.com regularly, where we post the parties and events as we hear about them so you don't miss a thing.

The Boned Age

The latest Grenade film, named as homage to another film, "The Stoned Age" actually contained more liquor references, and had a cute goofy plot line that was written by Danny Kass and his friends as an excuse for them to try out some acting and have guest cameo performances, between awesome snowboard tricks.

First scene, Danny driving with Scotty Lago who is seen wearing a long bad women's red wig for some reason, (maybe he's playing the role of Danny's date? No, he says he's his brother) while they try to figure out what to do that night. This scene has been played out millions of times with young people all over America and the world. Maybe even by you back in the day! Or now!

Dave England dominates as the page-boyed blond liquor store employee, dancing and diving behind the counter and totally chewing the scenery. The Dingo looks marvelous and happy in his green dress and glasses playing Gabe Taylor's mom, encouraging Gabe to get out of the house and go hang with wild Lucas Magoon.

The film's snowboard shots all occur on the most beautiful bluebird days. Featured in the film besides Danny and Sketchy D are : Benji Ritchie, Gabe Taylor, Zack Leach, Kyle Clancy, Chad Otterstrom, Lane Knaack and Travis Rice.

Lucas Magoon gets my Best Trick Award for riding a long wooden stair rail and cleanly jumping across to the opposite rail mid-ride. It was one of those surprises that makes the audience gasp. Watch carefully because if you blink you'll miss it.

Synchronized halfpipe riding is shown, and causes fantasies of a new Olympic sport that we'd love to see! Scotty Lago had the wrap-up starring role at the end of the film with heavy beats and is also seen chasing a herd of elk on foot, fortunately without a weapon.

The East Coast tour continues with one more stop this Tuesday at Santo's Party House in NYC Tuesday night (Sept. 30). Then the crew is off to the UK, Korea, and Japan, where they are met at the airport by screaming teens, like in the old days of the Beatles (if you know who they are.) Danny Kass's fashion forecast for this season and next include "Mad Plaids" and a little denim this year, with a lot more denim to come next season.

"The Adventures of Danny and The Dingo”

Tuesday Sept. 30 day is also the kickoff of the new TV show on Fuel called “The Adventures of Danny and The Dingo," shot a couple of seasons back on the Grenade Strikes Back Tour, and since Danny and his crew are always lots of fun to watch we're re-upping our Fuel TV subscription for this.

The series begins at the X Games, as Danny, The Dingo and the rest of the Grenade crew cram themselves into a 30’ RV for the “Grenade Strikes Back” Tour. They head for the mountains in search of riders, inviting only the freshest talent to compete in the Grenade Games. When they’re not on their boards, the team manages to get into all kinds of trouble. Cameras are rolling as they drive a hotel manager over the edge, attempt to eat nothing but frozen pizza rolls, and play a practical joke with a permanent punch line at the tattoo parlor. The season finale wraps up at the Grenade Games, as the team judges the finalists they met on the road and awards the winner with a spot on the Grenade Team and his own signature piece of Grenade gloves.

NYC Grenade Party Update

October 1, 2008

The Grenade "Boned Age" film premiere took place last night at Santo's Party House on Lafayette in the NYC. It was a veritable Who's Who of pre-season East Coast stoke. Shayne Pospisil, Michael Cohen, Randy Hoose of Hunter Mountain, Jon Callahan of Launch Snowboards, and our two most arty stylish snowboard pals: Justin Maury and Luke Love (no lie!) were among those present.

Representing Grenade were Danny Kass, The Dingo, Sketchy D, Lucas Magoon, and Kevin Casillo who held it down at the door. Danny was seen sporting his brand new Flexmeter wrist guard for skating (they're designed by a doctor!) on his right arm, and a black cast on his left arm. Let's hope the new Flexmeter prevents any more need for casts!

Check out SnowboardEventsCalendar.com regularly, where we post the parties and events as we hear about them so you don't miss a thing.

And visit SnowboardSecrets.com and use the "Search Site" button in the top logo bar to search your favorite pro-snowboarder and snowboard subjects.

Gathering of the Vibes Festival August 2008

2008-09-12T12:33:00.000-07:00

Gathering of the Vibes Festival held July 31 to August 3, 2008

Seaside Park, Bridgeport, CT

Reported by Dusty, special guest journalist

As is the case with any good trip, set and setting are critical, and there’s no better setting for a festival than Bridgeport’s Seaside Park, home of this year’s Gathering of the Vibes (GOV) festival.

The beautiful location on the bay lends a bit of a Monterey Pop feel to the event. At night, dimly lit private boats line the bay behind the stage – not a bad way to spend an evening. An endless passagiatta of strollers walk the beach and boardwalk, simultaneously entertaining and being entertained.

Saturday’s torrential downpour, and Wavy Gravy’s spectacular job as emcee and house jester, lent a Woodstock feeling to the event. Wavy was in fine form this year, as always, entertaining the masses with stories from his five decades as hippie Icon Emeritus.

The music started Thursday night, highlighted by an awesome set from the Dark Star Orchestra. With me, what’s important is not necessarily which music was on Thursday night, which was outstanding, but the fact that there’s any music at all. The promoters could have easily stuck with the three-day format, but no…they want to give you an extra party day and for you to be aurally entertained even when arriving and getting comfortable on Thursday, and when leaving.

On a personal note, nighttime, pre-festival music always brings fond memories for me of having had the good fortune to have been front and center at Watkins Glen ‘73 for “the greatest sound check of all time,” when the Grateful Dead, the Allman Brothers and the Band took a look at the crowd estimated at 600,000, and played an improvised all night set that was considered the high point of the entire weekend..

Early Saturday morning at GOV, it appeared we were in for another beautiful day…not! We got hit with a late-morning storm complete with lots of thunder, wind, and dangerously close lightning strikes. Of course, this was soon followed by the obligatory dance of the mud people, mud-grooving to Taj Mahal.

Despite the inclement weather, people come to GOV to have a great time, and they’re not likely to let a little (or a lot) of rain interfere with that mission. We can’t remember a GOV in the last 4 years that didn’t have some rain. In fact we can’t remember any multi-day music fest around NY state since we’ve been going to them that hasn’t had a bit of rain.

The site is ringed by a circle of eclectic merchandise and food vendors, so there’s plenty of opportunities for hippie retail therapy during breaks in the performances. I swear the promoters must interview the food vendors as carefully as they choose the musical lineup. On Friday night, after a hot day of grooving, I lustfully and with great anticipation perused the multitudinous culinary offerings, before settling down to a masterfully prepared steak kabob pita and well-done, hand-cut French fries done to perfection, which tasted as good as they sound, particularly with background music provided the Black Crowes.

I could easily fill this space with reviews of the performers, each of whom put on an inspired show. How could you not play a great set in this magnificent location, at a gig called the Gathering of the Vibes.

The Bridgeport locals seem to be having as good a time as any of the concertgoers. On my nightly walk through the surrounding neighborhood back to my car, I passed dozens of homes where the occupants were out on their porches grooving to the music live and as broadcast on WPKN.

While I would have driven a few hundred miles to attend this event, it doesn’t hurt that it takes place a few miles from my Westchester county abode. I can’t wait till next year. Regardless of where GOV is held, I’ll be there for sure.

Stomp Pad Question

2008-07-28T05:41:00.000-07:00

Question to SnowboardSecrets.com

Q. My name is Dan and I'm looking to get a used snowboard off craigs list. But it doesn't have a stomp pad. If you do need one on a ski lift, how much is it? Thanks
Daniel J.

A. A stomp pad is $10 to $15 and is a convenience to help prevent slipping of your back foot when you get off the lift and the back foot it isn't buckled into the board. It should be placed so when your back foot is on the stomp pad it's right up against the inside of your back binding, so you're solid. Lots of more "hard core" riders don't use them.
I think they are handy and good. Stomp pads online here.

Lauren
Editor SnowboardSecrets.com

By the way, you might enjoy subscribing to the Snowboard Szine, where I write about...
Snowboarding!!
You can sign up on any page of http://www.snowboardsecrets.com/ in the bar at the top right.
best regards,
Lauren