JMZ, RDM and JPS had a big day yesterday. They spent most of it brainstorming on their new snowboard brand project. The project is getting closer and closer to becoming a reality.
When I joined the guys for a drink in the evening, they were still having passionate discussions about probably the most important thing in the creation of a brand: the name!
Finding a name is not easy. The name needs to symbolize the whole story behind the brand and the people that are making it up, it needs to be visually strong and easy to use graphically, and it needs to talk to you, the riders, the fans…and last but not least it needs to be available.
It was an epic discussion with Jim sketching names on the current edition of Whiteout mag featuring Romain on the cover. RDM and JP were giving their inputs and opinion, Jeff, the designer, was already starting to visualise some design options….At the end there is a candidate for a name that really works perfectly. But you’ll have to wait a little to discover it. I was pretty stoked to see how passionate the guys are to bring something new and fresh to the scene. They have lots of cools ideas that will revolutionise some aspects of snowboarding as we know it today.
Here are some words with Romain and JP! YES WE CAN!
People listen to me: that’s what time it is! Time to shred some fresh pow pow pow!
Here is a short footage from last sunday as 70 cm of freshy fell in my garden. We took the opportunity to try out the GoPro HERO Helmet cam that we got from PH from Action Cameras (thanks BrO!)
This helmet cam is really a cool deal: it’s easy to use, it’s light, it’s not too expensive and it has a wide angle that makes incredible images! The wide angle really makes a big difference compared to other helmet cams that you fix on your goggle strap for example, and are never really sure what you are filming.
The HERO works with a standard 2GB SD card that you insert in the device. The camera is trapped in a small box that keeps it protected from humidity, so there is no risk to damage it even if you fall in a meter of pow.
There are many ways to wear the camera but the simple headband - as pictured above - works great, at least for powder runs, you’ll probably need to tighten it hard for park shredding but I’ m positive it will go as well (update: here is a video from Mathieu Crepel riding booters with it. no problemo.). All in all I think this helmet cam is a great deal for filming all your action sports adventures. Because if it works for snowboarding, it will also work for downhill bike, wakeboarding, freebording and so on.
If you want to purchase a GoPro HERO for Xmas, take advantage of the nice deal offered by our bros at Action Cameras right now: you get free delivery and free batteries.
Plus if you enter SNOWBROADER in a special field you will get a free 2 GB SD card with you order.
Click below for our little pow pow pow edit - just to make you guys jealous! - and for the exact instructions to benefit from the snowbroader deal.
Last friday in Les 2 Alpes, the Snowboard Collective held its second award ceremony to reward the achievements of the best among the French riding scene during the past season. Mat Crepel got the award for the best video part for his section in the Standard production. Earlier this fall we had some words with Mister Crepel. Mat is for sure one of the friendliest rider out there, always ok for taking some time to answer some questions. At 24, Mat has the maturity and experience in running his career that is the trademark of the very best. Add to this a serious amount of talent and a list of titles that even football players would be jealous off, and what you’ve got is definitly a role model for younger riders in France and the rest of Europe.
So when we met Mat we talked about his program for the coming season of course, but also came back on his event the MC Invitational that was held last year. A really cool event, rider driven, in which Mat invested a lot of time and effort and that ended up with Arthur Longo stomping his first ever double backflip! Check out our video interview!
Two Americans Bros were representing in Zurich during the Freestyle.ch. Tim Humphreys and Scotty Lago. These guys are real nice dudes. I think they had a blast during the few days they stayed in Europe. Scotty definitly turned it up during the contest as well, winning his qualis on the saturday and riding very solid during the finals. You can see plenty of Scotty in this season’s snow movies. Just a signal that the kid has a growing reputation as serial spinner and booter killer.
Tim is a bit less lucky because he should have been riding the Air&Style with the big boys in December since he won the rookie event last year. But sadly you know the rest of the story…Nokia out, bye-bye A&S. We hope Tim will have his chance next year!
Check out this short video interviews of the Bros filmed in the FLOW booth during freestyle.ch. It’s all about US elections, world economy, and global warming. Aight!
We met up with Hampus Mosesson during Freestyle.ch a couple of weeks ago coz we wanted to know more about the Swedes where abouts. Hampus had a busy winter last year and suffered a bad back injury. But the man who stomped sooo stylish shifties during the Freestyle.ch finals managed to come up with one of the most fun and innovative movie of the year - Pony Tale -, invested his money and dedication in one of the most promising rider driven board companies around - Omatic - and still had time to grew a mustache that would stoke mustachios and serges all over Europe.
Check out our video interview with Hampus, right here, right now!
Well dude it’s like this… the opening of the park in Hintertux by Hotzone.tv was such a cool event!
We were lucky to have good snow conditions, 70cm of fresh snow at the top of the glacier, but only one day of sun.
Anyway it was enough for the present riders to stomp sick tricks. Wolle Nyvelt, Marco Feichtner, Friedl Kolar, Marco Grilc and many other were there to hit the kickers. Most of the biggest snowboard brands were also there to let everyone test their new material for free.
What about the fun? Can a snowboard event be cool without a party? NO WAY!
The munchiekonsilium crew knows that and so they had organized a big party in Hintertux with the video projection of the new Absinthe production “READY” and also the new promotionnal DVD of the Hotzone Tv team “Well dude it’s like this“. They had also organized an American Gladiators arena to have some fun fights where a lot of cool prizes were given to the winners.
Well we had so much fun in Hintertux so we recommend everyone of you to go there to check this amazing place. Like Malibu would say “SWEEEET“!
Extra special thanks to Muck, Kone and all the Munchie crew for all the good vibes!
If you watch Absinthe videos - which you did for sure if you read this blog - you must be familiar with Scott Sullivan’s music.
We met Scott at the Popcorn Wallride where his band and him gave a couple of shows.
It was great to hear the songs live and have a talk with Scott. Check out our video interview to discover more about this inspiring BrO who was just coming back from Alaska and some awesome shooting days with Nico Muller and the rest of the Absinthe crew: “Best Alaska ever” is the message to recall…
We were running after Tonton Holland since the beginning of the season and never really managed to meet.
We finally did in Saas-Fee last week-end and asked one of the most talented Swiss rider what he had been up to this year film-wise and with his new board sponsor Imperium.
Tonton is one of the most respected riders on the scene because : 1. he has the siiiickest style 2. he has build his whole snowboarding “career” with only one thing in mind: respect. Respect for himself and for the people he chose to work with because he believed in what these people/projects were bringing to snowboarding.
That’s why today he’s part of the Imperium team, and a safe source told us Tonton was getting his pro deck next winter…
Our week-end at the Snickers Classic & Popcorn Wallride was a great way to end up the snowboarding season.
Not only was the whole thing so well organised and laid-back, but the riding conditions were also awesome on top of Saas-Fee with lots of fresh pow to shred.
In Saas-Fee we were hosted by the organisers, basically the Popcorn crew. Popcorn is an institution in the snowboarding world.
What started with a snowshop has grown into a bar, legendary party place, hotel…to sum it up: a boarder’s paradise.
Make sure to check out our interview with Robi Anthamatten in a few days.
Let’s get back to the event.
On Saturday morning and after a full night of snowfalls, the Snickers Classic went off. The riders decided of a change of format and a jam session was launched.
Everybody was pushing it, the vibes were good, and taking the chairlift up the course was cool coz you could cheer for the guys throwing themselves on the slopestyle!
Of course Shaun White was the main attraction and he delivered. Pretty cool seeing the phenomenon ride. He really can spin fast..and stomp! (Check our dedicated video).
Personally I was most impressed by Juuso Laivinen who was going big and varied his tricks run after run. He deserved to finish second. Local hero FreddiK. was also riding strong with his trademark style. Plus he had the support of the crowd and landed on the third spot.
Stylewise a special mention goes to Tonton Holland who was killing it.
When the jam session ended, everybody moved back to the Popcorn Plaza for a well deserved lunch and the award ceremony.
I took the opportunity to meet with guys who for me are true gatekeepers of the snowboarding legacy and lifestyle: Reto Lamm, the Swiss legend and current TTR president, came back on the season and gave me an insight on what to expect next year on the tour, the “old” and wise Tonton Holland reminded me on the essence of snowboarding, Scott Sullivan, the musician behind Absinthe soundtracks, gave me inspiration, and Robi Anthamatten, founder of Popcorn some 15 years ago, is a living example of why you should believe in your dreams…
All these characters of the snowboard scene really bring something to our lifestyle and spending some time to share thoughts was really the best part of my week-end.
From the party on saturday night, I only have vague memories, but it really went off.
Sunday, was an early wake-up call to go hit some pow runs before the start of the Wallride contest. The mountains in Saas-Fee are impressive, and you don’t want to get lost in the middle of the crevasses. However you better understand how such terrain can generate such good riders are Freddi K….
Most of the pros didn’t make it to the Wallride but the show was still good. After the prize giving ceremony and young Seppe Smits being elected King of Popcorn 2008, Scott sullivan and his band hit the stage once again to leave fresh tunes in our head for the road home. Such a perfect day…I’m glad I spend it in Saas-Fee!
This week-end’s Snickers Classic was the last event on the 2007/08 TTR calendar and it was definitly one of the most laid-back and fun!
The contest was marked by the presence and victory of Shaun White (check our video of how he ruled the contest), who knew that he could beat Kevin Pearce’s ranking if competing in the last 4 star TTR event….So Shaun did just that, and created quite some confusion in the TTR ranking system.
At the end of the day, it doesn’t really make a difference, Kevin is the 2008 Tour Champ, Shaun will start the 2008/09 season in the lead, they both got 50 000$ and snowboarding is still as fun!
We took the opportunity to come back on the TTR season with legendary Swiss rider and TTR president, Reto Lamm to get his feedback on how the TTR has grown and will continue to mature in promoting our sport the right way, protecting the riders and pushing the progression to the next level!
Hey BrOs! Shaun White can jubilate! The Flying Tomato arrived in Saas-Fee yesterday evening at 11.30pm, went to party and listened to Scott Sullivan’s concert and today he ruled the Snickers Classic slopestyle with class, stomping back to back 9s. Respect!
By winning the contest in front of Juuso Laivisto and host Freddi K., he not only made 10 000 bucks for first place, he also earned 50 000$ more for ending the season at the first spot in the TTR ranking!!?
Yeah that’s right, Shaun has more points than Kevin Pearce, but Kevin remains TTR World Champ as the official crowning was held during the US Open. So to smoothen everything up and thank Shaun for his commitment to TTR, Reto Lamm, TTR CEO, handed him out a 50 000$ check! Shaun you better pay the beers tonight aiight!
More on Saas-Fee’s Snicker Classic in a few days as we will edit a cool video. The riding was awesome as riders really performed second level shit and the conditions were just great! Dope.
But in the meanwhile, here is a video showing you how Shaun won 60000 grant in 24 hours. It’s a simple 6 steps process…
The Fluo Flash Fun 08 was held last week end in Isenau, Switzerland.
More than a local contest it’s a friendly 80ies get together with bbq, lots of drinks, a huge party and headaches the next day Get your neon on! Here’s the Pinard video of this cool event, and maybe your only chance to see riders like Darius Heritschian wearing a one piece yellow combi.
