Westbound Boarder

This blog post is the second entry in a 10-part series on traveling to Rio de Janiero.  Click here to view the first article.   

Among tourists, outdoor enthusiasts, and foodies alike, Rio de Janieiro is known for its miles and miles of beautiful beaches, wondrous landmarks, and gorgeous views.  However, to economists and businessmen, Rio is known for something entirely different. 

For many, many years, Rio de Janeiro, one of the primary destinations in Brazil for leisure travel, was considered a developing country in dire need of change.  In 1998, Brazil had a Gini Index, which measures the gap between the rich and poor, of 60.7 (4^th in the world) and a very large percent of residents lived in extreme poverty.  However, over the past several years, Brazil has done a lot of work to drastically reduce this gap, and in the past 8 years Brazil saw 13 million residents enter the middle class.  As a result, Brazil is a key target for foreign direct investment, and their economy has experienced an annual GDP growth of 5% over the past several years, and an astounding 7.5% in 2010 (read more about Brazil’s current economic situation).

However, it wasn’t until Rio won bids to host both the 2014 World Cup and 2016 that the country entered the worldwide center stage, and many people attribute their growing economy and infrastructure improvement opportunities as the primary reason it was granted the opportunity to host the two events.  Over the next 5 years, Rio will become a prime travel destination, and they hurriedly preparing to accommodate everyone. 

One of the downsides of Brazil’s economic growth (well, from the perspective of foreign tourists, anyway) are that things are expensive.  Over the past 10 or so years, Brazil experienced inflation rates of more than 2000%.  Additionally, US travelers used to enjoy a 4 to 1 exchange rate, however, it has since dwindled to 1.6R to 1USD.  Given these two elements combined, it has been estimated that the Brazilian currency is overvalued by about 40%.  To put it in plain English – Brazil is expensive.  Not only the flight, which will put you back about $2 – 3000 from most US locations, but actually being in the country is expensive as well, contrary to popular opinion that it is cheap because it’s a developing country.  But trust me – it’s worth it.     

In terms of tourism, about 5 million people per year visit Rio de Janeiro.  Over the past 10 or so years, Brazil has experienced steady growth in international tourism revenue (close to about $6 billion in annual revenue today), but during the past few years the actual number of people visiting Brazil has stabilized around 5 million.  But this number is expected to grow exponentially over the next several years, as the city readies itself to host two of the hottest global events.

One of the drawbacks to Rio de Janeiro, especially considering its expected growth in tourism, is the limited number of guests the city can feasibly accommodate at one time.  It is estimated that the city can only host about 28,000 tourists at any given time.  The limited supply of housing may cause increased prices, however, as I mentioned earlier, the city is working to at least double the number of tourists it can accommodate in preparation for the upcoming World Cup and Olympic events. 

So, in light of all that’s going on in Rio on the economic front, why go?  Rio is an excellent place to consider as a travel destination for many different reasons – it is a great place to go if you’re looking to relax and enjoy the beaches and scenery, or if you’re a student or interested in economic development and want to study the economic growth in Brazil, or if you’re an adventure-seeker and are looking to enjoy extreme activities.  And of course, Rio is an excellent place to go surfing.

And why did I like it?  I’ve traveled to many, many countries, and I’m getting to the point where, when I go to big cities, I typically feel like its “just another big city.”  What I liked about Rio is that it’s different, and just a little bit edgy.  It still maintains a certain amount of culture, despite being one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Brazil, and the people are nice, friendly and welcoming, which is something you really don’t see these days in most large cities.  But beware – As Rio is still a developing country, there is still a lot of poverty, and crime rates are high.  For the most part, as a tourist, you can avoid impoverished areas, but even I was surprised at the amount of poverty that still exists in the country.  Regardless, there is so much to do and so much to see, that Rio de Janeiro is well worth the trip.

Many of you have probably heard by now that earlier week, the Internal Olympic Committee (IOC) cast a vote to finally make slopestyle an Olympic snowboarding and skiing event (Read the news in ESPN or Transworld Business).  Though the news was quickly overshadowed by the IOC’s final vote to award the 2018 Winter Olympic bid to South Korea (which is huge news, in and of itself, as this is the first time South Korea will host an Olympic games), slopestyle will first appear in the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.  This was actually discussed a while back, but the vote was tabled, as the IOC needed to first make sure that Sochi has the capability to build an Olympic slopestyle course.    

Its no secret that the snowboard community somewhat butts heads with the IOC and FIS Olympic governing bodies, primarily because in the past, they have seen the sport of snowboarding as a mere extension to skiing, and in recent years, an up-in-coming money maker, especially among young viewers.  But despite the past differences between the two groups, from what I’ve read and heard from others, the snowboard community welcomes the IOC’s decision to add slopestyle to the roster of Olympic snowboard and ski events.  Many people (myself included) see slopestyle as one of the best ways for riders to really showcase their talent in the sport.  First of all, slopestyle is much more accessable to young riders than, say, halfpipe or bordercross, because most resorts at least have some sort of triple air terrain park available for the duration of the season.  Halfpipes and boardercross courses, on the otherhand, require much more work to build and a particular type of weather, so many resorts abandon the idea completely.  Second, slopestyle is one of the oldest competition types around, and definitely the most-well known and versatile. 

Anyway, I for one, am thrilled to see slopestyle finally become part of the Olympics.  This decision was long overdue.  Slopestyle is the primary event I focused on as a young competitor, so I may be a bit partial, but I truly think it is the best way for snowboarders to show their true talent. 

Gotta love Jimmy Kimmel… Gotta love Kimmel even more when Scotty Lago is on!  This past Friday, US Olympic half pipe bronze medalist Scotty Lago appeared on the Jimmy Kimmel show to talk about what it was like to win an Olympic bronze medal … and how it felt to be sent home a couple days later.

In case you didn’t catch it, Olympic snowboarder Scotty Lago was asked to leave the Olympic games (or face a disciplinary hearing) 2 weeks early after some “mildly suggestive” photos appeared on TMZ, depicting Lago “using his bronze medal for snowboarding to score chicks.”

Personally, I think the Olympic committee overreacted in their decision to ask Scotty to leave the games.  When I first heard about the incident (without seeing the photos, firsthand), I expected him to be stark naked or something!  Really, the photos weren’t that bad, and the only reason the Olympic committee got upset is likely because Scotty was wearing a T-shirt with the Olympic logo plainly visible in one of the photos.  I understand the perspective that the medal is sacred (or whatever) and should not be treated in an incriminaing light, however, I’m sure every athlete parties a little bit and wants to show off their new, shiny piece of medal.  Especially around attractive females!   After all, Olympic athletes are human, too.  Scotty just happened to use his medal to lure in the female fish … while also reeling in the paparazzi.

This incident brings up two good points.  First, this is the first Olympic games where new media played a huge role.  New media tends to accelerate the news cycle, and I don’t think athletes this year were adequately prepared to address.  Second, Scotty became a celebrity basically overnight.  In chatting about the incident with some of my coworkers a couple of days after, one of them said quite brashly, “what do you expect from a snowboarder?”  Ok, no.  What do you expect from any normal teenager?!  Case in point, and if anything, the Olympic committee should have taken stronger measures (and a long, boring seminar isn’t quite what I consider a measure) to enforce appropriate conduct at parties that athletes consider safe from the limelight.

All said and done now, Lago’s voluntary exit doesn’t change the fact that last week he became an American hero.  But it was his home town that supported him the most.  The Olympic games and the athletes that bring them to life are important, because they give small town kids big dreams, dreams they will work hard to achieve.  And the day Scotty won the bronze, thousands of kids around the world thought, “Wow.  That will be me someday.”

Despite being sent home from the Olympics prior to the closing ceremonies, Jimmy Kimmel came through and threw Scotty a closing ceremony of his very own!  The incident is something that will be left in the dust, and at least Scotty has a good attitude about it.  In the words of Lago, “It is what it is.”

Hi ya’all.  Just a quick reminder that tonight at midnight PT is your LAST chance to enter our Cushe boots giveaway!  So enter now, or forever have cold feet.

On a similar note, we are also giving away an Oakley prize pack, featuring limited edition Olympics Oakley gear.  Enter here by next Monday night.

This coming weekend marks the last few events of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, as Sunday’s closing ceremonies will officially end the games.  The last two events in snowboarding will happen tonight and tomorrow at Cypress, the men’s and women’s snowboarding Giant Slalom (women’s on Friday, men’s on Saturday).  The Giant Slalom is one of the most grueling events in the Olympic games, where riders race head-to-head around gates against another opponent (and to be completely candid, I’m not too familiar with this type of event, as it is not typically held in American mainstream competitive circuits.  So I’m particularly excited to watch!)

One thing I have noticed about this year’s games in comparison to years past is that snowboarding has taken a much larger role in the overall event, and I really think it’s safe to say that it was one of the most hyped sports in the Olympics this year.  In the past, snowboarding has always taken a sideline seat to skiing, however, I think this year we really saw a shift in perceptions, especially among mainstream audiences.  I, for one, heard many more people talking about the snowboarding events compared to the skiing events.  In fact, I really didn’t hear much about skiing outside of American athletes Lindsey Vonn and Bode Miller, but everyone from the hardcore riders at my local mountain to the could-care-less-about-sports folks (like my sister) knew the names of the American roster and gathered around their TV sets to cheer them on as they rode though the pipe.  The progression the sport of snowboarding has seen in recent years has absolutely played a contributing role in raising the profile of snowboarding in this year’s Olympics, but the athletes themselves have helped lift the image as well.  In the past couple of years, snowboarders (often seen as “tyrants” on the slopes… sometimes for good reason ) such as Shaun White, Gretchen Bleiler, and Hannah Teter have emerged as role models, and instead of parents resenting the lifestyle that comes along with the sport, they are now encouraging their kids to take part.  It’s really cool to see your sport in the limelight, and to see and hear the nation collectively cheering on the athletes you’ve been supporting since day 1 and giving them the props they rightly deserve.  I’m really interested to see how the sport will evolve over the next 10 years, as the kids who are now growing up idolizing athletes like Shaun White, begging their parents to buy them a new ride, start competing.  Maybe in the next Olympics we’ll start to see quadruple corks?

So, as much all of us involved in the snowboard industry roll our eyes at the Olympic games (it even sounds like Vancouver is feeling a bit of buyer’s remorse this year) they have helped to tremendously raise the profile of snowboarding among mainstream audiences.  And right now, and for the future of snowboarding, that’s a really good thing.

WIN IT! To celebrate the final weekend of the 2010 Olympic games, we have a limited edition Oakley prize pack to give away!  Snowboarding would not be in the position it is today if it weren’t for the major brands behind it, so I’m really excited to announce this fun giveaway.  One reader will have the opportunity to win an Oakley prize pack, pictured to the right.  The pack is part of the Oakley Global Collection of products, which has been designed to honor Oakley’s global team of athletes participating in this year’s Olympics. It includes a set of limited edition Global Crowbar Snow Goggles, Global Fuel Cell sunglasses, Global backpack, women’s Oakley Global t-shirt, an Oakley Global beanie and collector’s pin. The graphics on the collection recognize the heritage of British Columbia and Vancouver, host city to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

How to win…Leave us a comment below and tell us how YOU think that snowboarding fared in this year’s Olympic Games, and how you think the games helped raise the profile of snowboarding nationwide (and if you don’t agree?  Bring it on!)  The contest will close on Monday, March 8 at midnight PT, and we’ll draw one winner the next day to receive the pack.

If you just so happen to be in Vancouver right now (lucky you!) make sure you stop by Oakley’s Rolling O-Lab and Pop-Up Store before they roll away Sunday night.  Details:

• The Rolling O-Lab is a mobile demonstration unit that educates visitors about the science behind quality eye protection. Technology presentations include the use of optical laser scope equipment that demonstrates clarity and prism shift, ultraviolet emitters and measuring devices to illustrate UV protection, and testing rigs that show the effects of high-velocity and high-mass impact situations.  Fans can visit the Rolling O-Lab at Grouse Mountain 9am – 8pm, and the best part?  It’s free! (We love free)
• Meanwhile, the Pop-Up Store features a fully enriched Oakley retail experience complete with an array of the company’s products. One of the store’s highlights is an Oakley Custom Bar, where visitors can customize select Oakley eyewear and goggle products.  It is located at 488 Robson Street.

And speaking of giveaways, in case you haven’t already entered, be sure to also check out our Cushe Boots giveaway.  Ends Monday, March 1!

Update: Dear Readers, thanks for all your fabulous comments – we got some great feedback, and it’s nice to hear that most of you enjoyed watching this year’s team take Olympic snowboarding to new heights.  Congrats to Maria, the winning commenter! (Selected via random.org).  Check back for more giveaways soon!

Now, we don’t often get the opportunity to write about events other than snowboarding, but for last night’s Olympic ice skating performance, we’ll make an exception!

Rachel Flatt was the first performer from the USA for women’s figure skating to take on the rink. She had a beautiful and graceful performance with a smile the whole time. Full, clean spins and jumps. She scored 182.49, her personal best. Japan performed next with a score of 188.86.

Then, the highly-anticipated dancer Kim Yu-Na from South Korea. With tons of passion and pressure from her country, she gracefully went into her jumps and axles with more speed than the other dancers, throwing a huge double axle triple toe loop. She made her routine look so easy. Magical and focused, Kim felt the music as she skated… earning her a score of 228.56! Which put Kim in Gold medal position.

She was the first S. Korean to win a figure skating Gold & she also took home an Olympic world record score. Yet another record attempted by Mao Asada scored 205.50 from Japan, she was the first women ever in the Olympics to land three triple axles in the same competition. Watching her perform made me see how she was Kim Yu-Na’s greatest competition.

Canada’s graceful Joannie Rochette was up next performing days after her mother passing. You could see the courage and determination in her performance. Very inspiring, to say the least. She scored a 202.64, putting her in Silver medal position with one skater left. Sixteen year old skater from USA Marai Nagasu scored a 190.15. We will be seeing her in Olympic years to come.

Final Results
Kim Yu Na: Gold
Mao Asada: Silver
Joannie Rochette: Bronze

An interview with me on Women Talk Sports.  All the background you’ll ever need on Westbound Boarder and competitive snowboarding!  Maaan I need to be media trained! (And maybe I should have showered, first? )

Interview with Andrea Nowack from Women Talk Sports on Vimeo.

The Olympic halfpipe events, which most participants have spent months, even years, preparing for, have come and gone, and it really was quite a good time.  Shaun White totally stole the show (and for good reason) but with all the hype around White the past few weeks, I think many of the talents of other competitors got lost in the mix.  Lago, Vito, Bleiler, Clark, even some of the international riders, all put on a great show, and were acclaimed in their own, individual ways.

So now, I want to open it up to you all and invite you to share your thoughts post-comps.  Did you watch the Olympic snowboard games?  Who was your favorite competitor?  What were your favorite moments?

Let’s hear it in the comments below!

After a a rough round of first runs with multiple gnarly crashes, there really was no telling who was going to take home the prize in the womens halfpipe this evening. But the results are in and even though Westbound was holding out for an all USA podium, we are still pleased that the USA dominated it taking home Silver and Bronze. USA rider Hannah Teter led the pack at the end of the first round as most of the top contenders, including Gretchen Bleiler (USA), Elena Height (USA), Torah Bright (AUS) and Kelly Clark (USA) all crashed their first runs. This lead to some intense final runs as the girls really had to step it up if they wanted to take home a medal.

Unfortunately the crash course continued as both USA competitors Bleiler tumbled on her cab 720 and Height fell on her second run as well; eliminating their chances for any medal. Clark had a solid second run with a 42.2. As Bright had also fallen her first run, the pressure was really on. Although from Bright herself, “I like to think I’m pretty laid back. It’s not the end of the world. I fell. It happens. I had to go out and have a bit of fun with it. I’m just so excited I was able to put down that second run tonight.” And that is exactly what she did. Her run consisted of a backside 360, a switch backside 720, backside 540 an Air to Fakie and cab 720. Wow.

After her second run, Bright impatiently waited at the bottom of the pipe as the other ladies gave it their all. It finally all came down to the defending gold medalist… who threw down a backside air, frontside 900, backside 540, a sketchy frontside 360 and a cab 720. Unfortunately Teter’s feat was not good enough and at the end of her run, the recognition of the loss was on her face.

Teter was disappointed that she didn’t take home the back to back gold (as was I!) but admitted that, “Torah’s run was super motivating.”  Teter said, “Her run was exceptional. You wanted to go super big and try to catch her, but I couldn’t catch her. She was on fire.”

And clearly she was. Bright had the run of the night and now has the gold to prove it. And to my disappointment, that brings the Olympic halfpipe competitions to an end. Well, for 4 years at least. What will the 2014 halfpipe in Russia bring us? I seriously can’t wait. Great job ladies, each and everyone of you are such an inspiration!

Torah Bright (AUS) 45.0

Hannah Teter (USA) 42.4

Kelly Clark (USA) 42.2

It is the infamous trick that has been all the rage this Olympic season – the double cork 1080.  And with a successful two days of snowboardcross behind us, it is the trick everyone will be watching out for over the next two days.  Today, the men’s Olympic halfpipe competition is scheduled to go down … hopefully, if Canada can get its pipe in order!  Vancouver and Cypress Mountain, the resort playing host to this year’s halfpipe comp., have been seeing dismal weather the past couple of days, as it rained all day yesterday and continued through the night.  Obviously, not ideal conditions for a halfpipe competition.  As of now, the men’s halfpipe prelim round, which was originally set to commence at 1:05p.m. PT, is being rescheduled in hopes that better pipe conditions are on the near horizon.  The women’s pip comp. is still scheduled for tomorrow.  But enough about event timing; we’re talking double corks!

A double cork, first performed and perfected by snowboard icon Shaun White, is somewhat similar to a backflip in theory, however, to the viewer, the similarities are slim.  A trick is deemed a double cork 1080 when a rider completes two off-axis backflip rotations, throwing the shoulder down and tucking, while also doing three and a half rotations.  The double cork is a true testiment to how far the sport of snowboarding has come since the Olympic Games just four years ago.

The double cork is also one of the most dangerous tricks on the roster today.  Unlike spins or grabs, or even backflips and mistys, the double cork is unforgiving, and if you make one small error in your landing or over/under-rotate the slightest bit, the landing is not fun.  And the double cork has already developed somewhat of a dangerous reputation, as Burton rider and Olympic hopeful Kevin Pearce was hospitalized back in December attempting to perfect the trick in practice.

US Olympians like Shaun White (seriously, what can’t he do?) and Louie Vito (perhaps his summer perfecting pirouettes paid off?) have the double cork down pretty solid, and have even been throwing back-to-back double corks into their routines.  Though the double cork is rumored to be the “must have” trick today, I don’t think it will completely break anyone’s run, as long as they’re going really big and have a solid, near perfect run otherwise.

On the women’s side of things, though, no woman has yet to throw down a double cork in competition, but rumors are circulating the web that Australian snowboard superstar Torah Bright just might be the first female to attempt it.  If, in fact, she does, and successfully lands, it would be safe to say that she could almost guarentee herself a shiny Gold to take home to fans.  Though she has yet to throw the trick in competition, personally, I think if anyone can do it, Torah can.

The double cork is really one of those “seeing is believing” tricks, though.  Watch the double cork in action below, as Shaun White performs the holy grail of tricks seamlessly and effortlessly, to really get a sense of its full effect.  Maybe this video will demonstrate why there’s so much hype around the double cork this season.  Or you can watch them live today during the men’s Olympic halfpipe event!

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