Donny and friends check out Forum’s street-specific board, the Contract.

Rome Artifact with Rocker

Made out of wet noodles and string the new Rome Artifact with Rocker is God’s answer to LNP doppelgangers the world over. Put a fat kid on this board and he’ll bend it in half, put your little sister on it and she’ll still lay into a proper press, ride it through the pipe and you’ll wish you had higher self esteem. Built for the streets and mini-shred with features like Rome’s special reverse jib camber (flat between the feet to lock into boardslides, but a nose and tail pointed towards the heavens for those effortless presses), pop-core matrix to keep it ultra light weight and best of all the dual advantage of Rome’s impact base and bronze edges, ensuring you can ride rocks, smash shit and slide across the street without wrecking your stick in the process. So yeah, it’s loaded with goodies, but what does that really mean? It means this board is fun as hell when you’re just ripping around, riding rails, or getting weird. What it also means though is that your ass is grass if you step up to the plate on a 100 footer or if you try a double huck n’ chuck in the pipe, this stick just can’t handle those landings unless you land dead center on the screws. My personal opinion is that this board rips if you’re into rails, live in the midwest, or don’t see yourself training for the next Olympics anytime soon. Also, at under $400 you’ll have plenty of money left over to buy Yobeat shirts.

Pros: Super fun in the land of mini-shred. You’ll look cooler on rails instantly. You can pretend you’re hardcore because you’re on a Rome.

Cons: The topsheet is no pleasure to look at. This isn’t a versatile snowboard, big jumps, pipe and Alaska are going to have to wait.

Weird week: fat people have officially blended the gender lines, Best Buy employees are the funniest people ever and Twitter might get you a blowjob.

1.

Diamond Donny doesn’t touch the anger, stupidity or health/kick-ass awareness of this southern beauty. Oh, also, don’t miss out on the fact that this is a woman. CLICK HERE for a direct link to the youtube video.

2.
Feeling really badly about your health, American Citizens or humanity in general? Yeah, that video has an astounding effect. Click HERE for a workout routine straight from Hollywood. In fact, it’s what Brad Pitt used to get all strong-like for Fight Club. Don’t forget folks, it’s beach season…

3.

Ok so the iphone4 comes out. Then it sucks. Then all these other phones kick its ass anyway. Now you’re caught up. So this hilarious nerd guy from Best Buy ends up making this great little online video about how stupid people are for buying the iphone4 and why the iphone4 sucks so much. But that’s not even the best part. Rumor is he got fired from Best Buy after the video went viral, because, well, no on is sure why.

4.

Think you’re bad at skateboarding now? Imagine how bad you would be at skating on “the world’s largest skateboard.”

5.

I hear that soccer is “cool” in the snowboard community, so I’m sure the World Cup shout out perked plenty of interest. Well, perk up something else and befriend Dutch porn star Bobbi Eden ASAP. This lovely cum-dumpster (with the help of a few friends) have agreed to give wet, hot, sloppy blowjobs to all of her Twitter followers if the Netherlands could pull off a World Cup Championship—or whatever they call it. The world cup may be over, but who knows what she’ll offer up next! CLICK HERE FOR MORE.

Actual Information:

You won’t find the CAPiTA UltraFear FK in the 2011 catalog, and you might have a heck of a time finding it in stores. This board is an ultra limited edition, late release board to the CAPiTA line.  This means you might want to hurry to your local shop and pick one up. Why did we like it? Well, the reverse camber and wood core ensure you enough flex to impress the babes with solid, no-tap, nose or tail presses that won’t flap or cause you to break a sweat. At the same time this board is naturally stiffer than most “jib boards” allowing you to hit the big jumps, nuke down shitty terrain and turn on a dime. At high speeds, there was very little of the chatter you usually get with jib boards, but it isn’t the stiffest board out there. If your goal is massive triple corks, might want to look elsewhere. Overall, the CAPiTA Ultrafear FK was a pleasure to ride. If you’re looking for one stick to handle any terrain, press like hell and float through powder, this Ultrafear FK will be your partner in crime.

Specs:

-flat kick reverse camber

-full wood core

-epoxy glass configuration

-sintered base

-specially designed dampening system placed along the edge to enhance impact resistance.

Sizes:

147, 151, 153, 155

The Official pitch:

“The ULTRAFEAR FK: TAKES NO EFFORT! STABLE AT HIGH SPEEDS! PERFECT FOR HANGOVERS! JIB LIKE A MAD MAN!”

Find where to buy it.

Pretending is fun - just ask our federal government, they do it all the time. If pressed to pick one scenario in particular as a favorite, it’s nearly impossible because there are so many mind-blowing instances to choose from. But if you had the rifle they used to kill JFK to my head, I would have to go with 1969 – the year we made storybook history by blasting a couple of men into the land of make believe via a tiny tin spaceship. While there, they would eventually happen upon the moon and (thanks to the effects of slow motion) bounce around for a bit before loading up the ride and heading back to earth.

Being a paranoid enthusiast of all things conspiracy, I was extra specially excited to see the theme chosen for this season’s Danny Kass Double Tongue boot was that of space travel. I can distinctly remember a youthful nostalgia hitting me like a bag of bricks after viewing the first few leaked images of them. I was instantly transported back to my days as an exploratory lad – a time when I was much more ignorant but had way more fun. Back to an adolescent world where property rights, taxes and feelings of guilt for hurting other people’s feelings didn’t exist. It was a nice, if not short visit home.

I think it’s safe to say that aesthetically speaking, the boot is awesome. There’s plenty of details that’ll keep even the most novice of stoners entertained for a decent block of time, whether it be the moon’s lunar cycle stashed behind the left tongue or trying to decipher the alien looking language visible through the clear blue crystal sole. Of course most obvious is the removable American and Canadian flags that I’m assuming are an ode to either Danny’s heritage or his preference of biscuit. Long story short, if it’s attention to your water-resistant foot coverings you desire these are your doggies. One such example finds me sporting them after work on the bus ride home due to the twenty-some below wind-chill. I’m talking “aaaaaah shit, what is thems!” all around that shit-wagon. And if there is anyone whose fashion sense I trust, it’s that of my fellow public transients. Mainly due to the fact that they spend all their spare cash on clothes and accessories conceal the fact that they’re poor. Like it or not, these folk know legit when they see it.

Performance-wise, my biggest concern was that the tongue was going to be a real pain when it came to buckling in my heel strap, since it adds a little bulk up in those parts. In my instance this wasn’t the case but you just may want to bring your binders in with you during the courting ceremony to make sure they’re properly compatible. As you’ve probably gathered from your parent’s constant bickering, shitty one-sided relationships suck. For the most part the boot was good right out of the box –a good fit and not too stiff. The only discomfort I did experience was the combination of two things 1) the inner liner and upper lacing system’s mix of nylon laces and Velcro straps and 2) my old shitty back. The system, although unique and allowing for a good custom fitting, takes a hot minute to set up, whereas my poor ailing spinal cord only allows about 30 seconds worth of bending before the alarms sound and multiple stabbings break out back behind the old barn. But if you’re a young buck or fancy yourself a Patient Peter you should be all good - senior citizens and those with high intakes of fructose corn syrup, beware.

Two certainties – DK is a pretty tight dude and if there’s one thing Nike is good at it’s competing. So, an ode to the old space race era only seems logical if not just a sweet ass and creative idea. If anything hopefully it’ll re-spark an interest into NASA and our government’s shady inner-dealings. I mean really, who authorized the firing of a massive missile that blew the fuck out of the moon’s alien surface to look for water that may or may not have ever been there? I certainly don’t recall any sort of town hall meeting or opinion poll regarding that shit. For all we know the moon is made up of nothing more than Elmer’s school glue and paper machete – perhaps a father’s day gift constructed eons ago by Jesus for his old man.

by Jim Ferrigno

My initial plan with this review was to have this done in time to save many a virtual-shredder from the agony of receiving or purchasing a copy of “Ginger Kid: Pro Snowboarder” this Christmas. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances leading to riding of the oh-so-crowded couch wave, many of you will have undoubtedly opened that promisingly shaped present, only to find the trademark face of the Flying Tomato staring back at you in that cold, soulless way only a ginger can. Surely you will have to make the same frustrated decision I did to return the game less than nineteen hours after purchase and pick up some other hopeful selection from the 17.99 bottom-of-the-barrel barrel at your local gamer emporium.

But what’s that you say? Most store return policies last 30 days and include the ability to apply an item as a credit or a better, more expensive item? Well my friend, it seems there may be hope for you yet… Why don’t you mosey on over to the glossy-skinned sales nerd and tell him you want a copy of Stoked: Big Air Edition.**

The biggest feature that stood out to when I popped this one in was the climate. Now I’m not talking about Al Gore’s tree-hugging hunt for the man/bear/pig type of climate, I’m talking about an actual climate system specific to each mountain. No global-warming here folks, the snow falls in heaps! That’s no lie either. On your main screen, you can choose between (several) different mountains including Laax, AK and the legendary K2 (among others), each with its own unique weather system pumping at any given time. It even conducts day/night cycles, getting orange at sunset, and extremely dark for a short period of time at night if you stay at one mountain long enough

The second thing I noticed was the wealth of challenges given to you, and effort you have to put in to unlock a new level or sponsor. It takes quite a few victories in various challenges to get noticed, unlock a sponsor, and finally advance to a new level. You’d better show some commitment too, if you slack off on a sponsors offer for too long, they’ll yank it and you have to earn it all over again. Best of all, you can get your Heli license! Of all the features in this game, this one has to be my favorite. After you beat every session challenge a mountain has to offer, you gain access to a pilot’s license, allowing you to take the controls of your helicopter and fly yourself to pretty much any peak that you can see and shred on it.

The graphics in this game are utterly mind-blowing. Everything from the rider and gear, down to the flakes of snow and rotor wash of the pursuing helicopter is sickeningly realistic. And if you really like what you see, you can whip out your camera and enter “photographer mode,” allowing you to take a snapshot from the riders controllable perspective (meaning when you shred with your friends online, you can pretend you‘re some kind of Robbie Sell-esque pro shred/photog).

Speaking of perspective, unlike the aforementioned Fire-Fro pipe-jockey alternative, Stoked offers an incredibly realistic scale when standing atop a peak. If you let yourself really relax (inhale) you almost forget it’s a game. Pillows and spines seem menacingly inviting, and if you pick up enough speed down a steep flute, you almost get a real sense of vertigo. The gravity isn’t so unbearably magnetic as SWSB either. Flight time is lofty and realistic, as opposed to the “Holy shit, here comes the ground!” approach taken by Burton’s favorite son.

As far as the pitfalls of this game goes, there aren’t really that many. The one I do have though, I feel is worth pointing out to the serious shred community. Once you try to really cork something out, trouble rears its ugly head. The controls seem to have conflicting loyalties towards flipping and spinning, making it virtually impossible to smoothly accomplish one at the same time as the other. The pre-wind feature allows you to do basic rodeos and McTwist’s, but pretty much anything after a 360 while flipping and the rider tends to abruptly stop momentum mid-air, and change hard to the new direction, causing jerky and disorienting inverts.

The only other complaints that I can really muster regarding this game, would be the following: The “Blue Tomato Customizer,” as it’s called in the game, provides little in the way of facial customization aside from a few basic grills and a bandanna or two for your player. Also, when hiking instead of the player taking off the board and walking like any normal snowboarder, he duck-waddles around the world like he’s competing in some kind of absurd new Special Olympics event.

All that in mind, and more that I’m sure is to come considering there’s always new things to explore and unlock in this game, I have to give it four out of five stars (SWSB getting a pitiful one out of five steaming piles of fecal matter on a similar scale). The gameplay is sick, the challenges are exciting, and the features are un-paralleled. Now all they have to do is get on the truck with smooth corks and double-corks for Stoked 3 (or whatever the hell they call it), and they may just have the best snowboard game of all time…

** Or you could just go snowboarding

Editor’s Note: Shortly after this review was posted, we saw the television ad for Stoked: Big Air Edition. It “cleverly” edited together clips of riders talking about riding powder with clips from the game, as if that’s what they were talking about. We almost pulled this down on principle, but we’ll let you make the call yourself.

During its ten year existence, Isenseven has established itself as Europe’s premier shred flick company. Since a bunch of Euros put this film together, it’s obviously going to have a different feel than the rest of the videos that dropped this winter. Yes, I’m talking about weird Euro stuff, but let’s just get past that. Luckily though this video will also take the “too cool” attitude and replace it with a happy Euro feel. Historically, an Isenseven video should also deliver plenty of tech after effects, odd little edits, impressive intros, and solid riding. This film does just that.

As always, Isenseven delivered solid riding and some great editing skills. My favorite “tech” edit was the bloody explosion of a mid-air rider. You’ll have to check the video for more details on that. Moving onto the riding, it was spot on. I’ll admit a lot of shots made the final cut that probably should have been left in the directors electronic trash can, but this is a Euro vid, and they do things differently. The opener was long as hell, and while it had plenty of bullshit shots, the rider, Anton Gunnarsson, made up for it with some real hammers and some actual creativity. More importantly though, Gunnarsson is (as far as I know) the first tight pant Euro to hit the scene. Typical of those Euros, they always seem to be just a step or two behind.

Alex Tank, a skinny happy-go-lucky kid and Carhart rider (go figure), will be a face the US snobro population will be getting to know soon enough. The kid is incredibly talented, and like all of the Isenseven riders, extremely well rounded. Alex has the tech rail deal dialed, and his jump game is good enough to rattle some cages. This video might be worth buying just because of him actually, his whole part is good, and for some reason I felt refreshed by it. Like Alex, Fredrik Evensen will find himself a paycheck and Oceanside address sooner rather than later. Fredrik has that Andreas Wigg Viking sex machine look going on, and had the film’s only double cork, which was really a cab 1260 double cork. To put most Americans to shame, Fredrik is also a pretty solid rail rider, so really, expect to see more of him soon.

There was plenty to rave about in this flick, but I’ll stick to the highlights. Falls, falls, falls, this movie had some great eat-shit-and-die footage. Also, a montage of Timberline lap footage caught my attention. The Euros’ ability to flip over and onto anything impressed me, the actual riding ability these guys have is no joke (think LNP and Travis Rice have a pale blond baby.) They always land perfect, and I actually enjoyed the movie.

But there a few negatives. The movie ran a little long, although the true intro and the credits were very worth watching, I felt the ender was total bullshit, the soundtrack was turned up a bit too loud and the recorded audio too low causing you to lose focus during the slower sections. And the jumps overall, weren’t big by today’s standards. In fairness the jumps were at least large enough to satisfy my air time needs though, and I doubt Red Bull sent a construction crew to build mega ramps for these poor little Euros.

I got the impression that Euros have more fun snowboarding than we do, and that all of the attitude and cool guy imagery plaguing our snowboard scene doesn’t concern the Isenseven crew. For that reason alone I suggest buying, or at least checking out this video. It might just make snowboarding that much more enjoyable for you. For info on where to get it, go here.

I can’t help but feel a little bit bad for all the video companies that actually paid for duplication and are trying to sell DVDs this year. Not sure if you’ve noticed, but there are about 1000 free videos, some of them of incredible quality, just hanging out on the internet. This is not to say that sitting at your computer and dealing with vimeo glitches or your computer taking a nap is anywhere near as good at popping a DVD in and letting it run while you get ready to shred. But snowboard videos have always existed in an over saturated market, so the ample free offerings are just another reason so many of this years DVDs will likely rot away in unopened boxes in someone’s garage.

This little rant is my excuse for the fact that Montevideo, the new release from the Tahoe-via-Ohio-based Autumn Line, has taken me so long to review. The video showed up well over a month ago, and immediately took its place in line next to my DVD player. Then, between trying to keep up with every other free video and the rest of this year’s releases, well, I just got around to watching it this weekend. As I told filmmaker Mark Wiitanen, I am a jerk.

To try and make up for my jerkiness, I’ll start with what I liked about this video. It’s funny. The video is done in an 80s video game theme, including some authentic 80s snowboard shots and video game-style battles between riders. The whole thing is fun and obviously not trying to take things too seriously. As for riding, there is definitely some good stuff. Personally I enjoyed Gabe Taylor’s buttery pow shots and Taylor Colton’s super smooth and creative jibbing. However, I should note that counting pre and post rail rotations makes me dizzy, so there is probably some super tech jib shit that will stoke out the kids who don’t actually remember the 80s.

I can’t be entirely positive about this video, though. First off, I am not a fan of over editing, and if there is one thing that is consistent through the movie it is the after effects. There were more than a few times I just wished they just left the damn clip alone. Another thing that bugged me were the literal ads for each of the sponsors between parts. While I am sure said sponsors were “totally stoked” on this concept, it was sort of, no, totally annoying. Finally, after checking out a ton of other videos already this year, I’d say this one was worth watching, but not a “do not miss” sort of thing. And if I am going to go out to my local shop and buy a video, I want the most epic video ever. But maybe that’s just me.

by Stephen Hughes

So I will start out by saying that I am completely biased when it comes to Airblaster. Brooke says that’s cool and that makes me pleased as punch. I’ve been digging AB since day one, or maybe two, but those cats know how to have a good time and do their best to bring us along with them. The Airblaster Movie is no exception. With a very high bro factor in play, The Airblaster Movie is fun and epic in its non-epicness. There’s no ultra secrety shred spots that take a Sherpa or sled to get to. I’m pretty sure you can ride all the locations without a password or mysterious hand shake. I actually know for a fact you can get to two of them easily enough. Since I’m a North Carolina native and grew up in Maggie Valley, where the first segment was filmed, and frequent Appalachian in the winter, I can speak with confidence concerning the accessibility of both hills.

For a professional snowboarding crew to come to NC much less The Valley, is about as common as getting struck by lightening and bitten by a shark in the same day. NC is a blast though, and I love turning nothing into something. I reckon those fellas do to. Sometimes it’s not even about the terrain, but the company you keep. When you ride the same 4-5 slopes every week you gotta step outside the box, then smash that box. Then tape it back together and then build a box fort with it. It’s important to have some riding buddies that push you and just want to get their ya yas.

And one thing’s for sure, no matter where The Air Crew ventures in The Airblaster Movie, whether it be NC, Seoul Korea, Tokyo, Tahoe, there’s good boarding.  Like Ricky Hower says, “We did some boarding.” There are big mountain segments, parks, tree runs, pillows, bonks, jibs, spinners, flippers, whoopsy doodles, wind lips, kickers and giant beetles. Some folks do The Worm and others don’t. The cast is awesome: Ben Lynch, Jed Anderson, TJ Schneider, Eric Messier, Travis Parker and on and on. The soundtrack is also unconventional for a snowboarding flick. Frankie Valley, Ronettes, Stones, Siouxsie and The Banshees. It fits the vibe and probably did not cost half the budget for the rights.

In summation and with a totally partisan take, I must say that The Airblaster Movie is a great flick about riding. My four year old boy dug it too. “That’s fun!” he said. “That’s looks cool! Dad, you need to do that!”  Basically, it’s so much fun a four-year-old can watch it and stay interested, and that’s saying something.

In double summation when I think of most riders and filmers communicating about an upcoming filming season, I see lots of iPhones, VOIP connections, web conferences and other hi tech jibber jabber. When I think of  the Airblaster folks working out the particulars of The Airblaster movie, I see paper cup phones connected by lots of string all across this great land, and maybe a few magna doodles for good measure. I know that’s a complete impossibility but lighten up. Support a small business run by good people. The movie is super cheap. Buy it . Watch it. Write Airblaster and thank them and then go boardin’.

In the ’80s babes would have died for this treatment.  photo: Carey Haider

The San Diego-based Crocodiles may be on the verge of infiltrating your iPod. In Costa Mesa, California the clothing brand Comune has begun supporting the band. Bataleon Am Ben Rice plans to use their tunes if he can put a part together, and Jimmy Fontaine (ex-snowboard photographer, now fashion photographer/Comune Drop City artist) is roommates with the new bass player. MGMT, Postal Service, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (to name a few) are all bands that found an audience in snowboard culture prior to “making it.” Could the Crocodiles be headed down this same track? After seeing this band live it seems possible.

The live show was raunchy, energetic, and talented. Between the performance, antics, and male love, the Crocodiles are not a live show you want to miss. The band went on in darkness, only three red lights back lit the band. In this haunting red glow four silhouettes took their places on stage, an unexpected explosion of electric guitar followed.

Her head shook harder than anyone else’s. photo: Carey Haider

Opening for The Raveonettes, the Crocodiles put on a thirty minute rock show that angered some and excited plenty. The foursome combined to create a highly entertaining show. The guitarist embodied Rock n’ Roll. Visualize the cool confidence of James Dean with an electric guitar, messier hair, and skin tight denim. The drummer, a new addition, plays loud, and never seems to tire. The other new addition, the bass player, kept a loud and energetic rhythm that was hard not to beat your feet too. Fittingly, the standout member is the front man. His on-stage madness engaged the crowd and inspired a range of emotions. Aggressive sexual advances on several crowd members, constant spitting, and Elvis like dance moves were all a part of his show.

The live performance combined electric elements with punk roots. The sound is a combination of tech loops, early punk grit, and has qualities reminiscent of the earlier sounds produced by the B-52’s. In short, it was great. The boys were wild, the show was rowdy, and the crowd bobbed up and down in shared excitement. By the end of the show my ears rang and I felt compelled to buy their CD, and I never buy CDs. I was also convinced that this band had a future, and that their current tour would be a stepping stone to the big time.

It was his show, piss and vinegar included.   photo: Carey Haider

Expect the Crocodiles to build a snowboard following. Their latest recording “Summer of Hate” was recorded when the band was still a two man organization, and while the CD is enjoyable, the four man live show was much better. The addition of a drummer and bass player has given the band’s sound more attitude, more punch, and a harder feel. Since becoming a four man show the Crocodiles have toured Europe and parts of the US. The experience, and inclusion of a drummer and bass player, has developed the bands sound for the better. A bright future seems inevitable.

To hear some tunes and learn more visit:

The Blog

http://killkillkillcrocodiles.blogspot.com/

The Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/crocodilescrocodilescrocodiles

The last Forum flick emphasized how perfect the crew involved was. How that specific Forum crew would take things into the future and blah blah blah. Well, after a few bumps in the road and a team member or two lost Forum put together a new movie.  A new team, a new brand message, and a new movie, Forever Forum. Don’t discount the film because of big business though, because this one deserves a spot in your snow collection.

Everything about this flick is big budget. The filming is clean, clear, and obvious shot with whatever the newest HD camera is. The titles and menu page are visually appealing and settle any dispute you may have had when spending money on a snowboard film. Then there is the riding, which is fucking fantastic. Any movie that Peter Line has a full part in is worth buying, because at this point it’s a collectors item. The younger men shine in this flick too, and Pat Moore should probably sell his part separately, it’s that good.

Pat Moore grabbed opener, made my jaw drop more than once, and although his part is long, each shot is worth watching. I said, “Holy Shit” out loud ten seconds into his part. Jake Welch came out with a full part. I’m not sure he’s ever done that before, and it’s a goodie. Jake’s the “urban hipster” part of Forum’s brand strategy, and girls should swoon over his good looks and hefty presses. The other Jake, having filmed one of the all-time backcountry sections in the last Forum flick, came out with more mind boggling backcountry shit for you to enjoy. Jake Blauvelt could end up being the next Terje or something. Peter Line snowboarded in the movie, that’s a reason to buy it. John Jackson, gross dreadlocks included, better have gotten a raise for his part. That smelly hippie can seriously shred, wait with anticipation for some double corks, big drops, and an all around self-esteem crush. To put it simply, what Jackson is doing while “getting his Rhasta on” are things I’d want to be very sober for.

To flip the coin on Jake and John’s organic snowboard style Eddie Wall, Nick Suave, John Malmi, and Stevie Bell attacked all sorts of urban stuff. Rails, walls, cement things, all of that crap, you know how cool it is to be unique and creative now-a-days. Anyway, more good news from Forum’s brand strategy, Stevie Bell is still black! But it’s no longer an excuse for having him on the team, that kid has the balls and the talent to front on anyone these days. Nick Suave, the kid that just showed up one day, is still an amazing rail kid. His best shot is probably a railslide double cork to land on your back in the middle of the street, pure gold in my opinion. Eddie Wall had lots of snowboarding, but it didn’t capture my heart or anything. Neither did John Malmi’s song, which he probably made, so sorry buddy, but I’m just not so into Scandinavian techno, or “just good enough” snowboarding. Forum shouldn’t have let go of TK, at least he was entertaining.

Seriously though, even the parts I wasn’t blown away by were good. The movie is well worth whatever they are asking for (probably a couple bucks online, a few more in the store?), and a few of the parts are going to seriously make your nuts grow as we approach winter. I’m sure at least one death, or broken wrist, will occur due to the confidence and excitement this movie can cause.

Final Review: Worth buying, won’t get old anytime soon and some ground breaking shit hides in the DVD.

Best Moments: Much of the snowboarding is next level, the visual aspect of the movie is great, and it’s entertaining.

Worst Moments: I don’t know why some team members left between the making of this film and the last and others weren’t. But that’s just me.

By Jim Ferrigno

So first off I need to print a disclaimer about this movie. Before you all start smashing your bloody, stubby little fingers against those keyboards to queue up this flick on your iTunes, know this: Abandon all expectations ye who watch this flick. This is no MDP film. There is no Travis Rice filming a helicopter that’s filming another helicopter that’s filming a snowmobile that’s filming a rider with IMAX cameras. This is a shred flick shot with a production budget consisting of little more than the lint and quarters that Lucas Magoon found when he took his smelly ass jacket from its summer slumber. All I can say is THANK YOU JEEBUS!

As much as I love a snowboard flick with production value that rivals that of the Tranformers movies, volumes can be spoken about a film that captures the rawest form of snowboarding. With the fizzling winters of late, we’ve become far too reliant on dolly-mounted cameras and gel-colored stage lights to make our snow porn look sexy. Don’t get me wrong; I think that the recent rocket-speed increase in the effort put into, as well as the quality coming out of snowboard movies these past few years is just what our industry needs. But there has to be more to snowboarding than that, right?

My first impression of this movie was biased, because Kingvale is my stomping grounds and I know most of the riders. As much as I love the guys, I was pessimistic at first. The intro and cut-scenes in between riders are very… what’s a good word for this… confusing. That is unless you’ve seen John Carpenters 1986 kung-fu B-movie “Big Trouble in Little China” starring Kurt Russell. I may catch flack for this, but I’ve never seen it. I have, however, looked at the pictures and read the synopsis posted on IMDB and I think I can feel pretty confident in assuming that they did a great job capturing its element. Lightning-Shooting-Chinaman Lane Knaack aside, I was very impressed with the riding.

Lane managed to nab both curtains in this film and, while there may have been a bit of recycled footage in the parts, he definitely deserved it. The choice of music for his opening segment audibly abused my eardrums like a 1980’s skate video, but I guess I can’t hate on thrashy parts like that. His ending segment was accompanied by a remix of The Who’s “Behind Blue Eyes” which, in a musicians opinion, was perfect. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, he threw more hammers down than a Bowser-Bad-Guy on crack-infused Red Bull.

The meat of the “Lanewich” consisted of riders the likes of Shawn Durst, Kevin Jones, Nate Farell, Jimi Tomer and Lucas Magoon to name a few, although ’Gooner’s part was more like a cameo (seriously, I’ve seen longer Tru Luv parts.) While the film was pretty jib-heavy, there were some great powder segments in between the slabs of concrete and shards of metal. Tahoe Locals will love this one for its abundance of recognizable shred spots including the Highway 267 bridge and just about every wood handrail in the basin.

All in all, if you can ditch your expectations of grandeur and settle for a Handy-Cam, this is a download you should check out. The riding is great and the price is even better. If you head over to www.KingvaleTerrainProject.com/store/ you can download it for just $1.99 or order yourself a DVD for $9.99. Besides, why wouldn’t you want to help support those guys at Kingvale? After all, terrain parks aren’t run on beer and eye drops alone.

If you’ve been paying attention to snowboarding at all, then you probably know exactly the type of rider featured in FODT/MFM Production’s Hard to Earn. Snow Gangsters, I believe they are called.

But for the sake of humor, let’s pretend to be an out-of-touch person right now. What would their reaction to this movie be? Well, they would be amazed that there were so many midgets who were so good at snowboarding. They would think, with that many midgets, maybe I should start a brand specifically catering to the little people who snowboard so they are longer forced to wear such giant apparel! And then we would end up with another ridiculously specialized brand run by some moron.  Great.

Wait, what? That’s not really that funny? Crap.

Let’s go with another approach then, because in reality I’ve seen a bunch of snowboard videos, including all the free ones on the Internet. Here’s how Hard to Earn stacked up: It was like a really well-made homey film. Meaning, the crew we’re obviously homies, in the literal and figurative senses. The locations were, for the most part, creative shit that any kid who wanted to put a little effort in, could go ride. I’m referring to tractor trailers, jungle gyms, and normal rail spots used in creative new ways (dude, he jumped over the rail!)  The FODT crew seems to know it ain’t no fun if the homies can’t have none.

The cinematography however, is head and shoulders above what you’re going to find Vimeo. Multiple camera angles, dolly shots, and super high quality HD, dawg. Of course, by around Jake Devine, Chris Bradshaw and Yan Dofin’s shared section, the “Ty Evans” shots we’re starting to make me a bit nauseous. But it was definitely far more pleasurable than any shaky hand-held crap you’ll get for free.

The line up featured just about every pro snowboarder who lives the thug life, MFM, Travis Kennedy, Lucas Magoon, Jonah Owen, etc. Even the super famous TV star Louie Vito makes a cameo and only has one pipe shot, which may or may not effect his chances at making the Olympics. The biggest surprise for me was the ender by Johnnie Paxson. In Oregon we’ve known this kid is no joke for awhile now, but it was sick to see him getting the ender-ender action he deserves.

So if snow gangsters bum you out, this probably isn’t the movie for you. But if you like watching snowboarding, it definitely offers an entertaining and quality version of it.

By Graham Mueller | The Bored Yak

What do you want from a snowboard movie? Rails, powder, park, backcountry freestyle, big lines? Gimme a break, videos are getting more diverse every year. Last year’s “stunningly well-rounded” is this year’s “complete, yet lacking creativity.” We need more. Double corks? I hear the Chinese are already on to double corks. Next thing you know kids in North Dakota will be doing them. What else? Sketchy avalanche saves? Yawn. How about handplant to cliff drop? Do I have your attention now? Boy literally destroys rail? Snowmobile catches fire and melts into a different sort of watery grave while bewildered riders attempt to salvage gear? That sound like your kind of movie? Then give Nice Try a try. People Creative’s navy sets to the frozen waves like the Spanish shred-Armada, plundering all powder and pillaging every park. Casualties are experienced in gnarly fashion, but in the end victory is claimed.
Marben starts it out by throwing methods in every possible circumstance. Yes, including urban. Robbie Walker demonstrates stylish slow rotations and double corks. Curtis Cizek, Louie Fountain, Bryan Fox, Jonas Carlson and Josh Mills get together on a pow bro fest or is it a bro pow fest? Hell of a fun section anyway with dudes slashing laybacks, dropping cliffs and otherwise making the flakes fly. Made me want to joint them. Shaun McKay, well, he’s got a hell of a story for an insurance adjuster.

Featured riders: Wille Yli-Luoma, Seth Huot, Robbie Walker, Eiki Helgason, Lucas Debari, Zac Marben, Shaun Mckay, Will Tuddenham, Jon Kooley, Curtis Ciszek, Bryan Fox, Louie Fountain, Josh Mills, Jonas Carlson, Ricky Tucker, and Max Baillargeon

In the interest of full disclosure, Yobeat also gave me the DVD (and we got it from the People themselves.)

Out of all the Party Time Product reviews, the glove reviews have definitely been the lamest. I mean, who really cares if you can eat tacos in gloves? But for the final test of the Drop, Dakine and Bonfire gloves we think we really nailed what matters. We lit them on fire. So now you’ll know once and for all if you catch on fire, which gloves will protect you the best. No Party Time Nates were harmed in the filming of this test, however, you should still not actually try this one at home.

Sometimes you get off the hill and you don’t really want to go home and shower before trolling the bars for ladies. Well, Party Time Nate went out to the local dive in some of this year’s first layer to see if it would, as they say, salt his game. The results we’re at least mildly entertaining.

We didn’t feel like we proved anything with our last couple glove reviews, so this week in tests 3,4 and 5, Party Time Nate really pushed the limits of the hand coverings. Enjoy!

Test #3: The Taco Test

Test #4: So stupid we are not going to make you sit through it.

Test #5: Durability

For this week, Party Time Nate really put the gear in our review to the test. Today, he is trying to see how waterproof each item is by 1) getting sprayed down with a hose and 2) jumping in the Willamette River. He could have drowned on that last one, so please, stop calling him a pussy.

Test 1: Waterproofing

Test 2: Flotation

If you snowboard as hard as Party Time Nate, you probably sweat a lot. So how well do the latest first layer pieces from Bonfire, Dakine and Airblaster do when put to the test? Nate works up a sweat and tests each one in today’s PT review.

Party Time Nate often wears gloves to keep his hands warm, and for that reason he is highly qualified to put the latest gloves to the test. Here, he checks out the insulation properties and grippiness of 2010 gloves from Drop, Dakine and Bonfire.

Test #1: Insulation

Test #2: Grippiness

Party Time Nate is a man of discerning taste, and simple snowboarding is not all he requires out of his snowboard soft goods. Over the next month, he will put gear from Bonfire, DAKINE, Drop, Airblaster and Atmosphere (and maybe some other brands) though a series of challenging tests to gauge their overall quality and effectiveness. First up: jackets. What’s the street value and dexterity of each garment? Watch the videos to find out.

Test #1: Street Value

Test #2: Dexterity

Check back Wednesday when Nate put some of the latest glove offerings to the test.

Special thanks to Libery Buy-Sell, Kyle Lagner and the random dudes on 82nd and Woodstock with a beer pong table.

By Jack Boyd

What does it feel like to be a man?

Women (and of course, cowards) probably find themselves pondering this question from time to time. It’s my suggestion that if you really want to emulate the feeling of supreme manliness you have three options: A) Confront an arch enemy face to face and sort out your differences, diplomatically, despite fear of a beating B) chop some wood, build a fire and drink whiskey next to it or C) find yourself a good dusty street, a solid bag of quality chewing jerky and make a few laps nodding at folk and tipping your hat whilst chawing away at the tasty cod. Ah, being a man (or pretending to be) has never felt so good.

If the first option seems a little to nerve racking and second makes your lard ass tired just thinking about it, then count your blessings on the jerky tip because Bluebird’s got you covered. However, don’t go getting to hyped on the concept as it’s a pretty limited offering – so slim are the pickings that supposedly only a few shops will find themselves on the receiving end of it. Fortunately for me one of the few 4 oz bags in existence fall mysteriously fell into my midst. Although at the moment I was ferocious with starvation and greed, I decided to hold off on running into the dark basement and ripping the bag and open start packing chunks of the peppery, MSG and hormone free buffalo jerky into every possible cornice of my mouth. Instead as a responsible reviewer I decided to enlist some help and allow others to share in the wealth. Enter Curley’s Bar, one of Duluth’s most notorious taverns known for its violence, frequent police visits and overall less-than-friendly atmosphere – if you’re an arrogant ass-wipe that is. Generally, if you order a beer and keep your lips zipped and eyes to yourself, there’s an outside chance you’ll survive.

I decided to make the visit extra early, so I chose 9:00am just to ensure I would find the orneriest patrons possible, thirsty for their first drink of the day. Initially the plan was to just stand outside the front door and toss a couple of chunks inside where it would hopefully evoke a squabble and a fight to the death like those poor cocks down in Mexico. But being that this entire review is running on the theme of male patterned behavior, I figured true face time was in order. Let the people speak.

Al Charnley
Age: 50
Ever Snowboarded? No.
Bluebird Buffalo Jerky Manliness Rating on a scale of 1 – 5, one being the wimpiest:
“Oh shit, easily a 5. Yum.”
Would you pay $11 for a bag?
“Nah, I make my own jerky – huge slabs of it.”
Last time you were in a fistfight?
“My brother, seven years ago – kicked his ass. We call him Rick the Prick.”

Dan Nyquit (Barkeep)
Age: 49
Ever snowboarded? No.
Bluebird Buffalo Jerky Manliness Rating on a scale of 1-5?
“Ah shit, I give it a 5.”
Would you have guessed a snowboard wax company made it?
“No way.”
Last time you were in a fistfight?
“Ten years ago.”
Additional Comments
“I kicked his brother’s ass (Rick the Prick) once too!”

Margaret Gielarowski
Age: 58
Ever Snowboarded?
“You’re crazy.”
Bluebird Buffalo Jerky Manliness rating?
“I say a five. It’s fuckin’ good.”
Last fistfight?
“Ten years ago. I kicked my sister’s ass.”

Franky
Age: Looks about six
(Unresponsive to questions)

Last Call

Sure, it’s a little spendy, but so is health insurance. At least this stuff is edible and you can hold it, knowing that it’s actually there and not just make believe. The “limited” thing has certainly more than run its course, but nobody has pulled off Buffalo Jerky up to this point. Really, it’s your call – I don’t know your financial situation or your dietary guidelines. About all I can be certain of is that Al’s brother Rick is a prick and that nine years is the average amount of time that passes between fistfights for adults ages 39-58.

Name: Salomon Acid

Price: $430

Review: Everyone should try the Acid, especially in the mountains. You’ll feel like you’re floating, and you’ll be getting higher than you’ve ever been before. Keep trying the Acid and you’ll be inspired to explore the depths of your talent. You’ll be able to move at any speed without moving a muscle, and the scenery will be beautiful. While you’re trying the Acid shit will look crazy. A landscape of natural and man-made obstacles will zip by you in a constant blur, and if you take the time to look between your feet you’ll notice colors, shapes, and imagery that might be a little too much to handle. Girls are going to comment, your parents are going to wonder why you’ve spent so much time away from home, and Ski Patrol will be on the look out for your wild ass. The girls though, they’ll want to try the Acid, but don’t share, they probably can’t handle it anyway. So if you are looking to get higher than you’ve ever been try the Acid, just watch out for the side effects.

On-hill: This is one trippy board. We are talking a stiffer reverse camber stick. So think of it as your jump weapon, not your cheat code for rails. This board makes for a great jump/haul ass board because it’s wider, giving you more stability. It’s stiffer, allowing for harder turns and better landings, and snappy as hell. Even at a million miles an hour you can still crack a mean ollie. I didn’t really like it on rails though, but I was riding three centimeters larger than I usually would, and the reverse camber didn’t turn my rail maneuvers into things of beauty like a noodle board would. Basically this board reminded me that I am not a pro snowboarder, but it was fun as hell. If you’re into hauling ass, like really hauling ass, this board has your name all over it. If I was going to sum this one up, I’d say it’s a turn and burn jump machine that begs you to point it through the trees and take your jump game to the next level. Just don’t be surprised if you still can’t nosepress or if boardslides just feel a little dicey until you get adjusted to the Acid.

Ins: Girls love the graphic for some reason and that means you’ll get to talk to them, fastest board I’ve ever ridden, super fun for the haul ass balls to the wall approach, really sturdy (a.k.a. the only board I didn’t do permanent damage to this summer.)

Outs: Not my first pick for rails, I’m sure after you get used to it it’s fine, but still, not the best jib board out there. The graphic kind of hurt my eyes, but I’m a pretty minimalist guy, so who knows if that matters.

Still flexible, but a better pick for flying and jumping than for sliding and swiveling.

Try the Acid, you’ll be able to get so high.

All the products in these reviews were provided by the companies and we’re given to YoBeat after the review. Of course, we broke most of them in the testing process, but what can you do.

The YoBeat softgoods review is underway. This time around: no ass kissing, no riding, just seriously scrutinizing tests of the latest gloves, outerwear and first layer. With none other than Party Time Nate. Get psyched.

Name: Capita Horrorscope

Price: $349 US

Review: Soft, wide, and responsive. Capita came through huge with the Horrorscope. The board combines reverse camber with FK (flat kick) technology, which means the extremely flexible board barely sits off the ground, even at the tips of your nose and tail. When you’re riding, it gives you the feeling that you’re in control of every movement the board makes. Of course, it is a Capita, so the art pops off the top-sheet (but might scare your grandma.) Put this image in your mind, a soft board with a wide surface area that can bend, twist, and tweak in any way you see fit. Sounds good on just about anything doesn’t it? For powder hounds the reverse camber is going to keep you afloat, but be warned, the super soft flex won’t allow you to turn like you can on that old 182cm HardDick. Rail kids, this is your weapon, enough about that. Finally, for the all around, “I love jumps and rails and whatever” kids, this is a board you’ll enjoy. Very fun out of the bag as you have total control of this bad boy, just don’t expect it to be the best beginner board. You better have some skills before you decide to take it anywhere that a stiffer, longer, more intermediate board would simply do the work for you.

On-Hill: Maybe my favorite board of the summer. You can feel the snow under your feet, you can lock into rails because of it’s wide surface and soft flex, and every action you make feels a little more floaty, a little more controlled. At high speeds this board doesn’t chatter or send you flying. On that same token, you need to be able to snowboard before you push this board to the limits. Keep in mind it’s a softy and that means possibly flying off your edge or slipping out because of a laid back landing or too much speed. But if you can handle your shit, this board is your ticket to freedom. It pops great, holds steady in tight situations, and the amount of ground feel you get from this board just makes snowboarding a bit more fun. Little bumps turn into rhythm sections, rails become easier, and everything else is just doable and fun. This is one board that no matter where I took it and how I rode it I had a great time. The Horrorscope really stands out on rails, making presses a breeze, but I never felt as though I was on the wrong piece of equipment, no matter what situation I put it in.

Ins: A super fun board for those of us who can snowboard. Great flex, great pop, looks nice, makes people smile.

Outs: If you can’t handle your shit off big jumps or in tight fast situations, this might not be your stick. Wait til you get a bit better and can handle something like this.

Flat Kick laying flat on the ground as barefoot guy tries to break another board.

All the products in these reviews were provided by the companies and we’re given to YoBeat after the review. Of course, we broke most of them in the testing process, but what can you do.

Absinthe Films

All reviews are bullshit. That’s been the theme of my night, but I am going to try my very hardest to include as little bullshit as possible in this review of Absinthe Film’s latest video, Neverland.

When I started watching this video, I was sort of afraid they might have blown their load on the first part. Nicholas Mueller riding bottomless pow through the trees might not seem like it could fill a full part, but it did. And it was a part (allow me to date myself here) that rivaled the Mt. Baker section of the classic Volcom video the Garden. It just looked so fun. Add in a little Baba O’Reilly, and any aging snowboarder can agree, it was the sort of part that just made you want to go ride.

Don’t worry kids, the tricks start in soon (and there were plenty in Nicholas’s part too,) but the backcountry booters and super techy trickery are not in short supply. The thing that really set the Absinthe film apart from your average homey flick though is how good the snowboarding is. It’s not just off kickers. There are rails in this video. Plenty of them. But even the guys with heavy jib sections hit jumps as if they get paid to do this.

Neverland didn’t suffer from your typical snowboard video downfalls. It had a wide variety of riders, and very few repeated locations. From Snowbound villages that looked like they belonged on a chocolate box to really, ridiculously long, tech rails, it wasn’t boring. And just when you thought Gigi had a perfect closing section, Wolle Nyvelt’s part starts and he Noboards so well that it takes a few tricks to realize when he’s switched to bindings. The video ends with Bode Merrill absolutely destroying everything you could image with a part that about halfway through made you ask yourself, wait, is this the same guy?

Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t perfect. The graphics left a little to be desired, and there was one Dead Kennedy’s song repurposed from the 90s (that’s retro now, right?) but the imperfections were part of the film’s charm. While there were a few shots with incredible cinematography, Neverland still had a little bit of a raw feel that made it seem real and attainable.

I know, I know. This review sounds like bullshit, but I mean every word of it. I think it was best summed up by my significant, who said “It made me want to ride, and I don’t even like snowboarding.”

I got the chance to check out the movie on the big screen in Portland as Part of the Sphere of Influence tour. You should go when it comes to your town but if you can’t here are some pictures from Portland so you can feel like you were there.

The line up in front of Hollywood Theatre

◄ Back

Next ►

Picture 1 of 7

Name: Limited Edition Nitro Sub Pop

Review: This year Nitro will unleash a rail board that might take the belt for the industry’s softest noodle. The Nitro Sub Pop is the jib park kids wet dream. Not only do you get the benefit of reverse camber, but you get Nitro’s Buffalo Wing camber. Basically you’ve got it upside down between the feet, but where you apply pressure for ollies the board has normal camber. Presses and all that junk are a breeze when you can practically touch the tips of your board together. When we had it in the studio I managed to tuck under it as I bent it, but it has a lot of tech stuffed in there to ensure you have a good day sliding rails. The “drifter base” keeps your edges slightly off the ground and gives it a skateboard feel as you ride around the hill. The raised edges make it practically impossible to catch an edge but slows your ability to run through the mogul course.

The board is built for abuse. With the “rail killer edge” and “bombproof” base you’ll find it hard to break this one. In addition, if you’re really trying to be the big hot head on the hill you can rock a 26 inch stance even on the 148cm. It’s a great board for rails and jibs, can handle itself well on small to medium sized jumps, and is a great spring board.

Flat out flexible.

On-hill: I’ve never had more fun cracking ollies than I did on this board. It’s incredibly flexible and doesn’t weigh a thing. I did notice at break neck speeds it gets a little dicey, but for dicking around with your friends in the park it’s a dream come true. It’s incredibly flexible and easy to navigate around with an incredibly loose style due to the flex and Buffalo Wing camber. Normal 5-0s and nosepresses were turned into things of beauty, and hoping onto rails was a no worry situation because this board really doesn’t catch.

As far as jumps are concerned it’s all up to you. If you keep it under 40 feet you’ll have no problem. Any larger than that and you really better land bolts or you’re going to half backflip trying to ride it out.

Ins: The pop on these things is insane, super fun on rails and small features, great for rail sessions, makes you feel like the king of ollies.

Outs: Not the board I would take to a large jump, at super fast speeds it gets a little sketchy, has the possibility of sending you into a backflip.

Last Call: A great jib/park board for those of you looking to keep it “urban.” If you are interested in a board that can take a massive beating and keep going this could be your stick, but keep it away from the bigger jumps.

Pre-test glamor shots.

All the products in these reviews were provided by the companies and we’re given to YoBeat after the review. Of course, we broke most of them in the testing process, but what can you do.

Name: Forum Shaka

Price: $240 US

Review: On one hand bindings don’t really matter. All they need to do is hold a boot in place; however, binding tech has been progressing rapidly over the last few years so let’s do this. The new Forum Shaka works wonders, and makes your feet look cool. When setting these puppies up you can adjust every aspect of the bindings. The highbacks will even adjust to better support the angle of your legs. Forum’s pride and joy is probably the baseplate, which is capable of folding in half. At first glance it looks scary and new, but strap it down and give it a whirl and you notice your board and bindings are working as one, refreshing after years of battle between the two. Now I know that’s a breakthrough, and a wonderful development, but to be honest, these bindings are all about the straps. Both straps are big, comfy, and work like clockwork. The toe strap should be given an award. It’s a toe cap with no limits, and if you haven’t moved onto toe caps by now you are really old or just plain lazy. This thing is a huge piece of comfort you slap over the end of your boot and forget about until the end of the day, it’s the best, end of story.

On-hill: These bindings are smooth. The ratchets slide on and off without sticking or causing you any frustration even after taking a beating. HCSC set up a mini pipe this year with a jump over the top of it. Coming up short of this sucker was no joke and when it happened these bindings kept me in place and saved my back ankle. The comfort the Shaka’s provide is something else as well. The toe cap is so big and comfy that even on the hardest cut turns you feel secure. They are wide enough to fit into any boots too, as we tested multiple boots in them. The fact that the highback can be adjusted to match the angle of your legs is a real bonus too. rather than fighting your highbacks they work with you. To wrap it up, these bindings are comfortable as hell and continue to work perfectly even after you thrash the hell out of them.

Notable stuff: Two thumbs up, best straps around town, fully adjustable, bending baseplates allow for some serious movability, comfortable, and they make you look cool in the lift line.

All the products in these reviews were provided by the companies and we’re given to YoBeat after the review. Of course, we broke most of them in the testing process, but what can you do.

Name: Nike Kaiju

Price: $350 US

Specs: Nike Free sole system with zoom air cushioning. One piece TPU backing to prevent wear and tear from binding crunch. Available in four colorways.

Review: Remember last year? Nike came out with boots and everyone freaked out. Well, this year Nike is coming out with new boots, and I’m sure everyone will huff and puff over these ones too. The new Nike Kaiju will join the shelves with the Air Force Zoom as Nike expands the line. These new foot protectors are a sleeker, more tech filled boot than their big brother. They offer crazy comfort, thanks to “zoom air cushioning” for more impact protection, and an ease of use that rivals the industry’s top products. You’ve got to lace them up, but it’s a speedy and dependable lace up. They walk around like shoes. The liners are comfortable, and the boot as a whole has an incredibly slim profile, perfect for those in skinny girl pants I love so much. The Kaiju has two little features though that make it a stand out. It has a great flex, but when it does there is no folding or crumpling of your boot. Nike cut out a slit in the ankle, tied it together with some crazy technology called “flywire” that can’t be broken by lowly humans, and ended up making a boot with great flex and comfort. The Kaiju looks like a giant running shoe in a way, and is definitely more appealing than the previous effort. Overall it’s slick, and works well. If you’re too cool for Nike, you won’t like these boots, but otherwise, they get our thumbs up.

Notable Stuff: Super slim profile, extremely comfortable, walk like shoes, dependable lacing system, on and off quickly, don’t soak through, even in August.

Comfy, neat looking, work well, that’s all you really need to know.

All the products in these reviews were provided by the companies and we’re given to YoBeat after the review. Of course, we broke most of them in the testing process, but what can you do.

Name: Forum Destroyer ChillyDog

Price: $450 US

Review: Historically The Forum Destroyer has been a great jump board, but things at Forum changed and so has this year’s boards. Now you can pick up the Destroyer ChillyDog, a reverse camber option that is surefire fun. Set this bad boy up and you’ve not only got a board that can handle your jump game, but a board that can lock into a press just as well as any other jib stick. Forum packed this one full of pop, and made it stiff enough to plow through just about any condition. I know the word stiff sends a shiver through a lot of backs, but when you’re running the ChillyDog your jib game is going to improve, even though you haven’t.

Yeah, there is both “freestyle” and “all-mountain” categories in snowboarding, but this board takes the best of each situation and blends them into one. Think of it as your all-purpose wrecking machine. The Destroyer ChillyDog can handle jumps, will make your nosepress look more believable, and can handle most break neck situations you find yourself in. I’d mark this one on your wish list.

Notable Stuff: Awesome graphic, bends a lot, all-in-one capabilities, handles speed better than a meth addict.

We tried to break every board out of the bag. The Destroyer ChillyDog didn’t make a sound even though we beat it half to death. End of story, this board is tough and that $450 you’re spending will be worth it.

We thought it looked cool too. And hey, Forum is actually giving one of these bad boys away so click on over to their site and enter to win.

All the products in these reviews were provided by the companies and we’re given to YoBeat after the review. Of course, we broke most of them in the testing process, but what can you do.

You wouldn’t think a giant corporation such as ESPN would be able to create a movie that succinctly sums up the passions involved in action sports. A 90-minute experience that could make anyone understand exactly why we all got into them in the first place. And you know what? You’d be right. X Games 3D: The Movie was so far from being about action sports it’s hard to believe they were even a part of it.

The film follows several of the X Games’s “stars” through their journey to perform on the self-proclaimed biggest and most important stage in the world, two years ago. The only thing more prevalent than Taco Bell logos was the manufactured drama, intensified to bring the viewer into the journey of Shaun White, Ricky Charmichael, Travis Pastrana, Kyle Loza, Bob Burnquist and Danny Way (who were grouped into one mega skate segment.) And maybe, if you didn’t know anything about action sports or care about them, it would work. Maybe.

Like the events and shows themselves, this movie was obviously not created for enthusiasts of the included sports. The belief of the X Games itself is enthusiasts will watch anyway; it’s more important to grab the NASCAR or NFL fan as they are flipping through. The way they do this is to create stories around who will beat who, and other things action sports really have little to do with. Like it or not, 15 years later, it seems to be working. But in the movie this overboard drama was taken one step further, to a point where it was almost unreal.

Now obviously, for the top athletes at the X Games, the action sports experience is different than for say, you and I. And competition, winning, and being the best does play a large role in it. But even for the Shaun White’s and Danny Way’s of the world, these are activities that are done for fun. The film gets so caught up in trying to tell these dramatic tales of the importance of X Games victory, it forgets to put across this message at all, and this is one of its greatest failings. It makes all the sports look like a great activity for jocks, and lord know we don’t need anymore of those around!

But X Games 3D’s greatest offense is that it is at least 80% recycled X Games footage. You know, the stuff they showed live on TV, two years ago. Add in some dramatic and cheesy voiceovers, do a 3D effect so everyone gets a headache, and you have this movie. While there were a few really cool behind the scenes shots at the riders’ training facilities, and a handful of times the 3D was really visually exciting, over all I left feeling like I’d just watched the X Games, and not been able to turn off the TV.

X Games 3D: The Movie is only in theatres for one week, starting August 21^nd, so the good news is, you won’t even have to try that hard to miss it.

Certain companies have always been labeled one way or another. In the case of Forum, a “gangster” hip-hop association has been created. So it’s not really surprising such a brand would come out with an album with the word Jamz in the title. But in an almost embarrassing way, the three tracks included in this late summer release really grow on you.

Every song is directed towards making fun of you, me, and everyone else on a snowboard. A combination of tech-hop and old school beats hide in the background as the lyrics punch every snowboarders pride right in the face.

“Bed Spread Hoodie” pokes fun at everything and everyone. The big pants, the small pants, the super pro, and even fear cannot escape the clutches of this tracks sly remarks. Little zingers are hidden all over the jams collection, my favorite line being, “…sick like syphilis.”

While every track is unique from the others each share one main theme, snowboarding has a lot of stupid shit in it. But in reality that is good, if you can’t laugh at yourself then you are probably boring. If you find yourself mad at Forum, or crying at the end of Forum Jamz then you should consider therapy because this is a free mix tape that is absolutely enjoyable, even if a bit ridiculous.

To get a hold of your own free copy click this link: FREE MUSIC

In this age of drug tests, energy drink sponsors and snowboard moms, contests have become the antithesis of why most of us started snowboarding. But there are a few events out there that don’t fit the usual mold, and strive to keep things mellow and fun. You don’t even have to be the best rider to enter. These are the Anti Contests.

Legendary Banked Slalom
Mt. Baker, WA
Est. 1985
This Year: Feb 6, 2009

Photos: Timzimmerman.com
Tom Sims didn’t set out to respond to other contests, or remind people what snowboarding should be when he and Bob Barci approached Mt. Baker about the idea of holding a slalom event in 1985. Back then, many of the 14 competitors who turned out weren’t even riding real snowboard gear. But more than twenty years later, the Legendary Banked Slalom has remained true to its roots, and stands as the original “anti-contest,” an event that isn’t so much about winning, as it is about snowboarding, seeing old friends and making new ones. There is no money, just painted rolls of duct tape for the winners. Yet the LBS attracts everyone from top pros of the day, looking for a reprieve from the hectic contest circuit, to legends like Terje Haakonseen and Temple Cummins, who usually don’t compete at all. “It’s young kids, old rippers, and the best riders in the world all riding the same course,”Cummins said. “The actual race time is only a few minutes of the day, the rest of the day is for riding with all the friends.”

Check out more images from the 2008 LBS

 

The Holy Oly. Geery photo

The Holy Oly Revival is officially “A Celebration of NW Snowboard Pride.” The recipe is simple: build the biggest quarterpipe in Washington, and let anyone who wants to ride it go nuts. At the end of the day, someone walks away with a pallet of Olympia beer.  “The event just has a start and a finish…there are no heats, no categories and no rules,” event founder Krush Kuleza said. The “Holiest of the Holy” award has gone to Peter Line, Justin Heath, Luke Mathison, Sammy Luebke and Wille Yli-Louma over the years, but there are also awards for the Best NW Method, Hardest Charging Industry Hero, The Berserker Award and The Future of NW Shred. Every year the quarterpipe has gotten bigger and the course better, but the vibe has stayed the same. This year, a natural disaster is moving the action to Summit West, but don’t worry, that’s all that will change. “I’m stoked when I watch local 12-year-old Jacob Krugmire drop in after two-time Olympian Danny Kass while Sean Genovese and Pat Milbery session some jibs. Burtner keeps the crowd entertained, Grove keeps them fed and Peter Line’s girlfriend’s iPod playlist pisses off some soccer dad…it’s quite a scene to behold,” Kuleza said.

Check out all of the action from 2008

And some more photos.

 

Sorry boys, you have to have boobs to compete in this event. Actually, technically you don’t because it’s open to riders of all ages, and 8-year -old girls have been known to compete against women in their 50s. There are tons of prizes (Lomography has even signed on to sponsor the event this season), some cash for the pros, and first prize in the Am division is a one-year Nikita sponsorship. But even with said prizes on the line, the Nikita Chickita feels more like a mellow day riding with your friends than a contest. The format seems to be made up as it goes along, and if the judges can’t decide, they just let the girls ride. Whether you hit up the event in Austria or the one in Mammoth, when all is said and done, it’s pretty easy to forget you spent all day at a contest, and that’s just the way they want it.

Want more images from the Nikita Chickita at Mammoth 2008? Here ya go!

 

Photos Courtesy of Brendan Rohan/ stumptownphoto.com

Nate Chute was a big part the snowboard scene in Flathead Valley, MT until he took his own life 10 years ago. So his parents, friends, and Joe Tabor, owner of the local shop, Stumptown Snowboards, set out to start and event in his honor. The Nate Chute Hawaiian Classic was born. “Nate was one of the kindest, most talented kids on the mountain,” friend and K2 Team Manager Kevin Winkel said. “He was the kind that let his riding speak for himself and when he did speak it was only positive things to be said.” The idea for the event was to create a time and place for old friends to gather, ride together and remember Nate. But since there are many variables in a freestyle event, the main event has always been a banked slalom. “It was something anyone could participate and have fun,” Winkel said.  “We have ex-Olympians participating, little groms, moms, grandparents, ex pros and all in between.” A few years back a Chinese downhill was added and after ten years the event has become something who grew up riding Whitefish won’t miss. “There is nothing better than getting to shred your home mountain with all of your friends that you grew up with,” Winkel said. “Everyone else that was not part of this history can easily feel the vibe and is welcomed.”

Thanks stumptownphoto.com for these pictures!

 

Photos courtesy Rome Snowboards/Liv2ride
In the late 1990s, the US Open was transitioning from the year’s biggest party, to a serious event with national television coverage and relentless bag checks, so the World Quarterpipe Championships began as an answer to that. Originally called the East Coast Quarterpipe Championships, and moving around New England as it wore out its welcome at various resorts, things have only gotten rowdier over the years, but it has always been about 50% drinking and 50% snowboarding. This season the rebirth of the WQP at Timber Ridge, a private ski area in Vermont, included a mid-course fire pit, a bottle of Jack handed to riders after they hit the quaterpipe, and the “gauntlet”—a row of hecklers who yell and pelt the rider with their empties. “From the outset it was designed as the anti-contest,” WQP founder Mark Sullivan said. “A lot of riders jump through the same contest hoops all season long and this was designed to be 180 degrees away from that. What all big events did, we did the opposite.”

We dug up some pictures from World Quarters of yore and a few more of the event at Timber Ridge. Here.

 

Photos courtesy Grenade Gloves/Jeff Curley
Leave it to the Grenerds to come up with an event held each year on 4/20, complete with snowboarding, metal and of course an award for the “highest” air. The event, whichhas been held at June Mountain and the Summit at Snoqualmie over the years, includes awards for everything from riding mogul fields binding-less, bull riding, racing, over consuming, spinning like crazy, blasting massive airs in the pipe, and all-around great riding. “With the vast season of so-so events we need events like this to remind people why we snowboard and why we like to compete amongst each other on snowboards — to meet chicks,”  Danny Kass said. Word has it the Grenade Games will go down on Canadian soil in 2009, so watch out.

Oh yeah and here are more pictures. Thanks to Grenade and Jeff Curley!

 

I recently went to the movies with Capita’s Eric Fernadez and Movie Maker Gary Tyler McCloud. While the rest of the crew went on a rail mission the three of us sat back and watched “Milk.” These are my thoughts.

The silver screen is loosing its significance. Movies about talking dogs, dumb blondes, and robots seem to be the focus of Hollywood studios. This could possibly be due to America becoming the land of the ignorant, the stupid, and the obese. Hollywood caters to this trend, pumping us full of guns, CGI, mindless humor, and the occasional nice rack. A movie that dares to expose weaknesses in our society or problems within our laws has become rare. After all, thinking could cause a headache, or worse, you might actually craft your own opinions. Gus Van Sant’s new flick “Milk” is a powerful and emotional true story based on the courageous last few years of Harvey Milk’s life. Beginning with Harvey’s exit of the closet, to becoming the first openly gay politician, a San Franciscan City Supervisor, and of course being shot to death.

The ticket ripper gave Eric the eye.

You need to see this movie for a few reasons. First, the cast is amazing. Sean Penn plays Harvey Milk, and when not passionately making out with dudes Penn is either cracking you up or forcing you to acknowledge the ignorance the majority of America. The rest of the cast is also brilliant. James Franco, Emile Hirsch, and bad guy Josh Brolin all play powerful roles that help shape the movie into so much more than just two hours in front of a screen.

For all of you so worried about what you look like, the retro 70’s look is pretty cool. So maybe you can steal your next identity from some character in this movie. On a more serious note though, the most important aspect of “Milk” is the relevance it holds today. Yes, Harvey Milk fought for the gay communities civil rights. But 30 years later we are still in a battle to decide wether or not to allow gays to marry. My advice to the American public, see the movie, open your mind, and mellow out on the ignorance.

Gary and Eric are thumbs up for “Milk”. We discussed the movie all the way home.

Gus Van Sant’s “Milk”: Great flick, moving, powerful, thought provoking.

Cast: Couldn’t have been better.

Cinematography: Excellent use of a camera.

Eric and Gary’s Thoughts? Thumbs Up.

Downfalls: None worth mentioning.

More on Milk Here!