Issue #1 Vol #5 Fall 08
***FREE
H W O OLY LL ! E! Buyers Guide
Guest Editor!
Chiller Snowskate’s Mark Edmundson
revolution
Snowskate Shop Wenatchee, Washington
revolutionsnowandskate.com 509-665-6662
“Obviously snowboard and ski technology is the easiest to borrow from but when are we going to start using snowskate technology?� Mark Edmundson
“It’s amazing just getting to the top on one of those things” Jeff Brushie on the amazing snowskaters at the Holy Oly. “So while I was pissing everyone dropped in” Sean Davis on filming the Shut Up And Snowskate race. “I had sex too piss someone off. The snowskate came as a perk.” Princess on how she got such a nice skate. “What are you gonna do to get me a skate?” Mel on Princess. “My boobs are big enough to be in Starfish” Amy James on why she should be in our ads. “I didn’t want to be a snowskater, I’m not old enough yet.” Jackson on becoming a snowskater. “I do need more mags. Local kids want them fast!” Jacob Narawitz on what kids want.
QUOTES
“You”re the poser from Starfish!” Adrian on Terry Parker. “Whatever you look like a girl” Terry Parker on Adrian. “You should buy everything out there” Mark Edmundson on supporting snowskating. “You are very powerful” Mindy Davis on Starfish. “Now you gotta make a girl cry with every issue.” Dane upping the ante. “We wanna be your next “Babes” Lori and Stacy. “This seems kinda unprofessional” Amy James on Tomoki taking pictures of her boobs.
Clarke #3 by Tomoki
“The big mistake in my opinion, it wasn’t a rider owned company.”
F
or this years Buyers Guide we really pulled out all of the stops. Starfish has hired the World’s leading expert to inform our readers what is Tote Aus and what is Tote Boge in the snowskate design world. Obviously the World’s
leading expert on Snowskate design is our guest editor Mark Edmundson. What qualifies Mark? Well, fun is always the most important reason. As a designer Mark is focused on the fun of skating and the progression of snowskate design. It seems obvious that no matter what your skill level you will have more fun on a board that performs like it should. As the owner of Chiller
BOARDS By Mark Edmundson
Snowskates Mark has designed, researched and built literally hundreds of binding proof snow shredding machines. Mark is the guru of snowskate design, recognizing the most important factors are fun and function. Rather than looking at the new products coming out, this Buyers Guide will focus on what has been done historically in the snowskate design world. What works, what doesn’t and why. It seems like a complex question but
the answer is simple. The snowskate that works the best is the most fun, duh. For our buyers guide Starfish photographer Darrly Polluck has compiled a collection of historical snowskate photographs. Mark has commented on the design issues related to each skate. Read em and weep. The best snowskate is the one that is the most fun!
I
n past Buyers Guide issues those of us with stuff to sell would just send Starfish a paragraph or so about what we were making and basically get a free add. Well, Starfish has wised up, so no more free ads, instead you’ll get me talking about snowskates that you can only buy on ebay. That’s right we are going to talk about a vintage collection of snowskates so that when you get bombarded with questions in the lift line you’ll be able to give some historical facts to make it seem like you know your shit. If you want to know about boards for sale this year, just check out all the ads.
THE
ER F R nurfer- Well acSNU
R THE SKIFE
S
kifer- Same idea as the snurfer. I guess these guys thought that the binding free industry was big enough for two companies making short water skis with ropes tied to them. At that time there were Snurfer competitions and pro riders. This shows that they were following the basic concept of competitive sports; Name someone the best rider in the World then hope others will try and dethrone them. I don’t think they ever had made any signature models.
THE SNOWSKATE
S
cording to the various sources on line they either sold 500,000 or 1,000,000 boards in their 12 year run. I’d classify the snurfer as a money making scheme akin to the hula hoop. Sherman Poppen probably had some sleepless nights dreaming of the millions he would rake in and I’m sure others believed it too. To his credit though, most sports came and went as fads so how was he suppose to act any differently? The big mistake in my opinion, it wasn’t a rider owned company.
“C
an’t you just imagine all the kids stuck at home on a snowy weekend having a blast in their own backyards.” Where have you heard that before? Not that it’s a bad concept just that it ain’t true.
I remember when I was ten or so and one of the older skaters in our town was riding one of these at the ski hill. He was having to work pretty hard for his turns and the ski hill manager that was riding with him was just
JAKE TOMLINSON
Ollie Melon made possible by Rocker Trucks SEQUENCE BY BIG JOHN. BACKGROUND PHOTO BY PAUL LEAVITT
shaking his head, “no way is that thing going to be allowed here.” O. K. the snowskates plastic ski attachments has everything you could want in money making scheme. Simple plastic product that bolts to something kids already own by the boatloads. Were these guys actually trying to create a new sport or were they just trying to jump onto the skate phenomena bandwagon of the 70's? Again, no one every gave me a set of these at Christmas so I can't
comment on how they installed and rode but I would have been all over something like this especially, cause I already had a skateboard. I guess you can say this was the first of the bolt on products where people are trying to skateboard on snow, compared to the snurfer which is trying to waterski on snow. This actually looks like it might have influenced Chuck Barefoot and Tom Sims when they produced and sold the flying yellow banana. A plastic sled attached to a skate deck.
“everything you could want in money making scheme”
Randy by PLWP
“The desire to get off your stomachs and stand up must go way back.” Alan Gerlach
T
he flying yellow banana-I’m sure there are a few versions online of how this board came into production. I like the one that says; Chuck Barefoot made the yellow sled in his garage and gave it to Tom Sims who mounted it to a Lonnie toft skate deck. It’s just so obvious that they were trying to skateboard on snow. They only produced these for a short time in 77’ this has to be considered the first bi-deck. I remember seeing a picture in Transworld Skateboarding at the time, and thinking, “how is that possible?” If you ever see one of these grab it, they are worth a bunch of money on ebay.
THE FLYING YELLOW BANANA
THE SWING-BO
A
lpine Surf- I guess it makes some sense to have two articulating skis but it sure seems complicated. There was another guy from Sweden who was trying to revive the idea last year. His trucks actually made the skis cant more into the slope when you turned. Not sure if he had spent much time riding bi-decks before he embarked on the patent journey. I’m sure this idea is far from dead and we may see more reincarnations of the Alpine surf in the future.
P
inning down how these aspects affect the ride and shaping subs accordingly is the future.
This shot has almost been on the cover a few times now but it never seems to make the final cut. Oh well, it’s here now. Full page, full color. Clarke #3 by Tomoki at Wolf Laurel North Carolina.
THE SKEETER
T P E C E D E H T and a bideck the Decept
I
n 2001-2004 snowskating was thriving and a pile of snowboard companies had a skate out. Around that time different snowskate types would pop up all over the place hoping to rein supreme over the other designs, among those obscure designs was the Decept boards. Almost a combination of a single deck
Snowskates utilized a hull design and from watching the "pro" team in their videos the hull design was a step below either. The hull design featured a grooved concave piece of plastic on the bottom of a skateboard deck, the grooves were curved out to assist with turning and the top deck was elevated to give leverage for turns not unlike a Burton Ap-
T
he Skeeter appears to be one step further along the line from the snowskate with its big top deck and plastic paddles. Given that the snowboard had not been invented yet it seems reasonable to think that the pivoting paddles
would work. And I’m sure expectations were low as far as control goes. Again these things were marketed to kids with snow in their back yards and sledding hills. The desire to get off your stomachs and stand up must go way back.
proach. Unfortunately the curved, grooved base and made it unstable in anything but 2" of slush and the grooves curved outwards made it track awkward and unpredictable. While the Decept snowskates had their flaws they came into the game strong and provided they stuck with it and evolved their designs they could still be kicking around today.
FUSE skater Brad by Tiny
THE BI-DECK
I
'm not even worthy to comment on the Frink boards. I mean look at em, he had three sized to cover all the bases. In fact that little board looks an awful lot like Jordan’s test jib board. That must have been a whirlwind couple of years for Steve in the beginning. Everyone had to think that an idea using already available skatedecks and ski boards
to create something that actually worked and was a blast to ride would be a gold mine! Then to have some HUGE company come along and also start making marketing and selling the same thing. I'm sure it was a roller coaster. It would have been a great ending to the story if Steve would have made a bunch of money off the idea.
“I don’t think it would look like this.”
B
THE BAREFOOT
arefoot -- I don’t think a snowskate longboard is out of the question. Its not unreasonable to think that the dynamics of a bi-deck can’t be applied to subs of different lengths and widths. But I don’t think it would look like this. Obviously snowboard and ski technology is the easiest to borrow from but when are we going to start using snowskate technology? I mean there are so many details
with the upper deck, truck height, top deck nose and tail that must make things unique just to snowskates. Pinning down how these aspects affect the ride and shaping subs accordingly is the future.
THE FUSE
“skating is completely intrenched into our culture.�
W
ith all the parks that have been built, how much tv and video there is devoted to skateboarding. I think its pretty obvious that skating is completely intrenched into our culture. Add the fact that skate decks are made by the gabillions in China for pennies. It seems reasonable to think that if you can just come up with something that attaches to a skateboard with trucks that you would be 3/4 of the way the to fame and fortune.
Andrew Buergin Photo by Gregor
Fuse are obviously the closest thing to an actual skateboard and for those who want something that feels like a skateboard
on snow then Fuse is your ticket. I have never ridden one so I can't comment on them but all the pics and vids I have
seen show that the guys ridding them are definitely pushing it.
SNOWSKATE RESORT GUIDE State CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CA CO CO CO CO CO CO CO ID ID ID IL
USA
Resort Bear Mountain Boreal Mountain Dodge Ridge June Mountain Kirkwood Mammoth Mt. High Northstar at Tahoe Sierra at Tahoe Snow Summit Breckenridge Buttermilk Copper Mountain Crested Butte Keystone Loveland Telluride Schweitzer Silver Mtn Sun Valley Chestnut Mountain
IL IN IN ME MI MI MI MI NC NC NH NH NM OR OR OR PA PA PA UT UT VT VT VT VT WA WA WA WA
Raging Buffalo Paoli Peaks Perfect North Sunday River Bittersweet Caberfae Holiday Hills Marquette Mountain Appalachian Ski Mtn Hawk's Nest Loon Mountain Waterville Valley Angel Fire Hoodoo Mt. Hood Meadows Timberline OR Ski Liberty Ski Round Top Whitetail Brighton Snowbird Smuggler's Notch Stowe Stratton Sugarbush Hurricane Ridge Mt Baker WA Mt Spokane WV Summit at Snoqualmie WY
CANADA
Steven's Pass Snowshoe Snow King
Province Resort AB Castle Mountain AB Canada Olympic Park AB Hidden Valley AB Lake Louise AB Marmot Basin AB Nakiska AB Rabbit Hill AB Snow Valley AB Sunshine AB Tawatinaw BC Fernie BC Mt. Seymour BC Red Mtn BC Whistler BC BC Whitewater NS Martock NS Wentworth QC Mont-Comi Park QC Tremblant Tyso n by Big John
T-Shirts
$10
starfishsnowskatemagazine.com
THE PP3 “WOLLE’S BOARD”
“It’s almost like there was this huge leap in technology”
Wolle Nyvelt, photos by Scott Sullivan
The shape of the pp3 is so monumental in floating the pow. It’s almost like there was this huge leap in technology way before there was a demand. Here we are six years later and many of us are just starting to use this shape. I’m not sure if we would have stumbled onto this ourselves seeing how a full sized snowboard with a top deck or bath mat can easily float the pow strapless. owever to have something that is controllable on the groomers and powder and is fun to ride on both, what more could you ask for?
Merissa George
KNOXVILLE 865-523-0045
WWW.PLUTOSPORTS.COM
Tote Aus VS. Tote Boge TOTE AUS
F
ortunately for snowskaters world wide the Starfish Buyers Guide is still here to inform skaters about the constantly changing trends within the snowskate community. Starfish’s team of “trend researchers” has once again traveled the globe studying trends
Tote Aus!
Tote BOGE!
*LATE GRABS
*EARLY GRABS
*JESSICA
*JACKSON
*PAT QUINN
*JAN TERRY
*BIG JOHN’S *BIG JOHN’S STOLEN NEW 40DD CAMERA *ROCKER MAKING *ROCKER MAKSOME PEOPLES ING EVERYBODY’S TRUCKS TRUCKS *VODKA
*VODKA RED BULL
*ONE BALL JAY *CHRIS WELLHAUSEN *JENNY *NOBOARDS *HATING POWDER
*FS GRIP *PLWP *AMY JAMES *FLORIDA DOLPHINS *THINKING POWDER IS O. K.
Totally More Tote Boge! *SEATTLE
*PATENT VIOLATIONS
and fads so our readers don’t have to. All you have to do is read the list, apply the changes and Viola, you’re cool. Once again our researchers have compiled a list of last years trends that are now “Tote Boge” and this years trends which are now “Tote Aus.”
Totally More Tote Aus! *WENATCHEE *PROGRESS
*SHUT UP AND SNOWSKATE
*RALSTON CUP
*WANNA BE PROS
*GIRLS
*BLACK AND WHITE *CIRCUIT MOVING *TEAMS *SKATING FOR SPONSORS
*CMYK *CIRCUIT DELIVERING SICK BOARDS *FRIENDS *SKATING FOR FUN
Goblin
the
Photo by Carrie
m u i od
P
In attempt to advert the current influx of non skating money grubbers from the snowskate industry STARFISH MAGAZINE, RALSTON SNOWSKATES, STRAPLESS ENTERTAINMENT, ROCKER TRUCKS, FLORIDA POWDER SKATES, SNOWSKATE.CA. AND LIB TECH** Have joined forces to create the STARFISH INTERNATIONThanks to everybody that AL SNOWSKATE COOP. bought raffle Tickets at Shut Snowskaters can look forward Up And Snowskate. We raised to more interactive web 1,000 dollars to help buy Big pages, online video premiers, John’s new camera. Global updated photo galleries and domination is back on sched- online board sales.*** ule. Thanks.
Mike Stienhausen (below) recently became Starfish’s first paid subscriber in Switzerland.
It’s official, Ralston snowskates work. This fact was really pounded home when Ralston sent only one rider to Washington for Shut Up and Snowskate. That rider was Pat “The Goblin” Quinn. Goblin dominated the event by winning the race, the freestyle and the best trick award. Get down goblin and get down Ralston.
One more reminder to anyone visiting Washington or anywhere in the Northwest. Visiting Stevens Pass is a huge mistake. Starfish researchers working in Canada have recently informed us that Premier Snowskates is actually owned by Yoshida’s Teryaki. Great sauces terrible snowskates. Danny Sheehan is currently developing a snowskate exclusive factory somewhere in Central California. The video footage of this issues cover featuring Wolle Nyvelt can be seen in the new Absinth Film “Ready.”
After about a year of totally embarrassing the snowskate community the Lib Tech snowskate team has finally been eliminated. During their one year run riders and the team manager degraded the image of snowskaters to an embarrassing low. This new “deadbeat image” actual lead to the cancellation of snowskatings longest running, biggest and most fun event, Shut Up And Snowskate. Lib fans need not worry Lib continues to support the creative arts of Jake, Sean, Quam and Clarke #3 in a less team oriented fashion. The rest of the team is apparently being relocated to the Ralston “B” team.
That’s right Shut Up And Snowskate has been cancelled. Contest officials decided “It was just too much drama”. Nice work guys. The good news is that the biggest contest in the snowskate world is now Sierra Tahoe’s Ralston Cup and that one has a much larger CASH prize. California has two new snowskate companies. Minus 7, located in the Tahoe region and Pioneer Snowskates based in Newport Beach. This brings the number of snowskate companies in California up to four. All of these skates feature Rocker Trucks. Adam B. has quit his job and is now focusing on making Florida Powder Skates.
New snowskate events are being held at Donner Ski Hill in California and Schweitzer Idaho. Stay tuned for dates and more information. Revolutionary big mountain snowboarder Johan Olofson has been spotted riding binding free in Canada. Pluto Sports has closed their shop in Gatlingburg and is opening a new shop in West Knoxville. The designers at Sick Dog leashes have decided to re release last years model with no changes. Why argue with perfection? Apparently they are making some kind of new diorama for there ads.
***Lib won’t actually call us back but the Coop is backing and selling their products.
I
f we didn’t have these killer shots of Clarke skating with crampons on I doubt we would have done a shoe review at all. Nothing really changes in the snowskate shoe world. Every year there are rumors that the companies have stopped making them completely. Although the shoes exist they are very rare. Most
Photo by JRE
Clarke photo by Big John
SHOES of the sales reps don’t even know if they exist. If you ask a shop for snowskate shoes they will look at you like you are claiming to have just seen a sasquatch. Wether or not these shoes are designed for snowskating or just skaters who happen into the snow is unclear. Either way we all seem to wear them.
T
he big news this year is that Lakia is now making snowskate shoes. I haven’t actually seen them but I know they exist.
I
n spite of the rumors Vans is still making the ICO snowskate shoe. Vans has moved away from thier traditional style and taken on a new, more “space age” look.
PRIMORDIA
ADRIAN RASMU SSEN know? Name?
Adrian The rest of it?
Rassmussen Age?
Oh, what? Age?
Age what? I don’t get
it looked really cool and he said I could borrow one of his skates. Later I tried it and it was really a good day. Oh yeah and Squirrel hooked me up with a Danny Kass. Were you riding the hill right away?
Who are your dream sponsors?
Lib tech and Sessions Who do you need to thank?
Jesse Burtner it was O.K. I wanna get some other kids snowskating so I will have some buddies, next generation. Anything else?
Oh yeah at Shut Up and Snowskate I really wanted to help John and I spent like 30 bucks of my own money on raffle tickets, It was worth it, I got a skateboard.
You, and Vern and What do you see in the fuumm... Squirrel. ture of snowskating, like How does it feel to be the only snowskater at an event like the Greenhorn Games?
the next three years?
A lot more like teens doing it, like all of those parkies at Central they’re all gonna get into it. I don’t know maybe later when I am like 16 I will offer something new, maybe like a snowskate instructor?
Flattered, all the kids were like YEAH! I How old are you? No, I took like three didn’t get anything, Oh, I didn’t get it, 11. days at Snoqualmie but... I couldn’t do anyWhere do you live? and I got a Burton Beacon Hill, Seattle snowskate for my birth- thing anyone else could so they didn’t have a Washington. day, and then Squirrel category for me, so... as What is you home moun- gave me his snowskate, long as I got props from We are gonna need them. tain? which I really liked and Summit, Alpental. then I tried out my dads
it?
Are you a flat or a Bi-Decker?
Bi. When did you first start snoskating?
06. Who were your early influences?
Umm, I saw Vern at the Alpental lodge and
Lib Tech snowskate. That was pretty awesome.
“all the kids were like YEAH!”
When did you first see Starfish Magazine?
At Snocon, before I snowskated. Are you an early or a late grabber?
(Laughter) No grabber. Who is the best snowskater in the world right now?
U m m . . . Clarke, apparently #3 but I don’t
STARFISHSNOWSKATEMAGAZINE.COM
For another angle of Jake’s step up check out Strapless Entertainment’s new movie “Back Yard to Battle Ground”. Photo by Pat Kennedy
O. K. after a lot of complaining Mark has convinced me that this Buyers Guide would not be tote aus with out covering at least some of the new boards. Mark’s the boss so check it out, here are some of the new specs.
NEW BOARDS
RALS TON
H C E T B LI
T
he lib tech 48" with a 6 ¾" Nose and tail, 5 ¼" waist, magnatraction and banana camber oozes snowskate technology. Lovingly referred to by Sean D. as “the enforcer” the 48" will go where you can't. When you bail, it's your fault.
off quick turns. While I did ride it in some DEEP conditions it won't float as well as the 48" will. Last I heard the 43" will be available as a complete and the 48" sub sold separately. The 48" insert pattern will allow those with an Ohio top deck to mount the 48" up in a pinch but I expect that it will ride loads better with the 43" top deck. To characterize how the banana changes the ride, think "Ferrari".
The 43" has the same nose/ tail and waist widths as the 48. Its shorter stature doesn't stop it from going places that it shouldn't. On As is always the case, steep terrain the shorter length comes in handy. It's you'll be lucky to find one easier to keep the tail buried for sale. and the nose up while firing
J
ust when everyone was getting fat with there sub dimensions out comes Ralston with the 41 sporting a 5 ½” nose, 5” tail and 4 ½ waist. Narrow boards should not be forgotten and the 41 assures they won’t. Get on this thing and you just want to point it. For people new to the sport the control will be a blast and for those who want to push things just remember that the Goblin
not only won the Ralston Cup and Shut Up And Snowskate but also the Slash for cash?????? You had to be there. The 48 has the same nose and tail dimensions as the 41 which means you won’t have to upsize your top deck to control it. Both sizes come as completes with Rocker Trucks and maple top deck.
FLORIDA POWDER S KATES
F
lorida Powderskates- Those who don't see snowskating as just something to do when the powders gone will be delighted to know that Adam is hard at work giving you three options for floating the white stuff. Rounding out
the line up will be a 125 cm, 153 cm and 158 cm. All with Dolphin Camber, tapered side cut and multiple insert options. There really is no excuse not to take it to the deep.
The 125 cm (49 ¼") has a 21 cm (8 ¼") nose and a 14.5 cm (5 ¾") tail. The 153 cm (60 ¼") has a 23 cm (9") nose and a 18.75 cm (7 3/8") tail.
Dane Orvold Florida Powder Mountain Lab
The 158 cm (62 ¼") has a 26 cm (10 ¼") nose and a 18 cm (7 1/8") tail
EVERYTHING YOU KNOW IS WRONG!
TEAM RIDER TYSON BUTLER PHOTO BY BIG JOHN
Covington, Washington 253-630-4440 NOLLIES.COM
ALASKA
Northern Boarder ANCHORAGE
CALIFORNIA
SNOWSKATE SHOP DIRECTORY
CHICO SPORTS CHICO
SHORELINE SKI & SPORT,LAKE TAHOE Mt Shasta
WAVE RAVE MAMMOTH LAKES
COLORADO MILE HIGH SKATES SUPERIOR All Boards Boulder 303 Boards Denver
Mountain Wave Breckenridge BC Littleton SOL Skates Longmont B.C. Surf & Sport Westminster Board Cartel Wheatridge
DELAWARE
SWITCH SKATE AND SNOW NEW WARK
IDAHO
ECO-LOUNGE BOISE Habitat Victor Barries Pocatello
ILLINOIS SHRED SHOP SKOKIE FA Skates, Arlington Heights
MONTANA
VERMONT
EDGE OF THE WORLD MISSOULA
SURF THE EARTH KILLINGTON
WORLD BOARDS BOZEMAN
DARKSIDE KILLINGTON, STOW, LUDLOW
Big Sky Boardsports Helena
NEVADA
Eternal Sports : Sparks
NEW HAMPSHIRE
LAHOUTS CLOTHING AND SKI LINCON
WISCONSIN Board Shop, LAKE GENEVA
WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON WINDSPORTS BELLINGHAM MT BAKER SNOWBOARD SHOP GLACIER
NEW YORK SUPREME NEW YORK
NEW YORK PIPE DREAM NEW YORK CITY KCDC BROOKLYN
OHIO
OHIO SURF AND SKATE BEAVER CREEK
OREGON
IPS Skateshop Hood River
Straight Up Pullman
NOLLIES, COVINGTON, NOLLIES .COM (253)-630-4440
EXTREMELY BOARD, ISSAQUAH, EXTREMELYBOARD .COM
REVOLUTION, WENATCHEE. REVOLUTIONSNOWANDSKATE. COM, (509) 665-6662 WYOMING
PEAK SPORTS CORVALLIS
Side Effect BEND EXIT real world Salem BOARD TACTICS EUGENE
TENNESSEE
Boardroom of Jackson Hole Jackson Hole Hole In The Wall Jackson Hole
MASSECHUSETS
PLUTO SPORTS KNOXVILLE, WWW. PLUTOSPORTS.COM (865)-523-0045
MICHIGAN
milosport orem, HIGHLAND
RQ Boardshop Naperville
EASTERN BOARDER SHIRLEY Chapter 11 Spring Lake
Tyson butler photo by tomoki
Shasta Base Camp
CANADA
*COASTLINE, VICTORIA B.C. *WWW.TheSnowskateShop.com
UTAH
starfishsnowskatemagazine.com
CIRCUIT
J
ordan's got his hands into everything from snowskate websites to grip but that doesn't stop him from producing skates that help push the limits. From little jib decks to full blown powder boards there is little unexplored terrain. Combine this with the fact that he is constantly riding and ripping in all conditions means his ideas are based in fact. With a shop full of presses and forms there are few dimensions he can't create.
CHILLER
“his id
eas ar
e base
M
T
his year there will be two deck sizes, 38” and 40.” Decks will be made out of VG red fir and Maple. The natural finish on the fir decks looks sick and they’re super light weight. The maple decks will be seven ply and a bit heavier than the fir but with solid pop and more durable construction. Deck width can vary from 9”-10 ¾” Wider decks help to eliminate
toe drag in the powder. Trucks will be similar to what I ran at the end of last season with a sliding pad system. This allows you to mount the same top deck to a Lib Tech, Ralston, Circuit or Florida Powderskate sub all by pulling a quick release pin. It also allows a vertical adjustment of up to ½” and a lateral adjustment of 1 ½”. Check it out at:
www.chillerdecks.com
d in fa
Jorda
ct.”
n Arm stro
ng
MINUS 7 AND PIONEER
inus 7 and Pioneer are two new companies coming out of California. They haven’t been around long enough to get a proper review. They do appear to
be making quality boards. Completes should be available this Winter and come with Rocker Trucks. For availability check their web pages.
Product Of The Year
A
constantly reoccurring problem in the snowskate world is traction. Traction, and the ability to keep your feet in place is what creates board control. Traction is often the key factor between a big make and a big slam. Board designs with deeper concave’s and steeper tails have at least helped with this problem. “Snowskate shoe” designers seem to have put almost no thought into this problem. Every year new
“snowskate shoes” are released with almost no traction. Stock, foam grip ices up and almost attracts snow creating an icy slippery and unsafe riding surface. Any of these traction problems can pretty much ruin your day. Fortunately, snowskaters have put some thought into this traction problem. Canada’s FS Grip has actually put a lot of thought into it. These Canadians scoured the earth looking for traction. Their search lead them to the Crab fishing
boats of Alaska In this cold, hostile, slippery world of fishing, where a slip could mean your life they found FS Grip. FS Grip provides awesome traction. Hands down the most important and universal product to hit the web this Winter. FS Grip creates board control
R.I.P.
previously unknown. It is expensive, but you only really need a little bit to see huge results. There is a reason the Worlds top Riders Wolle Nyvelt, Jake Tomlinson and Jordan Armstrong are all using this stuff. It works. Do those guys know something you don’t? Yes, but not about traction, not anymore.
Shut Up And Snowskate. Photo by PLWP.
Coming next: The Travel Issue
*Tahoe opens Up! *Big White a Go Go! *The Ralston Cup!