Its late season fluff, but its still fresh. Arappahoe Basin reported 6 inches overnight and its still coming down. Happy schralping.

This is a good, no great, email to open first thing in the morning:
"If you are receiving this email, one or more of your products has placed in the Top 10 of Future Snowboarding’s FSMVP Board Test for 2008/2009. This is an honor we would like to bestow upon you and your company for all the hard work by everyone who made this possible." Now, we can't tell you all the details; like exactly what place in the top 10 the Fusion Trip Out Got, or how long it took our crack team of artists to develop the perfect tye-die base pattern to hypnotize the competition into submission... BUT we can say:
The Fusion Trip Out (already a 3 time award winner, now 4!) won top 10 in the $400-$550 range in the '08-'09 FSMVP Board Test!

With more than 11 feet of snow on the ground at mid-mountain, Snowbird announced today it will extend its season into June and possibly beyond. Bird Pres. Bob Bonar said today he feels confident the resort will be able to offer riding daily through Sunday, May 11, and then Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through June 1 (including Monday, May 26, Memorial Day).
Previously not scheduled to operate for the remainder of the spring schedule, the Little Cloud chairlift began operating today and will continue to do so for the remainder of the spring schedule along with Peruvian Express, Mineral Basin Express and Peruvian Tunnel. The resort is open for skiing and riding 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sunday, May 11. Beginning May 16, the hours of operation will be 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lift tickets are $59.

The What teaser is what teaser. And what a teaser What is. SC Snow Team rider Jordan Bell holding it down in one of the most progressive urban influenced shred flicks yet. Check 'er out: http://www.transworldsnowboarding.com
/video.jsp?ID=1000005799

Superpark 12 is being built right now over in Mammoth and promises to continue in the proud Superpark tradition of stupid huge jump lines and uber-tech rail-trickery. This year's event has been dubbed "Son of Berserker" in its triumphant return to the left coast and will begin tomorrow May 6th. Oh yeah, Happy Cinco de Mayo everyone!

Its the end of the season and time to show off those bangers that you have been honing all year. Snowboy Productions is hosting a kinked rail and piñata bonking fiesta at Summit at Snoqualmie today, Saturday May 3rd, and its the perfect place to bring your bag o' tricks.
It'll all be happening in the West base area, just off the plaza. Registration is from 10-11 a.m. $20 to enter. Helmets required. Theme music recommended. Anyone under 18 needs a parents signature.

Don't miss one of the biggest parties on the West Coast during the West Coast Invitational from May 2nd to 4th in Mammoth. Village Nighttime Rail Jam Saturday and the Fiesta de la Pipa today. There will also be a 21 and over concert at Canyon Lodge tomorrow night with performances by My-G featuring a special guest and Talib Kweli. Tickets are currently available at the Main Lodge ticket office, McCoy Sports and all MMSA lodging properties.

Happy May Day. If you live in Colorado, you might not see a whole lot of May flowers today. Everyone above 9,000 feet has a fresh white blanket to keep the dream alive into yet another month. Thanks snow gods, we've missed you the past couple seasons.

The $40,000 PEANUT BUTTER AND RAIL JAM CHAMPIONSHIPS will go down tomorrow at Mammoth Mountain. Remember, this one is invite only, and the rider check in is at 8am at Roma's Room at the base. If you aren't going to ride, be sure to come check out the show, chances are, it'll be a good one.

Snowbird extends season due to continual accumulation of the good stuff. They will remain open daily though May 11 and then Fri, Sat, Sun until Memorial Day, or maybe even longer, conditions permitting… oh dang.

Santa Cruz and MOM llc, the hottest new accessory brand in the game, bring all you coloRADans the End of April Sunday Funday at the Basin. MOM will be there with a few uber fashionable snow gaiters and doo-dads from next years line to up your flair game. Easy to find us, just look for the Knot logo on the tent on the beach next to the Molly Hogan Lift.

Loveland Ski Area is still accepting photos for their 2007-2008 annual Photo Contest. Monthly winners have been selected all year and will compete against one another for 1st through 3rd place as well as one grand prize winner. You can check out the Loveland website for details and also the rules for submission.

Echo Mountain is the Last Park Standing. Echo Mountain's grand finale late-season park comp and party will happen TOMORROW! This year's LPS is going to be blowing up too, with more than $12,000 in cash and $4,000 in prizes to be given away. Not only will there be an amateur rail jam and pro slopestyle competition, but all the festivities that go along with 'em including live music, a sponsor village, and much much more. Go to echomtnpark.com for the details.

Yeah! And it's the 24th of April! Kirkwood Mountain Resort, celebrating 35 years of operation, will hold its final Snowbomb Sunday in the Park Jam series this sunday on the 27th as the season finally winds down. We'd love to see you there!

Loveland Ski Area in Colorado will celebrate the end of another amazing season of riding on May 4th. The Smith Limo will be on hand for open sessions and an end of the season rail jam. Also, local singer songwriter Arnie J. Green will play on the patio in the afternoon. Come out for the last day of great riding here at Loveland!

There is a vast amount of information, and well, garbage on the internet. Good thing I'm here to steer your attention in the right direction. Instead of surfing aimlessly, you should paddle your PC in the direction of the great white wave that is at: http://www.ttrworldtour.com/
profiles/men/gian-simmen.html
- Surf's Up!

Check out this video that Spy just posted of their Euro Pro team. I-Pod has got some pretty sweet shots in there worth checking out... http://www.transworldsnowboarding.com
/video.jsp?ID=1000005734

Brighton and Breckenridge both call it quits for the 2007-2008 season. The riding is still pretty epic though, snow fell steadily all year and both resorts close with over 100" bases. If you don't want to fight the crowds, you are more than welcome to come join us over at Arapahoe Basin for the first annual Santa Cruz and MOM "Smokin! Bar-B-Que and Pipe Jamboree"! If you haven't heard, MOM makes the snow gaiters that all you jeans wearin' hessians need to keep dry while schralping the gnar!

Today is the second to last day of the season over at Breckenridge and the park is incredible. The weatherman is calling for an afternoon high near 50 right around 3 o'clock when Robert Randolph and the Family Band will take the stage up on Ridge Street for another installment in the Spring Massive Free Concert Series. If you haven't had the chance to see Robert before I suggest you get over there and check out the festivities... this guy wails on the lap slide guitar like no other!

So today is National High Five Day here in the States. Go and celebrate with anyone who looks like they need a good five! First person to email me photographic High Five evidence gets a Santa Cruz Knot T! Happy slapping! www.nationalhighfiveday.com

Park City Mountain Resort just announced $10.5 million in improvements for the 2008-09 winter season including a new high-speed chair lift, terrain enhancements and renovation of the Mid-Mountain Lodge. PCMR’s new lift, Crescent lift, replaces the existing Ski Team lift, and begins near the base of the Resort and extends to Crescent Ridge. The new chair lift will significantly increase accessibility out of the base area to the front-side runs, which are some of the Resort’s best advanced terrain. The new lift takes guests almost twice as far as the Ski Team lift and in less time.

Woodward Camp and Copper Mountain are beginning construction of a 20,000 square foot snowboard/ski/and skate training facility at the base of Copper Mountain. Inside the facility they will feature rails, boxes, a ¼ pipe that simulates a Superpipe, big air jump into foam, trampolines, some skate features, a viewing platform and much more to compliment the already built indoor wooden skate bowl and retail facility. This will instantly turn Copper into a year round mecca for the constantly evolving world of action sports. Exxxtreme! Go to http://www.malakye.com/asp/front/
CMSPage.asp?TYP_ID=2&ID=1294 for a full story.

The season is winding down out in coloRADo, but not quite yet over. Finish off the season in style with Breckenridge's end of season blowout concerts featuring Grace Potter & the Nocturnals and Robert Randolph & the Family Band on Friday and Saturday. Not a better way to end a great season than with a sunshine-filled day on the slopes and action-packed concerts in town on Ridge Street.

Today is the last day of the season for Copper Mountain, Keystone, Vail, and Winter Park resorts out here in Colorado... and its a powder day. Go figure. Each mountain has some pretty rad end of the year festivities going on, so quit slacking, and be sure and join in the fun!

Malay day went OFF yesterday smack in the middle of a ridiculous late season Colorado snowstorm. The snow did anything but dampen the spirits of those who came out in number to show their support and love for a fellow snow enthusiast. To those of you who weren't lucky enough to know Josh and who haven't yet made your way to one of his memorial events, I strongly suggest that you make the time next year. In all the events I have been fortunate enough to be apart of over the years I have never before felt so much love and camaraderie from fellow participants. Go to: http://www.futuresnowboarding.com/2008
/04/malay-day-thrives to check some photos.

The Telus World Ski and Snowboard Festival begins in Whistler today and runs through the 20th. The festival will feature all sorts of events and musical acts including De La Soul, Blackalicious, and Michael Franti and Spearhead, and dj's Donald Glaude & DJ Dan, and Mark Farina.

Get your gear together and head over to Golden Peak lodge at the base of Vail to sign up for Malay Day 2008! The fluffy stuff keeps falling so it should make for an interesting day to say the least. If it keeps coming down like this it will be easy to spot me over there... I will be the guy lapping the trees next to the park trying to spray anyone and everyone on a Jeremy Fish Twinza. The stunt ditch spectacular starts at 11 am sharp, followed by rails at 12:30 and jumpin' at 2. Be there or be square.

Spring Massive at Breckenridge is about to get underway. Spring Massive is an end of the season celebration with many events including my personal favorite, the Breckenridge Beer Fest presented by KSMT. This year's Beer Fest will be held Saturday the 12th in Breck and will feature unlimited tastings featuring 17 microbrews and craft beers and live music from Tony Furtado, the Subdudes, and the The Railbenders. PS - MALAY DAY is TOMORROW, so make sure that you get the time off work to come to Vail and throw down in Josh's honor!

Vail Mountain is proud to host the fifth annual Malay Day in the Fly Zone Terrain Park at Golden Peak on Thursday, April 10 at 11 a.m. The event is held in honor and loving memory of Santa Cruz and Vail team rider, Josh Malay, who lost his life while snowboarding in 2004. Malay Day kicks off with a Pipe Jam at 11 a.m., followed by a Rail Jam at 12:30 p.m. and a Jump Jam at 1:30 p.m. A best overall male and female “Destroyer” will be announced at the end of the day and each will receive a 2008/2009 Vail Season Pass.
A DJ will be spinning all day, free food will be available for all participants, and additional prizes will be awarded at random to those who impress the judges. Garfinkel’s in Lionshead is hosting the after-party.
Malay Day is open to all ages, genders and disciplines. Participants must register for the contest at the Golden Peak Lodge from 9 – 10 a.m. on April 10. The registration fee is $10 which includes a bandana and the opportunity to win cool prizes, donated on behalf of some of the best companies in the snowboarding industry. Those under 18 must bring a parent to registration to sign waivers. Participants may purchase a special $40 lift ticket for the day of the event at registration.

Malay Day will be held this Thursday, April 10th at Vail. The event is held in honor and loving memory of Santa Cruz and Vail team rider Josh Malay who tragically lost his life while snowboarding in 2004. Friends and fellow snowboarders are inspired to "live and love life" in his memory. Details will be posted on this site shortly.

April 7-13: Spring Back to Vail. Vail’s huge end of the season bash includes free concerts, unique competitions and the Bacardi World Pondskimming Championships hosted by special guest Johnny Moseley (yeah!). On April 10, Gov't Mule will perform at the Dobson Arena, followed by Kottonmouth Kings on April 11. Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals take center stage April 12 for an outdoor concert at Ford Park.

For 2008, The Wahoo's Winter Park / Amateur Freeride Series will consist of Rail Jam, Slopestyle, and Superpipe events. For those of you who competed over the past couple years, you know that they have some of the best events around! The slopestyle course is one of the longest in the region, using the entire lower Rail Yard (including the Dark Territory section!). Superpipe events will be held in a Zaugg-cut pipe featuring 18 foot walls. Event is open to the first 100 competitors. Day-of Registration is 8-9am Showcase Snowboard Shop @ the base of WP. Cost is $25 Early Registration, $35 Day of the event ($10 discount for 13 and Under). Reduced Price Competitor Lift Ticket available at registration. For more information visit www.rlyrd.com.

http://www.doskimag.ru/ - This is a link to a Russian Snowboard mag's website. Its called Doski and unfortunately that's about all I could understand from their front page. I am looking for someone to help me translate, so any help would be rad. Anyway, Gian Simmen just got the cover of their latest issue and its a sweet night shot in the stunt ditch. You should check it out.

The Vail Film Festival kicks off activities for 2008 today and will run through this Sunday the 6th. The festival will feature over 100 films in the following genres: Student Films, Shorts, Animation, Documentary, Feature, Oscar Shorts, Green Showcase Documentaries, a Red Vision Short Film Contest, and of course a sampling of some of the finer Action Sports films of the year.

If you live in Southern California and have any plans of riding at June or Mammoth next season now would be a good time to figure out your pass situation. For an extremely limited time Mammoth and June are offering their unrestricted 07-08 Gold Pass for 50% off! Wow, pay off your season pass in under 10 days!

A Public Service Announcement from my buddy Anton Radice:
"Hey SC, just wondering why you guys aren't bigger on the east coast? I've been riding a rebel series 146 and Kooley 151 for the past couple of years and your boards are soo sick! Just the shape and flex is perfect for everything I ride, which is everything from park to trees. Over the last 10 or so years, I've tried nitro, burton, academy, forum, signal, and gnu and nothing was working until I got to Santa cruz.
I dont understand why more people don't ride Santa Cruz boards here on the east. I've been spreading the good word to a bunch of buddies in hopes of more people buying Santa Cruz. Keep making the dope boards and I'll keep coming back to you. Give me a holler if you come east! Thanks!" - No, Thank You Anton - Keep spreading the word!

Tomorrow, April 1st marks 720 Boardshop's 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! We will be holding an event here at the shop (18551 E. Mainstreet Unit, Parker, CO, 80134 @ 720-842-5366) along with the Parker Chamber of Commerce. There will be specials going on throughout the day, Giveaways including skateboards, clothing, and gift certificates, FREE food and drinks! We will be running specials all day, but the actual festivities will run from 5PM-7PM.

Thank you for all of your support! Hope to see you all there! - Travis Idler, owner/manager 720

Vail resorts has tried to put the kaputz on an annual celebration of yester-year style and inebriation known lovingly to locals as "Gaper Day". In an attempt to be sneaky, Gaper Day is actually going down today March 31st at Breckenridge instead off the more traditional April Fools Day gathering according to reliable inside sources. You still have time to drag out the neon onesie and strap a pair of Sled Dogs or Big Feet snowlerblades to your hard boots and get schRADical. Zinca is also highly recommended.

Celebrate the coming of spring with the Winter Park Spring Blast. Check out the 2nd annual Dummy Downhill, or chill out on the decks of Derailer Bar with drink specials and live music, get free tips from the Winter Park Ski and Snowboard school, watch the area's best freeride competitors in rail jam competitions and demo's, and don't forget about the season finale Spring Splash.

If you live at Timberline, Oregon or Targhee Resort over in Idaho and have a really comfortable couch, will you please email me your address? I heard you guys just got a foot of fresh and I am totally willing to trade for a spot to crash for a day or two!

Congrats are due to a Mr. Robbie Sell for winning the 2nd annual Butterbox High Ollie Competition recently at the village at Northstar in Tahoe. Robbie sent his shred stick a wopping 4 feet 7.5 inches into the stratosphere! Oh Dang!

Happy Birthday Seth! Thanks for all the memories on and off the snow, and best wishes on many, many more to come!

The 2008 United States Of America Snowboard Association National Championships will be held at Copper Mountain, CO, site of the 2005 Nationals, from the 29th to the 5th of April. USASA have made a 2 year commitment to Copper and have lots of great things planned! Check back here later this week for more details on this great event!

Yup you missed it. 50,000 easter eggs and you didn't even find one. Well, unless you were at Copper with me and about 37,000 snot nosed little rug rats. The biggest egg hunt in coloRADo went down yet again without a hitch and brightened the day of many a pastel wearing little tyke.

NHS recently hosted its first ever Open House. The event was freakin' gangbusters! We invited a mess of our top retailers, bros, & pros to come hang out, eat, drink and be merry. The pictures show a good sneak peak at what goes on inside the NHS headquarters. Here's what went down: http://www.strangenotes.com/.

Today is Earth Day 2008. I know its a little trendy right now, but we should all try and reduce our waste and carpool today in the name of Momma Nature (well, everyday since we are snowboarders and rely pretty heavily on the stuff staying frozen). I won't get all Al Gore on you, but winter is pretty dope and I'm done taking chances. Lets all think of winter as our hot little sister who we feel really protective over. Happy hippy day.

Flumsiberg, Switzerland: Gian Simmen got down with the crew over at the German Snow Publication "Snowboarder MBM" (MBM stands for Monster Backside Magazine!) as they played host to the 10th annual Monster Session. Apparently the whole point of this event is to TCB (take care of business of course). Go to http://www.futuresnowboarding.com/
2008/03/monster-session to get the low down and see some rad pictures.

V.R. is excited to introduce a new pass for 08/09 that will change your definition of the perfect season. The Epic Season Pass — unlimited and unrestricted skiing/riding at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly for only $579.
Yes, you read that correctly.
This pass makes your Epic Season a reality — no need to count days, check lift prices, or worry about blackout dates. With the Epic Season Pass, you can simply enjoy the excitement of skiing and riding again. Visit EpicPass.com to learn more.

"Good news! I pod just won the Halfpipe World Cup at the FIS Grand Finals held from the 12th to 16th in Valtellina, Italy. He actually won the overall points total for the Cup too so he got a crystal bowl for it. Oooh! Here is the link: http://www.swiss-ski.ch/ (and then click on the link that says "Bling Bling im Halfpipe-Team")." Greetings, Gian

Contrary to popular belief pinching people is actually really fun. Throw on your favorite shade o' green, dance a jig, and get pinchy! I heard happy hour at the pub might be the cool thing to do today, but I'm totally sticking to pinching. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Momma Nature must be feeling generous these days. Around 2 feet of new snow at all of the resorts in and around Summit County Colorado in the past 48 hours, its right around 32 degrees, and not a cloud in the sky. Things could be worse...

The US Grand Prix is set to start tomorrow at Killington resort in Vermont. Halfpipe, slopestyle, and boardercross have all had some practice laps and the courses are looking good so the action should be too.

A friendly reminder to all you shops and buyers out there: the prebook deadline is upon us. If you haven't gotten your order for the '08-'09 line submitted to your local rep feel free to email me and I will put you in touch with the best inside sales team in the game.

Reef Larwood just got hooked up with a hoody, a t, and a sticker pack that should make all you little shreds jealous. All because Reef saw the light.... in case you missed it before, here are Reef's words. Pure genius:

"hey guys, i was at the vans cup last weekend and i demo'd an 09 allstar and i have to tell you it was the best board i ever rode! i bought a rome solution earlier this season but i would trade it in for this board in a heartbeat. next time i buy a board its probly gonna be a santa cruz. also the guys you had working the booth were really rad. the last night i had just put lock tite on my binder screws so i couldnt really take my bindings off to demo the new board with so one of the guys took his own bindings off just so i could demo it, not many people would do this. you should give this guy a bonus or something for being so cool and making another person (me) want to buy a board from you guys. thanks, reef larwood (13yrs.)"

The NHS day at Dodge Ridge was a blast! Thanks to Dodge Ridge resort for putting up with us, we appreciate it a ton! Go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/
hollyphotography/sets/72157604093892582/ to check out some of the action! Yeah Team!

There is a new video up on the Future Snowboarding Magazine website (http://www.futuresnowboarding.com
/category/videos). It has tons of really good shots from the Vans superpipe event at Northstar and even has one of Iouri's entire runs. Pretty rad... u-tubular even.

So I am going to start a petition to send to the World Superpipe Championships dudes and dudettes that are in Park City right about now getting all u-tubular without I-Pod. I was hoping that you would want to be on my petition. Without Iouri (and a few other select international rippers) they should have to change the name or something. How about the "Invite Only Super-Stunt-Ditch Cup" or something else generic?

Remember, the views expressed here do not necessarily reflect the official beliefs of Santa Cruz or it's affiliates.

The annual Log Masters Competition is set to go down this Sunday March 9th at the one and only Beaver Creek Resort in Avon, Colorado. This is arguably the birthplace of the jib and still represents the progression of the movement. The contest will definitely not disappoint. Jibs not jobs.

"hey guys, i was at the vans cup this weekend and i demo'd an 09 allstar and i have to tell you it was the best board i ever rode! i bought a rome solution earlier this season but i would trade it in for this board in a heartbeat. next time i buy a board its probly gonna be a santa cruz. also the guys you had working the booth were really rad. the last night i had just put lock tite on my binder screws so i couldnt really take my bindings off to demo the new board with so one of the guys took his own bindings off just so i could demo it, not many people would do this. you should give this guy a bonus or something for being so cool and making another person (me) want to buy a board from you guys. thanks, reef larwood (13yrs.)"

http://www.transworldsnowboarding.com/
enlarge.jsp?galleryID=1000018987&
imageNbr=11

I know its a pain in the arse to copy and paste this address into your browser, but you need to peep this in case you forgot how to do a proper donkey kicker. I Pod's got that ish on lock like doo doo on Brooklyn dreads. Plus, yellow cats are like totally the new black.

Iouri Podladtchikov takes third in the Vans Tahoe Cup for the second year in a row with a stellar run and catlike maneuvers! The person who emails me the first thing that Iouri bought with his newest set of 7,000 dollar bills from the cup gets a brand new fleece lined brandana! Oh dang.