Document Snowboard Magazine Taster by Fall-Line Media Ltd

DCMT57SPRING’09

ALL NEW:

NEXT SEASON’SDS HOTTEST BOAR

EXCLUSIVE REPORT FROM THE WORLD’S BIGGEST SNOW SHOW STARTS P102

DIAL YOUR TRICKS

30+ pages of technique and advice to take to the hill. Starts P90

GLACIER SUMMER S!

Not just for thieves and rich kids

Getting gogg PLUS: N le tans in Norw ight ridin g, Vans Cay and Italy u and swa pping sn p at Tahoe ow for su rf

RIDER INSIDER COLORADO CALLING KEEPING UP WITH COVER MAN KERN IN BRECK & VAIL JONO WOOD THE ARTFUL SHREDDER HANGS UP HIS PRO BOOTS SOUTH TYROL JENNY JONES & DAN MILNER TRADE PARK AND POW IN THE NEW RIDING NIRVANA

ISSUE 57 SPRING 2009 £3.90 www.documentsnowboard.co.uk

Seb Kern, underflip in Vail Pass, Colorado

Cover#57.indd 1

6/3/09 09:41:38

DCMT

ON THE COVER: RIDER: Seb Kern PHOTOGRAPHY: Russ Shea

Russian rider Sergei Tarasov makes the most of riding until 11pm in Folgefonna. His handy work was captured by DCMT associate ed James Bryant, who was one of the digging team at the Norwegian summer camp last year. Fast forward to P53 to follow A Diggerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tale

010_011 Contents.indd 10

6/3/09 18:40:51

CONTENTS 016 022 024

PREVIEW

A gallery of inspiration to take to the mountains with you

Meet the ofﬁce simians in their home environment

DEBRIS: THE NEWSDESK

024 026 028 030 032 034 036 038

040 044 046

053

064

072

076

081

STUFF WE LIKE

Gear and gadgets that have grabbed our attention

LEGENDS: I AM BECKNA

Meet the original shred hand Thomas ‘Beckna’ Eberharter

THE VANS CUP

Beckna heads out with the Vans European team to take part in the prestigious comp at Northstar-at-Tahoe main feature

COLORADO CALLING

Russ Shea travels to Breckenridge and Vail pass, the winter home of UK pros Seb and Nate Kern

AC/DC

Photographer Dan Milner on a rollercoaster ride from park to powder in the South Tyrol

NEXT STOP: VAL SENALES

The DCMT Blank Snowboard Test sets up in this hidden Italian freestyle gem

UK SCENE

081 082

088

099

A DIGGER’S TALE

DCMT associate ed James Bryant grabs his spade and heads out to Folgefonna in Norway to experience summer riding at its best

084

090

Tamworth Snowdome hits the big 15 Girls get involved with Nikita Chickita Knight Riders: the beauty of riding by moonlight Weird Fest: strange creatures in the Alps Snow Camp: helping inner city kids get to the mountains for the ﬁrst time Sponsor Me Here: two riders worthy of your attention Who The Hell Is: Rich Hookes Mountain Lives: the snowboard engineer

Russ Shea on road trips The Artful Shredder: Jono Wood steps down from pro duties to step up his art Standing Sideways: swapping snowboards for surfboards is a lot of fun… when you’re a UK pro Local Knowledge: Cairngorm Mountain

BASIC TRAINING

090 092 094 096

How to be a snowboard instructor How to do a frontside noseslide How to do a frontside 540 nosebonk How to do a switch frontside 1080

THE DIRECTORY

100 102 118 119 120 122 128 130

Lock and Load: Jenny Jones You Want It! Team DCMT head out to the biggest snow show of them all, Ispo, to find out about the latest, hottest product for next season Course Finder: how to get progressing Chalet Finder: looking for somewhere to stay? Resort Finder: finds resorts so you don’t have to The Rider Clinic: snowboard specific workouts Retailer Locator: SS20 is in the spotlight The Sack: you’ve been making the most of the unprecedented snowfall in the UK

GET IT EARLY!

Subscribe to DCMT and get 14 issues for £49.50, plus a pair of Scott Goggles worth £90 FREE! TURN TO PAGE 62

010_011 Contents.indd 11

6/3/09 18:41:41

016_021 Preview.indd 17

6/3/09 18:44:19

016_021 Preview.indd 18

6/3/09 18:45:07

Mark risks life and limb at the W채ngl T채ngl Vans Invitational Photo Comp: rock fakie with a 100ft drop on the other side. The lengths to which riders will go to get the perfect shot (or the lengths to which photographers will push their riders...) MARK RUPARELIA PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES BRYANT LOCATION MAYRHOFEN, AUSTRIA

016_021 Preview.indd 19

6/3/09 18:45:27

PAGE 26

Win! Free stuff from the DCMT stash

PAGE 30

The weirdest festivals in Europe for you to enjoy

PAGE 36

Who the hell is... Rich Hookes? Fresh UK talent brought to the fore

The newsdesk

A winter ﬁx all summer long T his is DCMT’s spring issue and the last magazine until September when the 09/10 season gets underway. We just couldn’t say goodbye for the coming months without ﬁrst treating you to a little inspiration for your upcoming trip to the mountains/fridge/ magic carpet. And it comes courtesy of Norwegian legend

Terje Håkonsen (pictured below). That’s him ﬂying 6m out of the quarter pipe during last month’s Oakley Arctic Challenge Highest Air comp. That wasn’t enough to win him the Highest Air title – that honour was split between America’s Shayne Pospisil and Norway’s Daniel Josefsen, who both hit 6.8m. But Terje’s world record of 9.8m (that’s higher

than a two-storey house) in 2007 remains intact. And if that’s not inspiring enough, then the two decades Mr T’s been pushing it, and his position as one of the most inﬂuential riders ever, deﬁnitely is! So take that feeling to the next shred session you have. And just because we’re not on the shelves during the summer, it doesn’t mean Team DCMT

isn’t on the case – we’ll keep doing twice-daily updates on all the news from the mountains and our very own UK scene at www.documentsnowboard. co.uk. Finally, at this time of year we like to ask you what you think we could be doing better or, y’know, take the praise humbly. The annual questionnaire is online so head to our homepage and in return

we’ll be giving away the contents of our storeroom – everything from lids and goggs to jackets and beanies, all lovely current season goodies. We’ll pick survey-answerers at random as beneﬁciaries of this scheme until the cupboard is bare.

Happy 15th Tamworth! THE UK’s ﬁrst fridge, and birthplace of our indoor scene, Tamworth SnowDome, is getting ready for a special birthday.

Yup, Tamworth has outgrown troublesome puberty and reached the ripe old age of 15. Now, we couldn’t let this special date go by

1. Cut out your ticket to ride, take to the SnowDome and purchase any normal rate recreational slope pass or a multi-hour discount session i.e. Morning orning Club, Fresh, F resh, Board Stiff & the Monday, onday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday F riday or Sunday Sunday Night Specials pecials and get the card stamped. 2. Repeat step 1 and collect 2 stamps to complete the card. 3. Visit again, with completed card, for a FREE 1 hour recreational slope pass or FREE multi-hour discount session of your choice i.e. Morning orning Club, Fresh, resh, Board Stiff Stiff & the Monday, onday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday Night Specials. pecials.

unmarked, so the DCMT team will be joining in the NOW 15 event to celebrate all that is great about the SnowDome. Make sure you get it in your diaries too: April 28th. There will be a jam competition, as well as a 90s-inspired fancy dress, and MCs Tim Warwood and Pat Sharples. Not to mention 15 big prizes and six months free riding at Tamworth up for grabs.

Hit the hill STAMP HERE

STAMP HERE

Stamps can be collected from 1st March 2009 until 1st September 2009. Vouchers can be redeemed until 1st September 2009. Not valid with any other offer or promotion. Members rates also included. Recreational users must be able to control speed, turn, use lifts and stop conﬁdently. Only one stamp per person, per card, per visit. Subject to availability and capacity, please telephone before travelling. Management reserve the right to alter or terminate this promotion at any time.

CALL 08448 000011 / INFO@SNOWDOME.CO.UK / WWW.SNOWDOME.CO.UK

The festivities kick off at 8.30pm when you’re invited to hit the hill and try your hand at 15 oldskool tricks on… 15 slope toys (noticing a theme yet?). You’ll also be in with a chance of picking up one of the fantastic 15 huge prizes for your efforts in categories such as Best 90s Trick, etc.

Star in NOW 15 the movie

If you’re on form and

24 024 Debris.indd 24

style it up in the finale, impressing the Shred TV film crew, then there’s the chance of being shortlisted to a group of 15 shredders who will all be invited to feature in a short movie, NOW 15. The flick will then be featured on Tamworth SnowDome’s website for all to see – and the six month free riding winner will be determined by an open vote.

PH: RUSS SHEA & NEIL EATON

PH: TOMMY SOLSTAD

Open invitation

Isabelle Chadbourne, marketing manager at Tamworth, has been working around the clock to coordinate the event. She said there’s an open invitation to riders across the country, adding, “We are massively looking forward to this event, we are going back to when it all began and everyone’s invited. And, in the spirit of all things 15, it’s a special discounted £15 entry on the night... and here’s to the next 15 years!”

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

6/3/09 18:56:53

The newsdesk

The Krampus

The strangeness starts early, in the countdown to Christmas. Forget jolly old Santa with his fluffy beard and benign spirit, the Austrians’ version – St Nicholas – can often be found accompanied by the Krampus. A truly terrifying vision, the Krampus is dressed in fur and sports a scary mask with horns and a long red tongue. But that’s not the worst of it. He also carries a whip, switch or wooden stick. For the first two weeks of December and particularly on the 5th, young men dressed up as Krampus wander around striking fear into passers-by and, sometimes, giving them a whipping – with young women being particularly vulnerable and better off steering clear. In Slovenia, the first Saturday in December sees the arrival of the march of the bogeymen – or parkeljni – in the resort of Kranjska Gora. Legend says they’ve hiked from across Slovenia, Italy and Austria, and bystanders are urged not to get close in case they touch them and leave their ominous ‘black mark’.

Slit Bellies & Coal

The UK has its oddities. Morris dancers skipping about with hankies and a man dressed as a giant goat, grown-ups chasing cheese down a dangerously steep hill and whole legions of them pretending to be Vikings and carrying ﬂaming sticks through the streets. But if any region can match our weirdness and raise it ﬁve, snow-blessed central Europe is a serious contender...

030 Debris.indd 30

Up there with the Krampus and Parkeljni are the Perchten, found in Bavaria and Austria, with variations on the theme in parts of Switzerland, Italy and Slovenia. Historically, the pagan goddess Perchta protected nature and wildlife but also came to be associated with the sin of vanity. On Twelfth Night, Perchta visits homes and, if children have been good, she leaves money. If they’ve been bad, she slits their belly open and ﬁlls it with straw. Come springtime, traditional Perchten processions are found, where ugly Perchts represent the dark days of winter and the pretty Perchts the vitality and possibilities of the new season. The Italian version of Perchta is La Befana, who arrives on her broomstick at Epiphany to give pressies to good kids and lumps of coal to bad ones. For more than 30 years, Urbania - around three hours from Verona - has hosted a massive party to welcome her, which goes on for several days. In Slovenia, to welcome spring and celebrate fertility, the 10-day festival of Kurentovanje is held. The main players – the Kurents – wear sheepskins and elaborate masks. The Kurents wander through the streets,

making a racket with bells and sticks to scare off evil spirits.

More Whipping

Quirky traditions abound in the Czech Republic on Easter Monday – the day of the pomlazka. Girls, again, are in danger. Boys strike them on the legs with pussywillow twigs while singing Easter carols, in a rite that is meant to chase away illness and bring health to the targeted person. Chucking water over the girls is also not uncommon. The puzzling thing is that, in return for this ordeal, the girl is meant to reward the boy with an Easter egg, money or a shot of booze and to tie a ribbon around the offending instrument – the pomlazka. A similar ritual is played out in Slovakia, where the stick is called a korbac, and the girls often get their own back by whipping the boys on the following day.

Wacky Races

A modern spectacle in the Swiss resort of Adelboden that attracts enthusiastic crowds has its roots very firmly in the region’s history. Hay used to be stored in mountain pastures in containers called Finneln until farmers brought it down to the valley on large sledges for the winter. Out of this was born the Horaschlitta sledge race. Every winter more than 100 two-man teams – many dressed in traditional rough clothes – pelt down to the valley at breakneck speeds in a bid to finish in the shortest possible time. Another place famous for its tobogganing crazy races is the Cresta Run in St Moritz, Switzerland, and it will come as little surprise that the Brits are behind this one. Back in the 1880s a group of chaps were inspired to build the first version of this treacherous 1,200m track dropping 514ft down the mountainside. In 1887, a Mr Cornish was the first to adopt the headfirst stance, which soon became the standard for the run. These days, it hosts more than 30 races over the season but – and, again, this is so British – women are banned from taking part and competitors must be members of the St Moritz Tobogganing Club. However, non-members “may apply for temporary membership on the supplementary list which entitles them to ride in the early mornings on certain days”. Happy holidays!

6/3/09 19:10:44

Up and coming

who tHe hell is...

Rich Hookes Snowboarding for just ﬁve years but nearly twice the age of some of the UK’s young guns, Rich Hookes is an ambitious shredder making up for lost time

ookes launched on to the news pages last April when he claimed Big Air gold with a cab 9 at the British Championships. For many it was a wildcard victory and an unknown rider who had bounced on to the podium, but to those with their eyes wide open it was clear that this Nottingham lad had been on a freestyle mission and was destined for success. Rich had his first taste of snowboarding in 2004 when his sister and her boyfriend bought a place in Tignes. What followed is probably best technically referred to as getting the bug. From an initial typical piss head season, Rich had back-to-back winters in New Zealand and Tignes until 2008 when he was persuaded to test the water in Mayrhofen, Austria. This is where we currently find him, ice pack on the ankle and head buried deep in a remote access Construction Management degree from the university of Reading (that’s one way to spend your down time). “I didn’t particularly do too much snowboarding in that first season. But after I saw Nelson Pratt and a few other good French riders in the park I realised that that was what I wanted to do. Watching Nelson was amazing, he’s so much better than anyone else in the park there. Seeing that kind of got me amped to learn new tricks.” And despite only hitting the news pages last spring, early signs of Rich’s ambition were showing in just his second season when he took 6th of the Brits Big Air. Not bad for a man who has only graced the artificial slopes once in his life, but then he did used to be a semi pro footballer.

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

036_037 WTHI.indd 36

6/3/09 19:17:02

Rich works up an appetite in the Vans Penken Park, Maryhofen: Cab 5 roast beef PH: RUPERT VOREMBERG

STATS Age: 28 Years on shred: 5 Sponsors: Vans Boots and Outerwear, Stepchild Snowboards, dalikkfodda, Oakley Goggles and POW Gloves www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

036_037 WTHI.indd 37

37 6/3/09 19:17:52

The latest innovations

WELCOME to three pages packed full of gear that has been making our lives a whole lot better this month...

BATALEON GOLIATH

■ £320.00 ■ Flex 5 A quality all mountain freestyle toy. Incredibly popular on test, FS TBT lauded by all for ease of straight lining and quick edge-to-edge, plus wood core with carbon ﬁbres makes for great pop although noted as being a bit stiff for lighter riders. Wears Bataleon’s “ Synthruded 2555” base.

BONFIRE BLUR JACKET

■ £145 ■ www.bonfiresnow.com Spring like a ninja in this offering from Bonfire, which has all the tech you need to keep you happy on the mountain. Waterproof/breathability is 15000/10000, so it’s more than decent, especially with the fully taped seams. There’s also a removable balaclava and detachable hood, as well as chest venting, double storm flaps and adjustable snap wrist closures. Available in a selection of colourways.

ANALOG SKOOL DAYS BOARDSHORTS

■ £55 ■ www.analogclothing.com Just in time for summer, Analog has got a great surf number here in indigo blue. Ideal for days surﬁng in Bali (maybe stick to the wetsuit in the freezing waters around Blighty) or just lazing on the beach looking good. Online monkey Andy already has his eyes on this pair.

OAKLEY CROWBAR GOGGLES

■ £69.99 ■ www.oakley.co.uk Staple high-end number from Oakley here. They’re wide ﬁtting, offering really good visibility, come as tech as they get and the orange lens, pictured here, is unsurpassed for stayiang on track when the weather turns sour. Rocked by almost all the pros, these guys must be doing something right, right?

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

040_042 SWL.indd 40

6/3/09 19:29:30

DC HELIX JACKET

■ www.dcshoes.com ■ RRP: £180.00 A simple tech number from DC. It’s pretty lightweight with 10k/10k waterproof and breathability ratings, fully taped seams and pockets and vents in all the right places. Not too hot in the spring and bump it up in winter with some mid-layers and you have a perfect all weather jacket.

THE KJERSTIE BUAAS SIGNATURE RANGE

■ Jacket £230 ■ Pants £170 ■ www.roxy.com Norwegian ripper Kjerstie has lent her name, and style, to these Roxy pieces. Tech is fairly decent at 10K waterprooﬁng in a super hardwearing fabric. Clean lines with military styling and chain detailing on the pants.

BOSE QUIET COMFORT 3

■ £270 ■ www.bose.co.uk Yes, they’re expensive, but by Jeebus are they good. Bang on for trans-European ﬂights and dulling out the noise of a thousand screaming children. With the noise cancelling on, the world becomes eerily quiet with most droning noises removed. This is soon forgotten with the rich base and amazingly clear high end sounds. A couple of words of warning though; noise cancelling doesn’t work underneath your neon beanie and you really don’t want to wear them on the hill, for fear of smashing them up or not hearing the skier careering towards you.

ETNIES SKATE 2 RVM

■ £60 ■ www.etnies.com Drawing inspiration from etnies skate heritage, the RVM features the classic etnies Rap styling with a slimmed down low-top silhouette on a vulcanized outsole and a tonal Skate 2 logo on the outer heel. The RVM also features STI System G2 gel in the heel of the outsole to absorb shock and prevent heel bruises.

VANS REPEATER TRAINERS

■ £80 ■ www.vans.co.uk What’s not to like? The classic skate trainer from Vans; the folk who do the best skate shoes around. Available in green, black and white, and perfect for the coming summer months. www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

040_042 SWL.indd 41

41 6/3/09 19:30:53

Meet your heroes

Hailing from the fair shores of Austria’s Zillertal Valley, Thomas ‘Beckna’ Eberharter is an original shred hand and his story dates back to snowboarding’s heyday in Europe. From freestyle competitions to ﬁlming commitments to his recent role as European Team Manager for Vans and a long-time participation of all things Äesthetiker, this man has 20 years of snowboarding trivia all imbued ﬁrst hand. We recruited Henry Jackson to tap into his stream of consciousness

I AM...

BECKNA

HJ: So, let’s talk a bit about how you grew up. Coming from the UK, it seems like a dream way to grow up in the mountains of the Zillertal Valley… TE: For sure. I mean what more could a kid ask for? I was in kindergarten on the Ahorn, learning to ski from the age of two. Doing race training all through childhood was sick.

just shredding the whole time, year round; I mean we had the glacier rocking for the whole summer, that was before it had receded that much, like now. It was sick the whole year, we just didn’t stop, just like those young guys Peda Konig, Benny Wetchser and Werni Stock are doing now. HJ: Was this your ﬁrst contact with the bigger international scene? TE: That all started with hanging out with Captain Kaos (Klaus Marko, head honcho at SPC camps). We were going to his camps back when they were on Kitzsteinhorn and he already had international dudes like Jamie Lynn, Dale Rehberg and those guys hanging out. We used to chill and shred with them.

HJ: Did you ski jump at all? TE: Yeah man, I was two-times Tyrolean Junior Champ. First I was race training and I was actually pretty high seeded on the Austrian rankings – some of the guys in the team now, I used to beat when were kids. Haha! But a few of us were way more interested in jumping and used to build crazy booters back in the day. HJ: And so when did this turn into snowboarding? TE: I guess the first winter we were on the hill was 88/89. In fact, Peter (grumpiest bar owner in the world), from Scotties (Scotland Yard pub in Mayrhofen), was the first on a shred stick. And then I think he stopped when he saw all of us doing it – clearly it was too popular for him. Steve Gruber (a local ‘hof shredder) built his own in his basement and we all wanted in! HJ: What was your first board? TE: Crazy Banana dude. Sick! HJ: What was it like back then? TE: Snowboarding was still super new then and it was more or less banned on the mountain. I mean, we could only use a couple of T-bars back then, but we didn’t care.

HJ: So how, and when, did snowboarding develop into being more than just something that’s for fun? TE: It never did man! I mean that’s the reason why I still shred every day, it’s always been about fun. HJ: Ok, so what was the scene in Austria like back then and how did shredding develop into sponsorship etc? TE: We were really lucky, there was a super strong scene going on, we had the Austrian Cup and all the guys were doing that. Those were great times man, there were only a few shredders in each resort and you knew everyone, lots of boozing, parties, smoke outs, the whole shebang. HJ: So who was your ﬁrst sponsor? TE: There was a shop in Zillertal (shit, I can’t even remember its name) that hooked me up ﬁrst. We were

HJ: How about competing on an international level, you’ve had a lot of success over the years? TE: Yeah, I guess so. I mean back in the day you went to all these comps... big party time! HJ: So what comps did you do? You’ve done a few Air & Styles haven’t you? TE: Wow, gosh, I can’t even remember how many. I mean, we started with the demo team way back in the day, then there was the Austrian shred cup there, then I got Jamie Lynn’s place because of injury one time and then I was in! HJ: Did you have much success? TE: I got third at the Bergisel Stadium, in Innsbruck, that was really special; it was at the height of its popularity at the time. HJ: How about other comps? TE: Man, it’s hard to remember. Let’s see… I won the CONTINUES ON PAGE 45

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

044_048 Legends.indd 44

6/3/09 19:38:49

Beckna, backside air, in his home stomping ground PH: CHRISTIAN ‘ELI’ EBERL www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

044_048 Legends.indd 45

45 6/3/09 19:37:37

a digger's Tale Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s h

t and I am sweating; straining

under 60 kilos of assorted baggage. The great British holiday season has descended on Gatwick with force and I am stuck right in the thick of it.

"What's that?" "A snowboard."

The disgruntled desk clerk saunters off to ask her perplexed manager how to deal with this Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s summer but I want to go snowboarding, why does this always feel like such a big deal? Words and photography by James Bryant www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

052_061 Foglefonna.indd 53

53 6/3/09 19:49:52

"Your boots resemble wetsuIt bootIes after dawn patrol" nd so begins this digger’s tale. Kind of. It actually began many years ago in an old and bedraggled copy of Document Snowboard. I remember reading a tale of midnight sunshine, handcrafted halfpipes and moonshine. The fabled destination: Folgefonna, on the north west flank of Norway. With this vision buried deep in my mind I continued my day-to-day life until the summer of 2006, when (to the detriment of a career in painting and decorating, a future in Austria and one relationship) I embarked on a trek to Folgefonna snowboard camp. At this final summer snowboarding outpost on the frontier of snowboarding-meets-real job I met a diverse mix of snowboarders from Canada, Estonia, Poland, the US, Norway, Sweden and Latvia. I was so tickled by this multicultural experience, and by the sunkissed three weeks we spent tearing apart one of the roundest glaciers in the world, that when the opportunity to return two years later in an official capacity presented itself, I couldn’t refuse. Approaching its 14th year, Folgefonna is a veteran amongst summer snowboard camps. It comprises a camp area in farmers’ fields just outside of Jondal where a crew of immigrant workers cater to the needs of the few hundred campers in attendance each week. As many of the traditional summer snowboard camps once did, Folgefonna

offers a kind of shred-for-free for the die-hard riders out there who just can’t say no. Not even when it’s 25C in the shade, your knees are crying for rest and your boots resemble wetsuit booties after dawn patrol. For the simple penance of a few hours labour each day, the hard-working can ﬁnd themselves bedded (don’t hold out for sheets, pillows, blankets or anything else you might need) and fed (you need to have seriously overdosed on salad, greens, fruit and all things good before you come here as a diet of pot noodles and chocolate spread sandwiches awaits). But most importantly you can snowboard. Aspiring to some lazy summer sessions, sublime sunsets, and with only a ﬂeeting thought to the squalor that awaited, I marched past trails of Sherman shirts on their way to Magaluf, Ibiza and the Costa del Sol.

Bergen

Flights are pretty easy to Bergen. I went with SAS as they offered the most reasonable attitude to excess baggage. Flying in at sun down, over the myriad of fjords and lakes that swamp the Norwegian hills, scooping precariously close to slatted houses before dropping to the runway conveniently cut into the thick of it all – it’s an impressive experience. I arrived on a Friday night when Bergen was alight and littered with no less than three 7/11s within 300m of each other. I opted for a traditional dinner of calzone and

Top left: Håvard Myrvold soaks up the midday sun with a switch bs 7 Above: “Shit, don’t move. I think I can hear it. Hold on, do it again, it’s gone through to answer phone.” Have you ever lost a phone in the snow? If you refuse to give up hope, you’d be surprised what you’ll ﬁnd down there. Top right: Amenities may be simple but the park is rocking and what a view

coffee (avoiding any local smoked whale specials) and soaked up the summer evening as weekend chaos descended on the town. In the port, two mighty fishing frigates sat nonchalantly bearing their rust stained arses to the parade, while a signifier of Norway’s wealth burned bright on the horizon. I took five to enjoy the fresh air before bedding down in the local YMCA in a stinky room of fellow travellers. Whilst not geographically far from Bergen, our destination, the feeder hamlet of Jondal, was a tricky journey to negotiate. I scanned the downtown bus timetables without a clue until a longhaired metaller wheeling a snowboard bag sidled up on my left. Not making a sound I watched carefully and tried to remember which bus he had settled on before following, from a safe distance. Eskil, as it turned out, didn’t have any better idea how to get to Foglefonna than I. He was on a Beat journey, first having skated his way around southern Sweden before Norway. It turned out that back in the day he used to ride the Battle competition in Sweden. And so our paths had crossed, in a timely fashion, as he could understand this confusing language of which I could comprehended squat. Except calzone.

Uh oh... there’s a horse under the jump and some Action Horsey’s approaching faaasst!

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

052_061 Foglefonna.indd 54

6/3/09 19:50:50

E S

ALL THIS FOR JUST £49.50! 14 ISSUES OF THE WORLD’S BEST SNOWBOARD MAG...

TO SET UP YOUR DIRECT DEBIT BY POST, OR PAY BY CHEQUE, FILL IN THIS FORM AND SEND IT TO:

DCMT SUBS, WARNERS GROUP PUBLICATIONS PLC, WEST STREET, BOURNE, LINCS PE10 9PH MY DETAILS:

TITLE..........FORENAME .......................................................... SURNAME ............................................................................... ADDRESS ................................................................................ ................................................................................................... ....................................POSTCODE.............................................. TEL............................................................................................ EMAIL ....................................................................................... I’M PAYING BY DIRECT DEBIT, SO PLEASE SEND ME MY MASSIVE BUNDLE OF FREE GIFTS DON'T FORGET TO SPECIFY THE SIZE OF T-SHIRT YOU’D LIKE S M L XL I’D RATHER PAY BY CHEQUE OR CREDIT CARD, AND NOT RECEIVE ALL OF THE GOODIES I’D GET IF ONLY I’D OPTED FOR DIRECT DEBIT PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM WITH YOUR CHEQUE, MADE PAYABLE TO FALL-LINE MEDIA LTD. OR TO PAY BY CREDIT CARD, CALL THE NUMBER SHOWN SEE ONLINE FOR OVERSEAS PRICES

Terms and conditions: Offer ends April 09 or while stocks last. Prices quoted are for UK residents only (excluding BFPO addresses). The free gifts are with UK direct debit only, subject to availability and may vary from that shown. Please allow 30 days for delivery of your free gifts, which will arrive under separate cover to your magazine, after your account has been debited. The full UK subscription rate is £49.50 for 14 issues. The minimum subscription term for this offer is 14 issues. Special discount card for the SNO!zone real snow slopes at Milton Keynes, Castleford and Braehead Xscapes valid high season (until April 09), excluding weekends and school holidays, and low season (May 09 to September 09) valid anytime. Please tick box if you don’t want Fall-Line Media or partners to contact you with other offers.

YOUR DIRECT DEBIT DETAILS

PLEASE RETURN TO: WARNERS GROUP PUBLICATIONS PLC, WEST STREET, BOURNE, LINCS PE10 9BR

PLEASE FILL IN THE WHOLE FORM, INCLUDING OFFICIAL USE BOX, USING A BALLPOINT PEN

FOR WARNERS OFFICIAL USE ONLY

This is not part of the instruction to your bank or building society.

PLUS... LIMITED EDITION SCOTT GOGGLES WORTH £90 EXCLUSIVE T-SHIRT DISCOUNT VIP PASS DCMT STICKERS ONE EXTRA ISSUE OF THE MAG FREE! 03:03 9 10: 27/1/0

9.indd

rds 200

VIP Ca

064_065 Subs NEW.indd 63

NAME(S) OF ACCOUNT HOLDER(S) ................................................................................. BANK/BUILDING SOCIETY ACCOUNT NUMBER

BRANCH SORT CODE

NAME & ADDRESS OF YOUR BANK OR BUILDING SOCIETY TO: THE MANAGER ................................................. ADDRESS ................................................................ .................................................................... POSTCODE.............................................................. Reference number Banks & building societies may not accept Direct debit instructions for some types of account

Originator’s identification number

9 4 2 2 4 0

Instruction to your bank or building society Please pay Warners Group Publications Direct from the account detailed in this instruction subject to the safeguards assured by the Direct Debit guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Warners Group Publications and, if so, details will be passed electronically to my bank/building society

SIGNATURE(S) ......................................................... DATE ........................................................................ THE DIRECT DEBIT GUARANTEE

THIS GUARANTEE SHOULD BE DETACHED AND RETAINED BY THE PAYER • The guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that take part in the Direct Debit scheme. The efficiency and security of the scheme is monitored and protected by your own bank or building society. • You can cancel your Direct Debit at any time by writing to your bank or building society. Please also send a copy of your letter to us.

• If an error is made by Warners Group Publications or your bank or building society, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid. • If the amounts to be paid or the payment date details change, Warners Group Publications will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.

CODE: DCMT57

6/3/09 20:06:50

The winter home of UK snowboarding brothers Seb and Nate Kern, Breckenridge and Vail feature on most riders’ wish lists. Photographer Russ Shea couldn’t wait to get out there to explore

have packed all my camera gear and my snowboard kit several times now. I’m not flying for another week, but I’m just too excited about this trip – I’ve never been to America snowboarding before. And all I can do is surf the internet to look at Breckenridge to try to suss out where I’m staying, what the snow is like and what kind of photos I’ll be able to take. Seb and Nate Kern are to be my hosts, they’re two of the hottest snowboarders hailing from the UK at the moment, and I’ll be flying out with Burton rider Chris Kightley into Denver airport. So, before we jump in, here are some facts about why the Kern brothers have chosen Breckenridge as their base. The season in Breck runs from November through until April, that’s six months of some of the best snow in the world. And the reason the snow is so good is the altitude, the base elevation is 9600ft (2926m) with the summit being 12998ft (3963m). It has 30 lifts covering a massive 2358 acres of accessible terrain. Breck is also home to one of the best snowboard parks in the US with the pipe being voted the best in America three years running. It’s also home to the British Olympic snowboard team at certain times during the season. I meet Chris at Heathrow, he’s heading out for the rest of the season, and we sit back in our respective seats amongst the rest of the cattle that have chosen to be onboard this flight, with no legroom for the nine-hour duration. At Denver airport we retrieve our luggage and Seb arrives to pick us up for the 90-minute drive up to Breck. As we leave Denver we start to see signs of winter and as we get closer to Breck we descend into a snowy winter wonderland. By the time we reach Seb’s, it’s late, we greet the housemates and I am out as soon as I hit the pillow.

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

064_068 B&V.indd 64

9/3/09 10:55:09

Travel Advice Top Spots

Right: Simon’s perfectly shaped park Below: Helmuth gears up for the football, and the Merano Thermal Baths Bottom Hotel Obberaindlhof, we’ve hidden all the blank decks for this photo

VAL SENALES

Nestled deep in the South Tyrol where it dips into Italy, Val Senales is a summer gem for freestylers… and a snow feast for everyone during winter WORDS RACHEL DEVLIN PHOTOGRAPHY JAMES BRYANT

Summer riding was to be a new experience for me, I’d enjoyed winter shred for years but somehow I’d always missed out on glacier trips that have gone on around me. The closest I’d got to it was a little spring slush so I was amped at the thought of a trip to Italy for the DCMT Blank Snowboard Test… blank decks and summer riding, two entirely new experiences in one go.

Day One

It was a long hike from Blighty to Val Senales, and one that involved bedding down in a lay-by somewhere outside Munich. Almost 24 hours after we’d set out we finally pulled the DCMT wagon into the chalet we would call home for the next week. The area was surrounded by lush green trees and fields full of cows (suspiciously lush and not a spot of snow to be seen). Hotel Oberraindlhof was to be our home for the next week – and it came as a complete surprise to a group of riders used to slumming it. Beautifully rustic with huge, comfortable bedrooms, four-course meals and run by the Raffeiner family. Husband-and-wife team Helmuth and Elizabeth were a fountain of knowledge, filling us in on a little history of the South Tyrol in Italy. Apparently, the part in which we were staying was Italy’s prize for cooperation with the Allies in World War I and, despite the fact that German speakers outnumbered Italian speakers by 10 to one in the area; the process of Italianization was imposed back in the 1920s. Political pressures have obviously declined since then. However, you can see a large cultural divide between the South Tyrol and Italy. It feels, sounds, and looks more like Germany and

Austria, while locals consider themselves South Tyroleans ﬁrst rather than Italian. As well as a little history lesson, the Raffeiners also forgave us for taking over their courtyard with dozens of blank decks, and all the tools for waxing and detuning. The DCMT team settled in to prepare the boards as we awaited the arrival of testers Joe Hibbert, Davy Zyw, Gordon Adam and David Meigh, who were all making there way in a myriad of ways from Munich and nearby Bolzano. They arrived in time for us to settle down to a traditional feast before bed.

Day Two

Well rested and still full after the huge meal, we were up and out by 7am to make the 15 minute drive to the lift station in the village of Maso Corto, where we would jump on the cable car up to the glacier at 3,200m. I still hadn’t seen any snow but we were greeted at the lift station by a group of freestylers with expectant grins – clearly there was a park up there. And so, carrying 36 snowboards between the seven of us, we headed up to set up our testing centre for the week. At the top I was relieved to ﬁnd plenty of snow waiting for us. The Val Senales resort in winter comprises some 35km of pistes and trails, come summer, it’s down to just a handful of different runs but the real reason people come here is for the superbly maintained park that’s open all summer long (minus a few short weeks between May and midJune). Forum young gun Simon Gruber is the head park shaper during the summer months, and his dedication is obvious. A quick inspection of the park and our testers are more than pleased with the

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

076_079 Nxt Stp.indd 76

6/3/09 20:29:13

Davy makes a beeline for the kicker line

The real reason people come here is for the superbly maintained park

The Senales Valley Glacier stands tall at just over 3,200m, surrounded by groomed slopes and magnificent landscapes. Val Senales is a popular training spot for national teams and the resort caters for all abilities… although it’s definitely a freestyle resort during the summer months. In winter there are 35km to explore, with a piste breakdown of: 23% for beginners, 47% for intermediate and 30% for experts. You can ride almost all year round here, apart from mid-May to mid-June, when it closes for a few short weeks before opening up the park to dedicated freestylers once again. Serviced by 12 lifts, the resort has a bottom elevation of 2,011m and once you’re up on the mountain there’s a variety of great cafes, bars and restaurants, where you’re just as likely to find traditional German cuisine as Italian. GETTING THERE: The resort is just 55km from Bolzano Airport and can be accessed by flying from the UK to Bolzano (check out www.alitalia.com), before hiring a car or taking a regular transfer bus service to the resort. WHERE TO STAY: We stayed at the Hotel Oberraindlhof, and a nicer home for a week you couldn’t hope to find. Beautifully rustic, with excellent traditional South Tyrolean food, and the charm of a family-run operation… it’s ideal. Check out the best offers they have at www.oberraindlhof. com, you’ll even see a few photos of us up on their photo gallery! WHAT TO DO OFF THE MOUNTAIN: During the winter there’s a lot more happening around the resort and Maso Corto village, in the summer the area is a little quieter but there’s activity. And you’re in the middle of national park territory, so if the glacier isn’t in great shape on any given summer day, you can grab a mountain bike or go hiking in the surrounding valleys. The Thermal Baths in Merano, just a 40-minute drive, were a special treat for us (www.termemerano.it) and provided a fantastic day out, dipping in and out of some 25 in and outdoor pools, with healing properties in the radon charged water for those bumps and bruises you’ve picked up while riding. ■ www.valsenales.com

VIENNA

RIA T S AU

ZURICH

GRAZ

VAL SENALES MILAN

Y AL IT www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

076_079 Nxt Stp.indd 77

77 6/3/09 20:29:40

Best of British Who needs the Alps when you’ve got this at home? PHOTO COURTESY OF CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN

Y: PH RA G O OT PH

The UK scene is often synonymous with massive toothbrushes of dendix; but this island of ours is home to some awesome mountains like the Cairngorm range in Scotland The town of Aviemore has the awe-inspiring backdrop of Cairngorm Mountain and is home to more than a few dedicated shredders. A walk along the high street reveals a host of snowboard shops and the knowledge that you’re a 15minute bus ride away from the base station to get the funicular up this incredible mountain, where there’s nine miles of runs awaiting you. Cairngorm has spawned many a top rider; Rome rider Angus Leith and Team GB halfpipe star Ben Kilner claiming it as their home mountain. And Russ Shea, DCMT photographer, ﬁrst honed his skills up in Aviemore back in the day, alongside the likes of the TSA’s Jeremy Sladen.

The Vans Terrain Park

Cairngorm’s Ptarmigan Bowl is home to the Vans park, which can be found just a few hundred metres from the top station and

is maintained by the Terrain Park Crew (a group of dedicated volunteers who prepare and main the features throughout the season). They’re now preparing for the Vans Dawn of the Shred III, which hits Cairngorm on April 18th – the only open UK comp on real snow. The Aviemore park team will be busy shaping kickers, rails and boxes to top last year’s set up, and organisers have promised that the famous Nessie rail will be back. And if the monster kicker that was built in the Ptarmigan Bowl last season is anything to go by, this year the park is sure to be one hell of a ride. Just ask young master Leith who made the most of the impromptu kicker session. There’s a £1000 purse prize up for grabs too… so get yourselves up to Scotland folks. Head to www.document snowboard.co.uk for updates on the Vans Dawn of the Shred III. We’ll see you there.

SS RU

EA SH

ESSENTIAL NFO ■ Season: January to April (and into May if conditions hold) ■ Total Lifts: 17 ■ Total pistes: 28 ■ Total ride area: 9 miles (14km) ■ Longest run: 1.8miles (2.9km) ■ Top lift: 1080m ■ Vertical drop: 530m ■ First lift: 550m ■ Piste breakdown: Green runs: 34% Red runs: 62% Black runs: 4% ■ Lift Passes: The team at Cairngorm have set up a host of packages for visitors. There’s the seven-day snowsports voucher (£146 for adults, £88 for juniors), which can be used on consecutive or non-consecutive days through out the season. Then there’s the three-day voucher (£69.50 for adults, £42 for juniors) and the one-day ticket (£29 for adults, £17.50 for juniors), as well as the one-day family ticket (two adults and two juniors for £79). There are also discounts for students and seniors.

GETTING THERE Here at DCMT we took off for Aviemore for a weekend in mid-January and opted for the train to take the stress of driving out of the equation. Scot Rail provide the Caledonian Sleeper service, which sets out from London Euston at about 9pm, and delivers you into the heart of Aviemore town just before 8am the following day. It’s the perfect option of a weekend (or even a week’s) shred trip: we curled up in our cosy berth at about 10pm (after a quick drink and bite to eat in the lounge car) and enjoyed being rocked to sleep for a great

night’s sleep as the train chugged through the country and into the Scottish Highlands. We were woken by an attendant with a hot cup of coffee about 30 minutes before we arrived in town – bliss! Promptly dumped our gear and headed up the mountain making the most of a full day. And if you get in quick, you can pick up one of the cheap deals and ‘bargain berths’ on offer online, with tickets starting at £19 one way. Head to www.scotrail.co.uk or, alternatively, call them on 08457 550033.

■ WWW.CAIRNGORM MOUNTAIN.CO.UK

Heading to bed... and to Aviemore

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

084_085 Local Knowledge.indd 88

6/3/09 20:43:03

UK SLOPES Can’t live without it?

Shred this weekend!

1 GLENMORE LODGE Aviemore, Highlands & Islands, PH22 1QU 01479 861212 www.glenmorelodge.org.uk

2 LOCH INSH WATERSPORTS AND SKIING CENTRE Kincraig, Inverness-shire, PH21 1NU 01540 651272 www.lochinsh.com

3 LECHT SKI CENTRE The Lecht Ski Centre, Strathdon, Grampian, AB36 01975 651 426 www.lecht.co.uk

4 ALFORD SKI CENTRE Greystone Road, Alford, Grampian, AB33 8TI 01975 563024

15 MEADOWMILL SPORT AND SKI CENTRE Meadowmill Sports Centre, Meadowmill, by Tranent, Lothian, EH33 1LP 01875 611374 16 CARLISLE SNOWSPORTS CLUB The Edenside Cricket Ground, Carlisle, Cumbria, CA1 2UD 01228 810 696 www.carlislesnowsports.co.uk

17 WHICKHAM THORNS OUTDOOR ACTIVITY CENTRE Market Lane, Dunston, Gateshead, Tyne & Wear, NE11 9NX 0191 433 5767 www.gateshead.gov.uk

18 SUNDERLAND SKI CENTER Silksworth Lane, Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, SR3 2AN 0191 553 5789 19 CRAIGAVON GOLF AND SKI CENTRE Turmoyra Lane, Silverwood, Lurgan, Craigavon, County Armagh. BT66 6NG 028 3832 6606 www.craigavon.gov.uk

5 BALLATER SKI SLOPE Craigedarroch Hotel, Braemer Road, Ballater, Grampian, AB35 5XA 013397 55447 6 ABERDEEN CITY COUNCIL 42 Garthdee Road, Aberdeen, Grampian, AB11 7BA 01224 810215 www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

7 CONDOR DRY SKI SLOPE Royal Marines Condor, Arbroath, Angus DD11 3SJ 01241 822258 8 ANCRUM OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE 10 Ancrum Road, Dundee, Tayside, DD2 2HZ 01382 435911 www.ancrum.co.uk

9 GLASGOW SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTRE Bellashouston Park, 16 Drumbreck Road, Glasgow, Strathclyde, G41 5BW 0141 427 4991/3 www.ski-glasgow.co.uk

10 SCOTLAND SNOWSPORTS CENTER The mound, Stockiemuir Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, East Dunbartonshire, G61 3KS 0141 943 1500 www.skibearsden.co.uk

11 NEWMILNS SNOW AND SPORT COMPLEX 35 High Street, Newmilns, Strathclyde, KA16 9EB 01560 322320 www.skinewmilns.co.uk

12 POLMONTHILL SKI CENTER Polmonthill, Polmont, Falkirk, Central FK2 0YE 01324 503 835 13 FIRPARK SNOWSPORT SCHOOL Firpark, Tillicoultry, Clackmannanshire FK13 6PL 01259 751 772 www.clacksleisure.co.uk

14 MIDLOTHIAN SNOWSPORTS CENTRE Biggar Road, Hillend, Near Edinburgh, Midlothian EH10 7DU 0131 445 5549 http://ski.midlothian.gov.uk

20 LLANDUDNO SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTRE John Nike Leisuresport Ltd, The Great Orme, Llandudno, Gwynedd, LL20 2QL 01492 874707 www.llandudnoskislope.co.uk

21 PLAS-Y-BRENIN NATIONAL CENTRE FOR MOUNTAIN ACTIVITIES Capel Curig, Gwynedd, LL24 0ET 01690 720214 www.pyb.co.uk

22 RHIW GOCH SKI & MOUNTAIN BIKE CENTER Trawsfynydd Holiday Village, Bronaber, Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd, LL414UR 01766 540578 23 OVAL SPORTS CENTER Old Chester Road, Bebington, Wirral, Merseyside, L63 7LF 0151 645 0551 24 KENDAL SKI CLUB 49 Millcroft Avenue, Orrell, Wigan, Cumbria WN5 8TP 01695 624199 www.kendalski.co.uk 25 RUNCORN SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTRE Town Park, Palace Fields, Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 2PS 01928 701 965 www.runcornskicentre.co.uk

26 PENDLE SKI CLUB Clitheroe Road, Sabden, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 9HN 01200 42522 27 SKI ROSSENDALE Haslingden Old Road, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 8RR 01706 831 294 www.ski-rossendale.co.uk

28 HALIFAX SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTRE Bradford Old Road, Swalesmoor/Ploughcraft, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX3 6UG 01422 340760

30 SHEFFIELD SKI VILLAGE Vale Road, Parkwood Springs, Shefﬁeld, South Yorkshire, S3 9SJ 0114 276 0413

4 5

31 KIDSGROVE SKI CENTRE Bathpool Park, Kidsgrove, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST7 4EF 01782 784908 www.ski-kidsgrove.co.uk

7 8

9 10

32 STOKE SKI CENTRE Festival Park, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 5PU 01782 204159

13 11

www.stokeskicentre.co.uk

33 TAMWORTH SNOWDOME Leisure Island, River Drive, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 7ND 08705 00 00 11

16 17 18 26 27 24

www.snowdome.co.uk

34 SWADLINCOTE SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTRE John Nike Leisure Sport LTD. Swadlincote Ski & Snowboard Centre, Hill Street, Swadlincote, Burton Upon Trent, Derbyshire, DE11 8LP 01283 217200

37 TALLINGTON DRY SKI SLOPE Tallington Lakes,Barholm Road, Tallington, Stamford, Peterborough, PE9 4RJ 01778 346342 www.waspdirect.com

38 NORFOLK SKI CLUB LTD Whitlingham Lane, Trowse, Norwich, Norfolk NR14 8TW 01603 662781 www.norfolkskiclub.co.uk

39 LLANGRANNOG SKI CENTRE Urdd Gobaith Cymru, Gwersyll Llangrannog, Llangrannog, Llandysul, Ceredigion, SA44 6AE 01239 654656 40 PEMBREY SKI SLOPE Pembrey Country Park, Nr Llanelli, Dyfed SA16 0EJ 01554 834443 41 SWANSEA SKI CENTRE Brunel Way, Pentrechwyth, Swansea, West Glamorgan, SA1 7DB 01792 645639

www.ridehalifax.co.uk

29 XSCAPE CASTLEFORD Colorado Way, Glasshoughton, Castleford, West Yorkshire, WF10 4TA 0871 200 3221

43 CARDIFF SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTRE Fairwater Road, Fairwater Park, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, CF5 3JK 029 20561 793 www.skicardiff.com

36 39

48 42

40 41

44 43

60 59

61 63

66 65 67

58 62 53 56 51 49

www.telford.gov.uk/FreeTime/Sports

www.ackers-adventure.co.uk

30 31 32 33 34

35 TELFORD SKI CENTRE Court Street, Madeley, Telford, Shropshire, TF7 5DZ 01952 586862 36 THE ACKERS OUTDOOR ACTIVITY CENTRE Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, West Midlands, B11 2PY 0121 772 5111

29 28

20 21 22

www.swadlincoteskislope.co.uk

42 DAN YR OGOF SKI SLOPE Abercrave, Upper Swansea Valley, Swansea, West Glamorgan, SA9 1GJ 01639 730284

www.xscape.co.uk

1 2

www.shefﬁeldskivillage.co.uk

All aboard the funicular at Cairngorm 44 PONTYPOOL SKI CENTRE Pontypool Park, Pontypool, Gwent, NP4 8AT 01495 756 955

52 HIGH ACTION LTD Lyncombe drive, Churchill, Bristol, Avon B525 SPQ 01934 853314

45 GLOUCESTER SKI & SNOWBOARD CENTRE Matson Lane, Robinswood Hill, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL4 6EA 0870 240 0375

53 YEOVIL SKI CENTRE LTD Addlewell Lane, Nine Springs, Yeovil, Somerset. BA20 1QW 01935 421 702

www.gloucesterski.com

46 XSCAPE MILTON KEYNES Xscape, 602 Marlborough Gate, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 3XS 01908 680813 www.xscape.co.uk

47 BASSINGTON SNOWSPORTS CLUB PO Box 103, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 9ZN 01462 618091 www.skibass.org

48 SUFFOLK SKI CENTRE Bourne Hill, Wherstead, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP2 8NQ 01473 602 347 www.suffolkskicenter.co.uk

49 PLYMOUTH SKI & SNOWBOARD CENTRE John Nike Leisure Sport ltd Alpine Park, Marsh Mills, Plymouth, Devon PL6 8LQ 01752 600220 www.plymouthskislope.co.uk

50 TORQUAY ALPINE SKI CLUB Barton Hall, Kingskerwell Road, Torquay, Devon, TQ2 8JY 01803 313350 www.skitorquay.co.uk

51 EXETER & DISTRICT SKI CLUB Clifton Hill Sports Ground, Belmont Road, Exeter, Devon, EX1 2DJ 01392 211422

www.highaction.co.uk

www.yeovilalpinevillage.co.uk

54 DORSET SNOWSPORT CENTRE Warmwell Holiday Park, Warmwell, Nr Weymouth, Dorset, DT2 8JE 01305 853245 www.dorsetsnowsportcentre.co.uk

55 CHRISTCHURCH SKI & LEISURE CENTRE Matchams Lane, Hurn, Christchurch, Dorset BH23 6AW 01202 483564 www.christchurch-skicentre.com

56 CALSHOT ACTIVITIES CENTRE Calshot Spit, Fawley, Southampton, Hampshire, SO45 1BR 02380 892 077 www.calshot.com

57 SOUTHAMPTION ALPINE CENTRE Sports Centre, Bassett, Southampton, Hampshire, S016 7AY 023 8078 2291

www.southampton-alpine-centre.co.uk

58 BRACKNELL SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTRE John Nike Leisuresport, John Nike Way, Amen Corner, Binﬁeld, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 8TN 01344 789002 www.bracknellskislope.co.uk

59 WYCOMBE SUMMIT SKI & SNOWBOARD CENTRE Abbey Barn Lane, HighWycombe, Bucks, HP10 9QQ 01494 474711

66 BRENTWOOD PARK SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTRE Warkey Gap, Little Warley, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3PP 01277 211 994

60 HEMEL SKI CENTRE Wheelers Lane, St Albans Hill, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 9NH 01442 241321

67 CHATHAM SKI AND SNOWBOARD CENTER John Nike Leisuresport, Alpine Park, Capstone Road, Gillingham, Kent, ME7 3JH 01634 814075

www.wycombesummit.com

www.hemel-ski.co.uk

61 GOSLING SKI AND BOARD CENTRE Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, AL8 6XE 01707 384385 www.goslingsports.co.uk

62 ALPINE SNOW SPORTS Galleywey Road, Aldershot, Hampshire GU11 2DD 01252 348561 www.alpinesnowsports.co.uk

63 SANDOWN ACTIVE SPORTS Sandown Ski and Snowboarding, More Lane, Esher, Surrey, KT10 8AN 01372 467132 www.sandownsports.co.uk

64 CHRIST’S COLLEGE SKI CLUB Larch Avenue, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 01483 504992 www.ccski.co.uk

65 BROMLEY SKI Sandy Lane, St Paul’s Cray, Orpington, Kent, BR5 3HY 01689 876812 http://home.freeuk.net/bromleyski

www.brentwoodskicentre.co.uk

www.chathamskislope.co.uk

68 BOWLES OUTDOOR CENTRE Sand Hill Lane, Eridge Green, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN3 9L3 01892 665665 www.bowles.ac

69 KNOCKHATCH SKI & SNOWBOARD CENTRE Knockhatch Adventure Park, Hempstead lane, Hailsham, Sussex, BN27 3PR 01323 843344 www.ski-knockhatch.com

70 FOLKESTONE SKI CENTRE Radnor Park Avenue, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 5HX 01303 240842 www.folkestoneskicentre.co.uk

71 THE REALLI SKI CENTRE Unit 1, Out Elmstead Lane, Business Center, Dover Road, Barham, Nr Canterbury, Kent CT4 6HJ 01227 833944 www.realli-ski.co.uk

PROMOTE YOUR SLOPE HERE! Call Mark on 01733 293250

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

084_085 Local Knowledge.indd 89

71 70

89 6/3/09 20:43:32

Not so Training Tricks Technique

how to do a

SWITCH FRONTSIDE 1080

A competition-winning trick that Stefan Gimpl, for one, has used to devastating effectiveness in Big Air comps for the last few years. If you can get a handle on them, send us a picture PHOTOGRAPHY RUSS SHEA LOACTION BRECKENRIDGE, USA

Here I spin off the heel edge, but it is not uncommon to spin frontside and switch frontside from the toe edge

START Head into the jump with some good speed. I set up on my toe edge and as I near the lip, I switch to my heel edge dropping my shoulders back and ready to unload and explode into rotation madness

Once I have popped and initiated the spin, I stay centred over the board and hold the grab for as long as possible. Keep your upper body compact and fully committed to get all the way round to 1080. Hold on and make sure to enjoy the ride

I spot the landing at 900 and as I keep going for one more 180 I see the ground between my legs

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

096_097 NSBT.indd 96

6/3/09 21:40:27

TALKING 1080 DIFFICULTY

GRAB

AMPLITUDE

Think darts world championships and add 900. The 1080, in any direction, will very often be a competition-winning trick. Nate Kern dropped one at the Brits Big Air a couple of years back to steal gold from Tyler Chorlton’s super technical backside 900 shifty-shifty, which goes to show the respect invested in them. One of the ﬁrst pictures we saw of the

switch frontside variety (or cab 1080 if you don’t mind opening up a world of linguistic pain with the purists in the house) was Canadian Marc Andre Tarte dropping a 40m switch 1080 in 2001. Since then, 1080s across the board have become a prerequisite of competition-attending pros. And while you might think the pace of freestyle trickery has left the humble 1080 in

its wake (what with the double corking 1260s professional riders are emulating these days), you’d be wrong. Spinning around three times on your snowboard is still a very worthy achievement.

infrontams.biz/pubb_EN/ popup_snowboard.php?id=8 94&sessid=3c579d884fb8ee 25604ce51b659fa997

SEE IT IN REAL TIME: Check out Markku Koski as he takes World Cup Big Air gold earlier this year in Korea: http://wintersport.

STYLE

KUDOS

RIDER: NATE KERN, 25

SPONSORS: DC Snowboards, DC Boots, DC Outerwear, Smith Optics, Drop MFG, Me.Glad, BC Surf and Sport, Bawbags, Broadcast

Here you need to prepare your legs and absorb the impact with your knees. I try to land ﬂat based although, landing over my toe edge a little helps avoid reverting and catching the toe edge, which could result in a nasty crash

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

096_097 NSBT.indd 97

97 6/3/09 21:23:45

BOARDS

� � �� 99 � �� 29/8/08 �� Cover.indd Directory � �� 099 �� 20:56:33 BINDINGS BOOTS OUTERWEAR OTHER KIT CAMPS & COURSES TRAVEL HEALTH

RETAILERS

03 BRA M&S

It’s not too heavy duty, comfortable and holds everything in place. www.marksandspencer.com

04 JACKET

BILLABONG SIGNATURE JENNY JONES JACKET FOR 2009/10 £180 I like it because I helped to design it. The buttons are a nice feature and the jacket is a longer length to cover your bum, and still waterproof etc. www.billabong.com

09 SHIRT BILLABONG

This makes a great mid layer, perfect for spring time or summer riding. If I fall over a lot, it doesn’t hold loads of water from the snow so it stays light. www.billabong.com

10 THERMALS

SKINS WINTER THERMALS APPROX £70 I started using these this season and really like them. They are compression tights but with a thermal layer for winter use. As well as acting like thermals they stop your muscles getting as tired.

11 IMPACT SHORTS

05 PANTS

FORCEFIELD BODY ARMOUR ACTION PRO SPORT £90

BILLABONG JENNY JONES PANT £140

You can put in as little or as much padding as you require. Comfortable and the material is thinner than a lot of other brands but is just as protective. And, because it is thinner, it is way more ﬂattering on the bum. www.forceﬁeldbodyarmour.co.uk

Not too baggy and not too tight, loads of pockets, comfortable and waterproof. www.billabong.com

12 GLOVES/MITTENS

GRENADE AMMO RANGE $73 (£50 APPROX)

15 BINDINGS

SALOMON RELAY £160

I like that they are two-in-one. Thin pipe gloves and warm mittens, so I don’t have to make a decision. www.grenadegloves.com

I like the soft heel cups, I think they let you get away with more when crashing, less pain but still supportive. Nice big straps too. I like to feel my ankles are covered in support. www.salomonsnowboard.com

100 100_101 L&L.indd 100

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

6/3/09 20:48:57

BOARDS

BIOGRAPHY

01 GOGGLES

OAKLEY A FRAMES £99

02 HAT

DALIKFODDA £16

OTHER KIT

SMARTWOOL £17 I love soft thick socks that don’t creep down your leg and bunch up in your bloody boot. These seem to cover all those areas. www.smartwool.com

13 BANDIT FACE MASK SALOMON OPTIMAS £180 I like really supportive boots and these are really stiff for the ﬁrst few days but then feel great and last so much longer than other women’s boots (in my opinion!). www.salomonsnowboard.com

It’s a classic, pretty robust when riding, and always tells me the time. www.nixonnow.com

SALOMON LILY 148 £280

Jenny Jones, has been riding for a decade, amassing all the knowledge needed to make sure she’s got the right tools for the job www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

100_101 L&L.indd 101

101

RETAILERS

For riding park and piste. The base is just so much faster. It has great ﬂex but without being a whimpy girl’s board, still has nice pop and super fun for playing around on. For all mountain, backcountry etc, I have either the Lily 153 or the Sick Stick (£365), which is great in powder. www.salomonsnowboard.com

L CK Jenny AND Jones LOAD Golden girl of the moment, X Games winner

HEALTH

14 SNOWBOARD

Made by a small NZ compay based in Wanaka. Rad designs with thick and thin options – thick for cold days and thin for sunshine. Breathable and stops me getting a dirty goggle tan. Great velcro release at the back too.

TRAVEL

NIXON SMALL PLAYER £140

APPROX £25

CAMPS & COURSES

07 BOOTS

08 WATCH

OUTERWEAR

06 SOCKS

BOOTS

Small UK brand by a great bunch of lads, really into riding and Guinness. www.dalikfodda.com

BINDINGS

I like the ﬁt and they’re more protective in sunlight. www.oakley.com

Name: Jenny Jones Age: 28 Years riding: 10 Competition results: In January I was first in the slopestyle at the X Games. Last year I finished second on the Burton Open Series; first at the Nippon Open; second at the European Open and third at the US Open. This year, following the Winter Dew tour in the states, I had a second in Breckenridge, fourth at Mount Snow in Vermont, eighth at Lake Tahoe, and I’ve just found out that I’ve finished the tour in third overall. Hometown: Bristol Local slope: Hmmm? Favourite resort: I don’t have a major favourite as I have ridden in some amazing places; I do really like going back to Avoriaz in the French Alps. Sponsors: Billabong, Oakley, Salomon, Nixon, Les Ettes, Grenade.

6/3/09 20:49:27

t e's biggesPO, b lo g e h t to . IS to Munichomorrow looks like t we'll r e v o p o AR we tro te of wha ee what t EVERY YErts trade show to s we get our first tas a festival of winterspo its name, is where ear. Tune in now to for that is and wearing next y the tickets to... be riding at only DCMT has hotness th

inter ISPO, in Munich in the ﬁrst week of February every year, is where all the manufacturers, uppliers and trade folk in snowboarding, skiing, ice hockey, climbing, cross-country... anything with snow or ice, attend. Here's our take on what's about to happen next season. Amongst the forums, awards, gatherings, buying groups and giant booze-ups at the trade’s major blow-out lurks the near, and sometimes far, future of snowboarding. First up, it's going to be a weird year. The companies at the heart of snowboarding are bracing for a downturn. Not a collapse, by any means, but a slowdown is surely on the cards. This translated as smaller stands, smaller ranges, less free grub, but still some reasonably unfettered enthusiasm for next year's kit. We saw ranges being shown on iPods (how the hell are we supposed to bend that?) and some pricing that was so bonkers it was clear the companies must be moving out of those areas of the market as fast as possible. Which brings us to the biggest real story of the show – with the pound so weak, what was happening to prices? At the time of going to print – early-March – it’s a right mess. Some exhibitors hadn’t set theirs, a few were holding them to last year’s levels and most were posting increases of between 5 and 30%. It’s more to do with currency than the raw material price spike we saw last year. At the worst case of 30%, that means a £200 jacket becomes nearly £300, a £300 snowboard hit £400. Not everyone is going the same way; some brands, like K2 and Salomon for example, are taking the hit upon themselves to keep their UK retailers and consumers sweet. Canny UK retailers will scoop up vast amounts of product and sell them abroad as super-cheap deals; it’s already happening this season. As you might imagine, the European retailers are getting quite upset and since they represent a far larger chunk of sales than the UK, these bold intentions might yet not come to pass. Trend-wise, what we’re seeing is freeride. There's a lot of top-end technical clothing in solid colourways. As ever, it's going to be fun. You'll get a feel for what's coming up over the next 14 pages, and we'll be updating our website with products and prices as they’re unveiled; so head to www.documentsnowboard.co.uk for more.

102

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

102_116 ISPO.indd 102

6/3/09 21:02:55

Apparently the name represents June 1986. Just thought you might like to know some brand trivia there. These guys are now in their 17th year rocking the market in America and their 8th in Europe. Since coming to the fore they have put a lot of pressure on other companies, producing products that are fresh and functional and that have sold like hotcakes across the board. One of the first companies to incorporate a zip-able liner (Smartie Technology). This year their pivotal moments are the ACC collection, the Core collection (which collaborates with Krew skateboarding apparel) and real denim 20000/20000 Levi jacket.

More good things from the ski/snowboard brand. The most exciting news on the snowboard side of things for the 09/10 comes in the shape of the High Def. A version of the popular Falconoid on a diet that utilises a honeycomb construction in the tip and tail to help with rotation in the air. Unofficially the lightest board on the market (at least in its 155cm incarnation).

In their seedy motel stand, Analog were displaying their latest shiny goodness. Recent Virgin Records signee and Analog man Trevor Andrew brings his own eighties thing to his signature Altar jacket for 09/10, complete with denim look, zip off sleeves and strictly limited numbers. On a more everyman tip, the Acid jacket features a few higher-end features, filtering down to the more economically priced bits. Think Louis Vuitton inspired graphics. Oh, and British Analog team rider Jono Wood has managed to get some of his doodles on a T-shirt or two.

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

102_116 ISPO.indd 103

103 6/3/09 21:05:20

BOARDS BINDINGS

JAPAN

Thredbo and Perisher Blue are the most renowned resorts in Australia, with the largest and most established ski areas. Both are in the southeastern state of New South Wales. Mount Hotham has the steeper terrain and best powder, while Mount McKay, accessed from Falls Creek resort, is the most challenging riding in Oz. There are many other options.

Japan is gaining a cult status for its quantity and quality of snowfall. There are over 600 ski resorts in Japan, most of these only used by the Japanese at the weekends, leaving them quiet in the week. The best-known resort, and the one with the best infrastructure in place for foreign visitors is Niseko, on the northern island of Hokkaido. It’s in the northern hemisphere so go there in our winter.

NISEKO

BOOTS

AUSTRALIA

SELWYN SNOWFIELDS

HAPPO ONE

OTHER KIT

SOUTH AMERICA

NEW ZEALAND

CAMPS & COURSES

Their winter is our summer so you’ll find lots of European skiers out here, living an eternal winter. Season workers and pros mainly congregate in Wanaka and Queenstown on the South Island, to access the freestyle joys of Snow Park and the runs on Treble Cone, Cadrona, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. There is heli-riding on Mount Cook.

CHILE

WHAKAPAPA TUROA

17 16

TRAVEL

MAPPING COURTESY OF GOOGLE EARTH CNES/SPOT IMAGE, DIGITAL GLOBE, NASA

OUTERWEAR

THREDBO 11 9 PERISHER BLUE 3 CHARLOTTE PASS MT BUFFALO 7 4 FALLS CREEK BLUE COW 2 6 MOUNT HOTHAM 8 MT BULLER 5 GUTHEGA

Combine a summer sightseeing and wine-tasting trip with some excellent quality snowboarding in the stunning Andes. Take in a few resorts since you’ve come all this way (over 24 hours travel): Valle Nevado, Portillo and Termas de Chillian in Chile are all on the list. Valle Nevado is best for intermediates and Portillo for steeps.

VALLE NEVADO 12 1

LAS LEÑAS

ARGENTINA

RETAILERS

HEALTH

While you’re there, you can also dip over the border to Argentina’s Las Leñas resort, which has some gnarly off-piste terrain to explore. If you are travelling in Argentina, San Carlo de Bariloche offers intermediate cruisers.

CORONET PEAK

120

www.docu mentsnow board.co.uk

120_121 Resort Finder.indd 120

6/3/09 20:53:51

THE REST OF THE WORLD

120_121 Resort Finder.indd 121

Andrew Hardingham goes steep in Caviahue, Argentina PH: SPENCER FRANCEY

27/1/09 13:23:11 snowman-55x290.indd 1

1 ARGENTINA LAS LEÑAS www.lasleñas.com TELEPHONE 541148196000 AIRPORT Malargue (70km), San Rafael (200km) 2 AUSTRALIA BLUE COW www.perisherblue.com.au TELEPHONE 1264505600 3 AIRPORT Cooma (1 hour) RAILWAY STATION Queanbeyan (2 hours) or Canberra (2 hours) CHARLOTTE PASS www.charlottepass.com.au TELEPHONE 1800026369 4 AIRPORT Cooma (1 hour) RAILWAY STATION Queanbeyan (2 hours) or Canberra (2 hours) FALLS CREEK www.fallscreek.com.au TELEPHONE 161357583224 5 AIRPORT Albury (263km) RAILWAY STATION Albury GUTHEGA www.perisherblue.com.au TELEPHONE 1264575528 6 AIRPORT Cooma (1 hour) RAILWAY STATION Queanbeyan (2 hours) or Canberra (2 hours) MOUNT HOTHAM www.hotham.com TELEPHONE 1157593508 7 AIRPORT Cooma (1 hour) RAILWAY STATION Queanbeyan (2 hours) MT BUFFALO www.mtbuffallo.com.au TELEPHONE 57551988 8 AIRPORT Albury (263km) RAILWAY STATION Albury MT BULLER www.mtbuller.com.au TELEPHONE 35777607 9 AIRPORT Albury (263km) RAILWAY STATION Albury PERISHER BLUE www.perisherblue.com.au TELEPHONE 1264594421 10 AIRPORT Cooma (1 hour) RAILWAY STATION Queanbeyan (2 hours) or Canberra (2 hours) SELWYN SNOWFIELDS www.selwynsnow.com.au TELEPHONE 1264549488 RAILWAY STATION Queanbeyan (2 hours) or Canberra (2 hours) 11 AIRPORT Cooma (1 hour) THREDBO www.thredbo.com.au TELEPHONE 1800020589 AIRPORT Cooma (85km) RAILWAY STATION Queanbeyan (2 hours) or Canberra (2 hours) 12 CHILE VALLE NEVADO www.vallenevado.com TELEPHONE 5624777000 AIRPORT Sandiago (1.5 hours) 13 JAPAN HAPPO ONE www.hakuba-happo.or.jp TELEPHONE 81261723066 14 AIRPORT Tokyo Narita (2 hours) RAILWAY STATION Hakuba NISEKO www.niseko.ne.jp TELEPHONE 81136582080 AIRPORT Chitose (2.5 hours) RAILWAY STATION Niseko 15 NEW ZEALAND CORONET PEAK www.mtruapehu.com TELEPHONE 6434424615 16 AIRPORT Queenstown (21km) RAILWAY STATION Queenstown (25 minute walk) TUROA www.mtruapehu.com TELEPHONE 1643858456 17 AIRPORT Ohakune (3.7 miles) RAILWAY STATION Ohakune (3.6 miles) WHAKAPAPA www.mtruapehu.com TELEPHONE 16478923738

Japanese nights

*Ski Club of Great Britain skiclub.co.uk

Over the season we’ve covered the Alps – Swiss, French, Austrian and Italian. We’ve done Canada, the US and the fringes of Europe... what’s left? Well, the REST OF THE WORLD, of course!

Price correct as at 23rd Jan 2009 based on travel in the next 15-60 days. See website for full frequency information. Variable charges for hold baggage apply and some payment methods attract a handling fee.

RESORT FINDER

“Some of the best early season snow for 25 years.”* And here’s another carrot:

PH: SPENCER FRANCEY

Hurry, book now

Henning Marthinsen in La Hoya, Argentina. Some view...

6/3/09 20:54:26