© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Cecilia Larsen, Folgefonna, Hemsedal, Jocke Hammar, Jocke Hamrin, Jonas Frid, Lindvallen, Markus Rehn, Mattias Larson, Mattias Rehn, Niklas Thirus, Our Cup Of Tea, Sweden, Tandådalen, teaser, Tobias Larsson

The new scale reduces some of the ambiguity of the previous scale, provides more definitive travel advice for backcountry recreationists, incorporates risk by referring to typical avalanche sizes expected, and utilizes icons recently adopted by European countries.

“It was great to be able to build upon and improve an already successful avalanche danger scale with this effort” stated Grant Statham, project leader and Avalanche Risk Specialist for Parks Canada.

“It was especially encouraging to work closely with our Canadian colleagues to come up with a unified scale.  This will only help in our efforts to promote avalanche forecasting consistency and to improve safety for the many people who recreate in the backcountry in both countries” according to Karl Birkeland, the U.S. lead on the project and an Avalanche Scientist with the USDA Forest Service National Avalanche Center.

This danger scale is the first time that the two countries have used the same scale, and is the result of a multi-year effort by the Canadian Avalanche Centre, Parks Canada, the USDA Forest Service, and the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.  The recent proposal by New Zealand’s Mountain Safety Centre to use the new scale starting in the 2011 southern hemisphere winter has further increased the international scope of the project.

For more information, please contact:

Karl Birkeland, USDA Forest Service National Avalanche Center, kbirkeland@fs.fed.us
Grant Statham, Parks Canada, Grant.Statham@pc.gc.ca

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: avalanche, avalanche danger, avalanchw scale, backcountry, Canada, Canadian Avalanche Centre, Colorado Avalanche Information Center, freeride, Grant Statham, Karl Birkeland, United States, USDA Forest Service

The country’s richest local freestyle snowboard contest features a massive 2.5 metre high house proportioned Mountain Dew hut as its centrepiece and established itself in 2009 as a totally unique event, not only due to the hut but as a team event, with each team selecting its best two jibbers to ride together.

In 2010, the event has two new elements – the Gatorade Rookie Award and a three-star TTR ranking. ”The Dew Hut Jam brings something unique to Mt Buller and to Australian snowboarding”, says Mountain Dew snow event curator Russell Holt.

“In 2009, the comp broke new ground with its innovative course featuring a world first rideable house. The riders embraced the challenge and this year again we’ll no doubt see snowboarding pushed to new heights with new course developments, ” he says.

Specially constructed for Battle for Supremacy snow competition, the imposing Dew Hut feature soars out of the Bourke Street snowline and gives the riders a breathtaking feature from which to launch their biggest and boldest moves.

The winning duo from 2009, Team Quiksilver’s Nathan Perry and Tim Laidlaw, took out the battle in style, landing big tricks including a 540 over the hut. It was 15 year old Laidlaw’s win that inspired the creation of the new 2010 Gatorade Rookie award.

The Dew Hut Jam takes place under lights on Mt Buller’s Bourke Street from 6pm on Saturday 31 July.

Dew Hut Jam Vital Stats
What: Top Aussie snowboarders competing on a purpose built jib course
When: From 6pm, Saturday 31 July 2010
Where: BOURKE ST, Mt Buller, Victoria
More info: dothedew.com.au

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Bourke Street, Dew Hut, Gatorade Rookie Award, Mountain Dew Hut Jam, Mountain Dew Hut Jam 2010, Mt Buller, Quiksilver, Russell Holt, Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags:

The success of last year’s “resurrection” certainly caught the attention of international athletes, media and sponsors, as the 2010 competition goes from strength to strength in gaining global popularity as one of the most captivating events on snow.

50 athletes representing the cream of talent from over 6 countries will participate. The 2010 format has been slightly revised and will consist of an Extreme Day and a Freestyle Day.

Helicopter accessed terrain provides beyond doubt the best snow conditions for the athletes to truly challenge themselves in. 2009 snowboard Champion and former Olympian, Rip Curl’s Andy Finch (USA) exclaimed the World Heli Challenge as “the most incredible experience in snowboarding, I have to say that I just had the best run of snowboarding in my life!”. Geoff Small (NZL) adding “the World Heli Challenge is a very unique event that combines our passion, our lifestyle and the opportunity to challenge ourselves against other competitors in a format that blows everyone’s mind every year.”

Athletes get to test their mettle not just among their peers, but against nature itself. They take what they’ve learnt in the terrain parks and half pipes of resorts and up the ante in the backcountry. The only other event of its kind is its sister event, the “King of the Hill” Snowboarding Championships held in Valdez, Alaska.

The Big Air Returns!

2010 will also see the return of snow being trucked into town as a teaser to what is still today the biggest snow event ever staged in the Southern Hemisphere.

The “Wanaka Big Air” was a side attraction to the World Heli Challenge staged from 1995-2001. Snow was trucked down from Cardrona resort into town to create a huge ski and board jump in front of 8,000 spectators. For 2010 there will be a return of this event, albeit on a smaller scale, to be held at the After Burner Party in Lake Hawea Hotel on Saturday night August 7th.

Freestyle Day 2009

Downhill 2009

Big Mountain Day 2009

worldhelichallenge.com

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alaska, Andy Finch, backcountry, big air, Corona, DaKine, freeride, Haka Tours, Hawea, King of the Hill, Lake Hawea Hotel, Marker, Mount Aspiring National Park, new zealand, rip curl, Snowboarding Championships, Snowsports New Zealand, Valdez, VÖLKL, Wanaka Big Air, World Heli Challenge

The contestants bombed down the 2,800-meter course at high speed with the goal of being the first to cross the finish line. Some riders never made the finish line at all, as conditions on the course were not easy, but in the end the important thing is to have a good time on the mountain and feel the adrenaline of the race!

First place of the men’s category was Eduardo Arriarán, who won a Volcom surf board, Volcom goodies, a case of Red Bull and $100.000 Chilean pesos.

Second place went Rodrigo Díaz, who won a Volcom BMX bike, $50.000 chilean pesos in  Volcom products and a case of Red Bull.
Amongst the women, the winner was Sabrina Burnham, who won $100.00 chilean pesos, Volcom clothes and Red Bull products. Finishing second was Otton Irarrázabal, who won $50.000 plus Volcom clothes and a case of Red Bull.

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Chile, Chinese Downhill, Eduardo Arriarán, El Colorado, Farellones, La Cornisa, Los Zorros, Otton Irarrázabal, Red Bull, Rodrigo Díaz, Sabrina Burnham, The Volcom Avalanche, Volcom BMX bike, Volcom surf board

With a month to go before the 8th year of Stylewars anticipation is growing on what’s in store for 2010. At this stage five of the current top 10 World ranked snowboarders are confirmed to compete for the $15,000 in cash and valuable 4-star world tour points and a line up of some of Australia’s top music acts will keep the party going nightly. Known as the endurance marathon of the TTR World Snowboarding tour Stylewars has a history of showcasing the best in world-class snowboarding daily combined with huge nightly parties turning the small town of Falls Creek temporarily upside down.

Leading the confirmed line up of internationals is Sebastien Toutant, from Canada, (currently placed 3rd in the world) who made history last year at Stylewars with the first backside double corked 1260 ever landed in major competition, which helped him to win the overall Stylewars 2009 title. A 16-year old Sebastian left Australia last year in 1st place on the tour only to get injured not long afterwards in Europe shattering his chances of being the youngest snowboarder to hold the number 1 position for year.

The three-day and four-night festival, which is an integral part of the prestigious Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour, will kick off on Sunday the 22nd of August with the opening party featuring Aussie rockers CALLING ALL CARS, fresh off their tour with AC/DC and Brisbane punk group DZ. Monday will see the opening day of competition in the notoriously well built and world class snowboard park backed up by one of Australia’s best electro acts, BAG RAIDERS. Tuesday will see day 2 in the park and the nightlife will feature SPACE INVADAS, KATALYST and DJ DANIELSAN. The final day of competition is sure to be action paced with a full day in the park backed up by the under lights rail event 28 Stairs featuring 3 x DMC Champion DJ PERPLEX playing till late.

Also confirmed is Charles Reid, also from Canada (currently 9th in the world) returning to Stylewars having won the title in 2008. Both Charles and Sebastian are leaders in street rail competitions and Stylewars boasts a night event called 28 Stairs, which is Australia’s most reputable rail event. 28 Stairs in 2009 saw these two go head to head in duel that resulted in a tied win as the judges had never witnessed such a close competition where each trick was more insane than the one before it and neither athlete faltered over the 2 hours of non stop competition. Charles was not too happy about sharing this title and we can expect him to come out firing in a month’s time.

2010 Air and Style winner Slovenian Marco Grilc will return for his 3rd attempt at winning the night-life party title and 2010 European X-Games slopestyle gold medallist Eric Willett will be back as well to have another shot. Young Swedes Kevin Backstrom and Tor Lundstrom are both confirmed after both proving their park worthiness with Tor taking out a slopestyle title in Hemsedal Norway and Kevin sitting in 6th on the World Tour. American riders, Jeremy Thompson who was the standout at the 2010 Superpark event and Ian Thorley who placed 3rd in the Dew Tour Slopestyle have also just confirmed. Local riders including Ryan Tiene who features in the new Standard Films release The Storming, Robbie Walker, Clint Allan, Jye Kearney and a line up of only Australia’s best will all be hoping to steal some of the glory from the invading internationals.

Stylewars 2010 promises to be the biggest snowboarding event in Australia for the spectators as well as the athletes in both on hill action and out of control nightlife so get to Falls Creek from the 22nd – 25th August and check out the latest information and accommodation packages on stylewars.com.au

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: AC/DC, australia, backside double corked 1260, BAG RAIDERS, CALLING ALL CARS, Charles Reid, Clint Allan, Dew Tour Slopestyle, DJ DANIELSAN, DJ PERPLEX, Eric Willett, European X-Games slopestyle, Falls Creek, Hemsedal, jeremy thompson, Jye Kearney, Katalyst, Kevin Backstrom, Marco Grilc, Norway, Robbie Walker, Sebastien Toutant, Space Invadas, Stylewars 2010, stylewars.com.au, swatch, Swatch TTR World Snowboard Tour, The Storming, Tor Lundstrom, TTR World Snowboarding

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Alex Bocaj, Brendan Gerard, filmy snowboardowe, Fred Lacroix, Hugo Kartier, Kael Hill, Matt Caron, P-N Lessard, Phil Tardif, sequencefilmsfamily.com, Shawn Colley, Split the Sin, teaser, Yan Devo, Yan Lamontagne, Zach Aller

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Belgium, Click Clack, filmy snowboardowe, Netherlands, snowboard movies, teaser, teasery

The Tour begins at Breckenridge Ski Resort in Breckenridge, Colo., Dec. 16-19, 2010, continues to new host site Killington Resort, in Killington, Vt., Jan.20-23, 2011 and concludes with the Toyota Championship at Snowbasin, a Sun Valley Resort, in Ogden, Utah, Feb. 10-13, 2011.

The winter sports season kicks off at Breckenridge Ski Resort and will host the world’s top talent in action sports. Breckenridge will also be the stage for the Open Qualifiers where rising freeski and snowboard stars will compete to earn a spot on the remainder of the Tour. As the race for the Dew Cup intensifies so will the size of the pipe, with athletes competing on 22-foot superpipes at Killington Resort and at the Toyota Championship at Snowbasin.

“I’m stoked that the Winter Dew Tour will have 22-foot pipes this season,” said professional snowboarder, Danny Davis. “The level of riding and amplitude that we can get on the larger pipe makes all of the difference. Fans can expect to see some awesome competitions all season long.” “We’ve seen tremendous growth over the past two seasons and expect our third to be no different,” said Chris Prybylo, General Manager of the Winter Dew Tour. “Adding Killington and taking the pipe to 22 feet at our final two stops positions us for our best season yet.”

Boasting the largest media platform in all of winter action sports, all three stops of the Winter Dew Tour will be televised Live on NBC with additional broadcasts on USA Network, MTV2 and Universal HD. In addition, it’s simulcast on Verizon V CAST and around the world on Eurosport 2 and Fox Sports Australia.

The complete 2010-11 Winter Dew Tour schedule is as follows:
Dec. 16-19 Breckenridge Ski Resort – Breckenridge, Colo.
Jan. 20-23 Killington Resort – Killington, Vt.
Feb. 10-13 Snowbasin Resort – Ogden, Utah – Toyota Championship

Entering its third season, the top athletes in the world will take part in the 2010-11 Winter Dew Tour, all competing for the highly coveted Dew Cup that will be awarded at the Toyota Championship at Snowbasin Resort in Ogden, Utah. The 2009-10 Dew Cup champions include Jamie Anderson (Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle), Sage Kotsenburg (Men’s Snowboard Slopestyle), Kaitlyn Farrington (Women’s Snowboard Superpipe), JJ Thomas (Men’s Snowboard Superpipe).

more info at: winterdewtour

© diaq for Ronin Snowboards, 2010. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Breckenridge, Breckenridge Ski Resort, Chris Prybylo, Danny Davis, Dew Cup, Eurosport 2, Fox Sports Australia, Jamie Anderson, JJ Thomas, Kaitlyn Farrington, Killington Resort, MTV2, Sage Kotsenburg, Snowbasin, Toyota Championship, Universal HD, USA Network, Winter Dew Tour