KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
Read More

11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
Read More

JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
Read More

HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
Read More

MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
Read More

HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
Read More

THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
Read More

JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
Read More

KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
Read More

11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
Read More

JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
Read More

HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
Read More

MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
Read More

HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
Read More

THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
Read More

JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
Read More

KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
Read More

11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
Read More

JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
Read More

HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
Read More

MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
Read More

HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
Read More

THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
Read More

JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
Read More

KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
Read More

11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
Read More

JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
Read More

HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
Read More

MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
Read More

HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
Read More

THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
Read More

JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
Read More

KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
Read More

11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
Read More

JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
Read More

HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
Read More

MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
Read More

HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
Read More

THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
Read More

JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
Read More

KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
Read More

11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
Read More

JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
Read More

HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
Read More

MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
Read More

HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
Read More

THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
Read More

JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
Read More

KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
Read More

11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
Read More

JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
Read More

HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
Read More

MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
Read More

HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
Read More

THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
Read More

JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
Read More

KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
Read More

11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
Read More

JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
Read More

HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
Read More

MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
Read More

HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
Read More

THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
Read More

JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
Read More

KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
Read More

11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
Read More

JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
Read More

HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
Read More

MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
Read More

HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
Read More

THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
Read More

JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
Read More

KEN ACHENBACH’S GODFATHERLY HUMP DAY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LEjaEF-Y8 Ken Achenbach is widely known as the father of Canadian snowboarding. He opened the first snowboard shop ever, was instrumental in getting resorts to allow snowboarding, and has been at the helm of Camp of Champions since 1989. More importantly, he still loves it every bit as much as he did the first time he strapped in. This summer, we headed up to COC for the full Whistler experience and I spent Ken’s daily afternoon commute down Whistler, chatting with him about the past, present and future of snowboarding as well as a few of the lessons he’s learned along the way. What was Camp of Champions like in the olden days? We…
Read More

THE YOBEAT ROUNDTABLE: WHAT IS RELEVANCE?

Welcome to the Yobeat Roundtable, a new feature where we pose pressing questions to the greatest minds and bodies in snowboarding in order to get some damn answers – or at least real opinions on the current state of Board World. For our first meeting, we’re discussing what it means to matter, or more specifically, stay a relevant snowboarder in this day and age of media overload. We asked: The term relevance is thrown around more than ever in the Internet age, as just about anything can gain notoriety with enough social posts. As we approach the 2015/16 season, what does being relevant in snowboarding mean to you? And they answered: Ethan Morgan, Half…
Read More

WHO WILL FUND SNOWBOARDING?

Not so long ago, professional snowboarders got paid in real money.  We’re talking enough money to travel around the world, pay a mortgage, keep their snowmobile tank filled with gas, pay for a hotels in upscale resort towns, go on lavish surf vacations in the off season, and maybe even put a little in the bank to cover them when an injury or poor decision caused them to be out of a job. There are still a few top pros  raking it in, but thanks to many factors within and beyond the industry’s control, most of people you see in marquee features on sites such as this one, are lucky to get to get free…
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11 THINGS THAT DIDN’T STINK ABOUT HDHR 2015

Bear Mountain’s annual pre-season shred fest, Hot Dawz and Handrails, went down on September 19, 2015 with a stacked field of boarders from around the globe. Some 60 competitors came out to hike, sweat, and vie for the $10,000 grand prize, and here are a few of the reasons we’re stoked we got to see the mayhem in person. 1. Zak Hale. For whatever reason, the peanut gallery of this site loves to hate Zak, but anyone who watched the two frenetic heats of snowboard action would have a tough time hating on him anymore. Not only did he start with some of the heaviest moves of the day, I’m pretty sure he didn’t fall…
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JASON BORGSTEDE OPENS UP SHOP ON HUMP DAY

In the mid 90’s to early 2000’s, Jason Borgstede was known for his video parts, progressive big air tricks and switch 360 backflip affectionately known as the Borgaerial. The Alaskan, who spent half his time in Tahoe, was a member of the illustrious Burton team and a consistent top finisher in events such as the X Games and Vans Triple Crown. He also filmed Mack Dawg parts as well as producing videos alongside Jesse Burtner as part of JB Deuce. I first met Jason when he was in Killington, Vermont for the Bud Light Boarder Battle – and got the chance to interview him for a fledgling Yobeat (then hosted on the 2mb of free space that came with AOL…
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HUMP DAY GIVES CREDIT TO MATT CUMMINS

Photo: Tim Zimmerman Matt Cummins has the longest running pro model in snowboarding’s history, 25 years and counting. He has used this opportunity to continually push snowboard designs from the earliest skate influenced twin tip MC Kink to today’s powder hungry Nootka. His designs, priorities and style forever changed the sport and paved the way for generations of pros. “His board was a ground breaking concept. It spear headed twin tip freestyle snowboarding, it created a genre. To have that kind of a brick in the foundation of snowboarding is truly a special thing. Matt deserves and is owed every ounce of that brick and it’s a big one. Matt…
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MT BAKER OPENING DAY 2K15 WITH BRENDAN GERARD

The view of Mt. Shuksun will never get old.  Brendan Gerard and I rode up Mt. Baker’s Chair 8 for the 10th or so time on November 19th, 2015, the warm sun on our faces and Mt. Shuksan gloriously looming in the background. The air was cold, but not too cold for Gerry’s “So Cal kit” – the only gear he had as he makes his way from NorCal back to Colorado for Thanksgiving – and the scenery can only be described as awe-inspiring. We began planning our next move – beers in the lodge followed by a stop at Nooksak Falls on our way back to Portland and we…
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HUMP DAY TRAIN HOPS WITH JASON ROBINSON

Jerry of the day. Photo @instagarry When Jason Robinson isn’t racing down giant mountains in search of epic and endless pow, he craves adventure in other ways. He’s the kind of person who will meet a hobo on the street, befriend him, and end up bringing him to Oregon before taking a freight train (solo) to the Hobo National convention in Iowa. He’s shunned many modern conveniences to live the life he wants, and as managed to rack up some pretty crazy stories in the process. After hearing some of them third hand from Dakine Marketing maniac Scotty the Body, I figured a phone call was in order to get…
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THE 2015 DIRKSEN DERBY: ACTUAL COVERAGE

All Photos: Kieth Rutherford The 9th annual Dirksen Derby ushered in a very welcome sight to Oregon: a fuck ton of snow.  And while Oregon really only suffered one bad season, based on the shit show garnered over the rapidly accumulating snow at Mt. Bachelor, you’d think the residents of Central Oregon had been residing in Tahoe or something! But despite sizeable lift lines and inevitable delays that come with trying to do anything mid-blizzard, Josh Dirksen’s annual event was one for the record books. The abundance of snow across the west coast prevented many signed up from attending  – enabling the race to run smoothly despite occasional hitches such as…
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JEFF KEENAN BUILDS A BRAND ON HUMP DAY

Photo: Joel Fraser Over the past few seasons, Dinosaurs Will Die has seemingly exploded. The boards are popping up in shops, edits and more importantly, under the feet of actual snowboarders everywhere. Building a snowboard brand was never an easy feat, but in a changing world with a changing climate and a dubious economy, it seems impossible. Don’t tell Jeff Keenan that though. The Vancouver-based pro snowboarder turned business man has a plan, a vision, and an army of rats ready to help DWD flourish. We sat him down to find out more. Brooke: We were talking earlier about how we’re sort of at the age where normal people stop…
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