Solemn Reminders!

Im not sure if most of you have heard about the Avalanche that happened at Snowbird on Sunday the 14th of December. Here's an excerpt off Tetonat.com "A skier died on Sunday after being buried in an avalanche for about an hour in the Eye of the Needle area of Mount Baldy at Snowbird. Skier Heather Gross was still alive but unconscious when she was uncovered. Over 250 skiers responded to the avalanche site to help probe and search other potential victims. The area on Mount Baldy had just been opened to the public on Sunday after avalanche control work. Condolences to all those involved."
This was a freak avalanche in bounds and happened after avalanche control had done their work on Baldy. Its sad that this happened and my heart goes out to the family. I would also like to commend the volunteers who came to help in this time of need it really shows how much willingness of support is out there. Lastly I would like to say lets all remember to respect our surroundings and respect the mountain. Accidents happen but again don't let that stop you from enjoying one of if not the best sport around.

Board Brighton for only $22 Nov. 22nd

I went and rode Brighton today and found out that if you wear either BYU or U of U colors, or clothing tomorrow Nov. 22nd you will only pay $22 for a lift ticket. Dont miss out on this!!! I paid $45 for a day pass today only to wish i had waited a day to ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Conditions were good considering the lack of snow for this week.

Video Premiers: Familia & See What I See

Board review: 09 DC Snowboards IIkka Backstrom

The DC IIkka pro model is a 154 cm only board based off the DC MLF model board. With a blunted nose and tail this board has a real fun skate feel to it. This board killed it when i rode it. It hold butters real well and the shape of the board controls them really well. It jumped really well with strong pop that had no bobbles off the lip. Sadly i didnt get a chance to jib it so no report on that but i will get a chance to do so once the season opens so look for an update.

Shred Weekend

This weekend brought quite a decent amount of snow. So a few friends and I decided to head up to a spot we were sure was going off. After loading up my truck we headed off into the Wasatch Mountains for an afternoon of shredding. After about a thirty minute hike we made it to the spot and were stoked to see about 30 other boarders and skiers throwing down in this early season snow. It was a pretty sick setup with two boxes with drop-ins 2 corrugated pipes and a few metal pipes. Needless to say I was surprised to see how hard people were throwing down it was as if the season never ended.
It was nice to shake out the cob webs and DE-rust the edges. Just a reminder for those wanting to go hike, make sure you don't bring your nice new board there is snow but the base isn't very deep you will hit rocks and you will get gashes. Bring water or some other form of beverage, you may not think your thirsty because of the cold but you need liquids or you can get dehydrated easily. Lastly if your going for a few hours bring a snack or two you are working out with all the hiking you are doing and are going to wish you had it.

Front Boarding the box

Tail Pressing the box


Waiting to drop in Nose pressing the pipe
Never Summer's Copper Hoffmeister front board on the Corrugated pipe


Vid: Cooper hitting the pipe again

INCOMING!!!!!!!!!!! SNOW ALERT

So i know most of you like me in the state of Utah got really excited last saturday and sunday when it got real cold and snowed in the mountains. Well this weekend will be even better! I dont know about you but im itching for some preseason hiking sessions to get the rust off my edges. This weekend will most likely be your chance so heres a heads up to you from you friendly Shred Junkies.

This just in from the national weather service:

Hazardous Weather Outlook

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SALT LAKE CITY UT
602 AM MDT WED OCT 8 2008

UTZ001>016-517-518-WYZ021-091215-
CACHE VALLEY/UTAH PORTION-NORTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
SALT LAKE AND TOOELE VALLEYS-SOUTHERN WASATCH FRONT-
GREAT SALT LAKE DESERT AND MOUNTAINS-WASATCH MOUNTAIN VALLEYS-
WASATCH MOUNTAINS I-80 NORTH-WASATCH MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF I-80-
WESTERN UINTA MOUNTAINS-WASATCH PLATEAU/BOOK CLIFFS-
WESTERN UINTA BASIN-CASTLE COUNTRY-SAN RAFAEL SWELL-
SANPETE/SEVIER VALLEYS-WEST CENTRAL UTAH-SOUTHWEST UTAH-
CENTRAL MOUNTAINS-SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS-SOUTHWEST WYOMING-
602 AM MDT WED OCT 8 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF
UTAH AND SOUTHWEST WYOMING.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

MOSTLY SUNNY AND SEASONABLY MILD TODAY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY

AN UNSEASONABLY COLD STORM SYSTEM WILL BRING SNOW DOWN TO THE
VALLEY FLOORS BY LATE SATURDAY OR SATURDAY NIGHT. IN ADDITION
MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL BE ABOUT 25 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL BOTH
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. HIGH PRESSURE RETURNS MONDAY.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 37.
Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south
between 13 and 16 mph.

Thursday: A
30 percent chance of rain, mainly after noon.
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 50. Breezy, with
 a south wind 17 to 25 mph becoming west.
Winds could gust as high as 39 mph.

Thursday Night: A 30
percent chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a
low around 26. Blustery, with a west northwest
 wind 19 to 22 mph decreasing to between 11
and 14mph.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of snow.  Mostly
cloudy, with a high near 39. West northwest
 wind between 11 and 17 mph.

Friday Night: A 50 percent chance of snow. 
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. North
northwest wind between 16 and 18 mph.

Saturday: Snow likely.  Cloudy, with a
high near 31.   Chance of precipitation
 is 70%.

Saturday Night: Snow likely.  Cloudy,
 with a low around 13. Chance of
precipitation is 60%.

Sunday: Snow showers likely.  Cloudy,
 with a high near 26.

Sunday Night: A chance of snow showers. 
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16.

Columbus Day: A slight chance of snow
showers.  Partlycloudy, with a high near 41.

Monday Night: Mostly clear, with a low
around 25.

Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 51.

Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 31.

Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 51.

What is GORE-TEX?

Many of you, like myself have bought a new snowboard jacket, pants, or gloves and noticed a small black diamond shape tag with the word Gore-Tex printed on it. I’m sure most of you have wondered what the heck does this Gore-Tex stuff actually do? Why am I paying more to have this material in this piece of outerwear that I’m buying? There are a few good reasons for why you should buy it, waterproofing, wind proofing, and its breathe-ability.
The water proofing of Gore-Tex is second to none. Basically what it comes down to is the Gore-Tex fabric is porous but each pore is 20,000 times smaller than an actual water droplet so it is impossible for any water to get it. What’s nice is that this material won’t break down over time like most water proofing techniques and allow water to get it. When you stay dry you stay warm and that’s what is most important.
Another key to a good piece of outerwear is its wind proofing. Have you ever been fully bundled up and shivering? Well the problem could be “Wind Chill”. What happens is wind BLASTS through the fibers of the fabric of your jacket or pants cooling you down causing the wind chill. No Buenos! So what the techs at Gore-Tex produced a membrane that will not allow any wind in through seams, stitching or zippers thus allowing you to stay all warm and cozy.
Lastly you have breathe-ability. When you are on the mountain you are in a sense working out and when you work out your body tends to heat up. Most water proof materials it won’t let water or wind in, but at a cost…..It won’t let much of your excess body heat out which can cause you to sweat and create moisture vapor. With that sweat and heat locked in you will fatigue faster than normal. This is where Gore-Tex shines. The membrane in the Gore-Tex material has pores in it. While they are too small to let water droplets in they are 700 times bigger than a water vapor molecule allowing vapor molecules and heat to pass freely out of what you are wearing. Think of Gore-Tex as a picket fence if you were to throw a beach ball (water droplet) at it the beach ball wont fit through the gaps in the fence, but if you were to throw a golf ball (water vapor) at the fence the golf ball will pass through the fence easily. Gore-Tex will keep you at that perfect temperature to have you comfortable all day long.
Basically Gore-Tex is killing it in the outerwear department. You will be very hard pressed to find a top company that isn’t using this material in their high end products. The list is quite impressive on who is actually using Gore-Tex. So the next time your out buying a new jacket or any other outerwear go ahead splurge a little knowing that what your getting in return is totally worth the extra cash.

UVU Mack Dawg Video Premiers

Friday the 26Th of September Utah Valley University premiered Down With People and Double Decade for about 3 to 4 hundred people. Jordan Mendenhall, Jeremy Jones, and Seth Hout came to show of the films and sign autographs. Also Burton, Analog, Nitro, Celtek Gloves, D.C. Snowboards, Skull Candy, and Smith Goggles, Oakley, Technine and Nomis had booths in the auditorium and were showing new product for the up coming season. They all had some sort of swag to give to the crowd.

Now to the videos. First to be played was Down With People. Let me say last year Were People Too was incredible one of my favorite movies and I was pleased to see the People Crew did not disappoint. The new additions of Curtis Ciszeck, Joe Sexton, and Simon Chamberlain all had killer parts stomping in the park and in the street. The People Crew had a good amount of street hits, but also had killer park and back country. Make sure to watch the credits interviews with Todd Richards, Jeremy Jones, and J.P. Walker. I am definitely going to buy this video, look for it in the next week or two at your local board shop soon.

Double Decade came on next the video started off with a 5 minute montage from all the videos and riders in Mack Dawg productions vault. It was nice to see this a history of the progression of snowboarding. With interview with the likes of Peter Line, Jamie Lynn, Bryan Iguchii, Nate Cole and more it was a perfect way to open the last Mack Dawg film. Once the parts started it was a non stop thrill ride. The new additions of the D.C. riders IIkka Backstrom, Devun Walsh and Lauri Hesikari really added well to the movie. Devun's part was killer his back country shots were insane. IIkas part was just as entertaining from his music to his riding definitely a must watch part. All in all the video was a perfect way to end a 20 year run at most would say the top of the Snowboard industries video production companies.

All in all a perfect way to spend a Friday evening. Thank you to Milosport, The Q network, Blindside, and all the other sponsors for putting on a great night. Fun was had by all.

Booths set up by sponsors of the videos showing attenders new 08/09 product
Jordan Mendenhall, Jeremy Jones, And Seth Hout in attendance to sign autographs
A lucky fan posing with Jeremy
Plenty of fans in attendance for this one
The Nomis/Technine crew showing of their wares
Push-up competition to win a free D.C. HKD snowboard
The girls competition going on as well the girls competition lasted longer than the guys
Well shes out
Struggling about to go down
Here they are with their prizes for having the strongest guns

First Day of Autumn

The first day of Autumn was upon us yesterday and what did it bring? Another snow tease. There was a good dusting across the Wasatch front up here in Utah it stayed for most of the day but was gone by this morning sept. 23rd. As I said before these are just mother natures reminders that the season is coming and we need to get ready.

Right now is when your local mountains are selling their season passes at a discounted rate and the discounts end usually by the last day of September to mid October. When it comes down to it the discount is around 100 to 150 dollars and sometimes more! So don't wait on this otherwise you wont be going snowboarding nearly as much as you would like. If you live in Utah and plan on boarding at Snowbird, Park City, The Canyons check out Qnetwork.org they have discounted passes for students that are even more discounted than the mountains prices!

Photo taken from: Snowbird.com

Hot Dawgz & Hand Rails

This weekend Bear Mountain in Big Bear Ca. hosted the 5th annual Hot Dawgz & Hand Rails contest. Chris Bradshaw, LNP, Keegan Valaika, Leanne Pelosi, Elise Borelli, Nick Dirks, Zak Hale, Tim Eddy and Scott Brown. J.P Walker, Laurie Heiskari, Seth Huot and Hana Beaman were all hanging watching the contest enjoying a dawg. Todd Richards and Dave Duncan calling all the shots for the crowd. A great day for all.


1st Place- Jed Anderson
2nd Place- Chas Guldemond
3rd Place- Scott Vine
and the winners in the Women's Finals are...
1st Place- Desiree Melancon
2nd Place- Marie Hucal
3rd Place- Raewyn Reid
Scott Vine brought home Best Trick. Congratulations riders!

Scotty Vine with the best trick: BS rodeo seven
photo from Bearmtn.com

Take Back your Backyard!!!!

Taken From Burton.com
Just prior to hosting record crowds at the Dew Tour stop in Salt Lake City, Utah this past weekend, the Salt Lake Valley Health Department has officially passed an ordinance to ban all ramps (present or future) on residential property. Their reason? Well, of course, Community Noise Pollution Control Regulation.

Apparently, a couple of city officials dropped by the home of skater Nick Hale just weeks after he'd re-layered his mini ramp with brand new Skatelite to inform him of his now-illegal structure. As a result, he has launched a new website, SLCMiniRamp.com to round up support against this very unfair and unjust ordinance.

www.slcminiramp.com

Join the cause!!

EVERYONE PLEASE TAKE 2-3 MINUTES AND GO TO THE WEBSITE ABOVE AND FILL OUT THE PETITION, WE REALLY NEED TO LET THE CITY COUNCIL THAT THEY CAN NOT BAN RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT IN THE PRIVACY OF YOUR OWN BACKYARD. EVEN IF YOU DON'T LIVE IN SLC, I HAVE POSTED THIS TO ALL OF YOU BECAUSE I THINK YOUR VOICES A SHOULD ALSO BE HEARD.
FROM THE SHRED JUNKIE

Just a heads up Union Binding Company just updated their website to show the new 08/09 snowboard bindings and soft goods. Go check it these bindings are killing it. Super comfy very supportive and you dont even feel them on. Check back for some product reviews on the Contact, Force, and Force Sl's. Here's the link Union Binding Company .

Killer season Down Under

The endless winter, a thought most of us boarders dream for. There are a select few who aspire to that goal and to help them with that is the Southern Hemisphere. Our summer is there winter and vice versa. Have you ever been at a resort in North America and notice how many Australians and New Zealanders are working there? Well there are quite a few and they are nomadic for the snow. So while we are in summer they make their way back to their home resorts to continue their endless summer.
Enough about the nomads I want to talk about what they are enjoying while the rest of us are stuck in the summer months of the Northern Hemisphere. Snow!! and lots of it. The Southern Hemisphere is has gotten dumped on this season. Argentina's resorts have had an average of 107 inches of base depth, Chile's La Parva is claiming 228 inches, while Turoa in New Zealand has a base depth of 192 inches. I can only hope that this is a precurser to what is in store for us in the next couple of months im dying to get out and shred its been far too long since ive been on the snow.

Here are a few shots of New Zealand donated by Sean Busby of Powderlines.com from his recent expedition down under.

Snow plastering the peaks of New Zealand

Knee deep

Waist deep

Shoulder deep !!!
Makes you jealous doesn't it

Technine FAMILIA premier

Saturday night the 13th of September the Technine crew along with F.O.D.T. productions debuted the video Familia to an amped up crowd at Milosport on 33rd south in Salt Lake City. On a previous post I put this as a video to keep an eye out for. After watching the video I should have made it a top six videos I cant wait for instead of five. In true Technine fashion with a mobster oriented opening that would have made Martin Scorsese proud this video started hard and ended the same way. The parts that impressed me most had to be Lucas Magoon absolutely throwing down hard way 270s, pretzels and some of the sickest urban riding ive ever seen. He and Bradshaw roof gapped two parking garages about 50ft up absolutlely insane. Dave Munoa's part kept things pumping during the middle of the video throwing bangers in the back country to urban parking lot ledge drops. Finally Double D aka Derek Dennison all I have to say about this part KILLED IT! Buy it and see for yourself my descriptions wouldn't do much justice. So from the BBQ to MFM spinning a hour long set for the crowd, Neff Technine and Skull Candy product toss, to the video this was one incredible night Props to F.O.T.D. productions, Technine, Milosport, Neff, and Skullcandy for putting on this premier. Shred Junkies solutes you for your dedication to all things shred.

Good sized crowd gathered for the premier lining up for autographs

The Technine Riders giving away Snowboard Mags and signing autographs

Team Rider Derek Dennison Ryan Turley the UT Technine rep and Sarah from Milosport 33rd BBQing for all in attendance

MFM spinning a killer set amping up the crowd!

Board review: 09 Never Summer Sl-R

So to be honest when this board came in to be tested I was not entirely excited to test it. I had just tested the Skate Banana and was completely unimpressed especially after I had heard all this hype about it and rocker boards, and the banana left me unsatisfied. It was unstable at speed on groomers, didn't pop to well but in the park it did well on jibs. But once I pulled the Sl-R out of the box and set it down on the counter I noticed some thing that was completely different than anything I have ever seen. The board had rocker and camber something I was not expecting in the least. This technology over at Never Summer is called R.C. Technology. The board has a rockered center with camber starting at the back of the bindings to the contact points on the tip and tail but holding a rockered shape. (See picture at the bottom) Once I saw this I was totally excited to try this board. I got to ride the board at The Canyons Resort in Park City Ut. The conditions for the day were perfect about 9 inches of fresh on the ground, cant ask for anything better when riding a rockered board. The board was a 155 my set up was 15 15 all the way out which I believe was 23.75 inches. First run was on a groomed run I couldn't believe how stable the board was by putting the camber out past the bindings it kept the contact points next to the snow making the board stable and easy to go edge to edge. I took a few pow runs in the morning and I was surprised at how easily this 155 floated my 6ft 230lb frame. The board felt like it was a 160+ while it was in the pow. The second half of the day was just as awesome. This board in the park kills it. Because it still has camber it pops off lips like no other board I've ridden. On rails and boxes it locked in well and it pressed like a champion. On little speed hips or cat-tracks this board went a good 5 to 10 ft further than my normal board would have, and a few feet higher. My only guess why is the camber sections have a smaller surface area than a normal cambered board and it doesn't loose the energy because it has less surface area to travel through. This board buttered like a champ, I've never been able to control butters like you can with this board you can spin them carve in them everything, loved it! Needless to say this was the most fun board I've ever ridden and that is why its been added to my stable of boards. It is the best all around snowboard, it was a 155 and rode like a 60+ in the powder and rode like a 155 in the park cant ask for anything more out of a board. So if your looking for a kills everything kinda board look no further.



R.C. Technology really is having your cake and eating it too. You get all the best of a rocker board and a camber board. This board also has carbon V stringers going from the back mounting holes to the tip and tail giving plenty of pop and keeping the torsional flex down. Thank Never Summer for R.C. technology and giving me the opportunity to shred this board.

I Ride Park City Premier

Last week on Tuesday was the premier for the shred movie I Ride Park City. Putting this vid on my top five vids was definitely justified after watching it. Bode Merrill's part in this video is absolutely ridiculous. He absolutely throws down on everything in the parks. It may sound super huck but he throws a back flip to front board on a down rail it was absolutely ridiculous a must see. Also I have a new found respect for Erin Comstock she killed it in her part I guess hanging out with all the boys has really rubbed off on her. Combos on rails 270's in and out its refreshing to see girls in the snowboard game stepping it up. These are just a few standouts in my opinion but every All Star had a solid part filled with bangers. This video will be out in the next week or so go get it!!

Who wants an autograph from a Park City All Star? These people do.

Heikki Sorsa and Erin Comstock signing autographs
Aaron Bitner and Scotty Arnold also signing I Ride Park City posters for lucky fans.

Shoot even an Olympic gold medalist showed up to take some pictures.

Board review: 09 Stepchild JP Walker 151

So i got to ride this board for the last two weeks of the 07/08 season at Brighton resort in Utah. I will say that this board is super poppy and flexes well. This board did not have the new R.E.T.T. edges on it.(See below for R.E.T.T. specifications) As for set up i ran 15 15 all the way out which was a 24in stance. For tuning all i did was run a wet stone on the edges to take a little edge off. The board was super smooth on jibs and didn't catch on burrs. One thing i loved about this board was how well it locked on to the rail; board slides, tail presses, 50-50 didn't matter it stayed locked on as long as your drop in was good. The board pops well off jumps, very true in the air as well. All in all if your looking for a solid true twin park board this season take a look at this board you wont be disapointed.

R.E.T.T. : Rounded Edge Taper Tuning:this feature is offered on the 147 and 151 models. The edges in the middle of the board are pre-tuned round. The tuning is gradually tapered out to a 90 degree edge by the time the taper meets the board's contact points on the tip and tail.

PROFILE: True Twin
RIDING STYLE/TERRAIN: Freestyle/Jibbing
BASE: Die-cut Sintered 4400
Stance: Centered
- 4x4 inserts

Available in 147, 151, 154cm sizes

The season is rapidly approaching

Like last year up in utah we have snow in September! What an awesome labor day gift. Just a reminder from the snow gods that we don't have to much time left till the mountains open. Just a heads up its never to early to find all your gear from where you stashed it as the season ended. Do an inventory make sure its all there and if not make your way to your local board shop and pick up replacements for what got lost. After all last years stuff will be on sale anywhere from 30 to 50% off so why not take advantage of the deals.

Photo taken from Snowbird.com

Shred vids to come

So as we are in this lack of snow season of summer, the lucky have been the boarders who have gotten to do some summer shredding at one of the oh so coveted glaciers in the North American Continent, lucky you. But for most of shredders including myself we have snowboard videos to help us pass the time till we are ripping turns down snow covered mountains. Starting in about a month, give or take a few weeks the new videos will be in your local board shops inventory. If you are like me you cant wait till the release of these new films.

Top Five videos i cant wait for:
"in no particular order"

Click on the title to see the teaser:

1: Down with People
After watching last seasons "Were People Too" about a thousand times, i personally cant wait for this video. With the additions of Joe Sexton, Simon Chamberlain, and Curtis Ciszek this video will be one to pick up for your personal collection.

2: I Ride Park City
Park City ranked #1 for their snowboard park; its going to be exciting to see how the Park City All Stars hit the very same parks you can hit all season long. Also with a stacked team starring Torstein Horgmo, Shaun White, Aaron Biittner, Heikki Sorsa, Eero Ettala, Stevie Bell, Dan Brisse, Erin Comstock, Mason Aguirre, Bode Merill, Scotty Arnold, Ryo Aono, Drew Fuller, Pat Moore, and Torah Bright how can this not be a steeze filled video.

3: Aesthetica
After watching the teaser for this video i couldn't believe some of the shots that are going to be in this film. From pillow lines to park booters this video is going to have everything. This years Standard film is aimed to please.

4: Overseas
The newest video by Pirate Movie Production is going to be epic. After watching last seasons video Walk the Plank i cant wait to see Hans Ahlunds part in this film if you haven't seen his part in Walk the Plank i suggest you go buy it his part alone is worth the money to buy the film.
If you like tech all around snowboarding i suggest you go buy Overseas.

5: Double Decade
When it comes to snowboarding one company and crew has been the epitome of progression. That company is Mack Dawg. With Hd cameras, arguably most popular riders and twenty years of snowboard video experience this video is bound to be a classic.

Other videos to watch for:
FamiliaBy Finger on Da Trigger
No Correct Way by Rome/ SDS
See What I See by Runway
Gold Countryby Team Thunder
Forum or Against Em By Forum
Thats it, Thats All! by Travis Rice and Red Bull

Welcome

Welcome to Shred Junkies
Ive been wanting to start a blog for a while now to give my opinion on the lifestyle of Snowboarding. Shred Junkies plans to review boards, boots, bindings, mountains, outwear, videos, and all things shred. I also plan on posting on events, competitions and other snowboard gatherings. I'm personally excited for the snow to start falling again. Winter is the best of all seasons and i cant wait for the season of Shred.