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Light Up The Night!

MAKE SOMETHING OUT OF NOTHING. FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME 02, ISSUE 06 SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM USA $4.99 CAN $6.99 PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA

www.planetearthsnow.com

*John Jackson backside 180 mute

valenzuela

Grenade’s

see john in these new videos

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11/4/05

SNOWBOARD Magazine

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Andy Forgash. 5-Pocket denim Pant, dirty brown.

holdenouterwear.com

SNOWBOARD#5_forg.ai

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spread trim: 18 x 10.8125

PHOTO: STAN EVANS, SNO

WBIRD, UT

CHECK THE CONNECTION TECHNOLOGY OF THE NEW ROME BINDINGS AND THE REST OF THE DESIGN HOUSE COLLECTION IN THE 2006 ROME CATALOG. SIGN UP FOR YOUR COPY (WITH STICKER) AT WWW.ROMESNOWBOARDS.COM.

BJORN LEINES MARIUS OTTERSTAD JESSE FOX JONAVEN MOORE JUSSI TARVAINEN

CASEY NEEFUS MAX LEGEND DWAYNE WIEBE LUKE MATHISON YAN DOFIN MARIE-FRANCE ROY L.N.P.

PUBLISHER’S NOTE “You don’t know where the line is until you’ve crossed it.”

This is a statement that we have tested time and time again in the pages of this magazine. Every aspect of SNOWBOARD, from content to covers, distribution to our marketing is conceived to forge a fresh voice that is true to snowboarding and, ultimately, a positive influence on the sport. With this issue of SNOWBOARD, we are pushing the limits yet again—a task that has become familiar territory for our staff.

Employing a philosophy of constant improvement for this business isn’t always easy, but pushing ourselves is. Kaizen! –Mark Sullivan

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WRITE TO THE PUBLISHER: 02 FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06 SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM MARK@SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM.

action by andreW hardingham. photo by dan hudson.

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FEBRUARY 2006

VOLUME 02 NUMBER 06

SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM

SHOW US YOUR PICTURES FROM AROUND THE WORLD.

Photo by NEIL HARTMANN

COVER SHOT Kazushi Yamauchi Japan is a country made up of over 3,500 islands, the biggest being the Main Island, or Honshu, in Japanese. Last spring I was there on a week-long photo shoot for a Japanese clothing brand. Four hours from the crazy madness known as Tokyo, we found our home for the week in Nagano at a resort named Tsugaike. The massive winter storms that plaster Nagano leave behind meters upon meters of snow that slowly melts until the middle of May. The view from our hotel window looked out on the resort’s beginner slope, and the lift there was closed so the run was empty. Right in the middle of the run, halfway up, was the concrete structure pictured on the cover. Inside was a bell with a rope for tourists to ring as they shush down the slopes. We rang that bell everyday of our shoot. I don’t know if the artist planned it, but the structure looks a lot like the movie Scream, so we just started calling it ‘The Face.’ With five riders and five days, I think we did every jib possible both inside and out so it gave me plenty of time to experiment photographically.

I think it was the third day that Yamauchi built a little lip and started to launch a series of one-foot airs through the face and over the stairs.

This might have been the last shot of the session. Since I didn’t use a digital camera to make a test shot, I had to rely on my roots and just shot film.

By the time we finished shooting and rode back to the lodge, it was pitch dark and all the while, all I could think about was, “Did I get the shot, did I get the shot?” In the end, I guess it worked out all right. –Neil Hartmann

WWW.FORUM-SNOWBOARDS.COM

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SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM

INSIDE VOLUME 02, ISSUE 06

074

Living the Dream

086

Hit the Road:

By MARK KOHLMAN

112

Terror on the Turnpike

116

Trapped Under Ice: The Robert Trujillo Interview

So you want to work in the snowboard industry? Read the stories behind some of the most influential personalities in snowboarding and how they achieved success. From pro rider Shaun White to DVS Team Manager Ricky Melnik, learn about potential career opportunities that will inspire you to keep riding and follow your dreams.

Nothing’s better than piling into a car with three or four of your closest friends (or complete strangers) and hitting the road. Take a journey across Middle America with Coyle, photographer Mark Kohlman, Shaun McKay, Bryan Fox, Ryan Thompson, and Zach Marben as they explore pointless national monuments, world-famous drug stores, giant malls and seedy saloons.

A photo essay by Neil Dacosta. “Neir” hit up the slopes of his native New Jersey to rediscover his snowboarding roots. He braved the bunny slope and spent a day with beginners enjoying the thrill of how to get off the chair lift, make a heelside turn…maybe, even pop an ollie for their first time. Relive the moments of learning how to ride through Neir’s imaginative images.

After receiving a signing bonus of $1 million to become the new bass player for Metallica, Robert Trujillo’s life changed forever. Humble as they come, Robert found time off his busy tour schedule to sit down with SNOWBOARD mag’s Nate Deschenes at his home in Venice, Calif. They talked about his true passion, snowboarding—from hitting kickers in Mammoth to pow shots in Tahoe. Robert shares his heart-pumping tales of life on the road and misadventures with James Hetfield, Ozzy Osborne and more of rock’s heaviest headbangers.

CORRECTIONS: In Volume 02, Issue #03, on page 076, we made a slight error in the Ride DH DFC board test..

The board features 85-A Durometer urethane Slimewalls, not 85-Abec urethane Slimewalls.

In Volume 02, Issue #04, on page 078, the Sean Genovese photo was shot by Mike Yoshida,. not Jeff Curtes. Sorry Mike!

In Volume 02, Issue #04, on page 046, we told you that Tim Zimmerman shot the gloves featured in that article. That isn’t the case. Mike Basher did. Sorry Basher.

001..................COVER........................................................................................................

002-003....... PLANET EARTH........................................................................................

004-005....... VOLCOM......................................................................................................

006-007........ HOLDEN.......................................................................................................

008-009....... ROME............................................................................................................

010..................PUBLISHER’S NOTE.............................................................................

011.................. MISSION SIX..............................................................................................

012..................COVER SHOT...........................................................................................

013.................. UNITY............................................................................................................

014–015........ FORUM.........................................................................................................

016..................INSIDE........................................................................................................

017.................. VON ZIPPER...............................................................................................

018..................FAMILY.......................................................................................................

019.................. BONFIRE......................................................................................................

020-021........ K2...................................................................................................................

022..................MELTED.....................................................................................................

023.................. RIDE..............................................................................................................

024..................DUST ON CRUST...................................................................................

025................. SPY................................................................................................................

026-027........ DC..................................................................................................................

028-029.......INSIDE THE PRO MODELS: EDDIE WALL....................................

030-031........INSIDE THE PRO MODELS: WILLE YLI-LUOMA........................

032-033....... THIRTYTWO...............................................................................................

034-036.......GEAR UP: BACKCOUNTRY.................................................................

037.................. BOLLE...........................................................................................................

038..................GEAR UP: BACKCOUNTRY.................................................................

039................. RIPZONE......................................................................................................

040..................THE GOODS: CARGO BOXES............................................................

041.................. JUNE.............................................................................................................

042..................THE GOODS: CARGO BOXES............................................................

043................. MBS...............................................................................................................

044-045....... MOUNTAIN HIGH......................................................................................

046..................THE GOODS: GOGGLES......................................................................

047.................. NIKITA...........................................................................................................

048..................THE GOODS: GOGGLES......................................................................

049................. BLUEBIRD...................................................................................................

050-051........ NOMIS DESIGN........................................................................................

052-057........KITS: WOMEN’S FIRST LAYER..........................................................

058-059....... ANGEL FIRE...............................................................................................

060-062.......TEST RUN: THE GRAPHICS . ............................................................

063................. UTOPIA.........................................................................................................

064..................TEST RUN: THE GRAPHICS...............................................................

065................. WINTERSTICK...........................................................................................

066..................TEST RUN: THE GRAPHICS...............................................................

067.................. ONE BALL JAY...........................................................................................

068.................TEST RUN: THE GRAPHICS...............................................................

069................. WHISTLER/BLACKCOMB....................................................................

070..................ROUNDUP: WAX.....................................................................................

071.................. DROP............................................................................................................

072..................FLAGS........................................................................................................

073.................. STEPCHILD................................................................................................

074-085........LIVING THE DREAM..............................................................................

086-095.......HIT THE ROAD.........................................................................................

096-115........GALLERY...................................................................................................

116-119.........TERROR ON THE TURNPIKE.............................................................

120-123........TRAPPED UNDER ICE: THE ROBERT TRUJILLO INTERVIEW...

124-125........IN THE MIX: DAVID BENEDEK...........................................................

126.................. WORLD SUPERPIPE...............................................................................

127................... US OPEN.....................................................................................................

128..................MANDATORY............................................................................................

129.................. CLASSIFIEDS............................................................................................

130..................SNOW TECH: BIONIC BRACES........................................................

131................... SHOP WARS..............................................................................................

132-133........ WAVE RAVE................................................................................................

134 . ...............SUPERSHOPS: EASTERN BOARDER............................................

135.................. ELECTRIC....................................................................................................

136..................SHOP LIST................................................................................................

137................... L1....................................................................................................................

138..................HAPPENINGS..........................................................................................

139.................. SALOMON...................................................................................................

140.................. PBRJ.............................................................................................................

141...................MASTHEAD / WEB CONNECT..........................................................

142-143........ DVS................................................................................................................

144-145........ NITRO............................................................................................................

146-147......... BURTON.......................................................................................................

148-150........ SECTION / TECHNINE...........................................................................

FAMILY MARK KOHLMAN PHOTOGRAPHER

KURT WASTELL

WRITER/PRO RIDER

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02 FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06

CHRIS COYLE WRITER

Mark is not your average man. While most are happy with whatever life hands them, he never settles for the norm. It’s not uncommon for Mark to spend a month pillaging record stores for a single song or spend a day in the car, just to take a photo. The kid’s got drive. Take a look at the photos in the road trip feature. You can’t half-ass and get those kind of results.

Most could only wish to have that sort of passion.

It was the Solid Mfg. team trip to Mt. Hood—summer, 1994.

We made our way down toward USSTC. We were stoked—free reign over the area for the next week and plenty of stuff to ride. We passed by Frank Wells’ camp—poached a slide on the mailbox and grassed the mini-table. Nothing too tech, it was the first run and we all had packs on.

Man, they’ve really got my arm twisted behind my back on this one. I mean, what the hell am I gonna say about Chris Coyle that you don’t already know? We all know of his “Northwesterner� ways. Seattle, Portland, Government Camp. Sure. We’ve read his words in Transworld Snowboarding and SNOWBOARD, and even had to brave some of his photos, too. What you might not know, on a specific level, is that Coyle is a man of hair, color and honor. I’ll elaborate.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Mark for quite some time now. We used to valet cars at a fancy hotel in downtown Portland while living together. Every night for a year, we would fall asleep on the floor watching The Big Lebowski and talking about how we were sick of parking cars. Well, to make a long story short, neither of us are parking cars anymore, but every once in a while we still pass out watching ‘The Dude.’ —Chris Coyle

Kurt threw down his pack and pointed it for the larger booter. He looked pissed and had so much pace it was wrong.

For whatever reason, Kurt chose a cab 7.

First day, first jump, first run. As he came around on the last rotation, the landing disappeared below. From above, it was obvious that he was going to clear the entire area. Kurt stomped the 7 (which actually ended up at a 9), but exploded on impact. Keeping it together when landing that flat is impossible. Kurt took it a little too far that day and ended up broken on his first run.

Facially speaking, we’d categorize Coyle as, “very beardy.� He’s got whiskers growing on whiskers, and well, admittedly, our bald patches are a bit jealous. He’s got some wicked tattoos, up and down the arms and what not. And man, he wears them well.

We’re not talking about some slackjaw state-fair-Speedy-Gonzales crap.

We’re talkin’ about some serious skulls, slogans and tributes. He’s an honorable fella. Now, I like to “get a little loose� with the talk from time to time, and I know if I got myself in some pickle and push came to shove, he’d back me up. Really.

It wasn’t the first time Kurt overshot a booter, or the last. But Kurt’s not afraid to go big, and that’s what makes him my favorite rider of all time. —Neil Rankin

He had my back long ago in ’95 when I would come in late from a hospital run.

Coyle was a cook for the High Cascade Snowboard Camp. I was the hospital shuttle driver. I was real busy that summer, and he made sure I got well fed, even in the midnight hours well after those ratty campers were put down for the night.

So, thanks for the extra pounds.

We have yet to share a coarse word. I hope to keep it that way. He’s a good guy to have on yer side in bar fight, and a good listener when I feel like crying. Oh man, I just about forgot: Chris Coyle plays the drums‌like a man.

Take that, you horse-lipped roughnecks. —Aaron James Draplin Illustration by DDC, Ink Div.

PUT THE “FUN� INTO “DYSFUNCTIONAL.� JOIN US! SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM WE

COLIN CARROLL

PHOTOGRAPHER “Fish burrito, black beans smothered in green chiles, please.� Those were the first words I said to Colin Carroll. Working at a local mexican restaurant in Ketchum, Idaho, taking orders and facilitating indigestion, Colin looked like every other dirt bag I had never met. If someone would have told me that I would be standing in the middle of the desert just outside of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., watching my waiter from a few nights before shoot portraits of Eddie Wall, Travis Kennedy and Mason Agguire for the new Smith ad campaign, I would have thought they were full of whatever found it’s way into my burrito that night.

Randomly enough, I found myself in the backseat of AJ Grabos’ “borrowed� truck, sitting next to Colin as we began the drive through some of the most uninhabited desert in the country. I franticly called every photographer I knew as I attempted to organize a last-minute photo shoot for our new ad campaign, which was due over a month ago. As every team manager knows, pinpointing a time and place where all of your top athletes can be found at the same time is near impossible; so, finding a photographer was vital (to my job). After a few hours of dealing with patchy cell service, I managed to leave panicked messages on every photographer’s voice mail I could think of.

Finally, somewhere outside of Wells, Nevada, Colin chimed in and said, “I could shoot the photos for you.�

Colin had just finished up with school at the Brooks Institute of Photography earlier that year and was hungry for the opportunity to get involved with snowboard photography.

Colin took charge from there and produced some of the better portrait shots I have seen. I now consider Colin a good friend, and I am stoked for him as his career in photography continues to blossom. I am sure he will continue to impress all; his drive and unique personality are rare commodities in this industry. —Cory Smith

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FEBRUARY 2006

VOLUME 02 NUMBER 06

of photos on our web site.

SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM mountains

RIDER JOEY VOSBURGH PHOTO BY DAN HUDSON

MELTED BY DAVE ENGLAND WHERE DO MOUNTAINS COME FROM? As a collective whole, snowboarders love mountains to death. And just to be clear, I’m not talking about mountains of laundry, mountains of trouble or supple breasts. Heavens, no. I’m talking about the steepsided, high-altitude masses of dirt and rock that sometimes get blanketed with fluffy white snow.

I mean, what would snowboarding be without mountains (for the sake of argument, hills or any other type of naturally occurring slope are included)? It would be no boarding, that’s what. Yet despite the great importance of these “earth piles,” snowboarders tend to take them for granted. It would be much more appropriate to worship them as gods. Imagine offering your local mountain range precious gems and gold coins by the truckload and sacrificing nubile virgins in their honor. That’s the world I want to live in.

Anyways, on to answering the question at hand: Where do mountains come from?

While the answer may startle the uninitiated, it’s been scientifically proven beyond all doubt. You see, millions of years ago gargantuan creatures that stood literally ten miles tall or more roamed the earth. No traditional fossils have ever been found of these giants whose size made dinosaurs look like ants. The only remnants that linger as the proof of their existence are the petrified remains of their towering mounds of defecations. That’s right, our precious mountains are merely giant piles of prehistoric poop. The volcanoes are from these behemoths’ occasional horrendous attacks of molten diarrhea that never cooled down.

Wait a second, I got the facts a little mixed up there. What I meant to say, was that mountains were created way back when this world was going off richter-rama style.

The earth’s crust was folding and buckling, and sometimes breaking into huge blocks.

This sort of activity caused great areas of land to be lifted upward, forming most of the mountain ranges we have today. Others were formed when the earth got giant zits, also known as volcanoes. Now mountains are almost everywhere—peppered across every continent, even underwater in the oceans. As far as I know, no one has yet been able to snowboard on any of the underwater mountains due to a general lack of snow. Hopefully one day there will be a freak storm to make it possible.

What if someone figured out a way to make mountains pop up anywhere they wanted? The concept reminds me of that old saying, “making a mountain out of molehill.” Although, that phrase has a nasty negative connotation, usually referring to someone who makes a big deal out of nothing. This would be different. In fact, if someone really did invent a way to make mountains out of molehills, it could transform the many flat yet snow-laden areas of this world into shredder paradises. Of course, you would be limited to where there was an existing molehill, but I’m sure you could train some moles to make a hill wherever it was needed. And then if the moles were taking too long, you could play a real live game of “whack a mole” until they got back to work. I wonder if this whole concept could be achieved through modern technology or would it be more of a magical thing?

Now I’m beginning to get a little paranoid that some evil jerk will find a way to make all the mountains disappear forever. All that would be left would be a smooth, flat, boring planet. It would be a battle between the Mountains out of Molehills superhero and the diabolical Mountain Popper villain. The fate of snowkind would be left to a person who’s famous for making a big deal out of nothing.

The last couple paragraphs just reminded me that as a young boy, I used to have a problem asking “what if?” all the time. This habit ended the day I was skating a local ditch under a freeway overpass and said to my friend, “What if a car crashed off the freeway and landed on one of us while we’re skating?” Five minutes later, I was struck, mid-run, by a car tire dropped from 50 feet above by my “friend” to teach me a lesson. The tire knocked me out cold for a couple minutes and, apparently, the other skaters got a good laugh. Even though I’m still a bit pissed at that guy, he basically did me a favor. To this day I find myself thinking twice before busting out a “what if?” Please don’t hurt me.

The title of this magazine is, well, it’s SNOWBOARD. So if there is any truth to the phrase, “what’s in a name,” then one would assume that every human being (regardless of age, race, creed, sexual orientation and/ or preference) would have an inkling as to what the heck a snowboard is! But alas, no, this is not the case as Old Man Winter recently found himself having to describe (in great detail, mind you) the actual embodiment of a snowboard—an object and an activity that Old Man Winter has deeply embedded into everyday existence. And when reduced to have to actually explain it…well, I have a feeling there’s a few people out there with formulated opinions based upon the semi-moronic (yet not too far from the truth) description: “You know, it’s, like, a piece of wood with some fiberglass and edges and stuff with a pair of bindings that attack—oops—no, they attach to your feet...”

TELEPHONE POLE: There are thousands, possibly, millions of these poles out there and an equal number of grandmas trying to purchase one as their grandson’s snowboarding Christmas gift.

PICNIC BENCH: Yeah, it’s a snowboard—lots of wood, some screws, and plenty of kids playing with it.

BONE: Check the sidecut on that badboy. You know that thing arcs a mean ole turn on the corduroy.

DIVING BOARD: I thought these boards came with bindings?

SCOOTARD: Does this even need explanation?

SHOVEL: Shovels, along with lunch trays, trash bags, mono skis, water skis, surfboards and/or boogie boards might as well be packaged, produced and marketed as entry-level snowboards at lesser-than-average retailers. Wait a minute...aren’t they?

INNER TUBE: If that air-filled hunk of junk came equipped with step-in bindings, you could surely drop into the stunt ditch and do your radical deal.

QUIVER OF DAGGERS: That kook uncle of yours who thinks you’re the crazy one for riding a snowboard, also thinks daggers are rideable snow-sliding devices.

SOME TYPE OF SLED: These things are basically snowboards—for real.

And remember: No friends on a powder day.

Is that guy doing a double grab?

BUG WITH STUMP: This is how those who don’t snowboard view those who do.

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02 FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06

BJORNLEINES

MOOSE HUNTING AT PARK CITY MOUNTAIN RESORT. LOOK FOR BJORN AND THE DC TEAM IN THE MTN.LAB DVD IN STORES NOW!

09_BJ_Moose_SnowboardMag.indd 1-2

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028/029

02 photos of Eddie from the SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM See FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06 2006 Hard Rock Rail Jam now!

ACTION BY ZIZO PORTRAIT BY COLE BARASH

INSIDE THE PRO MODELS

EDDIE WALL

Home Mountain: Mammoth Mtn., California Favorite Type of Riding: park with friends Board Name: Jeenyus Special Ed Series Lengths: 146, 153 and 158 cm

In between wooing SNOWBOARD magazine models and collecting big checks, Eddie’s throwing down on his pro model. Impressive video parts and a steady stream of victories at rail contests over the years earned Eddie the first pro model of his career.

How did you get your pro model? I guess because I have been with Jeenyus for a while, doing well in contests, and filming video parts. Is this your first pro-model board? Yeah! And I am so happy—it’s a dream come true. I always thought it would be sick to ride a board and look down and see that it’s your own pro model. And there is no other board company that I would rather have it with. I am so stoked on Jeenyus/ The Program and all their support. How much work did you put into the board’s development? I basically gave them the specs I like to see in a board—soft flex, blunt nose and tail, twin tip, etc. They took it from there and nailed it right away.

Any special bells or whistles? Not really. But I like whistling a lot, does that count? Who was the motivation or inspiration for developing the board? Kevin Jones and Peter Line have

been big inspirations. Besides them, the boards are pretty much just inspired by the type of terrain I ride. How did you come up with the shape and length? I use three boards for three specific riding styles. The 146 is soft and short for street rails, the 153 has medium stiffness and length for park, and the 158 is stiffer and longer for the ladies…oh, I mean powder! Since most people can only get one board for the season, the 153 is a good all-around board to buy.

How many prototypes did you go through? The boards were perfect right from the start, but I am not that picky. But like I said, Jeenyus nailed it first try. What places did you ride to test out the board? Mammoth’s park, Euro street rails, and Tahoe pow-pow. THE CHARACTERISTICS: How does it turn?

Hella sweet. Not too quick, not to slow. What skill level of rider is the board made for? Everyone, from a virgin to a ho— I mean, pro. What kind of terrain is it designed for? The 146 for rails, 153 for park (rails and all-mountain), and 158 for pow.

What makes the board work in these conditions? I originally designed it for sky surfing…just kidding. The 146 is nice and soft for the street rails so that you can do “press” combos. The 153 works well ’cause it is the “in between” size—good for everything. The 158 is good for powder ’cause it floats really well—I like it a lot. Are there any particular bindings that the board works well with? I use Agency bindings and they work really well. I am sure any binding would be fine. What type of hole pattern does it have? Um, eight holes lined up... Is there a term for that? THE ART: How did you come up with the graphics?

I worked closely with Jared Eberhardt and a well-known Chicago artist named Cody Hudson/Struggle Inc. I filled out a little bio about myself, and they incorporated that into the graphics. What inspired the graphics? Since I was little, I always thought to myself, “if I ever get a pro model, I’m putting my name real big on the bottom”... so I did. And the topsheet has tons of little drawings from my life. Some examples are: a 1978 Toyota Corolla (my first car), a “respect Peter Line” and “respect Kevin Jones” symbols, some drawings from my sketchbook, etc. Who did the art? Jared Eberhardt, Cody Hudson/Struggle Inc., and there are a few little things I drew myself. Do you have any other pro-model gear— gloves, boots or bindings? I have a glove with Grenade Gloves, the Wall-Do, and an Agency Binding, The Implant.

TOPSHEET

BASE

INSIDE THE PRO MODELS

030/031

02 up on K2 Team news with Team SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM Stay FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06 Manager Ryan Runke’s web posts.

PORTRAIT BY CORY GROVE ACTION BY MARK KOHLMAN

WILLE YLI-LUOMA

Home Mountain: Talma, Finland Favorite Type of Riding: pillows Board Name: Temptation Nineteen 79 Lengths: 154 and 158 cm

Aside from turning huge profits flipping downtown Portland real estate and shooting arTSy photos of his daughter in Finland, Wille Yli-Luoma destroys terrain around the world on his K2 pro model.

TOPSHEET

BASE

THE BACKGROUND: How did you get your pro model? FedEx delivered it to my doorstep. How much work did you put into the board’s development? I try to be involved the whole way. Any special bells or whistles? Good wood and amazing art will be all I need. Who was the motivation or inspiration for developing the board? Anything that’s in my mind or my friend Antti Rastivo’s mind. Lilou, my daughter, is always a big part of the graphics and photography. How did you come up with the shape and length? I had this board I really like and I sent it to K2; we started the board shape of that board. The board has changed a lot since the first board. The board feels really good, and it’s all about fine-tuning now. How many prototypes did you go through?

A few every year, but K2 is pretty on it and they don’t send me weird shapes or any crap. What places did you ride to test out the board? Anywhere I’m at, the moment when I get my board. THE CHARACTERISTICS: How does it turn?

It turns as fast as I can handle, so for me it’s just perfect.

What skill level of rider is the board made for? I think it will help your riding—so anyone. (I know you reps hate me now.)

But I think it really doesn’t matter what skill level you are.

Why start out with a crappy board? What kind of terrain is it designed for? All around—powder, icy runs, pipe, park...

What makes the board work in these conditions? You have to have pop to be able to ollie off jumps and over ropes; the right type of flex for landing in powder; sidecut so you can turn and go up a pipe wall; and strong enough so when you land disaster on a hip or quarterpipe, it does not snap.

Are there any particular bindings that the board works well with? I use the K2 team ones or Formulas. Both of those bindings work good. What type of hole pattern does it have? Four-hole pattern, but they are really close to each other—haha. I don’t know the tech word—haha. Ten holes, and they are really close to each other. THE ART: How did you come up with the graphics? We did them in Stockholm with Antti. Four days. The jumping person is Lilou, and the rest are my photos and drawings. Antti put it together and was the designer behind it. What inspired the graphics?

We started with the burning house and the floating trailers.

I had so many photos of Lilou jumping, and we turned one of the photos into a vector graphic. This was the start, and after that it just developed further. Who did the art?

I painted and shot the photos, and Antti pieced it together.

It was a collaboration. Do you have any other pro-model gear—gloves, boots or bindings? No, but I give input to my other sponsors—Volcom, 32, Etnies, Level and Exit.

GEAR UP/ BACKCOUNTRY Words by Dave England Photos by Mike Basher PHOTOGRAPHY BY J2 AND SHELDON SABBATINI / WORDS BY DAVE ENGLAND

Ten innovative products to keep you safe on your backcountry adventures.

Atlas 12 Series Snowshoes [$260] I’ve only used snowshoes a handful of times, but it’s a great feeling in deep powder to be able to just walk right across the surface without post-holing. I’m going to have to draw the comparison of Jesus walking on water. That’s right, a holy experience in which water is turned into beer instead of wine because I don’t really care for wine. It makes my teeth all purple and the next day my head feels like it is going to shatter every time a telephone rings. These things are easy to get your feet in and out of unlike a wine cork is to get in and out of the bottle. atlassnowshoe.com

Dakine Wedge D-Handle Shovel [$50] Look, I’ll cut to the chase on this one—it’s a shovel with a detachable handle so you can jam it in your pack. It’s great…for me, anyway. It might be good for you, too—that is if your name starts with a D like mine. Bias aside, I have to admit that D is the perfect shape for a shovel handle. But to be fair, they should offer the handle in the shapes of the other 25 letters of the alphabet to accommodate all

the first letters of people’s names. Until then, this one’s for all the Derks, Donnys and Dillweeds of the snowboard community. dakine.com

Life-Link Economy Snow Study Kit [$65] This little kit will tell you more than you ever possibly wanted to know about the snow you are about to ride. It’s not for people like me because my ADD won’t allow me to take the time and focus on the work. I wish I could get into it, though. It’s very educational, a lot like homework. Let’s call it snomework. Wow, that word looks crazy! Is it readable? Anyway, if you have the self-discipline and attention span to use this stuff, you’ll be able to determine the likeliness of the whole mountain sliding down with you—which is nice to know. life-link.com

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your scary SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM Share backcountry tales with us.

GEAR UP/BACKCOUNTRY Backcountry Access Profile 240 Probe [$55]

SnowClaw Copolymer Shovel [$15]

Getting buried in an avalanche would suck so bad. Even if you were wearing a transceiver, you still have to wait for someone to find you. This thing goes together quickly like a tent pole and you poke it around in the snow where you’re getting a signal from a buried buddy. It freaks me out thinking about how this works. I guess you feel for something fleshy, take note of the depth marking along the side and start digging like crazy. It weighs around half a pound and stores in a backpack at less than 16 inches. When fully aroused, the probe measures just shy of 8 feet. bcaccess.com

The SnowClaw is my favorite thing in the world. I use it for everything from shoveling snow to a plate for eating sloppy meals, and hopefully you won’t ever have to use it to unbury your friends from an avalanche. It makes a great Frisbee and you can use it as a little sled. It makes an OK shield if you are in a snowball fight but a terrible one in a broadsword fight. I pet my cat with it and she purred right away. I cleaned her litter box with it, and then pet her some more and ate another big meal off it. I started a game of Frisbee before I finished eating and also got a little piece of kitty litter stuck in my teeth. You seriously need to get one of these. snowclaw.com

Level Biomex The Fly Mitt [$85]

Cheetah Factory Racing Snowmobile Racks Double D-Rack [$195] Snowboard Bracket System [$75] Extra strap Kit [$60]

I reviewed some wrist guards a few issues ago and briefly mentioned that many years ago my wife had broken both her wrists snowboarding and couldn’t even wipe her own butt. It was before we were together and at the time, she was living with this Mexican guy named Junior. I’ve never asked her, but I have always assumed that Junior wiped her butt for her until her wrists healed. For some reason every time I think of that, it makes me jealous. Not that I want to wipe her butt. In fact, I’m giving her these with built-in wrist protection to keep it from happening again. levelgloves.com

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02 How are the backcountry conditions FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06 SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM in your area? Blog it up and let us know.

I suck at snowmobiling. One time I crashed a rental sled into an under-snow river and couldn’t get it out. The rental shop staff was so bummed when I returned without the machine. A blizzard rolled in and they didn’t find it for another four months. By then, it was ruined and I had to pay for it. What I’m trying to say is that I am by no means an authority on sno-mos. However, I do know that this board holder is a godsend because I’ve tried the technique where you just sit on your board between the bindings while riding the sled. I went over a bump and when I landed, part of my ass cheeks got stuck under the board’s edge and pinched me something awful. cheetahfactoryracing.com

GEAR UP/BACKCOUNTRY

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a photo of your backcountry SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM Post kicker in the galleries.

Oakley Orbit jacket [$650] Excuse me a moment while I poke a little fun at the mag’s editor, Jeff Baker. Each issue he gives me a brief run-down of what the products are all about. This time he sent me an e-mail explaining that this jacket was made to help save your life in the event of getting caught in an avalanche. He went on to explain that upon getting swept down the hill, the jacket would help to provide “floatation” for the rider above the snow’s surface! A few days later I got another e-mail from Jeff, shamefully admitting his error. The real unique feature of the jacket is a little thing called Airvantage. If you start to get chilly, you just breathe a little into a nozzle located in the neck area and the jacket starts to bulk up for added coziness. Stupid Baker! oakley.com

Life-Link Snow Saw [$40] This saw scared the stuffing out of me when I first unsheathed it. It’s jagged as all hell and frickin’ sharp! It’s made to cut out blocks of snow to test the stability.

I’m pretty sure you could also use it to gut a deer with little to no resistance.

For that matter you could use it to go on an on-hill murderous rampage. The challenge would be to turn an entire ski area red with the blood of vacationers and locals alike. Obviously, you would get arrested afterward since killing sprees have long been outlawed, but everything has a price, right? life-link.com

Backcountry Access Tracker Beacon [$310] A lot of backcountry riders put on a beacon and feel like they are suddenly immune to avalanches. Well, for one thing, an avalanche can just plain smash the life right out of you. For another, if you get buried, your survival depends on someone else being able to use his or her beacon to find you. Combine complicated beacon operation with panic and the results are often grim. Fortunately, this company figured out how to make one of the most simple-to-use beacons available. Now all you need is a suit of armor and you’ll be fine. bcaccess.com

The THEGoods GOODS GOGGLES CARGO BOXES

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OUT OUR RIDES GALLERY SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM CHECK AND ADD YOUR OWN.

PHOTO BY JEFF BAKER

Powered hydraulic openers, locking two-sided entry capability, self-adjusting crossbar clamps, and durable, lightweight easy-opening shells—the cargo box has come a long way in the past few years. The added comfort and convenience of external storage will keep your seats safe from the slash and tear effects of loading sharp boards; wet, muddy boots; gloves or other nasty gear. Whether you choose by color-matching, shape, storage volume, looks, or just plain economics, check out these four different options that make getting to the mountain a lot easier. –Gary Hansen

Inno BR560 [$380] CAPACITY: 12 cubic ft. 81” x 32 x 10”

Stay IN-SU Tower [$125] Cross Bar IN-B127 [$40] innoracks.com

The Inno BR 560 is perfect for smaller sedans and wagons, shown here on a 2000 VW Jetta GLX. The low-profile, aerodynamic design makes for a quiet ride and fits in most homes’ garages. Inno’s durable three-layer ABS contruction has a smooth, glossy finish—available in gloss black, silver and 10 custom colors to match almost any ride. Featuring a side-loading, safety lock system that always ensures security, the Inno box easily attaches onto any aftermarket or factory-installed crossbars. Mounted on the Inno Rack system, the entire setup installs in minutes with no special tools or knowledge required. —Larry Nuñez

THE GOODS CARGO BOXES

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Yakima Platinum Pro 16S [$450] CAPACITY: 16 cubic ft. 78” x 34” x 16”

MIKE BASHER PHOTO

yakima.com The Yakima Platinum Pro 16S is on the shorter side of the spectrum when it comes to car top carriers, however, at 78 inches long, it will hold a board up to 185 cm. The Pro 16S is ideal for the top of a smaller SUV, like this ’02 Ford Escape, and can easily hold four friends’ goodies high, dry and out of your way.

The 16S is super-aerodynamic and is unnoticeable, even at high speeds. The 16S comes ready to mount to any square, round or elliptical roof rack system, and it can be installed or removed in less than a minute. It’s also accessible from, and locks on, both sides. —Mike Basher

Thule 678XT Cascade XT 1700 [$410] CAPACITY: 17 cubic ft. 91” x 30” x 16”

MIKE BASHER PHOTO

thuleracks.com The Thule Cascade XT 678 is an impressive car top box! A little large for this particular BMW coupe, but after all said and done, it’s a real winner. With more than 17 cubic feet of storage and durable gloss black ABS construction, this box is like a portable truck bed! It features dual-side opening with locks and a no-tool mounting system that hooks on in seconds.

I noticed virtually no wind noise and very slight handling differences at speeds greater than 85 mph.

Most impressive was its ability to tirelessly store all of my wet, nasty goods (and then some) up above the car and out of my small coupe’s interior, keeping the inside dry and clean! If anyone has had the “too much crap, too little space” dilemma, the Thule Cascade 678XT is the rack box for you. —Gary Hansen

Packasport System 90

[$800]

CAPACITY: 21 cubic ft. 90” x 34” x 12” packasport.com

Yakima Lowrider Tower Yakima Crossbars [$50]

[$130]

yakima.com

JEFF BAKER PHOTO

The Packasport System 90 car top rack offers a super-sleek design profile with tons of room to stash all your gear. The Packasport web site claims the box has enough room for six people’s gear, but measuring 7.5 feet in length. I was able to fit more than 10 boards in it. The top opens from the rear of the car with a hydraulic arm so it opens smoothly and is secured with a lock and key. The rack has a slim design that looks especially nice on lower-profile cars, like this ’01 Audi A4 Avant, but looks good on SUVs and many other passenger cars as well.

The racks were installed to the existing Audi roof racks with the Yakima Lowrider towers and crossbars, sold separately. The towers mounted easily with no tools required—just twist tight. Locks are sold as an option. The total mounting time was 4 minutes. Simple. —Jeff Baker

r: james sander p: john mccolly

mthigh.com

The Goods GOGGLES Goggles can be a snowboarder’s best friend.

Arctic winds, relentless snow guns, blaring sun, blinding blizzards and bloodshot eyes are all reasons enough to protect one’s fragile corneas behind a high-tech shield of transparent plastic. Yet in addition to the pragmatic practicality that goggles provide, snowboarders are selective souls—constantly in search of that new line, unique angle and fresh look. And out of all of us, no one has more perspective than the loyal ambassadors of snowboard stewardship and style—the shop worker. They understand our yearning lust for individual identity. They help us see it clearly.

That is why, in delivering this month’s goods, SNOWBOARD again asks the folks on the sales floor to comment on which goggles will best help you see your perfect little world as the winter wonderland it is. For it is through that crystal lens where dreams become reality, possibilities are endless and life is truly lived.

–James Sullivan PHOTOS BY MIKE BASHER

Oakley Shaun White Pro Model, $130 “We carry the A Frame, the Wisdom and the Crowbar.

The technology they have with their lens makes it unbeatable. The lack of distortion and excellent clarity are amazing.”

—Allison Powers, Mountain Wave, Breckenridge, CO

Von Zipper Bushwick, $85 “This year they’re coming with a free extra lens, which is a nice bonus.”

—Shane Mooney, Rude Boys, Banff, AB, Canada

Electric EG1, $85 “Small, tight line; two goggle options; good array of lenses; great frame styles and colors—probably, our number-one seller. All good feedback from consumers. Great marketing. Great name.

The hippest goggle on the market for us.”

—Tim Gallagher, Wave Rave Snowboard Shop, Mammoth Lakes, CA

Spy Orbit DCP, $155 “Styles are really cool. Lotta good things going on with spherical lenses. Kids really like them. The cheaper models have two sets of lenses so kids get stoked on that.”

—Mark Gerardi, 802 Action Sports, Burlington, VT

Smith Prodigy, $115 “Smiths are always solid. We always sell a lot of the names that have been around forever. We sell a lot of kids’ goggles; it reminds parents of the old ski days.”

—Joe Trotter, Mt. Baker Snowboard Shop, Glacier, WA

Dragon Mace, $130 “Time-tested and a proven classic—haven’t changed since the ’90s. It fits well and keeps on working.” —Coops, World Boards, Bozeman, MT

Grenade Flyer Limited, $70 “First year doing goggles—great intro to goggle market. If you want to do back-to-back 1080s, they’re sick!

It’s got the Grenade on it, what more can you say?”

—Tim Gallagher, Wave Rave Snowboard Shop, Mammoth Lakes, CA

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web site is so hot, you might SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM Our need polarized lenses.

THE GOODS GOGGLES

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FEBRUARY 2006

Von Zipper Sizzle, $90

VOLUME 02 NUMBER 06

fogged up your computer SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM Ever monitor? We have.

Oakley Crowbar, $125

IS Design Camo Series, $85

Grenade Team Issue, $70

Anon Majestic, $120

Adidas Burna, $80

Utopia Slayer, $115

Spy Blizzard, $90

Scott Ransom, $115

Quiksilver Q-1, $120

Bolle Showtime, $50

Electric EG.5, $85

Smith Fuse, $85

Dragon DX Cap Project, $120

KITS/WOMEN’S FIRST LAYER PHOTOGRAPHY BY CHAD RILEY / PRODUCED BY LARRY nuñez What you wear under your snowboard gear is just as important as the gear itself, maybe even more. Layering is key to staying warm and dry when it’s cold and wet.

Synthetic fabrics play a crucial role in proper moisture control, with essential breathable properties that work with your outerwear to help expel perspiration and retain body heat.

There are many choices when it comes to first layer—different weights, materials and designs. Take into account your weather conditions, riding style and personal comfort to find out which will work best for you. In this issue of Kits, we take a look at women’s first layer to show that you don’t always have to sacrifice fashion for function.

Danielle in the Shelter Helio Top [$44] Andrea in the Airblaster Ninja Suit [$100]

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KITS/WOMEN’S FIRST LAYER (THIS PAGE)

Erin in the Helly Hansen Dynamic Half Zip [$44] Helly Hansen Pant [$36] DC Chalet Boots [$100] (FACING PAGE)

Andrea in the Burton Crown Royal Tank [$30] Burton Crown Royal Bottoms [$40]

AFR1676_Full page adF.indd 1

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File Name: AFR1676_Snowboard maf_Ad

Specs:

Client:

Pub Date:

AngelFire

Design Agency: The Red Army

Tel:

18” X 10.875” Jan/06

206-286-8410

Ad/Epro:

Kong

Contrary to most peopleÕs beliefs, riding snowboards with cool graphics determines how much fun we will have on the hill. The graphics themselves may not help you stick the new tricks that youÕve been trying all season, but they will, however, affect your mental approach, attitude and riding ability.

Graphic designers and the artwork they create grant life to the boards we ride. Snowboards are a blank canvas until artists give them a soul and a personality. Before any snowboard hits the showroom ßoor, they go through an intense process of conceptualizing an idea or a theme.

Through multiple steps of collaboration and Have you ever been drawn to a snowboard strictly feedback between artist, brand managers, pro by its aesthetics? Maybe youÕve even bought a board riders and sales reps, snowboards get designed and knowing it was too short or too wide but you didnÕt eventually are released to the public. Through the seem to care because it looked sick, despite the use of paints, computer renderings, photographs boardÕs shortcomings. You still had to have it? For and in some cases, crayons and markers, the most of us, the answer is yes. I myself have fallen graphics build character to be remembered for victim back in the early Õ90s when the Lib Tech Jamie years to come.

Lynn was Þrst released. The hand-painted artwork

by Jamie himself was so beautiful that I didnÕt care The artwork is the measuring tool of how we that it was only a 143 cm. The board was clearly reminisce about boards from years past as well. too short for me and, consequently, I spent most While we probably donÕt remember the sidecut of that winter cartwheeling through the powder. radius or the core material of the Þrst snowboard I might have had my goggles packed with snow all we ever rode, we certainly do remember how sweet year, but damn, did it feel good parading that board it looked the Þrst time we mounted up those Þrst through the lift lines for all to admire. pair of bindings. ÐJeff Baker

Lib Tech Phoenix Series

[$490]

TEST RUN THE GRAPHICS

I donÕt necessarily enter into the process of developing graphics with an idea or a set theme in mind. I start the process of painting subjects or certain matter that I enjoy looking at or that are in my head. Then I just gather a handful of paintings, ten or so in a three- or four-month period. From those, I pull ideas that have some cohesiveness either with a type of theme or certain color story that they might share. I pull two or three from that pile and put them together for board graphics.

Through travel or daily experience is where I Þnd inspiration. I Þnd inspiration on the streets of downtown Seattle, bookstores, hot-rod car museums, album covers, rock posters and grafÞti. Seattle is a great creative resource to draw from. I see a lot of correlation and graphic representation from contrasting color that grafÞti artists useÑtrying to have as much impact with the least amount of colors is something that I think translates well to a board graphic. ÑJamie Lynn

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TEST RUN THE GRAPHICS

Forum Division Series

[$450]

I like weird, twisted, fun images on my boards.

ThatÕs what surrounds my thoughts when IÕm drawing graphics. The graphics on all my boards are from drawings IÕve done in the past. I redrew them and drew in a corresponding background.

My 155 cm is the dick-nose pony. ItÕs not really a dick-nose, thatÕs just what IÕve been referring to it as when people ask. I kinda stole the body part from a My Little Pony and tweaked it into a dick-nose pony. He lives in a wonderful happy land with trees and hills and clouds.

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My 151 cm has a vampire boy on it. I drew him from an old kidsÕ book from the Õ50s, but now heÕs evil and sucks blood and lives in the graveyard. My chick rides this board; sheÕs into goth stuff. The 158 cm has a drawing I did of a Japanese guy, and I tweaked it too much so I had to remove the eyes so people wouldnÕt think IÕm racist. No eyes guy lives in a polluted city that looks a lot like Seattle, because I looked out my window in order to draw the buildings. All the boards have the same three-part perspective: so even though they have completely different graphics, they still sit well as a series. ÑPeter Line JEFF BAKER PHOTO

TEST RUN THE GRAPHICS

TIM ZIMMERMAN PHOTO

Unity Dominion Series

[$460]

This graphic has been an idea that I have been working with for yearsÑthe classic mountain surf image. IÕve always loved surÞng and the connection between snowboarding and surÞngÑsurÞng down the mountain. So, I worked on many different versions of a graphic that illustrates that feeling.

This is one of a never-ending series. I usually use photos that I have taken of different mountains around the world. This particular shot is a peak in Champery, Switzerland. The tracks in the chute are my own and the others are my buddyÕs. The next step is to try and blend the wave with a prominent point on the mountain. I always try to make the blend clean so that, at Þrst glance, it looks as if the wave was supposed to be there. ÑPete Wurster

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MIKE PADDOCK PHOTO

Rome Artifact Series

[$370]

Basically, the Artifact is a super-fun jib board, and I wanted the graphics to echo this. Nothing too serious, ya know? How else could you justify using crayons and pastel colors on the topsheet? The inspiration comes from Miller High Life and an eighth grade sense of humor. Each length in the series has a different hand gesture on it: Thumbs Up, Gangsta, Hi Five, and the infamous Shocker. Once the series was done, we made a super-limited run with a variation of the Shocker graphic for the team, but itÕs really inappropriate. YouÕll have to check out our web site, www.romesnowboards.com to see what IÕm talking about. Originally I was working on a different direction for the Artifact Series, and really struggling. Dennis Healy (our creative director) saw these stupid hand-gesture illustrations in my sketchbook one day and suggested I run with that idea. We got the whole Design House together to brainstorm the right gestures for the series, and around 10 p.m. someone threw out the idea to use the Shocker, and it made it onto the 153 cm. ÐMike Paddock

TEST RUN THE GRAPHICS

JEFF BAKER PHOTO

Technine Music Series

[$375]

The graphic was adapted from a three-panel painting I was working on that was dealing with reßections in the music we make. How life can take away from the things we wish to do and replace them with everything we are forced to do. I have always held an afÞnity for music as well as art. IÕve been making music for about 12 years. One day I will make it my main focus. The process can be extremely tedious, but it can also be extremely rewarding. This is why I decided to do a series dedicated to different styles of music that have inspired me, and my goal is to put that out for people to enjoy and, hopefully inspire them in whatever it is that they do. I chose punk rock, reggae, rock ÕnÕ roll, Latin/Brazilian, hip-hop, blues/soul, and jazz. Many different styles I feel are just as relevant today as they were in their time. ÑSean Somers 066/

COURTESY OF ENDEAVOR

Endeavor Live Series

[$400]

The inspiration behind the Live series comes from shoe culture. ItÕs huge and creative. A bunch of our buddies have extensive shoe collections and after going to a couple of sneaker shows, we knew we needed to do the Live series that would push thingsÑget wild style with some graphics.

We wanted to do a board and shoe combo, so we turned to Jesar and Whysper at Goodfoot in Toronto. They have a really good eye for nice lookinÕ shoes. I had seen some of their style around town on walls and doors and stuff, so I printed them out some templates to work on and they went to town.

The boards ßew together really fast, and then they got down to business with their shoe designs. We went through a bunch of styles from a skate shoe to a chill shoe to a mix. They actually came up with a shoe for every board. ÑRandy Ross

K2 Mix Series [$440] K2 Image and Design Manager, Richard Merz, and pro rider Gretchen Bleiler came to me with the concept of adapting the whole Apartment 3-G look of Roy LichtensteinÕs early pop art paintingsÑspeciÞcally, the Òlady in distressÓ vibeÑto a snowboard.

Though none of our Þve ladies in my designs are in distress, the style hews extremely close to LichtensteinÕs originals. The demeanor of his women was given a thorough updating. No tears. No ambivalence or heartbreak. All of the women portrayed in these boards are self-possessed, in charge, free, etc.

In trying to update the Lichtenstein lookÑand, at the same time, distance my art from the originalÑI tried reinterpreting the concept. I had RoyÕs original classic paintings to refer to for color and graphic style, but for the women themselves, I wanted to get away from the 1950s and looked to current photography and style magazines for contemporary reference material. The Þrst few attempts at doing ÒtodayÕs womanÓ in the classic and familiar pop art style didnÕt work though. They looked like bad counterfeits of what we were aiming for.

The effect of the original LichtensteinÕs is so simple, almost irreducible. With such simple compositions, every detail counts and we soon discovered that little things like hairstyles and fashion accessories are not so little after all. To really achieve a faithful Lichtenstein feel that would be recognizable as such, we realized we had to stick close to the original. Perhaps, closer than I would have liked. So we went back to the Õ50s, back to the dippity-do hairstyles, and back even to LichtensteinÕs line work, which he lifted from comic strips of the day. ÑShawn Wolfe

Stepchild Corporate Series [$390] Ride Theory Series [$500] The Corporate series is, basically, a mock of big business in snowboarding. The theme usually revolves around no loveÑjust money. It is usually some kind of greedy analogy with certain characters in the graphics playing greedy businessmen. The octopus represents the business guy that has his Þngers in everything. The Þsh are just other players that are going to hell, too. The octopus thinks heÕs holding onto something great, and the stupid Þsh are too f--ked to know what is really going on. If you have ever shaken the hand of a slimy businessman, it feels like touching a dead Þsh. The whole scene is happening inside an aquarium that represents the small world that our snowboard industry is.

I am the one that usually comes up with the concept.

I then talk to the artist Steve Moore. Steve respects and understands my concepts and keeps the theme together.

I have worked with artists before, that I give a concept to and the artist has gone off in a completely different directionĂ‘ like if I asked for severed heads and dead babies, I get back rainbows and haunted butterĂ&#x;ies. ItĂ•s always exciting to see the concept come to life. Ă‘Sean Johnson TEST RUN THE GRAPHICS

Early August 2002, I happened to stumble across a script (Ă’Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,Ă“ directed

by Tim Burton and starring Mr. Johnny Depp.) I read the script and my twisted mind started to re-create the movie the way I thought I saw Ăžt. As a young tyke, I always found the original movie a bit bizarre!

A man that creates odd assortments of candies and chocolates, lives in a factory Ăžlled with little people to fulĂžll all of his wishes at his every beckon call. The idea of Wonka is more like that 45-year-old man who still lives with his mother at the end of the street.

He drives that Õ83 short box van, tear-drop window with a mural of a half-naked space chick riding a black panther on the side. He drives up and down the block waiting for the school children to walk home from schoolÑdingy, yellowy teeth, nicotine-stained Þngers and long unwashed salt and peppered hair.

I wanted to portray Wonka as a closet child molester but without all the details. The children in the Theory illustrations are to be of an innocent nature, unaware of WonkaÕs after-hour deviant behaviors. ÑDerek L. Muscat (theocydesign.com)

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ROUNDUP WAX

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WAX ON. WAX OFF. ON. STAY ON. SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM LOG

VOLUME 02 NUMBER 06

WORDS AND PHOTO BY JEFF BAKER

Whether youÕre riding East Coast hardpack or SoCal slush, thereÕs a wax thatÕs just right for you.

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08

09.

BURTON FLUORO COMP COLD (MELT-ON) [$15] 02. BURTON FLUORO COMP WARM (MELT-ON) [$15] 03. ONEBALLJAY FLUORINATED WARM X-WAX (MELT/RUB-ON) [$16] 04. BLUEBIRD ALL-TEMP CORK (RUB-ON) [$6] 05. BLUEBIRD ALL-TEMP (MELT-ON) [$8] 06. BLUEBIRD WARM BULK (MELT-ON) [$16] 07. ONEBALLJAY FLUORINATED COOL X-WAX (MELT/RUB-ON) [$16] 08. BURTON FLUORINATED HOT (MELT-ON) [$11] 09. ONEBALLJAY 4WD SPRING (MELT-ON) [$8] 10. ONEBALLJAY F-1 (MELT/RUB-ON) [$7] 01.

10.

WAXING TIPS:

TEMP GUIDE:

01. When you donÕt have time to give your board a full-service hot wax, just throw some rub-on wax in your jacket pocket for a quick once over.

Rub-on wax tends to fade quicker, but itÕll save you time so you donÕt miss Þrst chair on powder days.

Warm Cool All-Temp Cold

= = = =

32 to 26 F (0 to Ð3 C) 28 to 21 F (-2 to -5 C) 23 to 12 F (-5 to -11 C) 12 F and lower (-11 C)

02. DonÕt be afraid to mix colors and styles to achieve the perfect temperature combination. Black graphite wax mixed with some cold or all-temp wax is an extra fast combo.

03. Fluorinated waxes can be toxic, so when youÕre giving your board a hot wax, be sure to keep a window cracked.

04. DonÕt turn the temperature dial up too much on your waxing iron. If your iron is smoking, itÕs too hot!

FLAGS

072

FEBRUARY 2006

VOLUME 02 NUMBER 06

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PHOTOS BY JEFF BAKER

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Pages 074/075

LIVING THE DREAM:

So You Want A Job In The Snowboard Industry?

By Larry Nuñez What is it about snowboarding that draws people in? It’s more popular than ever now—and beyond the riding, it’s the lifestyle that’s so appealing. Well, what if you wanted to live that lifestyle instead of just experience it once in a while? What if you just want to snowboard everyday?

I know that’s what I wanted. A little over 13 years ago, I took my first runs at a mountain in Ruidoso, New Mexico…and that was it.

From that moment on, I was a snowboarder. Nothing else mattered.

Any kind of “regular” job was out of the question, so I did whatever it took to ride as much as possible. Eventually, it paid off.

Nowadays, people often ask me, “So how did you get your job, anyway?”

I always say the same thing. Snowboarding.

The people on the following pages must have felt the same way. In the beginning, it was just about the riding. But over time, each one of them has chosen a job in snowboarding that has changed it forever. Their contributions have pushed snowboarding to new heights and created opportunities for others to follow their dreams. They have all risen to the top in their respective fields, and through their love of snowboarding—friends were made, and careers were born.

If you want to get a job in snowboarding, here are some of the riders you’ll be working with.

The Cinematographer: Justin Hostynek AS PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMBRY RUCKER

Photographs can tell a story, but film brings stories to life. Sometimes watching a good movie can take you to another place, and for snowboarders, it’s the next best thing to being there. Justin Hostynek has taken us around the world with his movies for the last 10 years and is one of the most talented filmmakers in snowboarding.

Fittingly, Justin was raised in Switzerland until he was 10 years old and always had a connection to the mountains and snow.

He started riding in ’86 as a sophomore in high school, and the next year he began making snowboarding calendars featuring photos that he’d taken of his riding buddies.

“No one was making one yet and I wanted to do anything at all to get involved with snowboarding,” says Justin. “That was 20 years ago. It was the start of my photography and marked the beginning of the trip down this long-ass, difficult and ultra-rewarding road. I started by taking photos for the calendar, which eventually led to getting published in Snowboarder magazine; then turned into a staff photographer position for about 12 years.”

In the early ’90s, Justin got involved with a startup clothing brand called Twist, and he began to learn about cinematography and editing film for its team videos. After Twist, he focused on full-on film production and formed Absinthe Films in 1996. In 10 years of snowboarding, and without any formal training, Justin had experience in almost every aspect of the sport.

“I didn’t go to school or do any internships or anything for photography or filmmaking,” reveals Justin. “I just jumped in. My mom always told me, ‘Do what you love and the money will follow.’ I think it’s more like, ‘Do what you love and the money won’t matter as much.’”

Since then, Justin’s films have developed into major productions, requiring year-round preparation and creative financial planning.

Justin’s films are not your average run through a park with a digi cam. Instead, they feature picturesque images of big-mountain riding in Alaska, secret jumps around Lake Tahoe, and European fantasy lands. The camera-work is always a treat—often uniquely filmed from helicopters, cranes or a snowboard follow-cam.

“My year is broken down into filming in winter, editing in summer and preparing for the next film in the fall,” explains Justin.

“I like that I don’t have such a thing as an average day. Patrick Armbruster is my partner at Absinthe Films, so we share most of the responsibilities: choosing the riders, getting the sponsors locked in, managing five filmers and 18 to 22 riders, shooting the film, picking the music, editing the trailer, editing the film, arranging distribution for the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand—Patrick takes care of the Euros—and now we just started making a television series. Not much time to get bored.”

For Justin, one of the rewards is seeing someone view the final product. His films inspire people to get out and ride, in addition to presenting some of the most progressive snowboarding in the world.

“Fulfillment is key,” says Justin. “I feel like I encourage a lot of people to go outside and play. I expose a large number of people to good music. And I get to push back against all of the lame messages that are constantly bombarding us by the media, by putting out some messages of my own.”

His advice for someone wanting to get involved in snowboarding is simple, and it speaks from the real rider in all of us.

“Get into it for the right reasons—and getting rich had better not be one of them,” states Justin. “Take pride in whatever it is that you are doing, and opportunities will come your way.”

LIVING THE DREAM: So You Want A Job In The Snowboard Industry?

Pages 076/077

The Photographer: Jeff Curtes AS P H OTO G R A P H E D B Y J E SS M O O N E Y

There are many notable snowboard photographers with successful careers, but only one is behind the biggest name in the business.

As the Burton team photographer since 1994, Jeff Curtes has captured some of the most memorable moments of all time. Riders like Jeff Brushie, Terje Haakonsen and Craig Kelly will live forever through his images, and he continues to produce amazing shots featuring some of the best riders in the world.

It’s not easy to stumble into a gig like that, but fortunately for Jeff he had a little help from the family. Jeff and his brother Joe came out of Menomonee Falls, Wis., where they started riding back in 1985. After competing in the Swatch ’88 World Championships in Breckenridge, the two brothers were sponsored by Kemper as part of the Original Extreminator Team. They ended up in Vail, Colo., and Joe Curtes soon became a Burton team rider.

“My brother Joe and I were inseparable for most of our early years on boards,” says Jeff. After getting that Woody Performer for Christmas, we struggled for a few Wisconsin winters and then finally it all came together. As we rode, Joe kept winning and I didn’t. We moved West and rode a ton, but Joe had the skills and started to travel the world on various Burton shoots—I only heard the stories and saw the photos. I knew that I had to get in on that.”

So, he picked up a camera and started shooting. Self-taught, self-funded, self-motivated—that was his philosophy. Luckily, snowboarding was about to explode, and Jeff was in the right place at the right time. With a passion to keep riding, Jeff took full advantage of his skills and knowledge to find a place in snowboarding.

“I really owe it all to Eric Kotch at Burton,” admits Jeff.

“He came to me in 1994…with an opportunity, as he called it, to travel the world and live the dream. I took it and ran! Burton has supported me since, and I’ll never leave them. It’s been the ultimate education; I definitely made a ton of mistakes and still do, but it’s the closeness to snowboarding that makes it all so easy and natural to me, even to this day.”

A strong work ethic and a supportive team of co-workers has kept Jeff in the Burton family since day one, and it doesn’t sound like he’s leaving anytime soon. The positive working environment has provided him a place to grow, both as a rider and a photographer, beyond his greatest expectations.

“The preparation and evolution of the job, the increasing professionalism is clearly due to the various people at Burton who have mentored me and guided me over the years,” says Jeff. “Initially it was Eric Kotch, now it’s Rene Hansen. He’s the ultimate boss, the ultimate motivator. He makes me over-achieve. Tremendous respect in the

workplace—for Burton, for the riders, Mother Nature and my boss.”

With a powerhouse like Burton behind you, it’s hard not to succeed. But it’s not all about having great riders performing tricks for the camera. Jeff’s unique perspective and creative mind is what’s kept him at the top of his game for so many years. And as snowboarding and Burton have grown, so have Jeff’s roles and responsibilities.

“The job’s responsibilities and the actual photography have evolved tremendously, as have my behind-the-lens skills,” explains Jeff. “There is so much more than the photography that is important to what I do—stuff that goes unseen and usually unnoticed.

I communicate with Burton and write reports to evaluate my performance and to minimize inefficiencies. I work on the Burton web site, and manage my photography in the magazine world to secure great exposure for the riders that I shoot.”

With five months of intense travel and shooting during the winter, Jeff spends the rest of the time going over images at home.

The diversity gives him time to balance his hectic schedule and focus on achieving something more than just snapping pics to get the job done.

“I strive to take pictures that I see in my head, feel inside of me… The ones that I don’t make the time to take,” says Jeff. “This is what keeps me coming back. I’ve learned to collaborate, in order to achieve goals much larger than I could individually achieve. I now have the confidence to know what I bring to the table and enjoy shooting with the pressures of an important job.”

Jeff’s advice to anyone interested in working in the snowboard industry is exactly what you’d expect from a snowboarder—regardless of what you might end up doing.

“Ride first. Ride a lot and get it into (or out of) your system.

Embrace winter as much as possible and recreate like hell, so that when it comes to work, you can dive in headfirst knowing that you have played already,” says Jeff. “This works good for me. Perhaps, it’s that you go out and ride for a couple seasons before you look for a job. Or maybe, integrate each and every day to a little bit of each.

Find your rhythm and go off.”

It seems like the only downside of Jeff’s job is the seasonal aspect of snowboarding. After all, you do need snow to snowboard.

When it comes to job security, the only thing he’s worried about is getting handed a pink slip from Mother Nature.

“Where’s winter going?” asks Jeff. “Be environmentally responsible; help prevent global warming with choices you make in your everyday life. Let’s make sure that winter will always be around.”

The Park Designer: Chris Gunnarson

The Pro Rider: Shaun White

AS PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMBRY RUCKER

AS P H OTO G R A P H E D B Y E M B RY R U C K E R

If a single man had to be credited for creating the modern snowboard park, Chris “Gunny” Gunnarson would probably take the prize. But Gunny’s more than just a talented cat jockey; he helped propel freestyle snowboarding to a new level with his manmade creations, and changed the way ski resorts see us forever.

“I really have two jobs,” explains Gunny. “I started Snow Park Technologies (SPT) while I was working for Snow Summit in 1997. SPT’s job since then has been to design and build parks, pipes, and contest courses all over the world. I suppose I spend more time on the business end now than I used to, but I still have enough cat time to keep me happy.”

“Then about four years ago I started working for Booth Creek, which is a company that owns and operates six resorts around the country,” he continues. “Then SPT and Booth Creek made a little merger, and now I work in the corporate office as the director of Youth Market Development and general manager of SPT—and spend my days sipping Cristal and racing rally cars to the screams of adoring fans…wait, I started slipping into Ken Block’s life for a minute there. Anyway, my life’s pretty damned good, too!”

A good life, yes. But a busy one, too. Holding down responsibilities at both jobs is a lot to handle, but Gunny has managed to start a successful business, enter resort management, and help steer the direction of competitive freestyle snowboarding all at the same time.

“The nice thing is that no two days ever seem the same,” says Gunny.

“The travel schedule can be brutal at times, but I get to work on a lot of different projects with great people. The best part is finding new ways to continually improve, to progress and innovate.”

Innovation is important when you’re designing features for the biggest events in professional snowboarding, as well as for the average park rider. As the riding has progressed, so has the technology and diversity of Gunny’s roles and responsibilities.

“Two things inspire me to keep going,” says Gunny. “First is seeing masses of people having fun in a park that you helped build.

The other is getting to be involved in projects that help progress the sport, and I’ve been really lucky to work on projects that were groundbreaking or unique to this industry. The X Games, the Nixon Jib Fest, DC Mountain Lab, and Bear Mountain are all examples of people having a vision to do something special, and sometimes it almost doesn’t seem real that I’ve been able to make a living having this much fun by being a part of them.”

Many of the long hours over the years have been spent in a snowcat, and as a result, Gunny learned every aspect of a working mountain resort.

“I would suggest to anyone interested in working toward becoming a park designer or terrain park manager to get as familiar as possible with the entire resort operation as a business,” advises Gunny. “If you are too one-dimensional in your approach to the park you will not succeed and it will be hard to earn respect by co-workers and management.”

Although Gunny has many partners, co-workers and associates that make up his organization, his leadership and ideas have made the SPT crew among the most sought-after terrain park designers in the world. Always humble and appreciative of the crew that he works with, he admits that sometimes he gets credit for what was really a team effort. One person in particular, Gunny will never forget:

“Jeff Flood was such an inspiration to me in attitude and talent,” says Gunny. “Floodo was on our crew at every X Games, but spent a lifetime running the grooming program at Timberline, Mt. Hood. Jeff died in a car accident last summer, but he left his mark on our sport’s history and his spirit is always with our crew. Thinking about Jeff makes me want to be a better person everyday. Thanks Floodo!”

Once dubbed ‘Future Boy’ (a moniker he was never too fond of), today Shaun White is the ‘Now Boy.’ Or should it be ‘Now Man?’ The Flying Tomato, The Masked Menace…whatever you call him, there’s no denying that he could be the greatest professional snowboarder of all time.

I remember when he was 10 years old, doing head-high stalefish grabs over the hip in the Windells bowl. It’s 10 years later, and Shaun still proves the haters wrong. He kept skating; he kept snowboarding— and he kept winning. This season, Shaun was the first rider to clinch an Olympic spot with back-to-back Grand Prix victories in Breckenridge.

He’s doing what he’s always wanted to do. Inspired by one of snowboarding’s earliest personalities—Shaun was drawn to the life of a pro rider at an early age. Growing up in San Diego, Shaun hit up resorts in SoCal when both he and snowboarding were still very young.

“I remember seeing Damien Sanders hit this jump at Snow Summit,” recalls Shaun. “Afterward, he jumped on a snow mobile and hit it again. I was blown away; he was so good that he didn’t even have to wait in the lift line. I saw the lifestyle of pro riders and wanted to be one of them.”

It was a job for Shaun almost right away, having a natural talent for boardsports—he was sponsored by Burton when he was just 8 years old. Through his early teens he was collecting a few paychecks, entering contests and traveling on Burton photo shoots. But one moment in particular stands out as the beginning of Shaun’s professional career.

“I remember the exact day when I truly felt like I made it,” says Shaun.

“I was 15 and won the Toyota Big Air. I just remember being in my hotel room with my mom, looking at all this cash spread out on the bed. Just being like, “holy s--t, this is it!”

To d a y, S h a u n s p l i ts h i s t i m e between actual snowboarding and the job of being a “pro snowboarder.”

There’s more to it than just killing contests, and with Shaun’s long list of corporate sponsorships, his days are just as busy in the boardroom as they are in the halfpipe.

“All the opportunities that come along because of snowboarding are amazing,” says Shaun. “My sponsors open up doors that I never thought would be possible. Getting to hang out at celebrity events, doing TV commercials, and traveling the world to sign autographs is somewhat surreal. All the discomforts of traveling are overshadowed by the cool things I get to do.”

Shaun has definitely pushed snowboarding progression with his freestyle skills, and after riding Alaska last season, it’s clear that Shaun still has challenges to overcome. So what’s next for the young prodigy?

“Honestly, I feel like I still have so many more goals,” says Shaun. “I’m looking forward to the Olympics, and I want to win double gold at the X Games again, win the U.S. Open, film a full rail/backcountry part, ride AK again, do all four 10s…

OK, I’ll stop now.”

To achieve his ambitious goals, Shaun has surrounded himself with a strong support system to help him deal with all the success. Because he’s always on the move, Shaun often relies on bigger brother Jesse—his closest friend and travel companion.

“I have a small circle of people that I get inspiration from,” says Shaun. “My family is constantly inspiring me in life, business, and creatively. I have learned a lot from my agent Mr. Ervin. And I can always ask Tony Hawk for advice as well, which is awesome because he’s pretty much done it all.”

Shaun continues to mature, both as a rider and a savvy young businessman, with numerous pro-model products and heavy endorsement deals. Always modest about his accomplishments, he says the key to his success is actually quite simple.

“No matter what, the most important advice I can give is to keep it fun. Make sure everyday you ride is like your first and everything will work out.”

LIVING THE DREAM: So You Want A Job In The Snowboard Industry?

Pages 078/79

LIVING THE DREAM: So You Want A Job In The Snowboard Industry?

Pages 080/081

The Team Manager: Ricky Melnik AS PHOTOGRAPHED BY EMBRY RUCKER

As a professional snowboarder, there are many aspects of your job to deal with on a daily basis. Between traveling to foreign countries, keeping track of your contest winnings and signing autographs everywhere you go, you need someone to handle your business so you can focus on riding. That’s where the team manager comes in. As long as there have been snowboard teams, there have been team managers.

A team manager does more than just give his riders product, arrange travel plans, deal with the media, pay for dinner, cover entertainment costs, and make sure their riders stay out of trouble.

They are often close friends, pillars of support, and riding partners for their professional athletes. And they always have to know who’s hot and who’s not. It’s not easy trying to be all these things at once, but DVS Team Manager Ricky Melnik has it dialed.

Growing up in Southern California, Ricky was in the perfect environment for this particular line of work. After a family ski trip to June Mountain (which was the first resort in SoCal to allow snowboarding), he rented a Burton Elite 140.

“I was hooked,” says Ricky. “That Christmas, Santa brought me a Gnu Kaos with Elfgen bindings and a pair of Sorels. My grandma, who owned a cabin in Big Bear, would take me to Snow Summit every weekend, and would even let me ditch school to go ride!”

With support like that, the obsession only grew. In 1996, right out of high school, Ricky moved to Big Bear to work on Chris Gunnarson’s park staff crew at Snow Summit. Getting a job on the park staff at the time was a huge accomplishment; with only seven guys making the final cut—it wasn’t the easiest job to get.

“In that first year at the mountain, I had the privilege to work on the very first Winter X Games,” remembers Ricky. “We built the hits that Snow Summit was known for—such as Light Pole, Tex’s Hit, Wise Men, and the Christmas Tree. But after being bucked off the horse several times, I eventually decided my dreams of being the next Jeff Brushie had come to an end.”

Nonetheless, Ricky was in love with snowboarding. He knew he wanted to stay involved, but wasn’t sure where he fit in yet. After pressing boards in a factory (and getting a few nasty cases of resin rash), he moved on to the DC Shoes warehouse—picking shoes, clothing, and working the day-to-day duties of a warehouse grunt. After a year in the trenches, he got a phone call about a management position at World Industries.

“The next week I found myself running a crew of 25 employees,” says Ricky. “These weren’t your everyday warehouse workers. They were hired temps who had either just got out of jail, anger management, gang bangers, and/or had substance abuse issues. Here I am, 21 years old, telling a 39-year-old man (who just got out of jail and attending anger management courses after work) how to do his job.

After getting my life threatened and choked by the neck, I figured it was time to look for a job out of the warehouse.”

Fortunately there was an opening at Fourstar Distribution, home to Forum Snowboards, Special Blend Outerwear and more, and Ricky got a job in the customer service department.

“I thought, ‘Finally, I made it!’” says Ricky. “Not in the warehouse; got a desk, a computer, and the Fourstar Brands were killing it.”

In 2001, Ricky had done the job for just under a year when Steve Ruff (team manager at the time) gave him an unexpected invitation to lunch.

“He had never asked me to lunch in the year I had worked there, so I was a little nervous,” recalls Ricky. “ So, I go to lunch and he says, ‘you ready to step into bigger shoes?’ ‘Yes,’ I replied. ‘You’re going to be the new team manager, go home and pack your bags like you’re going snowboarding for a month. You hit the jackpot, buddy.’ I almost

did a back flip in my chair and spilled the chips and salsa! We get back to the office and he hands me a company laptop, credit card, cell phone, the best snowboard team in the world and two plane tickets. One of the tickets had my name and the other Peter Line’s name—destination: Mt. Hood.”

For the next few years, Ricky traveled the world on a wild journey of snowboard trips, video premieres, parties at the Playboy Mansion and more. He gained valuable experience, plopped right in the center of Forum’s well-oiled marketing machine, and learned a lot along the way. But halfway through the filming of Video Gangs, he got a phone call from an old friend that would change his life yet again.

“Brian (Dunlap) and his brother Kevin owned a snow/skate shop two blocks from my house called Oneighteen Boardshop, before creating Podium Distribution,” says Ricky. “I was in there everyday as a grom watching videos, skating the mini, and eventually at the age of 14, I started snowboarding for the shop. After high school, I moved to Big Bear and the Dunlap’s moved on as well, creating DVS Shoe Company with Tim Gavin (Girl Skateboards pro at the time).

Back then, no one would have ever thought DVS would be where it is today.”

Brian was looking for a snow team manager, but Ricky was still committed to another project. Fortunately for Ricky, DVS was willing to wait, so he finished out the domestic tour of Video Gangs and accepted the offer.

“Now after 10 years of being in the industry, I have come full circle and landed back with the family who have supported me since day one,” says Ricky.

These days, Ricky’s job isn’t always all-night parties and snowboard trips—though that does come with the territory. By making sure his guys always have a presence, he’s become one of snowboarding’s most treasured personalities, both on and off the hill.

“The average day consists of checking e-mails and I would say 75 percent of the job is phone calls,” says Ricky. “Dealing with agents and contracts is always fun—yeah, right! Making sure your team has product before hooking up John Doe. Waking up team riders for the contest after the total bro party the night before. Kicking girls out of their rooms in the morning—now, that’s fun! Gathering the best photos for ads. Setting up travel arrangements. Some riders don’t know the meaning of ‘photo incentive’ so you gotta keep stickers on you. Coming up with ideas to push your team’s marketable value.

Making promo items to give away. Updating dvssnow.com. And party harder than any one in your crew, and still peel your face up off the floor and get the job done. It’s not a 9-to-5, clock-in/clock-out type of job. It’s knowing that everyday you’re doing something you like and no day will be alike—priceless. That’s what keeps me here.”

Ricky’s 10 no-no’s of being a team manager: 01. Forget to wake up the team in Tokyo and get left behind.

02. Destroy a hotel room and blame it on a team rider.

03. Be late to the airport and get the silent treatment.

04. Puke in one of your rider’s boots, but you thought it was the toilet.

05. Call the boss and tell him you lost your laptop, camera,

wallet and phone in a Las Vegas cab.

06. Leave your laptop on top of an ATM in New Zealand.

07. Lose your passport, just moments before taking off.

08. Do a sticker job on a rider’s board.

09. Answer the questions for an interview not intended for you.

10. Break down Dawger’s hotel room door with a fire extinguisher. Big no-no!

The Magazine Personality: J2

The Coach: Pat Abramson

AS PHOTOGRAPHED BY MARK KOHLMAN

AS P H OTO G R A P H E D B Y N AT E A B B OT T

Jason “J2” Rasmus, or T00Z, as he likes to be called, is a perfect example of what it means to choose your own line. Through fairly unconventional means, and through an extraordinary long career as a professional snowboarder, T00Z is an icon of snowboarding and a proud member of our magazine staff.

“If you don’t know who I am, I’ll be the first to say that I’ve had a real rollercoaster ride as a would-be pro snowboarder,” explains J2. “And by would-be, I mean I would-be a pro snowboarder if I could of ever made some loot. So to help keep the speeding tickets paid, I had to resort to four letter words like: work and/or jobs. Hydro-ceramic engineer (dish washer), food warmer (cook), land scraper (scaper)…to name a few.”

Almost every rider who wants to be professional is forced to earn extra money until the big checks start rolling in. With jobs on the side from time to time, J2 and his crew spent many years in Colorado—snowboarding, filming and shooting photos—and having fairly successful snowboarding careers while doing it.

“I don’t look at all my years of snowboarding as a career per say— it was more of an “athletic scholarship fund,” says J2. “And contrary to a lot of rumors I’ve heard about how much money I supposedly made, I didn’t. I got paid, but never once was I out throwin’ mansion parties—at least, not at my mansion I wasn’t. Eventually, I made enough to not need

a regular job—which in turn gave me the ability to travel and to learn almost everything, and how to do almost anything.”

Since apparently J2 knows how to do everything now, including shooting some nice photos once in a while, it was only natural that he come and work for SNOWBOARD magazine. Magazines are about image, voice and personality, and lucky for us, T00Z has plenty. His notorious reputation, well-earned respect, and rider’s point of view gives us the insight and credibility to compete with the best of them. As our all around “Super Doug”, J2’s daily duties are widely varied.

“Nothing is average when your short-term memory is shot— everyday and every mundane, monotonous task is a whole new adventure,” explains J2. “Although every couple of months I actually get to physically look at my celly bill, only to find I have spent a majority of my awakened moments snuggled very closely to it.”

One from the old school, J2’s attitude recalls the days when snowboarding was innocent and unchanged by big money and corporate influence. He rejects the traditional idea of a snowboard “industry,” and always puts having fun at the top of the “to-do” list.

“Do what you want to do, listen to yourself an’ do what makes you happy,” advises J2. “Everyone will always have some kind of advice or opinion for you—just do what’s good for you. There is one thing that I always remember—it’s a quote from a friend of mine Nate Bozung. ‘If you don’t care, it don’t matter!’ Granted this was taken out of context, but it still works for the way I feel about almost everything. Thanks, Boznutz.”

LIVING THE DREAM: So You Want A Job In The Snowboard Industry?

Pages 082/083

The University of Colorado at Boulder is a school well-known for it’s strong athletic programs. The CU Buffalos have a long history of excellence in many areas—basketball, football, even skiing. But snowboarding? Well, if you asked Head Snowboard Coach Pat Abramsom, he’d be happy to tell you, “Why, yes, son…we snowboard in college, too. Welcome to the team.” OK, maybe he wouldn’t say that. But you would be welcomed, and Pat A is the man to do it. As a professional rider for over 10 years, Pat A has the maturity and wisdom to coach that only comes with a lifetime of snowboard experience.

Born and raised in the frozen land known as the U.P. (Upper Peninsula) of Michigan, Pat started riding on a fiberglass edgeless board back in 1985. After braving the icy runs of the Midwest for a few years (and finally getting a board with edges), he moved to Breckenridge in 1990. In ’91, a local shop sponsored him; in ’92 the shop hooked him up with a new company called Ride.

“I met Mike (Mack Dawg) McEntire that winter and got a chance to film with him a bit,” says Pat. “That got me shots in TB2 and Uppin’ the Ante. For the next 11 years, I shredded the world.”

Today, Pat A is in charge of two of the largest snowboard programs in the country. For the last three seasons, he plays dual roles as the head coach at the University of Colorado at Boulder in the winter, and head coach of Windells Camp in the summer. Both jobs require Pat to be on-snow almost every single day—right where he’s always wanted to be.

“I started coaching in ’95 at a camp in Norway,” explains Pat. “I was hangin’ at Mt. Hood in the summer, just lurkin’ and shreddin’, when I started working at Windells. Coaching back then was not near as serious as it is today; most kids were just out there to have fun. As the kids got better, so did the level of coaching, and pretty soon I was helpin’ out kids who later became top pros.”

Eventually, Pat. A was promoted to head coach and now spends his summers organizing Windells extensive coaching program. Between dealing with visiting pro riders, guest coaches, repeat campers and more,

Pat has little time to spare. But he still manages to get in a pipe run or two—and even nailed the cover of Snowboarder magazine a few years back with one of his Andrecht inverts on an extension.

“In the summer I hire and train all the snowboard coaches at Windells,” says Pat. “I still try to hang out with as many campers as I can.

Sometimes my job involves helping out sponsors who have come in to do photo shoots; other days we are gathering input for the park. It’s fun because in the summer, everyday is different.”

Summers on Mt. Hood can be hectic sometimes, with hundreds of people to keep track of. Although the coaching doesn’t stop when winter rolls around, Pat A’s college days are a little more relaxed. Instead of slapping sunscreen on teenagers, Pat’s training and riding with advanced snowboarders is focused on progression.

“In the winter I’m more of a coach,” explains Pat. “We have quite a big team, but part is more of a club with a camp sort of feel. We have college kids who are just out to shred with some different people during the season. We also have some serious riders at the sponsorship level that are pursuing it a little more. For every kid, school comes first—so it’s hard for them to travel to contests and stay competitive.”

With an accomplished pro career behind him, and a developing coaching career ahead, Pat. A has found success in snowboarding and is an inspiration for other riders. As more colleges continue to create similar programs, perhaps the CU Buffs will be known for more than just scoring touchdowns.

“It’s crazy. I ride more now, twenty-some years into it, than I did when I was a pro rider,” Pat states. “I had a lot of fun being pro, but after more than ten years, I needed a change—a challenge. I’m stoked to be a part of it at the coaching level. I want to see the college scene grow into something big around the country, with schools competing against each other like they do in other sports. I don’t necessarily want it to turn into football, but maybe a quarterpipe in their stadium.”

LIVING THE DREAM: So You Want A Job In The Snowboard Industry?

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The Graphic Designer: Ethan Anderson AS P H OTO G R A P H E D B Y E M B RY R U C K E R

If there’s one thing that snowboarding has a lot of, it’s graphics.

Graphics on snowboards, graphics on clothing, graphics on ads… It’s an endless supply of work for creative artists.

Somebody has to design all these graphics, and at Volcom that somebody is Ethan Anderson.

Another Southern California kid, Ethan grew up in San Pedro and started snowboarding sometime in the mid ’80s— borrowing an old Burton backhill with bungee-cord bindings.

He went to college in San Diego (SDSU), and interned at Surfer magazine. In 1994 after graduation, he joined Volcom to take over the art responsibilities. Working his way from the ground up, Ethan began to develop an in-house art department and eventually transitioned from the art director to the VP creative director of the Company. It wasn’t always a straight line though, and Ethan had his fair share of other career paths.

“I worked construction for my dad which was good, hard work,” remembers Ethan. “I think I learned a lot doing manual labor. Hard work and perseverance really do pay off. The bluecollar environment in Pedro rubbed off on me too, but nothing really could prepare me for the intensity of the experience of working at Volcom. It’s been a completely wild rollercoaster ride since day one.”

The wild rollercoaster ride includes designing advertising pages, creating powerful point-of-purchase imagery, and steering Volcom’s trademark brand direction. Always on the cutting edge, Ethan’s work has helped turn the Volcom Stone into one of the most recognizable icons of all time.

“The thing that inspires me the most is the act of riding/ creating,” says Ethan. “Skating, snowboarding and surfing and the people who partake in these activities are the fuel for the creative fire. There is no limit as to the potential for fun when you ride a board, or paint, or draw, or play music, or anything creative for that matter. There’s no ceiling, no end, no ultimate goal—there is always something else to learn, more style to infuse. It is such a beautifully individual thing. I really do consider the act of riding a board to be an art form and those who do it as creative beings. It’s like a radical form of performance art.

This, among many other things, inspires me. It’s like I’ll never be satisfied; never good enough.”

As Volcom has grown over the years, so has Ethan’s occupation, keeping the job fresh and exciting as he continues to advance within the company. As a creative director,

Ethan’s day can sometimes be a wide mix of duties and assignments to help keep the creative juices flowing.

“My average day consists of getting to work bright and early and checking some e-mails,” explains Ethan. “I greet my amazing team: Marty, 33, Aho, Smartin, Daven, Billy (Anderson), Boyes, Eckert, Wooly…It’s awesome to vibe out with such good people. Then I’ll probably whip up a few tardy ads and have Bonnie call up some mags to get deadline extensions. It’s probably almost lunchtime by that point, so that means heading out to the skatepark for a little “lunchagof” session with the boys (you know who you are). After getting nice and shreddy, I go back and drip sweat all over my computer—followed by participating in three or four more power meetings. Then maybe read some new magazines, check e-mails, make some calls, see how everyone is doing, ask some questions, answers some questions, question some answers…it’s nonstop and definitely not boring. The days differ in many ways because there are always new challenges and opportunities. It’s like working a puzzle with an infinite number of pieces; a never-ending journey with no destination, just a windy, bumpy road with loads of potholes. I absolutely love it.”

Ethan’s windy, bumpy road is sure to meander on for quite some time. With Volcom’s stronghold on the ever-growing “action sports” market, as well as their mainstream appeal— Ethan will continue to be challenged and inspired to create more of the original designs Volcom is known for. His advice to anyone interested in pursuing a career in snowboarding is a long list of beliefs, stemming from a strong work ethic and desire to succeed.

“Meet as many people as you can, don’t be shy, and keep your eyes open,” says Ethan. “Look for opportunities, work hard, work harder, never give up, try it, ride as much as possible, be humble, be kind, go skateboarding. Remember that positivity breeds positivity, know that you don’t know everything, respect your elders…did I say work hard?”

Hard work and perseverance is true with any aspirations, and Ethan’s job is no different. But timing is everything, and sometimes it’s all about being in the right place at the right time.

“I would be lying if I said that a certain degree of luck doesn’t play a role in one’s ability to land a dream job,” admits Ethan. “It takes skill to perform once you do get in, but luck favors the well prepared.

The boardsports industry is full of so many opportunities… If you want it bad enough, all of your dreams will come true.”

HIT THE ROAD

BY MARK KOHLMAN WORDS BY CHRIS COYLE Road trips are every human’s god-given right. I don’t care if you live in Europe, South America, or some other place I ain’t never heard of. There is no better way to get all up in the guts of a land than driving through it. You can really suck in the sights, sounds, and smells of a nation through a car window. All you need is a couple of friends, a car, and some time to kill— you don’t even need a destination. Just get behind the wheel and let the adventures begin.

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HIT THE ROAD

Ours began in Minnesota. Why? Because that was a stretch of road most of us had never seen before. And by “us,” I mean Shaun McKay, Bryan Fox, Ryan Thompson, Zach Marben, photographer Mark Kohlman and myself.

Zach and Kohlman grew up in Minnesota, but for the rest, it was virgin territory—and we wanted to tear it up.

First stop was Mall Of America. The pictures of this monstrosity don’t do it any justice. We’re talking over-the-top consumerism at it’s worst. They got a freaking amusement park in there, for god’s sake. Turns out, Kohlman used to work there, so he tour-guided us

through the levels of mayhem. Good think, too, ’cause without a GPS or a Sherpa, finding your way back to the car could take days. The food court alone was the size of most malls. The amount of wannabe gangsters that place can hold must be mind-boggling. Speaking of food, it didn’t take long for Bryan to sniff out the Krispy Kreme doughnuts and even less time for all of us to be clutching our guts and moaning from eating way too many of them little sugar bombs. We decided to work off the calories in Lego Land and then it was back to the van—the highway was calling our name.

Let’s talk about the road, shall we? The experiences shared with friends on the road are something you take to your grave. Good or bad, whether you end up hating said friends or living with them for the rest of your life, you’ll never forget when the car ran out of gas in the middle of the Rockies. When people bring up Johnny’s unbelievable gas, you will always be able to chime in with, “I was stuck in a car with that festering ass for five days!” These are the things life is about.

You learn things about people when you’re stuck in car with them that you might never learn otherwise. Something about being in

tight quarters for an extended period of time that makes people really open up. This can be both good and bad. Every once and a while you might learn some stuff you didn’t want to know. One minute you’re sitting next to your best friend, and the next minute you’re sitting next to a guy who likes to sniff bike seats.

The first major stop on the Interstate 90 was the town of Wall, South Dakota. For miles in every direction of Wall are signs for the local drugstore/tourist trap Wall Drug. The way they make it look, you’ll be entering a huge, bustling town filled with every convenience known to man.

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Truth is, Wall is about four city blocks wide and is filled with over-priced touristy-type shops. You can buy things like stuffed jackelope’s and miniature spoons with your name on them, which everyone needs. They even have a little chapel if you need to stop and talk to ol’ ‘JC.’

After all them hours behind the wheel, we decided Wall was a good place to rest our heads. The call was made to try and stuff all of us in one room to cut back on costs, so it was a hunt for a cheap room, where sneaking everyone in wouldn’t be a problem. After finding a room that met with our highbrow tastes, it was off to town for some food and drink.

This is a great time to talk about “road folk”—the people you meet at gas stations, diners, and in small towns such as Wall. These people can be the scariest or the funnest part of any trip. While your traveling buddies are great, what the hell’s the use of leaving your hometown if you don’t meet new people? Some of the best stories I have from the road have nothing to do with the people in the car, but the people in the restaurants and hotels I’ve stopped at.

For instance: While eating our meal in Wall, it became very clear that we were definitely the round peg in the square hole. For

the first half-hour of the meal, there was a table of men who looked as if they would love to beat the holy living-hell out of all of us. But the handful of beautiful Russian girls at the bar, looked to have quite opposite intentions—which made the first group even madder. Wanting to make sure they left first, we tried to wait them out with a few pitchers of beer. Before you knew it, they were gone and so were we.

That’s when we met our new friend Garrett. I’m pretty sure, at first, he too wanted to beat the crap outta us, but our charms won him over.

It was a good thing, ’cause this guy was pro-wrestler/circus-sideshow

big. He could have easily palmed my face with one hand and thrown me across the bar. Within ten minutes, he was filling us in on the local dirt. Turns out, the hot Russian women were all imported there by the owner of the bar on some sort of work exchange program. He was married to one, and sleeping with the others—all of which were fine with it, on a counta’ they “liked women, too.” He then pointed out a woman at the bar with a good eight to ten inches of G-string out of her pants named “Holly humps a lot” and warned us that she was “the town bike, everyone has had a ride.” Then, he called her over.

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HIT THE ROAD

First thing out of her mouth was, “I saw you guys looking at my ass. It’s pretty nice, isn’t it?” The next two hours was a blizzard of Lynyrd Skynyrd, hollering, beer, and Holly trying to sit on everyone’s lap. When the lights turned on, we made our way to the door—where it became clear that Holly and Garrett were dating. This still didn’t stop Garrett from telling each one of us that she was “into” us. A seven-foot tall, 280-pound man/fall-down-drunk, ass-hanging-out-of-her-pants swinger couple in a bar filled with bi-curious Russian girls in the middle of South Dakota?

You can’t make that kinda s--t up.

The next morning, we stuffed our faces full of diner food and headed for Mt. Rushmore. (Note for the skaters out there: If you ever find yourself in that neck of the woods, keep your eyes peeled for the gas station with the skate-able banks—real fun, real sketchy. R.T. damn near killed himself when he rolled into traffic.) We made one stop on the way up at a faux Rushmore that had a bunch of carvings of modern presidents. It was kinda creepy, just set in the middle of someone’s yard. Whenever I see stuff like this on the road, it makes me wonder if they built it themselves or paid some absorbent amount of money to have some statues of people they’ve never met, taking over the front half of their property.

The actual monument itself is pretty much everything that’s wrong with America wrapped into a single package. They might as well have put a huge middle finger facing a Native American. One of the most beautiful chunks of the West blown to all hell so that millions of hot-dog chompin’, 80-ounce soda-drinking idiots can look at some people that are probably rolling in their graves due to what America has turned into. And yes, I know that us going there only supports all that crap. But it was something we had to experience to realize how bad it was. Does anyone have a ladder?

I need to get off my high horse. OK, there. Thanks.

Enough of that, were talking about road life here, not politics. One of my personal favorites on long road trips is truck stops. For years I would scour every Flying J in sight, looking for mesh hats sporting silk screens of witty sayings such as “Smile if you’re not wearing any panties” but thanks to that Ashton Kutcher a-hole, finding good trucker hats is next to impossible now. But there is still something about them that draws me in like a moth to a flame. After all these years, there are still some questions I’d like answered. For starters, most of them are located directly between where-the-hell-are-we and middle-of-kinnowhere.

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Where do the people who work there live? Are they driving hours round-trip? Do they live in the truck stop? What’s with all the crazy crap they’re selling? Is there enough room inside an 18-wheeler to mount a Billy The Bigmouth Bass talking fish? And the food—don’t even start.

Is there some sort of magic truck stop oil that makes all the burritos and corndogs taste like they just descended from heaven on a golden brown chariot with jo-jo spoked wheels? You know what? I don’t want to know; some things are better left unsaid.

The plan was to fireball straight through Wyoming up into Montana, crash in Bozeman and, maybe, wander down to Yellowstone for

a day or two. Only, when we got to Bozeman, Shaun got a call asking him to come coach at High Cascade—the next day. This was where the real road dogs in us came out barking. We burned through the night taking turns napping, driving, and talking to the driver to keep him awake.

Fuel was provided by gallons of Red Bull and coffee. To keep some noise going, we set up a laptop and kept a steady stream of Seinfeld DVDs at hand. As the sun broke through the windshield, we had a good 300 miles to go and five hours to get there; it was going to be tight. That’s when it happened—red and blue lights in the rearview mirror. Lady Luck was on our side this time, and we got away with a warning. The last few hours

seemed to fly by. It’s funny—when you’ve driven a couple thousand miles, a couple hundred seem like nothing.

They seemed so insignificant, in fact, that our idea of how long a tank of gas would last seemed to go haywire—thinking we’d be able to make it the last 50 miles on a eighth of a tank, making the last eight or so some tense ones. We rolled into Government Camp on fumes and passed out.

To be totally truthful, there is about 50 stories missing from this article, but we only have so much space and you’re a snowboarder—so you most likely have little to no attention span. I can only hope what you read puts a flame under your ass to get out there and do it yourself. Get

a crappy car, a handful of friends, pool together your cash and go. Break down, get stuck in a snow bank, sleep in a Denny’s parking lot—go out and live. You don’t need thousands of dollars, just the willingness to see something you’ve never seen before and the drive to do it. Life is what you make of it—so get out there. And if you stop in Wall, swing by The Cactus Café an’ ask for Garrett. Tell him we sent ya.

Terror on the Turnpike: Mountain Creek, N.J.

Ten years ago, I learned to snowboard at New Jersey’s finest: Mountain Creek Resort.

This past December, I decided to make a pilgrimage back to my roots. Not having the money to spend on a costly lift ticket, or the desire to deal with the tri-state crowds, I opted to take my chances hiking up the beginner slope to shoot a few pictures and check out the local scene.

The following photos are from two rolls of film I shot in an intense 45 minutes—too terrified to look through the camera viewfinder. What I saw that day will stay with me forever. There on the bunny slopes were smiles, shrieks, panic and pain in all the faces of these beginners. As scared as I was dodging these out-of-control bullets, I couldn’t help but remember when I was in their same boots—learning to snowboard, having the best time of my life. —Neil Dacosta

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Terror on the Turnpike: Mountain Creek, N.J.

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02 CHECK BACK ON MARCH 1ST TO FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06 SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM SEE IF YOU WON ROBERT’S BOARD.

TRAPPED UNDER ICE: THE ROBERT TRUJILLO INTERVIEW

BY NATE DESCHENES

First he established himself as a bona fide badass with Suicidal Tendencies, and then he survived seven years on the road with Ozzy (as in Ozzy, the original warlord of metal).

And in case you’re new to this, a couple of years ago he was commissioned to make his size-11 foot fit into the biggest shoes in the universe. What I’m talking about is those left empty when Metallica was in need of a new bass player. He impressed the band with his totally original finger-picking technique, which in all reality is humanly impossible. Watching him rip through songs like “Battery” and “Whiplash,” I find it debatable whether or not that bionic arm from Terminator 2 was really crushed in a hydraulic press.

in their most desperate hour. Aside from his musical contributions, his most impressive dynamic has to be his stage presence. Reminiscent of a rabid sand crab on steroids, Robert creeps around stage invoking fear in the eyes of all in attendance. The force with which he controls his bass is menacing.

Most know you as the new bass-wielding gunslinger for Metallica, but it has come to my attention that you are quite the ripper as well. How long have you been riding? Probably 12 years now. My first eight years or so, I was going all the time—Big Bear three times a week and then Mammoth five days here, five days there all season long. I really got into it. Then in ’96 I had an injury that took me out for a while.

You’re pretty busy with your new gig as the bass player for Metallica. How do you find the time to pull cab 9s? Yeah, yeah. I will have to say that I have slowed down over the past few years. I can’t really ride when I’m on tour or while recording; the risk for injury is too high.

Ironically, he’s a family man (which I imagine consists of teaching his 10-month-old son that the Osborne’s medicine chest is off limits and tending to his beautiful wife—currently nurturing an unborn speed-metal prodigy.) Still living in the same Venice Beach neighborhood he grew up in, the fame and fortune hasn’t corrupted him—as it well should have by now.

In drummer Lars Ulrich’s own words, “He was the only guy Actually, I’m fairly sure Rob doesn’t even realize that he is in that wasn’t struggling through the songs.” In fact, the band Metallica himself. will be the first to admit that he made them all play better.

Recently, I had the chance to chat with the man and discuss When people were in doubt as to the credibility of the something far more important than some rock-n-roll band— band (at any given time, one of the greatest), Robert snowboarding. Yes, Robert is a snowboarder just like you, Trujillo stepped in and brought new life and energy just like me, only with a better day job.

PHOTO COURTESY OF METALLICA

You got hurt snowboarding? It was in Mammoth, actually. I dislocated my ribs.

What trick were you pulling or, I guess, not pulling? Well, it was the first day of the season, ya know. (I had been working out all summer, jumping on the trampoline or whatever, thinking I had my s--t together.) And it was the end of the day, and I decide I’m going to hit one of the jumps in the park—psychologically thinking that I can do it, but my legs were like jelly. So when I hit the thing they just weren’t there.

How big was it? Forty-foot high at least; cab 9, lookin’ for a part in the new Standard Films movie… [laughs] No man, it was probably a 40-foot gap, straight air. Anyways, when I landed, my legs just folded and basically drove right into my ribs. So I took a minute and caught my breath ’cause it knocked the wind out of me. Then I went back up and hit it again. This time, I landed clean but as I raised my arms like this [shows victory claim] it just went—pop! Done. Obviously, it was the jump prior that did the damage, but all it needed was that little movement to throw it out. There’s nothing like a rib injury.

Sounds like it’s killer. But back in the day you said you used to ride in the morning and go play shows at night. Is that true? One time I was in Utah on tour with Ozzy, and Snowbird got a big dump. I just couldn’t pass up all that pow, so I hit it up that morning which was awesome.

But when I got up on stage to play later that night, I was feelin’ it, man.

My legs were like Jell-O and my neck and back were all tweaked out from snowboarding all day. Oh yeah! Then there was a time when I was with Suicidal in Europe—this is when I was really addicted to it­—and I had some friends that took me up to Saas Fe, Switzerland, for a day of riding. And I had to take a train back to Torino, Italy, for the show that night. At a certain point, I started to freak out ’cause I didn’t think I was gonna make it. The Federales boarded the train with their machine guns and everything; it was turning into some sort of Midnight Express kind of nightmare. I really didn’t think I was gonna catch the next train which would have meant I would have missed the show. Mike [Muir], the singer, was pretty pissed about that one. But I made it just in the nick of time.

So it’s things like that, that started freaking me out. As far as touring and trying to pull off a session, I have to find some kind of balance.

Especially with these guys, man! ‘Oh, Robert is still snowboarding and we have a show for 40,000 people!’ I don’t think that would fly.

The story goes that while you were trying out for the band, you holed up in Mammoth and locked yourself in your friend’s basement—no food, no water, just some goat’s blood and a bass guitar. Close. I think you meant a snowboard, not goat’s blood.

TRAPPED UNDER ICE: THE ROBERT TRUJILLO INTERVIEW

Sorry, I get the two confused. Continue… There were actually two locations.

I did do a lot of work there but believe it or not, the whole audition process took almost a year. And I found myself down here in LA not being very productive. I wanted to get away from it all and get healthy, both mentally and physically. So to get in the zone, I went to Mammoth and started to learn the music. Then it progressed into me working on the stuff in Tahoe at my friend Mike Hatchetts’ place. The Tahoe phase of it was kind of the time when I started to realize that this was really happening.

How was that? It was very exciting but also kind of nerve racking, a little bit scary. But the good thing about me learning the catalogue and riding at the same time was that I was really doing the two things I enjoy most—music and snowboarding. It put me in a healthy frame of mind. Then I just drove three hours to San Francisco for my audition or first audition. I didn’t hear back from them for six or seven months after that.

So when did you actually get the job? The night of our meeting was on a Monday, and we weren’t going to actually play until Tuesday. Lars asked me to go out and have a drink, a nightcap. I don’t know if it was a test or what, but we ended up staying out until 5 in the morning and I had to get up at 9:30 to play with the band at 11. I had the worst hangover of my life. My head was pounding, I couldn’t focus…I just wasn’t all there. I kind of avoided any contact with the other guys. I just kept quiet and dug deep.

Before that you toured with Ozzy. Do you think he has an opinion on snowboarding one way or the other? No, I don’t think he cares. But as far as Ozzy snowboarding, I think it’s something he would try or at least a few years ago he would have. But something that people don’t know about him is that he is very coordinated. I remember being on stage and Ozzy would be singing in his crazy kind of hypnotic mode and someone would throw something from the audience like a water bottle or whatever and out of nowhere he’d snag it out of the air without even flinching. I’d be like what the f--k? I always try and dodge that crap and Ozzy’s up there playing centerfield.

I know that your first band, or at least your first commercially successful and (probably more importantly) culturally influential band, Suicidal Tendencies, had a huge core following—associated with a more hardcore scene rooted in the skate and surf community. How did that have an influence on your life and did it have anything to do with you becoming a snowboarder? When I got hooked up with Suicidal Tendencies is when the door really opened for me. This was a great honor for me because I really liked the band anyway. I went to high school with Rocky George, the guitar player and he got me in. Just getting in there and seeing how different and alternative that band really was at the time is what was really cool, you know what I mean? And yeah, the following was definitely the surf/skate/ snow population, which worked out well for me ’cause I was surfing anyway.

It was also a great channel to meet a lot of professional riders and surfers.

Like when I go to tour now and we’re in Australia, Kirk [Hammett] and I get to surf with Mick Fanning or Dean Morrison—a lot of the top pros. Then when I go to Tahoe, I ride with Mads [Jonsson], and I’ve ridden with Johan [Olofsson] and dudes like that. That’s pretty exciting to ride with those guys. Mike Hatchett has even taken me to some of his secret spots.

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JEFF BAKER PHOTO

So you know the Hatchetts (snowboard film pioneers responsible for the TB series and owners of Standard Films), eh? I don’t think you could ask for better guides than that. How did that come about? I met them through this pro surfer I knew who was also into snowboarding. He kept telling me, “You gotta meet these guys. They love metal! They have this band called Fortress up in Tahoe and they live for bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica…” So it worked out great hooking up with those guys because then I learned what it was really about. I mean, before I was going to Big Bear—now I’m hitting the stash in Tahoe. Powder!

Sounds like you got the hardcore crash course lesson on how to ride some pretty serious stuff. Step up or step off. Are there a lot of musicians out there who ride? There is a bunch. I don’t know if they all still do, but back in the day a lot of guys were into it. Zach de la Rocha [Rage Against the

Machine] rides. About ten years ago I used to see him up at Big Bear all the time throwin’ down in the park. As far as musicians that really hit it hard in the surf and skate and snow world, he’s definitely one of them. Scott Ian from Anthrax, Seal, Jeff Ament (the bass player from Pearl Jam)… but I think one of the guys who was the best was Adam (MCA) from the Beasties. Then there’s James [Hetfield]. He was into it for a little while but he was pretty reckless. He charges. [laughs] OK. So let me ask you this: Who would you say between you and James (while in your prime) would have launched the biggest jump? I’d have to say James might take me only because he can be pretty damn reckless. I don’t like to be reckless. Forget about it.

But would he stick it? Um…no. I think I’d stick it before him. James is the crazy one, but I definitely have more control. God, James has broken his arm skateboarding a couple times—one time skating a pool and then once on tour with Ozzy. Ozzy likes to tell this story of how he looked outside the tour bus window and sees Hetfield flying down the hill on a skateboard and all of a sudden—[does an incoherent Ozzy impersonation] bbrrkoo ssmshssh boom boom! Next thing you know, James is in a cast. We could go on and on about that guy and his reckless activities on the road.

Please do. There was a jet-ski accident a few years ago where he tweaked his back. There was a dirt bike incident at the beginning of the Sanitarium tour. I was there for that one. He went for this tabletop and…let’s just say he didn’t make it—ha ha. And it was the first show of the tour! He actually bruised his ribs really bad. But he’s a trooper; he would never let something like that stop him from doing a show. But as far as snowboarding goes, he’s kind of done; his back is kind of worked.

Have you ever been in any sticky situations yourself? There was this one time with Scott Ian [Anthrax]. We were in Whistler and I got stuck on a cliff. Anyways, he was following me. Like I know Whistler. Right?! I don’t know Whistler for s--t, but I thought I did. I was leading the way and I ended up on top of this ledge with no way out really. Luckily, they were far enough behind that I could yell at him and my other bro and tell them, “Don’t come here!” I had crossed this icy chute and couldn’t go back because it was so sketchy. Scott ended up going around down below and I could barely see him behind these trees, but we were able to communicate. So, basically, I started throwing snowballs toward my right, down this chute that had jagged rock and ice in it. When he saw where the snow had landed he yelled back, “It’s powder there! That’s where you need to go!” So I’m thinking what do I do? I’m kind of screwed. There was this tree stump that I was holding on to and if it weren’t for that, I would have been done. So I ended up having to unstrap my board, turn it around and strap back in so I was facing the right way. Then I began to slip my way down this chute and grab on to these roots hanging off this ledge and repel myself down to a safe zone. But, I tell ya...Scott Ian saved my ass. If he weren’t there, I would probably still be up there on that cliff.

So you obviously know your way around the five strings of your axe better than the Whistler backcountry. Oh yeah! But you live and you learn, right? I’ve also had experiences like that surfing in Tahiti where I was pulled out a quarter mile to sea because I wasn’t stickin’ with my bros who knew the water. So riding with people who know what’s up is crucial, especially if you’re not familiar with the territory. These days I play it a bit safer, but the temptation is always there.

It’s easy to get carried away sometimes though, you know?

Where do you want to ride that you haven’t been before? Someday when I’m ready, I really want to go to Alaska and go heli-boarding. I’ve been there before, riding around Anchorage with Jay Liska doing a little backcountry, but I haven’t been in a chopper yet. Also, some of the places in Canada—the snow-cat operations sound like a blast. I like some of that more wild stuff, man! Riding resorts is always fun, but there is something special about getting out on a snow machine or hiking for a couple hours to get your line.

What is your favorite board to ride? Right now, I love Burton. They are definitely my favorite boards to ride. But it depends. I just got the Fish, which I’m looking forward to riding, and I have a couple others that just feel really comfortable. I think a board is like a guitar. Some are perfect for the stage and some of them are perfect for the studio. The same can be said for different conditions on the mountain.

Do you see any connection between playing music and snowboarding? For many of us, it is a total escape from everything going on in the world. I know personally that I might lose it completely if I didn’t have that outlet. The high I get from playing in a band, say, when we really hit a groove, it’s very similar to how you feel riding and you’re in that zone or whatever. I feel that same rush when I’m snowboarding something really challenging as I do when I’m performing in front of a crowd. I feel this high, this inertia. I’m feeding off the crowd and off the energy of my band. It’s the same with riding—it is the moment. Locked in. I think that’s the best feeling in the world. I agree. I believe that people like us are extremely fortunate to have found something that allows us to achieve that level of consciousness or whatever you want to call it. That’s the thing. Unfortunately, there are too many people out there that don’t know that feeling. It’s right out there just waiting for people to discover. And I think that causes a lot of stressful, negative energy in the world. This probably sounds stupid and crazy, but I think there would be a lot more peace in the world if everyone picked up an instrument and learned to be creative or had some sort of outlet like that.

I’d like to see with all of the humanitarian work our country does, why not throw in a few guitars and skateboards and stuff like that when sending packages to those third world countries.

For some reason, that sounds better than bombing them into submission. Speaking of brutal displays of force, let’s talk about Metallica. It seems that these days, they are more accepting of creative input from everyone in the band. That must be exciting.

First off, it was really strange to be embraced so entirely—as a family member, basically. You would think that a band like Metallica would be very protective of their territory, which they are, but once you’re in and the respect is there, it’s open arms really. Which is a lot different than a lot of the other musical situations I’ve been in. I’ve been very fortunate in that I have gotten to play with a lot of my heroes, but these guys opened some new doors for me on what it is to be in a band and being a team.

For me to make suggestions like, “I think we should play Dyer’s Eve live” which is something they have never done before and, yeah, it is a challenging song, but to have that kind of input and to have it embraced really showed me what these guys were about.

It seems to me like you guys are here to stay.

We just talked about that last night, actually. We definitely have some more years in us. We feel really good about where we’re at and the new record and getting back on the road. And it’s really exciting for me because this next album will be the first one I officially play on which is very cool. So I look forward to being creative with Metallica.

So what’s the deal? Are you going to be riding as long as you can handle it? Oh, you know it! God, you know I try and get out there as much as I can, but sometimes it’s hard with work.

Everybody has that problem, Robert. You do have a pretty cool job though. Yeah, that’s true.

WIN A BURTON SERIES 13 SNOWBOARD DESIGNED BY ROBERT TRUJILLO! Win this Burton snowboard— designed by Robert Trujillo of Metallica exclusively for SNOWBOARD magazine. Go to series13.com to create your own custom graphic, and e-mail us at: jeff@snowboard-mag.com, using the link on its web site

by March 1, 2006. The best Metallica/SNOWBOARD magazine-inspired design will win Robert’s one-of-a-kind board.

124/125

02 OUT THE 91 WORDS SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM CHECK FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06 FOR SNOW TEASER ONLINE.

IN THE MIX DAVID BENEDEK David Benedek and I met about six years ago in Portland, Oregon, while seated together at a Bonfire roundtable meeting. He was in a leg cast and I was recovering from a broken neck; to say we were a pair of gimps is an understatement. At the time, though we both rode for Salomon/Bonfire, we had never ridden together—and, in fact, I hadn’t yet so much as glimpsed an action shot of him. Nonetheless, the way this kid spoke and carried himself (even on crutches) suggested he was onto something special. Today, at 25, with intelligence and enthusiasm to spare, Benedek’s built one of the most solid careers in professional snowboarding. But little did you know, he’s also fashioned himself into a creative, visionary force behind the scenes.

Indeed, whether in front of the camera, behind the lens, or simply discussing his love of music and design, Benedek is always progressing and poised to lead the charge ahead.

Where did you grow up, and when and where did you begin snowboarding and skating? I grew up in Munich, Germany, and began snowboarding in Austria in 1989. Skateboarding came first. I kind of ended up doing whatever my older brother Boris got me into, and luckily he chose those two things. I really owe him a lot. I’ve always skated, now more than ever, actually, but I don’t claim much of my skate roots or skills, just some good old shredding.

Boris, wasn’t he also a pro rider for a while? What’s your relationship with him like, and is he involved in the business stuff you’re starting now? Yes, he was pro for a little while too, and then stopped to go to film school. He made two semi–low-budget snowboard films in Europe before he partnered with Christoph Weber and me on our new production company, Blank Paper. Boris and Christoph are mainly in charge of editing, and he’s filming, too.

How did Blank Paper come about, and what’s your vision for it? About a year ago Christoph Weber and I decided to start our own thing. We kept working with two of the four original Robot Food filmers and started gathering the riders we wanted involved. Our film has more of a conceptual approach; we wanted to be a lot more inclusive than your regular trick-to-trick movie. It’s called 91 Words for Snow. I worked on it the entire past year; I directed it for the most part and served as the art director—I was responsible for anything graphics-related: ads, packaging, web design, etc. Basically, we wanted to make a film that would excite regular people to snowboard.

What do you have planned for your upcoming season? I’m not quite sure how I’ll spend my coming season, no plans yet.

I know that I don’t want to get caught up in the seasonal, and also sort of brainless, repetition. I think the seasonal work and dependence in professional snowboarding on filmmaking, media, etc. is a major obstacle for everyone’s creative progress.

How do you mean? As soon as everyone is done with one film, they need to start working on the next one immediately.

It seems like no one is taking a break to reflect on what they just did; they just keep doing what they already know. That’s what I want to break out of. I really want to progress creatively and I think snowboarding offers a lot of room. Anything that’s manufactured at a good quality level just takes time, and that’s what no one seems to have in snowboarding—time.

How did Robot Food come about and why did it end?

And what was your role within it? We started RF in the summer of 2001. Travis Parker, Bobby Meeks, Chris Engelsman, Jussi Oksanen, Jess Gibson and I had all filmed together for Standard Films, and we decided to start our own company and make a film that suited our look on snowboarding better. Pierre Wikberg and Wille YliLuoma were brought in too, as founding fathers, and we just started to make a film.

The first year was really amazing; there was such a strong urge to do something new. More and more, I slipped into the position of art director—creating the packaging, web site, and all that stuff. When I look back on it now, I can tell how amateurish a lot of the stuff was, but it was still somehow lovely and fitting I think.

The movie as such, as well as all of RF’s success, was a true group effort. But we kind of got stuck in our somewhat newly created formula so our second film was just a perfectionized version of the first. Of course, it’s tough seeing something you helped build just vanish, but I’m really stoked we didn’t try to hang on to it just because it was successful. People tend to do that too often. We all just needed fresh air. I think Robot Food decided to go on vacation but never returned.

As a fan and participant, what aspects of contest events and films interest you? Contests; whatever has a good setup. As for film parts, anything that inspires—way back to Terje and Peter Line, and then JP Walker (who I think really created the mold for today’s video parts). It’s nuts what that guy did when I think about it. These days, it’s the people like Nicolas Müller who surprise me. To me, he represents snowboarding to the fullest—skill-wise as well as with his outlook on snowboarding. I get most excited when I see people who have the guts or the skills to go somewhere new, whether it’s with a new trick or a new way to look at what they’re doing.

I know you also shoot photos, how did your interest in that come about? And what do you most like to shoot? I started taking a lot of photos about five or six years ago. Traveling so much, it’s almost natural to start taking pictures. I shoot a lot of different stuff, no action though. Once in a while I submit something. I actually just had a little portrait printed in a newspaper, too, and I was part of a little exhibit that happened in Munich last year.

Graphic design seems to be an increasingly large part of what you do, where does it fit into your life and work?

Where do you see going with it? Actually, graphic design is my biggest passion, or at least what I spend most my time doing off-hill. I’ve always been into it and started getting more serious about it through being able to have input on snowboard designs at Salomon. Nowadays I do the whole range of pro models myself. I’m really lucky to be surrounded by people who’ve let me do these things despite knowing that I’m not a professional. Besides all the work for Robot Food, and our current movie, I’m slowly doing some design work outside of snowboarding, too. As for the future, a lot of the things I’m getting myself into, like filmmaking or design could lead into a job fluently at some point after snowboarding. Either way, I hope I will end in some sort of a creative place that has room to make ideas into real things.

You seem to have a real passion for music. Are you hoping to incorporate more music into some of the projects

you’re currently working on? Actually, during Robot Food I really started getting into music because it was such a big part of what we were doing. For 91 Words for Snow we worked with a young French group called Toymaker on creating songs specially made for certain parts of the film, and we’re helping them put something out, maybe.

How do you feel about your snowboarding career-to-date?

I’m really happy how everything went and is still going. I’ve made certain progress every year, but I luckily never had to face the crazy hype or blow up that messes with your ego and creates disproportional expectations. I’ve had a good time. Just in general, gaining a position where I’ve been able to realize certain ideas or thoughts is probably the highlight of my involvement. I’ve been surrounded by some amazing people, and, to be honest, I really owe a lot to them for being able to go with the flow.

Generally, as an athlete and filmmaker, what are your thoughts on the state of the snowboarding industry?

The state of snowboarding right now is pretty complex; there are different sides to it. I think the progression in films, or lack thereof, is a pretty good indicator of what’s happening. Back a couple of years ago, you didn’t have to care about the concept of your film because the progression of riding was so mind-blowing every year, and that was enough to entertain people. It’s still the same in skateboarding, for example, where the films don’t have to be the most creative because there’s so much progression and diversity in the skating itself that you don’t need to worry too much about the rest.

In snowboarding, the technical progression in most aspects has slowed down, and the difference in riding from one year to the other has gotten slimmer. Films have lost excitement in this way, and I believe they’re about to lose a critical amount of the viewership, if things don’t change.

Why do you suppose this is? It goes back to what I said about repeating the same formulas every year without taking the time to reflect. This whole process can take a lot of drive out of snowboarding in the public eye.

This is especially true for the filmmakers with regard to whom the potential audience is or should be. In my eyes, everyone in professional snowboarding is so focused on catering to each other that they’ve forgotten about all the other millions of people out there that love snowboarding but that no one talks to.

Do you have any positive thoughts for how that can change? Snowboarding is still progressing a lot. It’ll break through the next barrier limits pretty soon; I’m sure about that. But I think we all have to work together on finding better ways to communicate why snowboarding is the coolest thing in the world. Whether people will want to see this coming or not, I believe there’s going to be massive changes in how films will have to look in order to surprise and entertain their audience—including us.

WORDS BY ARLIE CARSTENS/PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANSI HERBIG

rider: Torah Bright photo: TJ Liese

rider: Kier Dillon photo: TJ Liese

WORDS BY NATE DESCHENES

In snowboarding, there’s a little something called the “pow slash” that, when done correctly, really makes life worth living. Much like the common fart, the slasher is a phenomenon that sometimes just has to be done. Often you know that something big is on deck so you can really wind up and put everything you have into it. You get to choose when and where to unleash your fury and, in all actuality, the force, style and magnitude with which it is delivered. These are the ones we really get to savor, the ones that everyone gets to be a part of.

In short—the ones that make us proud. There is no reason to hold back. You’d only be cheating yourself if you did, so you unload. Time stops. Everyone stares. And just like that, as remarkable as it may have been, the reward is carried off in the wind. A sad yet fitting end for one of the best feelings in the world. The pow slash—let ’er rip!

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FEBRUARY 2006

VOLUME 02 NUMBER 06

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Snow Tech BIONIC BRACES WORDS BY KURT WASTELL

How many times have you heard of someone breaking a wrist on his or her first day of snowboarding? Or that someone tweaked their knee off a jump and now requires surgery?

These injuries are a common occurrence in our sport but should not hold you back from doing something you love.

Over the years, I can say that I have been there, done that, and I have many friends who have dealt with the same type of injuries. We all look for solutions to help us get back into the sports we love with confidence. Last November, while skating in Salt Lake City with my brother and his kid, I took a one-handed slam into the wall of a bowl and immediately knew my wrist was broken. I was snapping—my season started out so insane and with this injury, my career was threatened.

My surgeon said my season was probably over because the normal healing time of a scaphoid takes forever and may cause long-term pain if you follow a poor regiment. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and I told him there was no way my season was going to end now. When I got my cast off in January, the muscle atrophy had wilted my wrist into the tiniest, most pathetic thing I have ever seen.

I knew that riding my snowmobile was going to be impossible in this condition.

During rehab I met Jeff Brewer from All Sport Dynamic/Innovation Sports. He set me up with the Wrist OTS with a 20-degree extension limiter for my injured wrist and a 50-degree extension limiter for my good wrist. With the support on the topside of the wrist brace, I was riding my snowmobile by February and got my job done with confidence. I have put these wrist braces to the test, even wearing them in the ocean to surf. They are amazing and definitely helped save my season.

Take my advice: Reduce your chance of wrist injuries and check out the Wrist OTS. It’s a good preventive measure for people that have yet to break a wrist, or those like myself who constantly deal with old injuries.

CTi WRIST BRACES [$350/set] isports.com Another common problem for snowboarders is knee injury. Damn, they can suck bad and make any man, woman or child snap. I know so many people that have gone through this. Whether it’s a bruised knee, sprained knee or a straight-up blown knee requiring the dreaded surgery—all of these will be in need of a brace for at least a short period of the season—or forever. Personally, I have used the Asterisk off-the-shelf brace to help me deal with knee injuries. These things are insane—easy to adjust to fit your leg however you need it, and they all come with a plastic kneecap for those sketchy rock zones that are just waiting to nail you.

They are also sized accordingly to your leg specs. The web site has all the info you need for measuring your knee so you can get the correct size. Don’t let these pesky knee injuries stop you from snowboarding.

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02 FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06

all eastern shredders! log on to find the shop nearest you.

SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM attention

SUPER SHOPS EASTERN BOARDER

Holding It Down for the Right Coast Eastern Boarder is the best-known and most loved shop in New England. Its independent ownership, fierce dedication to the rider spirit and unflinching respect for the consumer has made Eastern Boarder the shining ring bearer, proud flag waver, and staunch torch carrier of any and all virtues associated with East Coast snowboarding.

Though now operating in five locations, Eastern Boarder began as the humble dream of Tabor Coates. In 1989, he founded the then unknown specialty shop in Fitchburg, Mass., later relocating it to nearby Leominster—a rural suburb 15 minutes from Wachusset Mountain.

In the years since, Eastern Boarder has ridden the wave of growth in the snow/skate business by providing an authentic outlet for New England shredders to feel connected to the boardsports community.

Though aided by the inherent expansion of the industry, Eastern Boarder’s success did not come easy.

“When it started, I worked alone,” remembers Coates.

As word got out, Coates was soon able to open another shop in nearby Worcester. By 1993, after repeated lobbying from an enthusiastic Airwalk rep extolling the need for a shop in New Hampshire, Coates pulled the trigger on a third version in Nashua, which is now the company’s largest. Later, additional stores in Framingham and Danvers, both in Massachusetts, helped to broaden Eastern Boarder’s influence even further.

In an age when many specialty retailers are struggling, Eastern Boarder continues to do well.

Much of its success is a result of the company’s ability to give back by holding events such as the East Coast Invitational at Wachusset and Last Call at Loon. In addition, Eastern Boarder prides itself on service.

“Our employees really hold it together for us,” claims Coates. “All of our employees ride…and they bust their ass because they love what they’re doing.”

This rider-focused approach has kept Eastern Boarder successful due not only to the vested interest of its sales associates, but also the loyalty it receives from its team of pro and amateur riders.

East Coast shreds Colin Langlois, Yale Cousino, Pat Moore, Chris Rotax, Jamie McCloud and Tricia Byrnes are just a few of the snowboarders that proudly display their Eastern Boarder stickers whether riding at a Waterville rail contest or in an X Games Superpipe.

“The first snowboard I ever purchased was at the Fitchburg store in ’93,” recalls Langlois, who adds, “Eastern boarder has a loyal and strong commitment to riders. Even though they could probably expand and go national, they’ve kept it local and core, which gains respect of those who have grown up around there. And the kids just know—you go to Eastern Boarder.”

In the minds of its supporters, Eastern Boarder is not just a shop, it’s an ethos, representing all the things East Coast riders hold dear—an affinity for the boardsports culture, a love of home and the realization that, despite the draw of the mighty West, they have something very special right in their own backyard.

WORDS BY JAMES SULLIVAN PHOTOS BY ZIGGY

OWNERS: Tabor Coates MANAGERS: Leominster - Andy Bubnowicz and Jon Strobel Worcester - Tom Oliver and Aaron Prince Nashua - Earl Verrier Framingham - Steve Gregoire Danvers - Evan Laporte NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:

50-80 depending on season

YEARS IN BUSINESS:

NUMBER OF LOCATIONS:

16 5

CONTACT: Leominster / 20 Commercial Dr., Leominster, MA 01453 / (978) 466-5100 Worcester / 64 West Boylston St., Worcester, MA 01606 / (508) 852-3668 Nashua / 254 Daniel Webster Hwy. , Nashua, NH 03061 / (603) 888-0722 Framingham / 280 Worcester Road, Framingham, MA 01702 / (508) 628-0186 Danvers / 29 Andover Street, Danvers, MA 01923 / (978) 777-5650 BRANDS CARRIED: Boards: Burton, Arbor, Lib Tech, Santa Cruz, GNU, Rome, Ride, Forum, Jeenyus, Capita, K2, Roxy, World Industries. Boots: Burton, DC, Northwave, Vans, Thirty-Two, Roxy, Forum. Bindings: Burton, K2, Agency, Drake, Ride, Rome, Roxy. Goggles: Anon, Dragon, Electric, Von Zipper, Grenade. Helmets: Burton. Gloves: Burton, Grenade, Ronin. Jackets: Burton, 686, Volcom, Airblaster, DC, Foursquare, Special Blend, Analog, Ronin, Grenade, Mission Six, Matix. Pants: Burton, 686, Airblaster, Foursquare, Analog, Ronin, DC, Volcom, Special Blend Watches: Nixon SERVICES OFFERED: Sales (Snow, Skate, BMX, accessories, clothing) Tuning, Repair Typical Customer: “Basically, it’s anyone from the mom coming in to get a brand-new snowboard for her kid or the established local am ready to rip.

It’s broad … we get everything from the newbies to the hardcore pro.”

—Steve Gregoire, Framingham Manager

136

02 FEBRUARY 2006 VOLUME NUMBER 06 SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM

northwest web cams are updated daily. check in ON YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS.

SHOP LIST NORTHWEST SNOWBOARD IS AVAILABLE AT MORE THAN 200 SPECIALTY RETAILERS IN THE NORTHWEST.

SNOWBOARD magazine encourages you to shop at a specialty snowboard retailer. Working with a qualified sales person who understands your needs as a rider will ensure getting the most out of your equipment. Support the sport by plugging yourself into the snowboard community at one of these fine retailers on the Northwest list or a shop near you. Log on to snowboard-mag.com to view our complete list of more than 1,200 specialty retail shops around the country.

BOARDERLINE............................................. ANCHORAGE, AK NORTHERN BOARDER............................. ANCHORAGE, AK BOARDERLINE................................................ FAIRBANKS, AK BOARDERLINE.......................................................JUNEAU, AK POSEIDON BOARDSPORTS.............................JUNEAU, AK BEAVER SPORTS...................................................VALDEZ, AK POMERELLE SKI AREA..........................................ALBION, ID CASCADE OUTFITTERS ........................................ BOISE, ID NEWT AND HAROLDS BOARDS & SKATES..........BOISE, ID ZUMIEZ.......................................................................... BOISE, ID YOSTMARK MOUNTAIN EQUIPMENT..............DRIGGS, ID SKI SHACK.................................................... HAYDEN LAKE, ID ZUMIEZ............................................................IDAHO FALLS, ID FOLLET’S MOUNTAIN SPORTS....................LEWISTON, ID FOLLET’S MOUNTAIN SPORTS......................MOSCOW, ID SCOTTS SKI & SPORTS...............................POCATELLO, ID SLED SHED...........................................................REXBURG, ID GROUND ZERO................................................SANDPOINT, ID CLAUDE SPORTS.......................................... TWIN FALLS, ID

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GOVERNMENT CAMP, OR MOUNTAIN TRACKS.................. GOVERNMENT CAMP, OR EXTREME BOARD SHOP..................... GRANTS PASS, OR HILLCREST SKI & SPORTS..........................GRESHAM, OR HOOD RIVER WINDSURFING/DOUG..... HOOD RIVER, OR HOT SKATES......................................................MEDFORD, OR ZUMIEZ................................................................MEDFORD, OR MT. HOOD MEADOWS SPORT SHOP........MT. HOOD, OR CAL’S PHARMACY..........................................PORTLAND, OR EXIT REAL WORLD.........................................PORTLAND, OR ZUMIEZ...............................................................PORTLAND, OR ZUMIEZ...............................................................PORTLAND, OR GORGE PERFORMANCE..............................PORTLAND, OR HILLCREST SNOWBOARDS.......................PORTLAND, OR BREEZE..............................................................PORTLAND, OR EXIT REAL WORLD.................................................SALEM, OR ZERO GRAVITY.........................................................SALEM, OR CLEANLINE SURF SHOP..................................SEASIDE, OR ZUMIEZ......................................................................TIGARD, OR PACIFIC WAVE............................................. WARRENTON, OR BREEZE................................................................WELCHES, OR BOARDERLINE/ALTREC...................................AUBURN, WA ZUMIEZ............................................................... BELLEVUE, WA BC BOARD AND SPORTS #16................... BELLEVUE, WA BOARDERLINE SNOWBOARDS................ BELLEVUE, WA ZUMIEZ......................................................... BELLINGHAM, WA BC SURF AND SPORT #13.................... BELLINGHAM, WA MT BAKER SKI AREA............................... BELLINGHAM, WA WWS BOARDSHOP.................................. BELLINGHAM, WA “FAIRHAVEN CYCLE, INC.”..................... BELLINGHAM, WA RAINIER BOARD CO................................BONNEY LAKE, WA ZUMIEZ......................................................... BURLINGTON, WA HIDDEN WAVE............................................ BURLINGTON, WA CRYSTAL MTN............................. CRYSTAL MOUNTAIN, WA ZUMIEZ.............................................. EAST WENATCHEE, WA RAINIER RIDES............................................. ENUMCLAW, WA THE SLANT........................................................... EVERETT, WA ZUMIEZ.................................................................. EVERETT, WA 35TH AVE SKATEBOARDS.................. FEDERAL WAY, WA ZUMIEZ....................................................... FEDERAL WAY, WA NORTHWEST SNOWBOARDS............... GIG HARBOR, WA MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP..................GLACIER, WA “HEAD MEDICINE, INC/EXTREMELY “.....ISSAQUAH, WA ZUMIEZ............................................................KENNEWICK, WA BENTWOOD BOARDS/EXTREMELY .......KIRKLAND, WA ZUMIEZ.............................................................LYNNWOOD, WA B.C. SURF & SPORT #12............................LYNNWOOD, WA NOLLIES SNOW SKATE WAKE..................MAPLE VALLEY, WA CASCADE SPORTS................................... MT. VERNON, WA MT. SI BOARD & SKATE..........................NORTH BEND, WA ZUMIEZ...................................................................OLYMPIA, WA NORTHWEST SNOWBOARDS........................OLYMPIA, WA NORTH BY NORTHWEST SURF CO....PORT ANGELES, WA ZUMIEZ................................................................PUYALLUP, WA ALTERNATIVE SPORTS..................................PUYALLUP, WA ZUMIEZ...............................................................REDMOND, WA RIDE ON SNOW + SKATE INC....................REDMOND, WA SECOND ASCENT.............................................. SEATTLE, WA SPORTS X............................................................. SEATTLE, WA SNOWBOARD CONNECTION......................... SEATTLE, WA ZUMIEZ.................................................................. SEATTLE, WA ZUMIEZ........................................................... SILVERDALE, WA STEVENS PASS............................................SKYKOMISH, WA ZUMIEZ.................................................................SPOKANE, WA MOUNTAIN GEAR..............................................SPOKANE, WA ZUMIEZ.................................................................SPOKANE, WA ZUMIEZ...................................................................TACOMA, WA NORTHWEST SNOWBOARDS........................TACOMA, WA ZUMIEZ..................................................................TUKWILA, WA ZUMIEZ...........................................................VANCOUVER, WA MISSION RIDGE.......................................... WENATCHEE, WA REVOLUTION SNOW & SKATE.............. WENATCHEE, WA ZUMIEZ..................................................................... YAKIMA, WA

THURSDAY

05

06

Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom [Mt. Baker, WA] Learn to Ski & Ride Weekend [Steamboat, CO] Southern VT Snowboard Series [Stratton, VT] Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX Super Bowl Party [Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA] American Jibber Rail Jam Series [Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA]

Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom [Mt. Baker, WA] Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

SATURDAY

02

03

04

On Snow Demo Days [Stratton, VT]

On Snow Demo Days [Stratton, VT]

USASA Slalom #2 [Mtn. High, CA] Appleton Rum Peak to Valley Race [Whistler, BC] Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom [Mt. Baker, WA]

Appleton Rum Peak to Valley Race [Whistler, BC] 40th Anniversary of Whistler Mountain [BC] Mt. Baker Legendary Banked Slalom [Mt. Baker, WA] Learn to Ski & Ride Weekend [Steamboat, CO] 4th Annual Bowl and Avalanche Awareness [Arapahoe Basin, CO] Southern VT Snowboard Series [Stratton, VT] Super Bowl XXXIX Volcom’s Peanut Butter & Rail Jam [Blue Mountain, Ont, CAN]

07

08

09

10

11

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

Avalanche School Level #1 [Arapahoe Basin, CO]

Avalanche School Level #1 [Arapahoe Basin, CO]

Avalanche School Level #1 [Arapahoe Basin, CO]

93rd Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival [Steamboat, CO]

93rd Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival [Steamboat, CO]

93rd Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival [Steamboat, CO]

93rd Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival [Steamboat, CO]

Aspen/Snowmass Open [Buttermilk, CO]

Aspen/Snowmass Open [Buttermilk, CO]

Aspen/Snowmass Open [Buttermilk, CO]

USASA Boardercross [Sierra-At-Tahoe, CA]

Burton Coalition Demo Tour [Breckenridge, CO]

USASA Slopestyle [Sierra-At-Tahoe, CA]

2006 Olympic and Paralympic Games [Torino, ITA]

Burton Coalition Demo Tour [Breckenridge, CO]

Winterfest [Park City, UT]

Got an event coming up? Let us know about it: gary@snowboard-mag.com

MONDAY

FRIDAY

FIND DETAILED EVENT INFORMATION IN THE EVENTS FORUM.

01

There’s a lot going on this month, so be sure to keep those weekends open.

SUNDAY

SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM

TUESDAY

USSA Age Class Race [Powderhorn, CO]

Vans Unbound Freestyle Series: Halfpipe [June Mountain, CA]

2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

16

17

18

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

93rd Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival [Steamboat, CO]

2006 Olympic and Paralympic Games [Torino, ITA]

2006 Olympic and Paralympic Games [Torino, ITA]

2006 Olympic and Paralympic Games [Torino, ITA]

President’s Weekend

Aspen/Snowmass Open [Buttermilk, CO]

Snowsports Week support local non-profits (www.SierraAtTahoe.com)

Snowsports Week support local non-profits (www.SierraAtTahoe.com)

Snowsports Week support local non-profits (www.SierraAtTahoe.com)

2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX President’s Weekend American Jibber Rail Jam Series [Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA] USASA Superpipe Competition [Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA] Cold Wars: The Battle of the Bulge [Stratton, VT] USASA Superpipe [Northstar, CA]

Burton Coalition Demo Tour [Breckenridge, CO] 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Games [Torino, ITA]

2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

American Jibber Rail Jam Series [Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA]

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX 2006 Olympic and Paralympic Games [Torino, ITA] Snowsports Week support local non-profits (www.SierraAtTahoe.com) 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

Arbor Snowboards Demo Day [Mountain High, CA] Planet Earth’s Shopwars [Killington, VT] 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

19 Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

- $% ! .

Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO]

20

21

22

23

24

25

President’s Day

Desperados Snowboard Week [Steamboat, CO] 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA] Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO]

Desperados Snowboard Week [Steamboat, CO] 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA] Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO]

Desperados Snowboard Week [Steamboat, CO] 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA] Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO]

Fat Tuesday Celebration [Winter Park, CO] 31st Annual Wells Fargo Bank Cup [Winter Park, CO] Desperados Snowboard Week [Steamboat, CO] 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA] Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO]

Mardi Gras, New Orleans Mardi Gras Celebration [Vail, CO] Showcase Showdown [Whistler, BC] USASA Slopestyle Saturday [Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA] Rail Jam [Arapahoe Basin, CO] Snopremacy [Arapahoe Basin, CO] USASA Slopestyle [Mountain High, CA] 31st Annual Wells Fargo Bank Cup [Winter Park, CO] 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA] Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO]

President’s Weekend

President’s Weekend

Desperados Snowboard Week [Steamboat, CO]

USASA Slopestyle Sunday [Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA]

2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

USASA Boardercross [Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA]

Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO]

2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA] Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO]

26

27

Slopestyle Event [Powderhorn, CO] American Jibber Rail Jam Series Finals [Sierra-At-Tahoe, CA] Stowe Slopestyle Series #2 [Stowe, VT] USASA Superpipe Competition [Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA] Vans Unbound Freestyle Series: Halfpipe [Mammoth, CA] Mardi Gras Celebration [Vail, CO] Showcase Showdown [Whistler, BC] USASA Superpipe Sunday [Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA] 2006 XX Olympic Winter Games [Torino, ITA]

Mardi Gras Celebration [Vail, CO]

28

Mardi Gras Celebration [Breckenridge, CO] Mardi Gras Celebration [Vail, CO]

‌.February 4th continued:

‌.February 11th continued

‌.February 12th continued

‌.February 18th continued

Next Snow Search Qualifier [Vail, CO]

Planet Earth’s Shopwars [Sierra-at-Tahoe, CA]

USASA Slopestyle [Northstar-at-Tahoe, CA]

Expression Session 3 Halfpipe [Durango, CO]

Four-year to 2010 Winter Olympic Games [Vancouver, BC]

Volcom’s Peanut Butter & Rail Jam [Park City Resort, UT]

Expression Session [Durango, CO] Burton Coalition Demo Tour [Mountain High, CA] Copper Mountain Snowboard The Skeletones play Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, [Mountain High, CA] Slopestyle, SBX ‌.February 10th continued Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO]

Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge [Breckenridge, CO] Volcom’s Peanut Butter & Rail Jam [Summit-at-Snoqualmie, WA] USASA Superpipe [Northstarat-Tahoe, CA] Olympic Games Celebration [Winter Park, CO] Mountain Dew Vertical Challenge [Vail, CO]

Vans Unbound Freestyle Series: Suzuki Halfpipe Jam [Copper Mtn., CO] SBX [Mammoth, CA] ...January 29th continued: AWOL Wall Ride Event [Aspen, CO] USASA Rail Jam [Bear Mountain, CA] Vans Unbound Freestyle Series—Slopestyle [Mammoth, CA]

," !

! !

15

Valentine’s Day

!" !

!# $% ! & ! ! ' % ! ( " ) $% ! #

" * + % !

% ! % * ' ! , # !

14

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

13

Copper Mountain Snowboard Series: GS, Sl, Superpipe, Slopestyle, SBX

12

VOLUME 02 NUMBER 06

WEDNESDAY

FEBRUARY 2006

! "#

HAPPENINGS FEBRUARY 2006

138

©

PUBLISHER MARK SULLIVAN EDITOR IN CHIEF JEFF BAKER GRAPHIC DESIGN AARON JAMES DRAPLIN MANAGING EDITOR LIZ SULLIVAN SENIOR EDITOR LARRY NUÑEZ ASSOCIATE EDITOR MIKE BASHER PHOTO OPERATIONS J2 SALES AND MARKETING GARY HANSEN ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE LUCKY LOPEZ ASSISTANT COLIN CARROLL

WIN OUR STUFF CO-OP GEAR GIVEAWAY

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

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MUCH APPRECIATION

3.

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SNOWBOARD-MAG.COM OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF WINDELLS SNOWBOARD CAMP

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