We love YoBeat because they always put a fun spin on the snowboard industry. No need to be so serious, at the end of the day we’re all just sliding around on snow. #richpeopleproblems. YoBeat also seeks to edu-ma-cate the public. Here’s a very informative feature on using Craigslist to carpool to the mountains. The illustrations are on point too.
Not all of us snowboard scrubs have enough cash to afford our own wheels. Whether you want to blame yourself, Obama, or the lack of affordable jetpacks at your local Macy’s, we still have to find a way to satisfy the itch. As a seasoned veteran of the Craigslist rideshare, here are some tips on how to recognize a sketchy ride. Yes, these tips are based on my scariest Craigslist encounters.
SKETCHY SCENARIO 1: THE DRUGGIE
If you are reading an ad about someone who really wants snow, be weary, this is craigslist code for an illicit drug I dare not mention. Reconsider your ride if the user “M0nta1nof5now@hotmail.com” wants to meet you under the local sketchy bridge and inquires about you wearing a wire.
SKETCHY SCENARIO 2: THE PERVERT
If your ride does not want monetary compensation and the description reads something like: “No Money needed, Long arm reach is a must for an old fashioned, guy like me.” Ask yourself if your need to snowboard outweighs your moral issue with random sexual favors.
SKETCHY SCENARIO 3: THE LOOKING FOR A LESSON GUY
If the post is from a beginner who wants a free lesson in trade for a ride the answer is simple: is the person hot? Do not hesitate to ask for photos, you could have to spend an entire day with that beach ball!
If it’s a powder day: you know the saying, no friends on a powder day, especially ones who can’t tell the difference between a tail grab and a toe-strap. I suggest you agree to the ride and run for it as soon as you have your board in your hands. As for getting home, go to the mountain bar post-shred and hit on the easiest looking candidate. Again, ask yourself the same question posed in example 2.
SKETCHY SCENARIO 4: THE SHITTY TUNES GUY
If the ride to the mountain is longer than an hour and the person’s personal e-mail directly tells you that you are going to hate their music, avoid at all costs. Some Examples: “DaveMathewsMarymeplease@gmail.com,” “DUbsteponyourface@aol.com,” “Kornrows@hotmail.com,” “gonephishin@uvm.edu,” “LUVLIMPBIZkIT@webmail.com” “Bieberfever2012@yahoo.com” or my favorite “Hot4hoobastank@netgear.com”
AWSM is shaping up to be a great new accessories company. Brought to you by Rockstar shredders Andreas Wiig and Torstein Horgmo, AWSM will keep you steezy while you shred. Check out this interview with Andreas from ESPN below.
It started with an AWSM sticker and has now morphed into a “performance lifestyle brand,” fronted by two of the sport’s biggest names, Torstein Horgmo and Andreas Wiig. The new company makes belts, wallets, hats, hoodies and skate tools and currently boasts a team that also includes Mark and Craig McMorris and Ryan and Scott Decenzo.
No, it’s not affiliated with Todd Richards’ gear n’ stuff blog awsm.com. According to Wiig, “It just so happened that we launched at the same time not knowing about each other’s intentions.”
Like Grenade, it sounds like you guys had stickers long before you had any actual products.
Andreas Wiig: Torstein came up with the idea of the AWSM crew while we were riding in Keystone, Colo. in December ‘08. With such a cool name for a crew we just had to make stickers right away and get the name out there. After a while, people started asking us what it was.
In 2009, Torstein and a couple others were on the podium at [the] X Games Big Air with AWSM stickers on their boards, which prompted people’s curiosity. To us it was just something that represented how much fun we had snowboarding everyday.
Why do skaters and snowboarders need AWSM?
Torstein Horgmo: It represents you doing what you love the most without anyone telling you how to do it. We believe it’s important for kids to follow their own dreams and if we can keep inspiring that with this company that’s something worth backing 100-percent.
So what compelled you two to go into business together?
AW: We’ve been buddies for a long time and in the past we’ve talked about how rad it would be to own a brand and take it wherever direction we want! It started out as the AWSM crew with no plan or direction at all. Initially it was only a fun thing — just pure AWSMness!
What is the coolest product we can look forward to?
AW: You can definitely look forward to the “Nicole” belt. It’s made out performance stretch nylon and takes comfort to the next level. To me [it] stands out because it’s such a good belt for all kinds of sports since it doesn’t restrict your movements in any way. We will be shipping five different belt styles in March and 25 different styles in October, along with some other products including wallets, skate tools, hoodies, tees etc.
How much does “performance” matter in something like a belt?
AW: It really depends. The most important thing about a belt is that it feels good when you’re wearing it and that it’s durable. We have an amazing skate tool in the works where performance will play a big role.
Scoring a perfect 50 and making it look so easy, Torstein stomped a backside triple at X Games. Watch the video below. Just part of the reason we love him. He continues to push the level of competition, all the while with a giant smile on his face.
Niko Cioffi was recently interviewed by Okema Mountain School, where he spent some time as a snow grom. Get to know Rockstar’s Niko a little better…
So you grew up in the mean streets of Rutvegas, right?
Yesss sir, born and raised!
When did you start riding and who got you into it?
Started riding when I was 7ishh with my the Lynch brothers and Lucas Magoon
How did you end up at OMS?
Magoon started goin there and I followed suite
Tell me a little about the OG life at School back in the day?
It was awesome I skated everyday and rode hung out in the dorms didn’t have much school worked and didn’t have to work out or anything like that
So, you had a pretty rad experience at OMS?
Yes, it was awesome lots of good people I met during that time
Where did the road take you next?
I went to Tahoe on a trip and never left been there ever since this is my 7th winter there
Where are you now?
This second I’m in Seven Springs, PA for the opening of the new Forum Park called The Streets. Also live in Tahoe during the winter months.
Give us some East Coast riders that are currently stoking you out:
My top 3 would be Tyler Lynch, Matt Douglass and Shane Fortier
Tell us a little about GBP and what it’s all about?
GBP is my pack of friends I grew up wit in VT and all the good people we’ve met along the way. It’s also a production company and our last movie was Gremlinz so check us out at www.gbp-gbp.com.
What’s your winter been like since the snow has been so bad all over?
Right now I’m in Quebec riding some urban stuff with Aaron Biittner and a few others from the DC team. There’s good snow here, but I heard there should be more, like everywhere else right now. Before this I was riding a lot of park and cruising around. I went to China and rode down a scaffolding a few times too [for Oakley air and style]—that was weird. I filmed some street stuff in Norway also but I have to go back there.
Photo: Frode Sandbech
How have you been getting ready for X Games? Do you have any top-secret bangers that you are getting ready to unleash?
I’ve mostly been eating shit down some, getting some A-grade nastiness for a banger bail section. It sucks eating shit, but damn it feels great to walk away from and try again. X Games is going to be fun cause it’s such a different scene. Plus every feature is going to be perfect and you don’t have to build it yourself.
Photo: Chris Wellhausen
How do you feel about the slopestyle event being at night this year?
I love night riding; I grew up night riding. It’s always a good time and we don’t have to worry about the weather.
What’s the deal with Nicole?
It’s complicated…
Explain AWSM.
AWSM is an accessory brand Andreas Wiig and myself are doing. We started with stickers in 2009 representing all the things that we think are awesome. Now we’re lucky enough to be in a position where we can make things like belts, wallets, Ts and hoodies, making them the way we want them to be. It’s a really fun project and I’m really excited to be a part of it. AWSM will be shipping its first product to stores in March and June this year. You can see more atawsmbrand.com
Photo: Frode Sandbech
How has it been filming for the new DC movie, as well as filming for your own movie?
I started filming for my own movie about a year ago when I got Toby on board with the blog stuff. We’ve been saving a lot of footage along the way. It’s been fun filming everyday and Toby is the one doing t The movie so I’m really hyped on that. Right before this season I got the news about DC doing a team movie too, so it’s on like Donkey Kong man! I have a real good feeling about this season…
What’s the name of your new movie?
It’s A Love Story.
How has deejaying been? Can you tell us how you got into that? What’s the biggest event you’ve deejayed?
Its been nothing but fun! I haven’t done it much and mostly at after parties… I’ve been messing around with a laptop producing on the road for a while, whenever I have any spare time. I got a DJ controller last year and it’s been a blast playing some shit out loud—especially when people are hammered and don’t care what is coming out of the speakers, hehe.
Can you talk about the triple cork you did in the backcountry last year? You’re the first person to ever-triple cork in the backcountry.
It felt like I got shot out of a circus cannon with mad rotation and somehow grabbed my board and stomped it. If anyone wants to see the footage it’s going to be in It’s A Love Story next fall and the DC team movie.
SBC Women (the Canadian snowboard mag dedicated to women shredders) featured Hana Beaman’s playlist. Ever wonder what the pros are rocking out to when they ride? Click on the photo below to find out.
TransWorld SNOWboarding Magazine features photos taken by some of the best snowboard photographers in the world. But they weren’t always the best—it takes years and years of shooting and perfecting your skills to make it. Lucky for you, TransWorld SNOWboarding is here to help you get a head start.
They’re kicking off our annual Your Turn Photo Contest with the theme Ultimate Jib, so get out there and capture photos of riders shredding the most creative urban features you can find. The best rider style, photo composition, and angle wins!
Thedeadline for Ultimate Jib is Monday, February 6th. Then on February 10th, we’ll select a winner who will receive a prize pack from Burton and Celtek. Well also announce the next theme.
The overall winner of the Your Turn Photo Contest series will be given a spot at High Cascade Snowboard Camp’s Photo Workshop. If you’re looking to get better at photography just for fun or as a career option, you don’t want to miss out on this opportunity!
Enter by uploading your photos to the user-generated photos section of TWSnow.com (at the bottom of the TWSnow.com homepage under Your Stuff) and tag it with the category name Ultimate Jib. Be sure to add rider name and photographer name to the caption credit. It’s as easy as that. So what are you waiting for? Get to making those photos!
Alright people, it’s now the time to get off your butts and take a stand. Let’s make a difference and change the world one vote at a time. Rockstar’s Nic Suave is up for the Real Snow contest section of X Games. It’s a tough match up so be sure to cast your votes now. Click on the photo below to vote. Rock the vote!
Well, at least someone is getting snow…According to a report in the TELEGRAPH 10 feet of the good stuff fell in less than 48 hours in Austria and trapped tens of thousands of people in Tirol. Popular Austrian resorts like Ischgl, Galtur and St Anton are virtually cut off from the rest of the world. While this is bad news for anyone trying to get to these resorts, it’s great news for those who are “trapped.”
“Although the roads have been closed, the resort itself has been operating as normal with skiers and boarders experiencing amazingly good conditions,” said Paznaun-Ischgl Tourist Director Andreas Steibl.
Avalanche warning service spokesman Rudi Mair said: “This is a type of snowfall the like of which we have not seen for years. Combined with that there are very high winds which are making conditions especially dangerous.”
British ski instructor Sarah Hannibal, who works in Ischgl, said: “The skiing conditions are fantastic, although obviously no one is going off-piste at the moment because of the amount of snow. It has been very windy at the top of the mountain which means visibility can be affected by wind-blown snow – but the holidaymakers are having a wonderful time.”
Mr Steibl added: “The forecast for the rest of the week is for sunnier conditions, so we don’t think there will be problems with people getting in and out at the weekend.”
Rainer Silberberger, mayor of Wildschonau, said: “We are working around the clock to clear roads and secure the snow falls. I’ve never seen weather like it.”
all illustrations: Justin Leveille
