Its been a while since my last post, mainly due to working so much, but lately its because the snow has been so damn good. We had the Feburary half term which pretty much wrote off any real riding for two weeks and then we were hit by some of the most perfect snow storms ive ever seen. The past 3 days have been the real highlights though, we revisited some of the classic lines that ive done in the past and also some new lines.
First off was a line under the Aguille Rouge gondola called Les Cables. Although its in resort it has the feel of high mountain backcountry, its a very steep and rocky couloir where falling isn't an option. We decided to take the more risky route of jumping the fence and starting at the very top of the couloir instead of traversing in from lower down, this meant the run was alot longer but had more risk involved. The clouds were coming in fast so there wasn't much hanging around, we picked out route and then let it rip down the face. The snow was incredible dry, deep, blower powder and was so much fun to ride......albeit with some 'sluff management' to take into account. This was the first time this winter i felt scared, mostly due to the sheer exposure i felt, it has an invisible presence and pressure that puts fear into you and keeps you on your toes.
The run was spectacular, we were the first people to ski it after the fresh snow and so both of us were pretty happy to say the least.
We didnt wait around and jumped onto the gondola again and headed to the next big line, 'Les Cascades'. This is another fairly exposed line but maybe not as much as Les Cables but there is a huge cliff band that you really dont want to be falling off.
Again there was a fence to jump and then we were greeted with some of the deepest snow of this winter, each turn was a face shot. This run was alot of fun, and once we navigated around the cliff band we lucked out and found a completely untracked face.......i felt like i needed a snorkle! We finished the day while the stoke was high. A Perfect day with alot of satisfaction and achievement, its one of the reasons freeriding is great......that exhaustion you feel at the end of the day which is a product of pushing your limits, feeling scared and getting out of your comfort zone all melts into an overwhelming feeling of being alive.
The next day brought about another adventure, it didnt go quite to plan but we still got alot out of it and had another great day. The goal was to go touring off the back of Aguille St Espirit and head towards the Mont Pourri refuge. The first challenge was to reach a ridge line where we could drop down, this involved boot packing a 400 metre col that was loaded with 2 foot of fresh pow in places and windblown crust in others. I had massively misjudged the steepness and the amount of snow, thinking it would only take us an hour to hike....wrong! After about a third of the way up i realised we were going to get to the ridge line in time, the sun was strong and would be affecting the planed route down the other side making it dangerous. The plan changed and we deciede to hike as far up the col as possible and then score some fresh lines back down said col, this was a good choice...it took us over an hour and a half to hike over two thirds of the col before it became too steep to set a good boot pack. I made a ledge below some rocks so we could sit and get our breath back and soak up the views before working out the next challenge, getting my feet into the snowboard on such a steep angle........a challenge overcome in the least gracefull and stylish way. Alot of respect goes to my Swedish friend who made it up the boot pack with true scandinavien grit and viking determination, they are made of tough stuff over there, must be all the tinned fish.
There isnt much to say about snowboarding this face, it was stunning. A very steep face loaded with dry pow, what more can a snowboarder want. It was a super long decent to the valley floor and after some high fives and admiring our lines we got the skins on and toured towards the chairlifts, but not before we had one more face to ride. short and sweet but with a small cornice drop to enter the line. It was North facing so had no been affect by the sun, meaning more fresh snow and high fives. Another great day, it makes such a difference knowing you have used your own steam and determination to get what you want. It can make something which at the start didnt look to promising into something to be proud of. Another Best Day One app that helped alot with these past few days was FATMAP. And their latest development is even more exciting. You can now access your favourite ski areas on your desktop or laptop. This means bigger maps making that planning phase even easier. Especially when looking at routes with exposure or when i was unsure about certain parts that i could not see in person, it was great to be able to look at FATMAP and feel more comfortable with line choices. Check out the Les Arcs map below
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This past week has been the Les Arcs Freeride week, which is made up of two 2* competitions and one 4*. I had signed up for the 2*. The first comp was just above Arc 1950, the annoying thing was that the changed the face twice and then once more the night before the even which meant that any prep and line choices had to be changed last minute. Conditions wernt great, the snow was very crusty in some places and icy in others, but this is all part of freeride.....its not all powder. You have to take all this into account when choosing your line, it forces you to make good decisions. I love freeride for this reason, using binoculars to scope the fact, trying to work out hobbit that drop is, where are the technical sections and looking for landmarks so you don't get lost when the moment matters. My line wasn't very risky, i just wanted to get down without falling and out a solid run in. The day of the comp was nice, the sun came out and by the time i dropped in the snow had softened up a bit. I got a few small drops in at the top, and found some fresh snow in a couloir and that was the end of my run. Me and some of the other freeriders then went out for a ride for the afternoon. This is probably the best thing about Freeride comps....the friends you make so quickly. I ended up in 25th place which i wasn't too happy about, i felt my run was a lot better then that but for my first comp of the season i can't really complain. We had a day in before the next comp in which we could go and spot our lines again. The venue was now on the Malgovets face above Arc 1600, its a super short face but is loaded with big cliffs and creative lines.
The snow gods looked down on us that day and delivered over 30cm of fresh snow, meaning people were going to go big. Thursday started well and the weather was good, my bib number had changed from 112 to 88.....so i was stoked. I had picked my line and stuck to it, no last minute changes. Two big drops, one of which was a double that i wanted to gap. Overall i was happy with my run, apart from i had a small fall at the end of the last drop. Everyone was buzzing thanks to the new snow, a lot of the skiers were picking ridiculous lines and the snowboarders were getting really creative with theirs. I finished in 12th place, which I'm really happy with......without that fall i would have finished a lot higher....something to build on before the next one! The freeride tour has become a lot more then just a competition to me now. Its definitely a way of life. I have met some amazing people this week, who i hope to stay in contact with and hopefully get to ride their home mountains. There is o much to take away from these events, I think freeride brings about a special kind of person. The dedication, the hard work and the spirit are all embraced by the competitors, although competitor is not the right work, its more like a Freeride family. Theres is a unique spirit amongst them, like an understanding that everyone is there to push themselves and inspire the person next to them. Its the attitude of "lets just ski" and have fun. To me, this is living. Thanks to Neversummer snowbaords and Fitwell Winter in Europe has arrived big time,but its this time of year that a part of my mind always turn towards one of my closest friends and my reason for wanting to be in the mountains. These thoughts happen every time winter rolls around and I will mention it a lot, but its something that has not only affected my life greatly but is also something that everyone who has a passion for the mountains should take the time to think about. Its only in the last year that I have reached the point where I can talk about it. It still devastates me and it always will, but I feel strongly that it should be spoken about.
Tom Chesters, a person hard to put into words. I met him on my first winter season and we were close ever since, I still remember the random phone calls I would get from Tom which would undoubtedly contain high levels of banter. He was a person that had an appetite for adventure and for pushing his physical and mental limits further then anyone else. Whether it be running the La Plagne 6000D with no training or studying for his PHD, he never sat still......unless it was to watch Tottenham loose......sorry Tom At a time when I felt a bit lost, Tom(and everyone I have met on my winters) had a profound effect on me. He(and they) showed me there is nothing wrong in doing what makes you happy......it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks as long as you are still pushing yourself and living to the fullest. The worst thing we can do as people is to become stagnant. Tom was my hero and someone I looked up to. On the 20th January 2013 I got a phone call saying Tom and 3 others had been killed in an avalanche in Glencoe, Scotland. My world suddenly got smaller. I cant really remember what that day felt like, its a blur, but I do remember being angry at everything and anything. The realisation that I would never get that random phone call from him again was heartbreaking and was met with years of uncontrolable emotions. Tom was an experienced mountaineer with many ascents around the alps and that is the backbone of this blog post. Im not going to get into the details of that day, there is a BBC documentary called 'Wild winter, Surviving Avalanches' which details that and other incidents that year in Scotland. We are in an age now where technology is taking over. There are many innovations in mountain safety but knowledge is still key. ABS bags are fantastic, but there are too many people who use them to justify doing something stupid, they think that because they are wearing the bag that no harm can come to them.This is wrong! The key to mountain safety is your judgement, to have the balls to not do something as it doest feel right. To take in your surroundings and process that into risk analysis. As with Toms accident though, sometimes there is nothing you can do..........unfortunately an element of luck does come into play. So as the winter is now in full force, remember to learn and soak up as much information as you can about your surroundings and take inspiration from the amazing people in this industry as they are some of the most interesting and motivational people you are likely to meet. Are you more into Freeride then park or maybe nothing makes you happier then boot packing a couloir or taking the split board for a thrash, then no doubt you've struggled to find a boot that is stiff enough in the right paces without feeling like you wearing a ski boot. My trouble was that no matter how stiff the manufacturers said the boot was it always collapsed after hard use, not to mention the pain of kicking in steps with a soft toe. This winter i am lucky enough to have mountaineering brand Fitwell sponsoring me and they were kind enough to send me out a pair of their latest boot, The Freeride. This boot is brand new this winter and comes off the back of their massively popular split board specific boot the Backcountry. First impression of the boot is the build quality, its second to none. Most snowboard boots look a little bit patched together but this has a real craftsmen feel. The sole is tough and looks like it will cope with most terrain. Its definitely on the stiff side and although it will soften slightly i think not as much as most boots. Testing
After testing the boot out a few times i can backup the stiffness, its not for jibbing thats for sure. The ATOP lacing system works great, its nice being able to easily slacken off the laces when in touring mode and then be able to tighten again quickly. The powerstrap is another highlight, its something that every snowboard boot should have, i don't understand why its not standard. You can never get that snug fit around the top of the boot with standard lacing, the power strap just pulls it in and gives your shins something to push against to power through a turn. Its also a great addition when in touring mode, you can adjust the tightness around your shins to match the terrain. The sole is fantastic, i tried it on ice and also scrambling up rock and the boot gripped fantastically. They do seem to have a bit more forward lean then most boots but paired with a slightly softer flex makes for a supportive fit. Overall this boot is exactly what i have been looking for. A stiff boot that holds you ankle and offers lateral support, this is particularly useful when traversing as it gives you control over your edges and takes away that awkward ankle pain. They are bit on the heavy side, so if you are into saving a few grams then it may not be for you....personally i like knowing that something is going to hold up so weight doesn’t bother me. The main reason i like these boots is that i can use them for general Freeriding, as the name suggests, its not just a split board boot and will easily cope with a day of charging around. One thing i will say is that if,like me, you are used to regular snowboard boots then the Fitwell will take a few days to feel right. It will punish you if your not on your game, but once you accept that then be prepared to never go back to regular boots again. The last test is to see how they cope with a season of heavy use, but i get the feeling they are going to outlast me! So, after a fairly slow start to the season, we can now confirm that winter has arrived in full force. We are just coming to the end of a 10 day storm that has seen over 2 metres of snow fall in Les Arcs. A lot of the mountain has been shut which ive never seen before, and there have been few sunny days but to be honest.....who cares! Storm riding brings the best of times. Being in Bourg St Maurice i have easy access to Arc 1600 which has world class tree riding just a short 10 min Funiculaire ride away. The past few days i have had some of the best tree runs of my life and thats no exaggeration, just see the footage below. Now this amount of snow also has major consequences in the form of avalanches and unfortunately there are uneducated people out there who's knowledge is severely lacking and when combined with ignorance it becomes a deadly combination. This has been an incredible storm, and its going to take a while for the conditions to calm down and only then can we figure out where conditions are safest. Im excited to go and rip some big open faces but for the time being, the trees are a far better alternative and just as much fun! Pointe Picheuru 3000m Who needs bottomless powder.... Finally managed to get out on the split board today. Bud and I packed up the car and left for Val d'sere with a rough idea of climbing La Tsanteleina. We were stoked to be finally getting out touring but this was quickly stamped out when we reached the bottom of the south facing mountain which had zero snow on it.......Gutted. After a quick look through the guide book we decided to try and find a north facing aspect just outside Val. We eventually found the turning and again were greeted with a col that had no snow. Decision time, do we just head to Tignes and skin up some pistes or do we take our chances and hike up the col in the hope there is snow over the other side. Obviously our adventurous side prevailed and so began the long slog up the dirt with all out gear on our backs. At the top of the col our gamble had paid off, we found snow! So out came the skins and we started to explore. We found a road that led towards a high alpine dam. After around 20 mins of skinning we were greeted with wild Chamois standing guard on the high cliffs, I've never seen them so close. They are kind of intimidating, staring at us the whole time as if we were trespassing on their ground....which i guess we were. We reached the dam and decided to hike a small couoiur to get a few turns in. At the top Bud decided to do some rock climbing to see what was over the top of the couloir, he came back asking how my legs were feeling to which i lied by saying fine. After a few short metres of clinging to a rock face we got to the top and were greeted by more massive mountains! I couldnt believe it. We had some much needed lunch, met some french tourers who we then decided to follow. The next few hours were some of the harder touring i have done, poor snow cover mixed with solid ice in places meant split board crampons were attached ( these are a must have for split boarders) It was steep and technical. My legs were shot. Bud on the other hand is a beast, i told him to carry on as i didnt think i would get to the summit. So off he sped disappearing into the snowy distance. I got a second wind and scrambled my way across rocks, which is very hard with crampons attached, and made it to just below the summit. Just as i was about to give up, Bud appeared on top of the peak and shouted down some abuse/banter....enough to give me a third wind and scramble my way up more ice and rock...across a ridge and to the summit. Pointe Picheru, 3000 metres.
I was stoked, the view was incredible and that usual feeling of achievement was over whelming. We even got some fresh turns off the summit, an added bonus to what was already an amazing day of exploring. My fitness levels wernt the best, and i struggled at times but stubbornness won through. It goes to show, having and adventurous spirit brings about the best times in the face of adversity. Total height gain - 1300m Summit - 3000m Views over the whole alps - Priceless Ive been a bit quiet for the past month due to coming back from New Zealand and spending some time with my family, and then moving out to France and getting ready for the coming winter.
Ive been in France for a few weeks now, working far too much and haven't had anytime to get out on the board. While there is more snow then this time last year, we aren't getting the dumps that they are getting stateside.....but its early days yet, winters are now starting a lot later in Europe. Im still confident we are in for a good winter. People love to moan about the lack of snow, but it will come and the way i see it is that you just have to put that bit more effort in to find what we do have. SoI thought I would review my current Splitboard setup. Never Summer Raptor My current split is by made by the boys in Colorado. They are know for their unmatched build quality and ingenuity. Ive always loved Never Summer ever since buying my Proto 5 years ago, I feel that they represent what I love about the industry. Their branding is understated and isn't all about having a high profile Pro Team, its about the people who work on the mountain and in the industry who need a board that will stand up to 100 days a winter for many years. My Never Summer Proto has been ridden in some shocking conditions and while it has needed some repair work, it's still going strong. This is testament to the quality of these babies. My Raptor isn't a normal factory splitboard. Never Summer used to do a thing where you could choose any of their boards and they would remake it as a custom splitboard....which is how my Raptor was born. It has the hybrid camber that all NS boards have, rocker between the bindings with camber underfoot. What this means is that you have the benefits of rocker when in the soft stuff, but the stability of the camber when landing drops. It does mean that when in touring mode you have a slightly smaller surface area but this is fine once you get used to it . The base is insanely fast and durable and edge to edge its very responsive. It's a stiff board, and paired with the Karakoram K clips means that even on piste it holds together well and rides almost as well as a solid board. Ive tested on pretty harsh New Zealand snow conditions and now i'm looking forward to using it here in Europe on some long tours. So there we have it, Never summer..............Go buy one! I was recently asked by Ellis Brigham to write an article on why snowboarders should give splitboarding a try this winter.
Here is said article, give it a read! http://www.ellis-brigham.com/advice-inspiration/blogs/news-and-blogs/5-reasons-you-need-to-try-splitboarding-this-season So the New Zealand winter is now over, snow is all but melted and the bikes trails are looking all the more inviting! For me it signals the time to pack up and move onto the next place. Its funny how such a nomadic lifestyle can bring together such amazing people who become great friends, this year in particular i will miss a lot of people, Wanaka really has become a second home to me now. This winter has been truly epic. The most snow NZ has seen for a long time and especially compared to last year made sure that everyone was frothing from the very start. I got some amazing riding in, some all time powder days and not to mention the chance to go Heli Boarding with a great crew……i really couldn’t have asked for more. oh, i also threw myself out of a plane at 15000 feet, it was one of the most incredible experiences of my life....no doubt about it! Coming back home to the Isle of Wight for a few weeks allows me to catch up with family (the newest addition to the family,my nephew Miles deserves a special mention) and to unwind before heading into another hectic winter. The IOW is always a great place to come back to, its quiet, relaxed and has a friendly atmosphere…..even if it is a little frustrating.....flying halfway across the world is sometimes easier to organise then getting from London to the IOW! So heres looking forward to the coming European season, which is shaping up to be a good one. Ive got some exciting trips planned and will be exploring the incredible terrain in the Tarentaise Valley with my split board.....plus eat my body weight in cheese and wine. This is a short post, but i’l leave you with my edit from winter…..Enjoy! NZ 2015 compressed Edit from Leon Butler on Vimeo. So a life long dream for me happened on Tuesday, i had the opportunity to go Heli-Boarding courtesy of my employers, Racers Edge Wanaka and our local guide company Harris Mountain Heli-ski. The day started out as a rollercoaster of emotions. First we got the call saying we are going to go then as we were leaving the house we had another call saying it was now canceled due to cloud….then an hour later it was on again and it was all systems go to get ready. We drove along the spectacular road out towards Treble Cone(for the last time this winter) and onto Cattle Flats where Harris Mountain Heli-ski fly from. We met our guides Hugh and Rodger who gave us our safety briefing and explained we would be flying to the Buchanan Range as it had been clear of cloud all morning so the snow would have had time to release. We were put into 4 groups of 6 people and told to wait for our time to fly, my group was number 3. The excitement of seeing the chopper fly in towards you while you are on the ground is so exhilarating we have to hold onto the skis and bags as the power of the downdraft from the blades is so strong that anything not held down will be lost. I actually felt like i was in a snowboard movie.. The transition time is so quick that before you know it the pilot has left the ground and is banking around an almost impossibly tight turn. The feeling is hard to describe, it almost feels weightless as we sped of down the valley floor and towards the mountains. I didnt think New Zealand could get any more breathtaking but when you are winding your way through valleys and mountains in a helicopter, landing on a peak and seeing the clouds enveloping Mount Aspiring in the distance things definitely step up a level. Its a hard life huh?! We managed to get 4 runs in due to leaving late but they were awesome runs, i already loved the terrain here in New Zealand but now I've had a taster that shows it has terrain to match anywhere in the world. When we flew to the second drop off we passed up and over a ridge line that dramatically dropped way and revealed the Southern Alps in all its glory, it was like something out of Jurassic Park! The pilot then set us down on a ridge that was no more then 4 feet wide with a sheer drop on one side……….My adrenaline was through the roof. I always new that to be a helicopter pilot you had to be skilled, but now i understand how important that skill is, this guy seemed like the ‘Iceman’ of the heli world! The snow was good NZ spring corn. Its like a dry slush but it feels like your in powder. The last two runs were steep and felt like they went on forever and with the terrain being so playful you could just open up and haul ass. There really is no better feeling then being on snow, in the middle of the mountains with all your friends……..it truly was epic. I love my split boarding, but to be choppered into the middle of terrain like that was just ridiculous. Heli Skiing gives you access to places you could only dream of. Im hooked! Sign me up, I want to go again. Id like to say thanks to the guys at Harris Mountain Heli-Ski, They are a perfect mix of professionalism and fun, making you feel safe so that you can fully appreciate their world. They are all friendly and keen for a chat.
Also to Racers Edge for organising the trip, they really know how to look after their staff and reward them for a busy winter season. They understand the reason why we all work in this industry and its great to have employers who are on the same page. The day ended perfectly with BBQ and beers at the lake, i couldn’t ask for anymore. Spring in Wanaka is probably the most beautiful part of the year. The sun is out, there's still snow on the mountains and the days are getting longer. It's a mixed feeling for me as it also means my time in NZ is coming to an end again, but it's been an all time winter and I feel so lucky to be here. As always I've met some amazing people and will be sad to say goodbye but that's all part of living and working in a transient industry, no doubt we will all meet again soon.
The weather here is so variable, we've had a cold spring up until now but the past few days have been glorious sunshine. It's crazy how quickly the snow transforms here, the snow melts so quickly that everyday the mountain has new 'obstacles' to challenge you ( or in my case more things to crash into) Snowboarding in NZ gives you a new attitude to making the most of the terrain. You learn that anyone can ski powder, but it's being able to ski the 'terrain' that makes you a complete skier/snowboarder.....and it teaches you that you can have fun in any snow conditions. Theres something about spring that is so much fun. It must the sun that just seems to bring out the stoke in everyone, and the fact that spring slush is so damn fun to play around on! Yesterday was the finale of Treble Cone which was celebrated in true kiwi style......the infamous 'Treble Cone Closing Day' This is a day of epic proportions. If you aren't in fancy dress then you may as well stay at home, if your not going to get loose......you may as well stay at home, if you are precious about the bases of your skis.....definitely stay at home A day of tussock skiing,rock hopping,retro dressed craziness topped off with booze, food and music. The sun always shines on closing day and yesterday was no exception, it must be due to the good vibes from the people at TC. It was a great day topped of with a great after party. I still have a month left which I hope to fill with some adventures.... sky diving, splitboard trips and hopefully a heli ski trip before heading back to Europe to do it all again!
So this year i have decided to enter more Freeride World Tour Qualifier events and to really push myself. Its weird as i hate the build up to the events, i get sick to the stomach nervous.....but for some reason i carry on. I like the mix of nerves and excitement plus the challenge of picking your line, using the features of the mountain to fit my strengths and hopefully Impress the judges.
That feeling when you drop in is hard to describe, all the nerves go away and everything becomes still and your in the moment. The NZ Freeski is one of the best qualifiers on the tour, the level is so high and the atmosphere is electric. Everyone is amped, both spectators and competitors....its a unique environment. After having one day already called off due to bad weather and bulletproof snow, Thursday was definitely a banger. There was a fresh top up of snow and it was a bluebird day. The snow warmed up nicely although it still made landings tough. The snowboarders dropped first to take full advantage of the fresh snow, and they definitely showed we can hold out own. This was the first year that snowboarders were allowed into the NZ Freeski, and we justified our lace in the comp. Everyone picked great lines. We don't go as big as the skiers, but we are definitely creative, picking technical lines matched with big 20 foot drops. This one didnt go to plan for me, i thought i had a good chance of making the finals but unfortunatly i messed up my run. I missed my entry point at the top, which kind of through me off course. I managed to find a mid sized drop into fresh snow, but i had missed so many of my hits that i knew it was already to late. I ended the run with a technical big drop that was hard to get into and only one other skier hit, unfortunately i crashed on the landing and that pretty much put the nail in the coffin for my run. I was pretty disappointed with myself but shit happens, especially in comps where you have just the one run. I had never snowboarded that face before and you could tell a few of the other guys knew exactly where to go but thats the beauty of the Freeride Tour.....you just don't know whats going to happen. Overall it was one of the best comps i have entered, the standard of riding was insane, the atmosphere was killer, the scenery was breathtaking and the people who ran the event should be very happy. I can't wait for more comps this coming winter. Thanks to The North Face The Remarkables Freeride World Tour NZ Skier Magazine Down days from the mountain can be a good thing sometimes. It means i get to look up shit i find interesting and then puke it back up on here.... Nowadays the main stream brands of snowboards pretty much come from a handful of OEM factories, one factory could produce boards for 3 or 4 brands. Sometimes this isn't a bad thing, but there is also a very hardcore group of hand built boards that often exceed the build quality of OEM factories. Being a tech, and the fact i also build my own snowboards, mean i find this side of the industry interesting which is where this latest post fits in. It can be confusing as a lot of the bigger brands use more then one production facility. There are always problems in the manufacturing side of everything, its part of the business and in a fickle world not all can survive. Click on the orange links to find out more about each company.. First up... NBL Sport/Nobile Factory Ive chosen Nobile first as they are a small family run factory out of Poland. They are know for building some of the highest quality ski's and snowboards on the market. I love what they stand for and the fact they still hold quality craftsmenship as the backbone of their factory. Brands out of Nobile - Faction Skis Majesty Skis Zag Skis Rough Snowboards Imperivm Snowboards Furlan Snowboards Each of these brands are relatively small and run like a family, its reflected in the quality of their skis and boards which is down to the guys at Nobile. GST The biggest is probably GST, in Austria. Although earlier this year it was announced that they will also be closing. I think its due to the cost of running a major operation like this in Europe, and also brands not paying on time has a big effect. These guys make DC Jones Rome Flow Niche Stepchild Elan Factory This went bankrupt in 21013 even thought they were probably the biggest factory at the time. Capita Snowboards took over production and carried on making decks. Capita Amplid Lobster Bataleon Salomon and Atomic are part of Amer Sports. While they are owned by the same company their boards and ski's are made separately. Salomon have a factory in France and in Bulgaria and Atomic is in Altenmarkt,Austria. Rossignol have a huge factory near Chamonix where the high end race skis are made along with 'Look' ski bindings and Dynastar. The rest of the line is made in their factory in Spain. The reason for this is because the wood they use for their cores is grown here.....so thats where they put the factory....well done Rossi! People hate on them but they are one of the oldest brands out there. SWS SNOWBOARD FACTORY are a new player in the game, but they have pedigree. Strangely they are based in Dubai and run by two of the most experienced snowboard builders in the industry,John Colvin and George Cant who both earned their stripes at the legendary brand 'Option' and the Elan factory. They definitely make 'Arbor snowboards' and i think 'Yes' are now based there. Mervin MFG Lib tech and GNU are all made in the Mervin MFG factory in the States. These guys produce some of the most indestructible boards in the industry as well as constantly innovating new designs. Much like the two brands below they are hand built and a lot of time is taken to make the best product. Never summer and Signal both have their own small factories in America where they build their own boards, but on a large scale. This is great as they can keep up with the big boys but they also have direct contact with what they are making. In other word they could think up a design in the morning and create a prototype in the afternoon. Signal do this brilliantly with their webisodes called 'Every Third Thursday' Never summer do now produce skis for a brand called 'Icelantic'. Its the same construction as the Never Summer boards who are well know for making the toughest boards around, i can definitely back them up on that one! Final shout out to a new and exciting company from the UK, DOUK Snowboards. They produce good boards that are made from start to finish, by hand in the UK. Its great to see this and although i haven't tested the boards myself, i have heard a lot of good feedback so hopefully they carry on the good work. Notice i have left out 'Burton'. Yes they did pioneer snowboarding but i think along the way they have got lost. I think they make terrible quality boards and only cater towards people that won't truly put the deck though its paces. Although there is a market for this, it doesn't interest me.
Its interesting to see that the biggest factories have struggled and closed, meaning brands have to find new production. I think the Ski and Snowboard Industry is blessed in that people are willing to spend a lot of money on their equipment as they want the best, they know how important it is to be able to rely on their kit and for this reason i think more people will look to the smaller more artisan brands, which can only be a good thing. For any one that is interested, check out my own snowboards. the link shows how i made everything. Esc.Snowboard Co. I recently took the split board on a mini mission with a friend of mine out to Gottliebs peak. This is really accessible from Treble Cone's saddle chair and involves a short ride to a ridgeline followed by a 40 min hike and scramble to get to the top of Gottliebs, we then chose to go further along to find some freshies........and we were very much rewarded for the extra effort! Its crazy that so much good terrain is available just out of bounds here, the skin back out took around 35 mins and we could get directly back to the saddle chair lift. The snow was great and we timed it perfectly so that the sunny side was releasing as we got to it. Great day with great company.....cold beers followed Gotliebs from Leon Butler on Vimeo.
This has been the best year to come to NZ for sure. Treble Cone has been putting on a treat for us with constant tops ups of snow, until the other day when 46cm of the driest pow fell on the mountain. It was the day of days....
Heres a short clip to prove it..... Untitled Project from Leon Butler on Vimeo. |
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October 2017
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