Snowboarding Blog & Snowboard Reviews

Verbier, Switzerland Resort Review

Rami — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 15:09:25 +0000

One of the resorts that I had the chance of riding this season was Verbier. In fact, I got a chance to go twice and it would be very unfair to both the resort and you if I wait too long to write up this review. My first trip to Verbier was a quick 2 day experience in February as I was passing through Geneva on my way back to Toronto. My second trip to Verbier was a 5 day non-stop riding and partying bonanza with my closest friends, whom I hadn’t seen for almost 2 years!

60 Second Elevator Pitch

Everyone has heard about Verbier at one point or another. Whether it’s epic stories about their nightlife, their ‘drink till you pass out on the hills’ philosophy, or their slopes and backcountry offering, there’s a wicked time to be had at this popular Alps resort. If you’ve never been to Verbier, you have to go. Families, couples, and friends will have an insane time as there really is something for anyone. Everyone is pretty friendly and you’ll have a wicked time exploring the endless terrain – Verbier is part of the Les 4 Vallees ski are which includes the ski resorts of Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, La Tzoumaz, and Thyon with a total of 410 km marked runs. Just make sure you’re not wallet shy, because this place is not cheap, but well worth it!

What We Love

Excellent lifts, on-piste and off-piste terrain – it’s endless!
The nightlife, food, and parties
It’s the Alps
Powwwder
Tuesday nights when the Chalet girls have their night out!
Old school log/wood chalet and availability of cheaper accommodation close to the center of the resort
Professional patrol and emergency rescue system
Insane weather!

What We Didn’t Love

Expensive (with that said, its worth it)
The terrain is obviously not beginner/novice friendly
Limited accommodation for trips less than 7 days

Best For

Party lovers
Off-piste and backcountry dare devils
Anyone looking to marry rich

Worst For

Inexperienced riders and skiers
Park junkies (the current park is pretty decent, but nothing you can spend more than a few hours on)

Tips

You can save money by staying down the mountain in Le Chable now thatthe new evening bus service which runs between it and Verbier is active.
Make sure you are there at least on a Friday or Saturday night.
Tuesday night is when the Chalet girls have their night out, so make sure you are ready to shred snow on Wednesday with no sleep at all!
Wednesday nights are the quietest so plan for Wednesday to be your easy night in.
Have the fondue at Le Caveau
If you plan on going off-piste/backcountry, shell out the extra 4 CHF for insurance which includes a free helicopter emergency ride (we got stuck somewhere way off off-piste, and after about 90 minutes of endless exploring, we called ski patrol who sent us a helicopter to get us out from what they called the “late march melting snow trap”.)

Have you had a different or similar experience? Share it with us in the comments!

Ellis Eecco Rocker 2011 Snowboard Review

Mo — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:54:09 +0000

2011 Ellis Eecco 153

So, we hooked up with the guys from Ellis Snowboards in Vail for an epic day of riding and trying out some of the innovative products they have in store for 2011. Ellis is a small shop operating out of Social that’s dedicated to putting some of the newest tech out there into their handmade, ride-or-die boards. I had a chance to try out their awesome environmentally-friendly Eecco Rocker prototype.

What: 2011 Ellis Eecco, $389.99

Where & When: Vail, Colorado, USA – February 2010

Conditions: Partly cloudy day, mild temperatures. Snow conditions varied from hard pack/packed powder to fluffy goodness and groomed runs.

Setup: 2011 Ellis Lithium Bindings, 2010 Burton Ion Boots

Technology Worth Mentioning

Twin shape: This board is symmetrical in shape for easy switch riding.
Full Rocker: The Eecco’s rocker runs from the center of the board between the bindings and extends all the way to the tips.
Tri-Comb Core: The board features an innovative honeycomb-like core made through a combination of three kinds of wood; bamboo, poplar, and a combination of bamboo and poplar called X-wood.
Bi-Axle Basalt Weave: Where most manufacturers opt for standard fiberglass to make up the remainder of their boards, Ellis introduces a weave made from basalt, which is a kind of rock found near and formed by volcanoes! 70% stronger and 20% lighter than standard fiberglass. It also acts as a natural dampener.
Dip & Grip Contact Points: Ellis adds stability to this rocker with increased contact points that dig right into the snow at the front and back (toe and heel) part of the bindings.

Expectations: I tend to have mixed feelings when it comes to rocker boards. Although these things are usually ridiculously fun, it really depends on the conditions. Snow at Vail was plentiful and I was expecting to have a little fun on this thing. Maybe a little too much fun.

First Line: Our first run was down the front side of the resort from the Wildwood peak and into Hunky Dory (blue square wide groomer) connecting to Look Ma (black diamond narrow groomer) and into Lion’s Way (wide open green run) to the Avanti Express chair.

First Impressions: Wow. I’m not sure if it was the excellent conditions that day but my first run on this thing was incredible! The feel goes past forgiving and into do-whatever-the-hell-you-want territory. Pops, switches, and buttering around felt so seamless on this stick. Awkward landings off little booters had zero edge catch.

Flex/Pop/Stability: Initially, I was kind of surprised at how stiff the Eecco felt under my feet in comparison to other rockers. I slowly realized this was a blessing in disguise since it held a pretty decent edge at high speeds. I could also feel the contact points help me lay down some order on this unrestrained beast. The stiffness also gave it a really nice pop on ollies that lead into switch transitions. The board has a very “skatey” feel to it and it’s almost impossible to resist doing crazy spins. Coming out of a spin riding switch was natural thanks to the twin shape.

Park/Jumps: Not sure if the Eecco is the type of board you would want to mess around in the park with. I didn’t get a chance to try any rails but with only a 6mm rise on the rocker I’m sure you wouldn’t have too hard a time ripping some with it. The board is extremely forgiving on landings but you might find yourself sent into a top-spin if you don’t lean into the edge you want to use right away. In the air, the board had a really nice swing weight to it and spinning it around for 180’s or 360’s felt very natural.

Carving/Switching: I was a little hesitant to go too fast on this thing particularly when it came to groomers. When I did go fast, the board had a very nice damp feel to it, even in pretty choppy areas. As is the case with all rockers, unless there’s some nice fluff on the ground, you’ll feel a little bit of instability when transitioning into turns and carves. For something so playful though, I was surprised at how confident I was to try out some things I had never done before, like high-speed back-side switches. Overall, pretty snappy response and feedback from the board. This stick definitely brings out a completely different rider in you

Powder Riding: The Eecco felt very much at home in nice deep powder. Ellis features their “Cassette” tip and tail design on this board, which helps move snow very seamlessly around the board in deep conditions and prevent buildup on the nose. I didn’t have to ride the backseat too much and the skatey feel of the rocker just makes you feel like you’re floating so much better than you usually would. I was actually having so much fun in the pow with this thing that I launched off a 2-3 storey cliff I completely underestimated just at the edge of one of the gladed runs. The board was 100% fine, my shoulder… 100% dislocated.

Pros:

Extremely fun, free-feeling board.
Excellent release from the snow, perfect for jibbing.
Beautiful float in powder.
Snappy response when initiating tricks.

Cons:

Not really meant for high-speed riding.
Spins are easy to initiate, difficult to stop/control.
Hard to track straight/power out of turns.
Too much fun sometimes!

Conclusion: I believe that every serious rider should have some sort of reverse camber board in their collection and the Eecco is a perfect candidate. Whether it’s a powder day at your local resort or a trek into the backcountry, the Eecco is the kind of board you want under your feet. Unfortunately most people’s riding is limited to groomed trails and while this board does perform well in the groomers, they’re definitely not its bread and butter. I would recommend this board for the intermediate to advanced rider looking to jump on the reverse camber bandwagon. Kudos to the Ellis team for making such an awesome environmentally-friendly board!

K2 Brigade 2010 Snowboard Review

Rami — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 15:23:24 +0000

According to the K2 team, the Brigade snowboard is an all-terrain exploration machine. I’m not one to fall for marketing gimmicks, but as my search for the ultimate all-terrain snowboard has not ended yet, it would be unwise of me to pass up a demo opportunity.

What: 2010 155 K2Brigade, $250-$300.

Where & When: Verbier, Swiss Alps in late March 2010.

Conditions: Sunny, clear as crystal skies, and packed powder/hard packed (some areas were hard pack while others were packed powder).

Setup: Burton C60 Bindings + Burton Ion Boots.

First Run: Verbier “Jumbo ” from the bottom of Mont Fort to the La Chaux peak for a combination of off-piste, groomed, corridors, and moguls in one go.

Technology Worth Mentioning

Twin shape: This board is symmetrical in shape (equal length tip and tail), thus should feel the same whether riding regular or switch
Dual Progressive sidecut: Sidecuts designed for any level of rider, K2′s DUAL PROGRESSIVE sidecut is a mistake-friendly, fun and forgiving sidecut, which allows for more consistent riding in all situations.
Catch Free Camber: According to K2, the Catch Free Camber design translates into a small amount of Rocker in the tip and tail with a reduced camber for a ‘fun and easy’ ride. Basically, the tip and tail have been raised a bit while reducing how high the middle of the board archs (camber) upwards from the floor.

Expectations: I was told this was a more intermediate snowboard, so I’ve kept that in mind – though I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist speeding on this board. At one point I was going so fast on this thing, I knew I wouldn’t be able to make the corridor turn I was zooming towards, so I just went off the edge. Luckily, there was enough powder to soften my landing.

First Impressions: The K2 Brigade was most certainly a fun and laid back board and the Catch Free Camber was surprisingly evident. I didn’t think the Catch Free Camber design would have any impact but while preserving the feel of a camber, the reduced arch in the middle led to less edge catching.

Flex/Pop/Stability: K2 made sure the flex of this board was forgiving and fun. It wasn’t too soft, but it definitely wasn’t too stiff. If you’ve ever tried a Burton Custom, you’ll notice that they feel very similar. Popping the board was easy and soft on the knees (but just like any other board, make sure you land smoothly lest you hurt your knee). While a fun board, I didn’t feel too comfortable bombing down Verbier’s slopes aggressively. Chatter isn’t a problem under high speeds, but the board will give out if you need to stop quickly or turn sharply.

Park/Jumps: Don’t worry about taking this thing into the park every now and then, but you should be spending more time shredding groomed runs with the Brigade than making a fool of yourself on the rails. However, this board was a ton of fun taking off jumps and landing the m. 180′s and 360′s for anyone!

Carving/Switching: Any beginner and intermediate will find carving and turning with this board pretty easy to do. However, if you start picking up speeds, you’ll notice the board giving out more often than not. Moreover, K2 was successful at maintaining the board’s playfulness by doing a good job with the boards twin design. Long story short, switches feel as natural as possible.

Pros/Best for:

Fun and forgiving all-mountain board.
Jumping and on-mountain features.
Good Value for Money.

Cons/Worst for:

Not as stable under high speeds and increased riding aggressiveness.
Rails and boxes.

Conclusion: If you’re more a beginner looking for a fun board that isn’t too expensive to take your riding to the next level, this might just do it. If you’re an intermediate (looking to progress), an expert, a park junkie, or an aggressive rider, this will not be a good board for you.

We Are Back!

Rami — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:20:23 +0000

So where have been the past 6-7 weeks? Well, aside from resort hopping in the Rockies and the Alps, we visited a few European cities, namely, Paris, Geneva, Frankfurt, and London. If that wasn’t enough, there was Mo popping his shoulder taking off a cliff in Vail (I don’t know what he was thinking pulling that stunt off while testing out an Ellis Snowboards prototype banana stick), my other buddy attempting to body slide down a super steep Alps hill, which turned out hilarious and sad (I have the video!), and our asses being air lifted after getting ‘lost’ a few kilometers out of bounds at the Les 4 Vallees mountain range.

As we settle back in Toronto, we will resume filling this site with great content as you’ve come to expect from Snowboard Go! Here are some things to expect in the new few weeks:

2 Ellis Snowboards reviews (including the Banana prototype Mo launched off a cliff with).
What to do during the off-season.
1 K2 Snowboard review
1 Mundaka Goggles review.
Vail, Colorado resort review.
Verbier, Switzerland resort review.
Sunshine Village, Banff resort review.
How to 3 days in Paris and 4 days in the Alps on the cheap.

Absenteeism

Rami — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:12:32 +0000

To all our regular readers and the many new readers coming to SnowboardGo on a daily basis, let me apologize to you for the snail pace at which new content is being posted during this fine month of February. Mo and I have been resort hopping the past few weeks and have had very little time to post much. We will be back at the end of March and will resume our regular brainwashing activities.

Until then, enjoy this powder happy video:

Gretchen Bleiler Interview on the TODAY Show

Rami — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 19:04:45 +0000

It’s been pretty quiet on SnowboardGo lately but for good reason (read: mountain hopping). In any case, this was submitted to me via email and thought it would be a lazy way to update the site. Don’t be fooled though, the video is pretty good.

Yes, I know posting the interview this late is ironic, but better late than never.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

2010 Winter Olympics Recap and Highlights

Rami — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:13:02 +0000

With women’s Alpine training runs again delayed by heavy rain and snow, American favorite Lindsey Vonn successfully tested her bruised right shin on her own rigorous slalom training session, and her husband declared her ready to race.After a weekend of Winter Olympics goodness and action, it’s time to put up a post to recap the weekend’s highlights. This might not include everything, but I’ll try my best.

Opening Ceremonies

The opening ceremonies began with a pretty impressive shot of a snowboarder coming down a mountain while listing the previous 21 Winter Olympic games years.
The snowboarder entered a Maple leaf (the Canadian national symbol) design made with torchbearers and ended with the snowboarder coming down a ramp into the stadium.
The underlying theme was mostly related to the First Nations of Canada.
This was followed by a 4-part celebration, with the first part showcased Aurora Borealis on circle screens which came down from the stadium’s ceiling. The most spectacular part was when the display of orcas moving across the floor and water spouts shooting out of the floor.
The second part of the show was related to Quebec, featuring a fiddler in a canoe coming from the ceiling.
The third part was about the prairies of Canada. It was a simple one man acrobatic show, with the the floor featuring the prairies as the acrobat performed.
The final part of the show featured the Canadian Rockies, where skiers and snowboarders came down from the ceiling as to appear riding the awesome rockies.

Medals Overview

USA now has 8 medals, followed by Germany with 5 and France with 4.
Switzerland has 3 Golds, followed by USA with 2 and France with 2.

Snowboarding

Kelly Clark who won a gold medal in the last Olympics can do a 900 degree spin which is basically spinning in the air and rotating more than 2 full times around. If she lands that, she will most likely receive the gold medal this year.
Her counterpart on the men’s snowboarding team, Shaun White is no small contender either. He won gold in the last Olympics and is expected to medal again. U.S. snowboarding is quite dominant and it is a fun sport to watch.

Men’s

Alexandre Bilodeau won the gold medal in men’s moguls, the first time a Canadian has won an Olympic event on home soil. Canadians failed to win a single gold at the 1976 Summer Games in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Games in Calgary. Congratulations Alexandre!
Jason Lamy Chappuis who competes for France, edged Johnny Spillane of Steamboat Springs, Colo., to win the Nordic combined. Spillane’s silver was the first medal for the U.S. in 86 years of competing in the sport that combines ski jumping and a 10-kilometer cross-country ski race.
Five-time Olympic champion Ole Einar Bjoerndalen struggled with his shooting in failing to win his sixth gold medal. He still has four more opportunities at these games.
Jung-Su Lee from S. Korea, Apolo Anton Ohno from the USA, and J.R Celski from the USA win the Men’s 1500m Gold, Silver, and Bronze respectively.

Weomen’s

With women’s Alpine training runs again delayed by heavy rain and snow, American favorite Lindsey Vonn successfully tested her bruised right shin on her own rigorous slalom training session, and her husband declared her ready to race.
Martina Sablikova gave the Czech Republic its first speedskating medal by winning the women’s 3,000 meters.
Jenny Potter scored three goals in the first 22 minutes as the U.S. opened the preliminary round of the women’s hockey tournament with a 12-1 romp over China.
Hannah Kearney from the USA, Jennifer Heil from Canada, and Shannon Bahrke from the USA win the Ladies’ Moguls Gold, Silver, and Bronze respectively.

Misc

The Chinese pair, Shen Xue and Zhao Hongbo won the gold for the the pairs free program figure skating competition.

Mont Tremblant Resort Review

Rami — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:29:11 +0000

I’ve raked in at least 45-50 days on Tremblant in the past 5 years or so. Having gone up there so many times with all kinds of riders and skiers, I think it’s time for a good ol’ review for those considering Tremblant as a destination.

As one of the largest snowboarding areas in Canada and being backed by the same guys running the show at Whistler Blackcomb, one can only expect great things. The mountain’s layout is excellent and well planned, covering two main sides, the South and the North in addition to two edge sides. The South side gives initial access to the runs which are all carved out of thick forest. The North side is a little smaller, but offers the same degree of cool riding.

Our Elevator Pitch

Mont Tremblant is definitely our favorite North American east coast resort. Very few resorts on the East Coast come close to the variety of the slopes and runs available at Mont Tremblant. The apres-ski atmosphere is pretty good on the weekends, but not so much midweek. For those on a budget, staying at a nearby hotel/hostel is an excellent option as they are all a 3-7 minute bus ride away. The village itself offers all kinds of things to do for just about anyone. Tremblant is definitely a must visit, especially for the family types.

What We Love

The excellent and well planned slopes and runs. Bombing down from the top to the base as quick as you possibly can will take you about 5-8 minutes. On average it’ll take you about 10-15 minutes to make it down.
Snowboard/Ski valet right next to the Gondola so you don’t have to worry about carrying your gear to and from the main lift.
Great village with many dining and leisure options to choose from.
Excellent line up of accommodation choices. “En plus”, budget trips need not shy away as cheap accommodation is available minutes away from the village. Combine that with Mont Tremblant’s T-Pack offer for 2 day lift tickets for ~$70 total.

What We Don’t Love

Gets pretty damn cold up there.
The crowd… but then again this is a problem at most of the popular resorts.
Subdued night life especially for the younger crowds.
Terrain park has very limited features and the half pipe is not always available.

Best For

Families who want that European/French ‘alps’ village feel.
Groups/families looking to spend and those on a budget.
Intermediates looking to up their game

Worst For

Party animals, unless you go during college break week or in big groups
Backcountry/off-piste lovers – there just isn’t any.
People who really detest the cold.

Trail Map

Click the above image for an interactive trail map.

Resort Statistics

Resort Type: Alpine
Winter: Nov to May
Summer: None
Board Leashes required: Yes
Night Riding: No

Lifts

Total Lifts: 12
Gondolas: 2
Chair lifts: 9
Drag lifts: 1
Max people per hour: 27,230

Mountain

Total pistes/trails: 94
Total ride area: 602 acres
Longest run: 3.75miles (6km)
Top lift: 875m
Vertical drop: 694m
First lift: 181m

Pistes Difficulty

Green runs: 17%
Red runs: 33%
Black runs: 50%

Lift Passes

Half-day ~$50
Full-Day ~$80
Lift times:8.30am to 4.00pm

Snowfall

Average annual snowfall: 3.82 metres
Artificial snowmaking coverage: 70%

Facilities/Misc

Snowboard/Ski Schools: Excellent
Snowboard/Ski Rentals: Yes
Snowboard/Ski Valet: Yes, about $5 for overnight – right next to the main gondola
Heliboarding: Not available
Snowmobiles: Yes

Halldore Wins X Games Big Air Video Mashup

Rami — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:47:58 +0000

Pro rider Halldore Helgason wins the X Games Big Air with the best possible score. Check out the footage below directly from the competition!

The video was uplaoded by Halldore and his crew.

Detune Your Snowboard: What, Why, and How?

Rami — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:15:37 +0000

Lightly trace the edges with the file until they become slightly dull. Feel the sharpness of the edge by pressing your finger down on it. Practice on the edges at the tip and tail of your board to find the right amount of dullness.Every year I’ll tune my snowboard a month or two before the season starts mostly out of anticipation for the season itself.

Personally, I’m a freerider, so a tuned board is crucial. And I’m sure a lot of our readers have tuned their board at one point or another. But have you ever detuned a board? Why would you even want to do that? Sounds like something stupid to do. Believe it or not (you better believe it), there are some cases that detuning a board is a good idea.

What does Detuning a Snowboard Mean?

Detuning a board is more about reshaping your edges than dulling the edges, since most snowboard edges protrude from the board at 90 degrees. Though, the 90 degrees is what you want in general as it provides the best grip for carving into the snow. When hitting rails though, you’re usually moving much slower, not really carving, and worried about landing on your butt too often.

This is where detuning is plays its role. Instead of maintaining a 90 degree edge profile, you can detune your board so they protrude at a smaller angle, thus prevents you from catching as much edge.

When/Why Should I Detune my Snowboard?

Riding rails, boxes, bent trees…
If you’re a beginner and worried about catching too much edge.
When you’re in the mood to muck about/butter on the snow.

How do I Detune my Snowboard?

You can do it yourself or take it into your local snowboard shop. For beginners who just bought a brand new board, I urge you to take it into your local store and have them take care of it. If you have an older board and are comfortable detuning it yourself, here’s how:

You’ll need:

Course File – can be found at any hardware store.
Diamond Stone – used to polish your edges.
Clean Cloth

The steps:

Find the widest part of your board at the nose and tail (these are the contact points). It’s the section of edge that’s most likely to catch an edge.
Start an inch back from that point and use the course file to round out the edge toward your nose. Repeat with the tail end.
Now for a light detune of the entire edge. Divide your edges into 3-4 equal sections (including the contact point edges you just filed)
Place the file on your edge at about a 45 degree angle and make a pass over each of the sections. This will give each section a light detune.
Feel for the edge and do another pass over if you necessary.
Remove the edge shards with your clean cloth – this is important, so don’t forget to do it.
Polish your snowboard’s edges with the diamond stone to buff out all the micro burrs left behind.

Video

Tips

Files work in 1 direction so keep that in mind when filing your edges.
Dull your edges to about 88 degrees – anything more than that will be a waste and could damage your board.
East coast riders should be careful as to not over do it… with our snow conditions, we need our sharp edges.
Some boards come factory detuned so find out if your board is factory detuned or not before attempting to detune it.