TAG | Skiing
29
Euro Winter off to a Corker!
No comments · Posted by Lauren in Skiing, Snow Report, Snowboarding, Winter 2011-12
It’s snowing everywhere (apart from the UK)!
Last winter season in Europe is now but a distant memory after a cracking start to this season and record snowfalls over most of the Alps. In fact, more snow has fallen so far to date this winter than for the whole of last season! Those holidaying over the coming weeks will enjoy soft snow on-piste and powder off and those who have booked later rather than earlier should be encouraged by the base that is being built on lower slopes. If you ventured out for the Easter holidays back in April surely you will remember a lot of grass and sunshine…
Corduroy at it's best!
Pretty much all of France, Italy, Switzerland and now Austria have had heavy snowfalls intermittently from the beginning of December and this weekend yet more snow is forecast for the Northern Alps. High altitude French resorts such as Tignes, Val Thorens in the 3 Valleys and Les Arcs, have almost 200cm of snow at 2500m above sea level, and on lower slopes there is a metre of coverage. Although winds have been high, new snow has fallen quickly and the avalanche risk has been extremely high, there has certainly been some awesome powder to be had and piste conditions couldn’t have been better!
Chamonix, France
Over the Atlantic, North America and Canada got heavy snowfalls early on but had a dry spell towards the end of December. There has been recent precipitation over many resorts in the US and also now in Canada although it is generally thought that this season will be some what warmer than last with perhaps more rain falling than usual.
Snow a-plenty!
Scottish resorts have had plenty of snow although temperatures have risen since and there has been very high winds which have forced some lifts to close. It looks like most have now reopened though and once again, conditions are looking good so far.
With snow finally falling across the Alps and Christmas drawing closer, here’s a little write-up on our favourite top ten products for this winter and why we like them…(in no particular order)
- The Element P.M.A t-shirt – because everyone needs a little positive mental attitude during the winter especially if you’re in the UK and it’s raining and dark at 4pm!
2. Full Tilt Hot Dogger boots – because if they’re good enough for Tom Wallisch, they’re good enough for us!
3. DC PLY snowboard – because donuts and coffee are two of our favourite things and this board is also excellent value for cash!
4. Shaun White Oakley Airbrake goggles – because they look and feel amazing and the lens’ are the easiest to change.
5. K2 Party Pole – because they are called the Party Pole and we are ready to party! They are adjustable in length and they look awesome.
6. RVCA Wordless C. dress – because you can still wear a pretty dress in the winter and the detail at the back is very lovely.
7. Line Sir Francis Bacon Skis – because they are designed in every way by pro skier Eric Pollard and they ski like a dream!
8. Billabong Anne Flore Marxer jacket – because she’s one of the world’s best snowboarders and we love the dreamy, pixelated print.
9. Nike Vapen boot – because this is a really good looking snowboard boot for the ladies, it is purple and there is a swoosh. That is simply all.
10. Salomon Brigade helmet – because everyone needs a helmet and this one looks particularly bright.
Two Seasons stores are spreading! Late in November our portfolio of nationwide stores grew once again with the addition of our first store in Watford.
Not sure you need any more choice of footwear in Nottingham!
Opening on 25th November, the store is predominately skate orientated with a large selection of both skate hardware and clothing. There’s something to suit every skaters needs and styles with loads of Element, Plan B and Billabong in the men’s department. The store features a skate wall which is stocked full of the sturdiest shoes for skating and there’s also fashion styles from the Element Emerald collection. If you’re heading out to the slopes, or you just want to wrap up warm in some technical gear this winter, then our new Watford store will be selling a range of ladies and men’s snow clothing. Trendy styles and colours from Billabong and super tech pieces from The North Face mean there’s something for both skiers and snowboarders.
Skate deck anyone?
On a separate note, our presence in Nottingham grows with our newly extended Two Seasons and Element store. There is quite simply everything you need from skate and scooter accessories to a full range of ski and snowboard hardware during the winter not to mention a massive complement of casual, skate and surf wear. Everything all under one roof, what more could you want?
Check out the store page for Nottingham here.
15
Billabong All For One Event a Huge Success!
No comments · Posted by Lauren in Billabong, Brands, Competition, Demo, Snowboarding
On Saturday 9th July, the very first Billabong All For One Comp was held at The Snow Centre in Hemel. The event served many purposes, Two Seasons sponsored rider Jake Terry’s 13th Birthday party, charity fundraising and generally fun times – a demo and competition.
2S Team Boss Jim with Jake Terry
The first half of the day was for progression and lessons, provided by Definition and Grounded. The evening session saw the Billabong All For One comp split into three specific comps – kicker, Billabong rail and most outstanding rider. I watched most of the evening session (whilst waiting for birthday cake) and the standard was high, riders came from far and wide. There were the Tamworth regulars along with Belgian and Dutch riders who were slaying all the features of the set up. The Billabong feature rail got a lot of love and UK superstar Jamie Nichols even turned up!
After the session it was up into the bar for the prize giving, raffle and finally some cake! Prizes on the night had been provided very generously by Billabong, Two Seasons, Salomon, Bonfire, K2, Icon, Skullcandy, Flow, Nitro, Giro, Demon, Project 77, The Snow Centre, DC, Air Hole, Moog Royale, Tall Tees, Adio, NXTZ, Amplify, Westbeach,Burton, Whitelines, SCUK. The night managed to raise £504.00 for the MS Trust and Snow Camp.
Tweeeek it Jake!
The highlight for me was being able to present Jake with his Birthday present from myself and his UK sponsor Two Seasons, we got him a Nixon Newton watch, no expense spared, apart from on the wrapping paper which was a Two Seasons carrier bag (I was in a rush, gimme a break! ). For your information the cake was also great!
Final comp results:
Winners on the kicker
Gold – Mark King (snowboard)
Siver – Callum Welch ski)
Bronze – Jake Binnee (snowboard)
On the Billabong Rail:
Gold – Rich Mcintosh (snowboard)
Silver – Craig Colbron (snowboard)
Bronze – Ronnie Organ (snowboard)
Most outstanding rider of the night:
Cody Hierons (snowboard) he was destroying the park and he had taught all day in the coaching sessions!
Best slam:
Ross Welch (ski) for nearly decapitating Zee (photographer)!
A short Edit form my close personal friend who I taught all he knows (like how to use the auto button) Jamie Durham, from the UK’s best film crew Grindhouse will be out soon, watch this space…
Check out Jake’s blog to keep up to date with what’s going on http://jaketerry.co.uk/
(Words by Two Seasons Team Boss and Snowboard Hardware Buyer James McKenzie-Brown.)
After a dismal winter across most of the French Alps it seems that the snow has finally come, certainly to the Tarentaise, where these photos were taken today…Shame the lifts are closed. Get hiking!
1st June, Montchavin, La Plagne (1250m)
1st June, Montchavin, La Plagne (1250m)
1st June, Montchavin, La Plagne (1250m)
While the IOC (International Olympic Committee) made some important decisions yesterday about the sport of skiing halfpipe, slopestylers were left hanging for their decision.
It was announced yesterday that skiing halfpipe for both men and women will be introduced to the Olympics in Sochi, Russia in 2014! The news has been generally welcomed by freeskiers who are excited about the prospect of winning some Olympic gold. This means that the IOC has accepted the first ever freeskiing event into the program so the competition is going to be hot to get that first gold and make Olympic history. There could be yet another freeskiing event to get the nod yet with the IOC still deciding the outcome of both ski and snowboard slopestyle. Expect a final decision at the end of May/beginning of June.
It’s not only freeskiing that has had an Olympic boost. The IOC executive board also decided that women will now have their own ski jump competition after an unsuccessful legal battle for it’s inclusion at the Vancouver games last year. The IOC’s argument had always been that there was not enough elite competitors in the sport but those involved made a strong case and the decision has now been turned. Team events in luge and figure skating and a mixed relay in biathlon will also be included in 2014. It’s set to be an exciting year for winter sports.
National Skiathon
To all skiers and boarders!
Disability Snowsport UK’s National Skiathon is back for the third year running!
All you have to do is ski or board 666 runs of your local ski slope – in a team of 6 – in 6 hours together with skiing celebrities, the British Disabled Ski team and some of the UK’s top freestylers and help raise money for skiers with disabilities.
The event was really successful in 2010 with a huge fundraising effort bringing in a fantastic amount of just over £27,000. This makes a massive difference to people living with disability who want to experience the thrill & excitement of the slopes just like everyone else. We’ve set our sights even higher this year with a fundraising target of £35,000 and we need your help to do this.
Six indoor Ski Slopes are taking part in this challenge across the country so get involved at your nearest slope! Slopes taking part include: Chill Factore, Manchester; Tamworth Snow Dome; Hemel Snow Dome; SNO!zone Braehead; SNO!zone Castleford; and SNO!zone Milton Keynes.
The entry fee is £66 per team and minimum sponsorship required is £666 per team.
What will you receive in return?
You will receive entry to the slope, support from us in undertaking the challenge & fundraising, as well as an event t-shirt and goody bag. There will be fun and frolics on the slope and prizes for the team who raise the most sponsorship money and for the team who skis the most amount of runs in the time given and you can win runs using your mental agility and general knowledge as well as physical skills – you don’t have to be a world class skier!
We’ll even have some local celebrities taking part including some actors from the Hollyoaks TV series; last year’s celebrities included: Steve Redgrave OBE, Graham Bell, Craig Phillips (TV presenter and Big Brother star) and Eddie the Eagle Edwards as well as The British Disabled Ski Team and The Combined Services Disabled Ski Team.
Entries are on a limited first come first served basis so don’t delay, get your place today! You can enter online at https://regonline.activeeurope.com/disabilitysnowsportuknationalskiathon
21
Europeans Dominate Freeride World Tour and Verbier Xtreme
No comments · Posted by Lauren in Skiing, Snowboarding
The looming Bec des Rosses back drop - Photo: D. Daher
The Nissan Freeride World Tour in partnership with Dakine has come to an end with Europeans dominating the competition pretty much from start to finish. The final stage of the competition was the Xtreme in Verbier on the legendary 500m, 55° Bec des Rosses north face. The conditions were near on perfect for the riders, both skiers and snowboarders, with fresh snow and clear blue skies.
The crowds gathered in the Col du Gentianes to watch the top freeriders in the world descend from the jagged ridge up at 3222m above sea level. Picking their line through the couloirs, cliffs and general demanding terrain and it was the French that impressed the most on the day, Xavier de la Rue winning the men’s snowboard category although he was eventually pushed down to third in the overall rankings, Austrian Mitch Toelderer was crowned the Men’s Snowboard Freeride World Champion 2011 having produced consistent results throughout the six events, of which only five he participated in.
Anne-Flore Marxer in her signature Billabong jacket for 2011/12. Photo: D.Daher
French/Swiss Billabong rider Anne Flore Marxer won the women’s snowboard category and the overall title becoming Women’s Snowboard World Freeride Champion 2011. Check out the video of her winning run below. Anne-Flore said after the competition, “The Bec des Rosses is by far the most beautiful face and the conditions today were without a doubt the best of the season. It’s important for me to point out that while this face is beautiful it’s far from being easy. I was thinking that I would take a steep line to take speed and jump a lot of cliffs but in the end I decided to be safe partly due to the sluff and hidden rocks. This title makes all my efforts this season worth it. The Freeride World Tour has been a great experience. I can’t wait to come back next year!”
It has been an awesome year for the Billabong girls, Anne-Flore winning here, Jamie Anderson winning countless contests her most recent a gold in the European X Games and the TTR World Champion Title earlier this month. And not forgetting the UK’s very own Jenny Jones who won us gold in the Winter X Games in Aspen earlier this year. She is hopefully heading to the Roxy Chicken Jam in Mammoth this weekend for another win!
In the men’s ski competition the podium in Verbier was a French exclusive with Aurelien Ducroz in the top spot followed by Dakine’s very own Jérémy Prévost and then Adrien Courier in 3rd. Ducroz was crowned overall champ and Swedish lady freeride skier Janette Hargin won both the Xtreme and the World Title.
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The SIGB Ski Test took place last week with a well timed bit of a dusting of fresh snow just before the onslaught of the British ski industry. We were pretty lucky with the weather with predominantly sunny skies throughout the week and the conditions weren’t bad either considering the general lack of snow across Europe so far this season. The pistes were in excellent condition, soft and grippy staying perfectly groomed from morning right through to the last runs of the day. Off-piste was a little choppy underneath the fresh but as long as you had the right skis (and there were plenty to choose from) then the mountain was thoroughly enjoyable.
The test which took place in the small Italian town of Bormio, attracted some top British skiers and professionals from the industry all coming from various points across Europe to try out all of next year’s kit. The range of skis on offer to scrutinize was massive, brands such as Salomon, K2, Atomic, Line, Volkl and Scott were all showcasing their full ranges as were smaller, lesser known brands in the UK such as Movement, Black Diamond and Zag.
Ski-in on one pair, ski-out on a different pair
The Two Seasons test team got through loads of different styles, makes and models and it has to be said that there will be some very fine skis on the market from September/October time, all brands fighting for the top reviews and awards in the run up to the 2011/2012 winter season. Favourites so far are the Fischer Watea, Atomic Nomad Savage, the Salomon BBR, various Nordicas and the Salomon 2012, all winners.
Pete from Salomon setting up the new Vamps
Bormio lies in the Lombardy region of the northern Italian Alps and is a bit of a mission from Milan Bergamo airport but hey, when you have Lake Como as a back drop, who cares? Tucked away, surrounded by mountains the village sits on the valley floor at 1250m above sea level but the highest lift goes up to an impressive 3150m.
The guys from Nordica fed us with bacon sarnies!
The town centre is quaint and old style Italian and the main ski area is serviced well with fast chair lifts, bubbles and a massive cable car. Skiing is possible down to village level via the well known home run the Pista Stelvio, the second longest downhill run on the World Cup circuit. The resort of Bormio has hosted the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships twice in 1985 and 2005.
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Top 10 Moments of the Winter X Games 15
No comments · Posted by Lauren in Skiing, Snowboarding
The Winter X Games 15 in Aspen has come to a close after five fun filled, action packed days.
There was so much going on it was crazy as always but there are definitely ten stand out moments from this years event, whether it’s a trick or an outfit or just someone who deserves a bit of recognition, all are moments that will be remembered in X Games history for years to come. So in reverse order…
10. Medals for Billabong Ladies Jenny Jones and Jamie Anderson
Jamie Anderson with her medal
Britains’s Jenny Jones got another X Games medal in the form of silver in the slopestyle competition in Aspen this year. The Bristol born snowboarder who got gold two years ago in the same competition, led until the last run of 20 year old Finnish rider Enni Rukajavi , who pipped her to the gold. A few thought Jones was robbed of the Gold but she was gracious in defeat. American Jamie Anderson who has recently signed for GNU snowboards, came third.
9. Shaun White’s Non-Qualification for the Men’s Slopestyle Finals
It was a huge surprise to many when the ‘flying tomato’ Shaun White sponsored by all things Burton and Oakley didn’t even qualify for the finals of the Men’s Slopestyle event. There were rumours last year that White wouldn’t even make an appearance at this year’s event but those long ginger trestles where in Aspen to show the Superpipe who’s boss (see below) even though he looked like he just wasn’t trying in the slopestyle!
8. The Back Flip Brothers
Caleb and Colton Moore pulled off an insane tandem back flip on a snowmobile during Colton Moore’s second run in the Snowmobile Best Trick competition.
7. Sarah Burke Wins Gold Again
Jenny Jones Slopestyle
Roxy skier Sarah Burke won another gold medal in the Womens Ski Superpipe Final. This was her first competition back after a shoulder injury having only been cleared to ski by her doctors two weeks earlier. The Canadian who recently married fellow pro skier and backcountry legend Rory Bushfield, made history by claiming her 6th X Games medal. It was an all Canadian podium.
6. Torin-Yater Wallace Youngest Competitor In The Event This Year
The fifteen year old freshman at Aspen High School and the third youngest male ever to compete in the WXG relegated Simon Dumont into silver medal position (later to become bronze) in the Men’s Ski Superpipe Final after throwing down a double flip trick as his last trick on his last run of his first WXG. This = instant rise to fame. Respect!
5 ½. Simon Dumont’s Face
On Salomon skier Simon Dumont’s first run in the Ski Superpipe Finals he fell pretty much on his face after compressing every other part of his body off the coping, on attempting a massive trick at the end of a near perfect run. It was bad and so was the noise that he made when he hit the deck. Then when the judges scored fifteen year old Torin-Yater Wallace higher than him putting him out of contention for the gold he looked utterly bewildered. Needs to practise his ‘best looser’ face, to be fair he hasn’t really needed it much in the past.
5. Kevin Rolland’s Gold
Scotty Lago wired shut. Photo: Ned Cremin
It’s awesome to see European competitors do well in ‘all-American’ events so we are chuffed for Frenchie Kevin Rolland who smashed the Men’s Ski Superpipe competition apart. On his last run after having fallen on his previous two (like many of the other competitors) due to the twitchy, speediness of the pipe, he threw it down pulling out a near perfect run. Huge amplitude and style made up his run of a double cork 1080, alley-oop flat spin 360, switch 1080, switch 540 to double cork 1260.
4. Torstein Horgmo’s Triple Cork Back Flip
Just watching the live coverage of the Big Air event knowing that DC rider Torstein Horgmo had broken ribs made us nervous. Then he crashed on his second final jump and it made us wince. Then on his third and final big air he stomped a triple cork backflip!Talk about running on adrenaline, bet he hurt the next day.
3. Scotty Lago’s Wired Jaw
A wired shut jaw didn’t stop another Billabong rider by the name of Scotty Lago making history by competing in all four freestyle snowboard disciplines. He didn’t just compete, he won medals. Lago bagged gold in the Best Method competition by, you guessed it, throwing down the best method grab and he was just beaten by Shaun White in the Men’s Snowboard Superpipe. A week ago Lago probably thought he wouldn’t compete at all after getting a back flip wrong in the backcountry whilst filming for Travis Rice’s new film and smashing his jaw to bits. He has been eating through a straw since.
2. Shaun White does it again in THAT outfit
Lago, White and Vito with Kevin Pearce (left) Photo: Ned Cremin
There was more talk of Shaun White’s rather tight fitting, all black leather look than his actual gold medal winning run at this year’s WXG. Some liked it most didn’t, one thing is for sure and that is that it certainly didn’t affect his performance. He absolutely blew everyone away with the height he managed to get out of the pipe and with such ease he pulled an array of tricks out of his ever expanding bag that most can only dream of. A Double McTwist 1260 sealed it.
1. Kelly Clarke – First Ever Women to Land a 1080 in a Competition
It was her first gold medal for five years and it was worth the wait. This was Kelly Clarke’s night beating Gretchen Bleiler five times Superpipe gold medallist, and fellow American Elena Hight who got bronze. Her 1080 was thrown down with style and landed with ease and Kelly Clarke has now upped the standard for women pipe riders.
Check out the official X Games Rollout vid below for all their best bits.
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Next up in the X Games calendar is the X Games Europe in Tignes this coming March!
