Think Thank Presents 'Right Brain, Left Brain'

The right side of the brain houses creativity, the "what-if"; It let's us dream, imagine, envision.  The left side of the brain houses our logical thought, the "how"; it's where we build and implement the designs of our creative mind.  In snowboarding, you put them both together, and you will find progression.

Think Thank is one of the most innovative film crews in snowboarding today.  Not in that they hit the biggest shit, or can recite the manual for Final Cut Pro by memory, but because they've always been able to land that new trick on that never-before-seen spot.

If ever a crew knew how to use both sides of their brain to make snowboard magic it's Think Thank.  This years video, dubbed Right Brain, Left Brain, wants to show you how they do it.

Right Brain Left Brain trailer from Jesse Burtner on Vimeo.

From the Think Thank site:

"Think Thank goes straight to the dome with "Right Brain Left Brain" Meticulously messy, precisely unpredictable and controlled chaos; snowboarding is everything and can do anything.

Such a lofty pursuit takes both halves of one's brain. Think Thank is taking the time this season to pull our brains apart, examine the differences and then put them back stronger than ever. Creative control concisely conjured for cuticle carousing co-opting corrosive comatose inducing creatures.

Thanks again brain!"

Right Brain, Left Brain will be hitting shops this fall, of course, but why wait? 

Rumor has it that Think Thank members are known to wander Mt. Hood's summer camps selling early-release copies.  Grab yours at High Cascade or Windells this summer!

Snowboarders Don't Workout: Standing Spins

Snowboarders do not workout.  What business do we have being couped up in a gym? Besides, it's about agility; being able to make quick, precise movements.  What good are 15 reps of heavy squats going to do you when you need to be able to squat hundreds of times per day?  Standing spins work on your endurance, explosiveness and train the muscles that help you spin.

First, go outside where there is a ton of room and nothing to destroy, and let's start this exercise with 180ºs.

In a strong athletic stance (knees bent, weight centered, and back straightened to engage the core) Jump up and rotate 180º frontside or backside, then again back to the starting position; do this 20 times--10 switch, 10 regular.  Now rotate to the opposite side and repeat.

Try to imagine things as though a board were attached to your feet; think about loading your ollie and what edge you would take-off or land on.  Lift your knees up as high as you can to your chest, and focus on making your rotations smooth and controlled.

Ready for 360ºs?

Once again, start in a good, strong stance.  Get ready to really explode; 360ºs require a little bit more airtime and a much faster spin.  It may help you to pre-wind slightly by countering your shoulders opposite the direction you want to spin, turning you body into a kind of loaded spring that will release as you jump and add momentum to your spin. 

Do 10 reps in all four directions: frontside, backside, switch frontside, and switch backside.

Again, think about your edgework; if you were on a snowboard, what edge are you taking off from? What edge should you land on?  Also, take notice of when you are able to spot the landing.  Seeing and knowing where you are going to land is crucial to keeping your spins steezy-stylish.

That's all for standing spins... a total of 80 reps, which can be a lot at first.  Feel free to fudge the numbers as you see fit, just make sure you do an even number of spins in every direction.

Doing this exercise at least a couple times a week will do more than you think.  Of course, spinning will come easier, but overall you'll be able to turn quicker, and absorb choppy terrain better.  With your legs and core all trained up, you won't get nearly as tired nearly as quickly, so no more excuses not to ride until last chair.

Why the New California Snow Helmet Laws Suck

The brilliant heads in Sacramento passed two bills further into the agenda today that require snowboarders 18 years old or younger to don a brainbucket on the slopes at all times.

For the record, I am a proponent of wearing a helmet.  I could care less whether or not you wear one, but I've worn one for three years now, and basically won't ride park without it.

My concern in this case is not the issue of freedom of choice and all of that. The bills only affect minors, so it's no skin off my back.  The fact is minors don't have a choice in a lot of things, hell they can't even vote, so surely they can get used to wearing helmets.  Summer camps like High Cascade have mandated helmets for minors for years now; so really, it's not that radical a concept.

What worries me is making this a government regulation, in other words inviting police officers to come camp at the resort and hand out tickets to people who are on fucking vacation.

I've been on the receiving end of a parent's guest experience gone wrong, and the thought of their day including being hassled by police, fined, and forced to drop a hundred bucks a pop for helmets sends shivers down my spine.

Uniformed "ski cops" are already a common sight at mountains like Breckenridge, and it's sickening.  We don't need big brother watching our ski slopes.  We all know resorts can be stingy as far as protecting their asses from lawsuits, but if the government takes things to a point where snowboarding becomes as enjoyable as getting pulled over in traffic, who is going to go? Nobody, and that is why California resorts aren't stoked on these bills either.

If the bills make it all the way through, I would hate to be a contest kid.  There is nothing like winning a big check, a ride to the bank in a cop car, cashing that check, and paying your $25 fine for not wearing a helmet.