New Salomon 09/10 site

Salomon Snowboards announces the launch of its new website featuring the award winning 09/10 product line, Global and Am team info, exclusive video content that you won’t see anywhere else, photos, and a regularly updated community page.

Salomon Snowboards current Pro and Am team consists of Josh Dirksen, Louif Paradis, David Benedek, Wolfgang Nyvelt, Jed Anderson, Annie Boulanger, Sylvain Bourbousson, Scotty Arnold, Jenny Jones, Chris Grenier, Bode Merrill, Desiree Melancon and Werni Stock.

The Salomonder

Jed Anderson and Chris Grenier are testing out a Salomon prototype called the Salomonder, it first appeared online beginning of August but was then pulled out..so here is the video showing some sick tricks, particularly from this kid who works his magic and joined the Salomon team earlier in 2009.

The B: this one is banger

Not sure when I will be able to pull the trick at 0.28sec

Tadashi Fuse on Vivo Headwear

I don't really understand what is so special about Vivo, they claim to come from the love of the snow,etc..and they use the best materials: looks like most mission statements from start up companies.

I have watched couple of their videos featuring their products so make sure not to eat anything before it is like being on a boat during a storm.

However they did signed a pretty good snowboarder Tadashi Fuse.

Here is a copy/paste from the website:
Combining their passion for snow, skate and
street fashion, CEO Anthony Leffelaar (left) and
Creative Director Cameron Beedell (right), along
side their artistic team, developed a life-style
brand all their own. A boutique approach – with
versatility in mind, the highly anticipated Vivo
Headwear makes its debut.

Vivo Headwear is a company focused on bring-
ing you high-end exclusive products working
with premium fabrics and attention to
detail. Vivo knows your everyday fit from street
to snow. We work with our heavy hitting team
to bring you what the riders want. Vivo embod-
ies the past, epitomizes the present and lives to
develop the future.

Andrecht Handplant Transfer

From Snowboarder mag, this week TJ Schneider shows us how to do an Andrecht Handplant Transfer.

1. Find something with an easy pop over, so you don’t have to use your body to throw yourself up and over.

2. Approach on your toe edge.

3. Go for a method grab and plant your other hand.

4. Once you’re grabbing, push off with your other arm.

5. Suck up your legs and it will bring you back in backside 180.

Instruction on how to make your own board?

I am not going to reinvent the wheel here, like everyone else who love snowboarding...I have checked many websites giving more info on the materials & the technologies.

So I will just give you the link and you can check out this useful site. You may not get all the answers but I have found it covers a lot of topics.

graphsnowboards.com

How is a snowboard built?

nosepress backside 180

From Snowboarder Mag, this week TJ Schneider shows us how to do a nosepress backside 180.

1. It’s always a little easier if you have a little more speed. Especially with flat rails.

2. Approach the rail as if you were going to do a 50-50, but land on the rail with your weight on your nose.

3. Positioning your body over your front foot will naturally lift your back foot off the rail.

4. Mid-way through the press you’ll want to start turning your shoulders as if you’re doing a backside spin.

5. At the end of the rail keep your shoulders turning while looking in the direction you want to spin and land.

6. Land fakie and ride away to the next rail.

The B...this one is Backward

GoPro Super Hero cam test

And here are more details about the camera system.

Black Winter from Standard films

Neverland by Absinthe

Romain de Marchi is one of my favorite snowboarder and to see all those riders in the Neverland that make me sick! Why do they have to show us all those f#$king awesome slopes when it is summer (at least on our side).

Neverland by Absinthe Films from Absinthe Films on Vimeo.

An equalizer side cut - Salomon

I was reading different interviews from the snowrev website and I really enjoy when product director from Snowboard companies take the time to explain the technology and the ideas behind it.

So here is a copy/paste interview with David Farcot from Salomon:

SR: Equalizer, is it basically straight edges instead of the traditional radius that has been on boards since the beginning pretty much?

DF: An equalizer side cut is made out of straight lines (3 or 5) and kinks, instead of a radial or elliptic curve. It's a patented geometry that we introduced in (07-08).



SR: What was the idea behind it and who came up with it?

DF: The idea is to equalize the pressure distribution along the edge by maximizing its contact with the snow. In a 3D world with complex terrain (snow surface), straight lines are easier to bend than complex curves. On a regular snowboard, the pressure peaks on 4 narrow spots (feet, wide points). This creates instability. When pressure is more evenly distributed, you're more stable, like running with flat soles vs. high-heels. The theory and prototypes came from our board wizards here, and surprisingly were originated to answer a random request from our former CEO. You guys should work on a technology that makes the snow softer; its getting really packed everywhere



SR: What are the benefits?

DF: More maneuverability and a smooth and constant edge contact, even on hard packed, with no hiccups. David Benedek and Bode Merrill both say it makes switch in-runs and take-offs a bit more relaxing.



SR: If it distributes the pressure farther along the edges does that mean you ride a shorter board than normal or ride your usual size and it just rides radder?

Salomon: It means that you can ride a soft board that still holds the edge when the snows not perfect and youre still charging. (Official / Drift) It means that you can ride a longer board with some pop and stay in control (Lark)



SR: Where the people at Salomon nervous the first time people rode it?

DF: Yes we were all pretty amazed by how well the theory was confirmed by riding...we were more than doubtful before.

SR: It won a "Good Wood" award for 2009 in Transworld's board test; did that seem to justify the theory of the whole Equalizer thing?

DF: The fact that our riders have adopted it is the best proof for us that this technology rides perfect. Of course, the Good Wood awards for Official and Drift have been a great help to convince kids to give them a ride.



SR: Which of the team riders ride boards with equalizer edges?

DF: David Benedek, Matt Ladley, and Sylvain Bourbousson on the Official, since the first year, Wolle Nyvelt on the Grip, Scotty Arnold on his updated pro board, Desiree Melancon on the Lark, Jed Anderson on the Drift…Even carving Josh Dirksen likes it..



SR: How has feedback been from consumers, dealers and other everyday riders that have ridden it?

DF: Really great! Kids and retailers from hard-packed areas and park-riders (East Coast, Canada, Scandinavia,) have been super stoked since the early days. Last summer we had an overwhelmingly positive response at Mt. Hood. Kids loved being able to file down their edges for rails and then still hold an edge cruising down Palmer in the morning.



SR: For 09/10 how many boards will have Equalizer?

DF: Same as last year + Grip (all mountain bamboo freestyle board) / Gypsy (park & Jib for girls) / the updated Arnie (he asked for EQ after trying the official).



SR: What other features does the Salomon Official have that make it stand out from other boards on the market (as if straight edges were not enough)?

DF: Well, it's pretty loaded with very smart and efficient tech: an alien light core (wood + low density foam) with a popster profile (increase the pop, keeps the strength) and sidewalls with rubber rails (dampening layer) are the main highlights.

Tropical storm Danny

Oliver Kurtz takes full advantage of tropical storm Danny as it delivers a fun Sebastian Inlet pulse.

After living in So Cal, and after going back to Florida, I haven't been able to enjoy the mushy waves. South Floridian only hope for nice tropical storm to light up their backyard

Oliver Kurtz from Sean Benik on Vimeo.

Guide on how to shape a board

I have had couple of friends trying to shape surfboards...it was almost having two boards for the price of one because the left side didn't look the same as the right side!

When I was 20, I was an intern at a french local kitesurf shaper, I was so stocked to work fo him and learn about the process.

Here are some info from Surfline shaping post

Bond Gear 2010 preview

What is the story behind Bond ? well they claim to be 100% carbon neutral. Technically speaking that means the raw material used and the production of the gears shouldn't create any carbon emission. Do to so they have used:
-Blend of recycled PET + virgin PET (recyclable)
usually the percentage is at most 30/70 otherwise the mechanical properties are be weakened.
-Discarded plastic pellets to make the buttons, etc..
-Discarded coconut shell

I couldn't find any details about the company infrastucture because they should use solar panel, smart water treatment,etc.. in order to be as they claim 100 carbon neutral.

Rip Curl Gromsearch HB

Salomon goes green 2.0

Couple of months ago, I wrote a blog about Salomon green iniative. Some people may argue it is partially a marketing stunt and to ride the green wagon but being a material engineer myself, I have found that we as designers have the responsability to search and provide technology that can be as good (or better) by using more carbon neutral materials. Of course Salomon is not alone in the race of the greenest company but I find it is healthy for the snowboard industry to look for alternatives.

So in this snowrev report, Rian from Salomon talk about using green materials and so on.

"wood core boards sandwiched in bamboo veneers which allows using less fiberglass and less epoxy which are the two nastiest compounds in a snowboard. This lowers the amount of materials used and the amount of carbon out put and the gas and energy burned."

"With ABC sandwich board we replace fiberglass with bamboo, which is locally sourced by our factory; reduces the phosphates and cuts down on our energy and CO2 output. With ABC wrapper it uses also cuts down on the plastic use."

"bindings are made with recycled plastic baseplates. We took parts from old bindings and stuff that was lying around the factory, reground them and turned them into new baseplates. We are using corn based plastics instead oil based plastics. In our boots we are using some recycled rubber and rice in the tread. We eliminated all PVC and we eliminated the chemical microbial lining and replaced it with a green tea treatment."


One last comment, I remember that about 10 years ago Salomon board graphic used to be very safe...they have come a long way as well.check this one out, pretty sick.

Board painting

Like any teenagers, I went from putting stickers on my board to painting in order to express my creativity. ONe thing is sure I would not have been a great artist.

So here on surfline I read a tip from Brad Nadell, founder of Foam E-Z who gives a quick tip:

"The type of paint you want to use is water based Tempera -- this paint can be air-sprayed or air-brushed right onto the foam.

Many people hand-paint boards using sponge brushes, wisk brooms, paint brushes, sponges, and just about anything that will apply paint.

Don't put it on too thick, though. The appropriate thickness is about the consistency of whole milk. Have fun and and let the paint fly."

Surfing big waves: when leash becomes a liability

Surfline's Nick Carroll replies:

Being leashed in truly big surf can cause a surfer some trauma. Suddenly, the leash's great benefit -- connection to your board -- can mean you're forced to go where your board goes, whether you like it or not. There's nothing quite like an extra 20 or 30 yards of underwater draggage behind your nine-foot gun in what feels like the world's biggest washing machine; it's a bit like those cowboy movies, where they tie the good guy to a horse and drag him around the main street. This effect is enhanced by the heavyweight nature of most big-wave paddle-in boards.

WK believes a leash can only be regarded as a liability when it cannot be removed in a dangerous circumstance. In the past 20 years several surfers have drowned after being held underwater by a combination of a leash wrapped around a rock and a strong current dragging both board and surfer against the leash's pressure. In each case, the current prevented the surfer from being able to reach his leash strap to release it -- interestingly, in no case was the surf particularly big. (The ocean's way stronger than you think, even when the waves don't look murderous.)

Fact is, a leash is only a leash -- it is capable of breaking, and occasionally will under the impact of a seriously big wave. This is not always a bad thing, given the situations outlined above. (Sometimes being freed to swim clear is a true blessing!)

But this fact demands you keep one thing in mind: The leash is not and never was intended as a lifesaving device. It's a convenient way of keeping your board close and ding-free after wipeouts, and serves the added valuable purpose of eliminating the loose-boards-in-the-lineup syndrome -- which can be a profound danger in itself. But! If you're relying on your leash to defend you against weak swimming skills in big surf, there's an easy answer: DON'T GO OUT. It will only end in tears.

New FORUM teaser: FOREVER

I love The Resistance & True life but since I have not been impressed by Forum films. I just watch the Forever teaser and I like the 70s vibes, kindda of like in the cops series from the 70s ...remember The street of San Fransisco. oH boy I just realized I used to watch this as a kid.

Anyway the teaser looks great and really creative.

great actors come from the surfing industry

Since the award winning act of Kelly Slater in Baywatch, we have finally a new contender: CJ hobgood.

Mad Clips Teahupoo Tahiti Fantasy Break-Down from josh coville on Vimeo.

Timmy Turner is the man

What a story!!!!

you can also read it on Surfer.

what can you do...when it is flat

I am really confused because the winter season has been really shitty with at best some waist high wave wind chop or chest high closeout...with the summer approaching at full force, I am looking at alternative to get my muscles ready for some hurricane swell.

Well that is the only thing I found which I heard is really good but at this cost I could survive "second thoughts" style for few months except I don't really want to swim in the polio pond.

Vasa ergometer swim bench is close to $1800 so it may not be for everybody because while it increases your strength, it doesn't help you at dodging the recession

Nike 6.0 Lowers

Waves at Trestle are so perfect, each waves is the same which is great to try new tricks, however the crowd factor is brutal.
last time I went there were 15 guys from Reef and other brands doing photoshots, plus a good 25 other ripers.

While I didn't catch the best one, I caught a good fifteen-twenty waves. I love to watch contest over there, it's quite a show.

So here is the Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro contest that started, make sure to check it out.