Bored Yak

Board Exam: 2011/2012 K2 Turbo Dream Snowboard Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 06:18:00 +0000

What the rep said: The Turbo Dream is flat between the feet with an early rise nose and tail (slightly higher nose), Harshmellow dampens vibration underfoot, Carbon web stringers will pop your socks off.

Stats/Setup: I'm checking in at 6'1" and 170#. I rode the Turbo Dream in a 159 with Salomon Dialogue Boots (size 9.5) and K2 Formula Bindings at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon.

Conditions: Hardpack, ice, some slush

First impression: Some bright-ass bindings, but nothing else out of the ordinary.

The Ride: Right off the lift all systems were go. The board went edge to edge just fine on slow, short-radius turns. Pop was OK, probably due to its stiffness and carbon webbing and in spite of its reverse camber profile. Stability at speed and on landings was a high point. Nothing bothered the Dream on that front. Again, this board is pretty stiff longitudinally, maybe a little less so torsionally. Also not a board you'll be pressing too much.

Then, it came time to crank a turn. Higher speed carving was a sore spot as the board wanted to wash or rotate a little. I would attribute this to the camber profile and traditional sidecut. Reverse camber boards that carve best have some sidecut augmentation, whether it's magne-traction, grip tech, vario power grip or what have you.

Stolen from K2's 2011/2012 site. Check it while you can.

Bottom Line: I was disappointed in this board. It might serve well as a pow board, but I can't see riding it in all-around resort conditions. The stability was there, but the sidecut didn't lock on like some of the alternative sidecuts that are available leading to a looser turn than I'd like. Overall, I think this board might work better with regular camber.

I have a buddy who has an older model of this board, maybe I can get him to weigh in on it in the comments.

Similar Boards: Bataleon Omni

'Guch Teaches You the Backcountry

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:07:00 +0000

Last post I was talking about how we didn't have any snow. One week and nine feet of snow later and we're back in business. Of course, going from cold to rain, back to cold and dry and now a bunch of wet heavy snow has left the snowpack about as unstable as it gets. Who could possibly teach us about about how to have fun in such a minefield? Umm, Bryan Iguchi? Just to be sure, this isn't meant to replace any structured or accredited avalanche training, just 'shop talk'. Probably more like common sense stuff, which is not nearly common enough these days. Maybe like that North Face thing. Come check it out, though. At the very least, you hear some stories from a guy who has a few and a lesson worth repeating. (Seriously, THE GUCH!) Maybe you'll learn a thing or two while you're there and meet some shreds who like to get out and get after it on the other side of the ropes.

Burton Mountain Festival Coming to Meadows

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 20:35:00 +0000

There's nothing better than riding pow. Since I'm not going to Alaska or the Alps any time soon, I'll have to settle for riding other peoples' snowboards at the Burton Mountain Festival this weekend at Mt. Hood Meadows.

Aside from the snowboard demos, they're throwing a big ol' party with music and dancing and games of chance or at least a 4-star TTR event that can qualify you for the qualifying rounds of the US Open. A mini-park will be set up for those shred-kins too young for the main even, but whose overbearing parents insist they work on their double cork before nap time. And judging by the list of sponsors, you'll be tripping over caffeinated beverages and hair care product samples all day long. But at least you'll be out there and on some free gear. That's fun, right?

Board Exam: Arbor Wasteland 2011/2012 Snowboard Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 07:03:00 +0000

What the rep said: The System is how rocker should be. Parabolic rocker means more rocker at the waist and less at the tips and Grip Tech gives you four extra contact points. This all sounds so familiar.

Stats/Setup: I'm checking in at 6'1" and 170#. I rode the Wasteland in a 161 with Salomon Dialogue Boots (size 9.5) and some old Tech Nine MFM Pro Bindings at Mt. Bachelor, Oregon.

Conditions: Hardpack, ice, some slush

First impression: Another fine wooden topsheet from Arbor

The Ride: This is my second nose-to-tail rocker demo, the other being the much softer Arbor Cascade. The flex was stiff enough to maintain pop, but still soft enough to butter like a cheater. Not so soft that you just fall over the tail when you try to press, though. Maybe a 6.5 out of 10 (10 being your femur).
The Grip Tech sidecut held on through everything I threw at it and that included every size turn imaginable. When you're cruising a resort on a mediocre snow day, that's the one thing you have time for, lots of turns. The Wasteland got edge-to-edge quickly and locked in hard, like a ninja.
Stability was on-point, but I didn't throw anything huge at it. Speed wasn't a big issue and the air I got just wasn't that big. Speaking of which, the dampness was only moderate. Not as damp as my Never Summer, for example. This is a matter of taste, I know, as some people think overly damp boards feel 'dead.'

For all the blood and guts, check out Arbor's site.

Bottom Line: I'm impressed with this board. It does everything you could ask of it at the resort. It's as good as a rockered board could be. With the full rocker and elongated nose, it should perform well in powder, too. If that is the case, I could easily ride the Wasteland every day. You won't want to ride it in an actual wasteland, though; no water.

Similar Boards: GNU Altered Genetics BTX (not C2)

Happy New Year!

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 02:30:00 +0000

How do you measure a good year? By all accounts, 2011 was good to me. Since this blog is about snowboarding, let's review that.

Last winter was all-time. Snowfall was plentiful, the trips I took mostly panned out and I got a few firsts that blew my mind. Watching the gnarly sessions at Superpark 15 at Mt. Bachelor won't easily be topped. The highlight of the season was still my first heli trip as part of Tailgate Alaska, but I also had some of my best days at Mt. Hood Meadows, just finding new zones with my friends. When June rolled around, I was ready to hang up the gnar boots and lace up the hiking boots.

The one thing that bummed me out last year was a trip I took to Mt. Bachelor over Martin Luther King Jr. Day where it rained on the mountain the whole time and none of us so much as touched our boards. I even had a friend up from Colorado. And I forgot the shred flicks at home. We drank so much beer... During a normal year it would have been far more depressing, but last year turned the corner, just like this year is sure to do. Like Joe Walsh said, "I can't complain, but sometimes I still do."

In the young 2011/2012 season, I've already had firsts. My first ever snowboard race was a couple weeks ago at the Dirksen Dirby. My result was as bad as it gets, but it was still a super-fun experience that I look forward to doing again in the coming years. Also, a couple months ago I wrote my first ever published snowboard article for Transworld Snowboarding magazine (Halldor Helgason's Pro Spotlight, Dec. 2011). Following that were two in their January issue (Ethan Deiss and Austen Sweetin interviews) and one in frequency: The Snowboarder's Journal issue 9.3 (Mike Parzialle profile). Theses I hope will be just the first of many gigs with the big mags and finding ways to get money for things that I like to do anyway.

The three best magazine issues yet!

The riding this year hasn't been amazing, but the season is long and just taking off. Starting in the new year, a friend gets a weekday off, so last year's Method Mondays will be this year's Tindy Tuesdays. Even as I mash this keyboard it is dumping snow both at Mt. Hood and my New Years destination, Mt. Baker, so things are turning around quickly. Maybe that Nina chick is going to show up after all.

Here's hoping that 2012 greets you with nothing but powder and smiles. Happy New Year from Boredyak!

Dirksen Derby: Survival

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 01:46:00 +0000

What it's all about

The Derby is demolished. The courses took 10 guys six days to build and brought over 300 riders to town to rip it up over three days. Why? Tyler Eklund, that's why. In 2007 he broke his spine practicing at USASA Nationals and is now paralyzed from the neck down. This year the Derby raised over $18,000 for him. The stoke he gets from it is immeasurable. He even takes runs down the courses with the help of Oregon Adaptive Sports. I'd imagine it's a weekend he looks forward to all year.

Parrilla, chowdering the masses

Terje and Dirks with super-secret tech

This year the Dirksen Derby was bigger than ever. More riders, more money and more buzz. Terje made the trip, but the deafening roar at the top of the venue was the chant for Curtis Ciszek. Haakon missed the mens' podium by a scant .04 seconds to speed racer Dustin Anderson who took the bronze glove. Bellinghamster Blair Habenicht had something, breaking the beam in second, but Norway was not to be denied as Knut Eliassen Nitro-boosted his way to the top. These top three will now compete in the Derby Elite division whenever they return. Speaking of the Elites, Curtis was getting so much noise because he was the defending champion. Scotty Wittlake and Austin Smith put down Ridgemont High-style fast times, but Curtis wasn't flinching. Repeat champ, fastest time of the day, bragging rights for another year. For all the complete results check out mtbachelor.com. Also, quality video on Yobeat and ESPN.

Austin Smith and Bryan Fox trying to catch Curtis

Knut, "This has been the coolest event I've ever been to."

If you're looking for my name, go ahead and skip to the bottom. I didn't belong in the finals (sneaked in on a timing error) and I went out and proved that. My run on the red line was as slow as possible without falling and then I fell twice trying to make up for it on the green line. You're welcome, Donny. You weren't last. The courses were super-tight, but also fun as hell, like Baker's squirrely little brother.

For the record, Jake Blauvelt qualified on a timing error, too.

If only we could get something like that together on Hood to benefit Snowdays. Did I mention they raised over $18,000 for Tyler? How rad is that!?

None more rad

As for the rest of Bachelor, they've got a hell of a mountain open right now. Yeah, there are some 'unmarked obstacles' (rocks and treetops, like those seen in the middle of the Derby courses), but they also have legit parks. We're talkin' real jump lines, not just rails, but some nice 40 to 50-foot booters in there. Also, they're only two lifts from being 100% firing. No Summit, no Northwest. Outback is a go for all your dingo- and kangaroo-chasing pleasures. For what it's worth, Saturday was 10-times busier than Sunday. All that only a three hour drive from Portland. Problem is, that's twice as far as Mt. Hood.

Dirksen Derby Day 2: Carnage and Tribute

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 07:05:00 +0000

I just got back from the A-Rob movie premiere and it put me in a bit of a funk. For his part in Manifest, Aaron Robinson could have been the next big thing. Or at least the next underground, cult 'big' thing. For those of you who don't know, Aaron died before the movie wrapped. His friends finished the movie for him and did their best to end it on a positive note. I can't help but think about the one guy who wasn't in the room, but should have been. The guy everyone was talking about, but not one said a negative word. The guy pictured on the commemorative snowboard up for silent auction (if it went for less than a grand, it's a travesty). I just can't help but wonder why.

In more amusing news, I made the finals of the Derby. Amusing because I fell on the right course and almost fell on the left. Timing error, they said. Come back tomorrow. OK.

Also, it was a demo day at Mt. Bachelor. Does it sound like a good idea to ride four different boards on race day and have some guy who is not you set it up before you race? I'm just sayin'. Keep an eye out for reviews of this year's Arbor Wasteland, K2 Turbo Dream and Lib Tech Travis Rice. All good rides, but my favorite was the Wasteland. Get to Meadows tomorrow (12/18) and get your own board swapping. I don't know where the demo tour goes after that, but if you live in Washington or Oregon, you might want to look it up...

Dirksen Derby Day 1: Practice

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 03:11:00 +0000

View from the cone's summit

Not much to report from day one of the 5th Annual Dirksen Derby. I only got here in time to scope one of the courses. It's quick and the berms are large. They cram 20 turns into a 30 second course. Gnarly. It was pretty shaded by the time I took any pictures, so I'll leave you with the following and say better luck tomorrow.

Bank swallows man whole

The big accomplishment for the day was climbing the cone at Bachelor for the first time. It was a mostly sunny 33°F outside, so the hike was tame and the view was endless.

Stay tuned for more Derby action tomorrow as I try to stay off my ass and wiggle my way down the dragon's back. Also, the premiere of Aaron Robinson's movie 'Manifest' is tomorrow (7pm at the 7th Mountain Resort near Bend). I'm looking forward to that and I'll let you know how it goes.

Holiday Gifts for Your Favorite Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:15:00 +0000

Hey kids! You know what time of year it is. That's right, time to give gifts no matter what religion you do or don't ascribe to. If you want to buy your favorite blogger something special this year, buy Ed Segovia a combination VCR/DVD player. He seems like the kind of guy who watches a lot of old shred movies. Let's get him a little update to the digital age.

Yes, it should also have a remote control and lots of space around it

If you're too young to know what a VCR is, well, it's like a DVD, but the size of a book. A big book like Harry Potter. If you're too young to know what a book is, it's like a Kindle, but made of dead trees. May I not live to see the day that you don't know what trees are...

Anyway, if you want to buy your eighth favorite blogger a present, go ahead and buy me an Airblaster Ninja suit. No, I didn't get one last year (or the year before or before that). I'm a size medium and I prefer the black, merino wool kind. Yes, the one with the hood. If you ask me, they should have named the hoodless kind the samurai suit.

What kind of ninja doesn't have a hood!?

God bless us all, every one! If you're too young to know who Charles Dickens is, ah hell, just look him up on Wikipedia like you kids do with everything else. Now go play outside!

My Gear This Year 2012: Pants in Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 01:08:00 +0000

They keep your ass dry. Directly - you can sit down in snow and stay dry - and indirectly - they connect to your jacket in such a way as to keep snow out of that seam. They are pants. 'Pant suit' is a fun phrase to say, but I don't know what a pant suit is. Here is my stable of leg coverings for the year.

Homeschool, DC and Burton Ronin (L to R).

Far left is the 2012 Homeschool Snowboarding Line Up pant in Night (black). I got these at the beginning of the year in exchange for a review and haven't worn them on snow yet. They are 10,000mm water resistant and a booming 30,000gm breathable. Cocona fabric, ladies and gentlemen. My first impression is that the fabric feels supple, not cardboard stiff like some other highly waterproof gear. They have a reasonable four pockets and an accessory holster on the right leg. Basically it's a place to put your hat and/or gloves when you take them off, so you don't set them down and lose them. One possible negative is that they took the whole asymmetrical pockets thing a step too far as they have just one back pocket, one cargo pocket (and the holster) and one hip pocket zips on the side and the other on the top. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Homeschool kit performs, this stuff could really be the future. Keep an eye out for more reviews as I ride with these.

In the middle of the rack is the DC Baker pant. The bananas. They are last year's model (2011) and samples. They run 15k on both stats. (they call it Exotex, I don't know why) The fabric is flexible if a little thin. Given that, they feel a little drafty on snow. Also, semi-translucent and a light enough color that they were instantly and irrecoverably dirty. Six pockets is borderline too many. They have a nice bungee cord in the cargo pockets that you pull up to keep your cuffs from dragging as you walk. This is a nice feature because they are baggy. They are also the only pants I have that are Large instead of Medium. A good pant. The water resistance and breathability are both on-point. Cold on a windy day, though.

The brown bibs on the end are Burton Ronins that I bought off one of those deal-a-day sites in spring 2008. I think that's when they stopped making the Ronin line. Anyway, 20k x 20k, but started to lose their resistance to the wetness last year. The spray-in Nikwax isn't reviving it either. I love me some bibs, though, and quality bibs are harder and harder to find. So good in pow. Maybe this is the year someone finally buys me a ninja suit for Christmas (merino wool, black, size medium, please). Anyway, this is the baggiest of the three. At medium it's almost as big as the DC large. The bibs, which are removable, keep it up. It's got six pockets and snap up cuffs. One cool feature is that it has venting on the inner and outer leg. All the other pants only have venting on the inner leg. All are mesh backed (none have insulation, either). The other bummer about these is that the right leg ripped when I tried to pull them out of a buckled binding. I had to Shoe Goo them back together. They were good while they lasted, but the writing's on the wall.

Pants, with the possible exception of gloves, are the outerwear piece that wears out fastest. Don't get caught with your pants down, always make sure you have a backup if you can. Nobody likes a soggy butt and your first defense against that uncomfortable ride home is some quality pow trousers.

Check the other "My Gear This Year 2012" gear review pages: Jackets and Boards.

Limited Edition Milosport Oakley Crowbars

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:02:00 +0000

This just in from the good doods down at Milosport. That's in Utah, if ya don't know.

Check the strap. Sickest.

Winter Driving Prep

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 23:29:00 +0000

Inherent in the grand adventure of snowboarding is this paradox: the better the powder day on the mountain, the worse the roads will be on the way there. There's just no way around it. The plows can only keep up for so long. Inevitably, compacted snow and ice will send many would-be snowboarders for extreme closeups with guard rails or worse. But it doesn't have to be that way. Enter Paul Eklund, pro rally driver and car builder, 27-year rally veteran and three-time Alcan 5000 Winter Rally competitor. More importantly, Paul is a long-time rally school teacher. Who better to advise you on matters of traction and get you up and down the mountain without a visit to the guard rail?

Bored Yak: When did you drive in your first rally?

Paul Eklund: 1983

BY: What inspired you to start?

PE: I worked at a rally and saw John Buffum in a Group B Audi Quattro spitting fire.

BY: How long have you been making your living working on cars?

PE: I've been making parts for 13 years.

BY: When did you drive in your first snow rally?

PE: That's a good story, first real snow experience was driving and ICE RACING on the Alcan 5000 Winter Rally in 2000.

BY: What are the major differences between driving on snow and ice, wet pavement and gravel?

PE: The levels of grip, but more importantly the consistency of the grip, which actually makes ICE easier than GRAVEL (it is usually consistently poor grip).

BY: Have you had any accidents or close calls on snow and ice, be it rally or civilian driving?

PE: None yet (except while racing which I had a few wild spins after the finish in sprint races on ice). I watched a few people spin out in front of me, so it was easy to predict by watching them.

BY: This time of year, shops start talking about 'winterizing' your car. What do I really need to do to get my car ready for the cold months?

PE: Check your battery (age/condition), get proper tires and make sure your antifreeze is less than 5 years old. For EXTREME conditions or overnight on the mountain, synthetic fluids (oil and tranny), a battery blanket and block heater may be advisable.

BY: You always say things like 'making yourself a better driver is the most important thing you can do for your car' (disclaimer: Paul runs a rally school where he can turn your money into driving skills), does this hold true for winter driving?

PE: Absolutely. Cars and tires come and go, but YOU stay with you so knowledge is power when it comes to winter driving.

BY: What should I do if my car starts to slide? Should I be worried that my car will catch dry pavement and roll?

PE: Steer into the slide and add a little power to stop the drift then ease up on everythin (gas, brake and steering) and let the car settle before driving it to a safe spot. Your car will not catch traction and roll, just LOOK to where you want to go. Getting out of a SPIN just requires a little PRACTICE which is why I recommend a school (ed. go to www.get-primitive.com for the rally school schedule)

BY: What's the number one thing you see drivers do that makes them lose control? What should they do - or not do - instead?

PE: Number one mistake is to panic and slam on the brakes and to look at the spot that they do not want to go. The car will almost always get there (like a guard rail).

BY: Past skill, a good set of snow tires helps, right?

PE: Nothing beats studs for traction on ice, but they do chew the roads. Good studdless tires work well and some are even better than studs on the snow. Snow and ice are different - remember that (different traction).

BY: Any recommendations? Studded, non-studded, chains?

PE: Personal preference, but for the money the Cooper WeatherMaster WSC is a great multi-purpose winter (or all year) tire. It can be studded for those who need it. Chains are great for the occasional user.

BY: What do you keep in your car's winter safety/emergency kit?

PE: I use Subaru's Extreme Weather emergency kit with shovel, water, space blanket, little first aid, matches, flashlight and a few other perfect goodies in a little case $39.95.

BY: Is there any other piece of equipment (past driving skill and tires) that I could buy, or look for when I buy a car, to make my drive to the mountain safer?

PE: Get a Subaru... 'nough said

BY: Do you see people buying or modifying their cars in ways they think will help them, but actually will hinder them?

PE: Worst mod is to stiffen the suspension in any way or restrict its movement (lowered, stiffer, big swaybars, or low profile tires) Soft is good for the winter.

BY: What's the difference between AWD and 4WD? Is one better or worse?

PE: It is really a matter of semantics and not really very different. Typically AWD is considered 4WD all the time where a 4WD can disconnect the drive to the front wheels.

BY: What about front vs. rear vs. AWD/4x4 in snow?

PE: AWD is best because you get drive to all the wheels, but a good FWD car does extremely well in the snow too, it just may be a little tougher to get going. RWD is tricky in the winter and the worst for safely getting around. AWD/4WD can be deceiving as it can get any (even an ill-equipped) car going, but stopping is a whole different matter and then it comes down to the tires.

BY: Is there anything else you would like to add about snow and ice driving?

PE: Learn a little theory on weight distribution in a car and handling characteristics then practice, practice, practice.

BY; How do you maintain sanity while driving 500 miles per day in the dark across Canada and into Alaska in the Alcan Rally?

PE: Get a great co-driver (essential) and you really have to enjoy driving. I look forward to 2012 Alcan Winter Rally.

BY: Any run-ins with Ice Road Truckers?

PE: In 2000 while driving up the HAUL ROAD to Prudhoe Bay, the truckers were none to happy to have us on "their" road and made it clear with white outs (rubbing the edge of the plowed road with their huge trucks, often with 3 trailers and creating a snowstorm) and also creeping over towards us as we passed them. In 2008, we saw them filming IRT while we drove on the frozen Mackenzie River north of Inuvik. Our Forester Turbo hit 123 MPH on the frozen river.

Yes, 120mph. No, you should never try this.

BY: Any wildlife encounters, maybe they're all hibernating?

PE: I saw 4 wolves in 2000 which was spectacular and we always see bison, moose and caribou along with the ocasional fox and ever-present ptarmigan. Close calls in general? We had a young moose break out onto the road and run just ahead of us one time, then disappeared instantly into a group of stunted evergreens (they only grown to about 10 feet tall way up there).

BY: Any tips for ice slaloms?

PE: Ice slalom is a special animal as far as driving challenge and the key is to be extremely smooth; initiate turns way, way, way, way in advance; use the throttle to modulate; keep suspensions and tires soft; look way the heck ahead and be sure you are in a Subaru.

BY: You've seen the sport of rally go through some changes, much like the changes snowboarding has gone through. What do you think about the evolution, complete with energy drink sponsors and X-games?

PE: I see why organizers are heading towards closed-course-type rally (so they can charge an entry fee to watch) but it is diluting the true sport and I'm not sure if it will really catch on. Seems to be eroding, not growing, the grassroots base which is essential for the sport to continue.

BY: You've been racing since before Travis Pastrana was born, do you have any good stories about him or Ken Block, arguably the two who brought about much of the 'X-games-ification' of rally?

PE: Thanks. They are both really great guys and I am surprised that they even remember me when we meet at SEMA or other events. I don't have a lot of juicy stories, but Travis did get excluded from Day 1 of an Olympus Rally one time and entered the regional rally the next day in my class to get some practice. The very first stage found him off the road, on his side, after tumbling the car and he was screaming at everyone to go faster and urging us on as we went by, within inches of his stricken car.

BY: Thanks, Paul. Any shout outs?

PE: Subaru NorthWest Region, Exedy Clutches, T-Scandia Motors, Cooper Tire

5th Annual Dirksen Derby Dec. 17-19

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 17:31:00 +0000

Here's what you need to know-

This is not a tightly regimented event, so details are still in flux.

The GOLDEN rule: All proceeds from everything go to Tyler Eklund, a friend and rad kid who was paralyzed while snowboarding. Paralyzed. Think about that when you reach for your wallet.

Dirksen Derby Kickoff Party: Friday, December 16th. Doors @ 7pm, Band at 8. Location: the Poet House in downtown Bend. All ages. Music, Drinks for 21+, Raffle, and “Broken Board” art auction. All proceeds go to Tyler.

Racing: The whole weekend! Depending on weather, snow fall and poor planning, the schedule of the event will remain flexible. All participants are expected to be on-hill both Saturday and Sunday ready to either race the course, cheer on their fellow competitors, bash some windlips or stuff their faces with Parilla clam chowder. If everything goes perfectly as planned, Friday the course will be open for timed practice, Saturday we will hold both the Mens qualifier and the Splitboard race, and then Sunday will be everything else (the top Mens qualifiers from Saturday, Derby Elites, Womens, Older and Wiser, Groms and Sit-ski). But remember, the actual schedule can change quickly!

Registration: $25 per racer, per event. All proceeds go to Tyler. Racers can register online at MtBachelor.com or at Mt. Bachelor`s West Village lodge on Friday afternoon, Saturday morning (8:00-10:00) or Sunday morning (8:00-10:00). There will NOT be a limit to the amount of competitors allowed in the event. Discounted lift tickets will be available at registration.

Sponsors: Our exclusive list of sponsors include: Salomon snowboards, Patagonia, Dakine, GoPro, Mt. Bachelor, Hydro Flask, Oregon Adaptive Sports, Boneyard Beer, Smith Optics, Drink Water, Spark R&D, Rebound Physical Therapy, Parilla, Gummi Love, Skjersaa's, SideEffect, Aspect, Exit Real World, Mt. Hood 26, DeckTech, BAF, Mountain House, and Skull Candy.

Salomon Team Vacation Hits Hood

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Catch them TODAY, like NOW, at Timberline. Also, tomorrow 12/2 - that's right, we're in December now - they'll have a demo at T-line. Saturday and Sunday, they're moving on to Meadows. When I say 'they' I don't mean some bunch of jabronis, 'they' includes Jed Anderson, Bode Merrill, Louif, Grenier, Dirksen and more. Go check out Salomon and get your slalom on.

My Gear This Year 2012: Jackets in Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:58:00 +0000

Part two in this year's look at my gear and its upkeep will focus on the stuff that keeps my torso warm and dry. I'm lucky enough to get some outerwear almost every year. Some because I'm good at trivia, some because I can convince people that my word can be construed as marketing, some through connections and some just because I pay hard dollars for it. One thing is for sure, now is the time to go through you jacket pockets. This year I found a goggle bag and a dollar. Thank Terje I didn't find anything rotten like I have in the Snowdays jackets (banana peel). Now on to my closet...

L to R: Homeschool, Holden, Columbia (w/ liner),
Volcom, Billabong, Neff

First up, the Homeschool Snowboarding With Teeth jacket in Ever (green). Well isn't that clevergreen. Homeschool sent me a kit to review for this winter, their first year with outerwear on the market. I haven't worn it riding yet, so I can't say much, but it is 10k waterproof and a whopping 30k breathable. It's comfortable. The fabric is nice and flexible right out of the wrapper. Enough pockets, not too many. Good pant to jacket connection. Some conspicuous omissions: wrist gaiters. The hood barely covers my XL helmet. I'm intrigued by the Cocona fabric technology. You'll hear more about this as the season plays out.

Next is the 2010 Holden Harvieux. It's a sample. 10k water and 5k breathe. Yeah, I get that inside-out sweat feel sometimes. Not a storm jacket, but my opening day jacket this year and my most stylish coat. To me this means I feel like I 'should' wear it around town, but I usually don't. I only wear the jackets in that picture around town when it's really pouring. Except the Neff. I save those jackets and their DWR for snowboarding. A regular hoodie will get you by in Portland. Especially when you're used to colder places. Anyway, the Holden jacket is nice in that it has wrist gaiters, as every jacket should, but surprisingly few do. It keeps me dry, but its pow skirt is worthless unless you have a zipper that fits (I don't). A good number of useful pockets and then one with a fake button top, but real side-zip entry. I thought it was a fake pocket for months. The hood actually fits comfortably over my King-dome helmet for those extra stormy days. The liner is Cocona and the rest of the coat is recycled poly. As Holden says, it's eco-friendlier, which is a plus in my book. I still wouldn't pay retail for it at $260. It needs to come through better than that for that price. Then again, I'm not into fashion.

That gray and green piece (and the darker layer to its right) is the 2011 Columbia Powder Bowl Parka. Columbia sent it to me because they identified me as a passionate blogger. And they wanted to crack into the snowboard scene. I said about all I have to say about this coat in this post. One thing a friend of mine brought to my attention is that this jacket might be good for hunters who sit in one spot for long hours. This means it might also be good for snow filmers. Just not people who are constantly riding. That said, I do keep the layer in my bag at all times.

What you see next is the Volcom Gennerman. Gore-Tex Soft Shell. Bought it in '08ish on one of those deal-a-day sites. Best jacket I've ever had. Amazing water and sweat resistance. Same goes for durability. Perfect number of pockets, that being four. That might have been a little before the era of wrist gaiters, so it has that excuse for not having them. The pit-zips don't have mesh backing, so if you ever have to open the vents you risk snow entering the 'no snow zone.' It has the standard Volcom Zip-Tech pow skirt, but also clips that work with belt loops for a more universal appeal. I wonder why more companies don't do that. Some jackets just work and this is one of them. I'd have no problem paying retail for this.

The black and green stripes? That's a little Billabong number. Mark Frank Montoya handed it to me when I correctly answered the question: Who did the music for Nicolas Müller's part in Saturation? This was at the Optimistic? (2007) premiere. Here's the thing, I had never seen Saturation. Still haven't. Justin Hostynek was up on the mic giving clues and and shutting people down. It was getting awkward for a second. Then he said something like, 'He might even be here tonight.' And that was the give away. Scott Sullivan. I try to wear this jacket when I'm riding with a big group. It's easy to pick out. Nothing special. Middle of the road stuff. Touchscreen compatible mobile device pocket. Good pow dress (the snaps). Starting to need the spray-on waterproofing (I use Nikwax TX Direct). I might have sold it if it didn't fit so well. Kinda ho-hum, but it has gotten me through a few years now.

Finally, you can guess by the print that the tech hoody on the far right is the Neff. That was a late-season sale purchase. For a road trip where I didn't have a rain jacket or a warm coat. Guess that means I bought it in '09. Saved my bacon in a Mississippi downpour. Pair up the animals type weather. Me out in my Neff checking out the swamps. Looking for gators. Saw none. She sees the spring slopes and city streets only. Breathes like a Hefty bag. The vents are always open. The pow skirt zips off when you don't need it and has those snap closures that can fasten around belt loops when you do. Thumb loops, too. Good piece. Knows its role. I just wish it was more breathable.

Having more than one jacket is key. You can switch things up and not wear the same jacket back to back, over and over. This increases the durability more than you can imagine. Now, I know not everyone is lucky enough to have six jackets, but when you see that I only paid for two of them, well maybe I've given you some ideas as to how to get cheap or free jackets for yourself. Of course, most involve luck. Some involve buying used, buying in the springtime or finding sample sales. Get some Gore-Tex Soft Shell if you can. That fabric is perfect. Keep an eye out for Homeschool Snowboarding, though. They could be a hometown sleeper.

Check out my other "My Gear This Year 2012" reviews: Boards and Pants.

My Gear This Year 2012: Boards in Review

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 04:15:00 +0000

Going into every year is a good time to take a look at your boards and think about your needs (usually wants) for the coming season. I have a few boards and a few wants. Let's take a look, shall we?

First, old faithful. The 7 iron. The trusty, if rusty. She's always there for me and can do almost everything I ask. My 2001 Option Kevin Sansalone 158.5.

Man's best friend

This is my first non-Wal-Mart board. I had no idea what I was doing when I bought this board. Riding or buying. CCS was happy to take my money, all the same. Its default stance is set back three inches with a long nose and short tail. And I grew up riding 500' vertical Midwest hills. Now, it has broken in just right. It still has a medium flex and is cambered, which I like. Now, I also live closer to the mountains it was meant for.

As I said, this board handles it all. Hardpack at resorts. All but the deepest of pow. Trees. Banked slaloms. Jumps. Speeeed. No jibs, though, homey don't play that. I will continue to ride it until the base builds and covers up some of the lurking stumps and treetops. Then it will be my pow board.

So far, I haven't done much damage to the board at all. No core shots. The edges are fine. I did break a quarter-size chunk out of the topsheet, but I 'repaired' it with a sharpie, so it looks more normal. I'm thinking about P-Texing it, but it's small enough, that I don't think it matters.

Canadian board, Canadian quarter

I am seriously entertaining the notion of splitting this board. I absolutely will split some board in the next year. Getting out there on a splitboard is just the next logical step. It's either split the Sansalone or this one:

Full House

I have on good authority that this is a Never Summer SL 164 prototype. I believe 2004. A friend of mine won it and three other beat up boards in a poker game for a $15 bet. When I told him I was visiting the Never Summer factory, he just gave it to me.

What can I say about this board? I've never actually ridden it. I has a blown out edge and a large core shot in the base. I've been using it to practice my P-Tex work and I'm thinking of splitting it.

Git yer tetanus shots.

You should see the other board.

Next up is a 2009 Stepchild Corporate 155 that I got for doing some work with Snowboarder Magazine.

Dig that graphic.

This is another early-season, thin-coverage board. Weird thing is, I've never really damaged my 'early season' boards, while my main board has two core shots. More on that later. I can't complain much about this board, other than it's too small. It's fun for springtime cruising. It handles pow and trees OK. It's got that camber pop. It doubles as my girlfriend's pow board. Being directional, this board can really lay down a nosepress - pow or park.

This brings us to the end. My everyday driver. Nothing fancy, but a real blue-collar board. My 2010 Never Summer SL-R 158.

Don't know what SFD means? Better axe somebody!

The 'new' board. Jack of all trades, master at none. Closer to twin than the Option. It also has a little rocker between the bindings and camber outside. This makes it float OK in powder, but not like the Option. This also aides butters and slightly detracts from pop. Dampness is where this board shines and that's important in the Northwest. That and stability were two big selling points for this board. See, I spend most of my time on the ground. I'm not fooling anyone otherwise. Might as well get a board that can handle it. I maybe should have gone with the 161, but other than that, this board is perfect for me. That and I got it at the end of the year for 40% off. Miserly instincts die hard.

Middle left and lower right

Here's the bummer, a season and a half in and I've put two core shots in it. Not that rad when you consider how NS prides themselves on their bases. One was my fault, I tail tapped a rock. The other, I have no idea, but it looks like it almost took my edge out with it. A little P-Tex kleenex wipe and she's good as new. Let that be a lesson not to ride your good board when the conditions are a little thin.

Anyway, that's how the gear is looking this season. A couple boards, mostly all-rounders. Hardly a full quiver, but I'm not complaining too loud. In a perfect world, the Stepchild would be my girl's pow ride, the SL prototype would be P-Tex practice only, the Sansalone would be the early-season board, I would ride the SL-R 75% of the time and I would have a deep pow stick and a splitboard (possibly the same board). As it is, I'm ripping, saving and plotting. Anybody got a split Charlie Slasher or a Whale?

Check out my other "My Gear This Year" reviews: Jackets and Pants.

Just Friday

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0000

You have been bombarded by ads to buy Buy BUY EVERYTHING this Friday. Black Friday. So called because of the traffic it generates. I challenge you to do the opposite. Instead, buy nothing. Avoid that traffic. Avoid the light year-lines around your local big-box stores. Avoid the gas station. Avoid the grocery store by eating some of those leftovers. You don't need to be a hermit, but you don't need the hassle either. For what? So you can stand in line for hours and watch the two old ladies in front of you, who were sharing pictures of their grandchildren earlier, come to blows over $300 TVs while you leave the store with a bunch of stuff you didn't know you needed in the first place? It's not worth it.

Instead, relax. Do you have the day off work? Relaxation should come easier. Get outside and take a walk. Down to the corner, around the block, around town. Find some fresh air away from the Black Friday horde. Maybe walk around in your snowboard boots. They could use some breaking in. Sit down with a book. Maybe something you've been trying to make time for. Watch an old snowboard movie or another movie that you haven't watched in sooo long. Call the friends and family you didn't talk to on Thanksgiving. Tell them why you're thankful for them. Give thanks to snowboarding. 'Friend' Thanks Snowboarding on Facebook and follow Thanks_Project on Twitter. Stretch. Exercise. The snow is coming. Be ready. Shredding will make you happier than any doodad you can buy anyway.

Funnest Edit This Season

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 04:43:00 +0000

I don't usually like to watch early-season rail edits, but this stuff is solid gold hilarious. Only from Isenseven.

Knee-Deep at Meadows... On Opening Day!

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:24:00 +0000

Not only that, sunny skies! Free hot cocoa and coffee!! Free cookies!!! FREE BEER!!1 OK, no free beer, but the rest is legit. Best opening day at Mt. Hood Meadows ever. The fresh tracks lasted far longer than my legs. All that hiking, biking, running and gym time this summer proved worthless. In two runs, my back leg was yelping like a confused poodle. This prompted the following binding setup:

Yeah, that deep. Runs that were normally groomers swallowed men whole. I think I found the lost city of Atlantis under the new Stadium Express lift. Of course this is the first snow of the season, so stumps, rocks and Christmas tree tops are still exposed, just waiting to snag the unsuspecting rider. Your humble author got his among some trees under Shooting Star.

Waking up the morning after opening day should be a little painful, though, shouldn't it? A five month layoff letting all the important muscles atrophy, then getting out there, at altitude, trying to pick up where you left off..? Pain. Pass me the ice pack, fish oil and turmeric. No Advil here, I'm going natural. Carlson fish oil, one tablespoon per day (that's three teaspoons, genius). Natural anti-inflammatory. It's good for the skin, hair, heart and brain, too. Makes you do methods like Lando. Talk to your medical professional about it. Or maybe just eat more fish. Or, you know, give your money to big pharma and maintain the status quo. How's that for a rant? Fair to midland? I'll try harder next time.

Much of my time was spent wandering - either on board or foot - and checking out all the new things at Meadows this year. The new lift was the most prominent and nicer than I thought it would be. The new snowcats are doing their thing behind the scenes. Some of the little things that grabbed my attention were bottle filling stations on the drinking fountains and a new plastic cutlery dispenser.

The things they do in the name of environmentalism. Meanwhile, the automatic toilet flushes twice before I even sit down. Figure that one out.

Any day with that much powder is a good day. Especially when you can end it with a pint in the lodge instead of with a splint in the aid hut. My stoke is fully restored. Here's to a great season!

Winter on Mt. Hood!

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:04:00 +0000

Tomorrow, 11/18, Timberline is opening some lower-mountain lifts, Bruno and Pucci. Not to be outdone, Meadows is opening their doors for the season Saturday.

That's right, time to stop dreaming about it and start getting everything together to shred the rad. A little bad news, though, Meadows is only guaranteeing two lifts for Saturday, Buttercup and Easy Rider and something tells me the park won't be ready on Easy Rider... This means that the gnar might be a little more gnar than you're used to. Bring the rock board, etc. More snow is in the forecast, though, so there's still a chance for a larger opening. Check the Meadows conditions page on Friday afternoon for the full plan.

Snowboarding on Mt. Hood. Just in time. My board doesn't need any more wax. Does yours?

DIY Splitboard Workshop

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 20:06:00 +0000

Wednesday night (11/16), Castle Boardshop in Portland is hosting a BYO Splitboard class. Show up at 7:30pm and learn how to split your stick while enjoying refreshments and discounts on all your backcountry needs. Backcountry access was never this fun and easy!

Last Nut Sagging

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:27:00 +0000

Many of you know by now, but if I only get to one new person, it's worth it. My friend Kevin is down to his last nut. Cancer plucked the other from him like a tasty grape. I hope to never have to make an analogy like that again. Anyway, the medical bills are mounting. Enter good friend Scott E Wittlake:

Long story short, you can own Scotty's original artwork (as featured on one of his Lib Tech pro model boards). Just e-mail him @scottEwittlake@gmail.com and bid it up. All proceeds go to Kevin's medical bills.

For more ways to donate check out the limited edition Airblaster t-shirt here and the donation page here. Also, check out Kev's Cancer on Facebook. Drop a buck, protect a nut and help support the Portland shred scene.

Not This Year

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 23:17:00 +0000

I'm still going, I just won't be racing.

You Must Learn Avy Skills

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:22:00 +0000

The North Face is on tour with a little snow safety mission called KNOW Boundaries and they swept through Portland last night with their message of backcountry awareness. Pro ski mountaineer Hilaree O'Neill broke it all down, from picking the right probe to picking the right partners. The presentation was based mostly on this video series and was in absolutely no way meant to replace a Level 1 Avalanche Certification. I'd call it a Level 0 certification: a free hour that doled out basic information about all the things you should be considering when you leave a resort gate and enter avalanche terrain. An interesting starting point, nothing more. If you've got time and want a free shirt, find the tour stop nearest you and get learned! (if that's Olympia, Wash., you get to hang out with Lucas Debari)

Hilaree, what's up with this pack with the bright red handle?

New Kid in Class: Homeschool Snowboarding

noreply@blogger.com (BoredYak) — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:23:00 +0000

I know you. You need an excuse to party. How about this? Portland is home to a new outerwear label called Homeschool Snowboarding. Their product launches this season. What better way to celebrate than a launch party. What does that mean? Beer, music, product viewing, mingling with Portland heads.

Don't make this Saturday like last Saturday, when you ate ice cream, watched a couple TiVo-ed sitcoms, scratched yourself and went to bed early, worn out from the beating at the hands of the man for the previous five days. It doesn't have to be like that. Homeschool can help.