Horsefeathers King of S.N.O.W. - Round 1

For anybody new to the conversation, BestTrick.com and Horsefeathers are sponsoring this years King of S.N.O.W. competition. The contest, which is basically just a giant game of S.N.O.W., is done entirely online; just film your trick, upload it to http://www.King-of-Snow.com, and hope you've got the skills to climb the rankings. Prizes are given for individual round victories, and a final cash basket of $5000 US Dollars plus worldwide exposure to the overall winner.

Now for the sweet news! Even though the contest starts next week, the folks over at BestTrick.com have given the go ahead to release the first round's trick for everyone entering this crazy contest. Nothing too fancy here... Horsefeathers/Isenseven team rider Rene Schnöeller wants you to bust your steeziest Frontside 180:

Round 1: FS 180 set by Rene Schnöeller (AUT)

This rounds winner gets to shred the rest of their season in a new Horsefeathers Polaris Jack and R2D2 Beanie... a pretty nice prize package for such a simple trick, but remember to win it your 180 has to top other talented riders from around the world!

Let's face it though, we can't all head up to the hill every week to film and upload one trick at a time. New this year, the folks at BestTrick.com want you to be able to knock out a few rounds worth in one trip to the slopes. So, without further ado here are all of the tricks through Round 4...

Round 2: BS 180 set by Tomas Tuzar (CZE)
Round 3: FS 360 set by Honza Zajic (CZE)
Round 4: FS 540 set by Michael Zirngibl (GER)

There you have it. If you haven't already, head to http://www.king-of-snow.com to register your free account.

Now, get up to your local slope and get on that filming! The first round will be open for submissions on December 28th, 2009.

QandA - When Should I Start Snowboarding Switch?

Q: I am thinking of trying to ride switch, but I'm not sure if I'm ready or if I even need to. Any tips or advice?

A: Even if you don't plan to ever set foot in a park, the best time to start snowboarding switch is as soon as possible! Riding switch is another skill, another trick of the trade, that only adds to the challenge and enjoyment of snowboarding.

Once you start connecting S-turns and doing basic carving, you are ready to start riding switch.

Why is it a good idea to start learning to ride switch right away? First, the steps you use to turn your board will still be fresh in your mind; it will be much easier to recall what made your board start turning in your regular stance and reverse it to produce switch riding.

Second, it's important for you to begin riding switch before you get too accustomed to life on your dominant leg; nobody likes going back to the bunny slopes to learn how to ride switch when they are so used to (and good at) tearing up the hill in their regular stance.

There is only one tip to riding switch... though it may seem cliche: practice!

Most people are just too comfortable, or maybe too proud, to purposely try something that makes them look like first time snowboarders. Take it from me, the first few runs of switch riding will be have a lot of caught edges and other embarrassing slams... but you have to tough it out, just like you did when you learned to snowboard, if you want those switch turns to start shaping nicely.

The good news is it won't take as long to learn to ride switch as it did to learn to snowboard. The biggest trick to riding switch is remembering to weight your front (once back) foot for the most control. You'll tend to fight the sensation of moving in the opposite direction for a while, but again practice is the only way to get things right.

Horsefeathers King of S.N.O.W.

We've dusted off the cobwebs! It's mid-December, and we northern hemisphere riders are all warmed up! Our legs have gotten over the pain and soreness of those first days back on a snowboard, we've recovered our old bag of tricks, and hopefully some of us have added some new tricks to the list already.

Since everyone is ready to go, it is the perfect time for this year's annual King of S.N.O.W. contest, kicking off December 28th!

Sponsored this year by Horsefeathers, an outerwear and apparel company based in the Czech Republic, the King of S.N.O.W. contest uses the miracle of the internet to call on participants worldwide to compete for a chance to ride the finals in Austria, a $5,000 grand prize and global media exposure.

This years stands to be one of the best contests yet with shorter rounds to get in more tricks, an improved judging system, prizes for winning individual rounds, national rankings to see who's the best in your country (you need at least 25 people from your country to enter for national rankings, so tell your friends), and prizes for the best grom (6-15 years old) and female shred (Queen of S.N.O.W.).

If you've ever played S.N.O.W., the rules for The King of S.N.O.W. are almost exactly the same: Each week a Horsefeathers pro rider will set a trick, then it's up to you to go out and nab footage of yourself stomping it. If you don't land it, or forget to upload a video for the week's trick, you get a letter; four letters (S.N.O.W.) and you lose.

As long as you land the trick you get to keep playing, but video ratings determine who will ultimately win cash and glory so you'll want bangers only.

This is always a fun little comp to get in on, especially if you find yourself trapped in an office everytime that contest you long to enter stops by your local hill, so head to http://www.king-of-snow.com to register absolutely free, and be there December 28th, 2009 for the first trick!

Hey, you can always sign up later... but it's going to cost you some letters.

Get on Shred Union!

December is here already!

From coast to coast, most of the United States is tasting finally the fresh stuff. Gear is being taken out of storage and dusted off; calendars are examined as folks begin checking off the days they will snowboard this winter.

In preparation for getting turns this season some of us struggle with finding equipment, some of us struggle to find enough heads to make accommodations affordable and some of us struggle with just finding a ride to our local mountain.

You aren't trying to start trivial arguments with teenie-boppers or hitch a ride with unlicensed 13 year old kids, so the snowboarding forums aren't going to help you. Where can you go to meet some like-minded shredders?

Why not create a profile on ShredUnion.com?

Shred Union is a growing social media network for snowboarders. Think about Facebook or MySpace if you deleted everything and everyone except for snowboarders and things snowboard related...that's Shred Union.

Creating a profile gives you a snowboarding space all your own. Post pictures of your exploits and keep a journal of where you've ridden and when. Let users know what setup you are rocking this winter; meet up with riders by adding your local resort hangout. Gain access to countless user-submitted reviews on anything from the best terrain parks, to the friendliest snowboard shops, to the warmest first layers.

The crew over at Shred Union is top-notch. They are working with a ton of user-input to constantly improve the site. New and current members have a lot of new features to look forward to, like the ability to upload and rate your snowboard videos.

This site also has an entertaining forum to chat with other riders. The majority of posts are engaging and at least somewhat relevant to what's happening in snowboarding today. If you like to talk snowboarding a little deeper than who was "first" to comment on a post, there are definitely more stimulating conversations going on at Shred Union.

Starting a profile doesn't cost a dime and right now they are giving away weekly prize packs, so this is your chance to get even more out of signing up. If you've got a couple seconds to spare head over to http://www.shredunion.com and create your account; "In Riders We Trust"!

Bear Mountain 11.19.09

Bear Mountain, Snow Summit, and Mountain High are often the victims of an inversion, an unusual rise in temperature at increased elevation. This is why for the past couple of weeks it has a been a crisp 20ºF nightly at my house but a wopping 40ºF on the hill, far above snowmaking temperatures (especially with humidity, but that's another post).

Last night there was finally a break, and good one at that: Bear Mountain cranked the guns at just about 8pm and ran until early morning...

If new snow wasn't reason enough to head out there, today is day three of Bear's complete overhaul of their park. Everything is now completely different, and the best part is these changes supposedly came from rider feedback. Thanks Bear Mountain!

The first phase of the park change-up was the addition of a rail area. There were no surprises with this decision; Bear is notorious for having the best rail riders in attendance, and with the likes of Joe Sexton, Jake O.E., Jed Anderson, Gabby Maiden, Chris Bradshaw, Zak Hale and others shredding up here today was not any different. Now we all have a thin rail, fat down rail, ledge/shotgun rail, and a double-barrell down rail to play on.


Along with the rail park, Bear put rider progression in mind and expanded the line of boxes, starting thin and going as wide as the dance floor box. The down tube that once lay where the rail park is now was a popular feature, so the park crew switched out the corrguated tube with the down tube to create a tube-wall ride combination. I managed to snap this awesomely amateur shot of the infamous TOBY on said feature.

A pretty neat addition to the park in preparation of the Ashbury team and some Bear team riders coming out to visit is the up-flat box paired with the ledge box, officially dubbed the "Up Flat Box- Side Car with a 30-foot Press Box" via Bear Mountain's website. Only at Bear Mountain I guess...

All in all it was another excellent day on the slopes. If you live locally and haven't visited Bear because one run doesn't seem that fun, do reconsider. Tickets are still discounted, the snow is fresh-like, the features are fun and if those reasons aren't enough than how about getting your riding legs back so you aren't all rubber-legged when the good stuff does open?

Bear Mountain 10.30.09

Recently the Santa Ana winds brought a cold front to Southern California, which for us is the equivalent of the snowstorms everybody else got. Bear started snowmaking late October 27th, and stacked a fleet of up to 70 guns to make the Central Park run off Chair 5 completely rideable.

Bear seems to be playing a different strategy this year, maybe because of the December opening last season. Usually they wait to open the main run from Bear's summit to the bottom, but this year they have minimized to the much smaller Central Park run.

Concentrating their efforts got a thick baselayer of snow over a run with under 50 hours of snowmaking, and has Bear opening before November for the first time in years. Regardless, Southern California must have gotten the memo about Bear opting not to open the main run, because for an opening day lines were pretty tolerable.

Snow conditions were hardpacked manmade snow at around 60ºF, so slightly wet and heavy. I think a lot of folks, myself included, were impressed with the quality and coverage of the snow, all things considered.

Of course, you really don't ride Bear Mountain for the snow; you ride it for the park...

Down tube not pictured

Bear Mountain hauled some fun features up the hill for all skill levels to enjoy. On the left you had two beginner/dance floor boxes (by the end of the day everyone had box spins and switch-ups, newbies included--that's Bear progression right there); on the right you might pursue the line from down tube, to narrow flat box, to flat-down box, to a corrugated tube to wallride transfer--a Bear signature feature and my hands-down favorite for the day.


Bear keeps an area of hikeable features, dubbed the Scene, at the base of Central Park. Today the Scene was sporting one last beginner-friendly flat box or a C-box to finish out your run.

All in all, I had a pretty sweet opening day; here's to a kickass season, and see you all on the slopes!

War of Ages - Arise and Conquer

Today, new genres of music pop up like new ice cream flavors. Hardcore is one example. I remember making fun of my brother when he listened to hardcore; I would laugh and ask why he was always listening to screamo... I couldn't tell the difference.

There is a difference though, and my eyes were opened the day my brother put War of Ages on during a road trip.

Believe it or not, War of Ages is officially classified as a Christian Meltacore band (You see what I mean about genres? Ridiculous.) but even though there's a religion thrown into the mix, you won't notice anything preachy about War of Ages.

Arise and Conquer is the band's newest full length album, and one of its heaviest to date. War of Ages shreds hard right from the opener, "All Consuming Fire", demonstrating their ability to melt your face off with crisp, melodic guitar riffs and deafening screams, backed by some tight percussion tracks.

The lyrics relay a steady message throughout: to stand strong and stay up; a message all snowboarders can relate to. Most of this message is delivered in garbled screams, so if positivity doesn't sit well with you, feel free to pretend the lyrics are about satan if you want.

Other songs that find me day-dreaming of hitting the biggest cliffs, kickers and rails on the mountain exclusively include "Salvation", "Sleep of the Prisoners", and "Generational Curse" just to name a few. Really, don't expect to find any softies on this albums; it starts off intense, stays intense and finishes intense.

Not really feeling snowboarding that day? Put on Arise and Conquer and feel inspired to slay the sh*t out of the hill. Watch out, you'll get so pumped you might forget that you're a mortal.

War of Ages - Arise and Conquer

3 Tips for Renting Vs Buying Your Snowboard Equipment

Smelly boots, chintzy bindings, and rock-beaten decks; this is the common snowboard rental experience. How long do you have to use this second-hand crap anyway?

Plus, renting equipment is generally a hassle and can get expensive fast. Wouldn't it just be cheaper and easier to invest in your own gear and pay a one-time fee?

Keep these tips in mind as you consider whether or not owning your own snowboard equipment would be worth it...

1. For first-timers

If you've never been snowboarding before, you should always rent--in fact, you may want to rent the first few times you head to the hill.

Rental boards are tailor-made to help a new rider through the learning process. Plus, with a rental board you don't have to worry about damage when you ride off of the trail and into the dirt.

Even if you are planning a longer vacation and the price of renting seems greater than buying, you are better off sticking with the rental equipment. You might find that after the first few full days of snowboarding, you need a few days off to recuperate; you won't be needing a board the entire vacation after all.

2. Don't rent, demo

If you can shape turns down a green slope, it might be time to start thinking about customized gear as you start to further advance your skills.

But if you don't get that many days on the hill, maybe you don't need to spend all of that money just yet?

A renter who is looking for an upgrade without making a commitment should consider demoing. Demos are legit, name-brand board, boot and binding models available for rent from most rental shops.

Demos usually cost a bit more than average rentals, but they are a great way to start shopping for your first setup by testing several available-for-purchase models. Demos are like sticking your toe in the pool, instead of just jumping in.

3. Go feet first

If you are really itching to get out of your rental gear, but you are unsure how much you will ride or you simply don't have the cash for a decent full setup, consider spending some dough on your first pair of snowboard boots.

Boots are the single worst part of the rental experience. Most rental books reek something fierce; they are all packed out from having so many pairs of feet in them and usually the liners are so beat that the boot offers virtually no support.

Probably 80% of the difficulties people experience when using rentals come from poor boot fit.

One thing in snowboarding you will hear over and over, "Boots are the most important piece of your equipment". Since boots are the first step in relaying your movements into snowboarding, they should be the first piece of equipment you invest in.

I guarantee that owning your own pair of custom-fit boots will make more of difference on snow than any board or binding will.

This article from the Angry Snowboarder features excellent tips on getting a boot that's practically made for you.



One final tip: you will know when you need to buy your own snowboard gear. You will feel like your rental gear doesn't turn hard enough, or go fast enough, or pop high enough; and depending on which of those it is, you will also have a good idea of what to look for in your first setup.

Part 1 - Becoming A Certified AASI Snowboard Instructor

Most of us were once-upon-a-time taught by a snowboard instructor. At the time we were struggling to grasp the fundamentals of riding, not entirely sure how much fun this sport called snowboarding really was. While the instructor glided down the hill, often with one foot unstrapped, we were slamming to the ground every five yards. Back then, I would have given anything just to be able to ride like my instructor.

Many of us still relish that dream, but as our riding has advanced so has our definition. As an instructor, you get to be the first "hero" of snowboarding your students will ever meet. You have the answers to their questions; you are the catalyst of their success and progression. To top things off, instructors get to reap the greatest benefit a job could ever offer: guaranteed riding time daily--whether you are teaching or not.

Aspiring instructors need not fear, the steps to make your dream a reality are not as daunting as they seem. Here are some tips to start you on the path towards an incredibly rewarding career...

What's in the Job Description?

But first, let's see how badly you want to do it? It isn't free to become a snowboard instructor. Instructing is a career, and like any career you will have to pay some money to receive the information and training you need.

Learning the skills takes time, so won't be paying everything all at once, but be prepared. You will need to buy educational materials, pay an annual registration fee to be a member of PSIA/AASI, pay for your certification courses, and last but not least pay your way to a resort before any of this can be possible.

Once you are certified you will enjoy an increased pay rate and numerous discounts including lift tickets, hotels, and snowboard gear. Getting there, however, takes a bit of personal sacrifice.

Even when you are certified, this does not guarantee tons of money. Every resort position requires guest attendance. If nobody shows up to the hill that day then you aren't getting paid.

Don't anticipate spending most of your working days coaching up-and-coming Olympians in the halfpipe either. Especially at lower certifications, you can expect to work with lots and lots of children.

Bottom line, the most successful instructors became instructors to teach. It's not about being the star of the show; it's not about raking in cash-money; it's about actually wanting to help other people learn to ride a snowboard.

Still want to give it a go?

Knowledge is Power

One thing you can't, or at least shouldn't want to do, is jump into a certification course without a little prep work. To get started, you need to invest a little bit of study and practice into this endeavor.

There are the three things you need to master in order to successfully gain your certification:

1. Riding concepts - The riding part. You must be able to demonstrate the skills you teach and some advanced riding techniques.
   
2. Teaching concepts - This is a measure of your ability to manage a class as well as relay technical information to your students in a simple manner.
   
3. Movement analysis - You must be able to identify what your students are doing right and wrong, and be able to adapt your lesson plan accordingly.
   

While you can't learn everything there is to know about these concepts in any book, there is one book you will absolutely need to purchase if you are serious about becoming a snowboarding instructor; the AASI Snowboard Instructors Guide. This single piece of literature contains everything you need to know in order to pass the written tests, as well as a breakdown of the teaching system, illustrations of proper riding techniques, and even a full gear guide.

Some other materials to consider in preparation for your exam include Core Concepts for Snowsports Instructors, the AASI Snowboard Movement Analysis Handbook and the Rocky Mountain AASI 04-05 Snowboard Standards DVD, which will give you a visual reference of the movements you need to be able to perform and explain.

Now, we've established your motivation for getting mixed up in this certification business, and given you some tools to help open your mind to the world of an AASI certified snowboard instructor.

Be sure to study up, because in Part 2 it all comes together when you sign up for your *gulp* Level 1 Exam!

QandA - What Beginner Riders Should Look for in Snowboard Gear

Great examples of beginner equipment: the 2010 Burton Blunt and Union Cadet binding.

Q: I'm a beginner and I don't know what things I should look out for when buying a board, bindings, or boots? I guess any help is appreciated!

A: Of course the easiest, fastest, and best way to get your gear would be to visit your local shop where the rep will hook you up with gear that a.) fits and b.) is appropriate to your riding level. Fit is the most important thing you deal with when gear shopping, if it doesn't fit than there's nothing you are going to do that will make it work.

As a beginner you should look for a true-twin (nose/tail same length, shape, and flex; binding screw slots are centered on board-;aka no setback).

Most manufacturers rate their board on a flex rating. For beginners, on a scale from 1-10, you want a board around the 3s.

There are two measures of board flex: along the length of the board for presses/ollies, and across the width of the board for control and initiating turns (from heel to toe; if you strapped your board in sitting down and pushed the ball of your foot down on your binding like a gas pedal, your board will twist. This is flex across your board). An beginner board needs to flex just as soft across as it does along the length, since beginners rely on some extra give when they are mastering their balance and turning technique. This will minimize edge catches and maximize board control.

Entry-level boards will have a longer effective edge/shallower sidecut to produce long, controlled turns. Think longboard versus short board in skateboarding or surfing: A bigger, wider board in surfing or skating equals a board with a longer effective edge and shallower sidecut in snowboarding.

In terms of board height, no higher than your chin. Even if you are young and growing, if you get a board too big for your weight and height you are going to have a lot of trouble controlling it.

Now for the big question, should you buy reverse camber or not?

I think reverse camber has a place helping beginning riders who are not able to engage/complete turns or are catching edges frequently, but if you are past that don't rule out camber. I think once riders get over basic errors in connecting turns, they need to progress to intiating the turn, shaping the turn, and changing edges using the loading properties of a traditional cambered board. This is very technical, I know; but trust me, if you get a cambered snowboard you will not regret it as you progress into the park and steeps. Grab yourself a reverse camber deck when you start nailing advanced park stuff, or for deep powder excursion.

A common misconception is that if you get an entry-level board as a beginner that you will end up needing a new board sooner than later to start hitting the steeper and more challenging parts of the mountain, and this is simply not the case. Most any board properly sized to the rider will go anywhere within resort boundaries that you want it to, but one constructed specifically for beginners will make your learning experience more enjoyable.

For binders, get something softer flexing so you don't dig an edge in every time you shift your weight; it goes without saying you want the binding (S, M, L) to fit your boot.

For boots, again it would be smart to go with a softer flexing boot at first. Or if you intend to ride more than 30 days, you can accomodate for added flex during break-in by buying a stiffer boot. BOOT FIT is something so important that I made it bold, then underlined it. Forget personal taste and company preference for a second, you need a boot that is right for your foot and ankle shape. Your boot needs to fit *snuggly*, meaning your big toes should be touching.

Subtract at least a size from your shoe size to adjust for break-in. Again even if you are young and growing, accept the fact that you are buying new boots every year because if your boot doesn't fit you can stifle progression or even end up quitting altogether in frustration; it makes things that unpleasant.

The only fool-proof tip to boot shopping? Go to a shop and try on as many boot companies and models as you can; there will definitely be standouts that felt way more comfortable than others...and bring legit snowboard socks.

I'm not much for specific model recommendations, but here are some companies with solid snowboards, boots, and bindings:

Humanity
Ride
O-Matic
K2
Burton
Salomon
Nitro
Never Summer
Rome
Capita
Nidecker
Head
Vans
DC
ThirtyTwo
Stepchild
LibTech
GNU
Forum
Union

and plenty more, but that's a running start. Most companies will say outright that a board is beginner friendly, but if not you will generally find boards with the construction I described under $400. When in doubt, e-mail the company and ask; they are always stoked to help out a potential customer.

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QandA features real answers to real questions from real people. Help out by sending your snowboard related questions to DesertsDontSnow@gmail.com.

Snowboarding and Twitter

By now you have probably heard of Twitter, a social media application that let's you review updates from hundreds or even thousands instantly; at the other end of the wire, hundreds or even thousands can instantly view your updates as well.

Those who are already on Twitter, and get caught tweeting, are met with one of two mindsets: "What is Twitter?" or "I hate Twitter". The haters have an excellent reason to hate, since it's easy to assume from a constant onslaught of internet marketers that there is nothing more to Twitter than a bunch of con-artists trying to sucker people.

Believe it or not Twitter is an incredibly powerful tool. It is a social extension that opens doors to friendships and opportunities, and it delivers these in a relatively passive manner.

Snowboarders can reap enormous benefits by joining Twitter, and if you haven't started an account already than hopefully after reading this you will reconsider. If you do have a Twitter account but never got around to making the thing "work", maybe this article can help point you in the right direction...

Interact directly with companies

It used to be that you had to keep up with magazines or be heavily involved in the industry to stay up to date. With the internet things became easier when magazines, private sites, and company blogs started bringing us information almost instantly. Now Twitter brings things one step further and faster by allowing companies to engage us directly.

No more rumors or fuzzy press releases; with Twitter snowboard companies are able to announce product launches, team updates, tech updates, factory videos and more instantly! Follow your favorite companies or follow every company and you can get the inside scoop on all of the latest and greatest in the industry.

It's more than just letting the company feed you information; your Twitter account is your one-to-one connection with companies. Didn't like how a product worked? Have a suggestion for improvements? Use Twitter to send direct messages and become more than just a consumer.

Are you a fan of free gear? In the past month my Twitter account has seen at least twenty product giveaways. From Q+As to treasure hunts, this is great way to score an extra pair of gloves, goggles, boots, outerwear, bindings and even a new snowboard.

Snow reports, lodging and pass discounts instantly

All of your local resorts are probably on Twitter. It's October, which means everyone is speculating on resort activity and predicting opening days. Remember that saying, "A watched pot never boils"? Why not just let your resorts tell you what they are up to directly?

Resorts are also using Twitter to offer special discounts and promotions on anything from lodging, to lift tickets, to season passes. We can't all own luxury condos at Vail, and sometimes rentals and hotels seem like they cost almost as much. This is a great way to afford that snowboard trip you canceled because you couldn't afford it.

Make friends with your airlines

Since the majority of the world is not snow capped mountains, this means that many of us must travel to destinations in order to get some turns. Transportation can be a huge expense, especially with our airlines new baggage policies (that can tack on over $100 to bringing your snowboard gear with you).

Most of the major airlines are on Twitter, and you can bet the majority of their tweets are on new flights, discounts and other promotions.

Just flying to your destination won't necessarily get you to a resort. Car rental agencies are also on Twitter, and just like the airlines, here is another chance to save a little money on your next snowboard vacation.

Expand your horizons

Maybe one of the bigger reasons people don't live the dream of following the snow is that they are relatively clueless as to where to start. Do you need training? What positions are there in the snowboard industry? How do you go about moving to a resort town?

Resorts have taken to Twitter as a means to instantly engage potential employees. Some resorts like A-Basin, @WorkattheBasin, have accounts dedicated to human resources. Let these companies bring the opportunities straight to you, and have a platform to request more information.

You don't have to work at a resort, though. Occasionally you will come across a tweet from your favorite snowboard company that they are immediately hiring. Twitter offers an even greater chance to break into the industry and make money doing something you love.

Never ride alone again.

You'd be surprised how many snowboarders are on Twitter. Search for local riders and find new friends to shred with; meet filmers, photographers and other behind-the-scenes industry types or you can even follow some pro snowboarders.

Using Twitter as a social network requires a little more active effort on the user's part. You will have to post regular updates of links, videos and general statements that make you, you; this is what interests people and encourages them to follow you. You will also want to reply to other user's tweets, which means you want to make sure the people you follow interest you.

One of the mistakes new users make with Twitter is feeling obligated to follow everyone who follows you. Things grow very boring, or the account becomes overwhelmed with link posts from marketers. Make sure that whoever you follow, they share interests or commonalities with you... that is the biggest secret to Twitter.

Whether you are looking to sit back and collect updates to score gear, discounts or even jobs; or you are hoping to play an active part in meeting new friends and connecting with companies, Twitter has a lot more to offer your average snowboarder than many give credit.

If you do head over Twitter, be sure to look me up @desertsdontsnow.

Managing Fear

Every snowboarder has that moment where a trick or a feature pops into our mind, but we are just too gripped with fear to try it out; even the greatest pros encounter things they feel unprepared to handle, and with a career/paycheck on the line maybe doubly so.

One of the most common questions you will come across in any extreme sport is "How to hit ___" or "If there are any tips for doing ____". It can seem as though these are rookies looking for a magical solution to get better at snowboarding, but 9/10 times the rider is usually only looking for reasons not to fear attempting to learn a new skill.

A little bit of the fear is never a bad thing, it is nothing more than a natural reality check... but if we always gave in to our fears than there would be no progression in anything, so when is it appropriate to push through your fears and how can you go about managing that?

We fall so we can get back up

For your average snowboarder, let's say that fear can manifest itself in three different ways: as a familiar encounter that went badly, an acknowledgment of something new and unknown, and in response to something completely beyond our control.

When injured trying a new skill or feature, many are met with great hesitation when they step up for a second try. This is reasonable, since getting hurt sucks; but the key to overcoming this fear is to understand that even though it was negative, what happened was an experience. Remember after the fall when you asked yourself, "what happened?"

You probably realized your weight was wrong, or you didn't pop high enough, etc. Since you know what caused your injury, use your mistakes to adapt a new approach and you have no reason to fear repeating the past.

Build a safe progression

Sometimes "the next step" means moving on to a feature or a trick you have never tried before. The brain, unable to calculate the sensation of what you are attempting, tells you to immediately back down...fear of the unknown.

And it's only logical to be at least a little scared. If a feature is much bigger or a trick much more technical than anything you've tried before there is certainly a risk factor: you can't compensate for everything because, as previously stated, you don't really know how a new feature will pop/slide or what a new trick necessarily feels like.

Make it so that some aspect of the progression is under your control. When trying a new feature or bigger kicker, your stock tricks are your friends--a trick you can land 10/10 times will be your flashlight into dark and unfamiliar territory. As for new tricks, they are always best saved for low consequence features, the things you've fallen trying hundreds of times but never been seriously hurt on.

Also keep in mind that every new trick/feature should be just slightly harder, and ideally should build off a previously learned skill. Building your riding up piece by piece versus giant leaps will not only build a more complete repertoire of skills but will likely keep you injury free.

Patience is worth it, as a slow but steady progression also allows you to get comfortable with your new skills to a point where you can convey style.

Know when to back down

So far we've covered fears that usually can and should be overcome in order to progress. On the other hand, there are times when you should never regret going with your gut instincts. The majority of snowboard injuries and deaths occur when people ignore a very logical signal from their brains telling them not to do something.

An obvious example would be many of the snowboarders who are caught in avalanches each season. Backcountry riding is an incredibly thrilling and rewarding experience, so it's easy to get overanxious and neglect minor details that later become vital. Avalanche training, equipment, and the company of experienced local riders are necessities before thinking about backcountry riding; and even all of those don't offer any guarantees of a safe return.

Bottom line: If there is any hesitation or question about the conditions or outcome of a backountry excursion, this is a fear you should give in to and back down. All of the epic backcountry footage that makes it to your screens is the result of weeks of observation, research and waiting on perfect conditions... and not without reason.

What about those days when things just aren't coming together?

Snowboarding comes with it's share of off days, and when you feel like a stranger to your snowboard it's usually best to just go with it; anything that you aren't confident about, it is best to back off. This doesn't mean the day is anywhere near over, since thankfully cruising the resort and exploring new spots is never boring.

A good point to stress in closing is that fear is always relative to the person. If it comes down to wholeheartedly not wanting to go for something, then always back down. Sometimes confidence alone can make something impossible possible.

Do you have any methods for managing fear on the slope? Feel free to post a comment with any ways you deal with hesitation when it comes to learning new skills...

Snowboarders Don't Workout - The Importance of Fitness

Snowsports are most commonly associated with relaxing vacations, or for the younger generations as party central. Since the ideal day of riding for most is capped with an alcoholic beverage and a few hours in a jacuzzi, it is hard to see snowboarding as a sport that you necessarily "train" for. Yet, snowboarding is an immensely physical activity--think back to your first day of riding and how sore you were... in fact for some who only get a week or two to ride a year, you might remember just how much that first day back on your board can really whip your ass? It's obvious that personal fitness plays a crucial role in every aspect of snowboarding, from how long your day of riding lasts to maintaining an injury-free season.

First Chair, Last Call

Some of us don't get to ride as much as others, which means when the chance to snowboard does come around it has to be from first chair in the morning to last call in the resort bar later that night. If you don't prepare your legs with exercises like squats or activities like skateboarding, they are going to burn out in a couple of days. Even just standing in place and jumping as high as you can 20 times a day can make an enormous impact on leg strength.

What about how winded you can get just riding a snowboard down a hill? High altitude warnings dictate that at least one week after rising into mountain altitudes you should limit physical activity. For those who only get a two-week snowboarding vacation each year, you don't have one week. A lot of people do not maintain their cardiovascular fitness, so when they go on a shred vacation they go from no exercise all year to a full-day of exertion at an altitude where they can't draw as much oxygen from the air... then they pass out or worse. Swimming underwater, practicing how long you hold your breath, is an awesome way to grow accustom to optimizing the oxygen in your body and making the transition to higher altitudes easier on your lungs.


Maintain a Balance, Spin to Win

Balance is not so much how you manipulate your arms or legs, but more your core's ability to keep things centered. Look at the "extreme gymnastics" seen above; those guys have their legs flailing about as though independent of their bodies. If you neglect your core muscles, it can be the difference between sliding a ten foot rail and sliding a 30 foot rail. Your core also puts the umph into your spin tricks; the prewind and release to initiate spins are 100% core muscles, your arms only serve as weights thrown to hold the spins momentum. Otherwise your core serves to initiate and hold your turns, and it also helps keep you upright in general. The core and the legs are two musclegroups you can't neglect if you want to snowboard.

Brace For Impact

Nobody, and I mean nobody doesn't fall. When you start snowboarding you fall a hell of a lot, and once you've got the basics you'll fall learning learning every new skill from there on out; it's almost guaranteed. In fact many, including myself, have come to understand that snowboarding is nothing more than controlled falling. And as we fall our natural instinct is always hands first. This is why the upper body cannot be taken out of the equation. When you take an impact to your wrist or arms, the muscles and ligaments tense very quickly to oppose the blow. Stiff, unused ligaments are susceptible to snapping when that quick tension occurs. If you aren't taking the time to at least stretch your upper body you are inviting serious injury.

In terms of bone breaking, the force of impact is primarily absorbed by muscle and what bite the muscles don't take off transfers into our bones. So, doing even a few pushups a day helps to keep the muscles in your chest and arms strong enough to avoid minor fractures and breaks. So say you get yourself into some twisted position and not breaking something seems impossible; stretching often improves flexibility and lessens the likelihood of an injury from being put into an awkward position... it's how contortionists do what they do!

Snowboard Magazines - Print v. Digital

It's clear that future of media lies in the digitalization of content. While many will claim environmental inspiration, the truth is that many snowboard magazines are adapting to declining print subscriptions by offering their content digitally on-demand, but are digital subscriptions even worth it?

So what are the benefits to snowboard magazines offering their issues digitally? Put simply, the option saves a lot of green. Digital subscriptions are not only cheaper (for instance it is $16.97 for a 9 issue print subscription to TWSNOW compared to $6.97 for the digital subscription), but drastically decrease paper consumption. Another obvious plus: no more "missing" magazines from the sketchy post-office since issues are available instantly once released. Digital downloads also let you access all issues during your subscription and save them for future reference; no more giant crates of old magazines, every issue fits nicely in your flash drive. In terms of shareability, your computers screen capture makes it easy to grab a shot of that new board coming out and email it to all of your friends.

But print isn't completely without perks. From a green perspective, many magazines are eco-concious and use some form of recycled paper to eliminate unnecessary deforestation. Though more expensive than digital subscriptions, print subscriptions are reasonably priced for a tangible product that you can transport and read easily. Also, not all magazines have the resources, or the desire, to expand into the digital realm. Snowboard Mag offers their back issues for free online, but to get the goods on the new stuff you have to maintain your print subscription; other high-end magazines like Frequency: The Snowboard Journal, offer print subscriptions only.

Both print and digital have their strong points and whichever you choose, obviously you still get the exact same magazine. I personally remain subscribed to the print versions of my favorite snowboard magazines. If I ever need to reference an article, show a friend a photo; if I'm bored on a plane or if I'm just on the toilet and looking to kill some time, being able to pick up a magazine and flip to a page is just easier than adding one more open window to your screen or lugging your laptop everywhere with you (especially the bathroom). Sure, you can print out the digital magazines but that is likely going to be much harder on the environment, not to mention your wallet--printer ink isn't cheap--than the issues the publisher produces from recycled paper.

Now the iPhone and iPod Touch have broken the barriers of portable accessibility, and I'm sure someday soon you will be able to read your digital subscriptions anywhere and anytime on those devices if you aren't able to already... but even then, who wants to try to read that many words on such a tiny little screen? At any rate you've heard the pros, you've heard the cons, and hopefully this makes it easier to decide which subscription is right for you.

Bear Mountain 2009 Hot Dawgz and Handrails Feature Preview

For a little over half a decade Bear Mountain has hosted it's annual pre-season contest, Hot Dawgz and Handrails, to serve several purposes. First, the contest offers Southern California--often the last folks to get snow--a chance to see the white stuff before that final month-and-a-half push to the season; second, it gives everyone one last chance to buy their Bear Mountain season passes at a discounted rate; and last but not least, Hot Dawgz and Handrails is the official unveiling of new features coming to the mountain. This year the park crew has posted up several preview shots of the Hot Dawgz and Handrails, jibs and all; you may have heard about Bear Mountain and Analog's Design Unlikely Features contest... I have a feeling it was inspired by the course design thought up for the 2009 HDHR:


Imagine a horseshoe shaped course lined with haystacks and trashbags, then covered with snow shaved from giant blocks of ice. This format gives the riders their choice of around 10 features not usually seen in competition. Forget your standard rails, boxes and staircases; drop to the left of the course and hit a curved kink rail to giant pyramid box, or drop to right where you can hit a granite ledge and either take on the wallride to the left or the C-rail to the right, then end your run on the doghouse.

One of sub-topics in snowboarding I have an affinity for is feature design and production. Just like Jeff King and his show Built to Shred, I love seeing or thinking of something that you wouldn't normally ride or consider fun and moving from conceptualization to realization; hell, put me in any snowy patch with a shovel and some random object and I'll have something shreddable in an hour. I thought that last years HDHR was very centralized and while all of the proper precautions were taken, the course didn't seem very fun to ride and the threat of colliding with another rider loomed at every corner. I imagine using lanes will make it easier to single out riders as well as much safer, since only one rider will be able to take their run at a time; the lane design also means this contest will be as much about full lines as it is about tricks. Finally, the horseshoe shape not only doubles the variety of features, but also spreads out the contestants to two lanes to keep the hits coming. It will be fun to see what the riders do with this unique course.


New features out this season are the down-flat-down curve rail, a huge ledge-pyramid box, and a 30 ft. granite ledge. Most appealing to me would have to be the granite ledge, I've never seen anything like it on any resort; it's definitely a surface you would have to venture into specific urbanities to ride... and now it will be right here at Bear Mountain!


The contest goes down...tomorrow, actually! So tomorrow, Saturday, September 19th if you are in the area with nothing better to do, head up to Bear Mountain and catch the festivities. Invitational contest means no riding for the little folk, but from games, company booths, discounted passes, a couple of movie screenings, a full bar and a party there's plenty to do to make it worth your while. If you can't catch the contest, make sure you catch this video tour of the 2009 Hot Dawgs & Handrails setup because the pictures really don't do it justice.

When to Buy, Where to Save - Boots, Goggles and Outerwear

Summer is nearing its end and now we make our transition into season-standby mode. Fall is almost like purgatory for shredders. The temperatures start dropping and each day we wake up hoping that guns are blowing. You can almost feel the season in the weather, but knowing its so close but yet so far away is pure agony. That's why, with most companies now stocking the 09/10 stuff and making huge markdowns on leftover 08/09 products, this is as good a time as ever to start shopping around for gear. Unfortunately with the economy having been so down, scrounging up precious cash for snowboard gear can be tough; so how can you make the most of every dollar? To save the most money you have to know what you absolutely need to purchase, so the first step is taking a general inventory of your gear.

Your boots are a good place to start. Snowboard boots usually receive the most wear out of any other piece of snowboarding equipment (unless you jib rocks). Even if your boots show no signs of physical wear, try to think back to your last ride... if they felt incredibly loose or non-supportive than your liners may be shot and boots should be your first "Need to Purchase" item. Expect to spend the most money on your boots for two reasons: your boots are the most important factor in board control and should not be skimped on, and boots are 150% about fit... so if the boot that fits you the best is a brand new 09/10 model retailing at over $300 you are out of luck savings wise. Another thing you need to tack on to the cost of new boots if you use them is the price of custom orthodics. This can range from $30 to $150 depending on your needs (if you don't use orthodics and ride near or over 30 days a year, they come highly recommended). Note because boots must be purchased by fit, your best bet is to head to your local shop and try some on. If you purchase online be prepared; you will either have to buy several boots in several sizes at once or be willing to play a very long game of receive and return (though at least there are several [link]guides to point you in the right direction). It's a good idea to purchase your boots first as they are part of determining your binding and board choices.



The next pieces of gear you should inspect are your goggles, gloves and outerwear. Your board may be delaminating, your bindings may be completely stripped of all padding, but if you are freezing and can't see a damn thing you can be sure those factors above all else will be the end of your day. Check your outerwear for tears or abrasions and replace anything likely to have lost it's waterproofing/warmth capabilities. The good news is outerwear is more or less the same year to year, only styles change, so here is a good place to hunt down gems from seasons past. It is not that difficult to find a legit outerwear setup, pants and jacket, for under $150. If money is an issue, consider sewing a waterproof fabric over any tears and give your outerwear a coat of spray-on waterproofer; this will also give you a unique patchy snowboard-hobo style if that's a route you are interested in pursuing.



Check your goggles for any rips or separations between the plastic and the foam padding. If you find any than your goggles need replacing. Goggles are another fairly unchanging piece of equipment, so here is another good place to take advantage of older models. Obviously, if your lenses are severely scratched than you should invest in replacing them (unless the cost of the lens = the cost of new pair).



Gloves are another almost guaranteed replacement for 30 or more day-a-year riders. Most of the popular glove styles really aren't made to last very long. Check your glove for rips or heavy abrasions around the fingertips, palm and thumb. If money is an issue than duct tape may be your only solution; if you don't find any rips or holes than give you glove a quick coat of spray-on waterproofer
anyway to prolong its life. Again, gloves change more in style than anything else, so you can buy up older models and save a ton of cash.

Coming next: Snowboards and Bindings

High Cascade Adult Camp - Session 6 - 2009

This year was my first year participating in the adult camp offered by High Cascade. I had avoided the adult camp in the past for several reasons: I didn't see the opportunity to drink as being worth the extra $200 and I wasn't sure hanging out with a bunch of "old dudes" (everyone was around my age, officially or in spirit) was going to be a good time. I'm definitely glad I gave adult camp a shot this time around since I had the most fun of any session I've done at High Cascade so far.

Session 6 recap 2009 from High Cascade Snowboard Camp on Vimeo.

There are some major differences between youth to adult camp, and plenty of worthwhile reasons why it costs a bit of extra money for a spot, but first a breakdown of your options... Adult camp offers a few different experiences; you can rent your own lodging or stay in High Cascade's adult lodging and opt for coaching or just cruise the camps private park on your own. Your choices will effect your cost, but for the purpose of this review I opted for High Cascade lodging with coaching.



As mentioned earlier, it costs just about $200 more for the adult coaching and lodging than the same amenities in youth camp, but the extra money goes right to your stomach; instead of the routine camp food (which is actually pretty good) you eat a fancy meal every night... we visited some seriously legit eateries. Eating wasn't the only thing that went down though, High Cascade set up activities galore to keep us insanely busy on and off the slope. From kickball to yoga to bowling there was never nothing to do. For transportation, High Cascade donated their sickest bus, the Boom Bus (lined with Kicker speakers and topped with Kicker subs), to the adult camp cause. Camp even closed off some of their real popular areas for various "adult only" activities. Private bowl session, anyone?





For housing, the camp set aside the entirety of one its lodges, Park Place; it is a four story lodge with an identical floor setup on each floor save the first, which was set aside for the ladies. Rooms are mainly single beds or bunk status with about four to each room. I've stayed in Park Place before and between the HDTV on every floor, the satellite cable and occasional access to one of the only working wireless networks, I like staying there just fine. I will say that last years adult camp were given private cabins much further from the youth campers, which I have also stayed in; the returning adult campers agreed that those were much nicer and better suited to the goings on of adult camp.



Adult camp coaches were hand selected and some of the best coaches that High Cascade has on their roster, and having attended the camp for a few years and getting to know many of the coaches I really do mean that. Our coaches were not only phenomenal riders and instructors but genuinely exceptional human beings; it's true that a day of snowboarding can only be as good as the company you ride with and I know my group was vibing every single day, breaking barriers and pushing limits... both on snow and at the pub.



Last but not least, the park. A quick backstory, Session 6 began after an intense heat wave that had Timberline losing around two feet of snow per day! Coming up on my first glimpse of the mountain I wasn't expecting much, and in true High Cascade fashion I was pleasantly surprised. Everything was still very much shredable, from the main park to the lap park there was still an abundance of kickers, jibs and pipes to get gnarly with. The big-toe (the camps private tow rope) was still up and running for quick laps through the main park, but equally awesome was still being able to lap both parks using the Palmer lift.



Unfortunately Mother Nature had a change of heart, and where it was 9o°F each day the week before, Session 6 found itself smack in the middle of a week of foul weather and two riding days were lost to visibility and miserable conditions (with temperatures as low as 37°F). Especially when so much money is involved, it is easy to get incredibly disappointed about losing any riding time to weather. This is part of our sport and completely out of anyone's control, but this particular occasion in late August is an excellent example of the unpredictability of mountain weather and why you should always prepare for anything. High Cascade was generous enough to refund photo and video session charges due to the poor conditions, and equally generous in finding and funding alternate activities throughout Oregon.

All in all, like I said, this was my best camp experience at High Cascade to date. In fact, I've already started saving for next year.

Cigarettes and Snowboarding?

One of the topics in snowboarding that remains relatively quiet is smoking cigarettes. Even though it doesn't seem to capture the big media's attention, I know it is a subject that many have pondered at some point when riding. Curious, I asked readers their opinion of the habit and its effect on their resort experience.

Now, the process of slowly destroying your lungs and throat is blatantly out of place in a sport that demands physical exertion in high altitudes, but the possibility of a resort being completely smoke-free is unlikely. It is important for non-smokers to understand that smoking is an addiction not easily put down; likewise, smokers need to understand that there aren't many who appreciate the smell of cigarette smoke when in fresh mountain air. Let's face it, cigarette smoke stinks; even smokers will admit that. Most non-smokers are simply hoping riders stop smoking in lift lines, on the lift, at the top of runs and in food areas where the smoke is guaranteed to affect several people, and this is a policy many resorts are beginning to enforce in response to customer feedback...but here is the bigger picture:

In most cities, cigarettes are a major contributor to the litter that lines the streets and sadly, the same is true for our resorts. Since many smokers associate their cigarettes with relaxing, the habit fits right in with escaping to the mountain and getting some turns in. Snow works great for putting out a cigarette, so maybe you are on the lift, maybe you are strapping in, maybe you are enjoying a quick cigarette mid-tree run, but it's so much easier to just snuff the butt in the snow and leave it there. Unfortunately, what ends up happening throughout the season is layer upon layer of cigarette butts are deposited in the snow. Of course the snow melts, and now you have butts all over the mountain as well as in the runoff... this runoff likely flows to vital water sources. There are a few smokers who appreciate that their cigarette butts are not meant to be a part of the mountain and make all efforts to dispose of them properly, but the majority do not. In fact, poll results showed that above personal comfort, most readers just wish that smokers would pick up their butts.

In an increasingly mistrusting and unfriendly world it might be asking too much for us to be considerate of one another, but in all likelihood the only thing the mountain ever does is bring us good times, so above all we as snowboarders should at least respect that.

Bottom line: Smokers, pick up your butts!

High Cascade 2009 - Session 6

You know that saying, "more fun than Disneyland"? Well, High Cascade Snowboard Camp up in Mt. Hood, Oregon really is more fun than Disneyland; that's why I'm going up there for my 4th summer. In fact, as you are reading this I'm probably en route to Oregon for Session 6.

What is High Cascade Snowboard Camp, or rather, what isn't it?

A High Cascade vacation includes lodging, food, transportation, trampolines, lake trips, whitewater rafting, paintball, mountain biking, a private dodgeball course, a private street skate course, a private bowl skate course, 2 private lap-able snowboard parks, 1 private rope tow, expert coaches, Cobra Dogs, tons of free demoes and tons of free product.

So I'll be up in a land of never ending snow, aka the Mt. Hood glacier, enjoying all of the above for a week; plus, if all goes well, there will be some new changes and additions to DesertsDontSnow.com as a result.

Stay tuned for daily updates and photos of the goings on... unless my equipment fogs up again and fucks up the whole thing like last summer. Hopefully, I learned my lesson.

Getting the Most From Snowboard Trick Tips

When a new trick has gone awry, many riders and especially newer riders look to trick tips to solve their problems. Believe it or not there is a methodology to getting the most out of a trick tip, and it is never going to be as simple as watching the trick and listening to the demonstrator's instructions. With the addition of the trick tips section here on DesertsDontSnow, I thought it appropriate to share my insights on how to learn the most from a trick tip video and how to use the new section...

Trick tips weren't always around. During snowboarding's rise to fame there were only a few videos available that up and coming riders were able to use as study material, so they would watch said movies over and over for hours upon hours soaking in everything they could about the style and technique of the latest and greatest tricks. My method for digesting trick tips is derived from how those guys did it back then, and here is the philosophy: The only person that needs to understand how to do the trick is you, therefore you need to find a way to put the trick tip into your own words. How do you do that? All you need to do is use your eyes.

Studying a trick has never been easier than it is now; one thing that modern day trick tips have done is isolate footage to one single trick shot from several angles. This means there is very little work for you to do except watch the trick over and over. You can listen to the instructions explained once or twice but the biggest "trick" to trick tips that I use is to mute the demonstrator's instructions altogether as 80% of the time the pro explaining doesn't really know how to explain the trick or doesn't really care. One thing I like to stress is if there aren't any official trick tips for something you are trying to learn, that doesn't mean you are S.O.L. Odds are you are trying the trick because it caught your attention in a video, so figure a way to isolate that footage and you are good to go.

Now that you have your footage, you want to establish the segments of the trick that create the finished product. For example, when reviewing a trick off of a kicker you will want to take a look at the setup (Setup turns and established line into the transition), position through the transition (what edge to be on, when and how much to prewind, etc.), pop (the timing, the amount--note this can change depending on the shape of the kicker), the aerial itself (releasing the prewind, grabbing the board, etc.) and of course the landing (when you spot it, what edge let's you ride away clean, etc.). This might seem simple and a matter of common sense, but it can get fairly complicated fairly quickly. Here is an example to demonstrate:

First, I need to find a good video of my set trick. I chose Eddie Wall's cab switch tailslide 270 trick tip on DC's dragonbox.

This is a box trick, so I'm going to take a look at...

1. The Setup - Right off the bat, this is a switch trick. If I'm not comfortable doing switch 50-50s and switch boardslides on the feature than those would be my first goal in order to avoid almost certain injury. Eddie is approaching from the side pretty much completely parallel to the box; this is what keeps his board traveling straight down the box.

2. Position Through the Ramp - Popping from the tail with the board slightly on its heel edge, he opens his shoulder to rotate 90° into the tailslide and slightly closes it to counter his rotation and maintain the tailslide. Eddie's head focuses straight ahead as he initiates the trick.

3. The Trick Dynamics and Technique - Once the tailslide is established, Eddie opens his shoulder again to allow the board to continue to rotate with its initial momentum. Technically, this trick becomes a slightly tweaked noseslide in your regular stance as it reaches the end, so being comfortable with that trick would be useful here. Because this is a dragon box, there are subtle weight changes happening to adjust as the box angles downward and upward; you don't have to try this trick on a dragon box, but you should always be aware of weight distribution depending on the angle of your chosen feature. Note that Eddie's head remains focused straight ahead through almost the entire length of the box.

4. The Landing - This landing, like all landings, involves mainly the head and shoulders (where the head looks, the body will follow). As Eddie approaches the end of box, he shifts his head back looking at the tail of the board and quickly counters his shoulders in the opposite direction to snap through the final rotation. Essentially the landing is a backside 180, meaning it's blind--you won't turn to see where you are going until after you've landed--and you will also be landing switch. If you are not comfortable with a 50-50, or better yet a noselide, to 180-out than you will probably have some difficulty bringing around the landing to this trick.

So you can see how I've taken the material in the video, pulled apart what I perceived to have the greatest impact on the success of the trick, and put the process into my own words. I had to watch the video above, about 20 times to see all of that stuff. They say visualization is key to success when learning a trick, and by the time you are able to extrapolate all of the information from a trick tip the image is usually burned into your brain.

What to do now? Well, there are two ways you can go: take your knew knowledge of the trick, man up and give it a go, or you can go even further and practice any individual parts you might be unfamiliar with. Let's say, in the example above, you are relatively sketchy on rotating while on a box. The safest bet would be to practice manipulating your balance while spinning in some capacity, either on hill using a wide dance floor box or on a balance board, before you take it to the hill. No trick tip will magically grant you the ability to land a trick, and you are inevitably going to have to try the trick before your learn the trick, but if you take the time to really understand the dynamics of a trick you will be set up for the safest first attempt you could ask for and be able to incorporate these things into other tricks you learn down the road.

Learning a trick doesn't stop when you land it though; what makes the DesertsDontSnow trick tips a little different is that while I include only the best videos, both footage and explanation wise, I also try to include examples of some of the more inventive variations for the tricks that are featured so readers have inspiration to take a new trick and really expand on it rather than just moving on to the next trick, checking them off without putting any personal style into the thing. Snowboarding is supposed to be fun, so once you get the basics down for a new trick you've gotta have a little bit of fun with it; call it mandatory fun?

Remember that it's all about step-by-step progression. Don't take on a trick that's far beyond your ability level as you are sure to mess yourself up something fierce. If you can't land 180s but you are going for 540s, than you can't land switch and that's a disaster waiting to happen. Be smart, stay safe, and most importantly have fun with it!