Jibber Jabber

Does snowboarding need to go underground?

2009-03-10T08:13:00.006Z

If anyone reads my blog on a regular basis, they cannot fail to notice that I have not written anything in quite some time. I have been thinking.

I have worked online for a decade now and I have loved snowboarding for almost as long. I would like to think I carved out my own little niche, as small as that may be, reviewing snowboarding movies and snowboarding video games, especially on my old website Stoked On Snowboarding. If I could never do any of the tricks pro snowboarders can do in the real world, I could at least can do them in the virtual one.

I have blogged for MSN, worked on Xbox LIVE, I've run CompuServe's Games Channel and even spent half a decade on BBC Radio 1's website but my contribution to the online life of snowboarding has always been enthusiastic and completely voluntary. My enthusiasm for snowboarding remains undiminished but I have decided to stop blogging about it. Well, if I can!

I suspect it might be akin to giving up smoking for some people, after all I DO like to have an opinion and I do enjoy writing.

But the truth is there are people who do it better than I do and they need your support. In this world of ever increasing media choice and decreasing advertising revenues, I feel I should not be providing a distraction from the websites and magazines that I love. Instead I should be simply telling you to go read them instead and love them as much as I do.

The arrival of the (quite frankly disappointing) Shaun White Snowboarding game left me at a loss. A beautifully crafted sim that tries to reproduce the spirit of snowboarding with your friends and is headed by arguably the world's favourite snowboarder (though not mine... sorry Shaun) is something that should be welcomed and celebrated. So 3 months later I wonder why that is so hard to do so.

Well, the control system is terrible (maybe it's different on a Wii board but it's counter intuitive for Xbox players). The makers might know a lot about snowboarding and fancy graphics and games physics but seem to have little love of video games or video gamers.

Where is the buzz I felt when I played Shaun Palmer Pro Snowboarding, or the first 1080 game or the first Amped? I mean I really really LOVED those games. I want to love Shaun White's game and I keep trying but I just don't. Looking at the number of online players there are, it feels about as popular as a PS3. It makes me wish snowboarding would go back underground (if it never was then at least I'd like it to feel like it was).

I feel it has tarnished my love of snowboard movies too. Lately they don't leave me in the same awe that they used to. And don't leave me bitterly miserable that I'm not up in the mountains riding them myself instead of watching Travis or Jussi or Bjorn and wishing I could keep up with one of the Jones even though I know that I never could.

I couldn't even drum up the enthusiasm to review the new Absinthe movie, and I love Absinthe as a crew, and secretly want their new snowboarding game to renew my faith in snowboard sims.

So for now I implore you to read and support and love those centres of snowboard worship White Lines and Huck magazines. Both products of the UK and unique for their warmth and expertise and sense of humour and lack of cynical exploitation of the best pastime a boy (or girl) can enjoy both alone or with their friends.

Either one of you should be talking to Xbox and offering to make weekly streaming video content for Xbox LIVE in the same way that Inside Xbox, Official Xbox Magazine and IGN currently are. If you aren't, I bet Absinthe are already thinking about it. It could live in Video Marketplace (Xbox isn't only about gaming you know, it's a community). Anyway I digress...

White Lines is simply the best magazine on the planet and I think one day their website might be too when they stop jealously guarding their printed content. I consume both and I am sure most of their readers feel the same.

Huck is a beautiful website and an ambitious magazine that may indeed also cover skateboarding and surfing (amongst other things) but has a brilliant asset in the journalism and unrivalled access to the world's top riders in Zoe Oksanen, who wrote about snowboarding long before she became the wife of my favourite snowboarder Jussi Oksanen (sorry Shaun).

Enjoy:

whitelines.com

huckmagazine.com

You've heard of people snowboarding in Brighton before but they don't usually mean the beach

2009-02-19T20:22:00.004Z

Every one has heard of Brighton snowboard resort in the US but for one day in February, England had enough snow for people to build snowmen on Brighton beach on the South Coast.

And people were doing this!

Read all about it on the excellent HUCK mag site.

That's It, That's All - review

2008-11-15T22:24:00.011Z

That's It, That's All is possibly the first snowboard movie ever to be released on Blu Ray. You could get it from iTunes but make no mistake, this movie is meant to be viewed on the biggest screen possible and in HD.

Prepare to globetrot as you have never globetrotted before through scenary so beautiful you could be watching a BBC natural history documentary. New Zealand, Jackson Hole, Alaska, Japan and er Munchner.... all captured in stunning lingering fly-bys, often at sunset.

Two years in the making, this is a high definition movie with high production values and a big budget. The helicopters have custom paint jobs (I notice that Absinthe Films had one this year too). There are even shots of the helicopters taken by other helicopters ...unless they have a superhero on the payroll. I try not to count Travis Rice as a superhero, even though he wears a cape sometimes, because I'm guessing he pretty much owns this movie and as such won't actually be on the payroll.

Usually when I watch snowboard films, I sit there wishing there was a bit more personal footage of the snowboarders. I always want to get to know the riders and hear their story. But be careful what you wish for, sometimes a bit of mystery can be a good thing. That's It, That's All could easily have been called the Travis Rice Hour. You definitely get the feeling you have met one of your heroes after watching it, and that my friend, is something they say you should never do.

This is as much a biopic as a snowboard movie. So much so that I was beginning to worry Travis might announce his retirement as the credits roll, or that it would pan out to reveal him in a prison cell, like the dude in Dogtown & Z Boys. Even when the other snowboarders appear, they provide testimonials as to what an awesome dude Travis is.

And to be fair, he does come across as a bit of a dude and a nice guy and there are times that you wish you were up there on screen telling everyone what a great guy your buddy Travis is.

Travis wears his signature Egyptian Pharoesque designer snowboard clothing range without one iota of irony. However, as we see from the close up podium footage, these snowboarders live like kings so who are we to judge when they dress like them? I mean look at the huge crowds they draw in this movie.

One thing that is beyond dispute is the quality of the riding on display and Travis' love of snowboarding. When it comes to big air tricks, whether it's in competition or on the mountain, Travis rules and if you need evidence, there's plenty here.

But the truly jaw dropping moment is when he narrowly escapes an avalanche in Alaska. If you think this is just for laughs, watch a bloodied Jeremy Jones, one of the best back country riders in the world, break his arm on the same trip.

For most of us, That's It, That's All is a must see, for many it will be a must own.

A Brain Farm Production directed, edited and produced by Curt Morgan.

Riders include Travis Rice, Mark Landvik, Nicolas Muller, Terje Haakonsen, Jeremy Jones, Scotty Lago, John Jackson and Pat Moore.

Additonal riders - Brian Iguchi, Kyle Clancy, Jake Blauvelt, Sammy Leubke, Danny Kass, Eddie Wall, Shandy Campos, Mark Carter, Lonnie Kauk, Dan Brisse, Dustin Craven.

Download the trailer from: thatsit-thatsall.com

Stoked - Xbox 360 screen shots

2008-11-15T20:26:00.008Z

Absinthe Films have been kind enough to send me a clutch of screen shots from their forthcoming collaboration with games developer Bongfish for Xbox 360. It's a snowboarding video game called Stoked with a US release date currently pinned on the end of December 2008.

Happy birthday Eero!

2008-10-17T14:54:00.002+01:00

Today is Eero Ettalla's birthday. Another excuse to post Eero and Heikki's awesome phone cam video!

Check out Eero, Heikki and Juuso's blog:

Three Random Riders

Big board and music mash up hits Battersea Powerstation

2008-10-16T04:05:00.010+01:00

Don't miss Freeze, London's big snowboard comp & music mash up at Battersea Power Station from October 23rd - 26th.

Over 80 pro snowboarders and nearly 30 music acts will collide over one weekend at Battersea Power Station on the South Bank for Freesports on 4 Freeze, a huge snowboard and ski event sponsored by LG, energy drink Relentless, Shaun White Snowboarding and many more.

Some 30 UK riders, including Dom Harington, Ben Kilner and our top half pipe boy Dan Wakeham , will be up against the likes of Danny Kass and Stefan Gimpl in the Big Air competition. Even Shaun White is rumoured to be putting in an appearance.

Check out the list of riders.

On the gig front expect a mix of hip hop, indie bands and dance djs including Cypress Hill, Sway, The Enemy, Reverend and the Makers, The Automatic and my old mate from my Radio 1 website days, DJ Annie Mac.

Check out Annie's new website where you can download a mix for free. This won't be just another gig for her. It's ridiculous how many people who work at Radio 1 are big into snowboarding.

The music line up at Freeze.

Channel 4 have an online only competition running to win tickets and a top prize of a big screen LG TV on their Freesports on 4 website. You can enter as many times as you like but you better be quick, closing date is noon on October 17th.

For more details on the event, how to get there and how to buy tickets, visit:

londonfreeze.com

Download a free Annie Mac mix at:

anniemacpresents.com

Shaun White - Wii salute you!

2008-10-13T19:16:00.006+01:00

November sees the release of Shaun White Snowboarding on every video game platform under the sun but of special note is the Wii version which allows you to control your rider with the Wii Balance Board introduced with Wii Fit.

Are we about to witness the birth of a franchaise? It seems Shaun White has learnt a new trick from his mentor Tony Hawk and it isn't on a skateboard.

From November 14th (UK), Montreal games developer Ubisoft release Shaun White Snowboarding for Xbox 360, DS, PS3, PS2, PSP and PC. But potentially the most intriguing version will be the exclusive Wii incarnation Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip which has it's own exclusive storyline and incorporates the Wii Fit Balance Board as a controller.

I'd like to see how grabs work on that apparatus because they're not light! Here's some screen grabs from the Wii version and below that, Live Wire and Ubisoft demo the game on YouTube.

Watch Ubisoft and Live Wire demo the game on You Tube.

Wakey's half pipe trick tips

2008-10-10T14:17:00.004+01:00

Learn to ride half pipe with Britain's top half pipe snowboarder Dan Wakeham on White Lines.

The White Lines boys have rejigged their website in time for the new season and included lots of videos with snowboarding tips for newbies through to jibbers.

Check out our Olympic snowboarder Dan's tips for wannabe half pipe riders.

Watch the video on White Lines

Visit the new White Lines site

Endeavor to be good?

2008-10-09T12:21:00.006+01:00

While browsing Facebook I came across Canadian board and clothing company Endeavor (sic). Anyone know anything about these guys or know if they are sold in the UK?

The board graphics and hoodies look awesome but I must admit, I know nothing about them.

Visit their site

JP Walker's latest movie Downloaded for free

2008-10-09T11:48:00.009+01:00

'Downloaded', this year's snowboard film from Step Child boards, is available to download for free fromt heir official site.

It runs just under 25 and a half minutes and features JP WAlker, Markku Koski, Shin Campos, Simon Chamberlain, Stian Solberg and the rest of the Step Child crew.

I'm downloading it myself at as I write this so I'll let you know my verdict later! It does have a Japan section though so you know I will be compelled to watch and a nice picnic table jib session.

Download the movie

Visit the Step Child blog

Step Child on MySpace

Absinthe Films get into gaming

2008-10-04T10:42:00.022+01:00

Absinthe Films are about to release their first venture into the video games market with Stoked for Xbox 360.

Some of you will know I used to have a website called Stoked On Snowboarding where I reviewed snowboard movies and snowboarding video games. It had a logo suspiciously similar to Coca Cola's but with a snowboarder on it (Stoked ... Coke ... geddit?) until they threatened me with a big ass law suit. Did you know they have copyrighted that wavy line you see on coke cans?

Some of you may also have heard that my current day job is sticking up banner ads and mini-sites up on Xbox LIVE (which is free by the way to anyone with an Xbox 360 and a net connection if you wanna see my work! - You only have to pay if you wanna play against friends online). So imagine my surprise when this particular gem fell into my mailbox!

Top notch snowboard movie makers Absinthe Films have made their first foray into video gaming by co-developing a new snowboarding game for Xbox 360 with Destineer and Bongfish.

It's called Stoked but hey I'm flattered cos it will feature two of my all-time favourite pro riders Bjorn Leines and Travis Rice!

It's definitely not Bjorn's first time as a video game character as I've played as that dude many many times on the old Xbox.

The game include 5 mountains, dynamic weather systems and sponsorship from respected snowboard companies. Other riders named are Nicholas Muller, Wolle Nyvelt, Gigi Ruf, Romain De Marchi, Annie Boulanger and Tadashi Fuse.

I guess what Absinthe will bring to the table (besides their name, contacts and well earned respect) is their unique style and creative approach which has always been a big part of their film making. I'm anticipating a great soundtrack and some awesome graphics.

The game is out in November and when you can download the demo on Xbox LIVE, I'll shout it out.

Check out Absinthe's forthcoming movie Ready

That's All Folks

2008-10-03T16:58:00.007+01:00

If like me, you're thinking snowboard movies are what HD was invented for, then you want to check out Travis Rice's forthcoming movie That's It, That's All.

Not only is it co-produced by Trice and shot in Hi Def, it also includes Terje, Jeremy Jones and Danny Kass among the featured riders.

You can watch trailers on the official site as well as win a heli-boarding trip to Alaska or loads of signature Travis kit.

Also there's a Facebook group for all the latest news and updates.

Visit the Official site

Join the Facebook group

Need lessons but have ADD?

2008-09-24T07:16:00.008+01:00

Method TV do their bit for boys with learning difficulties.

As the new season gets near, indulge yourselves with a reminder from the, erm, pros on how to wax your board.

Future stars if I ever saw a pair. At least they're not topless.

Watch the video on Method TV

On the Ed

2008-08-10T17:30:00.009+01:00

I wasn't going to post again until next season but I had to say how much I enjoyed Ed Leigh's documentary on the BBC iPlayer recently, Siberia To Sahara: A Snowboarder's Odyssey.

The programme follows Ed as he travels from Siberia to Morocco via Hokkaido and the Himalayas in pursuit of some of the world's most exotic snowboarding locations.

Not only was this film beautifully shot and informative but it was even more notable for the things it was not - lecturing, condescending and full of cliches. Well, maybe the soundtrack was the usual kinda thing.

Ed was probably the most genial and chilled host I have ever seen him (well let's face it he is usually on TV whooping it up at some big air comp or rail jam) but he still managed to get across his love and enthusiasm for snowboarding.

If you ever get the chance to watch this, I'd recommend that you do. Even if you think you know everything there is to know about snowboarding, you could learn something from this.

The stupidest gadget ever?

2008-04-28T16:28:00.005+01:00

Over the last 10 years snowboarders have probably noticed the effects of Global Warming more keenly than most - so what idiot in their right mind would invent a MOTORISED SNOWBOARD!?

Usually I am a big fan of Channel Five's Gadget Show but to see presenter Jason Bradbury enthuse about possibly the most pointless invention ever, The Powerboard, is not a high point.

What the world needs now is *not* an environmentally unfriendly snowboard when it we already have something elegant and quiet than runs on gravity, can be carried under your arm and for the most part is made from sustainable materials.

So we need a motorised snowboard like a hole in the head. The Powerboard is a snowmobile crossed with scooter. It has a 4 stroke engine and can travel a yawn-inducing 18 mph.

As if skiers aren't bad enough, the prospect of dodging idiots on these things too is just too much. I suppose on the bright side it might keep some stupid rich people off the lifts.

See the ridiculous item on The Gadget Show

Big Air in Japan

2008-04-13T11:48:00.001+01:00

It's a long held dream of a friend and I to go snowboarding in Japan. Until that happens I live vicariously through Haruki Murakami novels, writing my Asian cinema blog for MSN UK, and watching movies like Trouble In Japan.

In February 2007 the Analog snowboard team shot Trouble In Japan as part of their Moving Picture Project. Genially hosted by 18 year old Danny Davis, it documents what the life of a pro snowboarder is really like as the riders compete in Japan's Toyota Big Air and the Nippon Open.

Not only does it include footage from both comps but there's also lots of behind the scenes footage, night and day riding on the slopes of Rusutsu and Furano resorts, and we get to gig with veteran rider Trevor Andrew's band.

It also features a couple of my favourite snowboarders Heikki Sorsa and JP Solberg, as well as Danny, Trevor, Mikkel Bang and Kevin Pearce.

Besides all the wall-rides, car tows and general larking around, there's an excellent soundtrack from Kudu (awesome bass line on their tune), Stiffed and Trevor Andrew aka Trouble.

Not only is this a free movie but its makers positively encourage authorised distribution so BitTorrent it now or visit the offical Analog clothing site and watch it in their video section where there's an iPod friendly version available.

Watch Trouble In Japan on Analog's official site

Asian Provocateur - my Asian cinema blog

Unbelievable!

2008-04-04T08:03:00.007+01:00

Travis Rice rocks a Double BS Rodeo at the Nokia Air & Style 2007 comp. Seeing is not always believing!

Trice rules. Again.

Watch the clip on YouTube

Your fave MySpace photos delivered to your desktop

2008-03-31T12:54:00.005+01:00

If you have Windows Vista on your pc, here's a way you can have your favourite snowboard photos on your desktop.

There is a widget for the Vista SideBar that you can download from here:

MySpace Image Viewer

If you enter the ID number of someone's profile on MySpace e.g. a pro snowboarder or your favourite magazine, you can get all their public MySpace photos delivered direct to your desktop in a scrolling gallery.

All you do is install the gadget, click on it's tools icon and enter the ID of a MySpace profile. For example my fave snowboard mag is White Lines. Their MySpace profile url is:

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=112011604

So you would enter 112011604.

Respect peoples' privacy if they have an obviously low key profile. Not all pros like to be public figures but many want to promote their photos and even invite comments.

Be your own camera man HeRo style

2008-03-30T05:55:00.004+01:00

Heikki Sorsa and Eero Ettala demonstrate what camera phones were invented for.

Heikki and Eero filmed this themselves on their mobiles! Watch out for the hand-off at the end.

The boys at White Lines have a longer version of this video which is even better:

Watch the full video on White Lines
Check my review of Heikki and Eero's movie Picture This

Now that's what I call a Good Friday

2008-03-20T07:46:00.002Z

Method.tv to webcast the Burton US Open competition LIVE over the Easter Weekend!

Better than an Easter Egg, Method European snowboard magazine will be webcasting the final of the US Open LIVE from Stratton Vermont.

It all kicks off at 4pm (Central European Time) on Good Friday, March 21st and continues Saturday. So that's about 3pm in the UK by my reckoning. On the other hand I suppose you could always watch Countdown.

Watch the Live Stream

Flippin iTunes

2008-03-14T08:33:00.001Z

Absinthe Films have sent me a teaser video of their Flipside series which takes you behind the scenes of last season's movie Optimistic?

Episodes are now available on iTunes.

Bjorn Again! Absinthe 'Ready' for 08|09

2008-03-10T06:54:00.005Z

Exciting news - Bjorn Leines joins the Absinthe Films rider roster. And Absinthe branch out with a new music label.

Absinthe Films have announced that the title of their movie for next season will be 'Ready' and will include some new additions to their rider line-up - most notably the mighty Bjorn Leines!

I can now finally get over Travis Rice not appearing in last year's movie Optimistic?

Other 'newbies' to the Absinthe roster this year are Kevin Pearce, Scotty Lago, Blair Habenicht, Louie Vito and Markus Keller.

Plus long time Absinthe riders Gigi Rüf, Marc Frank Montoya, Romain de Marchi, Matt Beardmore, Nicolas Müller, Jules Reymond, JP SOLBERG (great to see this fella back) and Mikey LeBlanc will be there.

As well as Annie Boulanger, JEREMY JONES, Chris Coulter, Sylvain Bourbousson and Marco Feichtner.

Absinthe have also started a new label called Absinthe Music and release two albums from Scott Sullivan entitled 'The Great Manifestiny' and 'The Crushwater Symphony'. Both are available to buy from Absinthe-Films.com.

You can now buy the workaholic-movie-makers' second TV series of FLIPSIDE on iTunes.

Technine board sale @ Extreme Pie

2008-02-26T07:43:00.006Z

Skate/snow shopping site Extreme Pie is shifting Technine snowboards from as little as £136.

Plus there is an extra 15% off for girls by entering the code GIRLSONLY.

Not only that but postage & packing is free for orders above £100.

Boards available are:
The Jib £180 (£153 with code) down from £225;
Street series £187 (down from £275);
Split T £136 (down from £200);
The Dime women's £153 (down from £225),
T-9 women's £136 (down from £200)

For details visit Extreme Pie

Dan Wakeham video podcast #4

2008-02-24T10:41:00.001Z

Our Olympic half-pipe hope hits Laax.

An urgent appeal on behalf of goofy riders

2008-02-06T16:46:00.000Z

I'm right handed but somehow when I first learned to snowboard, I found it much easier to ride goofy (with your left foot forward) and have been that way ever since. Please don't feel sorry for me but as a result I have been subjected to 'upside down' snowboard graphics ever since!

Why oh why does no-one think about the goofy riders? Even the name suggests you're a bit of a wrong-un. If you ride goofy, by implication you don't ride regular.

Riding goofy is the snowboarding equivalent of being left-handed, or being a 'Southpaw' since that is the slang for a left handed sports person.

"Even the name suggests you're a bit of a wrong-un. If you ride goofy, by implication you don't ride regular."

In some ancient cultures, including Western ones, being left handed was a bit like being cursed.

The word 'sinister' comes from the Latin word for Left but has become understood to mean evil or at best 'unlucky'. Another suggested derivation of the word comes from the Roman name for the single pocket in a toga which was always on the left.

But it's not all bad. Southpaws have been rehabilitated in recent times as 'creatives' since so many designers and musicians are left handed. Chris McManus of University College London has claimed that proportionately speaking, the number of left-handed people is rising and as a group have historically produced more than their share of high achievers.

So why is it then that when 'creatives' design the graphics for their snowboards they either go for a bland 'any-way-up' abstract pattern or if they do produce something with an illustration on it, it often appears kinda upside down to goofy riders?

I mean when I ride my Jussi signature board, even the writing is upside down!

So all you rock star snowboarders out there, designing the graphix for next seasons' signature board, please spare a thought for the goofy rider!

Travel Snowboard Insurance by TGIC (07/08 Rates) :: Snowboard Club UK :: The Riders' Network

2008-02-04T19:00:00.001Z

Dunx at Snowboard Club UK has arranged a great insurance deal for snowboarders, not only amateur riders like me, but there is also cover for pros and riders who enter competitions.

It covers gear up to £1500 (individual items up to £800) which would have covered me when my last insurance company didn't pay out!

Here's some info cut and past from Dunx's site. Clcik on the link to go to SCUK and get the full lowdown.

GET A FREE QUOTE
Email: scuk@tagconnect.co.uk
Call tagconnect: +44 (0)845 408 0583

These days, we all know that Travel insurance is an essential part of our holiday, but how many of us actually know that our cover is appropriate? Not all insurance cover is the same and tagconnect recognise that many travellers are now choosing more adventurous winter holidays with the emphasis on snowboarding and have therefore worked closely with SCUK for 3 years to design a specific winter sports policy. Our policy offers UNIQUE packages tailored to suit all snowboarders’ needs. Peace of mind, should mean, peace of mind!

Plus we provide as STANDARD cover in all policies:

Winters Sports cover
Snowboard kit: Single item limit £800, total £1,500
Off piste, Park, Indoor, Dryslope
Personal Liability
31 days Winter Sports (Annual Multi Trip)

The schedule of cover which sets out the cover provided by TGIC insurance can be seen on the TGIC website when you obtain a quote.

ALL Premiums include Winter Sports Cover (note: be warned many other insurance companies may not include this within advertised prices).

Loadings for Competitiors and Instructors

For participation in AMATEUR COMPETITIONS an additional premium at the rate of 50% of the above will be charged.
(Amateur = UK events such as AIM Series and the British Championships. Does not include coverage for those making a living from snowboarding).

For participation in PROFESSIONAL COMPETITIONS an additional premium at the rate of 100% of the above will be charged.
(Professional = International events (FIS, TTR etc and events where the participant is being paid a fee for participating e.g Daily Mail show, Inner City events etc..).

Any of the above can be used as additional policys on top of (Single, Long Stay or Multi Trips) for one off events e.g.
British Championships (5 days competition), SCUK member 1-5 days European cover = £21.15 plus 50% = £31.73

Working abroad as a SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR an additonal premium at the rate of 25% of the above will be charged (personal liability cover is excluded, as this should be covered by your employer).

Excess Waiver = £10 per person.

GET A FREE QUOTE
Email: scuk@tagconnect.co.uk
Call tagconnect: +44 (0)845 408 0583
and quote reference number "151005"
To get an online quote and purchase click here. SCUK members need to log in to see the 10% discount link. You can join from just £15

If you are interested in purchasing cover from tagconnect, please call 0845 408 0583 or e-mail our sales team at scuk@tagconnect.co.uk. Please ensure you read your insurance policy carefully.

Travel Snowboard Insurance by TGIC (07/08 Rates) :: Snowboard Club UK :: The Riders' Network

Insurance Cops or Cop Outs?

2008-02-04T18:03:00.000Z

On Thursday Channel 4 ran the first part of a documentary called 'Scams, Fiddles and Honest Claims' about the insurance company inverstigators who investigate fraudulent insurance claims.

Well, I've been on the flip side and seen how insurance companies dishonestly make every effort NOT to pay out to honest claiments (see my previous blog entry).

Because of this I thought it might be a good idea to give my top tips on how to prepare yourself in case the unthinkable happens and you have your snowboard gear stolen.

1. Save all your receipts

Despite what your insurance company tells you, they will not accept any other proof of what items cost you, even when the invade your privacy and demand bank and credit card statements... and believe me they will demand copies!

2. Photograph all your gear, especially serial numbers

Get hold of a digital camera and photograph all your snowboarding gear, clothing and anything else valuable BEFORE you go away. Keep lots of copies of your photos and keep them stored safely and backed up somewhere (if you have webmail, you can always email them to yourself which will date them too!)

Obviously do not put the photos online somewhere public ... especially the photos which include serial numers of items.

3. Get someone to photograph you riding

It helps even more if you have proof of the gear being used by your's truly. Insurance companies treat claiments like liars and crooks by default but they sound like they're being nice to you while they do it.

4. If the premium is too cheap to be true, it probably is

Any insurance company can offer ridiculously cheap premiums if they have no intention of paying out. Better to pay more and be protected in the knowledge that the company you have chosen is reputable.

5. Go with a company recommended by someone who has used them before

If you can, try get a recommendation from someone you trust who has used that insurance company before - ideally someone who has had to go through a claim with them.

6. Don't hide anything

This is especially true with insurance claims that might have to cover hospital bills if you get hurt. Don't give them any excuse to withold payment later by claiming you didn't disclose any prior medical condition. If you tell them upfront, you can still get insurance in case you get hurt in an accident on the mountain.

7. Don't use Insure And Go

This is only my personal opinion but when I tried to claim for my stolen snowboard bag and all its contents, no amount of evidence was good enough. Everytime I provided them with what they asked for, they just asked for something else, more and more until so many months had gone bythat I practically lost the will to live.

Not only have I never received a penny, they have never actually given me an answer on my claim one way or the other.

They have never ever contacted me without prior provocation to ask what was happening with my claim.

You can't blame an insurance company because someone steals or loses your valuables but I think it speaks volumes about a company's good will (or lack if it) in the way they try to remedy your situation.

8. Don't book a holiday with Air Tours

Not exactly an insurance tip but in the case of lost or stolen goods, you will have to rely on your holiday company to provide proof or evidence.

I think the reps they employed in Livigno were crooks (see my last blog entry) and even if I can't prove it, they tried to intimidate me into accepting liability for my own stolen iems that they 'lost'.

Even if the company were unaware of their employees actions, they did nothing to remedy the situation, which speaks volumes about their integrity.

'Insure And Go' Don't Care About Snowboarders

2008-02-04T16:23:00.000Z

To paraphrase Kanye West, 'INSURE AND GO' are to snowboarders what George Bush is to Hurricane Katrina survivors.

I had £1500 worth of snowboarding equipment stolen from the transfer coach a few years back during a trip to Livigno, Italy. The reps from the holiday company at the time (who, PLEASE TAKE NOTE, have since changed their name to AIRTOURS) tried to intimidate me at the hotel with a gang of huge 6 ft plus ski guides into 'admitting' it was my fault not theirs.

I'll never book anything with those scum bags again.

'Well,' they said sarcastically, 'you're insured'. As if it was an excuse.

"The reps from the holiday company tried to intimidate me at the hotel with a gang of huge 6 ft plus ski guides..."

I'd lost a brand new top of the range 'Terje' Burton snowboard that I'd never even had the privilege to ride one time, plus my bindings, boots and all my snowboarding clothes. Even the snowboard bag they were packed in. All the stuff I had managed to collect over 4 years of snowboarding.

The sad truth is, I was insured. With Insure And Go. I had heard from a friend that they were good if you got hurt on the mountain - which, let's face it, is the single most important consideration when buying snow sports insurance. It never occured to me that I might get robbed but I bought the premium insurance cover anyway, just in case the airline lost my luggage.

During the transfer from the airport to Livgno, the coach stopped once as we were allowed to stretch our legs and grab a coffee in a nearby cafe. That was the only time coach and my luggage were out of my sight.

When we arrived in Livigno to be dropped off at our hotel my snowboard bag and its contents had mysteriously vanished.

I confronted the reps who said some stuff had been tranferred to another coach as half the party went to another resort and they would track my bag down. later they changed their story and said that had never happened.

I have never lost my bag before or had anything stolen and therefore had no experience of dealing with insurance companies. I had no receipts for my equipment and had no photos of my gear either.

I called Insure and Go from Livigno the morning after my stuff disappeared and explained my situation. They said don't worry. All I needed was a letter from the holiday company to say stuff was lost and maybe a photo of me snowboarding as proof of my equipment.

I provided both.

Insure And Go are liars.

"they asked for more and more proof until months had elapsed and I simply lost the will to pursue my claim"

They never actually turned down my claim. Everytime I provided any info they requested, they asked for more and more proof until months had elapsed and I simply lost the will to pursue my claim.

As a result I hate them even more than the people who stole my equipment (who I strongly suggest were the local Livigno reps of Airs Tours).

Let me say simply this... if an insurance premium is so cheap it seems too good to be true? That's because ot is.

Anyone can offer a cheap premium if they never pay anybody out! As far as I am concerned, my insurance premium with Insure And Go cost me £1500 PLUS the cost of the premium I paid to those crooks.

Next time I will insure myself myself with a company for snowboarders and recommended by snowboarders. I hear Snowboard Club UK do one and will be checking it out.

http://www.snowboardclub.co.uk/insurance

It might cost more but if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys.

Insure And Go? 'Insure And Go Fuck Yourself' more like.

10 New Reasons to join Joost

2008-01-28T17:33:00.001Z

Online TV Channel 'Joost' has gone snowboarding mad today with 10 new shows to watch for free on your PC.

They Include brill snowboard movie Positron which features brothers Bjorn and Erik Leines, British movie Skyrocket from Danny Wheeler, and a film on the Snowbombing festival (always a fave amongst my Radio 1 snowboarding pals).

To watch, just go to the Joost site and install their Beta software if you haven't already.

Top 10 Winter Snow Games - Airs, Dares and Scares - Joost

Dan Wakeham on YouTube - podcast no.2

2008-01-16T21:29:00.001Z

Don't even get me started on the London Olympics ... where's our snowdome that's what I want to know?!

But I *do* get excited about the Winter Olympics. If you want to support UK snowboarding, get behind Dan Wakeham who reprazents us in the half-pipe competition.

Check out his YouTube channel where you catch his video diary.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y12ASIfmC8Y

Dan's The Man

2008-01-14T23:19:00.001Z

Support UK snowboarder Dan Wakeham from Plymouth by visiting his blog http://danwakeham.blogspot.com/ and signing up to the UK Snowboarding team newsletter at http://www.snowsportgb.com/.

On January 9th he won 2nd place at the Airwaves Invitational Halfpipe Competition in Tignes, France, pocketing an impressive $5,000 in prize money in the process!

I interviewed a fresh faced (and already incredibly tall) Dan back in 2003 on my old site Stoked On Snowboarding when he was hammering the rails at Board X Winter Festival in London's Alexandra Palace.

Even then he was sponsored by Santa Cruz snowboards and maybe no-one should have been surprised when he turned up in the half-pipe the year Ross Powers won the Winter Olympics in Utah.

For those who missed it, here's that interview from 16 November 2003.

Dan Wakeham is six foot plus, has poster boy looks and despite boarding for 7 years, he only turned 22 a few days ago. You should hate him but the dude's got too much class. For the whole of Board-X he was hitting the rail park with style and by Sunday's informal 'Jib Jam' demo, he was earning hard cash for tricks on demand.

As I recall, he was the only guy to pull a 360 on the Rainbow rail. If Dan isn't Santa Cruz's only UK snowboarder (he skateboards too), he's certainly the only one from Plymouth. Stoked caught up with him at the end of Board-X to find out how he got on...

Why are you at Board-X?

I come to Board X every year. When they have events in England, it's good to show your face. It's not always the best riding. I don't always get on well with the jump but this year they've got some good rails.

What do you think of the new indoor Grind Rail Park?

The rail park was pretty cool. When I first got here, I wasn't quite sure how it was gonna be. The run out is pretty short. They could do with making that a little bit longer so you've got a chance to stop. Plus they've got a flat bar. You pretty much have to drop in and jump straight on to it. There's not much time to get ready.

I notice you like the Rainbow rail.

I rode the Rainbow a lot because the flat bar wasn't made up well. The jump was a little too small and the landing was really flat. I've got a bit of a weak knee so the flat landing would hurt. So I stuck to the Rainbow, it's nice and smooth. Plus if you stick to one thing, you're going to get good on it and learn some good tricks.

What's it like in the Jib Jam, when everybody's watching and the MCs are throwing in cash for tricks?

Sometimes I don't really feel like it but you start to relax and forget that the crowd are there. Then the guys with the microphones come along and they start flashing around money, so I found myself starting to run back up to the top so I can try and get some. I got a hundred quid for one trick and then I got forty quid for another. If I got paid like that for every trick I did, I'd probably make a lot of money (he he).

You've got some big sponsors. Is there any money in it?

Up to now, I haven't really been making money from snowboarding. It's cost me a lot. Occasionally you get the odd thing free - like free hotels and free travel. But I'm starting to progress now. I competed in some of the big American comps and beat some big names.

This year I'm gonna ride some World and European cup events. If I ride well, there more chance of walking into better sponsorship deals. I might be riding for Oakley for clothing and eye wear. And maybe look for some corporate sponsorship like Red Bull (Dan was drinking Red Bull all day long so they ought to sponsor him) or Orange mobile phones. They've got a lot of money to spend so I wanna be in there and get a bit of it.

When learning tricks, what's the best approach ?

With every trick, you have to be able to visualise yourself doing it. You can't just throw yourself at it because it doesn't work. If you can't see yourself doing it, chances are you probably won't be able to do it. I think about what I'm gonna do and just have a go at it. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes I have to unstrap my board and give it a rest for a while and maybe come back to it later. If I'm in the right mood, I feel like I can do just about anything. That's the best way to be but it's not always like that unfortunately.

What tricks are you working on at the moment?

In the half pipe, I'm working on a Rodeo 900. It's a pretty hard trick because there's a lot of spinning. It's all inverted. I'm quite a big guy as well so it's not like those little kids who can just spin a 900 a foot out of the half-pipe, I have to go quite a lot higher just to get my board around so many times.

Not many pros ride wear lids. What's your view on protection?

Some people say that wearing a helmet is a distraction but I don't find that it is. I go through phases. This season I was filming and really pushing it. I had two concussions and a knockout. I was riding one of the jumps in Mammoth, it was quite a big jump, I went too fast and cleared the landing. I landed clean on my feet but the impact of hitting the ground knocked me out cold. I was out for about 2 minutes. I got taken away in an ambulance and had to have a cat scan, so I started wearing a helmet after that.

How do you get over an accident like that?

You've got to expect an accident here and there. I haven't had any real bad accidents to date, touch wood. I know some people who have broken their back. For them to come back is really hard. But like a broken bone or something, it's not really that big a deal.

Besides snowboarding, what else do you do?

I do a lot of skateboarding in the summer. We built a ramp down in Plymouth. We spent a lot of time down there just skating, having barbeques and enjoying the heatwave that we had.

YouTube - Travis Rice - Interview

2007-12-27T23:10:00.001Z

Part 1 - His favourite colour and shit (only joking!)

Part 2: Trice explains the story behind the infamous Chad's Gap session from the Absinthe movie Pop.

YouTube - DC - Travis Rice - Interview Pt 2

Travis Rice: Best Bits

2007-12-27T23:02:00.001Z

Community Project

YouTube - Travis Rice: Community Project

Chad's Gap

Two Dudes In Capes

2007-12-23T17:53:00.001Z

I have broken my 'strictly snowboarding' rule for these guys because they are comic geniuses. Although strictly speaking I was searching for a video posted by Method Mag's Jason Horton when I found this video on http://www.funnyordie.com/ so he must be associated with it.

Go to http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/5e5a717748 cos the embedding code doesn't like my blog.

To Booyah! or Not Booyah!

2007-12-23T17:45:00.001Z

I would have given this Method Mag video a 'Booyah!' but being on one social networking site is enough without having to join MySpace too.

Check it out though.

Picture This (Mack Dawg) - dvd review

2007-12-11T20:28:00.000Z

Riders: Seth Huot, Andreas Wiig, Wille Yli-Luoma, Darrell Mathes, DCP, Etienne Gilbert, Hampus Mosesson, Shaun White, Kevin Pearce, Jussi Oksanen, Eero Ettala, Heikki Sorsa, Aaron Biittner, JP Walker.

Mack Dawg are the kings of the skateboard style snowboard movie and so their dvds are often, for want of a better word, traditional. Yet Picture This is without doubt the pick of the crop this year.

It not only contains the most progressive tricks I’ve seen in some time but they always manage to find the most creative ways to film them in. So no surprise that the same set ups appear again and again. Last year was one of the worst for snow in living memory if you listen to the pros.

"it’s been a good season to experiment with different types of filming and snowboarding"

The irreproachable Jeremy Jones puts it best. “This season’s been hard for bangers… but it’s been a good season to experiment with different types of filming and snowboarding..”

Well here’s the proof. When reviewing I try capture frames from the movie to show you a flavour of the tricks but every time I thought I’d picked something brilliant, there was always something even better a minute later. In the end I had to stop otherwise I was going to produce a flick book.

Forget the first time you saw a road gap jump, check out newbie Darrell Mathes’ transfer over a man made canyon or at the opposite end of the scale but equally impressive, how about Jussi Oksanen turning an old tube into an impromptu rail? Or Aaron Bittner’s wall ride to wall ride.

"the last time I saw anyone pull a spine transfer like that it was on my Xbox"

Best trick? That is a tough call in a movie that continually tops itself on so many levels. I liked Heikki Sorsa’s one footed spine transfer. Heikki may well be an Olympic half pipe finalist but that the last time I saw anyone pull a spine transfer like that it was on a skateboard … on my Xbox.

Picture This is the movie that hi def and rewind were invented for. The tricks are at times so incredible that they beg to be watched over and over, almost frame by frame. Quite simply the most impressive jibbing movie since Afterbang.

Verdict: 5 out of 5 http://www.mackdawgproductions.com/

Mpora Video Crimbo Comp

2007-12-09T17:01:00.000Z

Some of you may already be familiar with internet TV company Mpora either through their extreme sports website (http://mpora.com/snowboarding/) or via their Joost channel.

They are best known for streaming well known snowboard and skateboard movies online for free but with their new Christmas competition, YOU could be the star!

Upload your snowboarding (or skateboarding) video to Mpora and you could win 500 bucks US. Don't worry I checked out the T&Cs and provided that you are over 13 years of age, it seems ok to enter even if you're not in the USA. if you win, you receive the money via Paypal.

You upload your video and promote it yourself by embedding it on your blog or sharing it with your friends on Facebook.

Whoever tops their HOT 10 video chart when the competition closes on December 20th will get $500.

Upload your video and check out the competition details here: http://video.mpora.com/xmasgiveaway

If you have broadband and want to try Joost's internet TV software for free on your computer (Windows or Mac), including Mpora's snowboard movies and loads of other channels ranging from hip hop to manga to The Monkees, download the Beta software here:
http://www.joost.com/download/

It's the best way of watching Mpora!

Special Blend: First Chair Last Call - movie review

2007-12-05T19:14:00.000Z

‘Talent Technicians’: Travis Kennedy, Joni Malmi, Stevie Bell, Nic Suave, Daniel Ek, Kareem El Rafie, Niko Cioffi, Peter Kőnig.

It may sound like coffee but Special Blend is a clothing brand for snowboarders who in their wisdom have decided to present their movie as a free download in high def (Quicktime), low quality (Quicktime) and iPod ready (.m4v) formats.

"As you might expect from what is in effect a moving clothes catalogue, the film is very colourful and crystal clear"

As you might expect from what is in effect a moving clothes catalogue, the film is short, colourful and crystal clear. It’s also high quality, lots of fun and let me repeat – it’s free!

"A legal download where credit card or email details are not exchanged is a rare and beautiful thing."

A legal download where credit card or email details are not exchanged is a rare and beautiful thing. A good will winner in my book.

It’s also as jibby a movie as you’ll ever see because it’s mostly one park session after another.

"Finland’s Joni Malmi provides the best trick of the movie..."

Finland’s Joni Malmi kicks off the more traditional movie sections with urban rails and big airs, plus he provides the best trick of the movie - a magnificent wall ride along the side of a hut. It’s the way he hits it horizontally and 360s out that’s a bit special.

I also cruelly enjoyed Travis Kennedy riding straight into a skip, not that I have anything against the guy!

Personally I can take or leave the dick jokes lads (don’t give up the snowboarding job) but if ‘Dick Listener’ sounds up your alley viewers, stick it out (as it were) to the very end.

Verdict: Short but sweet (4 out of 5)

FREE DOWNLOAD from:
http://www.special-blend.com/FirstChairLastCall/

iPod ready (.m4v) 221mb
Quicktime (.mov ) small 146mb
Quicktime (.mov) large 307 mb

How to get your own graphics on your board

2007-11-29T23:22:00.001Z

Slovenian snowboard company Artec have come up with a genius idea with their Blueprint series of snowboards ... now you can order a snowboard with your own personal graphics on it for 549 Euros.

The boards come in 3 sizes - 154, 157 and 160 cms and they can turn them round in just 3 weeks.

I can't vouch for the boards having never heard of them before and I think the graphics are on the top only (not the base) but it's a mouthwatering idea. I mean how many riders do you know who are creatives?!

Check out their website for details: http://www.artecproject.com/blueprint/en/

Jumping With Jussi (Mack Dawg) - dvd review

2007-11-28T23:47:00.000Z

Directed and edited by Mike McEntire and Jussi Oksanen.

If you’ve always wanted a personal tutorial from one of the best snowboarders in the world and can’t afford a summer at snowboard camp, here’s your chance thanks to Jussi Oksanen's trick tips dvd.

But let me be Master Of The Bleeding Obvious and say right away that this dvd is called JUMPING With Jussi… it ain’t JIBBING With Jussi (now there *is* a name for a blog!). In other words, no rails, no wall rides, no snowboarding across water, no road gaps (although technically that would count) and certainly no urban footage.

Maybe he’s planning a follow up but for now, Jussi has decided it would be most wise to demonstrate 16 of his favourite big air tricks in a specially closed off trick park. A bit like when Hamley’s open their toy store exclusively to Michael Jackson. Think of it as the skill of a ninja combined with the responsible attitude of a sensei.

Beginning with straight airs and progressing through to pulling 900s, Jussi demonstrates each trick with crystal clarity while calmly talking you through it, over and over, making each jump sound as easy as he makes it look.

Seriously though, the approach is clearly designed to encourage your confidence as much as demystify and there must be something to learn here for everyone from beginners to the most advanced riders.

"...Jussi fell just 4 times in the making of this dvd while he landed tricks around 600 times!"

Obviously a degree of ability is required before you attempt to ride in the big man’s bindings, (as the credits go to great pains to point out). And as they also point out, Jussi fell just 4 times in the making of this dvd while he landed tricks around 600 times! So if you are thinking of ever pissing the guy off, don’t forget some kryptonite.

"...and ride out like a champ"

I like to think of JWJ as the snowboarding equivalent of one of those self-belief tapes. You could try taking the soundtrack with you into the park with you, iPod style, or maybe play it over and over in your sleep… you CAN pull a cab 540… you can… you can...

…“and ride out like a champ!”

Verdict: I'd give it 5 out 5 because it's Jussi but I'd give my chances of getting beyond a straight air, 0 out of 5.

Go to http://www.mackdawgproductions.com/ for more info.

Optimistic? (Absinthe Films) - dvd review

2007-11-25T14:01:00.000Z

Riders: Wolgang Nyvelt, Marco Feichfner, Gigi Ruf, Matt Beardmore, Justin Bennee, Matty Ryan, Mikey Le Blanc, Nicholas Muller, Terje Haakonsen, Sylvain Bourbousson, Hans Ahlund, MFM (Marc Frank Montoya), Nicholas Droz, Jules Reymond, Erik Christensen, Phil Damianakes, Kurt Wastell, Annie Boulanger, Romain de Marchi, Danny Davis.

Number of times watched before reviewing: 8

Looking forward to seeing the new Absinthe film every season is as exciting as waiting for Christmas. Directors Justin Hostynek and Patrick Armbruster are two of the most consistently high quality film makers in snowboarding and I have seen all their collaborations since the exceptional Transcendence in 2001 (which means I’ve only missed their debut effort Tribal). Also I love the way they support European riders.

"This is the first dvd I have reviewed since the advent of the YouTube era"

Optimistic? is their 8th movie and it’s the first time it has ever crossed my mind that they may be spreading themselves a bit thin. They have obviously broken into TV now with the series Flipside (about the making of last year’s More - both available on DVD) and deservedly so. However Optimistic? doesn’t instantly gratify or have the wow factor of their previous movies. Why?

It certainly isn’t down to the quality. This is the first dvd I have reviewed since the advent of the YouTube era and standards have never been more important. How else can you justify the price tag of a dvd when anyone and their dog can post homemade jibbing footage on the web for free?

"Optimistic? is Justin and Brustie's most beautifully shot film to date"

This is no let down. Optimistic? is Justin and Brustie’s most beautifully shot film to date with a restrained palette of colours that is as pleasing to the eye. They even make the graffiti look like fine art exhibits. No cheap and garish video camera colours to be found here.

The soundtrack is as tasteful and relevant to the visuals as I’ve come to expect from these boys with the exception of the awful Babyshambles (if I had to listen to them every day of my life I'd want to be on smack). The clever incorporation of animation and graphics are as accomplished as I have seen in an Absinthe production - those fonts dropped on mouth-watering landscapes will give wet dreams to certain graphic designers I know.

It isn’t down to the riders – most of the usual big boys are present including Gigi Ruf, Jules Reymond, Wolle (now Wolfgang!) Nyvelt and Nico Droz. Absinthe are one of the few top film crews that include predominantly European riders although I did miss American Travis Rice this time. He is often an Absinthe regular, one of my personal faves and easily one of the most progressive snowboarders on the circuit. Terje Haakonson, the nearest we have to a godfather of snowboarding, makes a (very brief) cameo but don’t get too excited, it’s a piss-take on skiers.

"I did miss American Travis Rice... easily one of the most progressive snowboarders on the cirtcuit"

There’s more ski-related humour. You know that shouldn’t laugh but watching Marc Frank Montoya head down the piste deliberately spraying every skier in sight is cruel but undeniably funny – almost as funny as his preoccupation with being a hip hop star as MFM fans will testify. Also there's Mikey Le Blanc's claims that his forbears invented snowboarding (or stand-up tobogganing it seems to me).

So what’s the problem?

"a heavy shift to backcountry and deep powder riding which looks a lot more fun to do than it is to watch..."

Well, it begins with a heavy shift to backcountry deep powder riding which looks a lot more fun to do than it is to watch and perhaps should have been left til nearer the end. Admittedly the backcountry sections are nice in a wish-I-was-there way and there is plenty of creative jibbing on what nature has to offer.

I suspect though that like most snowboarders, I want to be amazed by the tricky skills and sheer bravery of those I couldn’t hope to duplicate myself in a million years. In this respect, Justin Bennee and Matty Ryan ’s rails & rooftops section is eminently enjoyable, due mostly to their guerrilla approach to urban snowboarding and Erik B and Rakim's 'Don't Sweat The Technique' soundtrack. And it was nice to be reminded what a skillful snowboarder Nico Droz actually is.

"...it was nice to be reminded what a skillful snowboarder Nico Droz actually is."

At a time when there are few truly new snowboarding tricks to be seen, the only thing novel here is the inclusion of wall rides which I have noticed a few pros going for on snowboarding sites recently. Of course we have some big air (probably what Absinthe used to be most famous for) and lots and lots of rails but perhaps not enough progression to be more than a satisfying fix – not to amaze.

For Absinthe regulars, this is a film to add to the collection for sure but if you haven’t seen one of their films before, try find More, Saturation or Transcendence first.

Verdict: 3.5 out of 5 Go to http://www.absinthe-films.com/ for trailers and more info.

Filmography:
Optimistic?, More, Futureproof, Pop, Saturation, Vivid, Transcendence, Tribal. Also Flipside (series about the making of More).

Be a talent spotter and help someone get sponsored

2007-11-23T23:37:00.001Z

Check out this competition on snowboard boot company Thirty Two's website. They asked riders to send in their homemade videos and have promised to sponsor the winner of the three best entries posted here:

http://thirtytwo.com/blog/2007/11/14/sponsor-me-contest-needs-your-vote/

Check out the videos and post who's your favourite!

Oh, and the second guy is called Joni, not 'Toni' as you'll see if you watch his video to the end. He's really good too, certainly the most pro, although Dan's my man.

Macaroni, Beer & Weed

2007-11-23T23:18:00.000Z

Here are a couple of homemade snowboard videos from the East Coast of the USA that I came across in blog section of the SNOW BOARD magazine site in the US ( http://www.snowboard-mag.com/node/28394 ).

As I've been old enough to drink - even in the US - from many many years now, I still find these juvenile boozers really funny (as someone points out, one guys looks about 12) and they can jib too! Big up bmlittler.

Macaroni, Beer & Weed video (Part 1)

Macaroni, Beer & Weed video (Part 2)

Who the f*** do I think I am?

2007-11-23T22:35:00.000Z

Welcome to Jibber Jabber, a new blog dedicated to snowboarding.

I used to run a website called Stoked on Snowboarding that became too difficult to maintain after a series of serious illnesses. Even now I'm still recovering from bowel surgery after just getting the all clear from cancer... and that's only the illnesses I've suffered THIS year. (Yes, you should read THAT blog sometime but for now I'll spare you).

"I still have the telephone-directory-thick paperwork that Coca Cola's lawyers sent me when they threatened to sue!"

It didn't help that my banner design took the piss out of Coca Cola ( Stoked... Coke...geddit?) and looked similar to the red and white Coke can design but with a snowboarder pulling an air trick over the wavy white line. I still have the telephone-directory-thick paperwork that Coca Cola's lawyers sent me when they threatened to sue!

As you can see from the name of my new blog, I still can't resist a pun.

Two years after ending Stoked on Snowboarding, I still get a few free snowboarding dvds from film makers who know I can't do them the favour of promoting them. After staying in hospital 5 or 6 times in the last 3 years, I find this very touching. Let's face it, snowboarders and the people who work in snowboard related companies are a cool crowd.

I got to thinking that perhaps a blog could do everything my old website used to do. I could still write reviews of snowboarding movies and snowboard related video games.

"The nearest I ever got to being a *real* jibber was concussing myself on the long 'gas pipe' rail at Milton Keynes SnoZone..."

Posting photos would be a breeze now (you can even do it from your mobile phone these days). And I could even drop in the occasional YouTube video I come across. Plus I'd be able to read comments from you lot and know what you're thinking too.

I'll also point out any interesting sites, blogs and cool competitions I come across.

Let me say straight off that even though I have some professional 'journalistic' experience (I started as a writer for rock mag Kerrang! , ran the video games channel for UK internet service provider CompuServe and worked on BBC Radio 1's website for half a decade) I am not an amazing snowboarder. You would be surprised how many people at Radio 1 love snowboarding - my God!

The nearest I ever got to being a *real* jibber was concussing myself on the long 'gas pipe' rail at Milton Keynes SnoZone after realising I didn't know how to stop! I also turned myself black and blue when I refused to recognise my lack of talent in the snow park for two weeks in Fernie, Canada.

And then there was the time I slipped on some ice crossing the car park at the base of Big Mountain in Montana while carrying my board under my arm... I fell hard on the sharp edge of my board and for a month thought I had broken my ribs! Oh and if you are the fat middle aged woman with the chihuahua who sat in her car ignoring me while I crawled around on the floor thinking I was going to die... fuck you very much!

On the positive side, I love the mountains and I love snowboarding. I enjoy watching snowboard flix like the rest of you and then there was the time I got to interview my favourite snowboarder Jussi Oksanen and got him to sign my board (a Jussi 157.5 signature board funnily enough).

I might not be good enough to snowboard for a living but I still hold on to this crazy idea that someday someone might pay me to live in an idyllic resort in the mountains somehwere, writing blogs and building or designing websites via a remote hyperfast broadband connection and a laptop. Hey! Put that pin away before you puncture my dreams!

I hope those are credentials enough to waste a few minutes of your time now and again. And who knows, perhaps a few pro snowboarders who really DO know what they are talking about, might post the occasional comment. I can dream can't I?