This FRIDAY NIGHT at Crotched Mountain - Video Park!

FRIDAY NIGHT - Crotched Mountain, NH hosts Dan Egan's Wild World of Winter Terrain Video Park

On December 29, 2006 the First Annual Terrain Video Park Event will be held, to kick off Crotched Mountain's Midnight Madness snowboard and skiing until 3 a.m. every Friday and Saturday night!! This is going to be an awesome event, not to be missed!
All the top film crews in New England will be there Friday night filming their riders on the insane specially built park features in Bennington, southern NH.

Where's the snow? At Crotched Mountain!! Their state of the art fan gun snowmaking system has the highest rated snow production capacity per skiable acre in New England. If you don't believe it, when Crotched Mountain hosted the Main Event (one of New England's premier snowboard comps - hey Micah!) 2 weeks ago, they had a 30 footer and a 50 foot jump - while other mountains are struggling to get snow cover on the ground!

"East Coast Snowboarder" magazine, www.SnowboardSecrets.com, and film crews including Meathead Films out of Burlington, VT, GBP Productions from Rutland, and Kevin Corchoran's "Terrain Park Test Team" will be on site, to name just a few.

The Friday Night Video Park terrain is being brainstormed by unsung hero and upcoming rock star Park Builder Aaron Hyer of Crotched Mountain. Aaron was responsible for designing the "Flaming Rail" last year that is still being talked about. He's super hungry, and is known to build some of the best park features in the East.

Friday night we're expecting to see innovative features like a Bonfire Gap, an Elevator Gap (uprail to another rail or landing), Road Gap, and a Wire Spool feature. Crotched Mountain's snowmaking department is dedicating all of their resources and energy for the next 2 days just to this park.

The pro riders are psyched, since there are few park features anywhere in the southern North East at this point in the season, due to Mother Nature's sulky refusal to grace us with winter weather. This is also a fun last chance to hang out with the industry bro's before they head out west for the
competition season.

Everybody's welcome to watch; only the invited and registered pros can hit the Video Park features. You can hike to Love Park pretty easily if you're not riding or skiing Crotched Mountain Friday night, but it's more fun if you have a lift ticket. $35 gets you 5 pm to 3 am, and $29 for 9 pm to 3 am. More at www.Crotchedmountain.com

If you're a pro filmer interested in filming this event, or entering your athletes, contact Kevin Corchoran at events@eganentertainment.com or 603 953-3406

Lucas Magoon Wins Rail to Riches at Killington 2006

Last Saturday night, December 16, under the lights at Killington the 2nd annual Rails to Riches Rail Jam for snowboarders and skiers went off. Qualifying rounds were held during the day, with the finals in the evening.

Some of the best and most reknowned riders in New England competed, including Chris Rotax, Yale Cousino, Sky Gale, Monique Hyman, Forest Bailey, Tyler Leach, Will Bateman, and Chris Vincent, manager of Stratton's terrain park.17-year old Lucas Magoon of Rutland, VT took the title from his pal Niko Cioffi, also of Rutland who won last year. See Lucas posing with his BIG winnings check and the $4000 cash, next to Niko Cioffi here http://www.snowboardsecrets.com/Articles/Rails2Riches06.htm

Both Magoon and Cioffi qualified for the Union Square Street Sessions taking place on Thursday, February 8 in New York City’s Union Square.

Cassandra Herbes of Sparta, NJ successfully defended her title in the women's snowboard division. She was also a winner at last spring's Spring Loaded at Killington. (photos at http://www.snowboardsecrets.com/Articles/springloaded.htm.)

After the jam there were fireworks and a party at the peak, reached by an atmospheric nighttime gondola ride. This was a super fun and very well run event that should continue successfully over the years!

Killington Rails to Riches Rail Jam and Party

Rails to Riches Rail Jam and Party at the Peak

12/16/2006

The Second Annual Rails to Riches Rail Jam featuring a $15,000 cash prize purse will be held on Saturday, December 16 at Killlington, VT.. Skiers and riders are invited to participate in the open jam format. The qualifiers will consist of a limited number of skiers and riders and will feature riders in the morning and skiers in the afternoon. The venue will be set up on the lower portion of Highline, an easy walk for competitors and spectators from the K-1 Lodge. The excitement will undoubtedly peak during the finals of the competition which will take place under the lights and consist of an hour-long open jam session while a bonfire burns nearby. Winners will be crowned at the conclusion of the rail jam followed by a fireworks display set to light up the December sky over Killington Resort. The finals will begin at 5:00 p.m. with fireworks slated to start at 6:15 p.m. Saturday night’s Party at the Peak will be the perfect way to celebrate the conclusion of the rail jam. The Party at the Peak will take place from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. The K-1 Gondola will be transporting partygoers up and down the mountain to the event. The party will include a DJ, a free screening of Matchstick Productions new movie Push (set to start at 7:30 p.m.) and a cash bar. Saturday’s Rails to Riches Rail Jam Schedule (Rail venue set up at the bottom of Highline): 8:00 – 9:30 a.m. Bib pickup (skiers and riders) K-1 Lodge 10:00 – 10:30 a.m. Practice for Riders 10:30 a.m. – Noon Rider Qualifier Jam 11:00 a.m. – Noon Bib pickup (skiers only) K-1 Lodge 12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Practice for Skiers 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. Skier Qualifier Jam 4:30 – 5:00 p.m. Introduction of finalists and kick off for the finals 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. Skier and Rider Jam Finals, Under the Lights followed by fireworks. Registration is full and there is no waiting list. All competitors will be required to sign an Express Assumption of Risk form. Those under 18 must have a parent or legal guardian sign for them. For your convenience you can 4. download, print and sign the form prior to arrival at the event. This just in, one snowboarder from the Rails to Riches Rail Jam will be granted free entry to the Union Square Street Sessions, a snowboarder rail jam being held in New York City on February 8, 2007.

http://www.killington.com/events.html


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Snowboard Events Listed on www.SnowboardEventsCalendar.com

The biggest snowboard events calendar in New England. 174 events listed now at

http://sbeventscalendar.com/

Rail Jam at Hunter last night

Last night there was a fun informal rail jam at Hunter Mountain, Catskills, NY. No judging, no prizes, just 3 hours of fun on the new rail set up.

There were 2 flat funboxes to choose from at the top, and down at the bottom in full view was the brand new roller coaster rail with a P-Tex surface. The kids loved it and looked great on it. It looks scary but everyone did so well on it that I think it looks harder than it is. Temperature was perfect at 30 degrees, no wind.

Shoutout to my girl Jessica at Hunter who keeps the blog up to the minute and does a million other things in the communications office there. Check out the Hunter Mountain blog at http://huntermtn.blogspot.com/

Burton's EST Bindings & The Stash at Northstar

Burton and Northstar-at-Tahoe resort are opening a snowboard-specific run this season called The Stash, complete with trees, jibs and jumps that were designed by Carpenter and Team Burton riders. Burton is in talks with Vail for something similar.

Burton's newest binding system, called EST was unveiled to the trade in Vail recently.

Excerpted from Vail Daily News http://www.vaildaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061208/NEWS/112080069&template=printart

Snowboard Wrist/Arm Fractures on the Rise

The Edmonton Journal in Canada reports today that snowboard wrist fractures, as well as snowboard arm and elbow fractures are on the rise, due to inexperienced snowboarders falling the wrong way. The article has hints for falling "successfully" to help avoid the hyperflexion of the wrist that can cause a fracture. http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/cityplus/story.html?id=a95f2135-9965-4290-b603-6cfae79fc78c&k=5536

To help avoid snowboard wrist injury there is also a snowboard wrist guard designed by a doctor to help reduce injury. It has shown to reduce snowboard wrist injury by 67%. Check out http://www.Flexmeters.com.

Longest Terrain Park in Northeast US - needs a Name!

Mount Snow opened the first terrain park in the Northeast, and is now opening the longest flowing park. And it needs a name!!

(NAME THIS) PARK
New this year we have consolidated the two old favorites- Inferno and El Diablo- into one super-long super-fun super park. At 4700’ long it is hands down the longest flowing park in the East, consisting of the best of the legendary Carinthia jibs and jumps of Medium and Large sizes on one of the most rhythmically rolling trails at Mount Snow. To top it all off this park runs right underneath the Nitro Express Quad from top to bottom, so no more lengthy commutes between sessions in the park- not to mention the ability to scope your lines from the lift. Once you’ve mastered Grommet and Un Blanco Gulch come build up your bag of tricks here.

The name says it all. Help us name our newest park. Visit www.mountsnow.com/namethispark and submit your name for the longest park in the East. Also submit your favorite photos and videos of you and your friends jibbin and jumping in (NAME THIS) PARK! The contest will run until March when we’ll narrow the names down and pick our winner. We can’t wait to see your creativity!

Cameron Diaz Quits Movie because it interferes with Snowboarding Season

Camerson said: "I was like, 'This isn't the movie I thought I was doing.' I wasn't really looking to work anyway. It's almost snowboarding season."

Cameron Dude, I can so totally identify!

(C) BANG Media International

From Monsters and Critics.com

People News
Cameron Diaz's hazy teens
By BANG
Dec 7, 2006, 8:00 GMT

Cameron Diaz spent her teenage years smoking marijuana and surfing.

The 34-year-old California native - who is currently starring in 'The Holiday' with Kate Winslet - has revealed she would spend many long summer days riding waves and getting high with her friends.

She told Britain's GQ magazine: "It took two hours to get there on the bus. You stayed all day, ate corn dogs. It wasn't the 'California Dreamin'' thing. We had only $2 for a joint."

Cameron - who is still a regular surfer - is such a fan of extreme sports that she pulled out of her last movie because it clashed with the snowboarding season.

The newly brunette actress was due to star alongside Jim Carrey in comedy 'A Little Game' but the two stars decided to quit the project.

She explained: "The studio decided at the last minute, after three months of revisions on the script, to rewrite the thing completely.

"I was like, 'This isn't the movie I thought I was doing.' I wasn't really looking to work anyway. It's almost snowboarding season."

(C) BANG Media International

Buying snowboard clothing on sale now

Support your local snowboard shop, definitely! and help keep them in business. BUT surprisingly, there are some great buys out in the big discount clothing chain stores on last season's snowboard clothing.

TJ Maxx has some jackets and snowpants in the name brands you know and love, and more often in some brands you've never heard of, but that will do the trick.Good beanies too.

Target even sells snowboard pants in girls sizes. If it's a matter of "Target brand" snow pants, or "no pants" Target brand will work fine!

Cameron Diaz loves to snowboard

It must be a slow news week, because this "not that exciting" story has been bouncing around for days. But in case you haven't read it yet, here it is:
ps - her new movie "The Holiday" opens this week.


Diaz would rather break her wrists than give up snowboarding!

Washington, Nov. 27 (ANI): Hollywood beauty Cameron Diaz loves snowboarding so much, that she has patently refused to quit it, regardless of the pain and scars it has caused her in the past.

The 'Charlie's Angels' star, who broke her wrist in 2005, says that she cannot resist the craving for going snowboarding with her friends whenever she takes time off work.

She considers the excitement she gets from snowboarding to be the best feeling in the whole world.

"I love speed and adrenaline. When I take time off work I like to be outside. Snowboarding is an amazing escape for me - riding from the top of the hill to the bottom without ever touching the ground is so exciting, Contactmusic quoted her as saying.

"You're out there with all your friends, you're on the slopes and it's a beautiful day. It's just the best feeling in the whole world," she added.

Diaz says that the breaking of her wrist last year was not due to snowboarding, but because someone hit her from the side while she was stationary.

Anomaly Film, Canaan CT SUNDAY

Have you seen TGR's extreme snowboard and ski film for this season, called Anomaly? It is awesome, and Sunday will be your last chance to see it in a theater in the Northeast (except for the RI show 12/5). The film will be shown twice on Dec. 3, at the Canaan Colonial Theatre, Canaan, CT. The venue is a cool historical movie theatre that has been lovingly refurbished by owner Phil Ghi, who worked there as a boy long ago! It's a dinner theatre now, and you can have dinner, or drinks or dessert while watching the movie, if you like.

Tickets are $14 at the door, $12 in advance online. There will be a mini-trade show of mountain resorts, raffle prizes, and a discount lift ticket packet for the first 50 people at each show. Shows are at 2:30 and 7pm. Please arrive by 6:30 if you want to order dinner.

Tickets in advance at http://www.snowboardsecrets.com/colonial.htm.

Theatre address and details at http://www.canaancolonialtheatre.com/

Canaan CT is 16 miles from Butternut Basin Ski Area, in case you're wondering. That's the NW corner of CT, right below the Mass. Border, and near the NY border in Litchfield County.

Snowboarder Turns 75 Today

Thought you were too old too snowboard?
Bah! Gordon Lee, of Los Angeles, CA has been snowboarding for 4 years, and celebrates his 75th birthday today. He can't wait to get out on the snow this season.

Last we heard he was learning to ride a unicycle too. Read the interview with Gordon Lee here www.snowboardsecrets.com/Articles/gordon.htm.

Killington Rails to Riches POSTPONED! from Dec. 2

Killington had the 2nd annual Rails to Riches rail jam set for this Sat., Dec 2, BUT it will be postponed until Sat. Dec. 16 due to the condition of the snow and weather forecast.

This will be an exciting event, with a $15,000 cash purse, the 2nd biggest prize money in New England, (behind the US Open.) Expect to see the Northeast's top riders (and skiers) compete. Finals start at 5pm under the lights. Check out the details on www.SnowboardEventsCalendar.com for this and all snowboard events in the Northeast.

Sat. nite there's a party in the lodge at the top of the K-1 Gondola, from 5-9 pm so take a nighttime ride up the mountain where there will be a DJ and film showing - Matchstick Productions new film "Push" at 7:30. Fireworks light up the sky at 6:15.
This sounds like an excellent event - count me in!

Boston Globe SnowSports Expo

The Boston Globe SnowSports Expo went down in Boston Nov.16-19, 2006. This is the country's 2nd largest snow show for the public, with 42,000 avid sportsters attending, watching the entertainment, eating, drinking, and shopping at the Ski Market on site, with tons of gear and clothes on sale.

Dozens of mountains from New England, Canada, Out West, and Europe have booths, and many snowboard equipment companies are set-up. And there's a skate park. And trampoline team show. Show impresario Bernie Weichsel is low-key hands on. I saw him at the gate both nights saying goodbye to the shoppers at the end of the night. This guy loves music almost as much as he adores skiing. And helped put on the Winter Fest in NY's Central Park.

Welcome!

Welcome to the new Snowboard Blog, with an East Coast, US slant.
The name Snowboard Shorty refers to the fact that we're gonna keep the posts short and sweet, and relevant. The stuff that we'd like to read. Hey, we're all busy and overwhelmed with stuff to read already.
(The name Snowboard Shorty could also have something to do with my height, and gender.)

If you want to read more of our writing, hit the links that will be posted on the side.
Bye for now.