YoBeat: Making Fun of Snowboarding Since 1997

Nick Dirks checks the rail before getting slippery.

Because Yobeat is everywhere at all times we tend to notice the new trends in extreme action way before the average human. Recently a this omnipotent view of the globe has alerted us to a progressive approach to the classic soap shoeing. Talented snowboarders have been ditching their boards and soaping the shit out of rails left and right. Injured riders are getting down on this new sport as well, doing variations of the classic sole grind with their backs, butts, and necks. It takes amazing balance, a technical prowess only a few terrific athletes possess, and balls of steel to attempt these death defying maneuvers. Luckily for you, the Yobeat reader, a recent session was documented and the action is here for your viewing pleasure.

The crew giving some hard steel a rub down before Dirks gives it a soapy slide.

First try sucka’s…

Nick Dirks popped this blue monster’s cherry. With no fear, and the commitment equivalent to a meth head looking for copper, Nick hurled his body, career, and future walking ability down this beast with only one thing in mind: a true rush. As cameras rolled and Scotty Arnold announced this first decent, Nick slid, and stuck it perfectly. Check the style points, Nick had guns a blazin’ and walked away clean.

Broken ankles don’t stop champions.

Tyler Verigin had a roller coaster of a winter. Besides filming some never before seen rail maneuvers and revolutionizing the world of snowboarding with his eight-inch stance, he also managed to destroy his ankle. But it was only to allow others to catch up. There is a reason some make it in the world of extremity and some don’t, and that “it” factor is something Tyler is loaded with. Broken ankle and all, he manned up to this board-less event and threw a true backy down the rail. It was a majestic sight, and a first-time recorded event. The fabled backy was completely squared and Tyler rode it out one vertebrate at a time.

Throw your arms down, style is important when pushing the limits.

Ben Lynch is a wild man. Coming up short on huge gaps in Argentina, blowing out the engine of junker RVs 1500 miles away from home, filming a part with Standard, these things don’t make Ben sweat, so why should the hottest new avenue in getting wicked? Ben watched Dirks slide some pipe, and after Tyler made Einstein roll in his grave with his physics defying backy he practically pounced on the rail. Like a 16-year-old after prom, Ben went for it. He had a real solid front-foot lay back going and capped off the slide by bringing his arms down hard.

After the session went down the spot was raked and snowboarders were again allowed to do work, performing what used to be extreme stunts. Now that you are in the know don’t be caught dead on a rail with a board. Unstrap, and soap that sucka’. Soap shoeing is the new rage, and if you don’t learn some twisty feets, some front-foot lay-backs, and a few variations of the backy, you’re going to end up looking like another kook trying to fit in two years too late.