Sell outs!

No, not selling out, but as in "sold out."

Over the last month or so I've been looking at different snowskate companies inventory.  I have a sneaking suspicion that snowskating is starting to hit a faster growth curve.  There have been several companies that have sold out or have their inventory already spoken for.  Most likely, these folks made the same amount as last year assuming they would eventually sell out, but not right away.  See note from FPS from November:

This is a good thing.  It also opens the door for the newer, less established companies with inventory to get their product out.  And different strategies.  For instance, Ralston Snowskates has decided just to sell subs and trucks.  Not a bad idea, right?  There are some great skateboards out there that could easily be used.  And you get the fit you want.

Meanwhile, we in the PacNW are getting epic powder.  Many of my friends have been getting it and I'll be doing the same over the Holiday break.

The Snowskate list. Get your skate on.

As recent snowfalls will attest, it's on.  Well, for most folks - I'm working on it.  But my big issue is I've been rocking my older 1st Gen Lib with 1st Gen Rocker trucks.  It's great, but it can't handle the deeper stuff (I always borrow).  As such, I've done some cursory research for a new purchase.  But I figured you might want a quick reminder of what is available.  I also sorted them by completes versus skis and then size.  There are more things to consider (compatibility with trucks and top decks), shape, and flex but I've kept this simple.  If you want your stuff added, let me know.   I haven't included Chiller or Circuit since they are mostly custom - contact Jordan or Mark for your custom setup.  0910 wasn't in there because the website indicates sold out.  Prices are US.  Oh, and I forgot the Fuse General complete for $300, but I couldn't determine the dimensions (help me out Paul).

A lot of these completes offer the top deck and trucks as an option.  Please contact each of them individually for info.  Caught a typo - Minus-7, a little error and you became Minus-8 and 9.  Sounds like British secret service to me. hahaaha

Obviously, there are new companies popping up, but I listed the stuff you "might" actually be able to get your hands on.

Bring on the snow!

Snowskating's future - the curse of popularity

When I first started snowskating in the early 2000s, there was a real problem getting access to any resort.  They were perceived as toys, foot traffic, etc.  Either way, ski patrol and mountain managers had no clue if these "toys" could go down a mountain without killing the rider and every other person in the periphery.

Fast forward 8 or so seasons...and there are many resorts that have not only accepted them, but have gone as far as to sanction contests or events.  And just this week, Terje Haakonsen was seen at the Ralston Factory and photographed doing big hits on a Ralston snowskate (see pics)

For those who ride, you know you get the "what is that?" questions at the ski resorts still.  But I'm getting fewer of those questions.  More people say "right on." 

But here's my issue - there are folks who gravitate to things because it is new, different - somewhat exclusive.  It's like being part of a special club.  No doubt, snowskaters are still in this space, just like snowboarders of days gone by.  At some point things explode.  The sport gains mass popularity.  Invariably, competitors crop up and the space becomes flooded with wannabe companies hoping to catch the wave.  The old crew will gripe about the good ol' days when we were hardcore and the new school will come out the door thrashing.   In some ways I'm seeing a little of this now.  "Dude, do you know Steve Frink!  That guy started it all!!!"   While Alan Gerlach throws a 50 ft table air and says, "Steve who?"  (By the way, Alan might very well know Steve - see article on Steve here).

Could we be far off from this?  I don't know.  In general, the very concept of riding without bindings is so unfathomable that it's hard to conceive (from a snowboard/ski perspective).  But once you do it, you realize what you can do.  And it's mind blowing.

Have a fun summer my friends...

The closed ski resort - free fun in a tough economy!

While most folks replace their skis for golf clubs or whatever spring/summer sport, don't forget about your local ski resort.  Since my kids are too little to actually ski (2&4), this presents a unique opportunity for the little ones to enjoy snow and sunshine!  And guess what - it comes without the lift ticket prices and freezing children screaming for hot chocolate.  Here in the PacNW, there will be snow for weeks to come.  From last weekend my daughter made a snowman:

 

For the adult (me), I enjoy hiking up the mountain for some early morning runs.  Again, it's great and costs very little (gas money).  In one instance (last spring), I was able to combine the both of them:

The possibilities are endless!

What about you?  Do you creative free ways to entertain your rugrats?

Snowskating is the least expensive way to the snow

What do I mean by that?  It's all relative, but in comparison - let's break down some numbers.  

The specific cost of entry to snowskating is cheap when comparing to gearing up for snowboarding or skateboarding.  For a snowboarder or skier, you need to buy boots ($$), Board ($$), and bindings ($$).  This can set you back $500-$1000 (or more).  Most snowskaters have just converted some boots or skateboard shoes, plus most of the snowskate shoes are almost the same as skate shoe prices (especially on sale!).  Obviously we don't need bindings.  A new snowskate runs about $300.  That's roughly the cost of just a cheaper new snowboard (without bindings).  The same thing goes for skiers.  To that "we are cheaper" point, we have the PBR inspired graphic on a new snowskate from FUSE:

Yes, you can rent snowboards and skis.  Yes, waterproof or at minimum water resistant clothing is still required.  Yes, lift tickets cost you a day's work.  But still! 

There you have it - the cheapest way to get on the slopes without spending all your dough.

Agree, disagree?

 

Snowskate shoes

While at the Roundup, I made a mental note to ask people or look at what shoes they were wearing.  It turns out that at least half of the crew were wearing some form of normal skate shoes.  Some had adapted by wearing either wool socks, waterproof socks or just dealing with it.  Their were still lots of folks rocking the older Vans designs (Motley, Ico).  I'm still wearing the same Vans Motleys I got on clearance for $40 many years ago.  I've added Sno-seal on them to reduce water permeability.

BTW, Sno-seal is amazing stuff.  It really makes things waterproof.  And it's just a natural formulation of beeswax.  And it's been around for 80 years or something ridiculous. I recommend putting this on all your leather/pleather winter shoes - especially if you are adapting regular skate shoes.

What no snowskate shoe has really figured out well is how to reduce getting snow in your shoes.  The older vans had a built-in neoprene gaiter, but even that wasn't perfect.  I'm thinking these might do the trick:  Dirty Girl gaiters.  These were originally designed for trail runners trying to keep debris out of their shoes.  They are cheap, easy to install, and they come in lots of patterns (see skull version pic).  Although not waterproof, I think they will keep enough snow out and dry quick.

What have you done to adapt your shoes?

In case you are looking, the following shoes have been recommended by folks:
DVS Militia (water resistant version)
Nike ACG Woodside or Air Force 1 duckboot
Sorel Chesterman Chukka
North Face Back-to-Berkeley boot
Vans Mtn Edition
Keen Snow Rover (for pow)

Snowskate Roundup 2012 - Steven's Pass (April 15th)

After some "will it or won't it happen" drama, the Roundup went down at Steven's Pass on April 15th. It was the same day as Spring Fest at Steven's, so there were lots of crazy outfits, pond skimming, and cardboard box racing.  We however, had our own agenda!  Photos courtesy of other people's cameras (Gergis, Brian Wilson, more).

After procuring a group rate via the group sales dude, we headed up to take some cruising runs to get the blood flowing.  Then we headed up to the terrain park to familiarize ourselves with obstacles.  Due to the "drama" we didn't have any snowskate specific obstacles built, but we quickly dialed in a few items.

The contest format:  It evolved into a jam format wherein all the riders would focus on one particular obstacle at a time.  Mark showed up to judge even though he was completely wrecked with a broken collarbone.  We started with some mellow to moderate kickers.  It's hard to recall, but some folks (Ted, Tyler, Jordan, Joachim, others) hit the jumps and others used it like a quarterpipe (Shag, Ted).  Tyler and Jordan also hit the big handrail - that thing was gnarly.  Good for them - I gave up on rails a long time ago - and I should have listened to my own advice...  Here's Jordan killing a rail (not the one I was talking about, but this was butter).

The second obstacle was a larger kicker with a gap.  Lots of big air going on with this, but you needed to carry a lot of speed.  I was able to get one solid, bolts on landing of an indy air over this gap (see pic).  That felt good.  Jordan was doing a nice varial air over the gap, too.

The third obstacle was the triangle wall.  With some speed, we were doing little wall rides on either side.  Here's 3rd Place Tyler doing a creative Acid drop off this thing.

I made the mistake of thinking I could ride up, railslide, then ride down the other side... I went too fast and the board hung up.  Epic crash.  Ouch.

Fourth obstacle: Picnic table - since I took off to nurse my wounds (advil and Redbull), I will have to let the videos do the talking:  https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=340052959390430

#5:  Updown rail:  Ok, the guys were good, but the ladies deserve special credit.  They were killing this obstacle while most of us (well, especially me) were flailing all over the place.

Final event - Chinese Downhill!   This was a unique downhill since the run that was chosen was steep in one section, but very flat in most of it.  With spring conditions in effect, this meant one thing: RUNNING.  This was really fun to see and I look forward to posting videos from this.

We all took a cruiser to finish the day and head back to the parking lot for some well deserved drinks and hotdogs.  Prizes were awarded and everyone walked away with something.  There were many smiles to go around.  Special thanks to Victor Zurn for setting this up.

I'll re-post more stuff once all the folks with cameras start posting.

Women's
• 1st - Randi Rae Rettke
• 2nd - Angela Vaughan
• 3rd - Katie Nailer
Men's
• 1st - Joachim Bronzich
• 2nd - Jordan Armstrong
• 3rd - Kyler Lee

Videos so far: 


 Video 1.  Video 2 (crashes)

Sean Davis - my karmic cousin

I'm not sure what it is, but my friend Sean Davis (A snowskater from Lake Tahoe who has produced some of the best snowskate movies to date) and I must have some cosmic karma.  I was at Costco last night and who is strolling down the aisle?  Sean.  Seriously, it's Costco, in Woodinville, WA.  Not on the slopes.  Not at an event. Costco.

What is it, you ask?  I don't know.   Last summer I was on a business conference in Lake Tahoe.  My team picked a random restaurant for dinner and who just happens to be working our dinner party as lead server?  Sean.  For real.

At the 2011 Olympics event, for whatever, reason, Sean and I ended up hanging together at the club for much of the night.

In 2009(?) I met Sean for the first time over beers with another snowskate legend - Shagadelic.  Had a good time chatting then, too.

Sean cracks me up.  For all his fun "gansta" swagger (note random gangster signs in photo), at his core is just a really nice, friendly guy.  If you see him, say hi, because chances are you'll become his friend, too.

This bud's for you dude!  (Sean - in khaki - with Brian "My friends are better than your friends" Wilson)

Sean is the owner of "Strapless Entertainment" a snowskate video production company.  Here's a link to a recent video he put out for GoPro: http://youtu.be/ILYBTP5P7Zc

Hoodoo - The first contest of the year

There is a busy calendar of snowskating events this year (of which I will attend barely any).  However, being that  I had a hall pass, I went for it.  It was awesome. Just a couple pics of the crew enjoying a great day.  We sessioned deep powder and killed the park.