go back to Szine Newsletter IndexThe Snowboard Szine
Vol. 1, Issue 8
2/25/04
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In This Issue
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1. Spring at the Local Hill
2. Report from High Rollerz Competition on Sat. at Blue Hills, MA
3. Snowboard Diary from Lauren - Ollies, Gloves with Wrist Guards
4. THE BLOCK in Lake Tahoe - First Snowboarder Owned Hotel
5. Tara Dakides Sets a Bad Example
6. US Open March 13-21 @Stratton, VT
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1. Spring at the Local Hill
Yesterday I rode Spring conditions at my local hill. Yes, Spring is coming, and
this snowboard season is drawing to an end. Sob. On the bright side, it's nice to
ride in above-freezing temps for a change. It's been so rare this season. And
another bright spot is that people think if there's no snow in their yard, the
season's over. Which makes for uncrowded conditions! And Spring is a great time to
try out the halfpipe. It's slower and softer. In fact, all tricks are less scary
when you land on soft spring snow.
To me, small ski/snowboard hills have certain advantages over big mountains. You
can park mere steps from the base. Prices are lower. There are usually less flats to
skate over. You don't have to adjust to high altitude. People are friendly. And if
you have a little hill near you, you might be able to bounce out for a few hours and
ride on an afternoon or evening when you find a little extra time.
I worked half a day yesterday, then took off and drove less than an hour north to
Thunder Ridge in Patterson, NY. The 3p.m. 'til 9 p.m. lift ticket is only $20. This
little hill is a quick easy trip, and has a surprising diversity of trails for a
hill with 600 feet of vertical. For the first hour on snow I never went down the
same trail twice. Thunder Ridge even has a halfpipe and 4 low rails this season. The
halfpipe was no competitions for Stratton's, but it's a good beginner pipe and gives
the feel you're looking for. Belleayre and Vail both had lots more flats than
Thunder Ridge, which is almost all downhill! Yesterday was very uncrowded, with ZERO
lift lines and I heard that even Sunday was light. I find that snowboarding is fun
anywhere, and it was certainly fun here yesterday under a bright blue sky. Thunder
Ridge faces northwest, and late on a sunny day the slopes are bathed in orange, and
you watch the sunset as you ride down. Ride there at night and you'll see the moon
too. Last year we rode the day before they closed for the season, and the hill had
natural water features - streams that we had to jump or ford. We have a great time
there!
I enjoy riding at tiny Nashoba Valley in Massachusetts too. Read
about Nashoba Valley here.
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2. Report from High Rollerz Competition on Sat. at Blue Hills, MA
Speaking of small hills, I went to the High Rollerz Competition on Sat. at Blue
Hills, in Canton, Massachusetts, just 15 minutes from Boston. Blue Hills is where my
husband learned to ski a long time ago, so it was a trip down his memory lane, which
made it special. It was a foggy day in the 40's with rain predicted, and I think the
weather kept people away. But it was a really fun event to watch. About 100 people
were there. 17 competitors, each of whom has been in the contest since the first
event. There are about 60 competitors in the contest overall and some chose to miss
this event as allowed. Good stuff: 2 jumps, 2 rails. 3 judges, one each for
difficulty of trick, style, and landing. It was even more fun because it was a small
friendly crowd and you could see everything easily. The Finals are at Waterville
Valley, NH on March 6. Props to Andrew Mutty and Fringe Marketing for this
well-organized ongoing event.
There was also a well attended rail jam Sat. at Nashoba Valley in MA. too. Read
about Nashoba Valley here.
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3. Snowboard Diary from Lauren - Ollies, Gloves with Wrist Guards
The Snowboard Szine newsletter that you are reading just hit a milestone of 200
subscribers, since we started taking subscriptions in Sept. Help us spread the word,
and tell your friends if you are enjoying this.
This is the year that I must learn to ollie.
I've spent a little time in the last 3 sessions on it, and it's definitely coming
along.
Just had to get the timing of rolling from front to back and feeling the spring
of the board just right. Now that the snow is softer, I'll get it, maybe even while
I'm moving downhill!
What are you working on, and how is your season going? Drop us a line!
I switched gloves yesterday, back to my first season pair, because they were dry.
I've been wearing gloves with hard wristguards built in this season. The Seirus
"Da Bone" Glove.
You know what? After a couple of runs I went and put the damp gloves with the
wristguards back on. I rarely fall hard on my hands anymore - this is my 4th year
riding. But accidents do happen and I can't afford a broken wrist. I just felt much
more secure with the guards. Of course I was wearing my Azzpads, helmet, and
RollerBlade hard knee pads. I wouldn't think of riding without these! The shell on
the Azzpads is so hard that you can knock on it and make a loud noise. That's why it
works so well at protecting your backside from bruises, or worse.
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Lost Not Found
This season I have lost my Burton gloves, and my Cabela's balaclava.
Inside my new Seirus gloves I have put white tape with my name and number written
in permanent marker, which is fading.
Have you found a good way to identify your gear so you don't lose it? Share
it with us.
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AZZPADZ hard plastic tailbone and
butt protector
Call toll free -866 299 -7239 -if you want to order.
(They're in Ontario, Canada, on Eastern Standard Time.)
The owners Neil and Jason are friendly snowboarder guys who want to make sure you
order the right size.
Tell them you heard about AZZPADZ here from Lauren at SnowboardSecrets.com.
Thanks!
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4. THE BLOCK in Lake Tahoe
First Snowboarder Owned Hotel
by Lynn Seldon
Read the complete article about The
Block here.
Located a block from the Heavenly Gondola and stumbling distance to the
futuristic Altitude Nightclub, casinos, and more, The Block Hotel is literally a
snowboarder's dream come true--both for its founder pro boarder Marc Frank Montoya
and his guests. Montoya says, "I always used to say to myself, 'Man, if I ever
owned a joint like this I would do this and that and this...' Well, now it's
seriously goin' down."
Highlights: the rooms all have fridge, microwave, coffee maker, WiFi, Xbox or PS2
game systems w/DVD, cable TV, CD player, boot and glove dryers, in-room snowboard
racks, Dean "Blotto" Gray artwork, themed rooms, room service, and much
more; incredible rates (look 'em up and book your crib--six to a room, with no extra
charge!); VIP entry into Altitude Nightclub (normally $10-20); free board waxing by
Bluebird Wax on weekends; free use of varied CDs and DVDs; free PowerBars and Clif
Bars; rooftop hot tub and two second story decks with exterior music; and a hangover
kit. Prices are incredibly low for what you (and your board) get--just check out the
site for current prices and deals.
If you go, tell them you read about The Block here at SnowboardSecrets.com.
Thanks!
THE BLOCK is located at 4143 Cedar Avenue in South Lake Tahoe, directly adjacent
to Harveys/Harrahs Casinos and as well as the incoming convention center scheduled
for 2005. It is 1 block from the Heavenly Gondola in S. Lake Tahoe. Reservations can
be made by calling 530.544.2936 or online at www.blockattahoe.com
or virtualtahoe.com. Email is blockattahoe@aol.com
Lynn Seldon has spent the past twenty years covering all aspects of travel
writing and photography for publications including Playboy, Southern Living, Cruise
Travel and Caribbean Travel and Life. He's been snowboarding since the late '90s.
Editors Note: THE BLOCK hotel has agreed to partner with the Snowboard Outreach
Society by offering donations, equipment and funding of at least 1% of the hotels
annual profits.
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5. Tara Dakides Sets a Bad Example
SnowboardSecrets Editor publishes opinion in NY Daily News
Read the snowboard rant that the Editor of SnowboardSecrets.com had published in
the New York Daily News as a Letter to the Editor this month.
It starts like this:
To the Editor;
"It's all about progression." That's what they say about snowboarding.
What a bunch of baloney. In truth, it's all about conservatism, macho, and fashion
follow-the leader.
To read the rest click here.
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6. US Open March 13-21 @Stratton, VT
The top freestyle snowboarders in the world compete at this premier event, one of
the oldest contests in snowboarding.
More at http://www.usopen-snowboarding.com/
If you can't be there, see it on TV in April.
April 11 on NBC - 1:30 - 3 p.m. EST
It will be listed on http://www.WhatsonSnow.com
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Thanks for reading The Snowboard Szine!
Lauren
Editor