Westbound Boarder

Today hosted the Dew Tour Skate Vert Finals and it was a great show. Shaun White rode well in his cut-off skinny jeans but took second behind PLG. Standing in the bottom of the vert ramp after the event hit me again how talented these guys are. Bucky Lasek took 3rd place this stop but showed why he one of the best ambassadors of the sport. He did the most interviews and stayed with the crowd the longest. He started signing autographs after he was told that it was a girls birthday and she wanted his signature. He is also rocking an amazing mustache.

The Gatorade Free Flow tour continued with the street finals, with sixteen competitors throwing down in SLC, hoping to compete in Las Vegas in October with the pros. The top am contestants in the country skated on the professional Dew Tour course today.  And at the end of the day, the three-time returning Finalist Brendon Villanueva took the title of Champion and secured his prequalified spot in the Dew Tour Championships (Las Vegas Oct 2011). After watching these guys I am pumped on the future of skateboarding, which is very bright if this is our next wave of pro riders. They we dominating that street course.

Brendon Villanueva Street Finals, photo courtesy of Gatorade Free Flow Tour, Alli Sports

From Villanueva himself, “I am super excited about winning and just happy about coming to the Finals, meeting new friends and getting to skate a bunch. It’s awesome that Gatorade give kids the change to come out here and show what they can do. Gatorade puts on one of the best contests!”

BMX Dirt was awesome seeing these guys flying though the air with a bike to maneuver with when they come back to the ground. There were double back flips and triple tail whips galore. After a quick course change to soften the landing, they used the first jump for a Big Air event. There were some gnarly falls but much bigger landings. A crowd favorite was Brett Banasiewicz was smooth and consistent but it wasn’t enough to take the $5000 best trick prize from Kyle Baldock.

RESULTS (Gatorade Free Flow Street Finals)

1. Brendon Villanueva, Poway, Calif. 2. Tyson Bowerbank, Sandy, Utah 3. Miles Canevello, McHenry, Ill. 4. Tyler Thomas, Baltimore, Md. 5. Fletcher Renegar, Ringgold, Ga.

I’ve always supported non-endemic sponsors entering the sport of snowboarding.  So while many people core to the snowboard industry used phrases like “Sell Out” and “Lame” in response to Shaun White’s decision to drop Volcom as a sponsor and sign with Target, I greatly supported his decision.  Though there are downsides to non-endemic sponsors increasing their monetary support of young action sports athletes, such as injury due to increased progression pressures, I believe the financial support to fund new endeavors, and thus, more opportunities for young riders, far outweighs the costs.

But there’s a line.

In a 2009 Fast Company article, authors joked that Shaun wouldn’t accept an attractive offer from even Heinz ketchup (come on, flying tomato – totally made sense, right?) because he sticks to his values and won’t put his name on just anything.  I respected Shaun for knowing what he valued, and for sticking to that, despite the number of dollar signs involved.  But the radio ads I’ve been hearing here in LA with Sean White repping Goodrich Tires makes me wonder… what changed?  And what the heck does Goodrich Tires have to do with action sports, other than racing, anyway??  (Ok, so I know Toyota announced earlier this year their sponsorship of Louie Vito, but everyone needs SUVs to get to the mountain, right?  And I thought they executed their sponsorship of the Dew Tour and Louie Vito in a way that was really transparent and humble.  For example, I learned about the contract with Louie a few days before it was officially announced, while being driven from the town of Breckenridge to the mountain in a private Toyota car, where a number of Toyota employees were working all weekend to provide free transportation to and from Dew Tour events for the snowboard community).  But I don’t quite understand how tires fit into the equation.  Shaun even recently became the spokesperson for Stride Gum.  Sorry, Shaun, but I’m kind of starting to lose respect.

The sports business side of my brain thinks it’s not the best sponsorship opportunity for Goodrich Tires either, especially considering the dismal way they leveraged and executed their sponsorship.  According to an article in Grind TV, Shaun announced the speculated partnership right before the start of the X Games 15 in Aspen (so, right before one of the largest, worldwide snowboard events?), and the company actually released some pretty funny videos of Shaun “trying” to drive a race car.  However, through the follow-up advertising campaign, it seems that the company is targeting your average joe, everyday car driver, so in my opinion there’s somewhat of a disconnect because the series does nothing to actually showcase the features of the tires.  I’m sure they forked over a multi-million dollar contract (after all, an athlete like Shaun White doesn’t come cheap), but unless they’ve seen an exuberant amount of increased sales through this campaign, I think it somewhat missed the mark.  Worst of all, they’re doing nothing to actually support the action sports community as a whole, other than filling SW’s pockets with more dough.  The action sports sponsorships that are the most effective are ones that are mutually-beneficial, not completely one-sided like this one. Meanwhile, for Shaun, his fans will go on calling him a “sell out.”

Anyway, what do you guys think?  Wicked cool, or major bust?

Action sports athletes from around the nation killed it in yesterday’s Dew Tour Championships Skate Vert Finals in Vegas, but of course none other than Shaun White took first place.

Check out the video highlights below!

One more round to go.  In perhaps one of the biggest (and this year for sure the most hyped) summer action sports contest series around.  Get ready!

Tomorrow, the Dew Tour heads to Las Vegas for the final stop of the summer competition, where athletes such as Shaun White, Paul Rodriguez, Jamie Bestwickand Ryan Sheckler will battle it out for the championship title.  Additionally, Las Vegas local Carey Hart and Hart & Huntington will host a freestyle motocross Best Whip competition in conjunction with the Championships.

The Dew Tour Finals begin tomorrow and run through Sunday, so make sure you stay tuned in because it should be a wild ride (and a great show!)

The Dew Tour consists of five major, multi sport events spanning across the country, with a cumulative points system. The Tour features skateboarding (men and women, park and vert), BMX (park, vert and dirt) and freestyle motocross. At season’s end, the overall points leaders in the five disciplines will be crowned year-end champs and awarded the prestigious Dew Cup title. A Portland, Ore. stop is on the schedule, so listen up…

Shaun White is at it again. This time he will by fighting for the Skate Vert World Championship title at the Dew Tour Skateboarding Open. It all goes down this June 25-26 at Boston’s legendary TD Garden. Those competing against White this year include Dew Tour defending champ, Bucky Lasek, Boston Local Andy Macdonald, Alex Perelson and vert legend Bob Burnquist.

In addition to the Vert Competition we have also got the Skate Park World Championship competitors, including Paul Rodriguez, Chaz Ortiz , Greg Lutzka and defending champ Ryan Sheckler.

Dew Tour Schedule:

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!

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!

Tonight back at Cypress Mountain, the Olympic Games continued, with the much-anticipated men’s halfpipe competition taking center stage. And with all four US riders – Scotty Lago, Greg Bretz, Louie Vito, and Shaun White – making their way into the medal round alongside twelve other competitors, America had a lot to look forward to tonight.

But it’s Shaun White, again, who really stole the show. Placing first in the prelims, Shaun was the last to take his run – but first on the podium. His opening run, which surprisingly didn’t include his highly-anticipated McTwist 1260, scored him a whopping 46.8, catapulting him into first place. This score was enough to keep him in first throughout the duration of the finals round. In fact, he could have still taken home the gold even without taking his second run. But that wouldn’t be in true Shaun White fashion, would it? He chose to play it on the edge during his second run, throwing out that McTwist everyone was hoping for, beating only one score from the night – his own; just icing on the cake for Shun White. His second run earned him a 48.4, more than enough to earn him the gold.

Shaun White really upped the anti this winter, pushing other competitors to take their riding to the next level. Not only does Shaun push the barrier in technicality, he is going so much bigger than any rider – five to six feet higher, in most cases. It is riders like Shaun who continue to progress and evolve the sport of snowboarding, taking it to the level its at today and beyond. Personally, I thought Shaun’s first run tonight was much better and more fun to watch than his second – he held his amplitude and style throughout, and on his second run he nearly lost it at the end – but his second score only goes to show that these judges in Vancouver are completely placing technical tricks above all else.

This morning we talked a little bit about the double cork and why they’re really this season’s “must have” trick, and that mantra proved to be true as the day unfolded. The first US competitor to take the stand was 22-year-old Scotty Lago, a rider known for his unique, solid style and massive air. And his first run couldn’t have been more legit. Scotty began with a huge 1080 into a switch double cork, finishing up with a huge 900. The amplitude Scotty is able to achieve while still remaining technical is what sets him apart, and tonight it is what helped him bring home bronze with a score of 42.8.

Greg Bretz, the youngest member of the US Olympic team at only 19, slid out after attempting a double cork during his first run, however, in hopes to redeem himself during his second, he slid out again after attempting the same tick, costing him his shot at placing on the podium tonight. Bummer, because otherwise, Bretz had a lot going for him. He does have four years to perfect his run in preparation for the next Winter Olympics, though, in 2014!

Louie Vito, the 21-year-old from Ohio also known for his appearance on Dancing with the Stars this past season, was the first rider to ever land a double cork in competition, so these types of tricks come pretty naturally to him. He also typically begins his run with his double cork combo right out of the gate, which is a bit tougher and the judges definitely look favorably on this. Vito, though, in my opinion, is not the most consistent rider, and I thought his first run, which featured back-to-back corks, as expected, and finishing with a 1080 was just a little mundane. His run was definitely smooth and technical, don’t get me wrong, just not “groundbreaking” in terms of style. Especially compared to riders like Shaun who have both style and technicality going for him. His second run was much better, and he even finished out with a 12. One thing Louie really does have going for him is his small size. Standing at only 5’5”, it’s a little easier for him to get his spins around, so that’s one thing you can always count on Louie for.

Though Louie came out and performed an amazing run, it wasn’t quite enough to earn him a podium finish, as he barely missed the cut off. But with White taking home the gold and Lago with the bronze, two’s not a bad number, right? The silver went to Finnish rider Peetu Piiroinen, who took a score of 45 with his second run and really gave Shaun a run for his money.

One of my personal favorite tricks performed throughout the night was Kokubo’s McTwist tweak – a trick he completed seamlessly in both runs. So solid. He got so much amplitude and was fully extended, and his riding style is very different and fun to watch. If the rest of his run on both accounts had been a little cleaner he for sure would have taken home a medal.

Well, that’s that. Two medals in pipe for the US; now let’s see at least two more during the women’s halfpipe comp. tomorrow!

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!

With all five Grand Prix events officially behind us, today, the 2010 US Winter Snowboard Team was finally announced, with one spot on both the women and men up for grabs.  Without further ado, here are the six shredders who will be representing the US in Vancouver next month (the last two will be announced in a press conference Monday afternoon):

Men
Shaun White
Louie Vito
Scotty Lago

Women
Kelly Clark
Gretchen Bleiler
Hannah Teter

Congrats to all, and good luck!  And in case you missed yesterday’s Grand Prix in Park City, you can catch the highlights and full event coverage today at 3pmET on NBC.

UPDATE: Elena Hight and Greg Bretz were added to the half pipe team, rounding it out to a full team of eight riders.  Yeah!

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