We are looking forward to seeing a whole host of international rides, such as Austria’s Johannes Handle and Britain’s Aimee Fuller performing. Looking at the list there does seem to be a few no-shows, which is a bit of a disappointment. There are three events at WSC 2012, they include the halfpipe, the quarter pipe and the slope style. Sadly there isn’t any boardercross, but this is an event that appears at the X-games & Winter Olympics. Men and women do compete separately in their own parts of the competition, but sometimes there isn’t such a difference between their scores.

World Snowboarding championships Program

The full program can be seen here. Highlights include ::

• Saturday,
• 15:45-17:00 – Finals Women Halfpipe
•  17:40-19:00 – Finals Men Halfpipe
• Sunday
• 11:00-12:30 – Finals Women Slopestyle
• 13:00-14:30 – Finals Men Slopestyle.

There also seems to be plenty of entertainment happening at the event, for example the Dropkick Murphys, an Irish-American group from Boston are playing at the Santos Arena. Here is one of our favourite songs of theirs

SlopeStyle

We came across a documentary called SlopeStyle.tv that might be of interest to some of our readers.

Tip 1 : View the Board

Forget buying equipment on e-bay or other auction websites, unless you have a pretty good idea as to what you are buying. These sites are rife with fakes, and if you are unlucky you will come away with an inferior product and have wasted your money and time. For first time buyers (and experienced buyers) I would go by the rule “If you can’t see the board before you buy, don’t buy it”. It’s better to to err on the side of caution and find another way of getting your board.

Tip 2 : Visual Inspection

It’s very important to look at what you are buying, this will allow you to check for visual signs of damage, wear and fatigue. All snowboards after any use will have nicks and dents on the underside of the board. Focus more on the edges and look at the condition of the metal edge. Small nicks or burrs can easily be repair, but larger damage like serious corrosion would be worth having a closer look at. If the metal edge is damage it can be expensive or even impossible to fix.
On the underside of the board look out for cracks that run with the line of the board. These can show that the board has been treated less that perfectly, and that it’s likely that the board is damaged inside. You don’t want to purchase a board that has been subjected to extreme impacts from jumps. Dents, scratches and scrapes are all part daily use for a snowboard and should not put you off buying a board. Anything else more serious should be avoided.
One final visual inspection tip would be to remove any stickers or stomp pads, to check that they are not covering up any visible damage.

Tip 3 : Remove Bindings

If the board comes with bindings it is always a good idea to ask to have them removed, and to check the quality of the surface underneath them. Again check for corrosion or other signs of damage. The screw beds are obviously very important, if there is any sign of thread damage then you should really take care. Reattach the bindings to see if the threads on the screw holes are in good condition. This damage can be caused by the previous owner tightening the bindings screws too tightly to the board. Remember a snowboard is basically useless unless you can adequately & safely screw on your bindings. Keep an eye out for potential crack between the two feet holes of your board, this is the place where cracks are mostly likely to occur as they bare a significant part of the stresses when boarding.

Tip 4 : Where to buy

Earlier we said that you shouldn’t buy “sight unseen”, so this can really cut down the opportunities to buy. One possibility is to find someone locally selling a board, or through the Irish Ski Club at Kilternan, a ski club in a University, or on Adverts.ie. This way you can be safe in the knowledge that you know exactly what you will be getting. Buying online without seeing a board should be avoided. As you could be potentially paying up to €200 for your board, you really want to minimise the issues you could have in the purchase process.

Tip 5 : Alternative cheaper boards

If you are going skiing at the start or at the end of the season you might be able to pick up an ex-rental board at a big discount. Most equipment rental companies tend to renew their stock every year, which means that there are many snowboards that need to be sold towards the end of every season. If you are boarding late in the season, and renting you gear, check with the shop to see if they are willing to part with the board. An even better thing to do would be if you were happy with the board, after renting it for the week, then ask to see if you can buy it off them.

One final word… as with any purchase, you should find out the reason as to why someone is selling their board. If it sounds a little too good to be true, there is a significant possibility that it is too good to be true ! Happy shopping !

Video about Seamus O’Connor

Read more about this guy on the Irish Times.

Learning how to do tricks takes time, patience and a lack of fear. The barrier of fear can be really hinder your progress, and it’s hard to shut it all out. It’s mind over matter, if you don’t mind it doesn’t matter. I once knew a guy who would practice after taking a few beers. He cited the fact that he would be more relaxed, and he was more likely to take more risks. While we absolutely don’t think this is the way to go, we still think that if you try to put these fears to the back of your mind, and then attempt your jumps you will make progress. Start small, but still push yourself. Having someone with a phone camera to take a video will also speed up your learning as you can see what’s working and what not.

The Art of Flight

Here is an excellent trailer preview of The Art of Flight with Travis Rice. Some of the shots in it are pretty epic, views from helicopters in slow motion, avalanches, etc. It’s worth checking out for the jumps and scenery ! We thought you’d appreciate it.

The Art of FLIGHT

This film comes from the makes of “That’s It That’s All“, an epic snowboarding film, which every snowboard should have.

• Gear: you need to have the right gear. A small board, or a race/carving board, will not perform well off-piste. You need a board with a lot of surface area underneath, to keep you floating on top of the snow. Ideally you could step up to a size larger than your old board, a bit longer and maybe even a “Wide” model. There are also specific boards for powder like “Swallowtail” boards, which have a curved-triangle cutout at the back to make it easier for you to stay on top of the light fluffy stuff.
• Technique: The big problem in POW is when the nose of the board sinks under the snow. Then you’re going down, and it isn’t gonna be pretty. To keep the nose up, lean on your back leg, and keep your weight there. This lets you lift up the nose of the board and keep it from diving under the snow and taking you with it.
• Setup: your board has to be set up properly. This could mean changing the setup the night before when a big dump of fresh snow is on the way. Basically, you move the bindings farther to the back of the board. Just like we mentioned under “Technique,” the goal is to move your weight to the back of the board. Try moving your bindings one or two screw-holes back in the hole pattern, if you can.
• The Flats: with skis, it’s not so bad to be stopped in powder. You can push yourself along quite easily. But on a snowboard it totally sucks – you have to unstrap and slog your way through the snow like some kind of board-footed mutant. When you go into an off-piste area, make sure you know where you’re going and have a plan to get out. This means making sure there is not a big flat area at the bottom where you will get stuck and have to hike out. Watch others who are going into the area and see if they have to stop and push. Check if there are snowboarders flailing around helplessly. If so, stay out or find a better path that comes back to a piste sooner, before the flats.

Stay safe off-piste, and if you’re really going far out, take a shovel and a phone! Read up on avalanche safety if you’re going somewhere with any risk. Wherever you go off-piste, make sure to HAVE FUN!

• Do you want to ride freestyle or freeride? This is the big question for most beginners. Freestyle boards are more flexible and better at landing tricks. But stiffer freeride boards are better for carving down the slopes. Read Snowboard.ie’s previous article about the types of snowboarding to learn more about which type you might prefer.
• Check your weight, not your height! This is a big misconception: that you need a certain length of board just based on your height. It’s more accurate to say that you need a longer board based on higher skill, and a longer/stiffer board based on more weight. Generally taller people are also heavier, so the height comparison is not SO bad. But if you’re super tall and skinny, or short and stocky, you might have to pay more attention. I once bought a ladies’ snowboard (as a guy) because I am so light, I needed a more flexible board. Lighter people need a softer board so it gets more grip on hard snow, or so it still flexes nicely when they land a trick. Conversely, heavier folks need a stiffer board so it doesn’t flex too much when doing those same things.
• Buy the right bindings! What bindings are right for you depends on your style. Freestyle bindings are softer – making it easier to land tricks. Freeride bindings are harder, and give more control for putting power to the edges for carving down the slopes. If you want quick-release bindings, consider the different types and pick one that’s easy for you to use in the store. But be aware that some quick-release types allow a lot more flex than strap bindings, so you might have trouble with freeriding on groomers. Quick-releases can also be hard to operate in deep snow, depending on the mechanism. When trying it on in the store, just think about how it might work if you had a pile of snow around your foot and stuck to your boots.
• Watch out for yer big feet! If you have large feet, consider buying a “wide” or “fat” board. This will prevent your toes from hanging over the edge of the board, which can make it difficult to carve nice turns. It’s no fun if your toes dig into the snow on every curve.
• Boots can be a bit tight. You should take your thick boarding socks when trying on boots. But they might still feel a wee bit tight; this is okay. The boots will “pack in” after a few days of riding, as the insert conforms to your foot. Also, when you are strapped into a board and lean forward, your toes pull back a bit from the front of the boot. Still, the boot should not be ultra-tight or crush your toes – it has to be comfortable. You just want to avoid getting a boot which is loose, because it will only get looser, and you’ll lose fine control of the board when your feet are sloshing around inside too-big boots.
• Get a “stomp pad” to rest your rear foot when you’re in the lift line. It’s not 100% required, but helps keep your boot from sliding off the bare board. I always go for a clear one to see the board’s pattern through it.

Alright, now head out and choose your gear. Guys, make sure your board’s design has skulls and fire, not flowers and butterflies. Girls, vice versa.

• Freestyle boarding – this is great for people who want to do jumps and tricks. You’ll be in the terrain park, getting big air, and hopefully not landing TOO hard. It’s recommended to have some protective gear if you’re going to do serious freestyle riding, like a spine protector in case you land on your back. Prepare for 360′s and some serious adrenaline. Not for those afraid of heights!
• Carving – the way to go for those who love speed and G-forces. With hard boots and a very narrow raceboard, you’ll have perfect control over the edges of the board. These boards have good control even at very high speeds. They have serious grip even on icy slopes, and can carve such a tight curve that you might lose your lunch if you’re not ready. Your legs are totally locked to the very stiff snowboard. However, be aware that carving boards with hard boots are not easy to control: it’s like driving a Ferrari. You should be experienced and confident with a standard snowboard before switching to a full-on carving setup. When you see someone speeding down the slope leaving a 2” deep channel in the snow with every curve, you’ll know they’re riding a raceboard.
• Freeriding – an all-around type of boarding that combines the best of all worlds. Stiffer boards make for better riding on groomers, but still allow you to do some tricks now and again. With soft boots you’re still riding in comfort, but the bindings are harder than the standard freestyle bindings.
• Off-piste riding – generally considered part of freeriding. There’s nothing like floating on half a meter of fresh powder, as it sparkles in the first sun since the storm came through. It can be tricky to learn off-piste snowboarding, but Skiing.ie has some tips for you here [insert link to powder article]. The feeling of riding in deep powder is similar to surfing, and is completely different from any other kind of snowboarding. You’re not so worried about catching an edge, but have to be careful that the nose of the board stays above the snow. With a big enough freeride or freestyle board you can easily ride off-piste and check out those fresh snowy areas between the slopes.

Are you ready for this winter? Do you have all the gear you need? Have you planned your vacation at a premiere resort? Take a look at some past articles by Snowman and get prepared for an awesome year of boarding!

The Ski Club of Ireland, Top Flight and the Great Outdoors are organising two special days of skiing, snowboarding and instruction on this weekend, the 25th & 26th September.

There will be classes and practice sessions available throughout the weekend at a price of just €15 each as well as entertainment, après-ski, and ski demonstrations. Also, 2fm will be broadcasting live on Saturday between 2pm and 5pm.

There’s a crowd of instructors coming over from Austria just for the event to bolster the Ski Club’s own instructor team.

So come up to the Ski Club of Ireland on 25th & 26th September. Have some fun, enjoy the best Instructors that Ireland and Austria – the world’s premier ski nation has to offer and take some lessons to introduce yourself to skiing or to get ready for the new season after your summer break.

Full details are available here

How tough is snowboarding ?

Snowboarding can’t be that difficult if dogs can learn how to do it, right ?

Well have a look at these crazy dogs who have been trained to run after and jump on snowboards. It’s really quite cool. One of the dogs Lyle even uses a hind paw to push himself.
I did notice that these bulldogs are even smart enough to stand on the boards when they are going up the slope on the magic carpet.

More Great Snowboard

This video was created by the guys from Mountain High resort, who are in Wrightwood, in Southern California. Check out their other videos on www.Vimeo.com/mthigh. Here is another video of theirs we love.

April Powder II from Mountain High Resort on Vimeo.