Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage Review

Shaun White Snowboarding: World Stage

Since we get a lot of younger readers, we thought it would make sense to write about Shaun White’s new game. So the first thing you should note is that this game is aimed squarely at kids. Everything from the simple arcade gameplay to the exaggerated graphics to the Saturday Morning cartoon humor is very kid friendly. That’s not a bad thing — it works well as a kids’ game. Just know that this isn’t the realistic snowboard sim that a seasoned gamer might want. For example, you don’t even have to jump onto rails in World Stage — if you come close to a rail your rider will automatically hop on. But, no one says you can’t have a good time playing it. I can imagine a lot of situations where this could make for an interesting evening. Watch the video below and read the full review here.

Augmented Reality Snowboarding iPhone App: RealSki

Realski iPhone Application

A first in its kind, RealSki®, an iPhone application, will allow skiers and snowboarders to make use of what they’re calling augmented reality. Developed by Resort Technology Partners, the application will allow users to navigate trails and resort/mountain features, though only at one of 80+ North American resorts. The application will allow iPhone users to see their surroundings using the camera while the app overlays visuals and information showing lifts, runs and amenities. The application will be available in December 2009, so unfortunately there are no reviews, but to quote @thompsonmolly from RTP “RTP RealSki looks like it’ll be a kickin app!!!“.

Labels to be included are:

• Named runs including skill designation (green, blue, black) and directional heading
• Lift names with loading and un-loading areas
• Lodges, restrooms, restaurants, and first aid/ski patrol
• Activities such as terrain parks and special areas

For more snowboarding news and articles check out the rest of our website or the featured articles shown on the right side.

5 Snowboarding Gifts for Beginners

So what do you buy someone who’s just starting out as a snowboarder or even someone who’s been doing it for a bit now? This list will help clear some of that confusion and your doubts.

1. Tailsaver: We wrote about this back in October so it’s only natural that we include this item in the list. Tailsaver is a simple tailbone /butt protector which is made from ridiculously (their words, not mine) lightweight EVA foam. The good thing about it is that you won’t even notice or feel it when you put it on. It’s perfect for both parks and all mountain riding, especially if you’re just starting out. As the picture below shows, it’s rather hassle free. It’s available to North American, EU, and Australian folks and you can buy your Tailsaver from here.

Tailsaver

2. Snowboarding Goggles: Any beginner will love a pair of good goggles, that are comfortable and wont fog up. If you’re friend wears a helmet, make sure the goggle frames are not too big, otherwise they wont fit comfortable with the helmet on. And if you’re friend snowboards at night (check whether the local snow resort has night riding), make sure you buy goggles with relatively clear lens plates. Oakley and Anon goggles are well known for their quality and fog-free lenses.

Snowboarding Goggles

3. Snowboard lock: There’s nothing worse than having to worry about your board getting stolen and worse yet, finding out that your board was stolen. Buy your friend a board lock, and they’ll thank you forever. It’s inexpensive, but you’d be surprised how many riders just don’t bother to buy one. Any brand will do as they all work in the same way.

Snowboard Lock

4. Snowboarding Pocket Tool: On-snow binding adjustments and screw tightening are a fact of life for any rider. If it’s not for your own gear, it’s usually for your buddies. Pocket tools are small to carry and will prove pretty damn useful on the slopes when emergency calls. I know I’ve experienced this myself, and to be honest with you, it’s annoying have to go to the snowboard/ski tool station every time. Most pocket tools virtually identical, so just buy the brand that your friend associates with the most.

Pocket Tool

5. Wrist guards: Boy are these amazing! If it weren’t for the pair I bought myself when I first started out, I don’t think I’d even be able to write this post. Wrist guards are simply the most important set of protective gear any rider can buy. Plus the confidence boost you get from not having to worry about wrist injuries will come a long way in making you a better rider. Your friend will love you for these! I personally own a pair of the Dakine wrist guards shown in the picture below, and I recommend the same pair as your gift choice.

Dakine Wrist Guards

So that’s the list and trust me when I say this: any of these will make a good gift for a friend just starting out in the sport. They’re inexpensive (well maybe except for the goggles) and they’re very useful products that most riders don’t think about getting at first. If you have any questions or gift suggestions, just let us know.

Burton 2010 Boards, Bindings, and Boots Reviewed

Burton Vapor

Every year Burton comes out with a new lineup and every year they manage to dominate the headlines, snowboarding communities, and virtually anything to do with the sport. And with a market share of roughly 60% to 70%, I’m not surprised. But are Burton snowboards deserving of such publicity? Are their snowboards really that good? Or is it just a case of first mover advantage (they didn’t invent snowboarding but they were one the first companies to commercialize the sport on a grand scale)? Depending on who you ask, you’ll get different responses, but in any case, Burton does an amazing job of staying on top of their market. It’s no coincidence that anywhere you turn, you find their brand and products in the spotlight.

One has to admit though, Burton snowboards are well designed, engineered, and manufactured. But not every board they create is a success and we want to help our readers make better decisions when it comes to buying Burton gear. Many of us turn to the internet to learn more about the gear we want to buy, but let’s face it, almost every review article out there is a sales pitch and not a useful product review. Since it’s almost impossible for our crew to review all the gear out there, we plan on leveraging the snowboarding community out there for bias-free and independent rider reviews. We will also focus on comparative reviews, where our rider reviewers will compare to similar boards to each other to give you an even better idea of what to expect. After all, if you’re going to shell out $500-$2500 for snowboards, boots, bindings, jackets, pants, helmets, etc… or a full set of  gear, you’ll want to make the right purchase. Check out our Burton Snowboard reviews page for a full list of our featured reviews.

$$$: If you consider yourself an expert rider and would like to have your rider review featured to 10,000′s of our readers, contact us and let us know. If we feature enough of your reviews, we’ll sponsor future ones by hooking you up with some sweet gear for you to review and keep at no cost.

Snowboarding Video Clips Mashup

Clips of some of the best snowboarding videos on youtube. It’s a little chop, and I apologize for that, but it’s still a watch.